THE MAN I LOVED WHO HID HIS CROWN

Chapter 3 We left off with Zaddy calling me while drunk. I looked at Chike and saw he was surprised, like he was about to get up. I signaled him to stay calm and quickly placed my finger on my lips to hush him. I got up quietly, turned off the light, and came back to sit beside him. Zaddy kept calling for about 30 minutes, but I ignored him. He kept rambling, saying he loved me. The guards eventually got tired and came to take him away because he refused to leave, claiming, "Today I must see my girlfriend!" I buried my head in my hands, feeling really sad. How could someone love me so much, and I don't feel the same way? Suddenly, I felt Chike's hand on my shoulder, patting me gently. That made me cry even more. He pulled me close, and I cried for real. Two years ago, I met Zaddy at the place where I work. He came to request a service, saw me, approached me, and asked me out. I rejected him because I was still with Wilson, even though I wasn't very into Wilson either. But I never felt anything for Zaddy. He respects me and understands me, but I couldn't do anything for him because I don't love him. Chike wiped my tears and brought me some water. He turned the light back on and watched me as I sipped it. "I need an explanation," he said. I put the glass on the table and looked at him. Chike: "That was Zaddy the Great, wasn't it?" Tiana: "Yes. But I don't like that 'the Great' part-it's not like he's God." Chike: "He knows how you feel about him?" Tiana: "I told him. But I don't think he understands-or maybe he just doesn't care." Chike: "If it doesn't matter to you, why were you crying?" Tiana: "You wouldn't understand. You're a guy; you don't go through these challenges." Chike: "Okay. You probably have your reasons. It's normal. I think the first guy you loved-the one you told me about-left a mark." Tiana (smiling): "His name was Derick. He was handsome, smart-he was studying Computer Engineering, same as me. We were the stars of our university. Everyone knew we were a couple. He had everything I ever wanted in a man. I wanted to marry him. But he didn't like my friends, so in the end, I chose to keep my friends-the ones who helped me heal. Derick wanted a wife, but I wasn't ready to stop being myself for him." Chike: "Sounds like it was beautiful, even if it ended badly. But you're okay now-and all thanks to your friends. I think I'd like to meet them." Tiana: "We're not that close though What connects us now is the money I owe you." Chike: "I didn't forget. But I love stories-and digging deep into them." Tiana: "It's good you remember. Since I've told you my story, tell me yours." Chike: "Her name was Elsa. She was beautiful-every guy in the neighborhood tried to date her. But she had her eyes on me. At first, I thought we were just friends until she told me she had a crush on me from the moment she saw me. I was 16 and in Senior 3 when we started dating. We lived in the same area. Even though my family was poor and hers was rich, she didn't care. She gave me genuine love. I was satisfied. After university, she went abroad to study-her parents' choice. Our goodbye was full of tears. She promised we'd be together once I finished school. But after 3 years of not finding a job, I wrote her a long email saying we couldn't be together anymore. I told her to move on." Tiana: "Wow, you really hurt her! What did she say?" Chike: "She begged me to think it over. But I had already made my decision." Tiana: "You broke her heart. I hope she didn't lose her mind." Chike: "She really suffered. She got into drugs, failed her studies. But she never returned to Rwanda. Eventually, after many tears and pain, she met a guy who helped her heal. They fell in love. Now she's married with two beautiful sons and she's happy. If I'd stayed in that fake relationship with her, none of that would've happened. She'd have wasted her life chasing me, and I'd have missed out too." Tiana: "Aww, poor Elsa." Chike: "Yeah. It's over now. I went gray on the streets." (I burst out laughing) Tiana: "Gray?!" We talked for hours. I didn't want him to leave. I gave him the full amount I owed and asked him to come tomorrow so we could go out and eat some good food. He gave me his number, using a cute little phone, and told me to call him tomorrow after we finish our business. I walked him to the motorbike stop, and before he got on, I said, "Aren't you forgetting to hug me?" He came back laughing. "I also felt like hugging you, but we're not that close yet. Anyway, bye baby girl." He kissed my cheek and started to walk away, but I pulled him into a hug. He laughed and said, "Swear you're not in love with me." Still hugging him, I said, "There's no one else I'd want to fall for except you! I love hugging-it makes me feel good, helps me relax. You show-off!" He laughed and replied, "Most girls want to hug me, but I only enjoy hugging you. You're different." I felt a thrill rush through me. I said, "If you love