What a girl wants

Dedicated to LauraNaba for being my Nikita and fellow Nwa Aba

*******************************************

"Honorable Maxwell was a very good friend of my father's. This government has favored him quite well, so many projects under his control"

"He's quite old to be a commissioner, your highness" Obanma retorted as she fell in steps with the king while they sauntered about the garden which had become her refuge.

The very fresh flowery air embraced them, soothing and calm whispers of the mild breeze the only noise that greeted their ears. The garden itself was laced with fluorescent bulbs encased in a round and bulbous frame, scattered inside the well trimmed flowers.

They had approached the grassy sculpture of a man, with series of light bulbs cascading from it's peak. The illumination of the full moon and the full display of the stars further beautifying the well crafted circular patterns of the  greenish flower plants.

The king was not in his royal attire, he seemed quite formal and looked extremely attractive in his black senator . His skin color illuminated by the bright bulb in the sky. He was almost as pale in complexion as her. Obanma would have never recognized him if not for the added brightness from her phone.

He stopped in his tracks to bestow on her his full attention as her statement got to him.

"Yes he is quite old for the post... You're too opinionated for a young girl, not that it is bad in this case" He added with a smile taking a seat on a  wooden bench decorated with flowers.

"I'm sorry your highness, ewela iwe. It's just that sometimes I find it quite unfair that posts that should be held by young and vibrant men are occupied by men who can't even bend to touch their toes without falling over"

The rumbling of his voice as he bubbled with laughter drew smiles to her lips. She quickly sat beside him exhaling deeply. The king didn't appear as austere as he usually was, he seemed to be genuinely relaxed.

"That's exaggeration, Maxwell can touch his toes without falling over. You can call me Obioha, I left the king at home"

She offered him a genuine smile battling with her emotions.
"I'm so sorry for hitting you, I'd blame it on reflex but I should know better than dishing out slaps to strangers" Her face still bore the embarrassment and anxiety it had earlier when she discovered who he was.

He only seemed more amused by her apology but did reach out to tap her back.

"Obi gị dajụọ nnu, ọ bụkwana la ọ bụ mmadụ la I gburu I gaga kwanu ime ngiri?
Relax... Had it been you committed murder what would you do instead?"

She nodded looking away from his gaze, she didn't want him to read her sensitivity to the murder subject.

" I'm sorry ... I didn't realize "He
began having discovered the reason for her silence.

" It's fine your highness, I know what you meant. "She covertly looked around to determine if there were guards probably watching them. It felt strange to be seated with the ruler of their community without any reason and having beaten the poor man even made her more self conscious.

" There's nobody here but the two of us. Maxwell knows I hate parties like this but he never ceases to invite me. Obioha is just as fine you know " He paused for a while then added

"Three cows, five goats, eleven white fowls, 25tubers of yam, a bag of rice, Seventeen hollandaise wrappers, 30 liters of unadulterated fresh palm wine, 2 white butterflies, 27 white horse tails and lastly a virgin"

The shock on Obanma's face evident from her dilated eyes and opened mouth as she processed the reason for what he listed.

"That's just the prerequisite, I'm very sure the elders have more. That would be enough to appease a kind king" He ended with a grin.

"Even if it was an accident?" She retorted

"A taboo is a taboo"

"A.. Virgin? Is that necessary?"

"Of course, for the king's harem of course. We are known to be notoriously endowed with abundant women at our beck and call"

"Even it means acquiring an innocent girl who cares nothing about being part of that harem. I find that very inhumane" She blurted out with disgust

"Why would such atrocious ways of appeal still be in vogue? The point of civilization is to adjust certain traditions that do not recognize such repulsive laws. The fact that someone mistakenly...."

She quickly cut herself short as she realized that she was still in the presence of the ruler of their community, even if he appeared like a commoner. Her voice had risen disapprovingly while she pointed out every flaw in what the king had suggested.

"I was really interested in your words, why did you stop?"

"I shouldn't be saying those things to you"

"I'm the head of the customary court, I think I am the perfect candidate for your admonition"

"Mkparị... It would be an insult to do so" Obanma passively submitted, unprepared to engage in another round of criticism that she found out of her league.

