Ada was in the kitchen one Sunday afternoon, humming a cheerful tune while stirring the steaming pot. Church had ended hours ago, and the joy of worship still lingered in her heart. She sniffed the rich aroma of her stew and smiled.

“Chidi will like this food oo… it’s very delicious. I made it specially for him,” she muttered to herself, scooping a little with the wooden spoon to taste. Her eyes closed as she savored it. “Hmmm… so delicious. I need to hurry up before hunger will kill him for me. He must be very hungry by now.”

She sprinkled in some spices, stirred carefully, and covered the pot just as her mother, Ugochi, called from the corridor where she sat peeling melon.

“Ada oo, Ada! Please come here!”

Ada rinsed her hands quickly in a small bowl of water and hurried over.

Ugochi’s hands were busy cracking melon seeds, but her eyes stayed fixed on Ada. “Ada, it’s been a whole month since I asked you to bring this Chidi home. Since then, I haven’t seen him, and you haven’t said anything again about his coming.”

Ada chuckled nervously. “Mama, this one you’re so eager to meet my Chidi, ehn… well, I saw him yesterday. You know he’s a very busy person, he’s been busy with his service. But don’t worry, he’ll come very soon with his people.”

Ugochi shook her head slowly. “No, my daughter. Before he comes with his people, he must come and see me personally. Then I’ll decide whether he should come with his people or not.”

“Okay, Mama, I’ll tell him to come and see you this evening,” Ada promised.

“Please do. It’s very important. I want to know the kind of man he is.”

“Alright, Mama, I’ll tell him,” Ada said, about to return to the kitchen.

But Ugochi’s voice stopped her. “Ada… I hope you haven’t done anything with him yet.”

“Done anything? Like what, Mama?” Ada asked, feigning innocence.

“I mean, I hope you haven’t had anything like sex with him.”

Ada’s hand went nervously to her neck, scratching as she stammered. “Mm… mm… no, Mama She lied.”

“Good. My daughter, you must remain pure. Now, please hurry and finish cooking, so you’ll help me with this melon. I want to supply them tomorrow.”

“No, Mama. Once I’m done, I’m going to see Chidi,” Ada replied quickly, rushing back to the kitchen.

When the meal was ready, Ada carefully packaged it in a fancy nylon, humming happily as she stepped out of the compound.

“My regards to him oo!” Ugochi called loudly.

“Okay, Mama!” Ada replied, waving as she left.

On her way, she met her friend Ijeoma, who was coming to her house. Ada quickly asked her to accompany her to Chidi’s lodge. But when they arrived, the house was silent and locked with a heavy padlock.

Ada’s smile faded. “Where could they have gone?”

“Let me check the other side,” Ijeoma suggested. They both searched but found no one. Just as they were about to give up, Ijeoma’s eyes caught something by the door a folded paper pushed under the padlock.

“Ada, look… a letter. I think it’s for you.”

Ada’s hands trembled as she took it. She unfolded the paper, and in Chidi’s familiar handwriting, the words hit her like a blow:

The Letter;

Ada,by the time you see this letter, I will already be far away from the village. I didn’t want to face you because I know how much you care for me, and I don’t want to look into your eyes and see pain. The truth is hard, but you deserve to know it.

Ada, I’m sorry for leaving you behind. The truth is I never loved you. I was only using you to catch fun. When I first came to the village, everything was boring and you were a distraction. I never imagined you would fall deeply in love with me. I appreciate the love and care you gave me,but ada you are too local for me. You are not my class. I never planned to marry you. I only collected money from you because I was having issues with my dad and he stopped sending me money. I’m sorry but I already have a girlfriend waiting for me in the city,we cannot continue anymore.

You are a good girl, Ada. But you are not my kind of woman. I pray you heal quickly and find someone who truly deserves your love. Please forgive me if I have hurt you….,

Ada’s eyes grew wide as each sentence pierced her soul. She could hardly breathe; her heart pounded, her fingers shook so hard that the letter almost slipped from her hands. The words blurred as tears rolled down her cheeks.

Before she could finish the last line, a loud cry escaped her lips, and her knees buckled. The world spun, and in the next moment, Ada fainted, collapsing heavily on the ground.

“Ada! Ada!” Ijeoma screamed, catching her by the shoulders. “Somebody help oo!” She shook her desperately, but Ada lay limp, her face wet with tears.

Panicked, she rushed Ada to a nearby chemist. After checking her, the nurse sighed.

“Ada right? The nurse asked ijeoma.

Yes she’s Ada…. ijeoma responded quickly.

She is under a lot of stress. And…” the nurse hesitated, then looked at Ijeoma. “She’s two weeks pregnant.”

Ijeoma’s mouth dropped open. “Pregnant?”

“Yes,” the nurse confirmed, handing her some drugs. “Give these to her, but she must rest. She’s weak from the shock.”

Later that evening, they returned home. Ada lay on the bed, pale and crying quietly. Ugochi stood by the door, shaking her head.

“Ada, I warned you. I warned you, but you refused to listen. Now look at what has happened! He has abandoned you. Do you want to kill me in this house?” she lamented bitterly.

Ijeoma sat by Ada’s side, stroking her hand. Ugochi asked her, “My daughter, what exactly did the nurse say?”

“Mm… she said it’s just a minor issues from the shock. She’ll recover soon.” Ijeoma handed her the drugs. “Here, Mama. Give these to her every morning and night till it finishes.”

