“I’m not hungry.”
Chidinma folded her arms and looked at him. “That’s the third time you’ve said that this week.”
Oena sighed. “I just need time to think.”
“To think about what?”
“About how everything went wrong.”
Chidinma was quiet for a moment. Then she turned and faced him directly.
“Nothing went wrong.”
Oena frowned. “I lost my job.”
“That doesn’t mean your life is over.”
“But it feels like it.”
She shook her head. “You’re just tired.”
Oena let out a bitter laugh. “Tired doesn’t pay rent.”
Chidinma placed a hand on his shoulder. “We will manage.”
“How?”
She didn’t answer immediately. But deep inside her mind, something had already begun forming.
The next morning, Chidinma woke up earlier than usual. Even before the sun rose, the apartment was silent except for the faint hum of the ceiling fan. She sat at the small wooden table and spread out their financial records.
Their savings were not much, just enough to survive a few months if they were careful. But she knew that was not enough. They needed something bigger, something that could change their situation.
Just then, Oena walked into the room, rubbing his eyes.
“You’re awake already?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“What are you doing?”
“Planning.”
He looked confused. “Planning what?”
“Our future.”
Oena pulled out a chair and sat down. “You sound very confident.”
Chidinma gave him a small smile. “Because I am.”
He leaned back. “Tell me your plan.”
Then before she could answer, Oena’s phone rang. He picked it up. The number was unfamiliar.
“Hello?”
A voice spoke from the other end.
“Oena, it’s me, Chuks.”
Oena’s face lit up slightly. “Chuks? It’s been years.”
Chuks had been one of his closest friends during his early days at the construction company. But years ago, Chuks had relocated abroad to America.
“How are you?” Oena asked.
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