Her Other Half

Chapter Three

After wearing their jodhpurs, the riding instructor, a balded husky black man helped them get onto the horses. They then went on a leisurely hack around the local countryside.

"By the way Odrah," Yve said. She had almost forgotten to tell her the great news. "Alinda will be back for the Easter holiday."

"Really!"

Odrah and Alinda had been close friends before she left. They were in the same stream in ordinary level yet Yve was in another. She was able to meet Yve because of her.

"Will she be back for good."

Yve frowned. If only she was. "No, just for the Easter."

They rode in silence for sometime, taking in the calmness of the place.

Yve felt they should come here more often. The place was glowing green in light of a bright sun giving her a sense of mother nature. The way the trees and bird songs played together in one sensory palette was so melodious. She loved quiet places, they made her focus on her inner being. She pictured herself at the stable, seated under one of tree while drawing or riding just like then. How glorious it would be.

"Let's come back here tomorrow." she said.

"We have netball practice remember." Annabelle said.

She had almost forgotten that her friends played netball. "Oh." was all she said. Maybe she could just come back alone. Or come with Noel......her subconscious suggested and she scoffed at that thought. She didn't want to make him think he had a chance like the last time. Oh goodness, she brushed that memory away.

"Yve you should also sign up for netball. The try outs are ending in May." Annabelle said.

"Nahhh, am still not interested."

"We will be going to Kenya next term."

"You know she has a problem with sports." Odrah rolled her eyes. "There's literally no way she will agree to play netball."

Odrah was right. Yve hated all kinds of sports. She saw them as punishments. She would rather sit in her room and draw until she was out of paper. Sports was boring to her and complicated.

"It's not that l don't want to." she lied. "I just don't want Nandera to control me like you guys."

"Omg, talk about her." Odrah sneered. "I wish she doesn't come for practice."

Nandera was taking history just with Yve. They weren't friends at all, almost living in different worlds. Nandera was one of the popular kids that even a freshman knew about just after spending a week at that school. Every boy in their class drooled over her but she only dated college boys. Odrah and Annabelle always told her about her dictatorial on the netball team. Just because she was the captain. She always decided who to play and chose people, not because of their capability but because of her personal judgments. She moved with her four minions that did everything thing she said.

The following week moved too slow. Or atleast on Yve's side. Her Aunt and cousin were returning the week after and her anticipation was eating her alive. She couldn't wait to be freed from this week.

She felt like she was tied to a chair with many ropes tucking her in place. One rope was freed everyday but her anxiety kept growing and almost overflowing.

She always did the usual on returning home. Take a bath, catch up on some school work and then have dinner and sleep. All she could dream of was her cousin. Those big ebony colored eyes she always envied. Fitting perfectly on her giddy face. She woke up with a smile, counting down the days and crossing them on her calendar.

She had decorated the day of their return with a heart. She danced around in her room on the night leading to it. Jumping even. Her dream was on the verge of occuring. Finally they were coming.

She had the biggest and most joyous smile that morning. Oh how she wanted to pick them up from the airport. But then, she had school. Her stomach churned at the thought of it. For the first time she didn't want to go. But her parents didn't think so. She didn't have much for breakfast. Neither did she for lunch at school. Her cousin's return had already satisfied her.

Things they learnt that day passed through one ear, and exited through the other. She couldn't concentrate with the thoughts going on in her head. She was already coming up with the things she would do with her cousin. The divinity teacher had to ask her twice in the lesson if she was listening to what she was teaching.

If she had wings, she could have flown back home. Wamono as if not knowing she wanted to be home early had arrived late that day. She was pacing around the school gate and had almost decided to take a cab instead by the time he arrived.

"Sorry Yve, I had gone to pick up materials for the company." he said.

"It ok. Atleast your now here."

During the ride, she became nervous all of a sudden. She couldn't keep her cool and Wamono was driving slowly. So slow that she hardly felt the wind brush on her a skin. "Can you please drive a little faster."

"Ok."

She relaxed a little when the car moved a bit faster. That was more like it— She leaned on the seat in an attempt to atleast take a catnap but it didn't work. Her hand was already at the car door as Wamono parked.

She moved as first as she could to the house, yanking the door open. She spotted her aunt in the living room, sitting with her parents that she cared less about right then.

"Aunty!" Her aunt looked her way. It was her, her dear Aunt Sanyu. She hadn't changed one bit. She still wore her usual style of clothing. Long kitenge dresses that pulled against her body. Showcasing her round gorgeous curves.

Her aunt wore a smile as Yve ran and hugged her. Pressing her whole body against her. "I missed you so much auntie. You should have at least visited once a year."

