CHAPTER SIXTEEN “CONVINCED”

©️ Opeyemi Akintunde
As inspired by the DEEP ONE

Imade’s POV

“Did you arrive safely?”

Teju’s message stayed on my screen longer than I intended.

“Safely.”

I locked my phone and dropped it beside me on the bed.

The room felt larger now. Too large for one person who was meant to be two.

I sat still, listening to the unfamiliar silence. No generators humming. No traffic horns fighting for dominance. Just quiet… expensive quiet.

This was the dream…And yet, my chest felt tight.
I replayed everything in my head, not in order, just flashes.

The wedding smiles that didn’t reach my eyes.
The argument.
The airport.
The decision that felt bold and selfish at the same time.
Was I wrong to leave?
Or was I wrong for staying for so long before now?

I picked up my phone again.
Another message came in. “I hope you’re comfortable.”
I sighed.
Always careful.
Always gentle.
Always waiting.

I typed slowly.

“Yes. I’m fine.”

I stared at the word fine before sending it.

It felt like a placeholder… not a conclusion.

When the message delivered, I placed the phone face down.

I walked to the mirror and studied my reflection.

Married.
Unconsummated.
Unsettled.

I whispered to myself,
“You didn’t do anything wrong.”

But the room didn’t answer.
I returned to the bed and sat again.

If Teju called now… would I pick? If he showed up… would I be relieved or annoyed?

I didn’t know.

And that scared me more than any argument ever had.

Teju’s POV (Nigeria)

The room was too quiet.

Not peaceful… just empty.
I sat on the edge of the bed, phone in my hand, staring at the screen like it owed me something.

She had left.

Not dramatically….Not crying…Not slamming doors.
She had just… left.

I refreshed my messages again.Nothing new..
I told myself not to expect anything.
But expectation doesn’t ask for permission.
I imagined her at the airport, maybe hesitating… maybe turning back… maybe realizing this was a mistake. I had sent her two messages, she only replied one.

My phone vibrated suddenly.
My heart jumped…This was it.

An apology.
A reconsideration.
A “Teju, I’m coming back.”

I Checked the caller ID

My heart sank.

Mummy Imade.

I froze.
I stared at the caller ID like it was a trick question.
Do I lie?
Do I say the truth?
Was this one of those moments where honesty would cost me peace… or where lying would cost me everything later?

The phone kept vibrating.

I imagined her voice already.
Calculating.Sharp.

Reading between lines before you even finished speaking.

I answered…

“Hello, Mummy.”

“Good afternoon, my son,” she said sweetly. Too sweet.

“Hope my daughter is enjoying her honeymoon.”
I swallowed.

“Yes, ma.”

Silence…Then…

“Put her on the phone.”

My heart raced.

What was I supposed to say?
That she travelled without me? That she was fine like she texted?

That our marriage had barely started and already felt like it was gasping for air?

“She’s… resting,” I said carefully. “She’ll call you later.”

Another pause…Longer this time.

“Hmmm,” she hummed.

“You people are young… Bombard yourself with love early.”

“Yes, ma,” I replied.

She hung up.

I dropped the phone on the bed and leaned back, staring at the ceiling.

I didn’t know what to do.
Was I supposed to chase her?
Or was dignity asking me to wait?
I picked up my phone again.

Typed.

Deleted.

Typed again.

Deleted.

Finally, I placed it face down.
If she wanted to talk… she would call.

And if she didn’t…

Then this silence would tell me everything I needed to know.

Her words kept replaying…

“Marrying you is misery.”

I didn’t know a sentence could bruise like that.

Beauty’s voice echoed too, uninvited.

“She said she’d make your life hell.”

Was this it?

So this is marriage, Teju.
Welcome.

To be continued…

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Written by Opeyemi Akintunde
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