The moment I met you (Chapter 142)

 By Nightengale Ben-Onyeukwu

‘I’m always here for you.’                                                                       

Chioma smiled at her brother’s words. ‘Thank you.’ She opened her mouth to say something then closed it. She wanted to tell him about Daniel’s feelings towards her but she decided against it.                                                                                         

‘You have something else to say?’ Andrew watched her closely. ‘What is it?’ He reached for her hand across the table.                                                                                                                   

Chioma got up and he stood up too, and dropped the bill on the table. ‘Daniel confessed his feelings to me… today.’                                                                                                              

‘You must have seduced him to make him confess to you,’ Andrew chuckled. ‘I tap your grace of many men pursing you lately… The witch from your village has finally left you.’                                                                                

‘Does that mean you will abandon Chisom for other women?’                                                                   

‘Why should I do that?’ Andrew glanced at her with a frown. ‘No witch is after me,’he muttered.                                                                                   

As they left the shop, Chioma put her arms about him and hugged him closely. He smelled of cars and oil and, faintly of the CR7 perfume he had applied this morning before going to work. Despite his oily smell, she found herself melting in his embrace. She liked it, liked the warm and secured feeling it gave. She was proud of her brother.                   

‘Here.’ He pulled out his wallet and handed her some money.                                          

The moment I met you (Chapter 141)

 By Nightengale Ben-Onyeukwu

As she was about to speak, the waiter brought their snack and left. Chioma took a few bites of her croissant, not caring about her reputation, she ate without grace. Then, she poured out the story of Michael’s attitude today at Star Restaurant while eating her snack, in big bites.                                              

‘Well, I didn’t know you’re acting romance scene now.’ Andrew pushed a glass of juice into her hand. ‘Drink that watermelon juice down, perhaps, it will help you realise how much you have made yourself an enemy. Jessica will fight you for sure.’                                                                                                       

She did as she was told. The juice was delicious, and she felt that was how Michael tasted. She didn’t care what the world will say. She just accepted the man of her dreams and will never give him up.                                                                             

‘Do you see clearly now?’                                                                        

Chioma opened her mouth to reply, but sipped at her juice instead, giving herself time to think about the question. ‘I know Michael took me by surprise, but I do love him very much,’ she said slowly at last. Then, glancing at Andrew, ‘Jessica might be rich, that doesn’t mean I will sit and do nothing.’                                                                                                              

‘So, you’re going to spend the rest of your life with him?’ Andrew probed, and smiled.                                                                  

‘I will want that… even though I don’t know what the future holds for me.’                         

The moment I met you (Chapter 140)

    By Nightengale Ben-Onyeukwu                         

‘I’m not wishing you lose your job, but I feel that will happen soon.’  

 Chioma frowned at him. 

‘Come on I’ll buy us snack.’ He put his arm around her shoulders.

‘What about your work…’she said as he began to lead her over to a snack shop.                                                                

‘Boss, wouldn’t mind. I can take a few minutes off, and that’s because the son of the president visited our shop today. I was the one that repaired his car,’ Andrew said proudly to his sister. He led her through the door and she paused in her tracks, staring round at the yummy shop.         

‘This is beautiful. Ain’t you afraid I might rip you off?’    

‘You can order whatever you want. The president’s son is here to pay.’Andrew pointed at Prince who was sitting in a corner, enjoying his snack with wine. He seemed busy with his phone. ‘I heard he is dating the younger sister of Audrey who just returned from the states.’                                                             

Chioma didn’t say a word. She only smiled, and then sat in an empty chair why Andrew ordered some snacks.             

‘You can give me your first pay packet, that will make me proud of you,’ Andrew joked, pulling a chair and sat down. ‘I just ordered a few snacks… I know you wanted to tell me something, what is it?’

The moment I met you (Chapter 139)

By Nightengale Ben-Onyeukwu

‘I don’t need him to give me his heart completely. A little is enough for me,’Jessica said as more tears fell down her cheeks.                                                                                                        

‘You’re crying just because Michael rejected you? You really love him that much? Nothing is worth dying for.’   Sharon reached for her strawberry juice and  took sips.       

Chioma decided to pay her brother a surprise visit at his work place and at the same time tell him how she accepted Michael’s offer.  So, she left work earlier, heading to the garage where Andrew worked which was only yards along the street.                               

When she arrived at the garage, Andrew was working on a car in the garage. Alerted by her arrival from his co-worker, he looked up. ‘Chioma?’ At once his expression changed. ‘Has your boss fired you?’                                                                    

‘No, of course not. Why would he fire me?’                                     

‘Well, because you refused to love him back,’he teased her, reaching for a rag. He wiped his oily fingers, then glanced at her again. ‘If it’s not that you lost your job, what is it?’                        

