Chapter 111
Chapter 111
Andrew's POV
I kept staring at the window for hours and it felt like hell because all the voices in my head are just confusing me, I don't know what to do at all and even at speaking with my close friends about this urgent marriage of a thing, I don't seem to find inner peace and I don't know why it's like this, I have been in New York for close to seven days now and I think it's high time I move back to Nigeria. At least, I have heard what my father has been hiding for so long so I don't think there is any need to wait when I should be looking for my dream wife, I brushed my teeth and left the room without even looking the door first of all, I need to speak to my aunt so that we can leave tomorrow morning, "Good morning sir" one of the maids greeted me while I walked past her, "Good morning" I replied without bothering to ask about her night because I don't want to give room to any conversation right now so that I don't forget the initial reason why I left my room this early morning.
I walked up to the guest room where my aunt stays and I knocked on the door hoping that she would be awake to open up so that I can come in, "Who is it?" she asked with a faint voice which indicates that I just woke her up from her beauty sleep, "It's me Andrew, I would like to discuss something with you if you are not too sleepy" I called out to her with a loud voice so that she could hear me well. She opened the door two minutes later and my eyes were so red, was she awake throughout the whole night?, "Why are your eyes this red?" I asked while walking towards the chair close to the dressing mirror. "I streamed a movie for complete five hours, I fell asleep by 5AM and you came to wake me up by 7AM" she replied after yawning so loud like a hungry lion, she didn't sleep at all and I'm beginning to feel that she won't give me listening ears based on the fact that sleep has taken over her body like a plaque
"Oh I see, seems you need to rest, maybe I will talk to you later in the day" I replied and stood up from the chair but she held my hands and made me sit besides her on the bed, "You can tell me anything, the fact that I haven't slept well doesn't mean I can't listen to what my beautiful nephew has to say" she replied with a smile, "I wanted to ask when we will be leaving for Nigeria because we have spent up to seven days here and I feel it's high time we head back home or what do you think?" I asked with hope that she would agree with me. "You are kinda right though, but your father hasn't really demanded that we leave for Nigeria so I think we should tell him about this first" she replied, why is she talking like this?, doesn't she have important things to attend to in Nigeria?
"Don't you think your fiance is getting lonely and don't you have important things to handle back home, why should you wait for my dad to give his opinion before you leave?" I asked with a frown on my face, "My fiance is doing well and I'm pretty sure he wants me to settle everything over here before returning back home and by the way, I have settle most of the important things I need to do even before we booked a flight here" she replied. I knew this was going to be a bad idea but it was worth giving a shot, these people are driving me crazy but if she is not ready to leave, then I will travel back home on my own, after all I'm a grown man now.
I can take my own decisions, I just came to her to see if she will be on my side but it seems that dad's ways are rubbing off on her slowly but that's none of my business by the way because I can't continue to live like this, "Alright then, you can ask my father when it's fit for you to leave" I replied and tried walking out of the room when she grabbed me again for the second time, "And why are you acting like this, don't you think it's more better to seek you dad's opinion if he wants us to leave or stay a little bit longer?, don't tell me you want to pull up that trick of yours again" she replied. "What trick are you talking about, I have no tricks up my sleeve" I replied looking confused with her statement.
"You think I didn't hear how you snuck out of the church during a service only for your parents to find out few days later that you traveled to Atlanta Georgia, you better don't try that crazy thing with me because I will break your bones" she threatened, I stared at her without saying anything and I stood up immediately amd walked out of the door, it's really sad how I still live with these people and what does she even mean by break my bones?. I went straight to the dining table to wait for my breakfast and one of the maids quickly prepared tea for me while the other one rubbed butter on my bread, I ate for a few minutes until my dad walked in like a ghost, I didn't notice his presence at all until he pulled out a chair
My mind skipped a bit when he pulled the chair because I was too concentrated on my breakfast to even notice someone behind my back and everywhere is quiet too, making me have that impression that I'm the only one here, "How was your night my boy?" he asked, but I had to ignore him because I had some bread in my mouth and it's not good to eat and talk at the same time, "If was fine big man" I replied after chewing up my bread. My father looked a little bit surprised when I referred to him as a big man, perhaps he was thinking that I would greet him, "Since when did you start referring to me as big man, what form of disrespect is that?" my dad replied looking a bit angry with they way I addressed him, "I'm sorry sir" I replied quickly before I stare up another trouble for myself.
We both ate for a while until nothing was left on our plates as the maids rushed into to clear the table, "I'm pretty sure you slept well yesterday, didn't you?" he asked with a smile while placing his hands on my left shoulder, "Yes it was splendid but I think it's high time I travel back to my base" I replied. He remained silent for a while, obviously trying to put some things together in his head. "Oh okay, but have you spoke to your aunt about this?" he asked. "I told her about it this morning but she said we should seek your opinion first before leaving" I said, "then it's okay, you guys can leave first thing in the morning" he replied with a smile
For the first time in history, I was pleased with his reply as I walked up to my aunt's room to give her the new information, "My dad has finally agreed for us to leave first thing tomorrow morning, so I think you should start parking up your things so that you don't forget them" I replied after barging into her room without even knocking, she simply waved her hand at me to signify that she has heard what I have to say. Sleep has taken the greater part of her so it's better I leave her to rest since she spent half of her night streaming a movies that she could easily watch in the day time on getting to my room, I was shocked to see my mom sitting on my bed while operating her phone.
