It might be love

****************************************
Love some would say is

A strange affliction that makes other humans essential for one's happiness.

What do you think
*****************************************

Arinze staggered home with a face as swollen as a bee's abdomen, his eyes almost shut from several punches he had garnered from Chijioke. He looked extremely horrible but was immensely grateful that Chijioke had also left the farm in equally bad or worse condition.

His body ached, his lips appeared broken and his head pounded mercilessly. He could still hear the voices of the villagers as they pried him off Chijioke's body.

Arinze greedily gulped the water in his hands, rinsing his aching mouth with the cold liquid. He spat out the water which had become mixed with blood and shook his head.

Two of the villagers had led him very close to his house and he trod cautiously to the gate. They were the young men who had helped him clear the land. He pounded at the gate for minutes before the gatekeeper finally sluggishly opened up after confirming that it was indeed Arinze.

"We will bring our business home" The voice echoed in his head, his legs slowly climbing the stairs.

It had been the day his father showed him the piece of land which Chijioke came to take. His father was immensely pleased,  joy written over his face as he pointed out boundaries to Arinze. As a young boy he had other interests and found the exploration on the land utterly boring.

Onyedikachi had been the one with genuine interest who often questioned his father who would elaborate more on the matter. He only glanced around  unenthusiastically and followed them behind.

"This means we can bring our business home, we will bring our business home"

His father wanted an expansion of his business, that was why he had worked hard to do so. Still he didn't feel fulfilled, he wanted a legacy for his late father. He truly wanted to make something of the land

Arinze couldn't remember most of what happened that day but he knew his father had scolded him for not being attentive in school.

"You are supposed to be an example to your younger brother, if you don't set the right one then he might stray as well"

He was setting a bad example for his young daughter as well. She was already nearly 6 years old and happened to be too inquisitive. She had asked countless questions about why he often wrestled with her mother on their bed naked and they began to take extra precautions against her waltzing into their room at all times.

He inhaled deeply then tapped on the door and waited. He knocked louder this time and his wife's voice came faintly

"Onye?"

"Arinze" He declared with a groan and she quickly opened the door.

Horror was written all over her face as she quickly rushed to his side, slowly guiding him into the house.

Days ago, she had supported Onyedikachi's decision with going to court which sent his anger through the roof. He often felt his wife valued his brother's opinion more than his but she had argued that it would be better than fighting Iheanyị's children head on.

He should have listened

His mother had called him the next day to tell him that she couldn't find the papers that certified their ownership of the land and he was deeply disappointed.

Further news about Chijioke's invasion into the property brought him back, ready for trouble.

Chijioke was no longer a little boy, it was evident from the punches he delivered. They had wrestled and tussled over the mud for long before they drew the attention of passersby.

"What happened to you?" Olivia enquired teary, her hands stripping him of his wet and dirty clothes.

She sniffed, gathered the materials and threw them into their laundry basket. He could hear her sobbing as she stepped into their bedroom and he assumed she went to bring their first aid kid.

Olivia arrived with the box and extracted some tablets and handed them over to him with a glass of water.

She led him into their bathroom where she helped wash him. The hot water she used for his bath stung more than the punches he received and only made him regret why he fought the more.

He remained speechless even after her care, the truth was that he felt ashamed of himself.

"Ada kwanu?" He managed to ask after a while

"She's at your mother's place. She wanted to sleep there and I left her"

He heaved a sigh of relief as it meant he was saved from explaining why his face was swollen.

"Olivia.."

"If it's an apology Arinze, just keep it. I am tired honestly I am. Ike a gwula m"

His food lost its taste and he barely slept because of the pain. Instead he watched Olivia sleeping peacefully at the edge of the bed. He later got up and gently lifted her into his arms. He placed her at the center of the bed and laid beside her.

His hands trailed to her growing bump and rested there.

Thinking about his father made him realize how careful he needed to become. He had so much to lose if the same were to happen to him. He decided he was going to call Onyedikachi the next day to talk about how best to handle the issue

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

Obanma grinned with satisfaction while Onyedikachi gently helped her off his laps. His arousal was evident and he knew they had to stop before they crossed the line.

"I've been thinking about doing this for long" She finally spoke reaching to hold his hand

Onyedikachi placed a very chaste kiss on her lips and smiled. "I love that... You thinking about me"

"I never said I was thinking about you" She retorted with amusement

"You thought about my kisses, it only means you have been thinking about me. I'm one and the same with my kisses,I'll have you know. Ndi be anyi si afu dimkpa, afu ọṅụ ya"

"There's no igbo proverb that actually says that. You're now making things up to suit your lies" She managed to rearrange her shirt which had somehow shed some buttons

"You lied first... you've been thinking about me"

His hands halter her movement and she was faced to look at him

"Yes Onyi, I have been thinking about you. I worry that I'm making a mistake sometimes considering what damage we might cause by being together. I mean... we can't even talk when I'm around my people and sometimes I wish I could. It's like we're beginning this game of hide and seek and I don't even know if or when it'll end yet my heart keeps saying tag.. Tag you're it.. Knowing I'd hopelessly follow "

Onyedikachi grew somber, his eyes had recorded her worry and how it reflected in her eyes and it pained him that what they had begun to share would be a big burden to her.

"Why do we feel attracted to each other now Onyi? Have you ever asked yourself that?.." She exhaled deeply as if the words had been too heavy for her to utter, yet mollifying as they left her lips

"I..uh...I"

Her eyes sought his like she had truly expected an answer, if only he had a good one.

