Under the Crimson Sunset (a Nigerian Romance story)

In Nancy's room, she paced around while Dave watched silently. He just finished narrating his Mom's ordeal to her and she found it hurting that she just got to know. Dave had apologized countless times, she still found it hard to let the rage subside. At once, she exhaled and sank into the plastic chair. She buried her head into her palm.

"I'm trying not to be annoyed with you. It just hurt that Dorcas prompted you to tell me. I never hid anything from you." She looked up at him. "Your excuse for not telling me isn't sitting down well with me at all."

"Nancy, I'm sorry. I was going to tell you, I swear. I just didn't want you to feel somehow about my family. I mean, you're dealing with me and my predicament, you might feel overwhelmed if you find out that my Mom also has something similar."

"I. Don't. Care." She managed to reply between her teeth. Truly, she didn't care if his whole family was in psychiatric hospital, she had made her choice to be with him and she'd stick to it. "I don't care if the entirety of your family has issue, I chose to be with you, no more, no less."

Dave slid closer to her from where he sat on the bed, he held her hand, squeezed it gently. "Sweetheart, I'm sorry. I really am." Nancy was calming down bit by bit. "Will you let it go?"

"I will, eventually. I just need to get a grip of myself."

Dave leant forward and kissed her nose.

"How's she feeling now? I even didn't notice anything during the anniversary. She seemed ok to me."

"She's very much fine now. She's responding to treatment massively."

Nancy nodded as she licked her lips. "It's fine, dear. But don't hide anything from me again, okay?"

"Yes, your highness." They both smiled. They held each other's hand for a while before letting go. Nancy went to the kitchen to check on the food she was cooking while Dave went back to the game he was playing on his phone.

"Before I forget to tell you again, babe, I'm getting an apartment."

Nancy flew back to the room from the kitchen. "You are?!"

Dave, shocked at her response, nodded his head.

"But why, babe? You want to leave your father's house?"

"Well, yes. Should I keep living there? I want to start my residency here, I hope it works out fine." Nancy went back to the kitchen to turn off the gas cooker. Her food was done. She came back to the room and sat beside him.

"Darling, I get you. But why do you want to waste money in getting an apartment when you have such a gigantic father's house."

"Babe, I need my privacy. I can't live there forever and I'm not wasting money. I simply need my privacy. At this my age, I shouldn't be living in my parent's house. Also, if you want to pay me a visit, I can't let you come to my father's house solely to come greet me. I need an apartment of my own. Also, I need a job, I can't live on with my parents money forever. I'll marry you someday, I need to start preparing for that now."

"Sweetheart, I understand. I'm just surprised someone with such an influential parents would want to be independent. I mean, it's quite rare. But I love it. And about marriage, I know we'll surf through the storm together. When the time is right, we'll scale through. Don't let it overwhelm you, okay? Just take it a step at a time." She placed her palm on his.

"I'm so lucky to have you, really." They smiled brightly. Nancy's stomach rumbled due to hunger. Dave heard the rumble and smiled, "you're hungry. Go dish your food since it's ready."

Nancy had lost her attention in staring at his lips. She swallowed hard and she longed for a kiss. "What if I told you that my craving is right before me." She bit her lower lip. Dave understood her language and smiled seductively. "Go to the kitchen and dish your food, Nancy. You can get that craving later." He winked.

"Later can be now." She moved closer and took his lips into hers. She felt the warmth of his mouth and it made her body ache for more. Dave, clueless and surprised at her courage, found himself hugging her tightly as the kiss became deeply intense. Nancy had sat on Dave, wrapped her legs around his waist. She knew she was diving deep into the sea she wasn't ready to explore. Her body ached for more. She stopped the kiss and looked at Dave, pleadingly.

"Can you touch me?" She found herself whispering to him. Dave was shocked. He didn't know what to do. She requested for it but his soul didn't want to. He felt she wasn't ready for it.

"Are you sure?"

She looked deeply into her mind, was she sure she wanted that? Was it her mind or her body that wanted it? She wasn't sure if she wanted to be touched or not. "I don't know. I just feel like."

"Babe, I'm not sure you'd want that now."

"But...but...my body does."

"Nancy, once I start, I might not stop till the goal is attained. And as for you, once you know how it feels, you'll want more. Are you sure you want me to touch you."

Of course, she'd want more and before she knew it, she'd want to have the penetrable sex and won't stop. It's better she stopped now. Her stomach rumbled again.

"I'll just go get real food in the kitchen." She laughed. "I'm not sure I'm ready yet." As she attempted to stand, Dave pulled her back into a tight embrace. He had gotten aroused and he needed to relax. The only remedy he could think of was to feel her body, probably he'd calm down.

"Wait a little." He whispered. They stayed like that for a while before Dave let her be; he had gotten a grip of himself. They ate the meal together and watched a movie on Netflix.

***

It took Dave some troubles to get a comfortable two-bedroom flat in an Estate that's not far from the State Hospital where he'd do his residency. Everything was working smoothly for both of them. Their apartments wasn't far from each other but they can't trek it. They spent most of their evening on the mountain. All these while, they had no idea that they were being watched. They'd totally forgotten about the Walking Sun. She was extra cautious so as not to get caught. She thought of how to get Dave back. She regretted leaving him, she really did. But Dave was fine now, to her, he seemed totally fine. Regardless of how she tried to let them be, she felt the overwhelming regret and the urge to right her wrong. She also felt jealous of how lovely they were. It reminded her of when she was the only one with Dave. She couldn't help but watch them and it nursed her anger more. Her intrusive thoughts were overwhelming her. Her mother had advised her to let everything be and go back to the States. She found her soul refusing to accept reality. She loved him too. She just had to take proper precautions for her life. But it seemed she should have stayed back and help him. She hurt him too, but she was hurting more each time she saw Dave and Nancy together.

Her mother finally succeeded in forcing her to leave. She sabotaged her plan to stay for a while by telling her she'd ensure she didn't leave Nigeria again if she didn't leave in the next three days.

"Mom, you can't do that! Why would you compe me to live her forever?"

"It seems you don't want to leave here again. You might as well start afresh here."

"Mom! I have a life there."

"Then go back. I've told you to leave Dave alone. You've done your best, just accept reality. You'll find the one for you. Don't do something you'll regret."

"Mom, I love him. I still do."

"You're not blind, you can see he has a fiance already."

"I feel cheated. When did I break up with him that he already has a fiance? Is that fair?"

Her mother stood up and approached her. "My beautiful daughter, sometimes, the things we want in life aren't meant to be for us. Don't cry over a spilled milk. Your man is somewhere out there, you'll meet him soon. Now, go arrange your luggage. You leave in three days." She pulled her into a hug when she attempted to speak.

"Alright, Mom." She had the perfect plan in her mind. She'd leave but she'd show Nancy that she hadn't won. She gave a devilish smirk.