when strength meets love

chapter 6: ikoka village

The village square was alive with the sound of music and laughter. The air was thick with excitement as the villagers gathered for a celebration, everyone in their finest clothes, enjoying the evening. Eki, along with the other young girls, sat at the edge of the gathering, their voices mingling in the crowd, gossiping and laughing.

But Eki wasn’t fully present. She glanced around, her eyes flitting to the group of men standing nearby. Among them was Oduwa, his strong frame leaning casually against a tree, but his eyes were fixed on her. Eki could feel his gaze, even without looking directly at him.

"Are you not going to talk to him?" Ivie teased from beside her, nudging her playfully.

Eki shook her head, brushing the thought aside. “I have nothing to say to him.”

But Oduwa wasn’t going to let her ignore him so easily. He made his way over to the group of girls, and as he reached them, he nodded at the others in greeting before his eyes landed on Eki.

"Eki," he began, his voice smooth but tinged with a hopeful softness. "Can we talk for a moment?"

Eki’s heart skipped, but she quickly masked the unease with a cold expression. “What do you want, Oduwa?” she replied sharply, not even looking up at him.

The group of girls exchanged curious glances as Oduwa hesitated for a moment. He wasn’t used to this cold reception. He had hoped for a more gentle approach from Eki, but he knew she was hurt. Still, he wasn’t giving up.

“I just… wanted to speak with you. I’ve been thinking about what you said before, and I want to make things right between us.”

Eki’s eyes narrowed. Her lips tightened, and her patience snapped. "Make things right?" she repeated, her voice rising slightly, catching the attention of everyone nearby. "You must be joking. You think after everything, we can just 'make things right'? Well, news flash, Oduwa, it's too late for that."

Her words were like a slap, and the group of girls stared in silence, some of them whispering among themselves. Oduwa’s face fell, his expression hurt, but he tried to keep his composure.

“Eki, please. I—”

But before he could finish, Eki cut him off. “You’ve got some nerve, standing here and asking me to listen to you like we’re still friends,” she said, her voice colder now. “If you were really sorry, you would have stayed away and let me live my life without your interruptions.”

Her words rang in the air, harsh and unforgiving. Oduwa took a step back, wounded by her dismissal. He wanted to say more, to explain, but he could see the resolve in her eyes. There was no room for him here.

Without another word, he turned and walked away, his shoulders slumped in defeat.

Eki watched him go, her heart pounding in her chest. She had humiliated him in front of everyone, and for a brief moment, the satisfaction she had felt was replaced by a wave of guilt. She knew she had gone too far.

The girls around her were silent, some awkwardly shifting in their seats. Ivie looked at Eki, then at Oduwa’s retreating figure, her voice low. “Eki… that was harsh. You didn’t have to do him like that.”

Eki’s stomach twisted, and she bit her lip, trying to suppress the feeling of regret rising within her. She didn’t want to feel bad for him, but she couldn’t help it. She had just pushed him away, publicly, and now a heavy weight settled in her chest.

“I didn’t mean to…,” she murmured, her voice soft.

But it was too late. Oduwa was already gone, and Eki was left with the aftermath of her actions.