Chapter 10: Chapter 10

Uyai kept asking herself what she was doing standing by door of the village fire wood supplier. She wondered why there was no soul in sight. Uyai looked around observing the building, there were about three buildings in the compound, and one looked like a store house, the only building made without clay. It was really impressive except from the splinters of wood she had encountered on her way to his compound, the environment was well kept, the grasses were trimmed, beautiful hibiscus flowers adorned the sides of the house, even potted plants were kept close to the cemented stairs. This was by far the most beautiful and largest compound she had seen in this village. It spoke of how wealthy the old man was. She had no knowledge of the extent of Effiong's father’s wealth. Come to think of it, when he had boasted of his father's occupation, he was quite modest. She wouldn't have guessed he was from a wealthy family given the simple way he dressed and his humble nature. Uyai knew that all the rich men's children were in the city, so why was he still here in the village?

As she raised her knuckles to knock on the fine and sturdy woody door with intricate designs carved to perfection. She paused.

What if it wasn't Effiong that opened the door? If it was his father, how was she going to explain herself?

The place was still so unusually quiet, only the sound of her breathing and the whistling birds she could hear. She was expecting to see a lot of workers moving about, cutting woods here and there. She was beginning to doubt anyone was around. Boldly, her knuckles connected with the door. She repeated the motion thrice. Still, no answer. Impatient, she tapped her feet on the ground and roved her gaze over the house. Looking for a hint that a soul was in sight...That was when she saw them.

They were three of them, and they looked her age. Each had bundles of fire woods placed on their head. They all possessed the signatory curves women in their village were known for. It made Uyai painfully conscious of her non existent curves. She grimaced, suddenly remembering that the skirt she wore made it worse. It was her mother's old skirt she donned before she came. The skirt was quiet large, as usual she had folded it twice on her waist for it to fit. She was sure she looked horrible with the skirt hanging off her waist in an unruly fashion, giving no hint of a curve at all. She was really a sight to behold.

Uyai pulled off the grimace she wore and downed a blank mask instead, pretended not to notice that they stared too long. It didn't help that they began whispering to each other and giggling stupidly. Uyai quickly averted her eyes so she wouldn't have to read their lips. She knew whatever they said was not pleasing to the ears.

Realising how silly she looked still standing by the door. She quickly swiveled around and slowly but consciously went down the stairs. She heard movement and looked up. Maybe Effiong had arrived.

But it was another group of women, these ones were not bearing any firewood, they looked at her, then laughed and hurried back. Uyai was puzzled at their weird behaviour, she looked around to find the other ones, but they were not in sight. She sighed raising her skirt to avoid tripping, when she heard laughter.

They were more women and they looked as if they were invited to watch an interesting show. Uyai felt like a specimen under perusing and cynical eyes. She could probably imagine what was running through their minds. If she were a mind reader she'll be amazed at the detailed story they'd concocted in their head. She shook her head.

"Uyai...?" She turned abruptly. It was Effiong, looking ragged, dark circles lined the rims of his eyes. She looked down at him, taking notice of the bare chest lined with sweat, wooden axe he held and the new formed blisters in his palms.

"Thank God you're here." She exhaled.

"What are you doing here?" He frowned moving past her to open the door. She stepped aside giving him space. He went inside and closed the door and Uyai wondered if he had just ignored her. She stood for a while in disbelief. Effiong had just abandoned her outside his hut. She was so embarrassed and she looked up to gauge the reactions of the women, but they had disappeared, she felt as if she had dreamed their presence.

Weird.

The door creaked and Effiong appeared looking decent. He had worn a shirt. A faded one that was beginning to pull at the seams.

"So what are you doing here?" He repeated walking past her. This time she followed him walking a few steps behind with her hands crossed behind her back.

"Er...I came for firewood." She said and he stopped suddenly making her form to almost collide with his. He turned and gave her a disbelieving look raising one bushy eyebrow.

"Really?"

"Yes. I've exhausted the ones I had, er-the ones you brought. You brought them right? Because I saw some fire wood in our backyard just lying there, like someone left it in a hurry. It was you right?" She gave him an innocent look.

