The Moment I Met You (Chapter 300)

 By Nightengale Ben-Onyeukwu

‘Okay,’Michael said. But he seems not to believe her because he felt that she was shy to say she didn’t have milk to drink. Sitting lazily on the couch, he started to gracefully type on his other phone. Chioma wondered what he was doing. She could hear the tapping of his other phone.                                                                                       

‘What are you doing?’ Chioma curiously asked.                                               

‘Talking to my latest girlfriend, she misses me so much. I miss her too.’                                                                                                                              Chioma frowned. But just then, her phone vibrated. Two messages popped up on her screen. The messages had come from Firstbank, which stated that her account had been credited with the sum of 50 thousand naira from Michael Njemanze; the other message was her account balance.                                                                                                          

Chioma was surprised how Michael got her account number.          

  ‘Don’t worry too much. I have my way to find whatever I want to find. I know you wouldn’t tell me you don’t have milk so I had to send that little for your milk…sleep well,’Michael said, and hung up.             

Chioma was confused. Does it mean he had found out about what happened to her? She wondered how he would react when he returns home.                                                                                                                               

Immediately Michael hung up the call, he poured himself a glass of delicious red wine. After having a stressful day, he felt peaceful and relaxed after talking to Chioma. To him, a lovely conversation like this with Chioma was far more nourishing than having a glass of fresh milk or wine. Just as he took a brief sip, his phone began to ring again. The call had come from Felix; Michael took a giant sip of his wine before picking up.                                                                                                                            

‘She was discharged today.’Felix’s voice sounded from the other end of the line.

  ‘That sounds good.’Michael walked to his luxury bed as he answered.       

The Moment I Met You (Chapter 299)

By Nightengale Ben-Onyeukwu                                                                                               

    Not long after Michael arrived from Port Harcourt, he had dinner, then, took his shower. Picking up his mobile phone that was on the coffee table, he sent Chioma a video call request. The phone rang for a few times before it was picked up. Then, the phone went into darkness for about ten seconds before her face popped up. She was sitting on the bed, dressed in her pink floral night dress. Chisom was lying beside her. Louisa had left the bedroom to the girls and went to the living room to spend the night.

                 

  Chioma smiled sweetly at Michael as well as trying her best to conceal any trace that will lead him to know that she was attacked to the point that she went for surgery. She could see from the camera that Michael was in his hotel room, dressed in a white bathrobe and his hair half wet from a shower. 

 ‘Chioma?’ The corners of his mouth held a soft smile.                                                                                                                   

‘Yes,’she replied, before she could say another word, she saw the image of him on the screen frown deeply. She could hear a buzzing on the other side. It had come from the Sony television he was watching. On the screen was the latest stock market news. Michael reached for the remote and muted the sound.                                             

‘You’re reading by this time of the night? He glanced at his wrist watch and said, ‘It’s 11pm, why are you still reading a book? Don’t you have work tomorrow? Do you want to sleep-work tomorrow?’     

                

  When Michael glanced at the time, the yellow-Gold Patek Philippe luxury watch appeared in the corner of the screen. Chioma couldn’t help but stare at the watch.                                                                          

Michael stopped talking when he realised through the screen how much Chioma’s gaze were fixed on the watch. ‘Chioma? Why are you staring at the watch instead of my face? Does it remind you of something or someone? Don’t tell me you’re now cheating on me with my watch.’                                                                                                          

   Chioma shook her head, getting back to her senses. Staring into the camera, and onto his face, she beamed softly before replying, ‘I was sincerely trying to make you talk more. You’re a man of few words. So, to get you to talk more I had to stare at your watch instead.’                              

    ‘And you succeeded in making me change the discussion. But I still remember I asked you why you were still reading…’                

  Lifting the book for him to see, she said, ‘Lesley Pearse’s Rosie…this is a book of how love and tenderness can grow, like wild roses, out of the most barren ground…’                                                           

   ‘I know of the story…No matter how well people can conceal the past it will always come back to haunt them. But I’m glad that the story ended well. Being exposed as the daughter of a murderer, which was the greatest risk she took didn’t still stop Rosie from finding true love. He paused. ‘Just like us, nothing will ever stop our love from growing.’                                                                                                                                 Chioma wished that was true. She wished that nothing will ever stand in the way of their love.                                                                       

   ‘Did you have suitors when I was away?’Michael joked.                    

