The village square was abuzz with chatter as the villagers gathered for the urgent meeting called by the Enogie. Word had spread like wildfire—something big was happening, and everyone had to be there. Eki, with Ivie by her side, made her way through the crowd, her eyes scanning the sea of familiar faces. The mood in the air was thick with anticipation, and Eki could tell something was about to change.
From the center of the square, the Enogie stood tall, his commanding presence silencing the crowd as he raised his hand.
“Villagers of Ikoka,” he began, his voice carrying the weight of authority. “The time has come to announce an important decision regarding my son, Osagie.”
There was a murmur of curiosity. Osagie, the Enogie’s only son, had been absent for most of the year. His return had sparked whispers across the village, but no one had expected such an announcement.
“I have decided it is time for Osagie to choose a wife. A bride worthy of ascending the throne alongside him. He must settle down before he can claim his place as the rightful heir.”
The shock was instant. Eyes widened, and the air thickened with gossip. Eki glanced over at Ivie, who had an eyebrow raised, clearly surprised.
Osagie stood at the back of the crowd, his face unreadable. The last thing he wanted was for the entire village to know about this arrangement. He hadn’t even been consulted. His father had made the decision for him.
---
As the crowd slowly began to disperse, Osagie stormed out of the gathering, his anger barely contained. He didn't want to be married to someone picked by his father, nor did he want to be forced into something he wasn’t ready for.
Oduwa, who had been standing nearby, watched Osagie’s departure with a worried expression. He knew his friend well enough to recognize the storm brewing inside him. Without thinking, Oduwa rushed after him, determined to catch up before Osagie did something rash.
---
“Osagie!” Oduwa called, hurrying to match his friend’s long strides. “Wait up!”
Osagie didn’t even slow down. “What do you want, Oduwa?” His voice was sharp, his frustration evident.
“You can’t just storm off like that, man,” Oduwa said, matching his friend’s pace. “You need to deal with this. The Enogie is your father, and this is what he wants. You can’t just run away from it.”
“I don’t care what he wants!” Osagie snapped, stopping and turning to face Oduwa. “I don’t want to get married. Not now. Not to someone I don’t even know. I’m not ready to give up my freedom.”
Oduwa chuckled softly, shaking his head. “You’ve been avoiding this for too long, my friend. But you know as well as I do that this is part of the responsibility you carry. You’ll find someone. And when you do, you’ll see—it won’t be so bad.”
Osagie turned away, frustrated. “I don’t want to find someone. I want to be left alone.”
---
Meanwhile, Eki and Ivie had been making their way toward the edge of the village when they noticed the two men standing in the distance. Eki paused, her curiosity piqued.
“What's going on?” she asked Ivie, nodding toward Osagie and Oduwa.
“I don’t know,” Ivie said, squinting as she watched them. “But whatever it is, it looks intense.”
As they approached, they overheard the tail end of the conversation.
“Why is he acting like that?” Ivie asked, her voice low. “He’s not the Enogie’s son I thought he was.”
Eki shook her head. “He’s complicated. Always has been.”
Oduwa noticed them approaching and waved them over. “Eki! Ivie!” he called, his voice filled with relief.
Eki smiled awkwardly, not quite sure what to say. “What’s going on?” she asked, glancing at Osagie.
Osagie avoided her gaze, still visibly upset. “Nothing, just family business. Nothing you need to worry about.”
Ivie narrowed her eyes, suspicious. “Oh, really? Because it looks like there’s more to it than that.”
Before Osagie could respond, Oduwa jumped in with a laugh. “Come on, let’s not stand here all day. Let’s go grab some food. I know you’re both hungry.”
Eki, still puzzled by the tension between them, agreed to follow Oduwa, but Ivie was still hesitant.
“You know what?” Ivie said with a smile, “I think I’ll pass on the food and stay here with Mr. Brooding over there.” She looked at Osagie with a sly grin. “Besides, I’m not done giving you a hard time.”
Osagie shot her a half-smile, though it was clear he was trying to keep his irritation in check. “You’re impossible, Ivie.”
Ivie shrugged, turning to Eki. “You two go on ahead. I’ll catch up later.”
---
As Eki and Oduwa walked away, Eki couldn’t help but feel a mixture of confusion and amusement. The way Ivie and Osagie were interacting was so strange—like there was more going on than just teasing.
“Do you think Ivie likes him?” Eki asked quietly, watching the two of them.
Oduwa raised an eyebrow. “Who? Osagie?”
“Yeah,” Eki replied. “She’s acting like she does.”
Oduwa let out a low laugh. “I think Ivie likes the idea of teasing him more than actually liking him. She’s stubborn like that.”
Eki laughed too, feeling the tension in her own heart ease a little. As they continued their walk, the awkwardness of the situation began to dissipate, and for the first time in a while, Eki allowed herself to relax.
She wasn’t sure what the future held, especially with Osagie’s surprise announcement and Oduwa’s quiet persistence, but for the first time, it didn’t feel like the weight of the world was on her shoulders.
YOU ARE READING
when strength meets love
RomanceEki is a strong, hardworking young woman who has sworn off men after being hurt too many times, including by her own father. Raised in the small, cursed village of Ikoka, she's vowed never to marry and believes that the world would be better without...
