Rings & Knots

Nkem wanted him to hold her hand just like he did the handles of her bicycle . She had also begun to love the way her name rolled off his lips. There was absolutely something wrong with her and it always reared its head whenever he was around.

"I am beginning to wonder if that one sip of palmwine did something to you. Why did you drink that rubbish Ekene gave you? You seem to keep getting lost " He mumbled a bit taken aback by her lack of concentration. "Nkem!"

"Isi?"

"What is it? Why do you seem lost in thoughts? Is there any problem?"

Nkem shook her head vigorously holding back the need to tell him exactly how she felt.

"Ngwanu..we'll find a way to stop those fools from destroying your things. I bet they thought this bicycle was mine too. I shouldn't have e ridden it to school. Are they even stupid? Don't they know that I cannot afford this ! We have to report to the principal"Cheta rambled as he continued to drag the bicycle along while she walked slowly behind.

"Cowards! That's what they are..I should"

"Cheta!" Nkem bellowed causing a stop to his tirade.

"I love you! "Her hands clamped her lips immediately the words flew out of her mouth. The erratic pounding of her heart worsened and her feet became wet from the sweating of her legs. Her hands trembled without a care as his feet halted "What had she done?"

She watched in terror as he dropped the bicycle he was holding and marched back to where she was. She held her breath and prayed in her heart that her confession not be the end of her.

He gave a small smile as he drew closer,before breaking into his annoying fits of laughter. He laughed so hard that he fell beside her.

"Now I know that you must be really drunk! "

Nkemjika a beautiful young girl from a wealthy home finds true love in Chetanna, a nobody from the village that harboured them in their worst times. She soon discovers the realities of the boundary between the poor and the wealthy along with a secret that will crumble her world.