Chapter 19: Chapter 19

"Careful, careful." Effiong warned as he slowly and assisted Affiong out of the truck.

She hissed in reply as her toe accidentally struck a yam.

"Sorry, sorry." he winced, knowing it must have hurt her. When her feet had finally settled on the floor. He fixed it a worried glance, checking for a swelling, and sighed in relief when he found none.

"Are you okay?" he looked her in eye trying to gauge how she felt, but she averted her gaze to the floor shyly.

Effiong smiled. So cute.

"Uyai, you ladies are okay here right?"

Uyai who had been watching the scene with raised eyebrow, finally took a good look at where she was. The numerous buses parked side by side Was this the bus stop? She voiced it. "Is this the bus stop?"

"yes." he nodded.

"Okay thank you. I guess we should say our goodbyes here." she looked at him

"Yes we should." He said, his gaze drawn to Affiong. She looked so calm and pretty standing there looking so innocent, her lower lip was between her teeth.

Of course Uyai noticed the looks Effiong was giving Affiong and almost snorted. After he'll say he has fallen out of love.

Effiong took out a pen that was hidden somewhere inside the pocket of his blue trouser and went closer to Affiong.

Affiong blinked, taken aback by his closeness.

"Err..." he smiled nervously, taking her hand; his shook as he upturned hers to view her soft delicate palm.

Uyai watched him with narrowed eyes. What's up with him?

She watched as he took the pen and scribbled something on her palm.

"T-This is my number. I-In case you need someone to you know, talk to? You can just call me." He said to her, Uyai watched as Affiong's eyes widened in shock and somewhat gratitude?

Uyai scoffed now. "Effiong can I talk to you for a second?" she called from behind. He whipped his head to her as if just remembering her presence.

"Err...sure." he shrugged

When he had neared her. Uyai raised an eyebrow.

"What is it?"

"You still love her." she pointed.

"Who Affiong?"

"No. Jesus." she rolled her eyes.

He blushed embarrassed.

"Okay I'll admit, but I can't help it." he muttered lowly, quickly glancing at the subject of their discussion. "I really thought I've overgrown any feelings I had for her, I think seeing her up close brought it back." he grimaced guiltily.

Uyai nodded furtively. "So are you going to do anything about it?"

"I don't know." he shrugged ruefully. "Don't you think its too late? Besides she doesn't like me."

"In this present condition, does she have a choice?"

"Yes. She does. You can't force love you know." he asserted

"But you can learn to love." Uyai pointed out. As far as she was concerned, you can learn to love someone you hate if you decide to see the good in that person and spend lots of time with him/her. It was definitely a possibility.

"I guess so." he said thoughtfully.

"Eh Effiong, where can I get a phone here?" she asked Effiong, her gaze roving the busy park, taking note of the many stalls with different signs on them. The park was just adjacent to the busy road where different cars zoomed past. Cars she had never seen in her years of living but had read in books. It still felt like a dream to Uyai. The city was just as she imagined with beautiful bright lights, fancy buildings and cars. Beautifully dressed ladies and men. Suddenly she was ecstatic--she couldn't wait to settle down.

"You want to buy a phone?" Effiong asked curiously.

"No oo" Uyai shook her head. " I want to make a call."

"oh! Okay." he nodded "let me give you my phone." he tucked his hand into his back pocket and pulled out joy a small phone and gave it to Uyai.

Uyai looked at the phone that looked like it had been rammed by a car; the screen was almost pulling off, the figures almost fading. Thankfully a rubber band was wrapped tightly around it.

Uyai with difficulty punched in the number she had taken time to memorise, placing the phone to her ears. Whoever was on the other side picked.

"Hello." a woman spoke

"Hello Ma. My name is Uyai, my grandmother..." Uyai began politely.

The woman interjected

"Oh Uyai!" she exclaimed excitedly "have you arrived yet?"

"Err... Yes Ma." Uyai replied hesitantly surprised by the woman's excited voice.

