Chapter 6: Chapter 6

"I want to marry Affiong." he repeated.

Uyai was at loss for words. All she could do was open her mouth and close it again. Perhaps she looked like a fish struggling for air, all she knew was that she was thrown off her saddle. Shock was an understatement. He actually didn't stutter. What the hell? He didn't stutter.

"W-what....Y-You...I-I" at this point she was a stuttering mess, frustrated she gave a tired sigh. Now she just stood there like a fool while the latter just nodded impishly.

Effiong walked up to her and took hold of her hand, his grip was firm and when he spoke, it held conviction. "I love Affiong. I want to marry her."

She couldn't help but look at him startled. She blinked once, twice, she couldn't count. Then suddenly as if recovering from a stupor, she forcefully redrew her hand from his. She needed to do something to put him on edge. His sudden boldness was unsettling . She needed to say something. Sadly, the only question her mind could come up with was lame. Too lame for her liking. Well...

"On what basis do you love my sister?"

"Everything, I love everything about her." Uyai was beginning to get annoyed and curious too. What happened to the stammering fellow? Why did his speech suddenly become fluent. No nervous cracks or titter. Sue her, she preferred him when he stuttered, it gave her a little bit of power. Uyai frowned.

"Now excuse me, can you please tell me five things you love about Affiong?" she asked for the sake of it. Again another lame question, probably worse than the former. However she was a tiny bit curious.

"I love her smile, her eyes, her lips, her nose, and her hair." he finished with a wistful look.

Uyai cocked her head to the side and looked at him. She looked at him like someone that was mentally deranged. She couldn't help but mentally roll her eyes. He was the lamest person she had ever met. How tacky was that line? She wanted to throw up.

She definitely wasn't going to go easy on him.

"What about her eyes, nose, lips and hair is so captivating?" she urged wryly to humor him.

"Easy. The way her eyes light up when she smiles, how she wrinkles her nose in a frown, how her lips crinkle at the corner when she's wistful, how her hair glows in the moon making it look like a black gem....I can go on, and on."

Uyai winced. Okay, that was definitely too cheesy and too romance novel-like for her.

Uyai felt tempted to cover her ears. She gave him credit though. If Edem was a sweet talker, then Effiong was definitely sweeter, he didn't even need to mention her amazing dance skills, this one might not even need a plant for that matter, all he needed was these words and Uyai was sure Affiong would fall for it. Wow! Double wow! Uyai needed to stop underrating these village men. They got more honey in their tongues than she ever expected. Indeed any woman hearing those words might blush and tremble, that is if they've not read romance novels and if they were still sane like her. Uyai suspected her expression must have shown her disgust 'cause he suddenly had on a skeptical look. She only had to snap out of it and regain her composure because she was not done with him.

No, not at all.

Uyai knew she had to step up her game and make him sweat.

Uyai coughed. "What makes you think Affiong would accept your hand in marriage hmm?" She raised a daring eyebrow.

Now it was his turn to look unsure, so of course the stutters came back in full force. She almost sighed in relief.

Thank God it's back.

"I-I j-just have to convince her."

"Pray tell me, how do you hope to achieve that?" Uyai was on a roll.

"I-I..."

"Wait! Before you answer that, I just want to let you know that Affiong wants to marry the largest yam harvester. So how many yams have you harvested and how big were there?" Now Uyai just aced the stakes. She was curious as well to hear his reply.

"Ah. That! At least twelve dozens. And size? Err...about this size." He widened his arms to illustrate the extent of yam size.

Uyai gaped like a fish.

"Really? I thought your father is the village firewood supplier? How is that possible that you, you..." she was so amazed she couldn't complete her sentence.

"Oh That! I have to thank my Grandfather for that. He had a large farm, so after his death I inherited it. Mind you, I have workers who work for me, while I do the export to the city." He spoke confidently like a man who knows his stuffs.

Now she felt pity for Edem. He had an unknown rival who could give him a run for his herbs. She felt impressed by Effiong, he kept on surprising her that she felt like giving up. But she had to hold on, this was her sister they were talking about, with two potent admirers at her beck and call. The competition just got a little bit challenging.

The winner gets the girl.

Oh Affiong you're sure in for a long ride.

"So, I hope you know you've got a problem at hand." she told him referring to his love rival.

"I do?" Uyai looked at him. Had he forgotten so soon? Was this not the same fellow who a few minutes ago was sneakingly wiping his tears at the sight of Affiong and Edem?

"You don't?" she asked the perplexed man and watched as realisation hits him finally turning his face into a scowl.

"Hmm..." was his only reply.