   Chioma changed the topic swiftly. ‘When are you coming home? I miss you so much.’                                                                                              

‘I should have returned tomorrow. But I have about four to five hours of meeting tomorrow with investors. After that I will be meeting with the Lagos State governor at 4pm. That means I will be home after tomorrow.’                                                                                               

  Chioma smiled tenderly, and then replied with a soft voice, ‘We will have our relationship announced…’                                                          

‘Mhm…I will leave you to sleep now.’                                                   

‘I’m not sleepy yet.’                                                                                    

  ‘Honey, are you getting insomnia from missing me too much?’ Michael teased her.                                                                                 

Chioma blushed, turning her face away from the camera. But Michael’s beautiful face was still staring at her through the screen.          

  ‘If you ain’t sleepy, heat up some fresh milk and drink, do you have milk?’                                                                                                                    

‘Yes,’Chioma lifted her face and answered.               

The Moment I Met You (Chapter 298)

 By Nightengale Ben-Onyeukwu

That same night Audrey and Celine were in the garden having some fresh air while eating strawberries as they sat in the rocking chair. Audrey couldn’t take her thoughts off from Louisa’s attitude today. She couldn’t comprehend completely why Louisa had Chioma discharged today. She wanted to know the main reason for doing what she did. She tried her best to connect the dots and find the right answer to her confusion. Perhaps, there was something Louisa didn’t want her to know. What could it be?                                                                       

  Suddenly, she got a Whatsapp message. Quickly, she took out her phone to know who had sent her the message. Maybe, it was answers for her confusion. But no, the message had come from Jessica.             

‘How is your brother’s girlfriend doing?’Jessica asked.                            

‘How did you know about it?’Audrey was surprised.                                  

‘Sharon told me about it,’Jessica replied with a laughing emoji. But Audrey felt that Jessica was mocking her brother. She remembered what Prince told her about Chioma having a relationship with Michael. Audrey glanced at Celine who was listening to music with her pink unicorn headphones. ‘Did Prince tell you more about Chioma?’Audrey waved a hand at Celine’s face and asked.                                   

  Celine pulled out her headphones. ‘I wasn’t interested in listening to stories that touches the heart.’Celine rolled her eyes at Audrey. ‘If you want me to get interested with this soap-opera-like-story, then tomorrow you will have to treat me to the new seafood restaurant in Wuse…but sadly, Prince and I have a date tomorrow after school. We are going to the movies tomorrow, he had bought the tickets. If I don’t go, Prince won’t be happy. I know you know how despicable it is to be stood up. I rather not invite Chioma. I’m afraid she would give top ten reasons why she can’t come. That friend of yours looks innocent but she is good with playing game of love. I don’t hate her, but will, if she hurts my brother.’ With that, Celine stood up and left the garden.                                                                                                            

The Moment I Met You (Chapter 297)

By Nightengale Ben-Onyeukwu

Chisom picked up the spoon and continued washing. ‘Maybe Madam Patricia feels that Felix was Chioma’s boyfriend but didn’t know that Michael was the lead character not Felix… I don’t think Michael’s mother will accept Chioma.’                                                                                         

‘Well, Michael is the only one to decide, not his mum…’Andrew looked at Chisom. ‘I won’t let my sister go through any pain. But I am afraid, that she would have to go through tears.’                                 

‘She will weather it all. We are all here for Chioma…if Michael rejects Chioma, then, I will forcibly make my brother dump Audrey and marry Chioma.  Or I will be on a lookout and find a good man that will marry her. Gbenga could even marry her. But I still wish Michael wouldn’t dump Chioma…and marry Jessica who is suitable for his family standard,’ she paused. ‘As for me, I am happy to have you in my life.’   

  Chisom’s words touched Andrew’s heart. Since he became Chisom’s beau, he hadn’t given her anything fancy and expensive, yet she always adores and cherishes him. He wished to find a better job and lavish everything beautiful on her. He loves her so much and was grateful to have met her.                                                                                                                      

The Moment I Met You (Chapter 296)

 By Nightengale Ben-Onyeukwu

‘That’s really nice to hear.’Chioma was pleased.                                            

Chisom brought the big bowls of rice and spaghetti to the table. Those that wanted more refilled their plates. Andrew refilled his plate with spaghetti, and then passed it to a neighbour who refilled his plate, and placed the big bowl to his side.                                                                          

  ‘Chioma, I was discussing with your mother that since you don’t have a boyfriend yet, you could date my son. He works at a foreign-owned enterprise, and thirty something years. He is handsome, tall and even own properties in Asokoro and a storefront in Garki District. He has at least enough money to care for you. If you say yes, then, I will arrange everything when he comes back from Japan. He is on his one month leave, so, he decided to travel to Japan to watch diamond snow and eat crab. Isn’t that cute?’                                                       

