FED UP

(…continued…)

                He stopped and looked in her direction without saying anything. She went closer and stood still, expecting him to say something. He just looked at her without saying a word.

  “You are not saying anything?” Cynthia said.

  “What do you want me to say?” he asked.

  “Why are you sounding like this?”

  “Don’t worry about me. I will be fine.”

                He turned to go in.

  “You are walking away from me,” Cynthia said.

                He turned back.

  “I am sorry,” he said and sat on the pavement. “I just need to rest.”

                Cynthia came close and sat beside him.

  “This is your food,” she said, passing the food flask to him.

  “Ok thank you. You shouldn’t have bothered. I ate snacks.”

  “Is snacks food?”

  “I am ok with it. But thanks for the food anyway.”

                They were quiet for a while. It was Cynthia who broke the silence.

  “How is your face?” She asked.

                She turned towards him and flashed her phone light on his face.

  “A bit sore but better than yesterday,” he replied.

                She touched the places he had injury and he writhed a bit.

  “Sorry,” she said.

  “Thank you.”

                They were quiet for a while.

 “Are you still angry with me about what happened today?” he asked.

  “I was angry but I am not anymore. What I feel now is more like pity.”

                He burst into laughter.

  “I don’t mean that in a negative way o,” she said.

  “I understand what you mean. I didn’t know I was worth anything until today.”

  “How do you mean?”

  “The way people came out and responded when they heard the false alarm.”

  “Most of them just wanted stories to tell. They came to hear the news they will spread first hand.”

  “Yes but it was amazing. Within minutes, people were everywhere.”

  “You are a nice guy. People like you. so don’t pull that kind of stunt again.”

  “I will not, knowing that you care.”

  “Yes. I care about my friends.”

  “Friendsss,” Chuka said, stressing the ‘s’ and mock-coughed.

  “I am not in for any relationship now. I have to finish school and get a handle on my life.”

  “I understand. I don’t mean to rush you into any decision. The fact that I am crazy about you doesn’t mean you should feel the same way about me. The only thing I can do is try my luck. If it does not work out, I move ahead. Such is life.”

  “The funny thing is that I know girls in this neighbourhood who are crazy about you and will do anything to have you.”

  “It’s really crazy. In love with people who are not in love with you, and the circle keeps going.”

  “Yes. That’s the reality of life.”

  “It is in our hands sha to see the signs early and stop our own emotions from going haywire.”

  “Sometimes we can’t do anything about it.”

  “We can. We are meant to be in control of our emotions. At least you are a good example of that.”

  “I was messed up emotionally before now o. Kai.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes. A lot happened.”

  “Do you mind sharing?”

  “Nothing that you don’t already know. Guys taking advantage of a girl’s emotion.”

  “Oh ok.”

  “What helped me was when I learnt that it was safer to love with my head before my heart.”

  “Very true. If you don’t use your head, they will shatter your heart for you.”

                Cynthia looked at him and said, “I didn’t know you had this mindset about love.”

  “I do. Just that some people just come and shatter what you already know and leave you to pick the pieces.”

                Cynthia burst into laughter.

  “I am now a shatterer now abi.”

  “Something like that,” Chuka said laughing.

  “Please eat your food. It is getting cold.”

  “It’s true. Will you feed me?”

  “I will pour it on your now,” Cynthia said laughing.

  “Shatterer like you,” Chuka said, laughing.

                He opened the food and began eating.

  “The food is sweet,” he said.

  “Thanks to my mum.”

  “Yours is sweet too.”

  “Story. I cook potty.”

  “You are not serious.”

  “Don’t talk while you are eating.”

  “That’s for children.”

                He ate half and closed it.

  “The night is still young,” he said. “I will finish it later in the night.”

  “It is not good to eat late.”

  “That’s for women. It does not have any harmful effect on me.”

  “Okay o.”

  “When I am done, I will wash the plate and return it.”

  “Don’t stress yourself. I will collect it tomorrow.”

  “I will be traveling very early in the morning.”

  “That’s true sef. Will you come back again?”

  “Why not? Though it depends on the outcome of my going to the village.”

  “Eiyaa. I am missing you already.”

  “Even if I will go somewhere else, I will come to take my things here. So we will definitely see.”

  “I don’t feel like you should go sef.”

  “What Mabel said to me earlier made so much sense to me.”

  “What?”

  “About a man having security to offer the lady before thinking about a relationship.”

  “Oh ok.”

  “I came to stay here with my brother to see if I could get a job, but I have not gotten any. I need to explore some other options in other places.”

  “Sure.”

  “Then when I am standing and you are still available, I will come and try again.”

  “You are sounding so matured.”

  “Thanks to Mabel.”

                Cynthia checked the time on her phone.

  “I have to be going now,” she said and stood up.

  “I wish you could stay longer,” Chuka said, standing up also.

  “My mum will be waiting for me so we can pray before sleeping.”

  “Ok.”

                Chuka hugged her tight and held onto her, gently stroking her back, just above her waist. Cynthia did not resist the hug.

  “Thank you so much,” he said into her ear as he ran his finger from the base of her spine area to her bra.

                Cynthia felt her knees shaking.

(…to be continued…)

-©2015.Chinedu Isaac