Utianle

The room was quiet except for the snipping sound made by my blue scissors as it cut through the silk material on the table. A thin curtain separated the sitting room from my makeshift work area, acting as a sort of barrier the kids had come to respect.

Six adults could barely fit into this cubicle that was the size of a big, rectangular box. I was sandwiched between the wall and the wooden table, a position I had been occupying since I started cutting. My body was stiff and I rotated my neck to rid me of the kink that had worked its way up there.

Pieces of material were strewn around me, some were on the table while the rest formed a colourful mess at my feet. My measurement book was wide open in front of me and my eyes darted between the book and the chalk marks I had drawn on the material. Everything had to be perfect for the fashion show; the designs, flawless.

There was a sigh, followed by a tug on the material that was now in the shape of a gown. I focused on the book, the numbers written in blue ink rather than the furious female sitting on the only available chair.

Undeterred by my lack of response, Faith continued tugging on the cloth till I angrily voiced out, "what is it?"

The scissors dropped to the table and I stood akimbo, waiting for her response. She bit her lower lip, offering me a small smile.

She wrapped a strand of her curly hair around her finger, "is that the last one?"

I was tempted to lie but my eyes would have easily given me away. Faith wasn't the only one who knew about the twitch, a dark, hands-

Don't think about him!

"Yes," I replied.

She nodded, the smile on her lips growing bigger. The stiffness in my neck vanished when I caught on to her pleased expression and a newfound strength took over me. Sewing was supposed to take place later but I intended to start immediately I was done. 

Her gaze was still set on me, watching my movements as I went over the same process again. I trimmed the invisible edges of the material that I should have dropped minutes ago, too tired to actually start sewing. My fingers were numb but I continued, anything to delay the talk.

Faith must have taken notice of this. Her hand balled into a fist, landing on the table in silent protest. She repeated her actions until I dropped the scissors for the second time in five minutes. I glared at her and she returned it with an innocent smile, rapidly blinking those scanty lashes of hers at me.

Conceding defeat, I pushed past her into the parlour, knowing she would be right behind me. I plopped on the couch, wishing her interest in my love life would have faded by the time she joined me. It was wistful thinking, she was beside me in a second.

"So you said yes?"

I let out a sigh of exasperation. If she was thinking my answer would change by asking the same question over and over again, then she was in for a surprise. As usual, I nodded. I had lost count of how many times I answered in the affirmative.

Quite frankly, I was tired of using my words. For every reply I had given her, she was ready with a better comeback, more questions that made me doubt my decision.

"Are you sure the ring is even original?" She persisted. I itched my scalp, she was yet to start her query and I was already tired.

Casting a look at the ring, I pulled the cold metal band out of my middle finger to drop it on Faith's open palm. A feeling I quickly identified as relief washed over me and I shivered. For some strange reasons, I was glad to be rid of the ring, even if it was only momentarily. And I mentally awarded myself a slap for reasoning that way.

Fiancee. I was now Umoh's fiancee. The word left a bitter taste on my tongue, bile rose to my throat and I swallowed. It was the excitement of getting engaged for the second time that was messing with my emotions. It had to be. 

"What are you doing?" I asked as Faith raised the ring to her eye level. 

"I want to check if it's original."

Squinting her eyes, she raised the ring to the lone bulb on the ceiling, scrutinising the tiny silver band like a jeweller who had spotted a fake piece. Not satisfied with that, she stood up to turn off the lights. The darkness was chased away when she opened up the curtains to allow the setting sun bath the parlour in a dull, golden glow. 

"How will you know?" I queried. She was still standing by the window, ring on her palm.

She brought the ring in front of her lips, breathed out on the surface. "Don't worry."

After what seemed like hours, she finally walked back to the couch, "I think it's original."

My shoulders fell slightly at that, I should have been happy, Umoh had scored another good point in my book but I wasn't. This was far from how I felt the first time. 

Smiling sadly, I gestured for her to give it back. When she did, I didn't put it on. She sat down beside me, her legs folded in a meditative stance with her face scrunched.

"I have an idea." I was already shaking my head, her ideas were always out of this world, never feasible. "We can sell it, shey you still have that money?"

"Which money?"

She answered with an eye roll, "King's money."

I quickly clamped a hand over her mouth, whispering, "don't say his name." Faith eyed me with disdain like she would have if it was Umoh speaking to her and I moved my hand away from her lips. 

A long hiss escaped her and she muttered words I couldn't decipher under her breath. It was stupid, the reason I didn't want anybody mentioning his name. I had convinced myself it would make it easier to forget about him. But Faith had to ruin it and all I saw at this moment was a shirtless, dark-skinned guy carrying Emma on his shoulders. The corners of my lips twitched.

King.

What was he doing right now? Today was Saturday so he was probably hanging out with the boys or playing golf. Maybe he was with another woman, getting all loved up. I winced at that thought, it wasn't any of my business. King had never lacked female attention and he didn't even have to try.

I sighed. Though I didn't see his face before he drove off, I could picture his shock, hurt and maybe betrayal. My heart squeezed painfully. I should have tried harder to convince Umoh to go upstairs. Now, this.

Did he hate me now? I hoped not but I wouldn't be surprised if he did. Was I too hasty to post a picture of the ring on my status? Maybe. I should have blocked him.

Thankfully, the picture was barely up for a few seconds before I took it down. Only Faith saw it and I had no intentions of posting another one, not anytime soon.

"Utianle!" I turned to look at Faith, my eyes set on the mole above her lip. I shouldn't be thinking about him. "We will sell the ring."

