Web of Deception [ EDITING !!!]

Chapter 1

"Why would they be surprised?" she asked, narrowing her eyes.

I suddenly looked up, hesitating. "Uh... I haven't told them about us."

Her eyes widened. "You haven't told them about us?" Her voice rose, and I could hear her British accent thickening—a sure sign she was mad.

"Well, yeah... it never really came up when I spoke with them."

Her entire demeanor shifted.

"Seyi, we've been together for three years! You proposed to me, and you never mentioned me to your parents? Have you completely lost it?"

"I told them I was going to settle down," I offered weakly. "I think they thought I was joking."

Nothing I said helped. She was furious.

"I can't believe you!" She stood up abruptly. "I'm going to take a walk before I say something I'll regret."

"I love you," I called after her, trying to sound reassuring, but she only scoffed and walked away.

I sighed. I should have told them.

My phone buzzed again. "Babes, I'm serious. I want to come to Nigeria today."

I felt someone sit beside me and looked up.

A woman.

She had dark chocolate skin, her braided hair pulled into a tight bun. She wore casual Levi's blue jeans and a black turtleneck. She was pretty, but more than that, she looked... familiar.

Jemima.

But it couldn't be. Jemima was dead.

She died in a plane crash with her parents two years after I left for the UK. My parents didn't wanted me to leave school for the burial.

As if I would miss my best friend's burial.

Sometimes, I blamed myself. Maybe if I hadn't left, maybe—

"It's not a prank, na. Last time was a joke, babes. I forgot to inform him that I was coming back. Just please pick me at the airport."

Her voice pulled me out of my thoughts. She was loud, her accent purely Nigerian.

"The plane might be landing around 9 p.m... It's not that late, and you can come with Rasaq."

I couldn't concentrate anymore. "Sorry," I said to get her attention.

She turned, raising a brow. "How may I help you?"

Her face was even more familiar now that I got a good look at her.

"Could you lower your voice?" I asked, surprised at the sudden switch to a British accent.

Her brows shot up. "I'm sure there are plenty of empty seats for you to move to, if you don't mind."

I blinked. "I was here first."

She broke into a smile. "You do realize you sound like a child, right?"

"You started it," I muttered before I could stop myself.

She laughed. "And here comes the wife."

What did she mean?

"Who is she?" Zina's sharp voice cut in.

I turned to find her glaring at me.

"Uhh... I uhm—"

"We're not together," the woman said casually. "I just met him here, and he was telling me he was taken. Not that I care, but I assume you're his wife?"

"Yes, I'm his wife," Zina emphasized the word with pointed sharpness.

"Well, actually, she's my fiancée," I corrected.

"Same thing, Seyi," Zina snapped as she sat beside me and grabbed my hand possessively.

The woman only smiled. "Are you both heading to Nigeria?"

"Yeah."

"We don't talk to strangers," Zina and I said at the same time.

She chuckled. "I guess I'll leave you both then." She leaned in slightly toward me and whispered, "Fix it."

What did she mean by that?

"It was nice meeting you both." She stood, picked up her bags, and strolled away.

"What did she whisper to you?" Zina demanded.

I shrugged. "Nothing."

Zina narrowed her eyes. "Unbelievable. You have a side chick, Seyi." She stood again, yanking the engagement ring off her finger and throwing it at me before storming off.

She'll be back, I thought. But the words from earlier echoed in my mind.

Fix it.

I sighed and stood, dialing her number. She didn't pick up. I called again.

"Why are you calling me, Seyi?" she spat when she finally answered.

"Where are you?"

"Why do you care? You have your side chick."

I exhaled sharply. "She's not my side chick, Zina. I don't even know her."

"Then what did she say to you?"

"What does it matter? I could lie to you, and you wouldn't even know."

"Seyi!"

"For three years, have I ever cheated on you?"

"No... But—"

"Exactly! So why would I start now?" My patience was running thin. "Stop acting like a child and come back."

"Stop acting like a child? Seyi, you didn't tell your parents about me for three years! Three f—ing years!"

"You didn't have to use that word, Zina."

"F— you, Seyi."

She was really mad.

"Zina, I'm sorry I didn't tell them."

"Why?"

"Come back and let's talk about it."

"I can hear you from the phone."

"Zina..." I drawled, my tone serious.

"Fine. I'm coming."

I cut the call and waited. My mind drifted back to Jemima.

I never told my parents I was coming for the funeral, so when I did, I had to avoid them seeing me. It was one thing I could never let go of...

"So?" Zina's voice brought me back to the present.

She had returned.

I flashed her a smile. "I'm glad you came back."

She rolled her eyes. "Why didn't you tell your parents about me?"

"I wanted it to be a surprise." Lies.

"A surprise?"

She sounded convinced.

"Yeah. They thought I wasn't ready to settle down, so I thought—why not shock them?"

"You should've told me that earlier."

Well, that was easy.

An announcement echoed through the airport. "All passengers destined for Nigeria on the 4 p.m. flight are kindly requested to make their way to the departure zone."

Finally. Time to go home.

                                        ~~~~~~~

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