Tega pulled the drapes open, allowing sunshine to flood the sitting room. She turned to get the AC remote and then stumbled on Omote lying on the cold tile.
Her head was facing the pillow. She didn't want her sister to see that she was crying.
"Omor, you missed the most important day of my life. You won't believe that Cheta tricked me." she said aloud excitedly. "Cheta isn't a taxi guy for real.
He is well to do." Tega Said. Omote lifted up her teary face immediately, trying to remove the catarrh from her nose.
"What do you mean Cheta isn't a taxi driver for real?" Omote asked tearily.
Tega noticed the tears in her sister's eyes, she paused and watched her for a moment.
"Why are you crying?" She asked softly.
"I am fine. I had headache." Omote replied weakly.
"You will be fine." Tega held her sister's hands. "Cheta lied to Me." Tega repeated. Tears ran out of her eyes as she began to laugh at the same time.
She rushed her hands into her handbag and brought out a car key. "See, he gave me a car. He is the MD of Sweet winery, his father used to be former minister for information."
Omote turned to her sister in amazement, she knew that her sister was not a good liar, so she didn't argue with her. She just listened to her talk about Cheta with joy.
"He lied about his school. He graduated from American business school last year. He lied to me."
"Why was he doing all of these?"
"Because he wanted to find his one and only true love." Tega said excitedly and hugged her sister.
"He wants us to wed in London by May." Tega said.
Omote became ashamed. Her elder sister had found the love of her life, and she had just lost hers. She kept calling Roland's line, but he always rejected her calls.
Most nights, Omote drank herself to stupor before she could go to bed, and in the day, she accompanied her sister to the shop.
She had wanted to tell Isioma about the breakup between her and Roland, but she didn't want to bother Isioma with more problems.
She always crawled back into her shell of loneliness.
***********
OgheneTega and Chetachukwu got married at Hackney town hall, Mare street London.
Cheta had gotten visa for Tega's mother and Omote. It was their first time in London.
Omote took a deep breath as she accompanied her sister to walk down the aisle. Their mother had smiles flashed on her face all through that day.
When the priest joined them together in holy matrimony, Omote became amaze at Cheta's British accent, he sounded stunned. His eyes were gentle and loving. Omote could not resist weeping like a Baby as she watched her sister Kiss Cheta with full joy.
Cheta and Tega had their honeymoon at Royal Tunbridge Wells in London, while Omote and her mother slept at Cheta's family house in Hurley.
Omote had wished she was still dating Roland. He would have been proud to know that his woman had traveled to London, for the first time in her life.
"When will you be getting married?" Her mother asked skeptically, and the tone of her voice grated on Omote like fingernails on a board.
"I don't know." Omote replied quietly, which spoke volumes to her mother.
They were in the guest room at Cheta's family house. The both of them were lying on the bed and backing each other.
"So you don't have boyfriend?" Her mother asked with an obvious edge in her voice, Omote hesitated answering her for a very long moment. She didn't want to bicker with her mother, so she closed her eyes and slept off like a baby.
She dreamt of kissing Roland and caressing him, but he pushed her away when he Realized it was her.
®Vicky Bon
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