Chapter 28: Chapter 28

I returned to sitting behind the sewing machine after a week. I tried to properly utilize my time to make up for the time I lost while we arranged for the burial.

Aku got admission into the university. I was happy for her but her absence pained me. Ignoring the age difference, she was actually a good company.

Looking out from my office window, I could see the houses close to the rail; the unpainted houses with black charcoal drawings on them.

There was a little commotion on that side. Two girls were being dragged about by older women. There was so much noise also but I could not make out a word. Some women even hit the girls. After a while they started to disperse leaving the two girls with just three women.

I returned to the table, where I began looking up styles on the internet. I picked up a drawing pad and began to sketch new designs adding up the ones I saw online. Once in a while, I reached into my bag and looked at my real mother's picture again.

I was reluctant to talk to Auntie Maimah about my mother after the burial. She was the one that called me. I sat on her bed while she searched the drawer that was beside her bed. Then she brought out an album and pointed to a fair woman wearing a white and green lace in the photo.

"This is your mother, " She had said.

I removed the picture from the album and held it in my hand as I studied the face of the woman so if I ever saw someone that looked like her just like Ada did, I would easily say, 'this person looks like my mother' .

"She died after giving birth to you. Your father remarried and only felt it was wise that you people take Ijeoma as your mother and not step mother," Auntie Maimah continued.

My father must have made that decision because he wanted a peaceful home but it did not turn out well.

"He should have let us decide," I said to her.

I packed up and went home earlier than I used to. I was feeling tired, a little empty, a little lonely. I collapsed on the cushion in the sitting room only kicking off my shoes before I found myself reaching for my phone and dialing Tunde. His voice always soothed me.

"Mi lady," his voice came on the line, huskily like he had been sleeping.

"Tuntun, how are you doing? "

He laughed. "New nickname? "

"To be honest, I don't even know how that came out," I replied, laughing.

I could imagine him shaking his head at my ridiculousness. "I was tired earlier but I feel recharged now. I can say I'm good," he replied.

"That sounds nice. "

" Hope you are good? "

"Yeah. I have returned to town. I did not see you at work today."

" Missed me? "

" Cocky somebody, " I said with a laugh.

He laughed then I could hear some ruffling like he was getting up from the bed.

" I have been busy trying to get things together. I got an apartment close to the Studio. I will be relocating next week so I can get a lot of things together quickly. "

I lost all the words in my mouth as a feeling that was similar to pain hit me. It lodged in my heart and I could feel my throat tightening.

"What's up, are you there? " Came his voice on the other end .

"Yeah, yeah. My food is burning, I got to go."

"Wait. Can I come around later ? I love burnt food."

"Yeah, okay," I said, laughing and thinking quickly on what to start cooking.

"Al_ right," he stressed.

I got to cooking once the call ended still on my work clothes. I set rice on fire and rushed to the room, pulling off my gown on the way. I changed to a short and polo and rushed out again to the kitchen. I was trying to meet up to my own small lie.

I set spices in a tray and began hitting out the blocked meat in the freezer. It was then a knock came on the door.

I checked the rice before running to the door. I was rehearsing the right reason for not having the food ready or even burnt when I opened the door.

All smile gone from my face, I asked, "What are you doing here? "

"Lady, I was in the neighborhood and decided to stop by," the unwanted guest replied with his usual confidence.

I laughed, a short laugh laced with no humor.

"Awww, Mathew that's sweet. We're stopping by now, are we? "

"Lady, friends stop by to greet friends."

"Awww that's so sweet. Look I got to go. I got something to do."

Mathew slipped a hand into his pocket.

" Alright. I will come back another day."

"No, no, Mathew let me be clear. You do not ever stop by here. I'm not your friend and you do not ever stop by to greet."

"Lady," he started.

"Thank you for understanding and bye! " with that I banged the door.

The water in the pot had dried up and the Food was burning by the time I returned to the kitchen. I sieved the rice, annoyed I almost ruined the meal because of Mathew. Foolish Mathew.

I left the rice to simmer after adding all the spices with the Chief spice, Turmeric. I remembered Ike then. He used to describe his spices dramatically. I wondered how he was coping with his fiancee.  From the time I had seen them together during the burial, I could tell he did not seem happy and his fiancee too was always frowning. We tried to mind our business but it was hard not to hear them arguing loudly in their room.

