It was a Sunday morning and before 5:30am, Mrs Kalu had already banged her fist on Eberes door, disrupting her perfect sleep.

"Good morning ma" Ebere greeted once she opened her door.

"Morning. So you are sleeping by this time, aren't you supposed to be dressing up by now? "Mrs Kalu asked, her hands akimbo.

" But mum it's too early and my head aches too"Ebere groaned.

" Look at this child, what are you turning to, as long as you are under my roof, you don't have a choice. Maka Chukwu, you need deliverance because every Sunday you are always sick. Better get dressed"She was soon on her way to disturb Amanda, her flip flops slapping the floor repeatedly.

Ebere held the urge to bang the door but she composed herself and sat down on her bed instead, the previous night she didn't even sleep early because she was your watching a movie and then her mum had given her another dose of headache.

"So you are still sitting there" Her mother barged in again.

Ebere was surprised to see her, I thought this woman had gone, she sighed.

"I was just about to brush my teeth" Ebere replied and got up.

" On the bed? I told you, we are going to runs a deliverance session on you"

Ebere went into the bathroom, brushed her teeth and took a quick bath.

Before 6:40,the whole family was on their way to church, Mr and Mrs Kalu wore a matching outfit, Ebere a peach gown and Amanda a black pencil skirt with plain shirt.

The sermon was about love and Ebere paid rapt attention.

"What is love?" The priest started

"Love is a genuine feeling of care and affection shown from one person to another. Love is not by money, it is not measured by the most expensive gifts you buy for a person, love is not by hiding the evil your friend does, love are those little things that matters, that little care you show towards a person, love is correcting your friend"

The whole congregation was quiet, just the sound of fans and air conditioner.

"The greatest love ever is the agape love and it's the love that Jesus Christ showed to humanity by laying down his life for us, he displayed the highest degree of love. "

" It is disheartening today that this generation has made love become a sex affair. Love is not sleeping around, no, that's lust"

" Love knows no boundaries, it shouldn't be just your fellow Christian, or family members, let it pass around"

Ebere listened with rapt attention, the sermon was wonderful to her, she only hoped it had sank into the heads of her parents also.

After Mass, Ebere as usual went to stand beside the car, few minutes later, Amanda came to stand beside her.

"You didn't talk to our husband today?" Ebere wiggled her eyebrows at her but she didn't even smile.

" Which husband? His busy attending to all his wives na"Amanda replied.

Ebere chuckled loudly, was that jealousy?

" Jealous much? Calm down sis" Ebere advised her

Amanda didn't respond and Ebere smiled. She was just being childish. Luckily for them, their parents were heading towards the car, Ebere thanked God severally.

**

Lunch was prepared by Ebere with little help from Amanda, fried plantain and jollof rice. After the meal, Mr Kalu had called his daughter into the sitting room. Ebere felt tensed, summoning often meant serious business.
What had she done? She wondered.

"Have a seat" He motioned to her and she did as told

Her father cleared his throat several times while Ebere cleaned her sweaty palm against her black jean.

"Monalisa I called you here because of the report your mum gave to me. Sitting down and examining it, I realized that even though you are my child, you are already an adult and you know your left from your right and we have to seat to discuss things diplomatically as adults"he paused for a while and rubbed his nose .

" On this note, I have heard of your involvement with a Muslim boy, you know, what an elder sees when sitting down, a child, even if he climbs the top of an iroko, cannot see it. "

" I do not know if you are dating him or not but you have to stop whatever it is you have with him and here's why. Inter ethnic marriages are often better handled than inter religious marriages, you both are coming from totally different backgrounds and religions. Even though he accepts you, does his family accept you? Marriage goes beyond love remember."

" Have you thought of your children, yourself?do you want to give birth to a set of children who cannot stick to one faith, are you willing to leave the christian fold, these are questions you should ask yourself. I rest my case"

Mr Kalu stood up leaving Ebere transfixed

Just when however,she was trying to recover from the impact from the talk,a text came in

Can't breath

Ebere at once forgot everything her dad told her,picked her car keys and hopped into her car and drove off.

Mrs Kalu who had seen her from the window only looked on.