"Where exactly are you?" the woman asked.

"A park."

"Which of them?" Which of them? How many parks were around here. Uyai turned to Effiong and mouthed "What's the name of this park?"

"Cross lines at Ettagbor street." he mouthed back.

"Er...cross lines at..."

"At Ettagbor?" the woman interjected again.

"Yes Ma." Uyai sighed.

"That's perfect then. My driver Ola is around there. Let me call him. First what are you wearing so I can tell him for easy location." the woman said.

Uyai looked down at her self. Everything she was wearing was dull, she couldn't even describe their colours. She carefully scrutinized her appearance. From her dull ugly looking blouse that fell to her waist, her long skirt which she as usual folded twice or was it thrice on her waist? Her eyes fell to her feet, it was clad in mother's fancy slippers which she had mistakenly borrowed. Thank goodness mother had not noticed.

Uyai looked at Affiong besides her, Affiong's dress was almost identical to hers so what in the world do the have that stood out? Uyai's eyes roamed their luggage till it fell to the big sac of garri. Uyai shook her head. There was nothing.

"Uyai?" Effiong voice rang out, worried.

Uyai looked up at him, the phone still to her ear, the woman waiting for response. Her eyes fell to his truck. How come she didn't notice the glaring signs. The bright orange colour of the bus, the big font with the name JESUS IS LORD inscribed on it.

"Ok.Ma we are standing close to an orange truck. The word Jesus is Lord is written on it." Uyai told the woman.

"Good. In case you see a dark complexioned man with two tribal marks." she said.

Uyai nodded slowly.

"Also he wears glasses." she included.

"Okay Ma."

"Don't go anywhere oo. Ah! My husband would be so happy." the woman's excited voice rang out and the line went off.

Uyai cocked her head to the side musing at the woman's strange behavior. Who in the world would be excited by a stranger? Strange woman, Uyai thought.

"I everything okay?" Affiong asked.

Uyai whipped her head to her with round eyes. Sister had been so quiet all this while so she was definitely surprised hearing her voice. And she sounded worried.

"Yes." Uyai quickly replied.

"Excuse me." They heard.

Uyai turned at the voice to see a lanky man average in height, two tribal marks adorned his cheeks. Just as the woman had said he wore goggles.

"Yes. I am the person you're looking for." Uyai pointed to herself "Please are you Ola the driver?" she asked him.

"Ah! Yes. Oga and Madam are expecting you." he grinned.

"Thank you. This is my elder sister Affiong." Uyai turned to Affiong.

"Good day." Affiong greeted with a nod.

The man nodded looking at Effiong waiting for an introduction.

Uyai coughed. "Er...this is a friend. He drove us here.

"Ah!" The man nodded. "Well done sir." he greeted politely.

"Thank you." Effiong bowed slightly it was barely visible.

"Er... Na una tinz be this?" he motioned to their luggage sitting in front of them.

Uyai nodded.

"Make I help una, I park the car for that place. That red one there." he pointed to a small fancy looking red car.

Uyai smiled. Her eyes danced with excitement. So she'll be entering a fancy car. She couldn't wait.

"Effiong." Uyai turned to Effiong smiling gratefully. "Thank you."

"It's no problem." He casually waved it off.

Uyai watched as his gaze sought Affiong. He smiled saying, "Take care and take good care of the baby." he nervously muttered the latter while his gaze unconsciously moved to her still flat stomach.

"I will." Affiong smiled,a genuine one as her hands unconsciously caressed her stomach.

Uyai just looked on with wide eyes and perhaps happiness that her sister was no longer looking dull in spirit.

***

Uyai and her sister were ushered into a large parlour by a maid. Her eyes were wary and fascinated as she roamed it round the finely cut and patterned furniture, the glinting chandelier that hung freely from the ceiling. The painted walls which gave the room a homey feeling. Even as they both sat on the foamy chair, they did with care squirming uncomfortably. Affiong shot her a wide eyed look. Uyai returned it with a look of hers that screamed excitement.