A knock came on the door and I rushed to it, hoping it was Tunde and also with a bowl of water in case it was an unwanted visitor. Pouring water on Mathew was the least of brutal things I had in mind for him. Drawing an "X" on his chest with a knife actually topped that list but that was just me with my extreme thoughts.

I opened the door to meet Tunde. He stood there with a raised eyebrow looking at the bowl of water. I was half elated and half disappointed.

" Tunde, please come in, " I breathed out.

"I can, Are you sure? " he asked, not moving but a smile at the corners of his lips.

"Please come in, Crazy," I said, retreating into the room and leaving him to close the door.

" Forgive my hesitation but you welcomed me with a bowl of water. "

" It's not hot."

I heard the door close when I was already in the kitchen. The food was done just in time.

"So, " his voice came from the doorway, startling me. "because it's not hot, it makes it better, Do you know how it feels to wear soaked clothes? "

" I don't know," I replied, rinsing out plates from the rack.

"I got juice," he said, " Orange juice. "

"Oh, thank you."

"What do you mean by thank you? It's for me.  I'm just telling you what I brought into your house."

I did not turn to see what look he had on but I'm sure he was deliberately teasing me, waiting for my next response. I laughed and turned away.

"You should be taking it out. It's not accepted in my house," I calmly said, dishing food into the glass wares.

He laughed then came up behind me, encircling my waist with his arms briefly. He moved and carried out a plate to the dining then he came for the second plate.

I came out from the kitchen to meet just a glass of orange juice on the table.

"Tunde, you were serious. "

He took a sip of his drink, feigning ignorance. "about what?"

"  Where's the can it came from?"

He threw his head back and laughed so hard like I cracked a very funny joke.

"I came with the juice in that glass," he said, laughing the more.

I went to the fridge and got a can of orange juice amongst others that were obviously dropped by him. I took a glass cup and sat down.

"Lets eat," I said, smiling victoriously.

" I like to eat silently so don't take my silence as a recommendation or disapproval, " he said after the first spoon.

I took the first spoon and watched his blank face. " But you like it, abi? "

He laughed. " Nene, it's wonderful.

"

" Thank you. So all that juice in my fridge, you want to start selling them from my house?" I asked, tempting him.

He swallowed and eyed me before replying, "I am saving it in your fridge. I'll be coming to take one every day or you would be bringing it to work for me."

It was my turn to laugh, so hard. "I did not see that coming."

He continued eating quietly, his eyes just on his plate. My eyes were on him, taking in every feature of his handsomeness. His clean shave which seemed like he did before coming over. The beards that ran down the sides of his face were trimmed and carved neatly. His peach lips seemed more pronounced and his eyes  twinkled still on his food. His lips slowly began to broaden in a smile like he knew I was watching him. I smiled and got back to my food.

" Can I have more?" He asked after he emptied his plate.

" Yeah. You can, " I replied not ready to get up.

He got up and into the kitchen.

"Bring your plate o, let me put for you in case you want more," he called out from the kitchen.

I ran to the kitchen with the little rice on my plate. I was satisfied but eating with him made me want to go another round.

"Hold your plate. Every drop of rice that enters your plate, you say, thank you Uncle, " he commanded sternly.

I obeyed him as he slowly put the food just so the rice would fall out in bits. I had so much 'thank you's to say. I found myself laughing all the way then and later at night.

Darkness had enveloped outside. Time did not appreciate the moment. It rushed past with so much speed.

" I would be leaving now," Tunde declared, standing up. We had just finished watching the sixth season of 'Strike back '

" I had a nice time, " he said.

" I had a great time. We should do this Some Other time," I replied, standing and walking to him.

" You mean the farewell talk ?" he asked, tilting his head.

"No, the food, the juice, the talk. We should do them again."

" I guess so," he replied, then he spread out his arms. I went in, willingly. I wound my arms around him, taking in his cologne which was a familiar scent to me then.

" Good night," he whispered against my ear, sending thrills down my spine. He pulled my hair behind my ears then he placed a kiss on my forehead. It was times like this that I did not ever want to forget even if we never made it to the relationship stage.