Chapter Thirteen: The Painful Truth
1362 Words
As Isaac stared at Emeka, disbelief filled his eyes. He shook his head stubbornly.
"I don't believe you Nadia wouldn't lie to me. She came here yesterday and told me Malika was sick. She said her phone wasn't working and that she would contact me soon. Why would Nadia make something like that up?"
Emeka sighed heavily.
"My friend, you are too blinded by love to see the truth," he said. "I saw Malika with Chuma with my own eyes. They were together, walking around the village like lovers. When I confronted them, Malika openly said she had moved on. She said Nadia already knew."
Isaac frowned.
"No. That can't be true."
"It is true," Emeka insisted. "You just don't want to accept it."
Before Isaac could respond, footsteps echoed from the entrance of the compound.
Both men turned.
Nadia was approaching.
A bright smile lit her face as she entered the compound. She carried a woven basket in one hand and a flask in the other. She had spent the entire morning preparing Isaac's favorite meal.
She wore a beautiful purple native blouse and wrapper decorated with white beads. Matching white bead bracelets adorned her wrists, while delicate bead anklets circled her ankles. White beaded earrings dangled from her ears, and a necklace rested gracefully against her chest.
Her braided hair was tied neatly into a ponytail, making her youthful beauty even more noticeable.
A pair of white sandals completed her appearance.
She looked radiant.
Unfortunately, the moment she entered the compound, she sensed something was wrong.
The atmosphere felt tense.
Emeka was sitting beside Isaac, and neither man looked particularly happy.
Nadia forced a smile.
"Good morning, Emeka."
"Good morning, Nadia," Emeka replied warmly.
Then she turned to Isaac.
"Good morning, Isaac."
Isaac did not respond.
The smile on Nadia's face faded.
A knot formed in her stomach.
"Isaac?" she called softly.
His expression remained cold.
Emeka shifted uncomfortably.
Nadia looked from one man to the other.
"What happened?" she asked.
Isaac stared directly into her eyes.
"Nadia."
"Yes?"
"What are you hiding from me?"
Her heart skipped a beat.
"What do you mean?"
"What are you hiding from me?" he repeated.
Nadia swallowed nervously.
"Nothing."
Isaac's eyes narrowed.
"Don't lie to me."
Nadia glanced at Emeka.
Immediately, she understood.
Emeka must have told him.
She lowered her eyes.
Emeka spoke quietly.
"I told him what I saw this morning."
Nadia remained silent.
"I saw Malika with Chuma," Emeka continued. "Malika told me that she already told you to tell Isaac that she had moved on."
The silence that followed was heavy.
Nadia felt trapped.
She knew there was no point hiding the truth anymore.
Slowly, she nodded.
"It's true."
Isaac's face darkened.
Nadia could barely look at him.
"I went to Malika's house yesterday," she confessed softly. "I found her with another man."
Isaac's body stiffened.
The pain in his eyes was immediate.
Nadia continued.
"She told me she no longer wanted anything to do with you. She said she had moved on."
A painful silence settled over the compound.
Unknown to them, Isaac's mother had been standing behind the kitchen wall, listening to every word.
Her face hardened with anger.
That wicked girl!
Her son had broken his leg because of Malika, yet Malika had already abandoned him for another man.
The thought made her blood boil.
Back in the compound, Nadia's eyes filled with tears.
"I'm sorry, Isaac," she whispered.
Isaac remained silent.
Nadia took a step closer.
"I didn't tell you because I was afraid."
Still no response.
"I saw how much pain you were already going through. You could barely walk. You were worried about her day and night. I thought if I told you immediately, it would only make things worse."
Her voice trembled.
"I wanted to protect you."
Isaac finally looked up.
His eyes were red.
"Protect me?" he asked quietly.
"Yes."
"You lied to me."
Nadia nodded sadly.
"I know."
"You told me her phone was faulty."
"I know."
"You told me she was sick."
Nadia lowered her head.
