Postponed
Ana’s POV
"What does that mean?" I raise a question, finally finished with my meal.
"They postponed their wedding," she lets out like it's a huge deal.
"Oh cool," I accept not knowing whom she's referring to.
"I mean, they," Glory says playing a video on her phone and shoving it in my vision.
Channeling my attention to what is displaying I spot Ike and Emily standing side by side. Feeling a pang of pain, I shift the phone back to her.
"No Ana, just watch," she instructs and places it in my palm.
Sighing, I do as she says and gaze at the screen as Ike starts to tell the press that their wedding scheduled to hold tomorrow is being postponed due to personal reasons. Emily nods in affirmation when a question is directed at her, going on to say "yes, personal reasons that will be taken care of as soon as possible," her eyes glaring at the camera or specifically me, as she explains this.
As my brain begins to process what I just saw, I choke on my spit. Heaving and tapping my chest as terror runs through me, I sight Glory dashing to the kitchen, a glass cup in her arm to fetch me water in replacement of the one she consumed while I hope she arrives before I choke to death.
"Hey babe," Oluchi calls, making me swerve to see her walking in through the front door, a short blue thin-strapped bodycon dress accentuating her figure, her wool braids held in a tight ponytail.
Incapable of forming words due to the restriction in my airflow, I appreciate how simple and beautiful she looks in black fur sandals that go well with her dress. My eyes also don't miss the red bag she's carrying across her shoulders that seems oddly familiar.
"You didn't---. Oh shit!" She clamors when she comes close and detects me heaving, my palm clamping on my throat in a struggle for breath.
"Ana are you okay?" She inquires, now in my eyesight, prompting me to shake my head and flare my arm widely in an SOS sign.
"How can you ask her that, you can clearly see she's not," Joe voices, coming to my side in a pair of faded jeans and a red sleeveless shirt that leaves his muscular arms bare.
"Who did this to you?" Oluchi queries in fear and anger, her imagination running wild as she parades in circles.
"Stop asking her questions, she can't respond to, the lady is fighting to breathe for goodness sake," Joe grimaces offering her an 'are you stupid?' look.
"Okay, I know who did this, I mean who else can it be if not Emily. She must have gone to Benin city, her maternal home to fashion this juju, because, there's no other explanation, it has to be------"
"Shut the hell up Oluchi!" Joe commands, cutting her rant short. "Worry about the problem later, what we need is a solution. So would you kindly clench your lips and go bring her a glass of water?"
Feeling slightly hurt for Oluchi as a result of Joe's tone, I attempt to let out a syllable, rather I end up causing more harm than good to my lungs.
"Calm down Ana, try to swallow your spit, it helps," he persuades, the same time allotting Oluchi a glare that has her scurrying to the kitchen.
I speculate on telling them about Glory's presence but think better on it thus I don't want to die anytime soon seeing as I need to live for my unborn child.
As Joe strokes my back soothingly, Oluchi halts in her step the moment Glory runs in, her fingers bloody and shaky while she hands me water in a glass.
I take it from her and put it to my lips. Throwing my head back, I gulp the water hungrily as if my life depends on it, which is somehow true hence I can die from choking.
The instant the cup goes empty I pass it to Joe blindly and slope my head on the couch in an attempt to gain back control of my airflow. After a series of deep breathes and ear-piercing silence, I sit upright, channeling a hard stare in Glory's location.
"What the fuck took you so long?" I challenge, my bloodshot eyes fixed on her as I brush the hot tears on my cheek.
"Yeah, I didn't know you were here, why is your arm bloody too?" Joe implores, his attention shifting to her.
"Due to my fear I ended up breaking two of your glasses, in an aim to clean it up, I slashed my fingers, then I tried to wash out the blood, leading to more blood so I thought better of it and got you another cup of water, silently praying this one doesn't slip from my fingers." She confesses in answer to our query.
"So why did you make her choke?" Oluchi polls, her palms on her waist and feet tapping rhythmically on the floor.
"Oh come on Oluchi, how can I make her choke?" Glory mocks, rolling her eyes and laying a pink braid behind her ear as she blows air on the slash on her finger, her attire now stained with blood drops.
"So what happened then?" Joe asks, positioning his head on the seat as I did earlier.
"Yes please, can someone tell me what the hell happened?" Oluchi repeats.
Glory bestows me an inquisitive gaze, prompting me to shake my head discreetly in refusal.
"I deserve to know," Oluchi grits, peering at me with a knowing glance. "I mean, I came in to see my best friend heaving, and you decide to keep the cause from me?"
"Oluchi breathe," Joe advises, noticing her get riled up.
"Fine," I moan and give Glory a nod in permission.
"The wedding has been postponed," Glory conveys in reply to their queries.
"Whose wedding?" Joe interrogates, coming off as confused.
"Yeah, can you be more specific?" Oluchi prods, her left arm finding its way to her curly ash plaits.
Keeping silent and getting prepared to capture their expressions, I focus my vision on their faces as I wait.
"Emily and Ike," Glory blurts and makes an effort to hold in a giggle as their reactions are just as I thought they would be. Joe's mouth clangs open the exact time Oluchi's eyes go wide in shock.
"Now you see why I was choking," I mumble, not knowing if I should laugh or be scared hence this development can lead to dire consequences.