Chapter 9: Chapter 9

The curtains flipped in the air revealing the radiant sunrise that reflected into Lisha's room, the rays made her open her eyes, she glanced at her wall clock and jumped up quickly.

The clock struck nine which means she was late for the meeting she was to have with her design team, quickly, she rushed into the bathroom and did her hygiene. Minutes later, she got out the bathroom and got dressed in the first outfit she set her eyes on; a long green flowing gown that looked like she was thrown into a sack but it still managed to look good on her, she complimented it with a wig that she hadn't worn in ages.

After carrying her white lady like bag, she rushed out of her room and met Nikki, Gran and Miracle at the dining having the breakfast of sliced bread, butter and tea, not like they could have a better breakfast so far Nikki couldn't cook, the last time she'd entered the kitchen to cook was the beginning of last month and Gran didn't really like cooking and with Lisha waking up late, they had no other option.

"Good morning," Lisha greeted as she pecked each and everyone of them.

"You got up late," Gran started as Lisha turned to her, she was having an alcoholic wine that Lisha hadn't captured the name, well, Gran was someone who loved taking alcohols even though she'd been warned against it but she was addicted to it.

"Yeah, I didn't realize I slept all through since last night," it was punctuated by the rumble of her stomach, so, she just picked up Nikki's cup and gulped down the tea.

Since she'd chased Nikki and Gran out of her room the evening before, she hadn't stepped out of her room but rather slept all through only to wake up late this morning, she didn't have dinner and as such, her stomach was badly lacking, she was indeed famished.

"I'm leaving," she exchanged her black duffel bag to her left hand.

"Won't you have breakfast?" Nikki who had been quiet all along queried. She'd actually believed Lisha wouldn't talk to her or even give her any audience after what happened the previous evening but seeing Lisha peck her good morning had given her a second thought.

"I'll have it later, I'm running late for a meeting," replied her as she walked out of the house not even waiting for the response of any one.

In the blink of an eye, she got into her car and drove out of the house. Her car raced to MAPLE, luckily, traffic was at the minimum.

Lisha rushed into the production room and smiled at her design team who were already waiting patiently for her.

"What of Fiola and Naveed?" she asked as her eyes scanned through her team members.

"Here, ma," Naveed's voice came from behind the door followed by Fiola as they both walked into the production room.

"Why are you guys late?"

Others murmured as they turned to Lisha, it wasn't as if she wasn't late too.

Fiola started, "Um, I…"

Lisha cut her short with her raised palm, "I know, you were feeding your baby all through the night and Naveed, you went to a club and had so much to drink, right?"

"No, ma," they both replied concurrently, they knew she was crazy so it was of no use correcting her or having any hard feelings.

"Okay oo, if you say so, Sha have your seat," she instructed before the meeting started fully.

Half an hour later, the meeting ended and Lisha headed straight to the elevator, the ramble from her stomach had been disturbing all through the meeting and she couldn't afford not eating any time soon if not her intestines might get twisted.

Jimi's eyes caught Lisha as she walked into the restaurant, he was actually there with Mark and Kemi, waving at Lisha who noticed him quickly, she walked up to them.

"Hey Mark," Lisha slapped his head and he squeezed his face.

"God, Felicia!" he yowled and she eyed him before pulling out a chair by Jimi, since it was a table for four.

"Hi," She waved at Kemi who smiled in return before turning back to her food. She was having Noodles just like Mark too.

"E ehn, did you eventually google what to do to a car scratch?" She turned to Jimi who shook his head.

He opened his mouth to talk but the appearance of a waiter stopped him.

"What would you like to have sir?"

"Give me the menu," Lisha ordered and Jimi squeezed his face.

"Are you sir?"

"Whatever," she collected the menu and scanned through it.

"Give me four wraps of Amala and Ewedu soup with Ogufe." The waiter nodded and left immediately.

Kemi choked on her meal and Mark had to rub her back while giving Lisha a questioning look.

"Smallie, it's breakfast oo," Jimi turned to her and she shrugged.

"For breakfast, you eat like a queen, you eat like an average person for lunch and dinner should be like a pauper," she told him and Mark choked on his water.

"Has choking become a couple thing abi what?" She opened her palms widely and Kemi smiled.

"But, it doesn't mean you should kill yourself," Jimi continued and Lisha rolled her eyes.

"Actually, Gym, I didn't have dinner last night, so, I'm combining the two."

Jimi wanted to respond but Kemi's voice stopped him, "I'm done," she stood up and Mark did the same.

He smiled at Lisha who laughed without any humor in return before he followed suit with Kemi.

A busboy came over to clear the dishes before the waiter brought Lisha's order while Jimi instructed him to bring his order of Porridge.