‘I just wanted to pay you a visit. Why do you have to wish me bad luck?’

The moment I met you (Chapter 138)

 By Nightengale Ben-Onyeukwu

After some minutes, Jessica and Sharon sat in the luxurious garden eating their foods which smelled and tasted delicious. There were several dishes, coupled with the beautiful flowers in the garden. There were roses, daises, lilies and other beautiful flowers.                                                                         

‘Michael doesn’t love me anymore.’                                                          

‘He has never loved you,’ Sharon said with a smile. She was in a pink sequined off-the shoulder top, white trousers, drop diamond earrings, and hot pink pumps. She was looking classy and beautiful.              

‘You say that to me?’ Jessica was annoyed to hear such from her best friend.                                                                                               

‘You could just hook up to any rich guy and satisfy your needs,’ Sharon said.                                                                                              

‘If you’re here to tell me this, then go away,’Jessica said, forcing food into her mouth.                                                             

‘I’m going nowhere. I must finish my food first.’ She put food onto Jessica’s plate, laughing. Then, she stopped laughing after a while. ‘Jessica,’ Sharon said, pouring herself a glass of water, and then looked up. ‘I would tell you to fight for what you believe in, but never fight a losing battle… You don’t own Michael’s heart, so give up and you will find a better man.’ She drank the water.                                                          

‘But I can’t do without him,’ Jessica said, wiping a tear away from her cheek.                                                                                              

‘Why do you insist on loving Michael so much? Look what happened to your heart. He tore it in shred and you still love him? You will only get lot of scars if you don’t quit already.’      

The moment I met you (Chapter 137)

 By Nightengale Ben-Onyeukwu

Walking with tears in her eyes, Jessica went into her dressing room and slipped into a pink lounge wear and then walked into her bedroom. The lights were lit, causing the room to shine brilliantly. She was surprised to see a figure lying on the bed looking up the ceiling. Her shiny long wavy hair was spread across the pillow and her dark eyes glowed in the light. Jessica wanted to turn around to leave so as to scold the maids for letting someone in her room but she paused in her tracks when she got closer to the bed, noticing who it was. It was her best friend, Sharon Ojukwu.                           

Sharon turned her head, smiling sweetly. ‘Are you surprised to see me? I think I gave everyone a surprise visit.’           

‘Prince told me you were returning this evening.’                      

‘I did say that but I decided to give a surprise,’ she chuckled, and then stood up. ‘Jessica, I am hungry,’she said, looking up at Jessica, she asked, ‘Aren’t you?’                            

Jessica forced a smile. ‘I’m very hungry.’                                    

‘Then have the maids prepare us something to eat at the garden,’ she said, turning around as Jessica followed behind.     

The moment I met you (Chapter 136)

By Nightengale Ben-Onyeukwu

 Celine smiled up at him, and then accepted his offer. Jessica thanked him with a smile and said she would visit Sharon tomorrow. Prince stopped in front of a cake shop. Jessica offered to take him to his house but he refused, kissed Celine on the forehead and headed out in a taxi.               

Watching Prince departing, Jessica wondered why he left in a taxi instead of letting her take him home.                               

‘Prince’s car broke down while he was coming to school. So, he sent it to the garage for repairs. That’s where he’s headed,’ Celine answered Jessica’s thought.                                 

‘Okay,’ Jessica replied.                                                                   

‘Jessica, please, don’t take this the wrong way… it’s good to fall in love. But if the person you love doesn’t love you back, the earlier you quit the better for you… don’t hurt yourself for nothing. Prince has a handsome big brother who likes you so much… open your heart to him, except perhaps, you want to write and act a Filipino movie. You know the ending of supporting lead characters don’t often end smoothly… well, you’re still free to fight for your love if you have decided to have wounds…’                                                            

Jessica was shocked to hear those hurting words from Celine but she didn’t still get mad at her. After dropping Celine at their house, Jessica slowly drove off in the direction of the Nnaji’s family house here in Asokoro, which was a district known as the haven for top government officials and recognised as Abuja’s most exclusive district. The manor was magnificent. As Jessica’s car entered the big curved gate, her phone began to ring. She glanced at her phone, seeing it was Nathan Ojukwu, Prince’s elder brother she didn’t bother to pick up. Her heart was fixed on Michael, and so wouldn’t open another piece of her heart for any other man. Perhaps, someday, she will let destiny decide or maybe fight to the end.