Chapter 63: Chapter 63

I went to the room Jade was occupying, it was the room my older brother had been staying until he moved to his house after getting married. I heard my sister, UT, giggling. I went in without knocking, "hey sis" UT said waving at me.

"UT, ma asok akod afo ye Big sis. Abo noh edi ben ndidia eke nim ke dinning table," I said to my sisters (UT, mother is calling you and Big sis. She says you guys should come get the food to the dinning table)

They reluctantly went out of the room, leaving me with Jade and Juliet, "why not go to the room and changed your travel clothes pumpkin, mommy will come prepare your bath for you," I said to Juliet

"But I was looking at these photos," Juliet argued

"No buts, mother would call for dinner soon and she doesn't like anyone coming late, so go get ready," I told her

"Just a little longer, please…" she begged, joining her palms together

"Sorry pumpkin, no more pictures," I said

"Alright…" she went out dragging her feet to show that she's upset.

I closed the door and turned to Jade, "you..."

"me...?"

"This is the second time," I said

"don't feel bad if I connive with your siblings to torment you. maybe you have forgotten that I love paybacks," he said as he started unpacking

"payback for what?" I asked

"tsk... tsk... tsk... you really don't know?" he asked

"will I be asking this question if I knew?"

"let me refresh your memory. remember that time Tiffany came home, you tricked me into believing you are on my side but you went ahead and saw the things I didn't want you to see," he said

"that's petty!!!" I cried

"no it not," he said.

"whatever, dinner will soon be ready, let me go help my daughter get ready," I said to him

"you look so different when performing your motherly and wifely roles. Especially when you are being a mother," he said

"how different?" I asked smiling slyly

"beautifully different," he said

"and as a wife?" I asked

"to be honest... you are really scary," he said

"I'm glad you see me that way hun, I'm glad you see me that way. see ya later JJ," I said and left the room.

I went to the room and together with Juliet, we unpacked our things and got ready for dinner.

My mother wasn't kidding when she said that she'd make all my favourite meals, there was Afang soup with foofoo, pounded yam and white soup, jollof rice and goat meat peppersoup rice.

"Ohh... jollof rice, I want it," Juliet said

"so you know jollof rice?" my mother asked her

"yeah, mommy UK usually make it at home for me," Juliet said

"then I'm very sure that you'd love the one I prepare," my mother said dishing jollof rice for Juliet.

"so how far have you gone with the wedding arrangements?" I asked my sisters

"not much, the Introduction is on Wednesday," UT said

"oh great, are we getting caterers or...?" I asked

"who needs caterers when we can cook our own food," my mother said

"but ma... it's stressful. in case you have forgotten, you are the mother of the brides, you're not supposed to do anything stressful. All you need to do is relax and look pretty," I said to her.

"How is school?" my father asked

"School is as fun as it could ever be," I told him

"fun? Wow, I seriously wasn't expecting to hear that." he said

"what were you expecting?" I asked him

"Maybe that it's really stressful especially with the way most white people treat blacks. No offense Jade and all of you here," he said

"none taken father," Jade answered with a mouthful of fish from the white soup he was eating.

"that is seriously not an issue. I know as a celeb, there might be people who don't like me but I don't know of anyone who hates me. I know at first I did come in contact with people who talked bad this about me because of my skin colour, but I have also gotten a lot of Fans and business deals because I am a black girl," I told him.

I ate more than half of my food and my stomach was protruding, I pushed my plates forward, took the bowl with water and washed my hands. "I'mthanks ma, thanks Pa, thanks everyone," I said

"why haven't you finished your food?" my mother asked

"I don't usually eat heavy food for dinner but when ever I do, I try as possible not to eat much. And besides, I'm checking my weight," I said and UT choked on the water she was drinking.

"Since when did you care about your weight?" My mother asked

"Let me see... Two years ago, when I got into showbiz," I answered

"Nonsense, Ukpono never leave the table without finishing her food and getting extra," my mother said

"That was the Ukpono who didn't care if she weighed 64 pounds. This Ukpono is afraid of weighing up to 44 pounds," I said.