"Do you think she's angry" She asked her husband with the softest and most worried face.

He placed his hands in her shoulder.

"She'll be fine,she just needs to think,she's a good girl, she'll come around"He assured his wife.

**
Ebere drove as fast as she could,thank God she knew his address,he had told her the previous day over the phone. It wasn't hard to locate the 10th house house in the estate.

His gates were open and then she rushed to the front door, pushed it open expecting to see a sick person on a couch but all she saw was a dude with a brown hoodie eating cupcakes.

"Hey" He grinned at her. Ebere was beyond pissed off, seriously! She left her her house looking disarrayed just to meet him comfortably eating cupcakes.

"Would you play a crazy prank on me,what if I had died or gotten into an accident,are you crazy?"

She  shoved him repeatedly and he hardly moved,it was as useless as moving a rock and then she had turned to walk away and he tried come closer.

"Don't you dare!" She wagged a finger at him "Stay a million feet away from me. I'll be on my way now"She was going to grab the handle of the door but Muhammad was quick to grip her wrist.

"Don't go. Please. I shouldn't have played such prank on you,I just wanted to see you"He mumbled like a child.

" Can I go now?"She asked impatiently,anger oozing from her voice,her eyes blazing with anger.

"Please." He said again.

Ebere breathed in and out severally,she was drained as it was. She fixed herself on the couch while Muhammad stood far from her.

"And why are you standing there looking at me like that?" She asked

" You said I should stay a million feet from you"He pouted like a child and Ebere found herself smiling.

" You are so childish I swear" Ebere muttered.

Muhammad sat beside her on the couch.

"I know I was fucking wrong and I partly shouldn't have,but I've missed you and you are here now"

She eyed him.

" And truthfully though, I'm a little sick cos I miss you"He added.

Ebere bit her lips from smiling,her insides felt warm,he really did miss her and she found out,that she missed him too.

"Come with me, I'll fix something for you" He took her hand and led her to the kitchen.

His kitchen was superb, brown coated walls,near sink with the tiny window at the far end.

He had every home appliance you could think of, toaster, blender, microwave, oven, anything, just name it,she was sure,he didn't use up to 70% of them.

"You know I've eaten at home, eating here would prove I'm a glutton"Ebere chuckled and she watched as he smiled as he eased himself with a knife.

"A little more food will do no harm, moreover,I make the best chips and chicken on Earth,no caps,you don't wanna miss"

" Proud much"She scoffed.

He had the chips fried and the chicken too while Ebere simply gawked at him. Work by Rihanna was playing from his phone.

How could God mould someone to be this perfect,she could watch him all day frying chicken and chopping things. Every of his body movement seemed to be rhyme with the song,damn,what was happening to her?

She was brought out of her thoughts when he waved over her face severally.

"What's on your mind?" He asked her and stood very close to her,she sitting on the chimney,his legs against hers and his face hovering over hers.

He knew the effect he had on her and those lips,it was distracting,all she did was suck her lower lips and he wanted her to stop it,she did have an effect on him.

"Nothing much,just chips and chicken" She responded nervously and she did it again, biting her lower lips.

"Stop it" Muhammad said slowly.

"What?"

"Stop doing what you are doing with your lips"

He wanted badly to smash his lips against hers,taste every inch of her

Ebere watched his hands go behind her and thinking it was a kiss,she closed her eyes but no,he was reaching out for the plate behind her.

"I also want to kiss you,but things could get out of hand and that means burnt chicken"He told her with his usual grin and though she felt flustered,she tried hard not to show it.

As they sat down eating,Ebere noticed the tiny device stuck in his ears,so tiny.

"What's that?" She pointed at his ears.

He froze in his seat,what should he tell her?

"it's a device I normally use to listen to music,it's customized too"He lied.

" It's so small, hardly noticable" She munched the chicken she had in hand.

" What do you think of deaf people?" Muhammad suddenly asked. Ebere looked at him wearily.

" I just think they are humans too,why are you asking?"

" A friend of mine,his actually deaf you know and somehow his in love"Muhammad explained.

He didn't say anything more,just concentrated on eating but her gaze was on him.