"I am sorry about the mess. Just had to leave very quickly, I-I was in a hurry you know." He said avoiding her eyes.

"Oh. Okay oo." She pretended to believe his lie. "Where are your workers? I expected it'll be busier."

"Oh. They're all at the farm. We had a large harvest today so we needed more hands." He tiredly ran his hands over his face.

"Okay. So..." She paused

"So..." He continued walking

Uyai held his upper arm, bringing him to a halt. "Er...I didn't come only for firewood. I was thinking we could talk."

"Talk? About what?" He wrinkled his nose. His confusion eminent.

"You know about er-- Affiong?"

"Don't want to talk about her." He quietly dismissed and moved away from her.

"Before you say that, can you please just hear me out?"

Effiong sighed. "Very well then, come with me." He said and continued walking in the same route until they both stopped near a large wood that was positioned as a stool. "Help yourself." He motioned to the wood.

"Thank you." She breathe and sat on the wood, but it started to wobble so she had to place her hands on either side of the wood to support her weight. Her discomfort grew when her skirt got caught in a nail that had been inconspicuously embedded deep into the wood with it's pointed edge shooting out. She hissed silently and tried pulling her skirt out of it but the skirt became entangled. Annoyed, she grunted and pulled the skirt with force, the tearing sound caught her unawares and she looked at the damage it had done.

Her skirt had been torn into two.

Uyai had to thank God it was a long skirt and it didn't expose any skin. During her musings, she remembered Effiong was still there, and was silently watching her struggle with the skirt. She felt embarrassed and furious that he noticed her struggle, and he did not say a word nor did he make any attempt to help her. She shot him a glare. It was his fault she sat there, and was about to topple off the supposed stool, now he had the mind to pretend not to notice. Please, she could not suffer anymore, she abruptly stood and faced Effiong whose hands were tucked into the pocket of his short. Uyai frowned at him. He just shrugged and forced a smile.

Uyai hid her scowl and asked him the question she'd been dying to.

"What?" He frowned. He couldn't understand what she meant by giving up.

"I mean Affiong. Do you still want her? Are you giving up already?" She babbled at once.

His eyes clouded over. It was filled with hurt. "I-I don't know. Shouldn't I?" He said after a deafening silence.

Uyai felt for him. Affiong hadn't even spared him a chance and already he was broken. "You still have a chance, you know that right?"

"Do I?" He cried, furiously wiping the tears that had managed to escape. It struck Uyai then, that Effiong was seriously in love with her sister and what baffled her was that he hadn't even known her for long. Was it possible to love someone from a distance with no form of contact at all?

"She said she loves him. Do you know that? She. Loves. Him. And I was there, Yes. I witnessed her hug him lovingly and declare her undying love to him. So tell me, how am I going to compete with that? Tell me! In fact I don't know what he has that that is so special, I bet I am ten times wealthier. I can offer her anything, and I mean anything. Is it because I don't go about parading my wealth. You know what? Maybe I'll do just that."

"That'll probably be a good idea. No. A great idea, but she has no idea who you are yet." Uyai pointed out.

"Er...?" He shook his head as if been drawn out of a stupor.

"Yeah." Uyai nodded solemnly.

"B-But, don't you think it's pointless? She has already fallen in love with him." His voice broke.

Uyai was at lost for words. It was true Affiong had confessed her love to Edem, but what if it was just lust? And why the hell was sister so quick to confess love to a man she had only met for few days? Even going ahead to display a wanton behaviour to a man she has no knowledge of. How could she trust him so easily? She was risking so much and she had no clue about it. It frustrated the hell out of Uyai.

"So tell me, how can I not give up?" He muttered dejectedly. He was already resigned to his fate, he had no chance at all.

Uyai saw and felt his forlorn expression, she couldn't let him give up. She just couldn't. The thought of Affiong ending up with Edem didn't sit right with her. She had to convince Effiong to fight for sister, even if sister was not worth it. There was still hope, after all Affiong had never seen Effiong before, neither has she had a one on one conversion.

If Affiong was indeed after the looks, Effiong had it too, though not as much as Edem did, the difference was only minute. If she was after the flattery words, Effiong had it in abundance thanks to those city books. As far as she was concerned, Effiong still had a chance

"Don't. Don't give up. At least not yet." She pleaded.

