chapter 4

I entered the house through the front door, taking quiet steps, hoping no one would notice me or here a sound, most especially my mother. The last time I passed my curfew, she promised to get me married to Nelson but I pleaded like I've never done before. I can never get married to that insane human being even if he was the last person on earth.

everywhere was dark and it was a good thing because I could easily go to my room without being noticed.

"Congratulations," voices shouted and suddenly the lights were back. my parents, Adam and a non Nigerian blonde lady also smiling at me. I immediately kept the small red bag on the couch.

"Congratulations?" I whispered under my breath. it must be because of the job I got. considering the fact that its a very big company, one of the most successful companies in Nigeria, its something to celebrate. My father always told me how the owner of the company helped him. even if his no more, my father always spoke highly of him. I think they most have been some sort of best friends or something.

I immediately forced a fake smile. At least am not getting scolded for passing my curfew.

I and Adam immediately hugged ourselves.

"I've missed you." he blurted looking handsomely as ever. his blue eyes looking more beautiful than I can remember. "And I you." we hugged each other again, tighter than the first one. The blonde lady kept staring and smiling at me.

"You look more beautiful than I remembered." I blushed and guffawed a little. "And you look radiant as ever." I compliment.

"Am so proud of you." my daddy kept repeating those words. my mom smiled and also hugged me. I knew she was proud but I didn't know she was this proud. The last time my mother hugged me was when I was in high school. I won the best student of the year and she was asked to step out to collect my gift, with me and our school director standing next to me. It was a brief hug but today she hugged me so tight.

"Thank you everyone, I really appreciate." I just wanted to go to bed and sleep and forget about today. I was so exhausted from everything that happened today.

"We thought if we'd told you you'd be upset and wouldn't even agree but you solved everything. I couldn't be more pro..., wait," I interrupted.

"Tell me what?" They all glared at each other in a confused way before staring back at me.

I stood there still waiting for an answer.

"Your marriage." Adam blurted and I immediately looked around the sitting room making sure I was in the right house or I missed my way.

"finally my best friend is getting married." Adam kept repeating the word marriage and got me confused.

"Wait."

"Marriage? who's marriage?"

Adam looked at my parents then at me.

"you just got engaged. That's what the whole Congratulation thing was all about." he rolled his eyes making his point clear but I was still shrouded in confusion.

"what the hell are you talking about?" my mother was very short tempered and any moment from now She'll blurt everything out, out of annoyance and anger.

"You're getting married to Raphael. his mom just called us and said you've gotten engaged.

my heart started thumping, and my neck heated. And against my own will, my eyes started to drift.

"I didn't get engaged to anyone and who's Raphael?"

They must be some mistake somewhere but I was very certain I wasn't engaged. I wanted saying something but I hesitated, feeling my stomach tighten.

The smile on my parents faces immediately vanished and their lips held no hint of a smile.

"Then what's the ring doing on your finger? ring...." I immediately looked at my finger and to my greatest surprise an extravagant pricey diamond ring was on my finger.

I rolled my eyes.

"what the hell?" I whispered under my breath.

I stared at the ring then at my parents.

"Are you confused, or do you need a microscope to see clearly?" my mother asked as I incessantly stared at the diamond ring on my finger.

how did the ring even get here?

I immediately twisted the ring out of my finger and threw it at the front of the entrance door.

They didn't say anything, they just kept staring.

"There must be some mistake here because am not engaged. I don't even know how the ring got on my finger. someone must be playing tricks on me." They glared at me as if I was insane but I was pretty sure I was perfectly fine.

I don't even know this Raphael of a person.

what was happening? I was speechless for a while; I think my brain shut down to take a rest and I was left on my own.

I forced deep breath, trying to calm down and tell them this was a big misunderstanding but before I could utter a word Michael and his fiance stepped in.

My heart palpitated harder. I was so confused. on one hand my parents are telling me am engaged to someone I don't even know and on the other hand Michael's here with his annoyingly beautiful fiance.

Did I commit any crime to God or did my enemies put a curse on me?

If my parents knew I got married, or am no more a Virgin or I had an abortion to top it all, my father could disown me right now without a second thought.

I wish I signed the divorce papers, then Michael wouldn't be here. I wish I had a fairy god mother, but too bad they aren't real.

My heart started to pound so hard it hurt. what was he doing here? I'll never forgive him for this.

I dropped my eyes for a split second, embarrassment heating my cheeks.

I looked up again, starring at him, seeing his hair styled and his fiance holding his hand as tight as she could. I folded my lips between my teeth, fighting the burn in my eyes.

who gave her the right to hold him? his my husband. I wanted shouting but my parents were there. anger burning in my chest with fury in my face.

I swallowed the lump in my throat ready to face anything that comes. I wish I signed those papers. what have I done to my self?

The room was in complete silence but Before anyone could say anything, someone stepped in. I glared at the person and to my greatest surprise it was the egocentric fella that brutally insulted me earlier.

"You? what the hell are you here?"