Chapter 16: Chapter 16
" Don't even think of doing anything stupid Mr Kale," I warned him, he seemed to be enjoying this and I had a feeling he was going to make me do something silly with the title of his wife.
" Daddy, UK makes the best mommy. you should have seen the way she spoke with Mrs Maurice and her children, they couldn't even say anything. She was really angry with them, thank you so much mommy UK," Juliet said as she got up from her seat and wrapped her small arms around my neck.
Mr heart skipped a beat when she called me 'mommy UK', no it's just a pretence, I said to myself. I didn't come her to be someone's mother, at least not yet, it's not even up to a week since I arrived an things are already changing course of direction. I really need to focus on my exams, thank God my classes were starting tomorrow.
" it's okay honey, anyone who heard what they said would have done the same thing," I said rubbing my palm on her arms.
I noticed Jade sneaking a peek at me and grinning like a fool, "anything on my face, Mr Kale?" asked raising a brow and he shook his head, " it's nothing," he said. I looked at him warily, what was he thinking? I swear if he attempt anything stupid I will beat him real good.
When we reached the house, I thought he'd drive back to work but he got down and joined us inside, "aren't you going to work?" I asked
"I'm free from now till noon and besides, I want to spend some quality time with my wife. if I leave now, I don't know when I'll be back and I may not have the chance to live as a married man. so what do you say, let's do something memorial, huh", he replied
" okay, what would you like us to do" I asked
He tapped his finger on his chin thinking, "I know what we can do, let's watch a movie on my phone," he said, "hmmm, that's not so bad," I said.
" that's not all, you're gonna sit on my lap and watch it, how about that? or we cuddle on the couch" he said waggling his eyebrows. "Not on your life!" I said and left to my room.
I was changing into a comfortable cloth when I heard a soft knock on the door, " mommy can I come in?" Juliet's voice sounded from the other side of the door. " sure, the door is not locked," I said and she came in. " mommy I need your help,"
"Juliet, do you really need to call me that? don't you think it's a little awkward?" I asked
She shrugged, "I like it, and you really did a good job earlier as my mommy and daddy doesn't have any issues with it, in fact he's happy to be your husband so let it be.'' I made her sit on the bed, "no honey, I can't be your mom, it's not possible"
" but why? I know I told you not to marry my daddy but I don't care about that anymore" Juliet said looking sad.
" Juliet you don't understand, there are a lot of reasons why I can't be your mother. first, it's not even up to a week since I got here, second, I'm sorry to say but I really don't know much about you and even Jade. third, I'm just 18 and marriage is not something I'm planning on doing anytime soon, marriage should be done by people who love each other and I don't love Jade in that way, he's just my guardian and the most important reason is that I didn't come here to get married, I came here to study, I have an exam in a month and I need to prepare. So Juliet, I'm sorry but I can't be your mom, right now I need to focus on my exams," I told her.
" So would you marry me after your exams?" Jade asked as he came into my room" What did you say?" I couldn't believe my ears. Marry? After my exams? For heaven's sake I'm just 18 and not yet ready to get married, I have 3 older siblings and none of them are married yet. I haven't even done what I came here for. " No, I would not get married, I refuse to have this conversation, please. I'm really sorry but you need to excuse me, I'm feeling dizzy and all this talk about getting married is giving me headache. please Jade, Juliet?"
They left silently, I locked the door when they left, went to the bathroom and splashed water on my face. God, what was happening to me? All I ever wanted was to write my exams and start school, I didn't bargain for this. The only people I could share this information with was my sisters and so I decided to call them, my eldest sister wasn't answering, I called my second sister and she picked up immediately, her voice sounded like she was sleeping, " UT, sorry if I woke you up, is big sis at home?" I asked. " yeah she's taking a nap," she drawled
" UT, something happened, it's about Jade," I told her
" what about him, did he hurt you?" she asked, her voice sounded alert
" no, he didn't do anything to hurt me, it's something else" and the I explained in details what happened
" seriously? you know you can't get married right?"
" I know that, I don't want to, I've told them already that I don't want the topic to be brought up again, I don't know if they'll listen." I told her
" UK, you are not an American, you are a Nigerian and an Ibibio girl for that matter, it may sound archaic but we have customs and traditions that need to be done before getting married. Mother and father would never accept you to get married just the way you want it, and I'm sure you're fully aware that you can't get married until big bro, big sis and I get married. I will advise you go to Jade right now and tell him all of this, in fact I think I know something that may discourage him, you know our traditions, tell him every single one of them that he must do before getting married to you, I'm sure it will scare him away," my sister advised.
Yeah, why didn't I think of that.
I didn't go to meet him immediately as my sister advised, instead I took out one of novels, laid on my bed and started reading. Somehow I must have slept, when I woke up I saw 3 missed calls and an SMS from my eldest sister. The message read, "call me ASAP". I called her and she answered immediately
" Ukpono, what's this about you getting married to Jade?" she asked
"I'm fine and you too sis," I said
" Ukpono I'm being serious here, this is not the time for your sarcasm, "
" relax sis, your baby sister is not getting married before you, I'm very sure UT exaggerated everything. The truth is that he only asked if I'll marry him after my exams and I clearly told him 'no', so you don't have to worry", I told her
" How sure are you that he won't bother you after your exams," she asked
"I'm sure he won't, if he does then he'll be in big trouble, I'll make sure of it. please no one should learn about this okay?"