He looked at her and sighed. He then averted his eyes to where splinters of firewood laid. "I'll go split some wood for you." He said and made to leave.

"Wait!" She held him back. "You didn't say anything." She reminded him.

"What do you want me to say? I don't know, I'm not sure I...I even want to pursue my interest any further. Your sister had made her choice." He shrugged her hand off and began walking towards the firewood with large strides

"But its not too late. She can change her mind." She hurried her steps trying to keep up with. "You can't just give up like that. You haven't even given yourself a chance."

"I can. And frankly I think I'm going to." He firmly said, and plucked out an axe that was embedded deep into a wood, and struck it twice, splitting it into two unequal parts.

"You can't just give up without a fight?" She said when he lifted up the axe to split the larger part. He paused in mid air and curiously looked at her.

"I don't understand, why are you doing this? Why are you trying so hard to convince me. You can't decide for your sister, she has already made her choice. I hope you're not doing this for free firewood."

"No!" She denied quickly. Affronted, she taunted him. "And you. You're a coward, you see an obstacle and you're already running for the hills. Act like a man for goodness sake and fight for what you want! You aren't even trying at all, all you do is whine, and then you accuse me for doing this for firewood? That is insulting. I admit I had mentioned it once, but my sister's wellbeing is the most important thing now."

He sighed deeply. "I'm sorry if I insulted you. Right now, I am not in a right frame of mind." He paused looking heavenward. "I'll try. I'll try to fight for her."

"Not just try, give it your best shot. Make her fall for you."

"You make it sound so easy." He grimaced

"I know its not, especially knowing Affiong. You just have to grab every chance you've got. And talking about chances, Affiong's attention wouldn't be occupied this week, so you have ample opportunity to approach her and state your interest."

"What about him?" He frowned and with force struck the firewood wishing it was Edem's head. It shocked him how cruel his thought had recently been diverted to where Edem was concerned. He was never one for violence, he just couldn't help but think cruely about Edem; wishing he'll just disappear off the face of the earth. If things were being operated like in the olden days where men fought themselves to win the heart of a woman, he was sure he would have challenge Edem to a duel. He knew he could keep his own, the muscles he'd developed from years of cutting firewood was not for naught. If given the chance, he'll fight Edem till his strength wore off; after all, all was fair in love and war.

"Edem? He wouldn't be back till next week." She disclosed the information she had heard when she was eavesdropping and lips reading.

"Really?" He scowled, as if it made him feel any better. He preferred if Edem never return. But the hard truth was, you can't always get want you want. "So, I just have one week then."

"What's the matter? It isn't enough?" She frowned. Edem had only taken a day to make Affiong confess her love for him. Couldn't he do the same?

"I'll manage." He grimaced.

"Manage?" She scoffed. "You have almost a full week. You have to do more than just 'manage'."

Effiong sighed and went over to her, the axe and wood now forgotten as it laid on the ground. He wiped his hands on his short and sat on the wood that almost made her fall "Convincing someone you love them especially if they've never seen you or heard from you, takes time." He said smiling sadly.

"But, Affiong had only met Edem, and already she's head over heels. If what you say is true, how come it happened in their case."

His eyes filled with familiar hurt, on hearing that Affiong was head over heels in love with Edem. Immediately Uyai cursed herself for being so careless in her speech.

"I-I...frankly I don't know how that was possible. Maybe it was love at first sight." He shrugged resigned.

"No. I don't believe in that love at first sight thingy. You read too much of those city books. If you say lust at first sight, then that is plausible. But love, it takes time to build. I hardly think she's in love with him. She thinks she's in love, but I can bet my sixth toe it's not."

Eh? Effiong frowned. Sixth toe? He couldn't help but voice his concern.

"You have a sixth toe?"

"Er...yes. It not really apparent, but it's there." She pointed to her left feet and indeed there was a growth, but it was a little mole. He couldn't classify that as a toe, it was barely visible.

"I'll really love to get rid of it." She muttered quietly to herself. "Any way am really sure that what Affiong feels for Edem isn't love."

