“You said that very easily.” Kemi lifted her chin. “Was it a lie?” Mr. Obiora pointed at the door. “Leave this room now.” But Kemi did not move. “No,” she said. “I will not leave until you change it. Chika should go to the village. I will marry Tunde Bello.” That was the first time she called him by name. Tunde Bello, son of the Bello family, the rich man she had already chosen in her heart.
Mr. Obiora shook his head. “No.” Kemi laughed again. But there was no joy in it. “Daddy, this is not fair. And this is not the first time Kemi has stood in my way,” Chika said. Kemi frowned. “What does that mean?” Chika faced her. “You want to act innocent? What about Femi in secondary school?” Chika’s face changed.
Mr. Obiora looked confused. “Who is Femi?” Chika answered before Kemi could. “A boy who liked me.” Kemi said nothing. Chika looked straight at her. “He used to wait for me after school. Then suddenly he stopped talking to me and started following you. Later I heard you told him I was proud and already seeing somebody else.
” Kemi shrugged. “He liked class. I gave him only a better option.” Chika let out a dry laugh. “So it was true.” Kemi folded her arms. “That was long ago.” “Yes,” Chika said. “And now you are doing the same thing again.” Mr. Obiora looked ashamed, but Kemi only grew more stubborn. “If I want something, I take it,” she said. “That is how life works.
” Then before anybody could stop her, she grabbed a fruit knife from the tray on the small table beside their father’s bed. “Kemi,” Chika shouted. Mr. Obiora froze. “Put that down.” Kemi’s eyes were wet now, but her hand was steady. “If I do not marry Tunde Bello, I will kill myself here,” she said. “I mean it.” “Stop this nonsense,” her father said, but his voice had changed.
“I said I mean it,” she cried. “Choose Chika again and watch what happens.” Chika took a careful step forward. “Kemi, calm down.” “Don’t come near me.” Mr. Obiora lifted both hands. “Put the knife down first.” “No.” “Say it first.” He looked at Kemi. Then at Chika. And Chika already knew what would happen. He would give in.
He always did. After a long moment, Mr. Obiora spoke. “Fine,” he said quietly. “You will marry Tunde Bello.” Kemi lowered the knife at once. Chika did not look at her father. She could not. Something inside her had gone cold. Then she lifted her head and looked at her sister. “You win,” she said. Kemi wiped her tears.
“As I should.” Chika nodded once. “Yes, as always.” She drew in a breath. “Go ahead and marry Tunde Bello. I will go to the village.” Mr. Obiora looked at her with guilt. “Chika.” But she did not let him continue. She faced Kemi fully. “This is not the first time you have taken what should have been mine. You did it before, you are doing it again, so take it.
” Kemi’s lips curved with pride. Chika’s eyes stayed on hers. “But do not regret it later.” Kemi laughed. “I will never regret choosing wealth.” Chika said nothing else. She turned and left the room. She packed quietly that night. No one helped her. No one truly apologized. By morning, she was ready to leave. When the car drove her out, she sat in silence the whole way.
She was not just going to marry a stranger. She was being given away because her sister wanted more. After a long drive, the car stopped. The driver turned back. “Madam, this is where I stop. The road ahead is too bad. Cars do not pass there.” Chika looked outside. The path ahead was rough and narrow. For a moment, she just sat there.
Then she came down. Her suitcase felt heavier than it should have. Her heart felt worse. As she stood by the road, a woman’s voice called out. “You must be Chika.” She turned. The woman standing there was in her late 50s, simply dressed, with kind eyes and a calm face. “I am Grace Eze,” she said warmly. “Obinna’s mother.
You can call me Mama Grace.” Chika greeted her softly. Mama Grace smiled. “My son is still out working. He could not come on time, so I came for you myself.” She noticed the suitcase at once. “Ah, this thing is heavy.” Chika tried to smile. “A little.” Mama Grace quickly arranged for a local bike to carry them in the suitcase the rest of the way.