"Mma do you believe in destiny.... Fate?"
He blurted out with a staid expression, hoping that she wouldn't find the question amusing and irrelevant.

"I don't really think I do. Why do you ask?"

"I believe that certain things are just fated to be. I don't know why but I strongly believe fate is the only reason things happen the way they do. It is the natural order of things. Fate designs our destiny. That's why we're here today.

That's the only plausible explanation I have right now but I promise it's not the only one"

Her face lighted up and he could see how relaxed she was listening to him.

"I've always cared about you since childhood even before what happened to our families . I can still remember as a boy the day you were convulsing and I had to bring eloaku through our backyard. Chijioke had come earlier and I believe he has probably mentioned what happened. While I ran to get to you, I just kept praying that you wouldn't die and strangely the words one dirty mad man kept replaying in my head about saving my wife. "

Obanma's eyes widened as he mentioned the word wife. They had kissed twice, she hadn't thought about marriage.

" A mad man" She interrupted

"Yes.. a mad man, I didn't even know him. I was a boy, yet it felt as if my whole world was going to collapse if I didn't get there on time. When you came to and I left, I was just fulfilled. I remember sleeping that day with the thought that you were alive and that was all that mattered. I didn't want Obinna to take you with him that was the reason I had been giving myself for years. But after we kissed, I realized that maybe I had been lying to myself for a while.

I didn't want Obinna to take you, no I didn't want you to leave me. You always brought me happiness even as a little girl. I think of you and I swear I can see you holding our daughter in your arms. That image is something I can't get out of my mind."

" Was that why you told me that I'm your destiny? "She enquired trying to make sense out of all he said.

Obanma blinked rapidly as procreation finally sunk into her mind. She had imagined herself with a child but she hadn't thought of Onyedikachi as the father. Why did it feel as if he had been giving more thought to their relationship than she was and yet she was the one who was more worried. Men weren't always expressive, that was the norm, why did it seem as if Onyedikachi was different

"It's like there's this magnet pulling me closer to you, this voice in my head.. Telling me you're my home. I feel as if I'm complete like this...with you...our feelings are just meant to be and it terrifies me too but I'd rather have this completeness with you rather than emptiness with the world. "He looked at her and saw her shocked expression and chuckled

" I am not making much sense am I? I think the right thing to say is maybe I've always been attracted to you and maybe you have always been attracted to me. What else is the reason behind a baby girl grabbing a young boy's hand and sending him the sexiest smile ever before her twin decided she was too young to flirt by crying"

His words cracked her up and he joined her,the pair laughing with abandon. A loud honk interrupted them and Onyedikachi realized that he needed to move his vehicle.

They left the restaurant and Onyedikachi dropped her at her place. He brought out the gifts he had bought for her and she wrapped her hands around him. He had brought her into her house to bid her farewell but ended kissing and caressing her. They seemed content just standing in front of her room, whispering to each other and making out. It was just the two of them that mattered.

They shared more kisses before Kelechi practically dragged her friend inside the room. Stating how entirely uncomfortable they made her by making out in front of their room.

"This is why I love handsome pocket! " Kelechi uttered with glee

"He knows how to spoil a lady. Are you sure I won't start having longer conversations with these my Anambra Chykers?"

Obanma giggled excitedly completely ignoring her friend's immature question.

They ate the chocolates Onyedikachi bought amongst many other unwrapped presents that lay on her bed. Obanma and kelechi spoke about the kisses, her lips bearing a strange tingle even as she described the act.

"I don't know how he does it but he kisses so well that my brain completely shuts down . It's as if so many emotions are overpowering my mind. He makes me feel like I'm on cloud nine! It's euphoric I swear"

Kelechi gave her a small slap on her cheek to wake her from dreaming as her eyes closed momentarily.

"you're lucky roomie, Love has found you"

"Love kwa? I don't think it's love, we're not there yet" Obanma blurted out laughing

"How would you know it's not love? What do you think is love? " Came Kelechi's question making her friend utterly speechless

"What is love?" Kept ringing in Obanma's head

"Thank God you've found this Anambra dolphin well some of us haven't seen any fish in the ocean. And we've been told there are many fishes there, they forgot to tell us that there are so many other things including shrimps, prawns and sharks!"

The two friends laughed heartily and continued unwrapped Obanma's gifts

" I was hoping to get notes from you KC"

"Which note? Class wey I just dey sleep sleep. Don't even get me started on that man's class biko! Let's just do his research and pray that Uche has a complete note" Kelechi suggested smiling sheepishly as she extracted an expensive ear ring from a shiny box.

The two of them disliked Uche their course mate because she often acted like the smartest person in the class. They also knew they had to practically lick her feet to get her to release her notes.

"I'll wear these on Sunday!" Kelechi giggled and ran to the mirror trying the earrings on. Obanma shook her head running her hand across the dress laid on her bed.

"Why hasn't he asked you why you rarely wear the earrings he buys for you?"

"Does he need to know? It'll seem like I don't appreciate his gifts."

"Well the more you hide it, the more I get" Kelechi hummed excitedly

A call interrupted their work and Obanma's expression fell almost immediately.

"Jesus! How is he?.. Is... Is.. He alive?" Her lips quivered as she spoke

Kelechi to her friend's side immediately as she saw tears streaming out of her eyes.

She turned to her friend who seemed equally terrified with her exclamation.

"They stabbed my brother... They stabbed Chijioke"

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

Hey Everyone!

Happy Sunday!

How are we doing? An update as promised yay!

I'm beginning to follow this update schedule thing!

Anyways... How was the chapter? Did you enjoy it!

Who do you think stabbed Chijioke?