me, you're in trouble. I'll make you pay for what you did to Elsa." He answered, "My heart forgot how to love. If I end up loving you, it's because you made it happen." We laughed. He held my hands, let go, and walked away, blowing air into his palm like he sent me a kiss. He shouted, "Don't forget to call me, Queen Tiana!" I laughed and went back inside. That's when Liam called me. Liam: "Hi baby sis!" Tiana: "Did you just call me baby? What do you want?" Liam: "I miss you, sweetheart. What are your plans for tomorrow?" Tiana: "It's Sunday, I'll go to church, rest, then hit the gym. I haven't gone in a while-I'm starting to look like your ex." (laughs) Liam: "Which ex? Mary, Claudia, Lena, Cherry, Anne?" Tiana: "Those are just five of your exes, but I meant Cleopatra." (laughs) Liam: "You crazy girl! I miss that Egyptian chick-Pharaoh's daughter!" Tiana: "Mom said she's going to find you a wife so you can stop acting like a clown." Liam: "Mom needs to chill. Let me enjoy being single. Marriage is a serious thing. But tomorrow, we've got a trip-we're sleeping in the mountains. Want to come?" Tiana: "No way. I've got work on Monday. I can't sleep in the wild and wake up for work. You need to find one girl you love and marry her. Or let mom marry you off to one of her classmates." (laughs) Liam: "Her classmates are grandmas now. No way! You just find someone for me and leave mom out of this." Tiana: "Instead, go meet up with Zaddy like you planned." Liam: "Honestly, sis, Zaddy may not be your type, but he'd make a great brother-in-law. He was just talking about you at dinner. That guy really loves you." Tiana: "Lia, don't ruin my night. Go disturb some other girl and sleep." Liam: "No girls tonight, I swear." Then I suddenly heard a girl's voice say: Girl: "Babe, what took you so long? I've been waiting for you in the bathroom for 30 minutes!" I burst out laughing. Tiana: "Lia, you're crazy! Now you're flirting with an American? You'll get shot one day!" Liam: "Bye, sis. I love you so much. Sleep well!" Girl (in background): "Babe, I'm coming!" He hung up. I kept laughing-my brother is such a playboy! Sometimes I wonder if he'll ever change. But I can't blame him. It's like he casts a spell on girls. Once you see him, hear him talk, see how he dresses, and realize he has money-you fall. Tiana took a shower, grabbed her favorite novel, and read in bed until she fell asleep. In the morning, she woke up with joy. She lived alone, though she had neighbors. She opened the window and smiled as the sunlight hit her face. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and then said, "Good morning, Rwanda." She then played loud music throughout the house, cleaned while singing, cooked, and sorted out dirty clothes. She called a cleaning company that also offers laundry services, and they came to pick up the clothes. After that, she got ready and dressed neatly, as usual, without makeup-she was going to church. She grabbed her handbag, locked the door, and found Alicia waiting for her outside. They left together. When they came back, Tiana and Alicia sat down, shared a meal, and had a conversation. Tiana: So, what made you fall in love with Richard and decide to marry him, even quitting your "no marriage" plan? Alicia: Richard loved me, cared about me, and made me feel emotions I never thought I'd experience in life. Tiana: So, money didn't influence your decision to be with him? Alicia: Not at all. There were other rich guys too, but Richard was different. He showed me pure love. He loved me even though we were from different backgrounds and had different life goals. I followed my heart, Tia, and up to now, I have no regrets. Tiana: But what if he was poor? Would you still have loved him? Alicia: Love is important, yes, but when choosing someone to spend your life with, you must consider other things. We, as women, devote ourselves to one man, live by his rules, forget our past lives, stop being slay queens, and become mothers. So we can't just marry someone who can't feed or clothe us and spoil us a little. That would discourage others from even wanting to get married! Tiana: Hmm, sounds complicated. So what if you love him and he loves you, but he's broke? Alicia: A man must take responsibility. Being a husband comes with duties. But wait-why are you asking all these questions? Tiana: No reason, I was just curious. Alicia: I thought you were in love! Tiana laughed. She then walked Alicia home after her visit. A few hours later, she went to bed. Around 5 a.m., she heard someone knock. Still sleepy, she thought it was Chike, but it wasn't-it was the company bringing back her washed clothes. She put them away and picked out a ripped boyfriend-style pair of jeans, a blue crop top, and white shoes. She grabbed a small white handbag and called Chike. Chike: Hey baby girl, you missed me? Tiana: Actually, Chike... I didn't. Chike: Wow, okay. I'll just go back to sleep then. Tiana: Sleep? Do you know what time it is? Chike: