RESILIENCE

~6~

GISELLE

It was a Sunday afternoon. It had not been long we arrived from the church. Yeah, the Ogbeides are extremely religious people. Especially Mrs Ogbeide. She hardly misses the weekly service and all that.

After having our lunch, I and Joshua headed to my room to have our usual chit chat

Two miserable parrots

This was what Mrs Ogbeide deemed it fit to address us

We talked about everything in general. While I kept on bringing Stephanie into the discussion at intervals which made him blush constantly like a hen

Wait, a hen?

He told me he was just going to keep their relationship that way as casual friends because he wasn't sure if Stephanie feels the same way about him. I refused vehemently as I g meave him a trillion and nine reasons why he should tell her about how he felt

Joshua was beginning to say something when we heard a loud voice emanating from downstairs. More like it was coming from the sitting room. I glanced at Joshua before jerking from the bed and hastily left my room to go find out what was happening. Joshua wasn't behind me when I turned. Probably he has gone back to his phone

I clambered down the stairs noiselessly. The stairs that leaded to the spacious sitting room. I was about making a curve turn on the staircase that led to the sitting room when I stopped dead on my track. I heard Mrs Ogbeide very loud and clear

"I think you should postpone your homecoming till next year as initially planned... Ehhn.... Exactly.... Who?... Ohh... She's inside her room as usual... Okay... Bye son!"

I imagined her taking her phone away from her hearing sense organ

So Henry won't be back till next year? This is the best news ever. Like I'm so_

I was suspended from my thoughts as I heard Mrs Ogbeide shouting at the house help. I figured it was the house help- Ivy because she was seriously complaining of her clothes not being ironed

Then everything now clicked. She was reprimanding Ivy in a loud voice before that werey called. And now that she's ended the call, She's back to Scolding her

Nevertheless, I ran in excitement to my room and started to perform silly dance moves while Joshua stared at me in surprise

"Gisselle, did you win a lottery or something?

"Something bigger than lottery" I half shouted as I continued with my silly dance with no music

Joshua legit dropped his phone and adjusted himself on my bed to study me very well. Probably to detect the reason for my sudden euphoria

"That's okay. Enough of this dance. Tell me what's up"

I stopped as I was already exhausted from dancing rubbish and sprawled on the tiled floor

"Joshua, Henry has postponed his homecoming. I overheard Mrs Ogbeide talking it with him over the phone" I rapped out in one breath.

Joshua's expression changed from enthusiasm to hear what I wanted to say to a blank expression

"Is that all?" He asked me with all seriousness and I only could nod my head slowly. I know what's wrong with him. He thinks procrastinating Henry's homecoming won't alleviate the situation at hand because someday he will still come home and the marriage is going to take place if nothing is done

"See, I know what's on your mind right now. I know whether he comes home this year or next, the marriage is still going to take place . But what if a miracle happens?" I whispered in a low voice. The question repeated itself in my head