Besotted (18+) ✔️ [A Nigerian Romance]

One

Ten years ago...

"Don't say no," she pleaded. "I've heard what the other girls said about the first time and I want it to be with someone I care about."

"Ada, no. It should be with someone you love, I don't deserve this."

"It's my birthday today, Chike. You promised you'd give me anything. Well this is what I want." She took a step closer to him and he folded his hands into fists.

He should say no. He should turn back and run. Mr. Nwafor, Ada's father, would kill him should he ever find out. And that would be mild compared to what his own father would do. Chike knew the wise and sensible thing to do, but this was Ada, she held too much power over him and she didn't even know...

***

Present day...

He was finally back in Nigeria and any moment from now, he would be with Ada. He scanned the airport as he waited for his bags, his attention also on the screen of his phone. She'd texted a few minutes ago to let him know she was here, so what was with the delay?

He could feel the anxiety creep up on him as his thoughts ran and he forced himself to relax and be patient. After all, patience was the trait he was well known for. He'd even waited ten years for her, what was a few minutes?

"Oh my fucking God!" He heard her scream. Chike would recognize that voice anywhere. He immediately turned just in time to catch her as Ada launched into his arms. He stumbled a little and had to drop his bags to hold her against him. "I can't believe you're really back!"

"I know right?" He chuckled, squeezing her tightly to himself. "Adanna, I've missed you so much. The phone calls and video calls are not nearly enough." He could finally breathe now and that tight fist that had been gripping his heart since five years ago when he traveled finally released.

"God, you'll squeeze me to death." She giggled but still held on to him. "Let me look at you. It's been five years!"

He pulled back and held her hands, his gaze traveling over her face, noting the piercings on her ears, then down her body. She was wearing a crop top and denim shorts so he could clearly see her flat tummy and navel piercings. He'd been meaning to ask why she'd gotten all these. Where they not painful to install?

Her body had filled out more since the last time he'd seen her; her hips were curvier and she'd even added some flesh. So I unlike the twenty two year old woman he'd seen last. Her face though, it was the same. Her laugh, her voice, her smell and how she made him feel, everything was the same.

"Wow," was all he said but she seemed to understand him because she smacked his chest and he playfully bent over like she'd hurt him.

"I look more woman than gangly youth now, right?"

"You've always been a woman to me," he said, earning himself another whack in the arm this time.

"You and your jokes, you've not changed, not even one bit."

Chike laughed and shook his head, leading her out. Ada was the smartest woman he knew but when it came to how he felt about her, she was totally dumb. She couldn't feel it and she couldn't see it. It had been like that from the very beginning so he held her to no faults of hers. He would make her see it, he was finally ready.

"John is waiting outside for us, let's go." Ada pulled him along and he wondered just who this John was. "I've been wanting to tell you this since forever. I can't wait for my two favorite guys to meet."

Chike's steps slowed and immediately faltered as they got out of the airport building. Ada was beaming beside him but the smile was not for him, it was for the man that was waiting outside for them. She pulled away from his grip and immediately ran to him, throwing herself in his arms, almost like she'd done with him a few minutes ago.

He could hear it and it didn't start small. His heart didn't break little by little, it was a loud rendering in his mind that left him reeling. Ada placed a kiss on this John's cheek and she blushed, her fair skin turning a little bit pink. Chike wondered how she couldn't see how he was hurting. Surely, everyone must have heard his heart break, right?

"Baby, I want you to meet my best friend, Chike." She pressed herself into the man's side and his arms wrapped around her shoulder, pulling her closer. "Chike, this is John, my boyfriend. I know you two will get along, you have so much on common." She grinned, truly happy and Chike could not blame her.

Maybe he'd waited too long for it. Maybe he had done a thorough job of hiding it from her. It was his fault for not confessing all these years so he couldn't blame her for seeking out her own happiness.

"Chike I've heard so much about you. It's nice to finally meet you." John stretched out a hand for him to shake it and he stared at it for a few seconds before reluctantly shaking the man's hand.

"I've never heard about you before, regardless, it's a pleasure to meet Ada's friend." Chike took his hand back and looked at the couple. They really did look good together, that much he couldn't deny. John was light skinned, just like Ada and he was somewhat good-looking. He wondered what the two had in common apart from their taste in women.

"Play nice Chi," she admonished him, then turned to John. "Babe, see what I said? You guys make the same type of jokes." She laughed and the two men laughed with her. It was pretty obvious she was the only one finding the situation funny.

"Let's go, I'm sure Chike is itching to finally go home."

"Can you drop me at Kachi's place? I've missed the guys so much."

Ada nodded and John went around to open the car booth, giving Chike an odd look when the man deposited his bags inside. Ada sat upfront with her boyfriend while he sat at the back passenger seat contemplating what to do about the recent development.

He was not above sabotaging her present relationship so she could give him a chance, but first he had to check and make sure. He didn't want to ruin her happiness if John was the right man for her.

***

It might be a little confusing for you guys but their story started before Kachi and Aria's so this happened two years before Aria and Kachi meets. In later chapters, Aria and Kachi will appear as this book spans years, not days and weeks. I'll try to put timeline and dates so you can follow.

How was the first chapter? Loving it yet?
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