Episode Eight
Linda was devastated by Chima’s attitude. She was hoping that the pregnancy was a potent weapon which she would use to trap Chima. But apparently, it didn’t work. Chima’s rejection of the baby broke Linda’s heart greatly. She went home that evening and locked herself in her room and wept all night.
“What kind of life is this? I was actually thinking my prayers have been answered after getting pregnant. I was thinking Chima would accept the pregnancy without asking questions. Now, he is even suspecting that I’m pinning Kele’s baby on him. He thinks I’m telling lies. But it’s true, the baby belongs to him and I can’t be telling lies with something as important as the paternity of my child. Chima got me pregnant, not Kele. I remember very clearly that I have not played football with Kele for a long time. All these weeks, I have spent so much time with Chima. Why is he now denying the pregnancy?” Linda asks herself.
That night, she felt so terrible. She had food at home. In fact, she had different dishes but she could not eat anything. She had Oha soup, okra soup, banga stew, and porridge beans mixed with yams and dried fish. However, she was not hungry. She lost her appetite because of how Chima treated her. She did not even warm the food and all of them went bad the next day.
“If I had known, I would not have allowed Chima to touch me. I was thinking he felt the same way I was feeling. I love him, and was thinking he loves me too. I didn’t know he was just pretending. He used his sweet tongue to lure me back to himself. I allowed him to play football in my field, and now, he has successfully scored a goal. Why is he treating me this way?” Linda kept weeping. The time now was 2am and everywhere was dark. Linda was sobbing silently in her apartment. Her two pillows got soaked in tears. She was sweating too, just as if there was hot fire in the room despite the fact that her air-conditioner was humming.
“But it was my fault. I should have been wiser. I should have known that Chima was not ready to do life with me. He has never been ready. Even when we graduated and I told him to marry me, he refused. But he was still playing football in my field. I was foolish to have gone back to him. I should have stayed with Kele. Now, I’m pregnant for Chima and he has denied getting me pregnant, what am I going to tell Kele?” Linda’s tears had increased. She has been crying for more than six hours. Her eyes were swollen and reddish.
“How am I going to convince Kele that the pregnancy belongs to him? He hasn’t touched me for long. He will know he is not the father of the baby.” Linda said. She was beginning to feel a strong headache. Her body was beginning to react negatively to the long period of crying. There was no one to tell Linda to stop crying. She was the one who stopped by herself. However, she didn’t sleep.
In the morning, Linda decided she was going to visit Kele to tell him about the pregnancy. She didn’t know how Kele would react, but she reasoned that it was good to let him know before their marriage.
That morning, Linda was not in the right frame of mind, so she decided not to go with her car.
“I can’t drive in this state. I’m not even thinking properly. I might cause a road accident if I decide to drive. It is better for me to use town service bus. I don’t want to ‘jam’ someone on the road.” Linda said. She used her scarf to cover her face partially. She did not want people in her street to see her swollen face.
Soon, she was standing by the side of an express road. She flagged a town service bus going in her direction.
When she got to Kele’s house, he was about going to work. She met him outside, standing close to his car and holding a briefcase.
“Linda! Nice to see you here today. I was just about to leave for work. You are lucky to have met me at home. Why didn’t you call me me before coming?” Kele said. Already, Kele’s heart has been suspecting her.
“Kele, please, we need to talk. I will not take too much of your time. Just give a few minutes before you will leave for work. There’s something I need to tell you.” Linda said. She rushed into Kele’s house. Kele followed her closely.
“Where’s your car? Why didn’t you drive? And why is your face swollen? What happened? You are not looking good at all. Talk to me. What’s going on?” Kele asked.
“I’m pregnant!” Linda tells Kele. She sat down on one of the sofas in Kele’s living room. She was trying so hard to control herself. Tears were almost dropping from her swollen eyes, but she wiped them with the edge of her scarf.
“Oh my God! You mean I’m going to become a father? Oh my goodness! I have always wanted to have a baby. I love children so much. But wait, is that why you are looking this way? I mean, you are not looking good. Is anything bothering you?” Kele asked. Linda was surprised because of how Kele reacted.
“I was thinking you will be angry because I got pregnant before our wedding. I didn’t know you will accept the pregnancy. I was so worried. You remember some weeks ago when I told you I had malaria and typhoid? Well, I didn’t know I was already pregnant. I did the test yesterday and the doctor confirmed I will be having a baby. I’m so glad you are happy.” Linda said with a smile.
“Why won’t I be happy? This is what I want. Thanks very much for making me a father. This is the perfect wedding gift.” Kele said as he hugged Linda passionately. Linda didn’t go home again. She stayed at Kele’s house throughout that day.
“Kele is not aware that I have pinned another man’s baby on him. This is why I refused to leave him. If I had dumped him, I would have been stranded by now. I thank God I did not put all my eggs in one basket. Even though I don’t love Kele, I have no option than to marry him because of the pregnancy.” Linda said.
Later that evening, she got a text message from Chima.
“Hi Linda. I’m happy to inform you that I got a job with one of the companies where you helped me apply to. I went for the interview today and the salary is N3 million per month. I have been told to resume work tomorrow. I just want to tell you that I’m now ready to accept the pregnancy and the baby. I love you.” Chima said in the WhatsApp message.
To be continued……