"You're insinuating that you've insulted me, do you want me tell you what would be required of you, should I present your case to the court?" The smirk accompanying the kings statement made her realize that he was certainly enjoying watching her ramble. He was teasing her in his own way

" There's no virgin in the list, is there? "She enquired with a renewed embarrassment.

" Amongst many other things, it was good to hear your opinion on certain things though. It's refreshing to have conversations with ladies who do not want to lick my feet just to seek favors.

She had no response for his statement but he quickly masked the emotion he had unconsciously slipped with talks about the stars.

Was the king unhappy?

"Uneasy lies the head" she muttered to herself

"It's the truest thing I've ever heard. I didn't expect my father to die when he did. I was banking on two more years atleast. Being the oldest son the mantle was passed to me immediately. They don't really give you a choice and now I'm looking for a bride." He breathed out rubbing his palms together.

" How old are you? I hope it's not bad that I ask and why you didn't want to be king? Most men would jump at the opportunity of having such power "She could see the emotions lacing each word he had mentioned earlier. It was a bit awkward for her as she had always viewed the king as one who was in charge, she had even stuttered in the man's court few months ago.

" I am just Thirty years old and I would prefer.. "

" Obanma! Is that you?" A voice too familiar called out to her and she quickly got  to her feet,cutting the words the king had intended to speak.

"Onyeze I'm sorry but I really have to go. It was really nice chatting with you and I think you are doing a good job. Sorry about your father " She rambled on as she gathered her materials, slipping her feet back into the shoes she had unconsciously removed.

He helped her with her purse and she stepped away as quickly as possible beckoning on the voice that called to her.

"I've been looking all over the place for you. I got very worried " Onyedikachi began, remnants of his worry written all over his features,while relief slowly crept in.

"I stepped out for some air, I wasn't really comfortable in there. Can we go now?"

Onyedikachi's eyes were trained on something else as she spoke and she was forced to follow the direction which they went.

The king had emerged behind her, this time she could tell the king was really back and not the young man who was baring his heart out to her.

"Chidiogo's son.. I can't really remember your name" He began with a subtle resentment in his tone.

"It's Onyedikachi your highness. I did not realize that you sought out the company of my date, I would have let her stay"

Obanma tried as much as possible to ignore the strange hint of possessiveness as Onyedikachi snaked his arms around her waist. The two men appeared like two alpha wolves fighting for a territory

"Rest assured I didn't steal your lady as you hinted, I merely kept her company as she seemed abandoned" He turned to Obanma and gave a her curt nod.

She felt he would have gone away but he  placed a kiss on her cheek, then grinned at Onyedikachi who's hands gripped tighter on Obanma's waist.

The austerity which the king had tossed aside before had reappeared in it full form. It seemed he was trying to prove a point to Onyedikachi who was seeing danger all over.

"Onyekachi take care of her.... Ka chi foo"

Onyedikachi's hand did not leave her waist till they arrived where his car was packed.

He opened the car while Obanma stepped in slightly amused by his attitude. They were just friends his overly possessive attitude was uncalled for.

"Don't you think he's too young to be a king?... Onyekachi! Just imagine and I said Onyedikachi"

"I don't think he's too young, he's old enough to rule and he's been doing a good job. Onyekachi was just a slip"

"I beg to differ, I think he did it deliberately!" Obanma found it very funny that Onyedikachi had ample opportunity to address the king but didn't, now she was the one hearing his words.

"You think it's funny, very soon they'll have you married off to him because he's the so called king!

He even stands a better chance than I do" He muttered the last bit to himself certain that she would not hear.

Since when did he want her all to himself?

"Why are you acting like a bull with a sore head, it's not bad being married to a king and there's nothing wrong with the honest mistake the man made." Obanma retorted feeling slightly offended

"That's great... Just defend him because he's Ngwá just like you"

"I'd rather not answer that but when you're done thinking like a pig, we'll talk and where is Kelechi?"

"She already left with her friend, it's 11pm already. She told me to tell you"

"I didn't even know it was this late"

How would you know you were having a romantic night with the king. Onyedikachi thought to himself feeling quite stupid at his childish behavior.