"Why?"

"So you will run away."

I didn't know when I started laughing but the sound echoed and I didn't stop until my eyes teared up. "Why will I do that?"

"Because you don't want to marry him," she replied in a bored tone. I mirrored her sitting position and we sat facing each other with my hands in between my thighs.

"Why did you say yes?"

Why did I say yes?

Faith's voice interrupted me before I could give an answer to that, "you don't even love him."

But Umoh did love me, I could even grow to love him back. That was what I told myself eight months ago, the third time he asked me out before I finally agreed.

After Joseph's death, I ticked men out of my list. It was quite impossible to look at any man who claimed to be straight without seeing Joseph on his knees as another man pumped into him from behind. Until Umoh. 

He was there when I quit my job, the same person who convinced Vincent to take me under his wing. Follow your dreams and that was what I did. It was the same reason I allowed him to pursue his music career.

While the rest of Vincent interns were required to pay in full before commencing their training, I was the only one allowed to start without any hassle. My payment was also done in instalments, the first and largest sum was paid by Umoh. 

Even Faith didn't know this. I didn't tell her, I couldn't. Not after she bought me an electric sewing machine as a welcome gift to the fashion world. Or branded Umoh an untrustworthy person.

I shook the traitorous thoughts off, trying to bury the memories from our time together that was rising to the surface. I had to remember, King was a phase, Umoh wasn't.

"Love is not enough," I responded. I loved Joseph and he loved me back. We also had plans to get married but he still cheated.

Faith's lips parted, no words came out. I heaved a sigh of relief, I was surprised the conversation ended this fast but I was glad it did. Faith wasn't one to give up easily.

"Are you doing this because you want to settle?" She didn't wait for me to talk before continuing, "marriage is not beans oo, it's not like dating. Both of you will live in the same house, eat and sleep together. 

When you're angry with him, you can't leave. You will have to bear Umoh's last name, think about it. What if you find out he likes dipping bread inside his tea? Uti?"

She stopped to take a deep breath and I chuckled softly. No one hated people who dipped bread into their tea more than Faith.

Her eyes softened and she pulled my arm onto her laps. "Utianle, don't let anybody push you into what you are not ready for. 35 is the new sexy and I love you like that."

"Yes, mummy. Thank you." She rolled her eyes at my response and I laughed. I knew I would spend the night staring at the ceiling as I thought about all she said.

For now, I was content with letting her hold my hand, pretending like her option of running didn't sound appealing to me. What if Faith was right and I wasn't ready? Was I letting the pressure get to me?

The face of Mama Dion reared in my mind as if in answer to those questions. Last Sunday she had called me Mrs in front of everyone before jokingly saying she forgot that I was still unmarried. All of this she said while holding the microphone to her lips, smiling sweetly at the congregation.

Her daughter, Michelle, tried to stop me from joining the harvest committee, she claimed it was for the youths alone. Both of them were evil, spawns of Satan with the sole intent of making church miserable for me.

"No baby Kuti for me, ehn, Mrs Yunction?" Faith's voice brought me out of my reverie, I wasn't going to let those nosey church women influence my decision. Especially not Michelle with her face that looked like it was coated in foundation similar to cow dung.

Faith nudged my shoulder and I smiled at her. Apparently, I wasn't over the incident as much as I thought I was.

"Mrs Yunction?" We burst into laughter then her face took on a serious look. "Okay. If love is not enough, what about money? King has money, Umoh doesn't. If care is not taken, he will bet with Esther or Emma."

I withdrew my hand from hers, trying to stifle my laughter. Oh, Faith. 

"He quit. He signed a contract with Eniola records." She pursed her lips as if thinking of another arguable response. "Faith na."

Eniola records was a Nigerian music label named after its founder, the best female hit producer in the country. How she found Umoh, I didn't know but I was glad she did.

A simple yet comfortable life with my husband and kids, a life where the adults pursued their dreams rather than settle for jobs they hated was what I always prayed for. Now, it was coming to fruition but I didn't feel satisfied, just tired.

"I still think you are making a mistake," she murmured.

"We are not compatible," I finally said in an effort to wipe that look from her face. I needed her on board, to convince myself that I made the right choice. "I'm older than him."

"So? Younger men are better, stronger, they last longer in bed." Age wasn't an issue for Faith because she had dated younger men in the past. Not me though, I haven't.

Sighing, I decided to drop the final blow. If she didn't give up after this, I would lose my mind. "He's AS."

Like always, she was ready with an answer, "you can always adopt. One more child is fine."

"He wants eight."

"He's mad."

We both kept mute after that. When I thought it was all over, her eyes lighted up, "you coul-"

"Faith. If you talk about this again, I'll find a new chief bridesmaid." Her expression fell and I quickly asked, "what of Junior?"

A blush crept up her cheeks and I smiled as she started talking. It was finally over.

*****

Book of the chapter: At War by michelle18uzoma. It is Nigerian themed and it will take you back to your younger days. Probably remind you of Okonkwo (and Ikemefuna) from Things fall apart. It is a good read and maybe we can all come together with pitchforks to force the author to give us more updates.

Also, I want to thank everyone that's reading, voting, commenting and adding the book to their reading list. And to those ones that are adding it to the reading list that I don't understand, I'll let the gods take care of you. 😂🤣🤣

PS: We are now at 12K+ reads 🤸🏾‍♀️🤸🏾‍♀️🤸🏾‍♀️

Question: Do you agree with Uti, love is not enough?