"How does it feel like?" She asked him. He coughed,twice.

"What?"

"How does it feel like having blue eyes and caramel skin?"

He laughed. " Nothing special, there's nothing special about it. People just feel I'm just this perfect nigga,blue eyes and zero issues"

"You'll be fine"

" I know."He was looking at her intently now.

" Be my girlfriend Ebere,let's put a tag on this,help me heal."He grabbed her hands,her fingers fitted perfectly with his.

"What about Hadiza?Your parents,my parents?We are yet to start dating but things are falling apart already"He could see it, how unsure she looked about the whole thing.

"I love you Ebere and that's what matters,you love me, don't you?"
He searched her eyes.

" I do,I really do"She told him

" Then don't be scared,so?"

" yes babe,I'll be your girlfriend"

Muhammad chuckled sweetly.

" Babe?I like the sound of that,what do I call you, Betty butter?" He teased her.

" So you are now Mayokurn abi?"Ebere smacked his head.

"You are so violent I swear" He stood up as he ran off

" Wait for me,I'll show you what violently is" Ebere called after him.

She ran into a room where she assumed he was but she didn't see him,however, something else caught her attention,it was the painting of a girl,she looked happy,it was a beautiful paintings of a girl whose braids were falling on her shoulders and she looked happy.

The girl was her. She was the one in the painting.

"You are so beautiful,you know that right?" Muhammad asked from behind

" You painted me?" She looked so emotional

" You deserve more"

Muhammad wasn't expecting the next thing but Ebere ran into his arms, wrapping herself across him,it seemed as though she was sobbing now, muttering incoherent words.

It felt beautiful and peaceful, her in his arms,like they were made for each other since birth.

"It's so beautiful,I love it" She murmured against his chest.

"But you are more beautiful"I
He reassured her and she kept quiet.

" I don't think so"

He pulled her from his body to meet her doe eyes,her pointed nose and eyelashes that were well carved,why would she say that?

"No painting, one can beat the beauty in front of me."

"But am skinny" She voiced out suddenly and he saw it,the way her eyes sank,how long has she been wallowing in such thoughts. Like have she seen herself in the mirror, melanin and sugar in one cup,the height and everything and her eyes and her lips.

He raised her chin so they would be on eye level.

"You are beautiful. You are perfect the way you are and I love every inch of you,no one's opinion about you should matter. I love you Ebere,so much"

He hugged her,more tightly as though she was something really fragile.

"You are a sucker for hugs" She told him.

"Your hugs in particular"

"I feel like just kissing you right now"He said again and Ebere was surprised at how straight forward he was.

"What's stopping you?" She asked him and she heard him chuckling against her hair and when he actually brought his lips lower,a loud cough interrupted their little moment

Muhammad was shocked to see his father in the company of about 7 guards.

"I came around to check on you and also have an important meeting with you, didn't know you'd be so busy"He sneered.

Ebere greeted him and he actually replied warmly like they were close buddies and then she left.

Muhammad watched her, wishing she didn't have too and then he turned to face his father.

"What's so attractive about her?Hadiza is more classy,you didn't tell me you now had poor taste in women"

" It's none of your business father,I'll not stand here and watch you insult my girlfriend"

" Interesting,I thought you claimed she was just a friend,seems you both had sex, reason why you think you love her"

" Father with all due respect,stop insinuating things about her,she's not some slut and she's better than Hadiza!"

" You just a spoilt brat!What does she have to offer?"

" We aren't talking about a business deal here,it's my life and future and I will not allow you play games with it"

" I wish I hadn't saved you up to this point"He spated  at his son.

" Yeah I know,you wished I died with my mum so didn't have to be the stain on your image. More of your children are going to rebel, trust me"

Father and son were locked in an eye contest. The silence was really thick,so was the tension.

"Just prepare for your engagement next Saturday and stop leading the Igbo girl on"Sani Bello finally broke the ice.

Muhammad scoffed and then let out a bitter chuckle for a few minutes.

"You think I'm a joke, don't you?" Muhammad asked his father.

"Don't dare me" The older man warned dangerously before leaving.

Muhammad sat on the floor, tired and angry.

***