Chapter 28: Chapter 28

He had indeed returned from his long awaited trip which was a youth corp programme programmed for able youths to serve the country in another state far away from home probably in an unknown community where one would never wish to venture into to carter for the specific needs of the people. However some had been known to enjoy the various escapades that camp had offered, while some were terribly immune to the excitement that came with it thus ended up falling ill. And some had even gone to the extent of seeking redeployment cause apparently the condition was not too favourable to their physique and taste hence they'd claimed to harness a medical report sheet however fake to exempt them from partaking in the feverish activities. Having examined Peter, it was safe to say the condition was fair to him. Apart from the apparent muscle mass which was hinted in his too tight T-shirt, he appeared fit as well as healthy. The pictures she had seen of him, did him no justice; to say he more handsome was indeed an understatement and apparently he knew it judging from the flirting winks he had spared the girls.

Uyai couldn't help but shoot him another pensive look, fleetingly Of course but before she could turn, he returned it with another of his infamous wink.

Uyai smirked slightly.

He really was good looking.

As they approached the doorman who had maintained his position by the door for a long while now pulled the door open immediately he saw them, and then bowed so low his head almost touched his knees.

"Go come." He said enthusiastically in greeting. It was an indirect way of saying welcome and please do come again. He must really love his job, Uyai thought, because his action seemed a bit exaggerated.

They responded by slightly inclining their head just as the man righted himself only to resume his stoic position by the door as if being controlled by a remote.

Uyai slightly shook her head.

Uyai was still aware that the two young men followed closely behind them; one ogling their backside while the other frowned in a pensive manner. Uyai's step faltered a bit as the after effects of the alcohol consumption still left a haze making her eyes a little unfocused, not inhibiting her movements though, it was enough to make her walk in an almost straight line or so she thought.

It seemed like eternity but finally they had reached the parking lot where Mrs. Chance Cream coloured beautiful Benz car was parked facing the restaurant. To Uyai's amusement, a girl and a guy stood by it taking turns to take pictures, the girl with a huge grin, the guy wore a broody look while the other third party stood a few feet away from them clicking away.

You would think they owned it judging from the way they caressed the car as if they were about taking it for a ride.

Immediately the three became aware of their presence which was the beeping sound of the unlocking car, the boy and girl jerked in alarm as if being electrocuted, immediately redrawing themselves from the car frame, they shrunk back looking away guiltily.

Mrs. Chance ignored them and Uyai watched as the skidded frantically away.

"So Peter we'll see" Uyai turned to see Catherine who had just exchanged numbers with Peter. She had on a silly grin as if she'd just won the lottery.

"Effiong it was nice meeting you." It was Isabelle who spoke. Uyai had even forgotten he was in their midst. So when he looked at her, he smiled. Uyai thought it was a sad one. It reminded her of the time Effiong thought he'd lost Affiong to Edem and she wondered why that same expression was now carved on his face.

Meanwhile Isabelle had seen Catherine exchange phone numbers with peter, and was inclined to do the same, only with Effiong, in fact both of them if possible. So expectantly she looked up at him waiting for him ask for her number, knowing she'll give it to him in a heartbeat. The little smile she had donned on eagerly waiting for him was beginning to slip a little when he made no such move. Annoyance prickled her skin, and her lids began to twitch slightly. He was damn slow and needed to take a hint because she was starting to look

stupid gazing up at him with round eyes that were beginning to dance in annoyance and smile which her facial muscles couldn't help but turn into a grimace.

He still didn't take a hint instead looked at her as if asking 'Can I help you with something?'

If Isabelle didn't feel embarrassed then then she was bloody well fooling herself.

"Thanks for the escort." Mrs. Chance acknowledged them with a curt nod.

"No problem."

"You're welcome"

They said at once.

"See you around!" Catherine waved but everyone knew her greeting was reserved for Peter because her eyes sought him with a little twinkle. Of course he returned it with a cheeky grin and a wink.

They got into the vehicle and just before Mrs. Chance pulled off the driveway, Uyai waved at Effiong who startled had happily returned it.

"So do you know her?" Peter asked Effiong with his hands tucked into the pocket of his pants as they watched the car speed off.

"Who?" Effiong turned to him.

"The girl who just waved at you. Uyai I think." He wrinkled his brows waiting for confirmation.

"Oh! Yes I do." Effiong simply said and immediately began to walk away. He didn't want to indulge him further. His friend sounded way too interested for his liking and Effiong suspected he had a dozen question to probe him with and he wasn't sure he'll be willing to answer any of them. So quickly he had to end that conversation.

"Come on. I'll drop you off." Effiong continued motioning for Peter to follow him to where his black Toyota Camry was parked. It was a second hand he had purchased from a business partner, however it was fairly used, so it still maintained the tear rubber ambience.

"I wish I got her number." Peter muttered regretfully and immediately Effiong tensed. His jaws had clamped together in reflex just as his teeth began a grinding motion. It was with difficulty he had not slammed his car door immediately he got in.

