The smell of frying eggs soon filled the room, mixing with the scent of fresh bread she had bought the night before. On the small wooden table were two plates and two cups of tea. Chidinma always woke up early to prepare breakfast before Oena left for work. It had become their routine ever since they got married three years ago.
Their life wasn’t luxurious, but it was peaceful. Oena worked as a site supervisor for a construction company. His salary wasn’t huge, but it was steady enough to cover rent, food, and a few little comforts. Chidinma also helped by running a small fabric stall at Balogun Market. She loved colorful fabrics and had a natural talent for convincing customers to buy.
Together, they made things work. As she arranged the plates neatly, Chidinma glanced toward the bed. Oena was still asleep, one arm stretched across the mattress, his breathing slow and steady. She smiled. Her husband worked long hours, often returning home exhausted from supervising construction workers under the scorching sun.
He deserved his rest. But just then, his alarm rang loudly. Oena groaned and reached for the phone, silencing it quickly.
“Morning already,” he muttered.
Chidinma laughed softly. “You said that yesterday too.”
Oena sat up slowly, rubbing his eyes. “Maybe one day the alarm will pity me.”
“Well, the eggs won’t pity you if they get cold,” Chidinma teased.
That immediately got his attention. “Eggs?” he said, suddenly alert.
“Yes. Madam Chef made eggs today.”
Oena jumped out of bed dramatically. “Then I must not waste time.”
They both laughed. Moments like this made their small home feel warm and full of love.
As they ate breakfast, Oena talked about the building project he was supervising.
“The contractor wants the roofing completed before the weekend,” he said, sipping his tea. “But the workers are too slow.”
“You’re always complaining about workers,” Chidinma said playfully.
“Because they always give me a headache.”
She shook her head. “Just don’t shout at them too much. You know, you can be scary sometimes.”
Oena pretended to look offended. “Me? Scary?”
“Yes.”
He laughed and stood up, picking up his bag. “All right, Madam Peacekeeper, I’m leaving before I become late.”
Chidinma walked him to the door like she always did. Before leaving, Oena pulled her into a quick hug.
“I’ll see you tonight.”
“I’ll be waiting,” she replied with a smile.
He stepped out into the busy street, disappearing into the sea of morning commuters. Chidinma stood at the doorway for a moment, watching him go. She had no idea that everything in their lives was about to change.
The day moved quickly at Balogun Market. The market was always loud and full of life. Traders shouted prices, customers bargained aggressively, and the air smelled of spices, sweat, and freshly cooked street food.
Chidinma arranged colorful fabrics on her wooden stall, carefully spreading out the bright patterns so they would attract attention. A young woman stopped by.
Leave a Comment