CHOICE

42

Stealthily opening the door, Zechariah steals into the living room and drops a shopping bag on the center table. The house is then filled with the immense scent of an obviously mouthwatering meal. He traces the scent to the kitchen and meets Shena swinging her hips to the beat of "Ologo Didan" by Psalmos. He stands in awe for a while before his lips crack in a smile and he moves to wrap his arms around her from behind. She stiffens for a while before dropping the ladle in her right hand. She turns to face him and places her head on his chest.
"Hey heartbeat." She greets wrapping her hands around him too.
"How are you doing?"
"I'm tired. Just a little bit though, before you start getting worried." She teases and releases him. She then turns back to the pot while he goes to sit on the tiled table top.
"Just a little tired right?"
"Yes. Very little."
   "Why didn't you tell me?"
"I know you will be very worried." She replies and opens the lid of the pot. She inhales the scent coming from the soup and sighs in satisfaction.
"Rib?" Zechariah calls jumping to his feet.
"Are you cooking Ugwu?" He asks eyes wide in surprise.
  "Yes. I know it's your favorite and it's like the perfect meal to break a fast."
"Oh my God! What exactly did I do to deserve you rib?" He questions and looks at her lovingly.
She laughs throwing back her head and then covers the pot and beats down the heat of the fire.
"It's almost done. I made poundo yam to go with it. Sorry I couldn't pound it."
  "No oo. I would have chastised you if you did. With which hands? I don't want you doing anything stressful abeg. You know I will get affected if you're affected."
"Heartbeat ehn. You sef...." She trails going over to pick a bottle of water from the refrigerator. She picks another and throws it at Zechariah. He catches it and sends her a smile.
"So when am I going home?" She starts.
"My place?"
"No oo. Dad and Mom's. Who wants to go to your house?" She teases and finally puts off the fire. She takes down the pot opens the cover slightly to the side.
"Really? Shey you know that house is where you will live after marriage right?"
"You're welcome. Answer me joor."
"When do you want to go?"
  "Tomorrow?"
"No oo. I have to tell them ahead. So they all can choose a day to be around."
"Can you please tell them today? I want to meet the others as soon as possible. Besides, J-girl is owing me a chocolate cake."
   "When did that happen?"
"A time like that."
"You too are getting too close oo." He protests as they settle down on various chairs in the sitting room.
"Is it affecting you?"
   "Well, yes. I don't want you too planning my death." He says trying to hide his laugh while Sheba woefully fails to hide hers and even falls to the ground.
"Be careful rib."
"Stop being overprotective heartbeat. I'm just fine."
  "If you say so. Patience is not around?"
  "No. She went home for the weekend."
  "Oh. Okay. So you will be alone this weekend then?"
  "Yes. I have some rehearsals to do anyways." She resumes her position on the chair.
"Let's have a recorded performance tomorrow na." He suggests.
"Really?"
"Why not?"
Thanks love. I do love it. So I guess I will play the guitar and you take the singing. Which song should we perform?"
  "Any you choose. Will check and send you one tonight. The one I have in mind is an Acapella though."
"Sweetheart, your choice is what we go with." He says and picks up the shopping bag on the table. He goes to give it to her and she squeals after opening it. She reaches inside it and brings out a crepe material, fish tail styled, short sleeved, round neckline  bottle green dinner dress. She jumps on him and he smiles in satisfaction.
"You like it?"
"No. I love it. But I thought we talked about this."
"What is that?"
"The gifts are becoming too much. I don't want to exploit you."
"Really? My money is yours. You never ask me for anything so the best I can do is give you what I think will look good on you. Will you go to try it on?"
  "Yes yes! I will be back soon." She agrees and runs into one of the rooms in the flat.
Zechariah shakes his head and goes to the camera setting on his phone ready to take pictures once she returns.

Sorry I had to cut it there ehn. Imagine the rest yourself. It makes it more fun like that 😁😁😁. Everything is going on smoothly. What do you think about unmarried couples exchanging gifts??? I need your views on it abeg??? Again, what do you think about the nicknames 🙈🙈🙈; heartbeat and missing rib. Yes that's the full meaning of the rib he calls her. Love in Port Harcourt 😂😂😂😂, we're not in Tokyo this time. Keep your fingers crossed for Sheba. She's going to pay the Chuks a visit. What do you think about a couple having a duet performance 💃💃💃💃💃, it's just so so so....... Romantic ❣️❣️❣️. Truthfully, apart from worshipping and working for God, I want to learn five different instruments so I can challenge my husband. Don't mind me jare😂, I want him to know how to play station least seven. Or let's say five, so it's only fair if I can equalize or at least measure up to him. I'm still very little though, marriage is not until about 5 or 6 years from now if not more😂😂😂😂. Me ehn??? I'm learning how to play two already. What do you think about the art of instruments??? Musical ones I mean. Can you play any? Willing to teach me?
  Do vote 🌟 comment and share. Thanks a bunch 😁💖.
Yours in Ink; Bethel ™