"Get in." He forced out. Both hands had tightened on the wheel as his teeth began a grinding motion.

Get hold of yourself Effiong. What are you doing? And why in the world are you angry?, he mentally scolded himself.

"Are you okay man? You seem tense." Peter casted him a worried stare immediately he got in the passenger seat

"I'm fine." He gritted out without looking at Peter and revved the car engine.

"Okay. So how did you guys meet?" Peter suddenly asked him just as he put the car in reverse.

Effiong knew who he was referring to, but decided to play dumb and asked instead "who?" while keeping his eyes straight on.

"Who else, the Beauty." Peter said and then smirked as if finding something amusing.

"You mean Uyai?" Effiong asked reluctantly meeting his friend's eye.

Peter nodded.

"Were both indigenes of the same community. Her elder sister was my classmate." Effiong decided to tell him.

"Oh! She's pretty. I bet her elder sister would be too." Peter summed up with a little smile.

"I thought so too." Effiong mumbled lowly underneath his breath

"What?" Peter asked apparently having heard him.

"Nothing." he quickly said, mentally cursing himself. He didn't know what came over him. His emotions were in disarray and he blamed Uyai for that. She just had to show up with all that makeup and dressing that made him doubt himself. Why did she have to look so different and so damn beautiful? And why the hell was he beginning to notice the curves he had never noticed before or thought she would never have?

Damn it! His thoughts were all jumbled and Peter's reactions to her did little to suppress his growing jealousy which didn't make sense to him at all. It was Uyai for goodness sake! The Uyai!

"So your timber business, you said you were expanding and you talked to my old man?"

Effiong was thankful for the change of subject. "Yes I did and he said he'll help out."

"I envy you man. I claim to be a graduate but I don't have anything going on for myself, just look at you, you're already a self made millionaire." Peter playfully hit his shoulder. Indeed he was envious and as well happy for his friend for having achieved a lot for his age and the fact that he wasn't even in the University.

"That's stretching it to a bit, but I am flattered. Anyway who said you have nothing going on for you. With your certificate you can work in any oil company and didn't you do an internship at Shell? How did that go?" he pulled his eyes from the road to look at Peter.

A frown had taken over his features when he replied. "have you forgotten that this is Nigeria?" he snorted. "It is who knows who. I applied and wrote an exams even. I passed but you know the system. I had no one to back me up." Peter grimaced. "So right now my certificate doesn't really matter."

"You don't mean that. In fact any company would be happy to have you. They seriously have no idea what they're missing out on." Effiong tried to assuage his friend's mood. Thankfully it worked a little even though his laugh was a bit forced.

"That's right, I rather the Nigerian system knew that however corruption has won it over." Peter shrugged.

"Well your case would be different, second class upper is a big deal especially with the things I've heard about UNICAL. You're practically a genius." Effiong said.

"That's right. Studying at Unical no be beans. Countless night class and lecturers whose mission is to frustrate your life. Guy you're lucky you don't have to experience it. " Peter laughed loudly.

"I wouldn't say I am lucky, At least you can proudly say you're well educated still it doesn't mean I'm doing nothing about it." Effiong told him, bending round a corner to the route that led to Peter's house.

Peter paused. "What do you mean?"

"You know I don't like taking chances especially when it comes to business. The world is taking on a new course. Now being educated is an icing on the cake and I suspect might become a permanent development for business progress so I took an initiative, so yes my friend I take an online course on business management and I'm due to receive a certificate." Effiong calmly said sparing peter a look to see his friend looking at him in shock and something akin to pride.

"Wow Effiong , that's great and I am boasting about my education. I hope you know you've just heightened my jealousy. I can't even compare to you. You're a certified business man-"

"Not yet." Effiong interjected with an amused grin.

"Please don't do that." Peter pretended to be annoyed. "Don't pretend to be so modest. I won't have it."

Effiong laughed. "I'm not trying to." he swerved around a car that almost collided with his. He put the car in gear again and slowly drove to the large compound with two tall Pawpaw trees on either side. Two cars were parked just outside. One a red BMW and the other, a white Toyota truck.

Effiong pulled into the driveway and parked his car a little bit far from the truck. He turned to Peter.

"Thanks man. We'll talk later or would you like to come in? Seems Mumsi (mother) is back."

"Later. Just send in my regards. We'll talk." Peter politely declined his offer.

"No worries. Goodnight." Peter pulled the door open and got out.

As Effiong drove off, he suddenly remembered that Uyai and Affiong lived there.

His teeth gritted. He couldn't help but curse out loudly, slamming his fist on the dashboard

***

After Peter had waved to his friend he walked towards the door and paused, when the door opened startling him for a bit. "It was his mum.

"Was that Effiong?" she asked, rubbing her tired eyes. It looked like she was about retiring for the night.

