Entranced 18+

Twenty Nine

She could feel the tension. It coated everything; the air, the food, the faces of the people around her, everything. Chike and Ada who were seating side by side kept exchanging glances and none of them touched their food. Kachi was eating but even he glanced at the couple from time to time. Aria was sipping her water, her eyes wide. If anyone was going to spill the tea, it would be Aria, Ijeoma thought. Zubby beside her was trying hard not to laugh and that was contagious.

Ijeoma made sure to avoid looking at him. The only people who were oblivious seemed to be Ada's parents and her brother. The older couple constantly put different pieces of food in each other's plate and exchanged small smiles. She'd even seen Mr. Nwafor hold his wife's hand for a few minutes, making the older woman grin. She tried not to think about her family as she watched them but it was hard, the contrast too glaring. Her parents had never looked at each other like that, neither had they ever bothered with her or Amara. There had never been cozy lunches like this. Because even with the tension in the air, you could feel the love surrounding these people. Just like at dinner last night, she felt like an outsider.

Mr. Nwafor finally set down his spoon in his mostly empty plate and reached for the wine bottle Chukwudeh had opened at the start of lunch. He poured one for his wife, then his daughter and finally for himself. That seemed to be the cue Ada had been waiting for because she immediately cleared her throat.

"Mum, Dad. I have something to say. We have something to say." Ada shared a look with Chike. The rest of their friends stopped eating, only Chukwudeh was still loading his plate with more food.

"What's that Adannaya?" Her mother leaned forward in her chair. "Who is the we?" Her gaze traveled slowly from person to person, lingering a little on Chike before going back to her daughter.

Ada took a big drink of her water, ignoring the wine. "Chike and I are getting married."

"What?" Mr. Nwafor exclaimed.

At the same time, Chukwudeh muttered, "you could have said you were dating. Way to throw a bomb, sis."

"Deh, this is not the time," Ada shot back.

"You're dating who?" Mrs. Nwafor queried, her expression hard to read.

"Me," Chike spoke for the first time. "Ma, we're not just dating. I want to marry Ada." He looked at Mr. Nwafor this time.

Ada's parents were silent. Mr. Nwafor sipped his drink and his wife just continued to stare at Ada.

"Daddy, say something," Ada beseeched. 

"Chike," her father started. "We practically raised you and we will be the best to judge your character. You're a good man—"

Chike interrupted, "yes sir. I know you're disappointed in me and I know I don't deserve to marry your daughter, but I love Ada. She means the world to me and I can't live without her."

"Hmm." Mr. Nwafor exchanged a glance with his wife.

"I promise I'll make her very happy, sir."

"Mum, Dad, we're not seeking your permission," Ada stated. Chike's eyes widened in alarm and he shook his head. "We don't need your permission. What we need is your blessing and support."

"So if we object, you'll still go ahead and marry him?" her mom queried.

"Yes. However, I'm hoping you don't. As daddy said, you two raised him to be a good man and you can vouch for his character anywhere, anytime. So believe him when he says he would make me happy."

"How long has this been going on?" Mr Nwafor gestured between them.

"I think I've always loved Ada. I tried so hard to fight it but as you can see, I lost that fight." Chike bowed his head.