บท 49: I Love You
Her words hung in the air like a challenge, daring him to respond.
Chibuzor froze at her outburst, his sharp words fading into silence. For the first time since their argument began, he really looked at her.
Her face was pale, her posture slumped with visible fatigue. Dark circles shadowed her eyes, and it hit him like a brick, she was exhausted.
She had been on her feet for hours, standing through endless drama. Her best friend was lying unconscious in the hospital because she had taken a stand to defend her. She had rushed to the hospital without a second thought, stayed by Nnenna's side, and hadn't had a proper meal or even rested.
It was almost the same for him too, but looking at her now, he felt a pang of guilt. He should be the bigger person here.
His shoulders relaxed, the tension draining out of him as he sighed. "I'm sorry. I just…"
He paused, his mind racing. 'No, I can't tell her the real reason I'm upset about this. Plus, I need to do something about those people.'
"You just what?" Olaedo asked softly, her tone losing its sharpness. Her anger was fading too, like a fire losing its fuel.
It was true what people said, soft answers could diffuse even the most heated situations. She knew this. She had learned it many times before, but she had forgotten in the heat of the moment. Now, hearing his gentler tone, she felt her own defenses start to lower.
"I just didn't want to jeopardize everything we've worked for these past months," Chibuzor said, stepping closer. His voice dropped to a whisper as he leaned toward her, his words brushing against her ear.
"I love you and I get stupidly jealous sometimes." He said again, this time with a normal tone. This part was for a certain set of people.
Internally, he nodded to himself. 'That was a good save.'
'Wait, what did I just hear?' Olaedo's heart skipped a beat as she stared at Chibuzor. His calm expression didn't match the words he had just said. That wasn't the look of someone overwhelmed by emotions or love, it was calculating, steady.
Her thoughts swirled, but she quickly reminded herself to stay composed. 'Not here. We're in public,' she reasoned, deciding it was better to stay silent for now. She would ask him about it later, when they were alone and away from possible prying eyes.
Olaedo nodded slowly, careful to keep her tone neutral. "You're right. I'm sorry. I didn't think about the possible consequences. Next time, I'll make sure to take clothes into the bathroom."
Chibuzor gave a small nod of approval. "Are you hungry? I brought you some food," he said, his voice soft yet unreadable. Without waiting for her response, he reached out and took her hand, holding it firmly as he led her into the room.
Olaedo stiffened slightly at the sudden contact but forced herself to stay calm. His grip was steady and warm, but it still felt strange, like something she wasn't used to.
As they walked in, her attention was momentarily drawn to the group of five nurses heading toward them. Their purposeful strides reminded her how public the hospital environment was, and she instinctively let Chibuzor guide her further into the room.
Once inside, her unease subsided slightly, but a sudden realization hit her. 'Olisa!' she thought, guilt flooding her. She had completely forgotten about him waiting for her downstairs in the cafeteria. She decided to text him as soon as possible.
Once the door clicked shut, Olaedo immediately pulled her hand free and placed it on her chest, breathing a sigh of relief. "Quick thinking. I didn't realize there were nurses there," she said, her voice still slightly shaky from the unexpected tension earlier.
Chibuzor nodded, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Actually, they've been there for quite a while. They stood there watching and even recording us while we argued." His tone was calm, almost amused. "I figured since they wanted a show, we might as well give them something to talk about."
Olaedo's eyes widened in disbelief, her hand freezing mid air. 'What?!' She hadn't even noticed them. The realization hit her like a brick, 'the family ball is over. Everyone knows we're married now. Every step I take will be under scrutiny.' With that thought, a wave of unease rolled over her. She had let her guard down! How had she not seen them?
Her troubled expression didn't escape Chibuzor's sharp eyes. He walked over to her, his tone soft and reassuring. "Don't beat yourself up too much," he said, his deep voice steady. "It's enough that I noticed them in time. Even when you weren't aware, you still played your part perfectly. And now, the headlines tomorrow will probably talk about how jealous and protective your husband is, and how you're a good wife who admits her mistakes."
As he spoke, Chibuzor began pulling the chairs together and arranging their dinner on the table. Olaedo's eyes softened as she noticed the dishes, it was a spread of all her favorites. The attention to detail made her chest feel unexpectedly warm, though she quickly brushed it off.
Olaedo remained rooted in place, still processing everything that had just happened. The realization that this new phase of their contract marriage would be even harder than the last weighed heavily on her. 'Can I pull this off?' she wondered, a wave of uncertainty flooding her mind.
Her gaze drifted to Chibuzor, who was busy setting the table with precision, his movements calm and collected. Just as she was about to sink deeper into her worries, he glanced up at her.
Their eyes met.
For a moment, the world seemed to still. Chibuzor's dark eyes softened when he noticed the fear and doubt in hers. Without saying a word, he smiled, a small, reassuring curve of his lips.
That simple act of kindness was like medicine to Olaedo. Her heartbeat steadied, and she felt a newfound calm wash over her.
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