Marrying two wives and being the center of attention and gossip was not what he had planned when he came to this place seven years ago, but well here he was ‘living the life’.
Whoever associated polygamy with wealth and prestige forgot to add the psychological baggage that comes with it. However, he wasn’t even married to two women for any of the above reasons.
It’s only been a day since Riyah moved in but it already feels like a year, if this was five years ago he would have been elated being married to the love of his life. Now, things were different at first he still loved her and thought he still did over the years, the core reason why he had kept Nolana at bay all this while but now that she was back he wasn’t so sure anymore. He wasn’t in love with her, he was just infatuated with the past, her return was all it took to make him snap out of it.
Three weeks ago, he had bumped into her at the supermarket, she looked different but in a good way however,r he had felt nothing, all traces of the emotions he had claimed to have over the years seemed to vanish in a second only being replaced by numbness and nothing more.
The conversation between them was brief and everything seemed to go back to normal as he brushed off the incident as a little coincidence. An invitation from her father however turned the situation around the little coincidence wasn’t so little after all, it was all planned. A plan that was set to ruin his life with little or no chance of survival.
Sigh!
“Babe, food is ready,” Riyah says breaking him out of his line of thought. She’s standing by the door smiling sweetly at him, once upon a time that smile would have melted his heart but not anymore.
And did she just call him babe? Cringe.
“I’m not hungry.” He replies as he picks up his phone pretending to be busy.
“But you haven’t had anything to eat since morning,” Riyah complains.
” Exactly, because I’m not hungry,” Kolade replies this time giving her an annoyed look. The mere sight of her already made him lose his appetite and besides who knew what she put in there? He’s not taking any chances.
“How are we supposed to show everyone that we’re a loving couple if you can’t even eat my food?” She asks and now he’s giving her the side eye. Whoever said anything about them being a lovely couple. She wanted to be his wife, fine. He’s not playing house with anyone. She should learn from Nolana.
“We’re not a couple,” Kolade says gritting his teeth.
“What are we then, housemates?” Riyah asks, a frown on her face. She’s annoyed.
” That’s a better way to put it.” He replies with a shrug as he goes back to fake scrolling through his phone. Housemate seems like a better word than couple by the way.
” I know I hurt you deeply Kolade, and I’ll spend the rest of my life trying to make up for my mistake and earn your forgiveness, all I ask is that you don’t push me away.” She says and he can’t help but scoff. The rest of her life seems like a very short time, whatever fantasies she has going on in her head were never going to happen.
” If you’re done could you please leave, as you can see I’m busy,” Kolade says his tone icy. Could she leave already? She was disrupting his alone time.
He raises his head after he hears the door shut. Finally some peace.
How did he even get himself into this mess?
His mind is in disarray, he feels like a coward as he can’t even face his wife rather he’s using his indifference towards her as a shield. They might have had a rough start but he had to admit that she had been nothing but good to him helping him in every way possible and the reason why he came this far.
Although he doesn’t dare to admit it he has come to like her, love her even.
Maybe.
However, how does he even face her and tell her everything he’s bottled inside for so long when there’s an even bigger threat over their lives?
Pathetic.
That’s how he feels.
He only hopes Nolana would understand him when the time came, her unrequited love was the only thread of hope he could hold on to.
°°°°
It’s bedtime and they are both staring at each other, nobody is saying a word. They have to share a room now lest Nolana think they are not a happy couple. She’s wearing a pink see-through nightie standing directly in front of him. She thinks she can seduce him, nice try.
“It’s cold, you should cover up nicely.” He says as he pulls up the covers over his body eyeing her waringly. Not like he cares anyway.
“But I’m not cold.” She says a blush creeping up on her cheeks. “I’m hot and only you can cool me down.” Her voice is raspy as she climbs up the bed towards him.
“What are you doing?” Kolade asks as she hovers over him his eyes firmly locked on hers.
“What do you think?” She says, a coy smile on her face.
” Get down! “ He commands, his tone irritated.
” What? “ She looks shocked.
” Get. Down. “ He says his tone low.
” Do you really want me to? “ She’s back to using the seductive voice again trailing her finger down the side of his face.
Does he look like he’s playing with this one?
In one swift motion he flips her over, she’s all smiles until her back hits the floor.
” And stay down. “ He says in between gritted teeth. She looks even more shocked, guess she was not expecting that at all. The audacity of this woman! She thinks she can flash her breasts in his face and all will be forgiven.
Too bad these things don’t move him.
“You want me to sleep on the floor?” Riyah asks looking dumbfounded.
” That’s where you’ll be sleeping from now on,” Kolade replies as he pulls the covers over him once more.
“But it’s cold.”
“I thought you said you were hot?” He asks not turning to look at her.
” I… “
” There are extra sheets in the wardrobe if that makes you feel any better. “ Kolade says cutting her off. He doesn’t want anybody to blame him when they catch a cold.
He hears shuffling behind his back and he’s guessing she’s getting ready for bed. She can’t blame him she’s the one who said she’s hot, and sleeping on the bed would only make her hotter. He’s only helping.
” And switch off the light when you’re done.” He says but he does not get a reply only a tongue click. The light is switched off a minute later and the room is covered in darkness, there’s more shuffling on the floor and then silence.
She’s the one who wants to earn his forgiveness, the ground is not such a bad start. Knowing Riyah who has been a spoilt brat for most of her life, it’s only a matter of time before she gives up.
She wanted to get married to him then marriage she shall get.