"You're here." a voice boomed. Both head whipped to the side that their neck almost cracked at the speed.

Uyai and Affiong stood up at once. "Good day sir, good day Ma." they greeted the elderly couple with a deep curtsy

"I told you. They don't have an accent." The woman who Uyai believed she spoke with on the phone, whispered to her husband. It was loud whisper, so Uyai heard what she said but pretended not to

"You must be Uyai and Affiong. Your grandmother had told me so much about you." The man said with a smile.

"Yes Sir." They both nodded.

"You guys must be famished." he said looking them both over but his eyes lingered a little on Affiong.

Did he know?

"Please have a seat, make yourself comfortable." he motioned to the comfy chair behind them.

"Thank you."

"Honey." He turned to his wife "Get something for them to eat."

"I'll be right back." she said and turned to leave.

The man sat on the chair opposite theirs.

"Tell me, how is your grandmother and of course your parents."

"There all fine Sir." It was Affiong who answered, shocking Uyai again.

"Please call me Uncle. Your grandmother had been too good to me to keep up with the formalities." he smiled

"You know," he continued "Your grandmother is a good Samaritan. She saved my family." his eyes had taken on a misty look. "You see we were kidnapped by ritualists and my wife then was pregnant with my son. He's now abroad. Your grandmother helped us to escape and nursed us till my wife gave birth to my son." he smiled wryly.

"I don't think you were born yet." he looked at Uyai and she blinked uncomfortably.

"Affiong, you were still a baby then, so I doubt you'll remember me."

Affiong squirmed and smiled shyly.

The woman strolled in with a tray, beside her was a little girl of about eight years old. She was lean and light in complexion. She wore pigtails and held a doll dressed in a nice fashion.

The woman dropped the tray on the wooden centre table. "Help yourself dears" she said to them. "Ehen Gift, greet your aunties, they've come to stay with us." The woman said.

"Let me introduce you. Gift come here." The man called the little girl who ran to him. He hugged her to his side "This is my granddaughter Gift. Her parents are late so she stays with us."

"Gift say hello to them." Her mother urged.

"Hello." she said, her voice tiny and cute.

"Hello dear." Uyai greeted, and watched as the girl slowly take her in. Uyai could feel her gaze as it ran the entire length of her body. Uyai watched as the girl frowned

"You're really skinny." she said after a while.

Uyai's eyes widened and her mouth gaped open.

Affiong snickered and Uyai secretly shot her a glare.

The woman coughed. "Gift that is so rude. Apologize." The woman chastised.

"But she is." the little girl protested with a whine. She looked to Affiong. "You're fat and my teacher said its not healthy. Fats can cause narrowing of your blood vessels causing it to constrict so blood does not circulate properly." she little girl lectured.

Everyone's expression held surprise at her intelligent speech.

For the first time in Uyai's existence she'd never heard anyone describe her sister as fat. Curvy was the word.

Uyai dared to look at Affiong's face. It had gone pale with disbelief and somewhat embarrassment.

"That's enough Gift. Now Apologize to your aunties now."

"Okay, sorry." she said reluctantly. Uyai smiled. Funny enough she liked the little girl.

"Sorry about my granddaughter. She can be really outspoken sometimes."

"No problem aunty." Uyai said with a small smile.

"Grandma," the little girl called get some cookies?" she asked her grandma with large innocent eyes pointing her hand to the tray which was filled with finely baked cookies

"Yes."

"Thank you grandma." she smiled widely. Picked up some cookies and to everyone's surprise, she walked up to Uyai and stretched out some to her. Uyai just blinked in shock. She cast everyone a wary glance.

"Take some aunty. You need it." she said.

And that was how Uyai's heart was won by the little girl.

"Thank you." Uyia smiled widely and the girl returned it with a smile of her own.

Uyai had just made her first friend.