The  news of Julius’ engagement to Dera spread like wildfire . Some of the ladies in church who have been expecting Julius to marry them were furious. The worst hit was Nancy. She had done everything in her power to make Julius notice her. When it didn’t work she decided to befriend Julius’ sister, Oge. She has been going to Julius house to cook and wash clothes in the guise that she was helping Oge.

During Julius’ last birthday, she bought a cake and sent it to Julius through Oge. Though Julius tried to reject the cake, Oge begged him to accept it , explaining that it was a kind gesture from a friend.  Julius on his own tried to get some gifts for Nancy as a compensation for coming to help Oge with house chores. He didn’t know that Nancy took it as a sign of being interested in her.

Okey was about to drive out of the church compound when Nancy waved at him to stop. He had to oblige while thinking what could make Nancy stop him.

“Nancy, how are you ?” Okey greeted.

” Bro Okey, I am not fine,”she responded and frowned.

“What is the matter?” Okey inquired.

“The only problem I have is your friend.  Bro Julius has made me a laughing stock. I never knew that he was heartless,” Nancy continued ranting.

“If I tell you that I understand what you are talking about, I am a liar. What did Julius do to you?”Okey asked.

“Bro Julius broke my heart. He disappointed me. You know what  I’m talking about.”

“My sister, I don’t know what you are talking about. I will prefer that you go straight to the point,”Okey said firmly.

“I heard that Julius is engaged to be married to Dera. Is it a lie?”

“That is the truth. They are getting married soon. Do you have a problem with that?”

“After showing me that he loved me, Bro Julius has decided to propose marriage to another person. Is  it fair?”

“Nancy, you are confusing me. Did Julius propose marriage to you?”

“Yes. Though it was not a direct proposal. He did it in an indirect way?”

“Really?” Okey wondered.

“Of course,”Nancy said firmly.

“Please can you explain what you mean by indirect method.”

“He enjoyed eating my food. He said that I am a good cook. He was also buying clothes for me,”Nancy explained.

“Nancy this matter is tying wrapper,  I don’t really know what to say. I have to reverse the car and go back to church so as to talk to Julius since he is still around.”

Okey went back to the church. When he spotted Julius, he signaled him to come. They both sat at a corner inside the church auditorium.

“I thought you said you were rushing somewhere. Why did you come back,” Julius asked.

“Something came up. Someone is angry with you. She said you promised her marriage but later decided to marry another person,”Okey explained.

“Really? Who is that person? ” Julius asked.

“Who did you promise to marry in this church?”Okey asked further.

“My brother, to say I am surprised, is an understatement. If not that I know the importance of where you wanted to go, I would have said that you are playing pranks. I am seriously listening to you because I know that you cannot postpone where you are going,  to come and joke. To answer your question directly, I was not in a relationship with anyone. I never promised anyone marriage. Of course I can’t even do such a thing without letting you know. Dera is the only one I proposed marriage to,” Julius answered.

“Nancy said your body language shows that you wanted to marry her. She said you have been buying gifts  for her.”

“What!”

“O boy, this is not a matter of what! Have you not bought a gift for her,”Okey asked.

“My brother, I am dumbfounded. May my good deeds not implicate me.  The answer to your question is yes. However, we were not in a relationship. She is Oge’s  friend. Most times, she comes to the house with her and helps her with house chores. For that reason, I started treating her as my sister. Most times, when I wanted to buy things for Oge, I normally buy for her. How does that translate to a relationship? Is she dumb? On my last birthday, she bought a cake for me. I rejected it.  It was Oge that later begged me to collect it. I don’t understand.”

“Don’t worry, let me bring her to this place,”Oge proposed.

” That’s better. Bring Oge too. But tell Oge to wait till Nancy comes, then she can join us . If she sees Oge here, she might not agree to come,”Julius told him.

When Okey went to meet Nancy, she was reluctant to follow her to meet Julius.

“I don’t think that it is necessary to meet him. He has already made up his mind to marry another person.Nothing will make him change his mind. In fact I don’t want him to change his mind. It will be like I am forcing him to marry me.”

“It’s important that we meet him. Let’s hear his own side of the story. If he needs to  apologize to you, let him do it,” Okey persuaded her.

“Alright, I will go with you.”

When they got to where Julius was sitting, Nancy stood beside Julius and faced the floor.

“Julius, we are here. I told you that Nancy is not really pleased that you decided to marry another person instead of her. She felt that the affection that existed between both of you  was strong enough to lead to marriage. She decided to say it instead of bottling it up. I must commend her for that. Please tell us your side of the story,” Okey told him.

“Okey thanks so much. I am surprised that this meeting is taking place or that we are having this discussion.There was no affection.  As he was talking, Oge joined them.

“Oge, thanks for coming, you came at the right time.  I saw   and took Nancy as my sister, nothing more, nothing less. All the time she was coming to the house, marrying her never crossed my mind. I don’t know what she is talking about.”

“But you were always praising my cooking skills, ” Nancy chipped in.

“How does that translate to “will you marry me?,” Julius asked in anger.

“I have been quiet so that I can understand what is going on? I need an explanation,”Oge told them.

“Oge why would you pretend that you don’t know what is going on. Would you swear that you don’t know that I love your brother?”Nancy asked her.

“Wonders shall never end. Did you tell me that you want my brother to marry you?” Oge retorted.

“Can you listen to yourself? I always come to help you at home. I always buy things for you. I even brought cake to his birthday yet you are saying that I didn’t tell you. Oge this is unfair. Remember that I am your fellow lady.”

“Ha! Nancy please don’t involve me in this. You should have just told him what was in your mind. It would have been better than what you are doing now. Besides, if I knew that your reason for getting close to me was because of my brother, I would have discouraged you.”

“I tried to give him time to make up his mind concerning me. Did I know that he would disappoint me,”Nancy said in tears.

At that point Julius had to tell Oge to leave them so that he could talk to Nancy.

“Nancy please, I did not disappoint you. I never promised you marriage. In fact, I didn’t know you, untilI  I started seeing you with my sister. It is obvious you loved me. Unfortunately, the feeling is not mutual. God will give you a man who will love you the way you deserve. I am already engaged to be married to Dera,”Julius pleaded.

“What happens to me? I had to turn down the request of someone that wanted to marry me because of you,”Nancy said in tears.

Okey became uncomfortable with the way Nancy was sounding and rebuked her.

“Nancy, you have to stop! This is becoming ridiculous. What is wrong with you? You turned down the request of someone who wanted to marry you because of someone that never spoke to you concerning marriage. Are you for real?  I have some where I am going. So I would like us to bring this matter to an end at this point. Julius never promised you marriage. In fact  you were not even friends.  There are some issues that you should be ashamed to talk about; What we are discussing here is such an issue. Please move on with your life and allow Julius to plan for his wedding.”

The marriage preparation continued smoothly afterwards.