"Err...is that all you're going to say?" Uyai looked at him closely; he looked like a picture of a composed man if you don't see the scowl marring his features.

"I'll work hard for her." he said determinedly.

Look at that, a hard worker. Uyai almost laughed, but held it in.

A hard worker indeed. "How do you intend to accomplish that?"

"I'll have to convince her that my love for her is bigger than the ocean." he opened his arms wide for emphasis.

Uyai looked at him with wide eyes. Was this guy for real? "Mbok sorry oo, I am sure you're not the only one whose love for my sister is bigger than the ocean."

"Ehh?" he asked with a stupefied look.

"Remember him?" she flicked her head to the side in the direction the two were. Fortunately they were out of hearing range, so they were spared of Affiong's girlish giggles. Thank God for that.

"Unfortunately." he frowned.

"Indeed, it's unfortunate." Uyai mournfully said. "But. I can help you." she paused for effect.

"Really! You can?" his eyes lit up.

"Of course, but you need to help me for me to help you." she added.

"Anything." he said desperately, and Uyai was pleased with his reaction.

"Good answer. What I want is very simple." she paused for a brief moment.

"Yes?" Wasn't he scared of her request? Uyai carefully perused the young man, he looked like he was willing to give her anything, and she wasn't even Affiong.

"Since your father is the village firewood supplier, I'll like ten logs of firewood everyday, brought directly to my house, by your workers of course." she finished and looked to see his reaction, and was non too surprised when he smiled and said.

"Done."

"Perfect." she clapped her hands satisfied that her negotiation was approved without so much as an objection. No more stress of walking a long mile just to fetch firewood when she can have it being transported directly to her doorstep.

It's really good doing business with you Effiong.

"So how do you intend to help me win her?"

"That is not a problem. The problem here is getting rid of the other party, which I am going to help you with."

"Okay. Now how do we achieve that?" he asked again unconvinced.

"Yes! How do we? Very easy, you just have to practice more on your lines." she clapped grinning widely.

"My lines?" The young man asked perplexed.

"Yes. Your lines." she nodded slowly. "You know the ones you just told me. Affiong? Eyes, lips, nose, remember?"

"What about her eyes, lips and nose?" he asked confused.

Uyai sighed deeply.

"I can't believe I am doing this." she muttered under her breath. "...her eyes lights up when she smiles, how her nose wrinkles when she frowns...do I really need to go on?"

"Ah. No need." he waved embarrassed.

"Is it one of those city books you get those words from? They are sweet and ridiculously cheesy."

"H-Ha Ha, no oo. T-those are from me. It's just how I feel about Affiong."

"Really? You didn't get that from a book? Are you certain? Because am quite sure I've read that somewhere, from Eno's collection of books." Eno was her classmate in secondary school who was always kind enough to share her books, their love for books the only thing they had in common. It made Uyai see how life in the city was from different points of view, it also made her wish that one day she would experience that city life. Now Eno had gone to the city to further her studies. She had heard from rumors that she was attending the University of Calabar and her big shot brother in the city was her sponsor, and Uyai longed for that opportunity, but unfortunately she had no relative in the city. "If I could remember clearly, the title of the book is Endless Love." she said raising an eyebrow.

His eyes widened. Oh oh seems he had been caught. Uyai smirked, and he gulped loudly.

"Don't fret, it is good that you read books, at least you've learnt a thing or two on how to woo a young woman successfully. It really doesn't matter whether you read it from a book. But. I'm curious, is that really what you think of Affiong's eyes, nose and lips?" Uyai pursed her lips and looked up at him, waiting for an answer.

"Y-Yes." he nodded vehemently.

"Hmm, that's good." She nodded solemnly. "Tell you what, I would create an opportunity for you to meet Affiong, but the thing is, we can't just eliminate Edem right now..."

"Edem?" he interrupted narrowing his eyes.

"Yes, what about him?"

"Who is he?"

"Are you serious right now? How can you not know the name of your rival?"

"Oh!" he said as realization hits him.

Uyai only rolled her eyes.

"As I was saying, we can't just eliminate Edem right now, you both will be given a fair chance, so you my dear have to work on your charm." she shrugged casually. “Well, since you have me helping you, things might go smoothly for you."

***

Uyai had just awoken from sleep, when she heard the familiar chiming of her father's radio, she could hear the squeaky sound as he hits it continuously. Uyai frowned and held her head as it started to ache. The stupid radio kept going on and off and she was sure it drove her father insane. Uyai sighed in relief when the she finally heard a man's voice speaking from the radio, glad that the hitting had stopped. She yawned as she strolled to the kitchen, but not before she heard her father say

"About time."