‘Aunt Sola, I do have…’Chioma wanted to say that she had a boyfriend, but remembering that it wasn’t announced yet to the public, she said instead, ‘You don’t have to bother about me. I’m sure Gbenga will find someone that is meant for him.’                                                                       

‘Chioma’s absolutely right,’Segun added, spooning a mouthful of rice into his mouth. He knew about Chioma’s relationship with Michael but hadn’t said a word of it to anyone.                                       

  ‘But you’re the one that I want for my son…’Muttered Sola, then she suddenly thought of something, laughed and asked, ‘Chioma, could it be that you’re waiting for your dream boy to appear in real life, just like most girls endlessly wait in movies?’                                                       

Chioma raised her head from her food. ‘My dream boy has appeared,’Chioma said, and Sola along with the rest that didn’t understand what Chioma meant saw it as joke. They laughed at Chioma’s statement and didn’t seem to take her serious.                                                        

After dinner, the neighbours left for their homes, and Chisom helped Andrew to clear up the dining table. They cleared the cups and jug first, then the stew-smeared bowls and cutlery, and finally they stacked plate on top of plates. Andrew carried the plates while Chisom took the spaghetti bowl and rice bowl. The remains of foods on the plates were slide into the dustbin. Then, they began to wash the dishes.                                                                                                                                                   As they were washing the dishes, Chisom said, ‘Perhaps, you know about Michael and Felix’s relationship. I think they might be related somehow.’                                                                                                               

‘They are,’Andrew replied and immediately the spoon Chisom was washing dropped to the floor. Chioma who was sitting in the living room sofa, playing with her phone didn’t seem to have heard the sound. She was obviously engrossed with what she was doing with her phone.                                                                                                                                     

‘This might cause civil war for the Njemanze family,’Chisom said after a while. ‘And this might ruin Chioma’s entire life.’ A tear stole into Chisom’s eyes as she spoke. ‘If that bouquet of flowers came really from Patricia, it only met that she is aware of Chioma’s existence and isn’t in support of the relationship.’                                                                                  

‘It is obvious,’Andrew sighed. ‘Patricia Njemanze had sent those flowers. I overhead a few nurses discussing that when I went to the hospital to help my mother bring back Chioma stuffs from the hospital.’                      

The Moment I Met You (Chapter 295)

   By Nightengale Ben-Onyeukwu

 Aside from Louisa, Chioma, Andrew and Chisom, there were five other neighbours, of which Segun was the closest to the Chimas. They had all brought gifts for Chioma, as well as wishing her a speedy recovery.                                                                                                                              ‘Segun, as the only taxi driver here, don’t you think that it would be nice if you make it your duty to bring Chioma back home from work…everyday,’a female neighbour suggested as they began eating. ‘I’m afraid those mobsters might attack Chioma again.’                                                

  ‘If Chioma will let me, then, it’s no problem with me,’Segun looked at Chioma and said.  Then, he picked up the ladle, filled his bowl with rice and began to eat.                                                                                      

‘No, I don’t want to bother him. I will always find my way home.’    

  ‘Chioma, we know you can always find your way home, but the other day, you almost died while finding your way home. I don’t have money to pay for any condolence dues. My son might be working in a foreign –owned enterprise here in Abuja, and earn enough money which he willingly spends on me. That doesn’t mean that I will waste his money on condolence dues. I am rather saving for your wedding.’                            

Upon hearing these, Chioma’s eyes gave a lovely smile. She didn’t say a word but she was grateful her neighbours thought of her welfare.                                                                                                                         

    ‘Have you found leads as to who did this to Chioma?’Segun asked Andrew.                                                                                                                

‘Not yet,’Andrew replied as he poured juice into his glass. Taking a sip, he added, ‘Felix, will help in finding the actual mastermind.’                                                                                                                  

  ‘If Magnus was here, am sure he would have caught the culprit and made sure that they rot in gaol for hurting his daughter.’         

  Hearing Magnus’ name, Chioma’s eyes were filled with tears. She truly missed having a family dinner with her father. If he was still alive, she would have a complete and happy family. She still has a happy family, but the presence of her father was missing.                                            

  Louisa put down her spoon and said, ‘Yes, but then, I know that Andrew would still catch the culprit.’ She picked up her spoon again. ‘He is just as brave as his father.’Louisa looked at Andrew and smiled sweetly at him.                                                                                               

As Chisom went to the kitchen to get more rice and spaghetti, Chioma followed her.                                                                                           

‘Your neighbours are super gossipy people,’Chisom said.                   

