Chapter 34: The Marriage Agreement

"You don't mean it bro, why would she even do a thing like that. And it's quite surprising that she would even want to blackmail her own boss, how did she even come up with this evil idea in her head?"- Kelvin asked 

"I was so confused too and I later got to know that it was her boyfriend who convinced her to carry out the plan. She held my legs while trying to walk out of the office and i fell with my nose pointing directly to the ground, the pain alone was so unbearable, so I had to quickly rush down to the hospital"- I replied

"I'm really sorry for what happened. Wish you fast recovery bro, just sleep for a while and do less work so that you can heal faster. It won't be nice to be walking around with a bandaged nose, It might give people the wrong impression that you are a cronic fighter"- He replied and hung up the call 

I rested my back on my bed and closed my eyes 

Michael's POV

we got home that night looking so happy and emptied, I had a great time with Alexia and the movie we both watched was absolutely awesome. I have never seen anything like it 

"I wish everyday can be like today. See the way we both look so happy"- she replied

Indeed I was happy but I need to rest this old body of mine before it would break down like a motor engine. I jumped on my bed as lied down like a log of wood. 

"Aren't you going to take your bath sweetie?"- She asked while taking off her clothes 

"I will bath later, I am too tired right now and I think you should prepare something for us to eat this evening, you know that pop corn doesn't satisfy a man when he is madly hungry"- I replied

"Yeah, that's true. Let me fix up a nice meal for the both of us, but you will have to bath first"- She said

I walked into the bathroom and turned on the shower without even taking off my clothes. I just sat down on the floor and let the water pour all over my body.

 It was so cozy and I didn't want to end the chilled feeling

"Aren't you going to take off your clothes?"- she asked 

I Ignored her this time, was too concentrated with the feeling of chilled water dropping down on my body. She took of her clothes and joined me in the bathroom and while she was taking her bath, I was busy staring at her.

Quite weird to me, but she didn't even bother about it 

We both went to the kitchen few minutes later to prepare some fried rice and chicken for ourselves. It took us approximately one hour to get the food prepared before we began to eat on the dining table.

 We ate for a while till I noticed a change of mood through her facial expression

"Is anything wrong?"- I asked with food in my mouth 

"nothing is wrong. I can handle it by myself"- she replied with a frown 

I knew from that instance that something was wrong buy I couldn't put my fingers on the exact issue.

"Please share your problems with me, and let's find a solution to it together. Two heads are better than one you know"- I replied with a smile 

She looked directly into my eyes before opening up about the issue bothering her mind 

"It's my mother, when I went to the toilet while we were at the cinema. I got a call that she has been admitted in the hospital"- she replied

I was never expecting that at all, and it was quite surprising too. Because I paid a visit to her mom last week while she was away with some grocery shopping.

"What's wrong with her. Is she sick?"- I asked 

"My sister told me that she has a severe fever and the sickness is taking a big toil on her. According to her, my mother could barely even eat"- She replied with a frown 

"So what do you want to do right now. Do you want us to go see her at the hospital?"- I asked

She remained silent for about three minutes and I was getting quite pissed off by her silent treatment

"I don't know if she would even want to see me. She is really angry at me and I bet she wants me gone for good " She replied while dropping her spoon on the plate 

"How do you mean?, did you guys quarrel or what. Please explain everything to me so that I can understand better, you are keeping me in suspense and I don't like that at all"- I replied

"Well we had a major disagreement with each other when I paid her a visit few weeks back, she called me home so that we could talk about my marriage to you.

  According to her, staying in a man's house is not good at all. Especially if the man is not legally married you. She wanted me to tell you to quickly arrange all necessary things needed for the marriage. But I refused, I opted out that she should give you more time because you are not yet ready to settle down as man, even if you are financially stable and well educated, moreover we are still young so there's plenty of time to think about marriage"- She replied

Those words hit me like a bullet and I don't even know what to say next. Alexia was definitely right, I am not ready to settle down with a lady now, too young for that.

I do love her but I am planning to get married to her let's say in eighteen or twenty six months time. Why would her mom talk like this?

"So why did she quarrel with you even after explaining everything to her?"- I asked 

"She said we should get married next month, because she doesn't want to be refered to as the woman whose daughter is having an illicit affair with a man that she is not yet married to. She yelled at me when I tried to explain things further, it was as if she had already made up her mind and she wasn't ready to hear anything from me. And it even got worse when she ordered me to leave her house and don't come back till the both of us are ready to get married"- She replied and took a deep breath.

I was equally weakened by the whole issue too, why will her mother act like that. Was this how she was forced into marriage by her parents?

Why would she want to fasten the process, why can't she give her daughter more time to study the man that she is going to spend the rest of her life with?.

so many thoughts are just running through my mind and I don't even know what to do at this moment

"Perhaps we should go see her together tomorrow, let me see if I can talk or possibly explain some things to her"- I replied

"You think she would listen to you?. You of all people should know that my mother is very stubborn and deaf to the opinion or explanation of other people.