He turned the car on and drove away, trying at instances to strike up a conversation with Obanma who had her ear phones plugged in, playing candy crush on her phone.

They arrived his apartment few minutes later, each exhausted from the party. Obanma removed her heels and stretched her legs while Onyedikachi peeled off his clothes.

She requested for snacks as her appetite snuck out and Onyedikachi fished out cookies from his box, including his spare pajamas which she would sleep in.

"I'm sorry for how I acted earlier, I was upset"

She only nodded at him accepting the items in his hands and diving into the cookie almost immediately.

He went into the bathroom and had a quick shower. He stepped out in his shorts, his towel in his hand dabbing water from his hair. Obanma eyes fell on his bare upper body and practically drooled over the strange appeal she got.

She quickly shook her thoughts away,admonishing herself for behaving in that manner.

Obanma stood up, picked up the top of the pajamas after weighing the two items and stepped into the bathroom.

Her bath was just as short as his and when she stepped out she appeared extremely sexy in his cloth or so he thought.

His eyes trailed her legs up to her mid thighs where his cloth hung.

"You look as cute as Adannaya in Arinze's cloth."

The both of them cackled with laughter, releasing some of the tension they had earlier. Obanma pictured the little girl she had once seen on his phone in a cloth as big as his.

"Men should be worried about the younger female species. They are the ones that have us wrapped around their little fingers. You can't imagine what that girl does to my brother"

"Actually I can, uncle Nnamdi claims I was quite devious"

Onyedikachi laughed picturing her much younger self and how she always managed to get him to do things for her.

"He's right, you're probably worse than Adannaya" Obanma playfully slapped his shoulder, crawling beneath the duvet.

He took the remaining biscuits and headed to the mini kitchen. He stepped into the bathroom and quickly gulped a mouth wash rinsing his mouth with the liquid which had a minty taste. He had hoped to have at least kissed her by the end of the night, only to have her spend time in a garden under the stars with a king! He had even paid Kelechi off for that sole reason.

Onyedikachi shook his head in disappointment, there was really no need.

He met her lying face up staring at nothing in particular. The blinds open for ventilation as he still battled with cold and couldn't afford having the AC on.

He turned off the light and stepped onto the bed. The room was fairly illuminated by the light of the full moon seeping in through the window.

Sleep was far fetched from their eyes and they both stared at the blank space above.

Both exhaled deeply at the same time and chuckled at the action.

Obanma slowly moved to the mid point of the bed while Onyedikachi met her there. They turned to face each other, their faces scarcely apart.

"I can't sleep, slept earlier" She began with a whisper.

"I can't sleep either, I watched you sleep" He declared with a smile.

"Thank you for taking care of me Onyi"

Her response was a kiss on her forehead which lingered for a while. She wished for a fleeting moment that he had gone lower and captured her lips. His hand came to her cheek and he caressed her face gently rubbing circles on her chin.

"He doesn't have better chances than you do"

Stunned by her declaration his mouth pulled apart, his mind struggling to come up with words to defend why he had said such earlier.

"Obanma I.." A quick peck bestowed very close to his lips made him swallow everything he had to say.

The moon must have read his thoughts as it shone brightly on her face, causing her to momentarily glow in the dark.

"My goodness! You are very very beautiful"

Obanma's lips slowly curved into a knowing smile as her hands slowly reached under the duvet to capture his.

He was dying to kiss her all he wanted was just a little nudge, if only fate was kind enough to make her do something else that showed that she wanted the same.

Obanma battled within herself not certain how to go about the overwhelming craving to kiss Onyedikachi. She had been giving him all the signals she presumed were going to make him kiss her but he seemed just too hesitant.

She shut her eyes briefly then summoned enough courage as the words slipped out of her mouth.

"Onyi do you want to kiss me?"

Hello everyone!

How are we doing?

So I wrote this chapter twice, owing to really poor reception. There are plenty deviations from the first version that I wrote sadly 😔. But I do hope you enjoy all the same.

Remember to vote, comment and share

❤️❤️❤️

Michelle

"