Chapter 26: Chapter 26

: promising forever

5 months later.

March, 2015.

Ibadan, Nigeria.

The door to my room was rudely pushed in and Deji's high bass voice said "Sisturrh mummy is calling you"

"That's why you can't knock right?" Pamela replied throwing her shoe at him.

"Ouch!! Must you be so violent?" He exclaimed rubbing his arm where the shoe hit him . "Thank God I'm getting rid of you today, after today you are your husbands problem" He added.

"So you wont miss me right" Pamela whined.

"No" he replied sticking his tongue out, and another shoe flew towards him. Ever since he came back to Ibadan, something was different about him; He was always around, less boisterous, more studious, it was like someone exchanged my baby brother with a real life clone.

As the different ladies fawned over my hair, skin and face I forgot she was calling me for some minuted and then my mothers voice called out "So because you are about to be someone's wife, when I call you,you won't answer right Pamela?"

Yoruba mothers ehn! They are dramatic till the end.

As I tried to wash my hands which was stained with the peppered meat, delaying answering her call even longer.

Her sharp voice rang out "If I come in there and slap you ehn! Your husband will feel it." Hissing loudly.

Pamela laughed and ran out.

Only Yoruba mothers will threaten you on your wedding day!

*******

"Are the couples ready to exchange their vows?" the pastor asked.

"Yes we are" we echoed.

"Pamela Temitope Williams, Grumpy how did I get to be so lucky to call you mine forever? You redefined love for me, you redefine living. Meeting you was pure fate, loving you my best gift. Today I am thankful every other day from now will have you in it, thankful because all the amazing parts of you gets to be mine. I promise to protect you, listen to your crazy ramble, pray for you and with you, grow old with you, care for you, to love you. I give you the rights to me and all that is mine. Your pain, worries, tears, joys, and success I'll share with you. I vow to be faithful to you, to cherish you, to hold you, to shield you from pain. My halo in the presence of God and man I give you every bit of me, and I accept every bit of you to have and to hold to care and to share till death do us part." Chris said smiling at her as tears filled her eyes, to him she was the most beautiful sight to behold and he slipped the wedding ring to her finger.

"Christopher Ayomide Olugbenga, You are a proof of Gods love towards me, ever true ever pure. My king I am thankful for how you complete all broken parts of me, me and you a perfect fit. Thank you for all that you do, all that you are, the depth of who and what you are is amazing, I promise to care for you, to respect you, to love you, to serve you, be your partner, your best friend, your fight mate, your lover. To grow old with you, have kids with you, serve God with you, Achieve dreams with you, fight for you, be faithful to you, please you, Go with you on the rest of our life journey. I promise forever to you, to live with you even when were grey and old. " Pamela said as tears ran down her eyes and slipped the wedding ring to his finger.

"Do you Christopher Ayomide Olugbenga take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife to have and to hold, to love and to cherish till death do you part?" The pastor asked.

"I do" Chris answered.

"Do you Pamela Temitope Williams take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband to had and to hold, love, cherish and serve till death do you part?" He asked he bride also.

"I do" Pamela said.

"Then according to the power invested in me, in the name of the father, son and holy spirit; I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride"

Chris unveiled her pulling off the veil and kissed his wife.

*****

4 hours of dancing, laughing and being loved later Pamela whined to her husband "my feet and cheeks hurt from dancing and smiling. Your mum is also giving me the evil eye." In the background the friends of the couples gave speeches.

"She'll come around Dont worry. I also cant wait to whisk you to our home my fine wife"

"Hope you won't be using all this dry lines on me now, that we are married" laughing brightly.

"Are you already forming you don't enjoy it. Its too early na babe" he retorted.

"Whatever! For your info I am not feeding you that cake through my mouth, excess spit exchange yuck!" She said remembering their chat last night.

A sharp glint entered his eyes and before she knew it he kissed her sloppily pouring the cake he chewed in her mouth. The crowd was shouting and cheering, as the bride buried her face in her palms.

"Clearly the husband is more romantic" the Mc said and everyone cheered.

"Welcome to forever of exchanging spit" he whispered into her ears.

"Gosh, I hate you" she retorted.