Chioma laughed softly. ‘It is great to have people like them as neighbours. They are gossipy people but they don’t take advantage of people and they don’t look down on people with no money.’                              

‘How could they look down on people with no money? They are poor folks as well…it seems they like gossiping about other people’s families. That makes them complete wallflowers…’                                          

  Chioma laughed again softly, feeling a little pain in her stomach. ‘Ouch!’                                                                                                

  ‘Are you still hurting?’Chisom asked Chioma, concerned.                     

   ‘A little…’                                                                                                 

  ‘I understand why aunt Louisa got you discharged…but…I still think you should have stayed more.’                                                                                 

‘I am fine already. They more I stay at the hospital, the more bills to pay.’                                                                                                                             

‘Felix is super rich. He wants to be the second hero in your life, you should have let him decide when you get discharged,’Chisom paused, sighing she said, ‘You should always go for your check-up.’                          

   Chioma nodded. ‘I will.’                                                                         

   ‘What about Michael? How do you hope to explain everything to him?’                                                                                                

   ‘There will always be a way.’                                                                

   ‘I hope so,’Chisom sighed, ladling more rice into a big bowl. ‘That reminds me, Sir Emeka gave you a day off, so you have tomorrow to yourself.’                                                                                        

  ‘That’s kind of him. Since I don’t have work to do, maybe I should call him to give you a day off as well.’Chioma looked at her best-friend with puppy-dog eyes. ‘Maybe, if he agrees, we can tomorrow play hide and seek under the old tree not far from here. If we become tired we could grab bites of pop corn and ice cream. We can even sleep under the tree, tell stories together. Or we can even see a movie together.’                                                                                                  

   ‘How old are we? Who in our age would be thinking of playing hide and seek, except you’re suffering from cerebral hemorrhage?’Chisom reached for Chioma’s face and pinched her lightly. ‘You can do all of that with Michael when he returns. I’m too old for that.’                                                                                                                                   

  ‘If you don’t want to play hide and seek with me, you will have to sleep here tonight. You haven’t stayed overnight in a while.’                

  Chisom laughed. ‘You look adorable when you reveal your puppy eyes. Aunt Louisa had already told me to sleep over…I will leave for work from here.’                                

The Moment I Met You (Chapter 294)

By Nightengale Ben-Onyeukwu

The neighbours were really gossipy that Chisom wasn’t pleased with their questions. But then she would be sounding rude if she were to ask them to shut up. Instead, she went to the kitchen to help Louisa. Some of the neighbours were noisy and couldn’t help asking.                                                                                                                

  ‘Hey, Chisom, can you tell us the main reason why you ended up like this?’                                                                                                         

‘I don’t really know why,’Chioma answered.                                              

‘What, how could someone beat you for no reason? In movies, it is usually because of love and revenge, could that be the reason?’                                                                                                                         

  ‘Chioma has never been an actress. Maybe, it could have been that my sister was a victim of random attack. Nowadays, parts of Abuja metropolis are gradually turning into an enclave where hoodlums attack and rob people, despite being rated as one of the fastest growing city in the world. Anyone can be a victim.’                                                                

‘You’re absolutely right, Andrew.’                                                          

Andrew answered well for his sister, and the neighbours finally stopped pestering with more details. Andrew had always known their neighbours to be gossipy people, even so, they were still good people.

                 

  Chisom liked the smell of the food Louisa was cooking in the kitchen. It was a simple meal of rice, chicken stew and spaghetti. She was wearing a rose patterned apron. The food was almost done to be served. Seeing that Chisom had come to help her, Louisa smiled with warmth, then revealed a caring expression as she said, ‘You won’t be going home tonight. There have been recurring cases of theft here in Abuja which is supposedly the safest place in Nigeria…these monstrous crimes occur mostly at night by hoodlums who most times parade themselves as traders and even taxi driver. As my daughter in-law to be, I will be a bad mother in-law if I let you go back home. I will call your parents and inform them that you’re going to spend the night with us.’             

                  

  The moment Louisa said that, Segun who was taking another drink from the fridge, blissfully said, ‘Louisa, will make such a good mother-in-law.’                                                                                                                                     

Chisom blushed with a smile. Then, she helped Louisa serve the food. There were three dishes, and the fruits that Chisom bought stayed in the middle of the table. There was also a jug of watermelon juice.