THE WEDDING KISS

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Ifeoma stared into the mirror for the last time making sure to adjust her gele. She took a deep breath and whispered to herself.

“You don't have to be jittery. Just smile, pretend, hold his hand, and endure the aunties. You’ll survive.”

Just then Tony's text came to her phone:
"I'm outside, fiancé, are you ready?”

Ifeoma scoffed and rolled her eyes. "I just hope this is him getting into character and not overdoing it." She picked up her bag and walked out her door.

She had hired Tony to be his fiancée for her cousin's wedding. She already knows how her family can be with the questions about bringing home a man. Especially her aunties and uncles and Aunty Chinwe. She has so much going on with her at work to add their shenanigans to it.

Over the week she had thought of what to do until Tony came to her mind. Of course, she knew Tony had a thing for her and would be easily cajoled to be her date. So it wasn't hard convincing Tony.

She got outside to see Tony leaning on his car, looking all tall, handsome in a navy blue agbada, a wide smile flashing.

“Ah! See fine babe na (Such a fine girl)” Tony teased as she stepped out of the house.

Ifeoma smirked. She didn't even give him a hug even though he stretched his hands.

"Tony, please don’t overdo it. Focus,” she replied, opening the passenger's seat and entering the car.

Then they drove straight to the Oriental Hotel. The venue for the wedding reception.

The hall glittered with gold and white. Each table overflowed with jollof rice, goat meat, and small chops. Relatives and guests in different colourful aso-ebi danced between tables.

Ifeoma dragged Tony to a seat at the far end of the hall. She was just trying to get away from her people. It wasn't long until Aunty Uju spotted them.

“Ify!" She called her by her nickname. "You came!” she squealed, hugging Ifeoma and eyeing Tony.

Ifeoma smiled. "Good evening, Aunty Uju." She greeted. But Aunty Uju didn't take her eyes off Tony.

"Good day, Ma'am, “ Tony greeted respectfully.

"Fine boy! Good day. And you're?" No wonder you’ve been hiding him.”

Immediately Ifeoma cuts in. "My fiancé."

Tony nodded.

"Ah ah, finally o! Finally, my niece has brought home a husband." Aunty Uju screamed in joy, attracting the attention of people nearby. She walked over to Tony who by now was standing up to greet her respectfully. "Welcome our in-law. You're so handsome, now I know why she was hiding you from us" she joked.

"Thank you, ma'am," Tony said.

Aunty Uju dragged them both. "Come, come you guys. You're sitting far away from the family's table." She dragged them to the front of the hall, where there was a specially designed table. It was filled with Uncles and Aunties that Ifeoma was trying to avoid. Luckily for her Aubry Chinwe was nowhere in sight.

That was a big relief for her. Aunty Chinwe was torn in her flesh.

Tony played his role perfectly. He pulled out her chair, fetched drinks, and whispered in her ear. It was as if he were a professional actor with the way he was buying the hearts of her aunties and talking about football and the stock market with her Uncles. It was as if he had known them for a long time.

Soon whispers began flying through their table.
“Hmmm, see real love o!” one of her cousins said

Another cousin leaned closer to her. “Aunty Ifeoma, I wish I had a boo like yours. Does he have a younger brother?”

Ifeoma giggled.

Everything was going smoothly until Aunty Chinwe arrived.

A small and round woman with eagle eyes and a sharp tongue. She was the eldest in the family. Aunty Chinwe settled at their table but something seemed off with the way she stared at Tony just after Aunty Uju had introduced him to her.

She watched them eat, head tilted, eyes suspicious.

“So, Tony,” she said, eyes narrowing. “How did you two meet?”

Tony smiled. “Through a friend.”

“Ah! Which friend?”

“Erm… Chuka.”

“Which Chuka?” she pressed, frowning.

Ifeoma quickly cuts in. “Aunty, your caterers did a nice job with this food. It's delicious." She tried taking their minds off the conversation.

"Yeah, it's nice, but don't you think it will be nice for you to tell your family what's going on here?"

Ifeoma nearly choked on her food. "What?"

Tony passed her a cup of water.

"I can see through the veil, Ifeoma." Aunty Chinwe looked at Tony "His stiff laughs and your fingers tapping nervously on the table.” She folded her arms. “You people are pretending. I can see it.”

Everyone went silent. Heads turned.

Ifeoma’s heart pounded. “Aunty, we’re not pretending o!”

Chinwe’s lips curled to a wicked smile. "Then, prove it. Kiss him.”

Gasps filled the air. Eyes turned to them.

Tony glanced at Ifeoma. His eyes asked “Should we?”

Ifeoma reluctantly leaned forward. Their lips brushed quickly, but awkwardly.

Aunty Chinwe shook her head. “Ifeoma, kiss him." Her voice was stern.

The tension in the air rose. The stares worsened.

Before Ifeoma could protest, Tony cupped her face in his hands and kissed her. This time it was slow, gentle, and with every emotion. Ifeoma found herself returning the kiss. It wasn't what she was expecting. It was everything she had ever yearned for. Her breath caught. Heat surged through her.

They broke apart and the whole table cheered them on. Even Aunty Chinwe.

But between them, something had changed. She could feel it

Weeks passed, and Ifeoma didn't hear from Tony. She tried calling him several times, but whenever she picked up the phone, she had memories of their kiss. It replayed in her mind. She could still feel the warmth of his lips. The way her heart had raced as he kissed her.

She had tried to lie to herself that it was all an act. But no matter how she tried, she yearned for his lips at least one more time.

Then one Saturday morning, she was already dressed for the gym when she heard a knock on the door. She opened and there was Tony.

She froze, like she had seen a ghost.

“Hi." Tony greeted.

"Hi," she replied, avoiding his gaze.

The tension between them was great. She could feel her heart beat rise. And somehow she felt happy to see him again.

"I can't stop thinking about it,” he finally said quietly.

"About what?" Ifeoma feigned ignorance.

"The kiss. You felt it too. Don’t lie.”

Her heart thudded. “Tony, it was all an act for my people. Don't read meanings into it." She lied.

Spontaneously, Tony leaned in and kissed her just like the last time. Slow, deep. This time without anyone looking at them, no act. Just them. Gradually, Ifeoma returned the kiss. It was like his lips had a spell on her. She didn't want it to stop.

Finally, they broke apart, breathless. “Tell me you don't feel it too now, and I'll go away forever," Tony whispered in her ear. "I like you, Ifeoma. And after that day, I've never wanted another but you.” He added looking her in the eye.

"I like you too." She smiled shyly.

Tony grinned and stepped closer. “Real date this time?”

She laughed. “Real date this time."