Chapter 20: Chapter 20

Her lips stretched from ear to ear, her eyes glittered with happiness and her whole being trembled with wonderful emotions that coursed through her. Uyai laid on the soft, plush bed with the blanket strewn over her chest down while she embraced the warm feeling it gave. When she breathed, it was the scent of air freshener which littered the whole room mixed with the scent of pine emitting from the artfully carved wooden chair facing the rectangular mirror that caressed her senses.

"Uyai." Affiong called softly. Like her she laid supine on the twin sized bed with her hands protectively on her stomach, while she laid atop the covers.

"Hmm?" Uyai shifted and turned to Affiong, the blue greenish light radiating from the fancy bulbs casted beautifully on her form, highlighting her fair complexion.

"What do you think of Mr and Mrs Ekpenyong?" She asked. Weirdly, Affiong had never initiated a conversation with her except it is to order her about.

"They're nice." Uyai muttered

"That's hardly a fitting description . I'd rather say they're too good to be true." Affiong frowned.

Uyai's mind flashed to the couple who had welcomed them with opened arms. Their kindness was a bit questionable. "You're right." Uyai said after a while.

"Don't you find it strange that they'll be willing to accommodate strangers especially in this age and time? The fact that we're from the village doesn't arouse any suspicion from them. We could be witches for goodness sake." Affiong's worried voice melted the smile that molded Uyai's lips.

"I understand perfectly what you mean, but I don't think they see us as strangers. Besides grandmother wouldn't dare send us to live with people she doesn't trust."

"I know that but haven't you heard? City people hardly accommodate we village people, we're presumed to be witches and wizards." Affiong turned sideways facing Uyai, her hands left her stomach and propped on her chin.

"I guess so. I think they're different."

"I can tell, you seem happy."

"I should be. I'm in the city, that means new beginnings, new life." Uyai asserted.

"Well you shouldn't be too happy, I'll advise you be wary. This is not home." She cautioned,

"Just because you're unhappy doesn't mean I should be. I would take advantage of the fact that am in the city and have a good life." Uyai was not moved by her sister's words. She couldn't despise the opportunity of being in the city and deny herself of happiness she didn't feel at home. This was a new beginning for her and she would embrace the chance.

"What do you mean by that? You're beginning to be arrogant." Affiong shot her a glare.

"I am not. I just want a good life." she returned her glare.

"I hear. Not everyone can have a good life." she snorted.

"I can and I will." Uyai growled "Sister don't you think you should tone it down a bit? I won't let you oppress me. Like you said, this is not home."

"Oppress you?" she snickered " Wait for the real oppression when they start using us as house girls."

"Well what do you expect? Nothing in this world is free. We have to reciprocate their kindness by helping in house chores."

"More like we'll become slaves. Don't you get it? We're village girls." Affiong argued and turned back on her back.

"Yes. But well learned." Uyai interjected strongly

"Just secondary school and you're already boasting." Affiong scoffed rolling her eyes.

"Look at the bright side of things sister, we're better than most people. We're well versed in English which is an important requirement in the city. We can as well make friends." Uyai assured her as well as herself. Unlike the village, she could make friends here. She could finally experience what it meant like to have a friend.

"With how you look, how would that be possible?" Affiong mumbled under her breath, but Uyai heard her. She felt disappointed that her sister still bullied her however emotionally.

"I know very well how I look like. It's has been ingrained in my memory and I have lived with that knowledge notwithstanding." Uyai's hand fisted under the blanket as her mind flashed to the little girl Gift who had confirmed what she knew all along. Her lips couldn't help but quirk at the thought of the little girl who had also given her cookies saying she needed it. She hadn't done it with the intention of mockery but her eyes shone with kindness and innocence when she said that. "Don't you think you should be worried about how you look. I doubt the people of the city favor fat girls." she made sure to stress on that adjective that Gift had described Affiong with. "Especially with your present condition, you should fear you'll be like a whale." Uyai finished with a smirk.

