C2 Chapter Two

I had no idea that the happiness I felt that night

would soon turn into confusion and pain.

After I told Ngozi about Ebere's plans to marry me, we celebrated together. She congratulated me, and I was so happy that I couldn't stop smiling.

I couldn't wait for the day I would finally become Ebere's wife.

That weekend, Ngozi came with me to visit my man.

Before we left, I made sure she looked beautiful. The clothes she wore were mine. Her shoes and even her handbag belonged to me. I also did her makeup myself because I wanted her to look good.

She was my best friend, and I trusted her completely.

I never knew that anything could go wrong.

When we arrived at Ebere's house, Ngozi was so surprised.

She kept looking around. She touched the tables, the chairs, and almost everything around her. She looked from one corner of the house to another as though she had never seen anything like it before.

I became a little embarrassed.

“Ngozi, come on, babe. Behave yourself. What is it?”

She looked at me.

“Babe, are you telling me that this is your man's house?”

I laughed.

“Yes. What is it?”

She looked around again.

“Wait a minute. You mean this is where Ebere lives?”

I laughed again.

“Come on, babe. You're embarrassing me. Yes, this is my man's house. Just calm down and sit.”

She finally sat down, although she still looked amazed by everything around her.

I turned to her.

“Babe, what would you like to take?”

“I'm okay with yogurt.”

“Okay.”

I went straight to the refrigerator, brought out a bottle of yogurt and a glass cup, poured some into the cup, and handed it to her.

“Here you go. Relax and enjoy yourself.”

Then I stood up.

“I'm coming. Let me go and tell my man that we're here.”

I went upstairs to call Ebere.

As I was going upstairs, I suddenly heard a faint voice coming from downstairs.

It sounded like Ngozi's voice, but I couldn't understand what she was saying.

I didn't think much of it.

I assumed she was probably just talking to herself or admiring something in the house.

So I continued upstairs to call Ebere.

A few minutes later, I came back downstairs with Ebere.

I smiled.

“Honey, meet my friend Ngozi.”

Then I turned to Ngozi.

“Ngozi, meet my man.”

Immediately, Ngozi stood up and greeted Ebere.

They exchanged handshakes.

I was just standing there smiling, thinking it was a normal friendly greeting.

But as soon as they shook hands, I noticed something strange about Ebere's face.

His expression suddenly changed.

I looked at him.

“Babe, are you okay?”

He quickly composed himself.

“Yes, I'm fine.”

I looked at him for a moment, but he didn't say anything else.

After a while, Ebere smiled at us.

“Ladies, enjoy yourselves. I'll leave you to yourselves.”

He left us and went upstairs.

Ngozi and I continued chatting in the sitting room.

After spending some time there, we eventually left and returned home.

But after that visit, something unusual happened.

Ebere stopped calling me.

At first, I didn't think much of it. I thought maybe he was busy.

But when I started calling him and he didn't pick up, I became worried.

I called again.

He didn't answer.

I called again.

Still nothing.

I couldn't understand what was happening.

Ngozi noticed that I was becoming restless.

“Babe, what is it?”

“I don't know what is happening,” I told her. “Ebere has stopped picking my calls.”

She tried to calm me down.

“Babe, don't take it too seriously. You worry too much. It's nothing. Maybe he's busy. Give him some time. He'll come back.”

I sighed.

“This is unusual for him. Ebere has never behaved like this before.”

“Maybe he's just busy. Give him some time.”

I tried to listen to her, but deep down, I was still worried.

Something didn't feel right.

I kept wondering what could possibly have happened.

We had not quarrelled. There was no misunderstanding between us.

So why had Ebere suddenly stopped calling me?

Even when I suggested that I should go and visit him, Ngozi tried to convince me not to.

“Babe, don't worry. What if you go there and he's busy? He might think you're disturbing him. Just give him some time. He'll definitely come back.”

I tried to remain calm.

But I couldn't.

For two days, I kept worrying and wondering what was wrong.

Finally, I decided to visit Ebere myself.

I needed to know what was happening.

I needed to know why the man I loved had suddenly changed.

So I went to Ebere's house.

And that was the day I couldn't believe what my eyes saw.

TO BE CONTINUED...