I really miss you, mon bébé. Now that I know you don't miss me, I'm heartbroken. But after I cry a little, I'll come get you. Tiana: Fine, I miss you. Come over. Chike: I knew it! Give me a hug then! Tiana: I'm lying. I don't miss you. And even if I did, I wouldn't hug you. Chike: You just don't want to say it. Let me in. Tiana: You want to play games again? I'm not falling for it. Chike: I'm at your door, Queen Tiana. She heard his voice for real and opened the door. There he was, wearing ripped jeans too-like they'd planned it. He had on a white jumper, a backwards cap, and black Airforce sneakers. Tiana (in her head): When I saw him, I wanted to hug him. But I need to kill these foolish feelings. I can't love Chike-he won't stay. He came here because of money. I'm not playing games again. I don't even know who he really is. He could be a thief or anything. Anything's possible. Tiana (aloud): You look good, Mr. Chike. Chike: You too, baby girl. Shall we go? They walked together, Chike with his arm around her shoulder, chatting. They got to their favorite neighborhood spot, bought snacks, and ate as they walked. Tiana: What do you love most when it comes to entertainment? Chike: I love music and basketball. Tiana: Why not football? Most guys love football. Chike: Haha, I'm different, baby. Want to ask me what my favorite song is? Tiana: Go on then. Chike: I love all Alan Walker's songs-they have great melodies and meaningful lyrics. Tiana: I don't even know him. Chike: You should look him up-you'll thank me later. Tiana: So when do you think we'll meet again? Chike: Who knows? But if you don't die and I don't die, we'll meet again somewhere, someday. Tiana: Well, I'm going home to sleep. You can stay in your Cartier world. I'm not walking you back. Chike: Come on, let me walk you home. Tiana: No, I've got work tomorrow. I can't be late. Bye! She shook his hand, and he said goodbye. She took five steps, then turned back like a crazy person and hugged him tightly. He laughed and wrapped his arms around her too. Chike: It's beautiful to hug someone you won't see again soon. I won't forget anything about our time together. Thank you, Queen Tiana. Tiana: Thank you too, Chike. It was nice meeting you. They looked into each other's eyes and smiled. Chike: Want me to walk you the rest of the way, baby? She wanted to say no, but she couldn't resist. He held her hand, and they walked as people stared. Chike: What do you love? Tiana: I love fashion and modeling. Chike: Then why did you study computer science? Tiana: My mom wanted to be an IT expert but never got the chance. As her firstborn, I took it upon myself to carry her dream. I ended up liking it, but fashion never left my heart. Chike: Why don't you start your own fashion shop? I can see you're a real fashion killer. I'll be your number one fan. You should name it "Queen Tiana Collection." One day, when I've got money, I'll shop there too. Tiana: And you'll pay just to see me? Chike: I know you'd love that. Tiana: Love what? You're so full of yourself! Chike: (singing) "Maybe you love me, I can see it. Maybe my body drives you wild..." Before he finished, she ran after him, laughing. He stopped, and she fell into his arms, pretending that was her plan. She asked for his cap or said she'd strangle him. He laughed and gave it to her. Chike: You have beautiful hair. (Side note: Her long, black hair reached her back.) Suddenly it started raining. Tiana: Let's find shelter. Chike: But rain makes life sweeter. Tiana: Not for me-I'm allergic! Chike: People like that exist? As she pulled away to find cover, a car pulled up. Chike still held her hand. The driver rolled down the window-it was Liam. Tiana: Bro! Liam: Get in the car, you stubborn girl. She opened the door and got in without even saying goodbye to Chike. We got home without talking; I could see he was angry. Every time I tried to make a joke, it didn't work-he left me on "seen." I grabbed my phone and went on Instagram, reading comments on my pictures. When we arrived home, Liam got out of the car and asked for the key. I stayed seated inside. He went to unlock the door, then came back with an umbrella. I got out, covered myself with it, and ran into the house. After locking the car, he came in and sat on the couch. I gave him tea, and since I was cold, I also drank some. Then I sat facing him. Liam: "Who was that, Tia?" Me: "Just someone I met." Liam: "You meet someone and hug him right away? Wear his hat and even take it with you?" I touched my head and realized I was still wearing Chike's hat. Embarrassed, I quickly removed it. Liam kept staring at me like he was mad, but I knew him-he was just trying to fish for information. I decided to act confident. Me: "What do you want to know? I'm a grown woman, I know what I want. Besides, I never ask you about your stuff, so why question me, bro?" Liam: "Just tell me his name and what you two were doing. I saw you hug him." Me: "His name is Chike. I gave