Besotted (18+) ✔️ [A Nigerian Romance]

Ten

Ada diced carrots in the perfect cubes her mother requested while Mrs. Ugo Nwafor, dressed in a pretty floral dress supervised. The chef had made the jollof rice Chike said he wanted to eat and her mother insisted on making the coleslaw, and by making, she meant leaving her daughter to do it while she watched from her seat at the far corner of the kitchen.

"Sooo," Mrs. Nwafor dragged it out, causing Ada's brows to furrow. "How have you been?"

"I've been good, mom. And you?"

"You don't look like you have. You lost weight and seem withdrawn. What's going on?"

"I'm on a diet." She gathered the carrots in a small bowl and set it beside the sliced cabbage and unopened can of sweet corns.

"Like you had any extra flesh." Mrs. Nwafor stood up, coming to stand beside her daughter. "I was so glad to see you grow breasts and buttocks to make up for your gangly frame. Now you're trying to lose weight? Doesn't make sense to me."

"I'm fine, mom," Ada insisted. Her mother turned her around and held her chin up.

"If there's something going on, anything, you can tell me. You know I'm always here for you."

Ada's heart squeezed, even her dad had said the same. The old man had asked if it was money troubles and was ready to rescue her. She had so many people on her side who wanted to help, but she knew the moment she opened her mouth, she'd doom her relationship with John.

"I'm fine. I just miss home a little bit."

"Mr. Adebayo refused to send your yearly schedule. Find time ehn, come and spend a month or two with us. Let's spoil you silly," her mom said, pulling her in for a hug.

Don't cry. Don't you dare cry.

She stilled herself, grateful Mr. Adebayo hadn't spilled and hugged her mother instead. She let the comforting smells of her perfume soothe her. She missed being home with nothing to worry about.

Mrs. Nwafor pulled away then began dumping veggies in a big bowl for her coleslaw. "Grab the mayonnaise honey."

Ada handed it over after opening the can.

"I don't want to tell you what to do about your relationship, but if you are looking, Humphrey Jideoffor is in town. He and his parents came for dinner last week and that man is fine!"

"Mom!"

"What? I said if you're interested nau."

***

Chike dressed up for dinner in a sweater and jeans. Ada was in a dress, similar to the one she'd worn in the morning and Mrs. Nwafor wore an identical item of clothing with her daughter but she'd accessoried and put on makeup.

Mr. Nwafor was the last to come down and the older man was in shorts and a t-shirt. Chike shook his head. The man was as simple as they come. Seeing him now, you won't know he owns the biggest construction firm awarded most of the government projects. He was also a big time farmer who exported most of his produces. Everyone waited for him to take a seat at the head of the table before joining in. Mrs. Nwafor sat on the right hand side of her husband and Ada on his left. Chike was seated beside Ada and was glad of the fact.

"Chukwunweike welcome home," Mr. Nwafor said. Chike had gone to greet the man after brunch with his wife and the man had hugged him, glad that he was back home. They'd talked a little before a maid had come to ask what he wanted for dinner.

"Thank you sir."

"Say grace please," he said to Chike. The doorbell rang and a maid hurried to get it.