Sweet Hearts

Parents

     She flickered her eyelids open.

Stretching and yawning, she turned to Chris's side of the bed. It was empty.

She groaned and held her heavy head, the throbbing headache was merciless.

So much for late drinking.

She tossed from side to side and wrapped herself with the sheets.

The door flung open as Chris walked in all sweaty. His grey T-shirt that clung to his body was drenched in sweat and he was panting heavily.

"You can't still be in bed, it's 8:30am".

She rolled her eyes even though she knew he couldn't see her.

He shook his head and marched towards her, he snatched the duvet from her body.

She groaned loudy "Just let me sleep in".

"Hangover?".

"Yes, my body and alcohol are not a good mix".

He chuckled "Panadol's in the drawer".

She nodded "I'll take it later".

"My parents are coming for lunch".

She sat up quickly; too quickly that she felt blood rush into her head.

"Your parents are coming?".

He pulled off his T-shirt "Yes!"

"Jeez, and you're just telling me?".

"Well, It was sudden for me too".

She stood from the bed grabbing the sheets with her as she did. She marched towards him until she was facing his chest.
She poked his chest.

"You". Poke. "Are". Poke.  "an ass hole".

He wrapped her index finger with his palm before she could poke him again.

"I know you are not excited about this".

"Excited?, Hell I'm not happy about this".

He shot an eyebrow "Are you not saying the same thing?".

She flicked his chest "Kilo ndamu e?, Don't frustrate me me oh".

He rubbed the affected area "Aww, I'm not frustrating you".

"Is your mum coming?".

She waited for his answer with her whole body tensed.

"I said 'my parents', so technically, it involves my mum".

"No need to be sarcastic". She sighed exasperatedly. "You're the one cooking".

He shrugged "It's not like you can cook or something".

She gave him a glare and walked past him to the bathroom.

                  

                     °°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

"Mm hmm, this is nice". His dad; Mr Chike said wipping the sides of his mouth with a napkin.

"Thank you sir". Lara replied with a brief smile.

Chris noticed how humbled she was whenever his parents were around. She replied every statement with caution and politeness but she seemed very tensed whenever his mum said something. His mum and Lara didn't relate quite well; his mum despised her.

"You prepared this?". His mum asked, her tone dripping from all form of disdain.

"Yes mum, she did" Chris replied giving Lara a warm smile

His mum turned to face him "M juru gi?, Let the woman answer her own questions".

"Nkem, please stop". Mr Chike chriped in giving his wife a scowl.

She faced her husband "What?, I'm only surprised that she could make a decent meal without the help of a maid, I mean, wasn't she brought up as a spoilt brat who doesn't soil her hands with anything...?".

Chris interrupted in fury "Mum, stop this!".

His mum stood "Stop what, eh!, When you were blindly pushed to marry someone who's not worthy just because it's a stupid man's dying wish".

Lara sighed calmly "Please don't bring my late father into this".

"Gini E mezie?". His mum asked with arms akimbo.

"Mummy..." Chris began but was cut short by his mum's raised hand, an indication for him to stop.

"Save it". She picked her purse that was lying on the table. "Bia Chike k'anyi hapu this place".

Mr Chike sighed calmly "Nkem sit down, you came to visit your son".

His mum sat heavily with a humph on the seat and folded her arms angrily.

Chris rubbed his temples and let out a sigh, he could see from his peripheral vision Lara struggling to fight back her tears. He felt his heart churn at the sight, he reached out for her hand and interlocked their fingers.

Strangely that felt perfect, like he didn't want that moment to end.

She stared at their locked fingers and back at him, her eyes had several emotions swirling in them as they held unshed tears.

She gently pulled her hands from his grip and placed them in front of her; his hands felt cold without hers.

"Nnam, did you go to church today?". His dad asked.

Chris's eyes darted from his mum to his dad, he shook his head "No I didn't".

His mum sat up "I said it, this woman has given you her Yoruba charms, okwaya?".

"Mum, please".

His mum clapped and placed her hands on her waist "Inukwa, what has she given you eh, was Cecilia not good for you?, Cecilia would have ensured you went to church".

Mr Chike yelled in agitation "Nkem, what is wrong with you?".

Lara stood quietly "I'd be in the kitchen if you need anything".

Chris watched as she walked out into the kitchen, he buried his head into his palm.

"Cecilia called me". His mum said.

Translations
*Kilo ndamu e? (Yoruba)
What's wrong with you?

*M juru gi? (Igbo)
Did I ask you?

*Nkem (Igbo)
My own (an endearment)

*Gini E mezie?. (Igbo)
Then what happened?

*Bia Chike k'anyi hapu (Igbo)
Come Chike let's leave.

*Nnam (Igbo)
My father (an endearment)

*Okwaya (Igbo)
An exclamation

*Inukwa (Igbo)
An exclamation.

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