Fourteen

Omowumi understood her. It was good that he didn't want to marry her but his reason was the problem. He didn't want to marry her because he thought she wasn't capable of being queen. Apeke didn't like that at all. She didn't like being told she couldn't do something. She usually saw this as a challenge but this was different. This time,she would have to retreat because this was a war she couldn't fight.

"Who does he think he is?"

"The crown prince,Apeke. He is the crown prince. You could be arrested for treason if you are heard speaking like that about him."

"Don't worry,I won't get caught."Apeke promised.

"You are supposed to not do it again at all,not promise not to get caught."

"I can't do that. I could never stop speaking the truth."

"You never listen."Omowumi shook her head.

...

Apekeola was playing with Arike when they were suddenly graced with the presence of the royal guards.

Apeke was being summoned to the palace,again. She really didn't want to go there but what choice did she have? She had to go.

She followed the guards after bading farewell to Omowumi and her neice.

She wondered why she was being summoned. Did the queen want to talk to her again? Did she want to force her to agree again? She hoped not.

She was dreading the moment they would eventually arrive at the palace but every journey comes to an end whether short or long.

She was surprised when she found out the reason she was summoned. There were some foreign visitors at the palace and they needed an interpreter.

The king,crown prince and a few other people had gone to the neighborhing kingdom for the wedding of Princess Jumoke's sister. The whole family was invited but the head queen was a little under the weather so she hadn't been able to go with them.

They weren't expecting the visitors. The queen could stand in place of the king but there was one problem;she didn't understand them and they didn't understand her. They usually brought with them an interpreter but they had come separately and he ended up running really late. He was too late ,they had to fulfil their purpose for the visit without him.

The head queen remembered Fabunmi praising her daughter. She said she was an excellent interpreter. That wasn't exactly true because that theory had never been tested. She had never had a reason to interpret before. She wasn't sure she could do it but Apeke had nothing to worry about.

She really did do an excellent job. It made her feel good but that happiness was deflated when the head queen introduced her as the crown prince's wife-to-be. Why did she have do that?

...

Alani sat with a cup of palm wine in his hands. He couldn't stop thinking about his dead friend. They had still spoken this week. Everything was normal. Everything was okay. He had gone to see him the day he died and he had looked fine but he wasn't.

Yes,he was sick but he looked like he was already getting better until he wasn't. Instead, his health deteriorated rapidly and he eventually died about four days ago.

Alani had been the one to find the body. He was devastated. He was still hunted by the sight of his lifeless body. He could vividly remember the expression on his face. It was one of pain. He had been in pain while he was busy having the time of his life with some random girl,as usual.

He couldn't have the one he loved so he had to settle for less..and settle he did . Alani had become used to sleeping with other girls to get her out his head but it never worked. Loving her was like an incurable disease,there was no solution and that was killing him.

Loosing his friend made him realise how short life could be. So,he was determined to live without any regrets.

That's why he decided to act on his feelings for Omowumi.

He had liked her for a long time now but he couldn't bring himself to tell her. How could he? He was scared. He didn't deserve her but he wanted to be a man that deserved her.

He had to be.

He drowned his sorrows in wine. He just wanted to forget. He didn't want to stop ,he couldn't. In his drunken state he decided to go to Omowumi's house.

...

Omowumi was speaking to Arike when her father started screaming. She ran to his room. He was having a nightmare again.

Ever since her sister and mother died,her father had become a shell of himself. Gone was the fun and jovial man who could make a joke out of anything. He began to lash out over the smallest of things.

People began to call him mad. Omowumi had to grow older than her age to take care if Arike. She was sixteen when her sister died,leaving the then two year old Arike in her care. Her sister never revealed who the father of her child was. It was a mystery to everyone.

She had tried to figure it out in her own. Omowumi and her sister were really close. They told each other everything. She had never told her she has feelings for anyone. So, she was the most surprised when she found out she was pregnant. It really didn't make sense.

Her sister,Wura was an obedient child,she believed whatever her parents told her very easily. She believed it when her father told her boys were bad for her. She had never questioned him . It came as a shock to everyone when she became pregnant. Omowumi had been the only one by her side,never judging her. Their parents had wanted to kick her out out of dissapointment and embarrassment but Omowumi convinced them not to.

Two years later Wura was found dead . She had drowned. Noone knew how. So,it was assumed she had killed herself.

Her parents felt responsible for this. If only they hadn't been so cold to her, she'd still be alive and poor Arike wouldn't be without a mother.

Their mother had been unable to handle the pain and guilt ,she eventually died. That was the last straw for her father. He finally broke. It was too much for him . He couldn't handle it but who was Omowumi to run to when she couldn't handle it?

Omowumi was busy soothing her father when she heard someone come in to her house . She was scared. Who was it?

"It is uncle Alani." Arike said and walked over to her grandfather.

"He wants to see you."

He was here? She was happy and nervous.

"Alani, what are you doing here?" She saw him holding some wine in his hands. He was drunk.

"I found you. "He said, falling . Before he passed out ,he whispered,'I love you, Omowumi.' and she heard.