As a fourth year medical student serious with his studies, Emeka idolized Olisa. He had devoured every article Olisa wrote, tracked his achievements meticulously, and dreamed of surpassing him someday. Yet, here Olisa was, in his family's driveway.
Olisa noticed Emeka's resemblance to Olaedo and smiled. "Hey, brother! Don't just stand there. Come help me out."
'Did my mentor just call me brother?!' Emeka thought in disbelief as he mechanically approached and began helping with the bags.
They walked into the house together, Emeka leading the way. After quickly swapping their shoes for slippers, they headed toward the dining room.
As they approached, muffled conversations drifted toward them. Hearing Olaedo's voice, Olisa's grin widened. He picked up his pace and called out, "Hey, sister in law! I'm here, and I brought gifts. I guarantee they're better than whatever that block of ice you married could manage!"
The dining room fell silent. You could've heard a pin drop.
"Married?!" Kelechi's voice rang out, echoing everyone else's disbelief. His reaction was the loudest, though the rest of the family wasn't far behind. They simply had better self control and stayed silent, their expressions screaming questions.
All eyes turned toward Olaedo and Chibuzor, who both glared daggers at Olisa.
'We planned to tell them ourselves!' they both thought bitterly.
Chibuzor facepalmed, overwhelmed with regret. 'Why did I think inviting this blabbermouth was a good idea? Look at the mess he's made! I just hope Olaedo remembers all the good I've done for her and stops them from completely tearing me apart.'
Stewing in his fury, Chibuzor directed another glare at Olisa, who remained oblivious to the damage he had just caused.
Completely oblivious to the chaos he had unleashed, Olisa scratched his head in confusion. "Why are you guys looking at me like that?" he asked, genuinely perplexed
The realization hit him like a bolt. "Wait a second... Don't tell me you two dated and got married secretly?!" He threw his hands up dramatically. "No wonder you didn't invite me to the wedding! I was wondering about that this whole time."
'Zip it, escape-plan-coolest-brother Olisa! You're not giving me an escape route here, nor are you being cool!' Olaedo mentally screamed as she shot daggers at him with her eyes. Yet, Olisa seemed determined to dig a deeper hole, obliviously spilling the news to her stunned family
Olisa, now observing their frozen faces appeared equally shocked. "Wait, wait, wait..you mean to tell me you didn't tell your family? Or your friends? Not even me, your best pal?!"
He paused, but only for a moment before turning toward Chibuzor, his eyes widening at a possible bigger revelation. "Chibuzor! Don't tell me you didn't even inform--"
Realizing Olisa's next words would escalate the disaster, Chibuzor reacted swiftly. Rising to his feet, he clamped his large palm over Olisa's mouth cutting him off mid-sentence. However, the gravity of his impulsive act hit him almost instantly. He looked up to see the family staring at him, their glares more intense than ever.
Chibuzor shivered inwardly as their expressions darkened. 'They're going to think I'm hiding something worse now,' he thought, panic swelling within him
On the other side, Emeka's admiration for his mentor plummeted into a bottomless abyss. 'So Olisa was in cahoots with this Chibuzor guy?'
His disillusionment hit hard as he processed the betrayal. 'How could they steal our sister without even seeking our blessing?' His eyes hardened, and the hero worship he once held evaporated.
Nnenna sat there in a daze. 'My best friend got married but didn't bother to tell me?' She decided to wait till her and Olaedo were alone to find out how this months old marriage came about.
Chibuzor hurriedly turned to Mrs. Anozie and began, "Mom, let me expla—"
But she cut him off sharply, her tone firm and cold. "Don't call me that!" Her words were measured, but her fiery glare revealed her simmering anger. "I haven't earned that title from you, and I don't think I want to."
Mrs. Anozie's restraint was impressive but even she had her limits. Turning her fiery gaze to Olaedo, she demanded "What is the meaning of this? What is this man talking about?"
Olaedo, knowing there was no way out now, rose to face the storm. "Mom, guys, can we please talk upstairs?" Her tone was calm but pleading. When no one moved, she added softly, "Please guys? I promise l'Il explain everything.'
After a few moments of standoff, they finally relented, following her upstairs, though their glares made it clear that explanations had better be satisfactory
As the group disappeared upstairs, Chibuzor clenched his fists, struggling to contain his frustration. He turned to Olisa, glaring furiously, and without hesitation delivered a heavy punch to his shoulder.
"Are you insane?" he growled under his breath, wishing he could do more. But mindful of appearances, he restrained himself. 'If they see me hitting Olisa, they'll think l'm abusive to Olaedo too,' he reasoned. 'This guy deserves it, but it's not worth risking my already fragile standing with her family.'
Olisa, however, yelped in pain, prompting Chibuzor to slap his hand over his mouth again. His muffled complaints only fueled Chibuzor's irritation, but he dragged Olisa toward the soundproof car parked outside "You and I," he muttered, "are having our own conversation right now."
Chibuzor silently prayed for Olaedo's survival. She was now trapped in an unfair, uphill battle, one woman against four relentless interrogators.
Chibuzor turned to Olisa, his anger so palpable that it left him momentarily speechless. Finally, he managed, "Olisa, do you even realize what you just did?"
Olisa nodded, his usual confidence replaced with a rare look of regret. "I'm sorry, Chibuzor. I honestly didn't know they had no clue about your marriage. But seriously, what were you thinking? Who marries a woman without meeting her family first?! You didn't meet them when you were courting, didn't ask for their blessing before proposing, and didn't pay her bride price to honor her family's tradition."