"You think so?" His eyes brightened. A ray of hope rose within him. Maybe, just maybe he still had a chance. If indeed what she said was true and Affiong only felt lust for Edem then maybe...but still lust was a powerful emotion.

Uyai nodded. Just when she was about to give him an assuring smile, she heard the whispers. They both did. And immediately they froze, both eyes widened. It was bad enough they didn't conceal themselves, from the corner of her eyes, she watched as they huddled together as if planning a coup, boldly sparing them a glance once in a while. Uyai had little comfort in the fact that there was a Christian distance between her and Effiong. They weren't doing anything wrong, but she felt an unhealthy amount of guilt, those gossip mongers heightened it with their suggestive glares. It was almost a taboo for a man and a woman to be in close proximity when they were not married. It wasn't supposed to be so, but judging from their stares and mischievous giggles, the rules had been unconsciously set. Uyai hated the fact that you can't be seen with a man without an assumption being made on your relationship...

"Let me gather your firewood." He said breaking the awkward silence and retreated discretely making sure to leave a wide berth between them.

"Er...okay." She coughed, still feeling tensed. Heaven knew how much she was tempted to look at them particularly their lips and make good use of her gift, but she resisted with a lot of her willpower.

"Did you bring a piece of cloth?" Effiong turned from where he squatted to look at her, the fire wood had been packed to form a bundle missing only a piece of cloth to hold it in place.

"No." She shook her head, in her hurry to see him she had forgotten to bring any.

He sighed. "Wait here for me, I should have a spare." He rose leaving her there to face the brutal looks coming from behind. Her anxiety grew when she heard footsteps, it neared her till she felt the owner stop by her side. She had no choice but to turn and face her after putting on an innocent mask.

Her eyes met the woman's eyes. And slowly her gaze roamed her face tracing downwards to stop fleetingly at her feet. She was aware the woman did the same, and she had the pleasure of hearing her scoff. The woman was not impressed by what she saw. How could she? Uyai was a twig and she was a voluptuous beauty. She could rival Affiong anytime anywhere.

"Who are you?" The woman questioned in an intimidating tone. Uyai knew she shouldn't look weak, if not she'll eat her raw.

"I am Uyai..." She replied confidently but was cut short when she heard a booming laughter. Uyai winced looking at the young woman laughing so hard and clutching her stomach. She couldn't remember what she said that was so funny.

"Uyai...ha ha ha, my stomach oo. Did your mother give you that name? Hahahaha the irony. Beauty indeed." She continued laughing wiping a few tears. Uyai had never felt such embarrassment in her life before. She cursed silently, the woman was attracting the attention of her peers with her laughter and they came to see for themselves what made her laugh so. Uyai wished the floor to swallow her whole.

"What is it?"

"What has got you laughing so hard?"

"Can you see her face? Who is she?"

"What was she doing with Effiong?"

They gathered her. Uyai refused to look up.

"Can you believe her name is Uyai? And she looks nothing like it." The woman told them still laughing hard, the others came in for a closer look to confirm what the woman had said.

They all grunted in affirmative when she finally looked up shyly.

"What are you doing here?" One asked and Uyai roamed their faces till she settled on the one that spoke. Her eyes were soft with no trace of contempt or judgement but she regarded her with interest instead.

They all waited for her reply.

"I came to fetch firewood." She replied weakly.

"I don't believe her."

"She's lying."

"I don't think she is."

"They've been talking for over forty five minutes, of course she's lying."

"Leave her alone. She's just a little girl. Besides why concern yourself with her, do you think her a threat?"

Uyai's head turned sharply. Her eyes widened with new found knowledge.

A threat? Now what in the world was going on?

"B-But they were looking quite intimate. You know very well how I feel for Effiong..."

"Look at the girl. Does she look like any competition?" They both looked at her, both giving her a once over.

Jeez thanks

"Frankly no. She doesn't look it." The beautiful young woman grimaced in distaste and Uyai wanted to claw her eyes out...

The woman took a menacing step towards her. Uyai eyes widened with apprehension, she redrew backwards she almost tripped on her skirt. She took another step forward and Uyai repeated the motion only taking a step backwards.

