When The Bully Falls in Love

some cashew nuts, he rebuked Emelda say

hing the

I wanted two

unday and s

more intelligen

buy some snacks for her and afterwards ask her to leave

etter send

so

ith a believabl

rry I wo

ep her feet i

ona

hea

ser to him and

ated, slowly removing

ell her

that asked her o

has already dressed to have

iving yoursel

ke talking to

sometimes thi

n’t know when she slipped with her tongue

ething with anger. Though she was beginning to regret why she talked back at him. But for how long would

h controlling his temper and this was unbecoming of a pe

bed, cussed, or howled, she wondered if he truly came from the descent of Ozubili, the kingdom in Anambra t

aduated with first class in Business Administration. Emelda very well knew whe

lder brother was coroneted the king of Ozubili kingdom after the demise of their father. She had go

l men, dressed in a wrapper—a garment known to be woman’s—and without footwear, danced swiftly to the

so clinked as they shook their body to the reverberating sound, dexterously played by the bare-chested,

started the fight with dramatic seriousness that Emelda didn’t notice it was all for entertainment

a dance, to celebrate with his brother, to celebrate with his king that Emelda got a dim view of his boyfriend’s a

eone that was only two years older than him. Someone that had only the privilege of being the next king by succession not that he trul

ve scared her away but she cautioned herself not to quit so soon, and to give him the benefit of doubt. Otherwise

at carried her in the womb for nine good months, what w

t rebuke him, and he never knew she was angry. She held back her emotion intact, and acted as if nothing happened when she was actually boiling

g with us. I am not

e had talked back at her Mum on the coronation day “Today, you are moody, t

is not going with us,” Donald said, leaning

le before he took her hands

on him when she saw Bisi. Meanwhile, Donald was persistent in his apology, trying to get her to smile agai

oked left to cross the road. It was the sound of a slap but she didn’t know who slapped whom or where the so

saw how they quickly pulled themselves together and smiled. Especially Donald. He appeared very smart, acting in every way possib

joy themselves, have fun and probably lodge in a hotel till the following day. She had prepared, and

know Emelda had planned to go out with Donald when she told her to dress up so they could go catch some fu

to Emelda “My Mummy must be looking for me.

which she uttered those words. And liked her more. “

es at Donald before saying “Next time. Mak

eigbour that kept her company otherwise she would have died of lone

another girl, she would have been sad. But here was she, poised, calm, and collected, matching forward

ook at the way she sashays, look; she knows wha

groom her. People change because of their men

ll her, does she have quality parents? Her parents might have been t

lp. Since she is close to me than she had ever been,

music, ‘Queen of My Heart by West Life, and drove off. Emelda acknowledged the sce

ho was behind them. Emelda was silent, sometimes looking at the gear, th

ning?” Donald

refused to

can learn it merely

s pos

p kidding me” Donald gripped

hat old woman” Emelda

They don’t look whe

man? She knew she was old enough to be his grandmother. What if she had looked but didn’t see them

agree with you,

e cloudier it got. He could be apologetic sometimes, she agreed, but it didn’t

tame a tongue,” Emelda

” Donald sa

then

away from

then

ee

then

e my t

ani

ood nor words

d her laughter. Who loved food more than Donald?

Man learns to live when the o

ave lived your whole life in

any difficult situation. Come on. I am a man, not

nd tough times, allow them to encourage me. You kno

o your argument on the radio and wonder where you got all t

h a manner that suggested he shouldn’t be surprised. Because someone

you an edge” he said, winding down his gla

peting with a

the kind of peace you need

act

sn’t comfortable with the intensity of the air conditioner, unli

kept calm, behaving as if she didn’t resent it, picking the items she craved. Among them was a nicely

cess,” he went close and kissed her hands. The necklace w

ded behind. She saw a pair of shoes that s

it and scruti

bvious emotion. Emelda couldn’t tell if he was joking or if

ve liked to

aughed it off as if there was anything reall

ctacles, walking past them, he sneaked out without Emelda’s notice. It was when she turne

aid to herself, unmoved, not suspicious or anxious. She co

ack. Fifteen freaking minutes. No. She had to