"Yes." He replied and gently hung his arm around her shoulder moving them both inside.

"Because of that bird you brought, Gift doesn't want to sleep." His mother complained.

"Why is that?" He asked puzzled, letting her direct him to Gift who indeed stood akimbo, a look of annoyance and frustration marred her face as she scowled at the cage he kept Freddy his parrot.

"She has been standing at that spot for hours and trying to get the bird to talk which am also wondering why isn't the bird talking? Could it be sick or something?" His mother asked, her eyebrows furrowed in concern as she awaited his answer.

"Er... This parrot apparently can't talk." he sheepishly told his mother.

"So what was the point in buying a non talking parrot?" She quirked an eyebrow.

"Well I didn't know until after a week when all it did was quack quack like a chicken. I even tried returning, but the seller had laughed and said Parrots don't really talk. So what was I supposed to do?" Peter shrugged looking at his niece who now tapped her feet impatiently.

"Well Gift would be so devastated if she finds out. She thought the Parrot hated her and had even begun cry when she had fed it her only cookie and still hadn't gotten it to say a word."

"Well I suppose I should tell her." He reluctantly said and moved towards her. As if hearing his footsteps, she immediately turned to him and sighed in relief before running to him. Immediately he picked her up and enclosed her in a hug.

"Uncle Peter thank God you're here. I think Freddy is stubborn. He has refused to say a word." she whined while holding on to his neck.

Peter grimaced with understanding. He wanted to tell her that Freddy was not a he, but actually a she. He had just found out but since he had already named it, it kinda stuck, so Freddy it was.

"Maybe he's tired and you should be too. You have to sleep so you would have plenty of time for him." he told her instead, purposefully removing the part that Freddy couldn't talk.

"Okay." she said, her eyes dropped tiredly, the sleep she tried so hard to fight was beginning to creep in and it did so forcefully.

"That's my girl." he praised her.

"That was quick." His mother commented from behind him. "Let me have her." she walked to them and took Gift from him.

"Mummy what did you cook?" he asked her, rubbing his flat stomach.

"I didn't cook. Uyai did." his mother told him absentmindedly. Peter froze at the name.

"Who?" he queried for clarification. Perhaps he hadn't heard her well.

"That's right you're yet to meet the sisters."

"Sisters?" he was confused.

"Yes they just came in from the village. Unfortunately you can't meet them today they're asleep, just go to the kitchen. I think she warmed your food." she tiredly told him already moving towards their room.

"Okay." he refused to give it much thought. "Is dad back? I didn't see his car." he asked her instead.

"Yes he's asleep. His car is at the mechanic. It broke down on his way."

"Oh! Goodnight then."

"Eh goodnight." she yawned and left him.

Without wasting much time, he walked to the kitchen and immediately checked the microwave and surely enough his already warmed stew sat there waiting to be devoured. Now the rice...

The sound of footsteps made him halt and he turned to see someone who he never thought he'll see in his house walking aimlessly around. She hadn't noticed him.

One of her hands covered her eyes as she yawned, while the other groped the counter as if searching for something.

He silently watched her in disbelief and thought he was imagining things. Maybe he was so hungry he had begun to hallucinate.

She finally pulled her hands from her eyes just as her hand found the object she was looking for. A glass cup.

She placed it underneath the tap which was now running and then as if compelled, she looked in his direction.

The first thing Uyai did was to blink. She blinked again to clear her vision but was unsuccessful. It remained stoic and she dared say, real.

On reflex, she made a choking sound.

"Uyai?" he asked unsure.

She wanted to deny but found her head nodding in affirmation.

" I don't understand, sorry I'm a bit perplexed, do you live here?" he quirked an eyebrow as he struggled to understand how and why she was in his parents house and kitchen.

"Yes." She said looking down.

"Oh wow! Who would've thought. This is great and I thought I'd never see you again." in his happiness he had unconsciously announced his interest.

"Eh?" Uyai couldn't respond to that.

He ignored her. "Does Effiong know?" he asked her curiously.

"Effiong? Err yes." she slowly nodded confused, how does Uyai being in his house concern Effiong?

"That sly fox. He didn't even mention it." he muttered to himself.

Uyai felt awkward standing there while he appraised her slowly.

Sisters. Peter remembered his mother had mentioned it. Didn't Effiong say Uyai's sister was his classmate?

He decided to quell his curiosity "Do you perhaps have a sister?"

She nodded.

"And she lives here also?"

Uyai nodded again. Why was he asking about Affiong? Did Effiong tell him anything?

"Interesting." He smirked.

Uyai couldn't tell what he was thinking then, so she quickly switched off the tap, brought the glass cup filled with water to her lips and immediately gulped it down making sure to avoid his unsettling gaze.

Immediately she was done. She quickly muttered a goodnight and walked out of the kitchen.

Peter grinned. The heavens must love him.

Suddenly he froze, and his eyes widened.

What if she was a relative?

The thought put a damper on his mood.