Chapter eight

You cannot be in love and wise at the same time- random pick.

The first is most times if not always; not the best- mine

"Aunty Nina" Ifeoma called out as she entered the kitchen. Aunty Nina was startled by the sudden intrusion. She never expected Ifeoma to come barging inside the kitchen, at least she had expected a kind of warning inform of ifeoma's foot steps. Eventhou she knew Ifeoma was entitled to go to any part of the house at anytime. She just felt like Ifeoma invaded on her territory.

Aunty Nina facepalmed mentally, she closed her eyes for a brevity of moment reopening it she gave Ifeoma the fakest of smiles hoping to heavens Ifeoma hadn't heard her conversation over the phone .

"Are you ok? You look startled to see me" Ifeoma said looking at aunty Nina suspiciously.

"I'm ok, I just wasn't expecting to see you suddenly; thought you were sleeping" aunty Nina said trying to sound convincing.

Ifeoma looked at her inquisitively, she wondered why she had the look of someone that has just seen the ghost of a dead relative. "I heard you talking to someone" Ifeoma said.

"Oh yea that was a friend, she was telling me about the recent bombing by Boko haram (an islamic terrorist group operating within Nigeria and it's environs- they believe western education to be a sin) nne ehe, my sister, those people are animals, can you imagine what they did at Borno." Aunty Nina was quick to change the topic to conform to her statement about bombshell incase Ifeoma heard.

Ifeoma was stunned, indeed there was news of bombing in Borno but that was last two years, she wondered why aunty Nina would be discussing something that happened over two years ago while they were other new cases arising every other day in Nigeria; bad cases at that, for example the recent massacre of worshippers in a Catholic church whist they were worshipping by the alleged faceless group generally referred to as unknown gun men.

"But that was two years ago" Ifeoma said suspicion in her voice.

"Yes we were linking it to the recent abysmal act done by Boko haram and their brother organisation; unknown gun men. How can the government claim; the recent killings, kidnapping and other act against humanity were perpetrated by faceless individuals..."

Ifeoma wasn't ready to have the talk; the insurgence of Boko haram or unknown gun men or the recent insecurities in the country. She cut aunty Nina short. "Hmm, aunty Nina I just came to tell you that I would be leaving for the mall."

"Oh, are you sure you can handle it? I could go instead." Aunty Nina said concern in her voice.

"No that wouldn't be necessary. I've being bottled up in this house like someone who's on house arrest, so I've got these. I'm fine on my own.

"Can I go with you then?"

"No" Ifeoma said almost shouting. "I've got this, I'm going alone, I love shopping alone" she lies. Besides I'm not the first woman to get pregnant, the pampering is already suffocating. See you when I return" Ifeoma said, leaving the kitchen without waiting for a response from aunty Nina.

Ifeoma went to the living room and took the keys to a BMW parked outside amongst other cars. She choose the BMW because it was more of a relatively conservative car compared to other cars in Obi's gardge. Thinking about Obi; Ifeoma hasn't heard from him over nine days since he went to God knows where without any explanation.

As Ifeoma slides into the car she couldn't help but feel rejected and lonely. She had been lonely even when he was around but she felt lonier now he wasn't. At least him around meant she could steal glances and perhaps perceive his cologne even if it's faded; it would have filled a small void in the copious void she felt in her heart.

Shopping just for the fun of it not that she really needed anything. Shopping was a form of escape form the massive boredom she felt on a daily. She was just getting started when she heard someone call her name. "Ifeoma!" She heard a distant familiar voice call her name. She turned to see a familiar figure towering towards her. "Greg!" A big smile plastered on her face as they both share an emotional hug.

"Oh my god, Ify, I can't believe it's you I'm seeing" Greg said happily.

"It's me in flesh and blood" Ifeoma said grinning.

Greg was her ex, they had lost contact after he left the country and she had lost her phone weeks later. He hadn't changed she thought. He still stood sturdy like she remembered and more handsome she noticed. Greg was six feet tall, ebony skinned, black haired; full like that of a woman. His eyes balls were like a raw coal and his eyes was as white as snow. She also noticed his neatly shaved beards. One look at Greg, you could imagine an African prince. He looked smart and prim in a blue t-shirt and jeans trousers. Everything about him spoke: meticulously crafted.

"I tried calling your number but it wasn't reachable. I couldn't also find you on any social network. It was like you disappeared immediately I traveled." Greg said as he looked Ifeoma down. Bam! Something clicked in his brains and boom! he noticed her swollen belle or more accurately her baby bump.

"No, not that, I lost my phone, few weeks after you traveled. I tried getting it from..."

"You're pregnant" Greg said astonished like he was hoping she would say no, even thou it was obvious to the eyes, expect she developed a protruded stomach which thou it's bad he had hoped would be the case. He had money, and with money that could be taken care of he thought to himself.

For the first time, Ifeoma became self aware of her pregnancy, not that she have being oblivious about it. Expect for the fact _her pregnancy was a mistake yet she had accepted it with all her heart, she has gotten an unexplainable connection with the child in her womb. She looked at her stomach thou it wasn't yet that big but definitely obvious. She was among those women that their stomach starts showing at the early stage of their pregnancy.

Why does it feel like Greg sounded like he wanted an explanation and worse he sounded betrayed. It's being years they both lost contact, not like she had promised to wait for him. They didn't even talk about the wait thing, at that time she hadn't thought beyond the relationship or beyond the normal boyfriend and girlfriend stuff. This made her confused on the answer to give. It was obvious she was pregnant, she wondered why Greg had asked: "are you pregnant" like she wasn't meant to be.

As Ifeoma was about to make a response she felt a hand around her shoulders which nearly caused her to shout until she perceived a familiar fragrance and a voice call her: "baby."

Did she hear right she thought to herself as she gazed right into the face of the man she loves but who seemed like a stranger because the Obi she knew never called her by any endearment, surprising still; "baby". Was he jealous? Ifeoma thought to herself.