I ga-bu nkem na uwa ozo (In another world you will still be mine), Oluche said in Igbo language to Obumneke as she passed on into the next world.
Obum yelled for her to stay back.
“Oluche you know I cannot exist on this earth without you by my side” He shivered with terror as he watched the love of his life leave him, “You promised not to leave me” “You said it was forever, you have broken your promises to me” He kept yelling out as he held her warm but lifeless body.
His mind went back to 3 weeks ago, when life was surreal and the sun was up, he remembered her huge smile that always had the ability to light up every atom of his being, when he told her he was coming down to Nigeria from Canada to finally ask for her hand in marriage and then take her back with him.
She had plans to continue her Msc and prepare for the publication of her book, The book was called ‘Call me yours and I will always know you’re Mine’ Oluche told me most of the inspiration was our love and I would read it when we saw each other in the flesh. He recalled her concerned face when he told her he took 3 weeks leave from his work at the Insurance company.
Now she will not get to show me. Obumneke thought as his mind raced through his life with Oluche like a 30 seconds movie trailer.
Now all he felt were dark clouds hovering above his head, and he knew it will always follow him everywhere he would go from that point.
….
This is not a story about death but about love. The love between Oluche and Obumneke.
They met in the university, University of Nigeria Nsukka, also known as UNN
The first day Obum saw Oluche, they were having a class on Gsp 102, The use of library. This class has a reputation for being an unserious class, students have small talks and ignore the lecturer in class.
Obum stood with his friends in Class. Nnamdi and Justice, while he looked around the class, students chattering and small laugh across the hall. He looked around while he thought about the essence of the people around him, his eye caught Oluche and got stuck on her. Fast forward to this moment. Nnamdi still boasts about how he was present when the greatest lovers met for the first time.
Oluche was chatting away with some girls from her class. She has always been a jovial and attractive girl, but she was also conscious about making friends in the university. Spotting a blonde afro hair, paired with her bootleg jeans and crop top accompanied with a jean jacket, and a sandals, She was hard to miss. Her skin, bright as the Sun, her eyes shining like the stars and her laughter rings in the air, and with the widest smile.
She turned her head to the back and noticed someone was staring, Oluche was used to people staring at her, but there was something about the way he looked at her. She took in his black face cap, glasses, Blue T-shirt and baggy jeans. His eyes glittered and she realized he looked interesting.
Obum did not know he had kept his eyes on this random girl. All he could hear was his heart racing. He thought to himself that she is the most beautiful girl he has ever seen.
He walked towards where she stood still mesmerized by her and she turned fully towards him.
“Hi my name is Obumneke, but you can call me Obum for short” These were his first words to her
“I am Oluche and I think I will call you Obumneke instead of Obum, How do you like that?” She replied
He chuckled and that is how their love began.
......
From the first day they met till the last day Oluche left this world. They were joint at the hip. Everyone in school knew them as a couple.
They ate together at cateens, took walks around school holding hands, went to church and social gatherings together.
They finally graduated from school and they still stayed together.
Obum grew up in Lagos, but he moved to Abuja after school to be with Oluche, because that was where she stayed with her parents. Oluche’s parents adored Obumneke and knew he was a good fit for their last daughter with the way he loved her.
They made plans on been together for how long forever would be.
......
Obum regained consciousness and realized he was not on the road side with Oluche’s lifeless body anymore, he could see the white lights on the ceiling and recognised he was at the hospital. His mind went back to the day he lost his love forever, he still remembers them bickering about who was the best Afro beat artist between Davido and Wizkid while they drove down to Anambra state to go pay her bride price. He remembers her loud laugh when he said something funny, he also remembers the look of anguish on her face when the huge cement trailer collided with the back of their car and threw them off balance along the Niger bridge.
Obum knew he would never be the same without Oluche. The thought of this made him let out a cry of panic and he lost consciousness again.