"Let me warn you first, if you had come here with any notion that you can seduce Effiong, then think again."

Uyai almost scoffed. She was not in the least interested in Effiong. She only wanted him for her sister.

"I mean how can you even think you can succeed." She roved her gaze over her form, taking in the oversized skirt that had been torn at the the side. "Have you seen yourself? You an embarrassment to women. You have no curves whatsoever and your dressing? God its despicable. What planet are you from that you think you can come looking this way to seduce my Effiong? Do you think he is blind?"

As she spoke, the others began murmuring, some grunted in agreement.

"Imagine."

"She looks like a twig."

"I have never seen someone this skinny in my entire existence."

Uyai unconsciously was slowly retreating. Flinching at every snide remark. Their comment hurt. She felt her eyes become watery, but she didn't let the tears fall. It would give them them power, more room to torment her.

She never imagine she would encounter a rival. But why not, Effiong was a good looking man and of course wealthy, so definitely women would be falling over themselves to make him chose them as a bride. In fact she wondered why he didn't. They were all beautiful, in fact their beauty could rival Affiong's. She didn't even get what was so special about Affiong. Sister had many faults even she couldn't bear with it most at times. Men! They were really strange beings.

"What is going on here?" Effiong had arrived thank God. And he was not looking pleased. No, not at all, judging from his thunderous glare. Right now he looked so menacing she wanted to cower and hide. It was the first time she saw him looking so furious. She bit her lower lip and waited with bated breath to hear her reply

"Nothing." The beautiful young woman replied. Her eyes sought him nervously, she even had the mind to wring her fingers and look innocent. "We were just getting acquainted you know, making new friends."

"Indeed?" He raised one daring eyebrow. He knew exactly what was going on, and he hated it. He despised gossipers and they ranked high on the list of them. They gossiped about anything and anyone. When he saw them harassing Uyai, he was so furious. They couldn't mind their business could they?

"Effiong? I came to see you." The woman held his arm and batted her eyelashes demurely.

She shot Uyai a smirk as if...

Uyai just raised an eyebrow. What was she playing at? Effiong wasn't even looking at her. Uyai almost felt pity for her, failingly trying to draw his attention. He spared her no glance.

Effiong felt the woman that held him. He could recognise her from her voice, but he didn't bother looking at her. It was his father's friend daughter Arit, she was a beauty alright and His parents more than once hinted that they had wished for them to marry, but he was not interested, he had eyes for someone else, and that someone was in love or was it lust with another man.

The woman didn't even help matters, she was always flaunting herself whenever she had the chance and it irritated him to no end.

He shrugged off her hands.

"How can I help you?" He said rudely and moved to tie Uyai's firewood so she could escape the wolves.

"Mother said I should invite you for supper." She frowned irritated that she was ignored.

"Tell her I can't make it." He shunned her, still not sparing her a glance. She glared at his back, her hands fisted.

"B-But mother would be expecting you." She whined.

"Send my apologies, I'm rather occupied." He said annoyance clearly written on his face. Couldn't she take a hint? Couldn't she tell that her presence irritated him?

He carried the woods he had made into bundles and used the piece of cloth to hold them together, making sure to make the knot firm, he carried the firewood and went to Uyai, she bent her head and he carefully placed it on her head.

"Thank you." Uyai muttered, also thanking him with her eyes, for coming to her rescue.

Effiong nodded with understanding.

The others watched the exchange with mild interest. Only one glared furiously at the two, her palms were tightly balled in a fist. Uyai was sure she had killed her a thousand times in her head.

She shivered.

She couldn't wait to be gone from their presence. Already her heart was running a mile per minute. Even as she briskly walked away from them, she was conscious of her every step. She dared to look at the woman and her step faltered. Her eyes widened in fear. She could see death written over her face. She looked away quickly and hurried her steps, making sure to not look back. When she got a little farther, she lifted her skirt and sprinted in a run. Uyai knew she probably looked mad with her oversized skirt bunched on her waist and the firewood almost falling off her head while she ran like her a mad hatter. Well would you blame her? When you see death staring at you in the face what do you do? You run!