"Am sorry dear. My bad." she patted her back.

Her scent was still the usual one she knew. Delicate, sweet and floral. It had soft smokey notes as well. She remembered those times she would hug them before leaving for school. She always gave the best hugs. They were comforting. And she needed one right then or she would burst into tears just like the cry baby she was. Even though she denied it, she knew she was a cry baby. Simple things made her vulnerable.

"Where is Alinda?" she asked, disengaging gently.

"She's in her old room, settling in."

Yve flung the door open, surprising Alinda who had been unpacking. Oh my gosh— She was much skinner now. And– where the hell were her braids. She now had a head full of brownish silky hair. It wasn't long and it looked great on her light brownish skin.

"Goodness Yve you scared–" she was cut off by Yve wrapping her hands around her.

Yve helped Alinda unpack as she told as she told her about her life in Malawi. She had become friends with a certain boy called Banda. He had found her at her atmost vulnerable state. He was her first friend and her closest friend. He had felt bad when she had told him she wouldn't be around for a week.

After unpacking, they went to the backyard and stood near the flower garden, contemplating whether to dig out the box they buried years back or wait a bit longer. They had planned on digging it out when they were twenty, so they decided to leave it at that.

Dinner that day was more lively. Her aunt was telling them about Malawi. She was super chatty and that was something Alinda got from her. She must have gotten the eyes from her dad— Yve thought. She had never seen Alinda's father just like Alinda. Her parents didn't say anything about him and so did her aunt. All they said was he wasn't worth the trouble.

Her aunt and cousin were leaving in a two bedroom apartment. She had been able to enroll Annabelle in private school that didn't cost alot. Her pay was good too. Better than the one she used to get there.

For dessert they had chocolate pie which they ate while watching a comedy movie in the room they called "the telly room" at their home.

The morning light was sipping through the open windows of the classroom. The sound intensity in the room was relatively low. Comprising of rustles of books and papers with students talking.

Yve was sitting in the last column, her usual seat against the wall. All her focus was in the book she was reading. They were soon doing end of term tests and she didn't want to fail at any considering how her parents would react.

She had performed poorly once back in senior two and they weren't pleased. Could they even be!?.....They made her write fifty reasons as to why she had declined at her performance and also what she was going to do in order improve. They always wanted her to be perfect in every aspect and that always got on her but she had nothing to do about it.

She was their only child and they were grooming her to head the family business. The attention had intensified when her cousin left. She was precisely the center of attention.

Last week had been fun. They had had a feast at their home on Good Friday. Many people had attended. Annabelle and Odrah had also made an appearance. It was a splendid day, actually all the week was splendid. But now, her aunt and cousin had gone back to Malawi.

Odrah and Annabelle spent the night at Yve's. They watched a horror movie while cuddling on the couch in the telly room. After, they tried out a magic trick that obviously didn't work even with several attempts.

They had wanted to lift Alinda with two fingers each. Just like in the movie they had watched. Yve grinned at the memory. How silly of them to believe something from a movie, let alone a magic trick.

They settled for some Scrabble and played two matches. Yve had worn one and Annabelle the other. They drifted into a conversation that lasted until they were tired and had heavy eyes.

"Hi." Yve heard someone say. The unfamiliar voice was of low pitch and soothing to hear.

She was left speechless when she set her eyes on the godly creature before her. Was he like seriously standing next to her or she was seeing things. She gulped and blinked to make sure she was seeing right. His eyes were browns of richest rain soaked earth, yet in this sunrise. They were the black of every story book night. The poetry of the universe told in moments, moments that weave together to form the fabric of lives. They were the comfort for the soul, she could see a glimpse of the eternal, of serene divinity.

He had dreadlocks that reached up to his cheekbones and was lean and tall. The way the white fabric of his shirt was pulled against his body was dazzling. She felt like riping it off. Oh how satisfying it would be, hearing the buttons fall gracefully onto the floor.

His eyes had become a gateway to her soul, his lips the gateway to her body. The softness of their association with the words he spoke. Words that she didn't quite understand since she was in awe, until he spoke again.

"Are you ok."

"Yes." she was snapped back to reality. "What were you saying again?" she asked, trying not to wonder back in his eyes.

"Can l use this seat?" he asked and she nodded without hesitation.

Every part of her wanted to scream and was giddy. Nerves were jumping everywhere and hormones too.

"My name is Gideon." he said holding out his hand.

The smile that plastered on his face was one of happiness growing, much like a flower opening on a calm rainy day. It came from deep inside to light his eyes and spread into every part of him. A person smiles with more than their mouth, and she heard it in his voice, in the choice of his words and the way he relaxed. It was beautiful.