Keywords: Chidi, Bella, Bet9ja, odds, The Night He Won, Gambling story, betting story, trolling Barcelona fans, Chidi, Bella, bet9ja, Free short stories
Chidi’s gaze was fixed on the Bet9ja match lineup on his computer screen, his heart racing with anticipation. Today felt like it might be his turning point. The Champions League fixtures were as predictable as ever: Manchester City versus Liverpool, and Roma versus Barcelona. He had already chosen his picks for the English Championship, meticulously analyzing every match and its odds. He was confident Millwall, Fulham, Aston Villa, Brentford, Bristol City, Preston North End, Ipswich Town, Hull City, Sheffield United, and Queens Park Rangers would emerge victorious. Liverpool and Barcelona were certainties.
“Are you kidding me?” Bella’s voice pierced the air, tinged with exasperation. “You’re still caught up in this Bet9ja nonsense? If we’re late, I swear I’m going to dump you. This addiction is out of control!”
Chidi scrambled to enter his code, placing his bet with a frantic urgency before dashing out the door, trailing his irate fiancée.
“You better behave in front of my parents and put away that phone,” Bella warned as they climbed into the car.
After his breakup with Angelica, Chidi had sought refuge in a bar, where he’d met Bella—another soul marred by heartache. Their shared misery had sparked an unexpected connection, and they’d been inseparable ever since. Bella was nothing like Angelica; she was fiery, demanding, and relentless in her nagging. But with her came a sense of excitement and a stroke of good luck that Chidi had never known before.
As they pulled up to Bella’s parents’ building—a drab block of five flats—Chidi braced himself. Her parents had never hidden their disapproval, and he was ready for their interrogation.
The moment they sat down for dinner, her father wasted no time. “So, you still don’t have a job?” she asked, her tone sharp as the silverware.
“James!” her mother snapped, her tone cutting through the air. “This isn’t why we invited our daughter here.”
Chidi was caught in the crossfire, unsure how to respond. He had always struggled with her parents’ disapproval, and Bella’s agitation was rising. He could already anticipate her post-dinner tirade about starting a small business. He would promise to open a bakery once he won ten million naira, a promise that only fuelled her frustration.
“Bella,” her mother said, a note of disdain in her voice as she gestured toward Chidi, “we didn’t expect you to bring—” she let her gaze linger on him, “—Chidi.” She took a deliberate bite, letting her words settle. “But since he’s here, and you’ve made it clear we can speak freely in front of him, let’s revisit something. Remember Bode? My boss’s son? The one you used to have a massive crush on?”
Chidi, bracing himself for what was to come, mumbled, “I need to use the restroom,” and made a hasty exit. As he closed the door behind him, he overheard her mother’s voice drift through the hallway. “He’s back in Nigeria and looking for a wife.”
Once in the bathroom, Chidi pulled out his phone for a distraction. To his dismay, Roma was leading Barcelona 2-0, and the second half had just begun. Tears streamed down his face as he whispered, “Why me? God, if Barcelona wins, I promise I’ll quit gambling and find a real job.” After his tears subsided, he tucked his phone away, washed his face, and returned to the tension-filled dining room.
“You know what, Mum, I’ve had enough!” Bella’s voice rang out with fierce determination as she stood, facing her parents who mirrored her stance. “Chidi may not be perfect, but he loves and respects me. We’ve made it work so far, and we will continue to do so.” She glanced over her shoulder to see Chidi walking in. “We’re getting married soon, whether you accept him or not. Chidi, let’s go.”
“You’re getting ma-married?” Her mother’s voice cracked, tears spilling down her cheeks. “This girl has finally finished me!”
Chidi bolted out of the house, moving faster than Bella, preferring her relentless nagging to another moment under her parents’ disapproving gaze.
That night, as they lay side by side in bed, the silence between them was heavy and oppressive. Bella didn’t say a word, didn’t nag, but her quiet only deepened Chidi’s unease. A wave of guilt constricted his chest, compelling him to do something he never would have done for Angelica—he logged into Bet9ja with the intention of deleting his account.
N20,000,000
The sight of his balance made his phone tumble from his hands as he let out a strangled cry. “What happened?” Bella’s asked with genuine concern.
“20,000,000,” Chidi stuttered, his eyes wide with shock.
Bella grabbed the phone and stared at the screen, her disbelief mounting. He had actually won. How? She checked his game and realized Chidi had bet on Barcelona’s defeat, a decision hastened by her impatience while he was choosing his odds.
The End
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Good story😊
Woah, Bella indeed is his luck. Good story!
😀 I know right?!