She didn't bother trying to understand what he meant, maybe he was referring to the radio which was now functioning as desired. As she got to the kitchen, she started to pack the leftover firewood to make a fire so she can prepare breakfast. That was when she remembered the deal she had made with Effiong. She frowned at the thought of having to walk miles just to fetch firewood, especially now that she was about to use the last of them.

Effiong better go through with that deal oo

After lighting the firewood, she filled it with charcoal and dried leaves to feed the flame. She placed the pot of water on the makeshift tripod stand." Ewoh! I've not fetched water" she said frantic as she remembered her first task of the day, water first before breakfast. What was she thinking? She must have been so hungry that breakfast was first in mind.

She adjusted her skirt, carried two water pots and balanced them on each side of her hip and flew out of the kitchen like it was on fire. She knew she had to leave before mother discovered that there was no water. As she drew nearer to where father sat chewing a stick and whistling to the beats of the radio. She suddenly skidded to a halt as she remembered that she didn't put out the fire.

She was screwed.

She had no choice but to run back to the kitchen. Luckily for her, she got there in time. The water had just begun to sizzle. She hurriedly poured a little water on the flame that quenched it in seconds. As soon as it did she picked up her water pots and ran heading towards the direction of the stream, where she met father again.

"Good day papa." she greeted hurriedly not waiting for his reply and walked pass him.

"Where's your mother?" he stopped her

"I am not sure..." she glanced frantically about, shifting from feet to feet, showing her impatient.

Her father looked at her closely as if scrutinising a sick goat.

"Are you well?" he asked noticing his daughter's discomfort.

"Yes. Yes Papa I am well."

"Hmm, if you say so. Go call me your mother." he waved "I have good news."

"I don't know where she is, Papa let me go fetch water so I can make breakfast." Uyai pleaded alerting him of her distress. His confused eyes showed clearly he didn't notice the two water pots she held.

"Oh! Do go on. I'll fetch her myself." and that was her cue.

As Uyai got to the stream, what she saw disturbed her greatly. To be sure, she went in for a closer look, her slippers had dug into the muddy soil that retained water that came from the stream. It was with difficulty she was able to walk, so of course her steps was unsteady. As she neared her subject of fascination, she shrunk back in surprise when she saw someone who looked at lot like Affiong. She didn't want to believe it was sister because sister rarely went to the stream to fetch water, nevertheless waking up this early just to fetch water. No. Clearly she wasn't seeing well, her eyes were surely deceiving her.

It couldn't be Affiong with a water pot in front of her while giggling in the arms of a man.

But it was.

She couldn't ignore her voice and stature. She went closer to view the face of the man who was clearly romancing her sister in public, having no shame at all even as she saw other maidens silently pointing and hiding their giggles behind their hands.

Uyai was furious as well as embarrassed, and she wasn't even the one in the arms of a man giggling recklessly and pretending to fend off his romantic assault. She almost gagged at the sight.

When she finally saw the face of the man. Her eyes widened and she didn't know whether to be surprised or amazed. Still she couldn't deny the fact that he was a fast worker.

"Ehg, ehg..." she coughed alerting the two of her presence. When she got no response, she coughed again, this time louder.

She watched as that both turned slowly albeit reluctantly to face the interrupter. She smirked when their eyes widened in recognition.

Uyai raised an eyebrow with feigned innocence and said. "Morning sister. You're here early. Are you also here to fetch water?" she purposefully ignored Edem, the latter looking so guilty she had the mind to hit him with her water pot.

"Y-Yes of course. Why else would I be here?" she shrugged casually while unconsciously biting her lower lip, a habit she possessed when nervous.

"So is he also here to fetch water?" she flicked her head In Edem's direction, and watched from the angle of her eye as he quickly averted his gaze to the ground.

Not so confident now are we?

"Oh! Yes. He is also here to fetch water, I was just helping him since he's a man, you know? You know it's the women who do the fetching." she said, nervously glancing about

"Really?" Uyai raised an eyebrow "where is his water pot then?"

"His water pot?" she asked looking confused for a second. "Ah! It's right here..." she said finally scattering her eyes about trying to locate the said water pot. Uyai just looked on with a blank expression. This whole drama was surely getting interesting. After looking for the said water pot, she finally carried the one that was beside her and hurriedly shoved it to Edem's hand. The confused young man just blindly received it. "There. That's his." Affiong smiled satisfied that she had managed to deceive her little sister.

But she was wrong.

Uyai was not that stupid. "Then, where is yours?" Affiong's smile wiped off, and she schooled her face in a frown. Uyai heard a choking sound and internally grinned.

Let me see how she will get out of this one.