Affiong froze, her hands went back to her stomach. She felt choked up with emotions that she had forcefully locked within to hide her pain, her frustration and regret. Now it returned with force almost knocking her off her breath. Her eyes welled up with tears she couldn't dare control, and slowly they fell to her cheeks in tiny beads until they flowed like streams staining her white nightgown making it transparent.

Uyai cursed herself at her carelessness. Seeing her sister finally succumb to the pain she suspected she held for long, due to her unfiltered words drove her with guilt.

"I'm sorry." Uyai stammered an apology. "That was uncalled for."

"They must hate me." Her voice broke "Mother and father must hate me so much."

"No they don't. They're just disappointed. They'll get over it. They understand that people make mistakes all the time." Uyai consoled

"Father drove me out. Don't you think he has disowned me?" Affiong whipped her head to Uyai and her eyes searched hers with something akin to fear.

"No. Father would never do that. You carry his first and only grandchild, he would never disown you. It was just a spur of the moment he did that. Father would never do that." Uyai spoke with conviction. She knew father well enough to know that his anger doesn't last.

"Do you really think they'll forgive me?" she whispered.

"I believe they will."

"I was so stupid." she whimpered, her eyes drawn to her palms where Effiong had written his number. The figures had faded after she had her bath. But she had memorised it and she didn't know why.

Yeah you were, Uyai thought, but was careful not to voice it.

She sank deeper into the warmth of the blanket. Her eyes were beginning to feel drowsy. It was night time already, birds squeaked in agreement convincing her to embrace the sleep that was rapidly creeping in.

Uyai closed her eyes lids and sighed deeply welcoming the sleep that called her.

"Uyai." Sister whispered softly.

Affiong kept silent, her eyes still clamped shut. She just wanted to sleep.

Uyai heard and felt the movement of the blanket. Affiong had delved under it.

Purposefully Uyai turned her back to her, pretending to have already fallen asleep.

"Uyai are you asleep?"

Yes I am. can't you tell? Uyai almost groaned in annoyance. The temptation of sleep was so overwhelming it was hard to resist. Uyai still kept quiet, steadying her breathing as that of an asleep person.

"I'm sorry." Affiong mumbled.

Uyai heard it and froze.

Affiong continued softly "I'm sorry about how I treated you in the past. I failed to do my job as a big sister and am sorry. I guess I was too proud especially with all the attention mother had gifted me. I really regret it and I sincerely hope we can start over." she concluded.

Uyai released the breath she had unconsciously held." I hope so too." she whispered after a while.

***

Uyai dreamed of an earthquake. It shook the house and screamed loudly in her ear, a screeching sound that...wait! That was not right. A voice was belting out her name. Could an earthquake do that?

Uyia's eyes snapped open to a vision of Gift jumping wildly on their bed.

"Aunty Uyai! Aunty Uyai! Wake up!" she continued screeching. Uyai eyes rounded as the little girl jumped up and down. She whipped her head to the side, Affiong was still sleeping. Couldn't she hear the commotion taking place on their bed?

"Am hungry." the little girl announced in a whine.

Still with round eyes, she threw aside the blanket. "Am up." she told the girl "Wait. How did you get in?" Uyai asked her with a friend.

"I opened the door and got in." the girl said slowly to Uyai as if talking to a new born.

"I know that but how?"

"Duh! It was opened." she rolled her eyes.

"Oh." was Uyai's only reply.

"Affiong!" she tapped her sister lightly who still was in dreamland and when she refused to wake up, she shook her roughly until she woke with a grump.

"What?" her sleep induced voice said

"It morning already. We have to do house chores."

"Morning? What does that have to do with house chores?" Affiong frowned wiping her eyes with her fist trying to rid herself of the sleepy eyes.

Uyai shot her a look that immediately shut her up. Come back to your senses, this is not home. It screamed

Affiong gulped "Am up." she squeaked, sitting up abruptly.

"Good. Let's go to the kitchen." Gift said and plopped down beside Uyai grinning widely. Her eyes shone with excitement and Uyai wondered why. What was this little girl up to?

