Matrimony

Chapter 4

You know that moment when you feel you're in a place where you're not wanted. You just feel like you were a piece that needed to complete the picture perfect. It's almost as though you're statue would fit better and nobody would even notice that you aren't really there. That's exactly how I felt at the moment.

Seated here in the dining with my prestigious family and some unknown man and woman, I wanted nothing more than for this moment to be over and done with.

The only thing that caught my attention right now was my finger nails which I had coated with Red nail polish.

"Yes! Wren is an accounting student in the university of abuja. We couldn't be more proud of her, maybe when she's done she could help in the accounts of the family business" my dad said.

In your dreams.

Every body at the table seemed to take what my father said hilarious as they laughed.

No, they didn't see it as funny, it was part of business procedures. It was all fake, the laughter, the smiles.

"My son just graduated from the university of abuja, with a first class degree in law. He's our company lawyer now"

The man said with great pride.

They laughed, again.

Okay! Are we done with the boasting game?

"When will he be here? I can't wait to meet him"

My mom asked the 'investor'.

I stabbed my fried plantain though I had no plans of eating it any time soon.

"He's close by, had to finish up some work in the office. He has this big case on his shoulders. He's defending an oil company and you know how tedious work can get"

"I can imagine"

I chirped in trying to see if I could fit Into the conversation. I don't want my dad shouting at me later on that I wasn't polite enough to his guests.

They laughed again.

Ha! Ha! Ha!!

When I was growing up nobody mentioned how funny I was, maybe I missed it.

What was it with old people and their business dinners? If I forced my laughter even once my throat would feel so sore.

I forgot, they had been playing this fake game all their life!

Silence settled in for a while. Only the clashing sounds of cutlery against plates could be heard. As I was taking comfort in the silence, my phone began to ring.

I picked it up from the table and looked at the caller ID. I furrowed my brows as I thought of any reason why Amara would be calling me in the middle of having her blast time with Segun.

None.

"Keep that thing on silent, it's disturbing the peace and quiet"

My dad commanded in a stern voice.

It couldn't be something serious so I kept it on silence. Not because he asked, but because my mom's eyes pleaded with me to obey him.

Their conversation continued but my eyes kept darting from my mom's pleading eyes to my lit phone screen. This was the fifth time she was calling.

I closed my eyes, tried to calm my self but when my phone rang for the sixth time tonight I picked it up before I could change my mind.

"Wren, drop your phone right this instance, dont be rude"

my father growled.

I should have listened to him.

But I didnt.

"Hey" I breathed into the phone. Everyone's eyes were on me now. I swear if this wasn't important I was going to make my bestfriend pay.

Nobody spoke, not even Amara.

I decided to say something.

"Bestiee, I'm kind of in the middle of something important right now...."

"He cheated on me, I caught him with her. Wren I'm so sorry to disturb you but I really need you, I'm in a mess I feel like I'm dying. I can't f*****g think straight...."

She broke down and my heart broke at the sound of her cries.

" I can't even drive, please if you don't mind, could you come pick me up? I'm at that club, they one we could have gone to together"

She sobbed again, then laughed. Her laughter wasn't the one she gave me this morning when I threw the hard cover note at her, it lacked the slightest trace of humor, only pain.

I couldn't hear any more of it. I stood up and started making my way to the exit.

"Nkiru come back here!

My father bellowed as he dumped his fist on the table making a few things clatter.

He always called me Nkiru when he was angry. There was a time when that scared me but now, it didn't even make a single hair on my body frightened.

I stopped, took one last look at him. His tall frame stood now looking at me, daring me to step out. I took the dare.

I ran out of the house clutching my bag and my phone in another hand. Amara must be drunk, I just hope she still had a little sanity before she would do something disastrous.

"s**t"

I cursed as my things fell out of my hand.

I looked up to see the culprit who was lost in drinking me in.

I couldn't quite see his face because of the lack of light to illuminate this part of the house.

I decided to ignore him as I bent to frantically pack my things in my bag.

"Hey there, rushing to somewhere? Need my help?"

He finally said something when I was about to continue my journey to my car.

I seriously wasn't in the mood for this.

I tried to move but he blocked my path.

"If you dont get out of my way the only person that would be needing help would be you"

I tried to walk out again but he grabbed my arm. f**k it.

I kneed him in the balls and his hands clutched it with pain.

"I told you you would be needing help"

And then I rushed to my car to help by bestfriend in distress.

Moron