The journey back to Lagos was quiet, the hum of the car engine filling the silence between Chris and Linda. The village had been a whirlwind, and now, as the familiar city skyline came into view, Linda felt a mixture of relief and anxiety. While leaving the festival chaos behind gave her a sense of calm, she couldn't shake the weight of the lingering deception.
Their departure from the village had been emotional. Linda's mother had pleaded with them to stay longer, lamenting that the house would feel empty without them. Linda had promised to return soon, though she knew that promise would be hard to keep.
The hardest part had been saying goodbye to her younger siblings. Her two brothers, barely out of primary school, clung to Chris as if he were a superhero.
"Will you come back, Chris?" the younger of the two asked, his big eyes glistening with tears.
Chris crouched to their level, ruffling their hair with a warm smile. "Of course, I will. But in the meantime, you two have to take care of your parents for me, okay?"
The boys nodded solemnly, as if Chris had just handed them the most important mission of their lives. Linda's throat tightened at the sight. It was moments like this that made the lie they were living feel even heavier.
Her mother had packed them gifts to take back to Lagos-homemade snacks, bottles of palm oil, and a vibrant Ankara fabric for Linda. As they hugged everyone goodbye, Linda felt her heart tugged in a dozen different directions.
---
The drive into Lagos was uneventful, but the city's energy was a stark contrast to the serene village they had just left. The streets were alive with the usual chaos-honking cars, street vendors calling out their wares, and pedestrians weaving through the traffic with practiced ease.
Chris parked in front of his family's home, a modern two-story house nestled in a quiet neighborhood. His parents were waiting at the door, their faces lighting up as they stepped out of the car.
"Welcome home!" Chris's mother exclaimed, pulling Linda into a warm embrace. "How was your journey back here? Hope it was stress free?"
"It was smooth ma," Linda replied with a small smile, .
Chris's father clapped him on the back. "You look so robust son. You must have had a swell time ?"
Chris laughed. "Something like that. It was a good experience."
Inside, the house smelled of freshly baked bread and lavender, a comforting combination. Chris's mother had prepared a small feast to welcome them back, insisting they sit and eat immediately.
As they settled into the dining room, Chris's mother peppered Linda with questions about the village. " How's your mom Linda? She was really fun to be with!
Linda answered politely, though she felt like she was tiptoeing through a minefield. She knew Chris's parents had questions of their own about the engagement, but they hadn't pressed her yet.
Chris, sensing her discomfort, jumped in to fill the gaps. "Linda's family was amazing, Mom. They practically treated me like royalty."
His mother smiled knowingly. "Of course, they did. You're their future son-in-law, after all."
Linda froze for a split second before forcing a laugh. "They actually gave me somethings to give you guys
Wow, really? Gushed Chris's mom
That's so kind of them
After dinner, Chris showed Linda to the guest room where she would stay for the night. She sank onto the bed, her body heavy with exhaustion. The transition from the village to Lagos, from her family's home to Chris's, felt jarring. Everything about this arrangement was temporary, and the weight of that truth pressed down on her.
A knock at the door broke her thoughts. Chris poked his head in. "You okay?"
Linda nodded, though her face told a different story. "I'm just... tired. It's been a lot, but I'm grateful we have passed the first phase, next plan is to know how to break our breakup news to them"
Chris stepped inside, leaning against the doorframe. "Uhmm, Linds, I really suggest we take it slowly, we don't want to rush the whole process and the heartbreak will be much on them -"
"I don't even know how to pull the plug, Chris," Linda interrupted, her voice tinged with frustration. "We've gone so far with this. My family, your family... they're all so invested. How do we even begin to tell them the truth?"
Chris sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I don't know. But maybe we don't have to decide tonight. Let's just get through the next few days, and we'll figure it out together."
Linda looked at him, her emotions a swirl of gratitude and irritation. She hated the situation they were in, but she couldn't deny that Chris's steady presence made it bearable. "Fine," she said softly. "One day at a time."
Chris smiled. "That's the spirit."
As he left, closing the door behind him, Linda lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling. The city outside buzzed with life, but inside, her thoughts were a whirlwind. She couldn't shake the feeling that the lies they had built were on the verge of collapsing-and when they did, the fallout would be impossible to contain.