"Too late darling! You already promised forever" Pulling out his tongue.

We got up to pose for pictures; smiling, laughing, being teased by family and friends. Its true your wedding is one of the biggest days of your life. The olugbenga's have gone all out even after much pleading from the couple. Money was still tied to the simplicity of the event from the plush wedding hall its decorations, the gold and fine attire that glittered on the body of the rich, the extremely fine cuisines both cultural and foreign and the drinks.

Nina and two beautiful ladies approached us in similar attires and we both saw different things. I the bride saw the pain of a jilted woman mixed with anger all masked in a cold smile that didn't reach her eyes, while the groom saw affection, warmth and longing which he masked as sisterly love. She wedged herself in between us and we all posed for pictures.

Isn't it weird? On a day like this I still felt jealous of her and the claim she has on him? Pamela thought.

'Well, the ring is on your finger and that man loves you. Kindly forget clingy lady here.' Her subconscious replied.

*******

Pamela sat in front of the dresser, brushing her hair. It was our wedding night and as she waited for her husband to come out of the bathroom, she was scared of what was about to happen. She had on a long comfy pajamas not in any way related to all the sheer silk lacy nighties Liz packed.

"Who wears an ugly shirt with a big ugly cow picture on it to bed on their wedding night except my wifey" Chris teased with a towel draped around his hips.

"Come!" He implored, stretching out his hand.

"Why?" She asked. He pulled her to him and moved towards the closet where some of their clothes were unpacked by family members. He randomly searched the drawers while she squeezed her face then pulled out a wine nightie that stopped mid tigh, it was silky and bold; with black lacy straps and a bit see through, he handed it over to her.

"No way!" She exclaimed, pulling away and moving towards the bed.

"Why not?" He asked in return.

"So just because we are married now you actually think you can tell me what to wear and not to wear?" She countered.

He pushed her back on top the bed and kissed her; deeply with so much emotions and desire. When they both came up for air, he replied "Rule number 1_ every time you try to argue with me over silly things not to talk about the real issue, I'll kiss you. Whether in public or private. I know what your fear is and my role is to protect you and love you, nothing will happen between us until you are ready for it, but you Cant hide from me, you can hide to the world but not to me. So be a good wife and put it on I'll just take another shower to control my urge and come to bed." He kissed her forehead and got up.

As Pamela changed into the night gown she stared at the woman in the mirror, the woman she saw had long afro curls, clear shiny skin,large eyes shining brightly with mischief and lust. The cloth made her feel beautiful, daring and even sexy, so she kept staring until his voice broke her thoughts.

"You will always look beautiful to me whether in sack or fitted outfits. Who do you see in the mirror? That woman is bold, crazy, smart, beautiful inside and out, she doesn't cower, doesn't look back, impulsive, thoughtful and calculative and so much more. Dont box her, Dont hide her, Dont belittle her by yourself." He said, and she turned to face him, tears burning in her eyes alongside respect and gratitude.

In that moment she knew_ this man was fire. He was burning her, stripping off layers of self doubt and ugliness as easily possible.

"Oh and hmmn babe on second thoughts that nightie on you is doing crazy things to me. I think I prefer ugly cow sweatshirt" smiling mischievously. Pamela stuck out her tongue and walked to him, burying her face in his chest and biting him there in the process after all two can play and it can never be said that she backs down from any fight.

"OK now that is not fair o! You can't be hugging me anyhow in that nightie" he whined pulling his lower lips in and biting down with his teeth.

Ok he just changed the game, that was way hot!!

"Tonight" she replied shyly

"What about tonight?"

"Me and you"

"What about us?" smiling like he had no idea what's she was talking about when he did.

She saw the dare in his eyes and replied smiling "I meant sex but on second thought I changed my mind." Moving away from him to lie on the bed.

"Now you will be making me pursue you again, even after saying yes to me on the altar na wa o shakara woman" hugging her from behind.

"Sleep baby we've had a long day, we have forever with each other. Plus you are not ready yet" he added.

"So now you are forming you know me all too well right, anyway where did my gentle, shy husband go"smiling at him.

"I have always been gentle but never shy. Goodnight grumpy," Kissing her forehead.

"Night king."