Once your explanation doesn't add up with her opinion or perspective, then forget it, she won't listen to you"- She added 

I stood up from my chair and went straight to hers, I rubbed her hair for a while before saying another word 

"When we get to the hospital, I would inform her that my dad is already making arrangements for all the necessary things that would be needed for the marriage ceremony.

Probably, I would just blow up her mind with lies that would buy us more time. Then once that time is exhausted, I would think of something else to do at that moment"- I replied

Alexia smiled at me, she knew I always have a plan for everything situation, so we both went to bed after watching Netflix for a while. We would leave very early for the hospital tomorrow, so that I can he back early to do some other things with my laptop

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We woke up very early the next day and she quickly got up from the bed to brush her teeth and get herself ready.

Me on the other hand was busy playing games with my phone, I don't know why but I do seem to always distract myself whenever I have an appointment to me up with

"Babe, go and get dressed. I thought you said you wanted to leave for the hospital very early in the morning. It's 7am already and we aren't even dressed"- She called out to me 

I quickly got out the bed after she screamed my name for the second time

We quickly arranged ourselves, took our bath, ate and dashed for the car. It took about thirty minutes before we could get to the hospital where Alexia's mom was admitted.

"Please I would like to see Mrs Smith. I am her daughter"- Alexia called out to one of the nurses who was on duty 

"Oh okay. Kindly follow me let me take you to her room"- She replied

We followed the nurse to the room and when we got there, I was so surprised to see her mom in a weak state. She trimmed down in shape, didn't she detect the fever on time?. Alexia dropped her bag and went straight to sit besides her mother 

"I'm so sorry mom, I never knew you were sick. I would have come earlier than this, please forgive me"- Alexia called out to her mom 

Her mom bluntly ignored her, perhaps she was still angry at her over the issues they had in the past. But I guess they will work out things together before the day runs out.

"Good morning ma, how are you doing today. I am so sorry about your current state"- I called out to her mom 

"Hello my son, how are you doing. I have always wanted to have a meeting with you and perhaps this is the right time."- she replied

"You are not feeling too good right now, don't think this is the right time to discuss. Maybe when you are discharged from the hospital, then I can pay you a visit and we will talk more"- I replied

She stood up from her bed and sat down on the chair besides her, Alexia watched in amazement. Perhaps she is already recovering from the fever 

"As you can see, I am getting better. I will be discharged in a few days time"- She replied with a smile 

"That's good to hear then. Alexia told me about everything that happened between the both of you and I want to pled with you to please forgive her actions. She still remains your daughter no matter what she does."- I replied and took my seat on her sick bed

"I was angry with her at first, but paying a visit to me even when I told her that I don't want to see her again shows that she really cares about me so much. But she will still receive punishment for shouting at her mother"- She replied with a smile 

I was quite confused by that last part, Alexia never mentioned anything about shouting at her mother. Or did she paint the story to favour her?

"How do you mean ma?"- I asked with curiosity

"I called her home to know her plans towards marriage. At first, she said that you are not yet ready, based on the fact that you are quite busy with your job and other things.

 I only made her know that living in a man's house with him being your husband goes against the standards of a responsible woman"- she replied

I paused for a moment, expecting more words from her 

"My husband came home few days back and he wasn't happy with the fact that his daughter is not yet married and living in her boyfriend's house. For me, it's not right to live in a man's house if the man is not your husband.

 The other day, I felt ashamed when a fellow lady educated me on this same issue and Alexia knows that i am a woman leader with high respect in the catholic church. so other people are looking up to me and my children"- She replied

She was actually right though, most women will surely look up to her based on the fact that she is their leader and they would also want to walk in her footsteps.

"I will start making arrangements for the marriage, i really love your daughter and if getting married to her will make you happy. Then consider that done, I will speak to my father about this and see what he has to say.

But nevertheless, I promise you that it won't exceed four to twelve months before we eventually get married to each other"- I replied with a smile knowing that it would be hard to fulfill what i just said

Alexia stared at me as if I said something wrong, perhaps she doesn't believe my words because I early made it clear to her that I may put some lies to make her mother give us more time.

 But I seriously didn't meant every word that came out of my mouth 

"I really love to hear those words my son, thank you so much. I can't wait to dance with joy on your wedding day"- She replied as she drew close to give me a warm hug 

"I will go to the cashier and sort out all the hospital bills and here is a little token of $7000 to keep you going for the meantime."- I said while handlng her a brown envelope with some cash inside 

She smiled and hugged me for the second time in a row 

"Thank you so much my son inlaw. You are such a wonderful young man and I trust that you would take good care of my daughter here"- She replied while leaning forward to hug her daughter

"I have forgiven you, but don't ever try to restrict my orders next time, your mother knows best."- She replied jokingly as they both exchanged kisses on the forehead 

I settled all the bills before leaving the hospital and I decided to pay a visit to Kelvin before heading back home. Being at home all day is starting to make a big impact on me, i am now becoming too fat and I can barely do excerise anymore. i can't ontinue like this, I need to move around and burn off all these body fats 

"Did you actually mean those words you said back there to my mom?"- Alexia asked

"Yes, I had the Intention of lying to her. But it seems that I just had to tell her the truth. I really do love you and I will do anything to keep you close to me at all times"- I replied