“Thank you, my daughter. God will bless you,” Ugochi said softly.

“Amen, Mama. Don’t worry, she will be fine. I’ll be back in the evening to check on her.” Ijeoma rose, touching Ada gently. “Ada, be strong.”

As she turned to leave, Ada’s weak voice broke the silence. “Ijeoma… is that all the nurse told you about me?” Her eyes, swollen with tears, searched her friend’s face.

Ijeoma froze, her heart pounding. She forced a smile. “Yes, Ada. That’s all for now. I’ll see you later.” Without waiting, she rushed out of the house.

Standing outside, Ijeoma muttered to herself, “So Ada is pregnant… Ada, how could you do this to yourself? Now Chidi has put you in a family way. I must not let Mama find out until I tell Ada. Oh Ada, may God have mercy on you.” She shook her head and walked away slowly.

Meanwhile, far away in the city, Chidi and his friend Emeka parted ways. Chidi returned to his family mansion a grand, well-furnished duplex with shining marble tiles, glass windows, and two sleek cars parked in the compound.

Sandra and Chidi’s mother, Mrs. Angela, were upstairs on the balcony when the gate swung open. The gateman let him in, and there he was, carrying two luggages, dressed neatly in his NYSC uniform with his cap and sunglasses.

“Chidi!” Sandra screamed, and rushed down the stairs. She flung herself into his arms.

“I’ve missed you so much, Chidi,” she said, clinging to him.

“I missed you more,” he replied with a smile, glancing at his mother.

He gently freed himself from Sandra and walked to embrace his mother. “Mom… I missed you.”

“My son, you’re welcome back,” Mrs. Angela said warmly, hugging him. “Why didn’t you call? I would have sent the driver.”

“No, Mom. I wanted to surprise you. Where’s Dad?”

“He’s inside,” she replied.

Sandra circled back to him, running her hands over his arm. “Oh my goodness, Chidi, just look at you. You’ve really suffered in that village. Your skin isn’t smooth anymore, and you’ve lost weight. Come with me, we prepared your favorite meal.” She pulled his hand eagerly.

“Obi! Obi!” she called to the gateman. “Carry his luggage inside now!”

Mrs. Angela only smiled quietly as she followed them in.

That evening, the crickets had begun their songs and the air outside was cool. Ugochi had gone to visit a neighbor, leaving Ada alone in her room. She lay weakly on her raffia bed, staring at the roof her eyes swollen with endless tears,the letter rested on her pillow though she could not bear to look at it,each time her mind replayed the words “I never loved you and you are too local for me” fresh tears rolled down her cheeks just then Ijeoma pushed the door open slowly.

“Ada,” she called softly.

Ada turned her head, her eyes swollen. “Ijeoma, you came back.”

“Yes, I couldn’t stay at home. I kept thinking about what the nurse told me.” She sat at the edge of the bed and looked at Ada seriously.

Ada swallowed hard, her voice shaky. “Ijeoma, please… tell me the truth. The way you looked today, the way the nurse spoke… is there something you’re hiding from me?”

Ijeoma hesitated, then took a deep breath. “Ada, promise me you won’t collapse again.”

Ada sat up slowly, her heart pounding. “Tell me, Ijeoma. I promise I won’t.”

Ijeoma’s voice dropped low. “Ada… you are pregnant. Two weeks gone.”

Ada’s mouth fell open, her hands flew to her head. “What? Pregnant? Me?”

“Yes.” Ijeoma’s tone was firm. “That’s why you fainted from the shook, The nurse confirmed it.”

Ada broke down into bitter tears, rocking herself. “Oh Jesus! Pregnant? Chidi has destroyed my life. What will I tell Mama? She will kill me. Ijeoma, my life is finished!”

Ijeoma shook her head, “Ada, I warned you. I told you to stay away from that boy, but you didn’t listen. Now see where it has landed you.”

Ada looked up at her in shock, pleading. “Ijeoma, please don’t talk like that. I know I failed, but I need you now more than ever.”

Ijeoma sighed heavily and took Ada’s hand again. “Ada, you are my friend. I can’t abandon you, no matter what. But you must be strong. Mama will soon notice the changes.”

Ada burst into fresh tears and clung to her friend. “Please, Ijeoma, don’t tell her. I beg you in the name of God, don’t let mama know about this,I know hiding this won’t be easy but I have to keep it from her. If she hears it, I am finished.”

Ijeoma hugged her gently. “I won’t tell her, Ada. Your secret is safe with me. But you must prepare yourself. One day, the truth will come out, and you must be ready to face it.”

Ada wept quietly on her shoulder. “Oh Chidi, why? Why did you do this to me?” He said he was only using me to catch fun,he said I’m not his class……

Ijeoma stroked her back softly. “Stop crying, Ada. He will surely regret what he has done to you.” Karma will soon catch up on him.

He said I’m not the kind of woman he wants yet he made me fall in love with him….chidi you will regret this, chidi I curse the day I met you….she said crying out loudly.

Ada stop crying… it’s okay… ijeoma said wiping her tears.

Chidi told me he loved me,he lured me into his bed after making fake promises to me,chidi you will suffer anywhere you are…….. It’s all my fault,I was so foolish that I didn’t see the handwriting on the wall…….

To be continued….