"Good morning mom" I managed to say after I walked in to take off my night wear and bath myself, "How are you doing, I suspected that you went to eat your breakfast, come sit, I have something to discuss with you" she replied while tapping on the exact place she wants me to sit. I'm not really cut out of this kind of early morning discussion of a thing and I don't know how to escape from this without sounding rude, "Why don't we discuss this later so that I can take my bath, I need to clean my body and wear some new clothes" I replied, "i'm currently wearing my night gown so I don't see any problem here, come sit down and stop looking for excuses when they are none available" she replied
I sat down on the bed while waiting patiently for her to say what's in her mind and I'm pretty sure it would be about the so called marriage that they are trying to force me into, "Okay, so I would like to ask about your plan when you get to Nigeria, because I overheard your father saying that you and my sister could travel back first thing tomorrow morning" she asked, how on earth did she hear all those stuffs, was she eavesdropping on our conversation.
"Yes, he actually told us to leave tomorrow but honestly speaking, I don't really know how to even go about this looking for a girl stuff" I replied, I don't want to tell her about what I early discussed with my friends because she would totally kick against it without even thinking twice, I know how very well so it's better she gives me her own opinion. "Don't tell me that Andrew, I know you too well and you have some tricks up your sleeves but you don't just want to tell me" she replied while staring directly into my eyes to see if I would reveal what's in mind
I'm prepared to continue staring at her back even if it's means forever because I don't have any intention to reveal my plan to her because it would surely get to my dad's hearing in one way or the other, these people should just let me rest and do what I want, why are they disturbing me like this?. "I don't have any tricks up my sleeve, I'm dead serious and I don't have anything to hide at all" I replied after a long period of silence, "well I would like to ask if you would prefer it for me and your father to look for a good woman that will love and adore you like her own?" she asked
I looked at her with shock, why would she want to do that? when I clearly stated that I don't need anybody's help in finding my dream wife, "Sincerely speaking, I don't think this is necessary at all because I want to look for my own wife because she is going to live with me and not you so I see no reason why you guys should involve yourself in this affair of mine" I replied angrily, but the look o her face was more like a lioness ready to devour an antelope. "So we should give you the liberty to choose any woman you want so that you can end up bringing someone that will ruin your life right?" she asked with anger written all over her face
Ever since I left New York, I experienced peace for more than five years, perhaps I should have told them to narrate what they had to say over the phone. Coming here was definably a bad idea and I regret it with passion, but thank God I'm leaving tomorrow, "Mom you just have to let me make my own choice, how do you expect me to learn when you guys keep chosing for me?. Does the world work like that?" I asked.
She stared at the ground because she was short of words at this point and maybe what I said made her to rethink if her suggestion was actually a good one, "You are right though, but life is too short to start learning. You just have to take the bull by the horn because there is not much time left for you father" she replied. "Why are you making it sound like I'm the reason for his predicament, why are you guys even forcing me into all these stuff. There are tons of people who died happily without having grandchildren so what's the big deal anyway?" I asked with my eyes wide open, I couldn't control my anger anymore and it has taken the better part of me
My mom remained calm when she noticed how angry I am at this moment, she is driving me crazy and if care is not taken I may just walk out through the door with just my phone, never to return back and I will equally block all communications for them to reach me, "Please Andrew, I know you are hurt right now and that's why I won't take you serious for the rubbish you just said. This may sound like a big burden to you but I just want to tell you that if truly you love your father, you will honor this last request of his without thinking twice about it" she replied and stood up from the bed but I held her hands when I noticed tears were dropping down from her eyes.
Seems I have spoken out of turn again and this always happens when I'm extremely angry, I just want peace of mind. "I'm sorry if I spoke wrongly, please forgive me" I begged on my knees, "I have already forgiven you, come talk to me later when you are calm" she replied and walked out through the door. I laid down on my bed looking so confused, tired and stressed out mentally.
But I got up again and started arranging my luggage so that I won't forget any important items of mine. Later in the evening, I walked to my mom's room to see if she was alone and I quietly opened the door so that I could talk with her a little before I hit the road tomorrow morning, the whole day has been boring for me and nobody left the house throughout.
"Mom, I'm really sorry for what I said to you in the morning, the words flew out of my mouth due to anger" I begged again while leaning close to her, she dragged me to herself and hugged me tight. "I understand, maybe I pushed you too much and you couldn't contain your emotions anymore. I'm sorry too, I was only trying to help"
"I understand mom and I promise not to let you down, in two months time I would look for a good lady and settle down with her" I replied with a smile before my dad walked in