"I know."
Isaac sighed heavily.
For the first time, he looked truly broken.
The reality was finally sinking in.
Malika had abandoned him.
Everything Emeka had said was true.
The woman he loved had moved on.
Tears gathered in his eyes.
For several moments, nobody spoke.
Then Nadia carefully lifted the basket she was carrying.
"I brought you abacha," she said gently.
No response.
"I also brought fruits."
Isaac looked away.
"I'm not hungry."
Nadia smiled sadly.
"You need to eat."
"I don't want it."
"Please."
Isaac shook his head.
"Take it away."
Nadia sat beside him.
"No."
Isaac frowned.
"What do you mean no?"
"You have to eat."
"I'm not hungry."
"You need your strength."
"I'm not hungry."
"You need your medicine."
"I'm not hungry."
Emeka almost laughed despite the tension.
Nadia was stubborn.
Very stubborn.
Nadia opened the flask anyway.
The aroma of freshly prepared abacha filled the compound.
"You don't have to worry," she said softly. "Everything will be fine."
Isaac gave a bitter laugh.
"Fine?"
"Yes."
"My girlfriend just left me."
Nadia's heart ached.
"Then when you recover, you can decide what you want to do."
Isaac stared at her.
For a moment, he couldn't understand her.
Most girls would have used the opportunity to criticize Malika.
But Nadia wasn't doing that.
Instead, she was still trying to comfort him.
Even after everything.
Even after all the hurtful things he had said to her.
"What do you gain from this?" Isaac suddenly asked.
Nadia blinked.
"What?"
"Why are you doing all this?"
She remained silent.
"I've rejected you countless times."
Still silence.
"I told you I don't love you."
Nothing.
"I told you I may never love you."
Nadia smiled sadly.
"I remember."
"Then why are you still here?"
She looked at him.
Because I love you.
The words almost escaped her lips.
Instead, she said softly,
"You told me we could be friends."
Isaac stared at her.
"You also said you see me as a younger sister."
A faint smile appeared on her face.
"So I'm simply being a good sister."
Isaac didn't know what to say.
For the first time, guilt settled heavily in his heart.
Meanwhile, inside the kitchen, Isaac's mother hurried back to her cooking pot before Nadia could catch her listening.
When Nadia asked about her, she quickly began stirring the soup as though she had been there the entire time.
Nadia stood up.
"Where is Mama?"
"In the kitchen," Emeka answered.
"I'll go and greet her."
She picked up the basket and walked toward the kitchen.
The moment she disappeared, Emeka turned to Isaac.
His expression became serious.
"What is wrong with you?"
Isaac frowned.
"What now?"
"Look at the way you treat that girl."
Isaac sighed.
"Not this again."
"Yes, this again."
Emeka pointed toward the kitchen.
"That girl loves you more than anyone I have ever seen."
Isaac remained silent.
"Do you know how many women would have walked away after being rejected the way you've rejected her?"
No response.
"She cooks for you."
Still silence.
"She helps your mother."
Nothing.
"She worries about you."
Isaac looked away.
"She even went to check on Malika for you."
That one struck deep.
Emeka leaned closer.
"And after everything, you still treat her like she's a burden."
Isaac clenched his jaw.
"I never asked her to love me."
"No," Emeka agreed. "But she does."
Isaac remained quiet.
"You've already lost Malika," Emeka continued. "Don't lose someone who genuinely cares about you too."
Isaac stared at the ground.
His heart was confused.
For the first time since Malika left him, he began remembering all the times Nadia had been there.
The meals.
The kindness.
The concern.
The sacrifices.
Everything.
Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Nadia sat beside Isaac's mother.
The older woman looked at her lovingly.
"My child, don't let what happened discourage you."
Nadia forced a smile.
"I'm fine, Mama."
But she wasn't.
Not even close.
Because no matter how hard she tried, the man she loved still looked at another woman.
And deep inside her heart, she feared that perhaps he always would.
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