Uyai smiled back unsurely.

"Looks like you've got yourself a friend." Affiong grinned.

Uyai took Gift's hand "Show me your kitchen."

"Okay." Together they got out of the bed

"Affiong are you coming?" Uyai asked her sister.

"Just a minute. Let me dress the bed." she said, tucking the bed sheets neatly underneath the mattress.

Uyai nodded, Gift bounced lightly on her feet, her pigtails bounced along .

"Done." Affiong sighed.

Uyai allowed Gift to pull her towards the door.

"Err... Uyai don't you think we should have our bath first. At least wash our face." Affiong suggested.

Uyai halted in her steps. Gift turned to her with a frown.

"let me wash my face first okay?" she looked down at the little girl.

"Okay." she muttered still not leaving her hand.

"wait here for me okay?" she pulled her hand out of Gift's hand who reluctantly released hers.

Uyai and Affiong walked to the bathroom that occupied part of the large room. She waited for Affiong who washed her face with the scented bar soap and water that flowed freely from the tap atop the the sink.

After they had both washed their faces, they went to the room to find their clothes strewn across the floor in an unruly fashion.

Gift sat on floor, still rummaging through their bags. She was still unnoticed to the two standing behind her with eyes wide.

They both watched as she held a dull red blouse up then throw it over her shoulder.

Uyai and Affiong shared a look.

What the hell? It said.

"Gift? What are you doing?" Uyai asked slowly walking timidly to the little girl.

"Aunty Uyai and Aunty Affiong, you have such ugly clothes, it’s unbearable to look at." she said as if she was not rudely going through their clothes.

"You're being rude Gift. It's not right to go through people's clothes without permission." Uyai rebuked her.

"Well, am glad I did. They practically look like rags." she shrugged looking up at Uyai grimacing and shaking her head.

Affiong choked a laugh behind her.

Uyai shot her a glare and swiveled her gaze back to Gift, making sure to narrow her eyes to show her displeasure.

"Well, you should apologize. What you're doing is not right."

"Grandma said we should always dress decently, but this is not even close to decent. It's atrocious and should be reserved for mad people." she motioned to the clothes strewn across the floor.

Affiong mouth were agape as she looked at the little girl who looked not more than eight.

"Who taught her such big words?" Affiong rhetorically asked.

"Goodness! You have such a big mouth on you." Uyai shook her head looking at the little girl who arrogantly looked back without blinking. Uyai felt like they were in a staring match.

"I don't have a big mouth. Grandma and grandpa said am pretty." she scowled heavily, glaring at Uyai.

"You might be pretty, but your words are anything but." Uyai told her with gritted teeth.

"Am hungry." she huffed and stood up. Placing both hands on her hips, she stood akimbo raising a challenging eyebrow at Uyai.

Uyai gasped at her audacity.

"What the..."

"You need to throw those clothes. I'll tell grandma to buy new and appropriate clothes for you. You can't be my friend if you don't dress right. Even my doll dresses better than you." she interjected looking at their clothes with a disgusted expression.

Affiong snickered again.

Uyai wondered if that was the only thing she could do. Didn't she know that her clothes was also among the clothes that should be thrown away?

"I can't throw it. They're my clothes." Uyai retorted with a glare also changing her stance and standing with arms akimbo while she looked at Gift.

"It's a pity then, I had high hopes for you. I really thought we'll be such good friends." she said with a deep and disappointed sigh.

This girl is too mature for my liking.

Uyai couldn't believe what she was about to do next. She couldn't believe she was letting herself succumb to this little girl's wise tactics.

"I am sorry. I'll throw it." when these words left her lips, Uyai silently cursed herself. Was this how desperate she was for a friend she would apologize to a little girl? Unbelievable. Un-freaking unbelievable!

At least she lied about the latter. Throw my clothes? Humph!

"Err...?" Affiong couldn't believe her ears. She looked to her younger sister and then to the little girl who stood grinning triumphantly.

"Wonderful." the girl clapped.