Besotted (18+) ✔️ [A Nigerian Romance]

Fifteen

Kachi dropped a file on the low glass table in front of Chike. He looked up, and on seeing the serious expression on Kachi's face, Chike dropped his game controller, not even bothering to pause.

"I found the house," Kachi said, taking a seat beside Chike on the long couch. "As you suspected, they live together, but the house is in Ada's name. At least she was smart enough to put it in her name."

Chike eyed his friend.

"What?" Kachi shrugged. "Moving in with a piece of shit boyfriend is bad enough, imagine he also owned the place?"

"What's in the file?" Chike decided to ignore all Kachi had said, there wasn't much he could do about their living situation, at least, not without more information.

"I found a house, two actually. One is a three bedroom apartment that's beside hers and the other is in the next close. About five minutes walk from her place."

"How soon can we get the place?"

"I already placed a call. And before you'll insist on taking the house next door, remember this is a covert operation, one best carried out from a little distance."

"But the house next door is better Incase I need to get to her urgently," Chike protested.

"Five minutes walk, if you're not up to walking, you can drive. It's also close but at least the chances of being seen are lesser."

He could try to insist on the house next door, but he knew Kachi would sabotage him if he went that route and he didn't have the time for that. "Fine." He exhaled.

"The agent is coming over this evening. The house is already furnished, and once payment and all the paperwork has been completed, you can move in as early as tomorrow. Azu is already on his way."

Azu was a brilliant lawyer and to hear he would be handling this put Chike at ease. There would be no hiccups. He couldn't afford to waste time as delay was very dangerous in this case.

"Thanks, man. Things are going smoothly because of you. I really appreciate this."

Later that evening, Azu showed up, along with the agent. Apparently, they'd met up and gone over everything and all that remained was for Chike to sign the house papers after he'd made his payments. Less than thirty minutes later, he was the owner of No. 5 Ixora Close in the JD. Garden Estate.

His friends insisted on a few drinks to celebrate and he couldn't refuse after all they'd done to make things possible for him. One drink led to another and soon, they'd left Kachi's home where they were drinking and was on their way to a club; Azu's idea. Bode, the other member of their friend group would meet them there and they'd check out a few other spots.

Chike didn't protest. He needed a little bit of fun after these past weeks he'd been back and with his friends, it was already promising to be a good night.

***

The next morning, although hangover, his friends helped him move his things into the new house before wishing him luck. After some much needed sleep, Chike toured his house, noting the things he had to change. Most of the furniture in the living room would have to go as they were not his taste, but thankfully, the rest was okay.

By the time he'd finished unpacking his clothes, he heard the sound of his doorbell. Seeing as it was already evening, he expected it to be one of his friends. A small part of him wondered and wished his caller would be Ada, but he knew that was impossible.

An unknown man was waiting for him outside, a pack of beer in one hand and what seemed like wine in the other. Chike debated ignoring the caller, but decided against it. He'd need people on his side to be able to find out more about his best friend and her man friend.

The man looked to be in the same age group as he and his friends and he looked friendly enough, judging from the huge smile he was wearing as Chike answered the door.

"Beer it is," the man said, still grinning.

"Excuse me?"

"Oh, sorry. Good evening. My name is Charlie, your next door neighbor." The man pointed to the next compound that bordered his own. They shared the low fence on his left hand side. "I saw you guys move in so I brought drinks to welcome you."

"Thank you, that's very kind. I'm Chike." He offered his hand for a handshake and the man took it. "Is this how everyone here behaves? I need to know if more people would stop by."

"No," the man laughed. "Most people here keep to themselves so you don't need to bother about that. I was the last person to move in and nobody came over to welcome me. It didn't feel nice so I took it upon myself to welcome the next neighbor."

"Would you like to come in? I have suya to go with that drink."

The man entered the house and Chike shut the door behind him, then led the man to the living room.

"If you need to redecorate around here, I know a few people. They'll fix everything up according to your taste and without stressing you."

"I'll probably take you up on that." Chike gestured for Charlie to seat, then went to hunt for glasses. Thankfully, the kitchen was fully equipped and in order so it didn't take him long to find. He grabbed the wrap of suya and went out to meet his guest.

A few hours in and Charlie had emptied about four cans of the beer. Chike was on his second. The cool beverage went down smoothly with the barbequed beef so he couldn't fault the man. Besides, the more the man drank, the looser his lips became. He'd told Chike about his celibate girlfriend and how frustrating it was to wait till marriage. Chike had made the appropriate sounds to keep the man talking while he prepped for the questions he needed to ask.

"What about the neighbors here? Are most of them married couples with kids?"

"No. There are a lot of unmarried people here. Few do live with their significant others and that's a huge source of drama.

"Drama? How?" Chike shifted in his seat. Charlie took a few moments to open another can of beer and fill his glass before he replied.

"Oh yes, drama. You'll get the cheating partners, the crazy ones and the obsessive ones. Infact only few are normal."

"Really?"

"Yes. I usually go jogging in the morning and I pass a couple that's always arguing loudly. Its like they don't care that we can hear them from inside. I mean, the windows are wide open and their voices are loud." Charlie belched, picking a few pieces of meat and stuffing his mouth. "I think the man hits his woman too, because one day I saw her with a black eye when she was taking out the trash."

It couldn't be Ada. There had to be other neighbors who were violent with their significant others. Chike was trying so hard to convince himself as Charlie went on and on about said couple.

"Those people in 9 Rose are something else. I wonder why they're still together. The man nags a lot too."

No. 9 Rose Close was Ada's address. The couple Charlie was talking about were Ada and John. So, the bastard was indeed hitting her. Chike could hear his blood roaring, drowning out the sounds of Charlie as he went on and on about the other neighbors. He had to do something and he had to do it fast.

***

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