After dinner, my dad went to his room, my brother and his wife left to their house, Natalie volunteered to do the dishes with my sisters, Jade went to tuck Juliet to bed and I went with my mother to her room for a mother daughter heart to heart.

"My daughter, there are so many things I want to talk to you about. America has completely changed you, few hours with you and it seems you are not my daughter anymore, I fear that I've lost my baby. I have so many questions, how did you survive? How come you are talking about being a celeb? How come you are dating a man who has a daughter? I need answers Ukpono, and I need them tonight, I won't be able to sleep tonight if you don't answer my questions," my mother said

"I have a confession to make ma, and I'm sure after you hear this, all your questions will be answered, I just hope you won't hate me," I said

"oh goodness, don't tell me you are pregnant," she said

"what!! No, God forbid. I can never have a child out of wedlock, you and father have taught me enough for me to know how catastrophic that could be," I told her

"phew, so what is the confession?" she asked

"Everything started that period I was training at 'Neo Cakes and more'..." I told her every single thing, from my first encounter with Jade, the hacking, my travel to New York, my life in New York, changing my course of study, my modeling and acting jobs. Everything. She never said a word as I poured out my heart to her.

When I finished with my confession, she hugged me tight, "oh my darling daughter, I could never be angry with you, talk less of hating you. I am so proud of you.

I woke up before my alarm rang, the time on my phone was 5: 23. instead of going back to bed, I simply got ready for my morning run, it had now become a part of me. my day was never good if I didn't start it with a morning run.

I changed into a three quarter workout pants, a workout bra and a pair of trainers. I took out my headphones and quietly left the room so as not to wake Juliet up. I heard sounds coming out of Jade's room and so I went to investigate.

I knocked on the door lightly and he opened " good morning" he greeted

" morning honey " I answered

" what are you up to? " he asked "

" nothing I just heard sounds here and I came to check up on you. I'm going for a morning run wanna join?" I asked

" if we'll go together then I will join you" he replied

"when have we never gone for our morning run together?" I asked

"mmm... I honestly can't remember," he said scratching his head

"Then change into something fitting let's hit the road, I've missed running early in the morning on our street," I said

"all set and done, I was planning on going on a run but I was waiting for your alarm to ring so I can come meet you," he said

"oh I disabled my alarm since I woke up few minutes earlier before it rang," I told him

Together, we went out as quietly as possible.

"Alright JJ, you know the rules, don't call me because I won't hear, I have my headphones on. I know this street like the back of my palm, well unless things had changed during the two years I've been away. The street is absolutely safe and perfect for our run, just follow me and you'll be fine," I told him

"yes ma'am," he said doing a mock salute.

The morning breeze embraced us as we stepped out of the house, dawn was coming. the sky wasn't so dark anymore, it had a combination of blue and black.

I played my music and started jogging and then gradually increased  pace. The blaring song and the wind slapping my face was just what I enjoyed about running.

We ran from my house at udoette street, down to Big Daddy, we got to Ikpa road, passing University of Uyo Town campus down to the roundabout. We slowed down to catch our breath, Jade was panting like a puppy, with his mouth open.

"Do you want to kill me?" he asked

"Whatever do you mean by that?" I asked feigning innocence

"we've never ran this distance back home, this is torture," he said

"my baby can't cope up? I am really really sorry, you wanna go home?" I asked

"yes please, my feet are killing me," he begged

"okay, race you to the house!" I said

"oh no, please, no more," he cried

"fine, fine, don't be such a baby," I teased.

I placed the music on hold and took off the headphones, hanging it on my neck. It had become completely bright and people were already going about their daily activities.

The Green Beret workers had already started their work, sweeping the tarred roads. People looked at us, especially Jade, with interest as we walked home

"Am I the only one feeling awkward because of the way people are looking at me?" he asked

"I feel that way too, I completely forgot that this isn't New York where people don't give a damn what you wear." I said

"I don't see anything wrong with my clothes," he said

"not you, silly," I said jabbing his stomach "people are staring at you because you are a white person. Don't worry they're not looking at you with contempt or anything, just in facination. It's not everyday you see a white person walking on your street." I explained

"wow, that's nice." he said "do you perceive something nice?" he asked

"no. oh yeah, I got it now. That is the lovely aroma of Akara."