him a two-day job, and today it ended. As for the hug, I don't remember hugging him." Liam: "Chike, huh? I hope you're not in love with him!" I laughed exaggeratedly. Me: "Love? Me? No way!" Liam: "It's fine, sis. But if you ever fall in love, I better be the first to know so we can throw a celebration." Me: "Sure, young bro. I love you." Liam: "I love you more, big sis." I stood up, took Chike's hat, and told myself, "If this hat is the reason to see you again, I'll just send you money to buy another one. I have no plans to see you again. What happened happened; we'll never cross paths again." I changed clothes and went to the kitchen. It was around 7:30 PM. I cooked Liam's favorite food because I'd already eaten snacks and wasn't planning to eat again. Liam and I chatted a bit. He asked where I wanted to celebrate my birthday. I remembered it was just two weeks away-I was about to turn 30! I told him I missed water (meaning a lakeside or beach), and he said he'd prepare something special. I wished him goodnight and went to bed. I really love Liam. He's a good brother. I can't imagine my life without him. He's just like his dad. I owe them both so much-they gave me a life. The next morning, I texted Leyna not to come pick me up because Liam was taking me to work. We had breakfast, joked and laughed. He dropped me off. Paula was already waiting for me. I greeted her and she got into her car and left. At work, I focused-my heart was on Chike, but my mind stayed on my tasks. Day one passed without calling him, then day two... until Friday, I still hadn't called him. But deep down, I missed him and wanted to dial his number. Then I reminded myself, "No, Tiana, don't humiliate yourself. If he missed you, he'd have called. Don't chase after him." On Friday, the manager came into my office with a man around 50 years old. From the outside, he looked respectable, but he was a trashy pervert. And I'm no pushover, so he couldn't treat me like the other girls-Leyna, Paula, Sandy, and Alicia. They sleep with him just to keep their jobs, but I rejected him. I know my worth, and he knows it's hard to find an IT staff like me. But instead of respecting me, he hates me. Doesn't matter-I don't live off his bribes. I even told him that if he tries anything again, I'll report him to Mr. Fernandez, the owner of N.N.T (New Network Telecommunication). Mr. Fernandez is a kind, wealthy older man. He once gave me an Employee of the Year award and wanted to promote me to headquarters, but I declined. I didn't want to leave my friends. Anyway, back to the manager-he walked into my office as I was packing up around 4 PM and placed a file on my desk without even saying hello. Manager: "How are you, Rihanna?" Tiana: "I'm fine, boss." Manager: "Looks like you want to leave?" Tiana: "Yes, it's time." Manager: "You're not leaving. I want you to update this new software tonight." Tiana: "But I planned to do it tomorrow." Manager: "You don't make plans here-I do. I'm your manager. You do what I say." Tiana: "Okay, no problem. But at least let Leyna help me." Manager: "Leyna and I are going out for fun. And don't try to sneak the work home-you know I don't allow that." Tiana: "Seriously? Can't you leave Leyna alone? Aren't you tired of her?" Manager: "Did she tell you I forced her? Please! She enjoyed it. I please her body and spoil her with money. Did you buy her the car she drives? You, on the other hand, still take taxis. You're just a stuck-up bitch. If I get up, I'll slap you like thunder until you wake up in a trash can." Tiana: "I'm not scared of you. Just leave my office so I can work. But I feel sorry for your wife." Manager: "You're wearing a nice dress, honey. But I love my wife and would never cheat on her-she knows that. And if you tell her anything, it'll only destroy your own reputation. Goodnight, Rihanna. See you. Bisous." He kissed my hand and blew on it-reminding me of Chike. But unlike Chike, this guy made me sick. I took the file, got my laptop, and started working. Alicia and the others came to say goodbye, looking sad. I used the moment to send them to get coffee so I wouldn't fall asleep-it was freezing after the rain. Thankfully, I had brought an umbrella. I worked while wearing gloves. At 9 PM, I was exhausted but still working alone in the office. Downstairs, the night shift team was handling phone services and client control. I finally finished at 10 PM, packed my things, and stepped outside. I called for a taxi, but it hadn't arrived yet. Then suddenly, a car parked in front of me. It was Zaddy. He rolled down his window. Zaddy: (with a smile) "Tiana, let me give you a ride home." Me: "How did you even know I'd be here this late?" Zaddy: "Hurry up, sweetheart. You know what this rain could do to you." I got in the car without thinking. But the moment I sat down, I regretted it-because of what I found inside. Oh God ! I started praying, but it was too late-Zaddy had already started the engine... Loading next chapter