Hard Man

48

"Chioma, I want to hear you say you love me all the time."
— The General.

"I don't like feeling like you're trying to hide me."
— Des

"Once you're happy and smiling, the house is a better place for everyone."
    — Adeiza (His first feature, let's make some noise for our sweet cook)

Des slowly walked down the stairs, feeling like the Queen of a castle. She couldn't remember the last time she felt this relaxed. It was like nothing was on her mind, and it made her happy. She even seemed disconnected from her family's worries, and she knew she was on her way to healing from it, thanks to the General.

When she arrived in the living room, she heard noises from the kitchen and headed there, knowing it was Adeiza. He was leaning against the fridge, scrolling through his phone. He looked up when she walked in and quickly stood straight, unable to meet her eyes.

"Good morning," he greeted politely. ". I just finished breakfast. Would you like something to eat? I made pancakes and—"

"I'm sorry, Adeiza," Des said solemnly. "I was rude and disrespectful the other day and should never have done that. Please forgive me."

He smiled. "It's okay. The atmosphere in the house was hot, so I figured a lot was going on."

"You can't begin to imagine what it was," she chuckled. "But it's all good now."

"I can tell. Once you're happy and smiling, the house is a better place for everyone."

Des laughed. "So let's go back to being friends."

"Friends?" He shrieked.

"Yes."

Adeiza looked around the room. "Please, you're the General's woman. I can't do that."

Des rolled her eyes. "We're already friends," she said in a tone that discouraged any argument. "What's for breakfast?"

"Pancakes."

"I'm starving."

Adeiza set down his phone. "I'll be out with your food."

"Thank you." She returned to the dining table to wait for her food.

Adeiza brought her a plate of pancakes and a cup of tea and sat beside her.

"You're not going to leave the house again, are you?" He asked as she ate.

Laughing, Des shook her head. She loved the General, and he loved her back. There was no reason to leave. She didn't know the future, but she hoped that a greater God was working for her happiness. She was tired of being hurt by people she loved.

As Adeiza talked about random stuff, her phone beeped on the table. Des reached for it, excited to see it was a text from the General.

"Still in the bedroom?" He asked.

Des couldn't help her smile. He'd been gone for a few hours and expected her to still be naked in the bedroom?

"No," she replied. "I'm eating."

While she waited for a response to the General's message, she paid half attention to Adeiza, who was yapping about a girl, probably his girlfriend. Her phone beeped again, and she clicked on the message.

"I'll be home in five minutes. Be in the bedroom."

Des laughed and responded with, "No."

She knew he wouldn't respond anymore, and he didn't disappoint. For minutes after she sent the text, she waited but got nothing.