Lisha then proceeded to eat her food while Jimi stood up to sit opposite her.

"How will your small stomach occupy all this?"

"Won o bi da," she replied and Jimi laughed.

"You know, even though I've been trying to consume a lot, my weight is not increasing at all and I'm really getting irate with my body system," she confided and Jimi scrunched his eyebrows.

"So, the main reason you take in a lot is because you want to increase in size not because you love food?" he inquired and she nodded in return before picking up the goat meat.

"Wow, you don't have to stuff yourself, if your body isn't agreeing to it then you don't have to continue, wait, why are you trying to gain weight?"

She chewed on the little piece she'd cut and dropped the goat meat in the soup, after washing her hands, she replied, "Maybe, because I don't like the way I am, some people give me disgusting looks most time and I've never really had a love life, you know many people underrate me because I'm like a broomstick and…"

Jimi cut in, "You don't have to impress any one, it's their cup of tea, just accept yourself the way God created you, you just have to love yourself and who told you your slim figure doesn't suit you? I'm certain you'll get ugly if you become fat, maybe you don't know that some people are praying to have a stature like yours, now you're an uncontested beauty and you have a nice shape, why would you want to trade that? You're a rare beauty and you have to keep that in mind."

Lisha didn't know when she turned crimson as she bit on her lower lip, no one had ever complimented her the way he did except his Mom, other people only regarded her as a toothpick even her family were the number one persons who took pleasure in demeaning and making her feel bad, she remembered how Gran had always insulted her when she was younger and how it had become a normal routine for Nikki.

"Smallie," he waved his palm across her face and she looked up at him with a warm smile.

"Thanks, this is actually the first time I poured out my worries," she told him and a smile crept up Jimi's face.

"You are welcome."

The waiter interrupted by placing Jimi's meal in front of him, after he left, they engaged in other discussions as they enjoyed each other's company.

***************

A smile appeared on Lisha's face as she remembered all that Jimi had told her during the day, he'd appreciated her and that got her joyous. All she'd ever heard about her stature was insults and nothing more, not like there was anything wrong in being skinny. While she was growing, many had referred to her as Kwashiorkor girl even when she'd didn't have the symptoms and others even regarded her to be malnourished.

A beep from her phone brought her out of her thoughts, picking it up from the other side of the bed, she looked at the Caller ID and her smile increased.

"Hey," his deep and sexy voice came from the other end.

"Hi." She placed a pillow on her leg and rested her hands on it while leaning to the wall.

"How're you doing?"

"Fine," she replied succinctly with the smile still on her face.

"Soil has been disturbing me that she wanted to speak to you though I had the plans to call you before."

"Oh," was all Lisha could say before Soil's voice came up.

"Li baby, how is everything?"

"Fine, Mama."

"Good to hear, anyway, this Saturday is my birthday and I've decided to have a get-together that includes only family and nothing more."

Only Family? Why was she telling her then? Not like she was part of their family.

"Oh, that's good."

"So, will you be free? What am I even saying? It's your Mama's birthday and you won't come?"

"I will Mama," was all Lisha could pronounce at the thought of her kind gesture, she was the first person that made her feel loved but that made Lisha guilty, she knew Mama would feel bad and disappointed if she eventually learn the truth about everything being fake…

"Okay then, let me return the phone to Jimi 'cause he's already giving me looks now."

Lisha chuckled before she heard Jimi's voice.

"Don't mind her jare, but will you feel comfortable coming? You know…"

"Don't worry, I'm mostly bored at home during the weekends."

"Oh, but why are you always bored? Like you don't have your sister and her kid around you."

Lisha scoffed a laugh at the statement.

"They're always out most times even Gran so, that leaves only me at home and since I don't have friends," she shrugged before realizing he couldn't see her.

They went on talking, sharing different things for an hour before Nikki walked into Lisha's room.

"Lisha, won't we have dinner?"

Lisha looked up at her, "We will."

"Then come and cook."

Lisha scoffed, "Gym, please hold on," she wasn't ready to end their discussion, so, she turned to Nikki whose brows were already raised immediately she heard Gym.

"See, I think you guys should take cereals or rather buy bread, you can order foods too, you can see I'm a good girl for giving you options but right now, I can't cook anything."

Lisha returned her phone to her ear and the next thing Nikki heard was her laughter.

A thin line appeared between Nikki's brows as her anger sprang to life. What could be so funny? So, Lisha didn't want to cook because she was speaking to Jimi.

"That's really funny, Mama is something else," Lisha said as her eyes went back to Nikki who was still standing and glaring at her, Lisha dashed her a questioning look that sent Nikki scurrying out of the room but not without hissing menacingly at elder sister.