180 days with my crush

Unknown POV

I gazed at the photographs spread across the table in my living room. The pictures showed a beaming couple, Aderemi and his partner, during the welcoming party of the players. My eyes narrowed as I scrutinized the images.

Something just didn't add up.

If the pictures are checked impatiently, the two seem perfect. Aderemi's arm was snaked around his partner's waist. She looked a foot shorter than he was as her head was glued to his chest in what seemed like a romantic gesture, with a radiant smile on their faces. However, I just couldn't ignore my journalistic instinct while looking at those pictures. I could smell something fishy.

I moved away from the pictures on the table to get a bottle of juice from the fridge. I gulped the content like a thirsty deer. Of course, you'd be thirsty if you were interested in a case and needed to uncover a story for the public. I took the remaining bottle of juice to the living room and sat on a chair.

I tried to reminisce about my journey. From a young, brilliant, and curious student of the University of Ibadan to an investigative journalist. I worked myself to the top of the ladder. My academic excellence has won some awards, scholarships, and internships. I've been praised for my tenacity and instinct to crack a case by my colleagues and bosses. My passion for true truth-seeking drove me to uncover some high-profile profiles. From the senators who collected bribes to pass a bill, which led to arrests and resignation, to some criminals illegally selling petrol to people.

I've been investigating the promising football player since he came back to prepare for the World Cup. The Intel I got about his marriage was anonymous. The person must have detected something that was hidden from the public which was why "this person" came to drop info. I got back from the courthouse documenting the verdict from the judge about a well-known businessman who had been involved in human trafficking and money laundering. I got back to my desk only to see a well folded envelope.

"Aderemi Anderson John is married, investigate!!!" Was boldly written on the sheet of paper inside the envelop piqued my interest immediately.

After ransacking different social media accounts and investigating different sources, I got to know she's Rachel Jones, a student at Lagos State University. I had an interview with Aderemi Anderson John about 5 months ago, and he was with his then girlfriend, Mia Richardson. Their connection then hummed like a harp string. Their bond was a sanctuary of solace. It came as a surprise when I realized he got married barely 2months later. Is that how love changes? Did I read too much meaning to the relationship? Did you get married to someone you met barely 2 months ago? A tapestry of questions woven in my mind, seeking answers. A multitude of queries swirled within my thoughts. This girl hasn't even set her feet outside Nigeria. I wondered if there was a reason why they were together.

Determined to discover more about his partner, I had an encounter with Rachel and even though she didn't recognize me, I couldn't ignore her simplicity. She didn't even put on her wedding ring in school. I met one of her classmates and broached the subject with caution with my questions being a delicate probe, careful not to sound suspicious or give anything away. She claimed her classmate had never been married. That day my suspicions were heightened. Her classmates didn't even know she was married.

For a couple who claimed to be married, they have never attended any high profile gathering apart from this party. It is alright to have a private wedding, and it is okay to have a private life, but if you love someone, you should be ready to show everyone a trophy you've won. Although a few reporters were allowed into the hall for the celebration, I was lucky to be invited. Well, knowing someone from every field in life will give you that leverage. When I discovered it was going to be a dinner, I knew I was about to catch a big fish. Aderemi never acted like he was married. He hadn't used his ring during social gatherings except during this party. What was he trying to gain from this relationship? Why was he in this relationship? Was he being blackmailed? Why did this girl stick with him?

Mia Richardson, on the other end, has been on the low. She posts different delicacies from her outings and poses with children from her volunteers. She deleted most of her Instagram posts which had Aderemi in them. This was 2 months ago. At first, I thought it was a lover's conflict but when I looked critically, I could smell something. The Intel I got weeks later confirmed my suspicions. It wasn't just a lover's conflict, they had indeed broken up the relationship.

Why Mia decided to leave a few of their pictures together on her Instagram still piques my interest. If he was married, they should cut ties right?

In one of my undercover investigations, I discovered a guy had been onto Rachel. A guy I later discovered is Olufemi Thompson Otenuga Jnr, the son of Mr. Gregory Otenuga, CEO of one of the best fabrics producing companies in Nigeria. He might be a doctor, but how he became an acquaintance of Aderemi's partner made me wonder if there's more to this than the eyes can see. They are not even friends.

I picked up my laptop and poured out my intuition through my fingertips like water from a fountain. The keyboard was my confidant, bearing witness to my innermost thoughts and observations. I searched for one of the pictures and zoomed in to check if I'd overlooked some details; of course, his grip on her waist was possessive rather than passionate.

I can't imagine how the public will react when they discovered they have been deceived by one of their favorite playmakers.

The question now is; how do I uncover this carefully crafted facade?