RESILIENT HEARTS

CHAPTER TWO

Some minutes later I heard a knock on the door and I knew it was her and quietly stood up and opened the door and she came in.

She had a tray of food in her hands and also a takeout from Fast Chop Eatery.

Celine is dark skinned and tall, I’m slightly taller, and she has the curvaceous physique people often refer to as ‘Figure 8’. “Girl, you don’t look good at all” she said placing the items she had gotten me on the bed side stool before sitting on the bed close to me.

“I don’t know why all these are just happening to me one after the other, first was Desmond and now my job”. I complained very bitterly.

“ See, Desmond is a different case, you can’t place your job and Desmond in a sentence. I know we can figure it out but first you need to wash up and eat” Celine said.

“ I’m sure mummy sent you on this mission” I accused.

“well as you can clearly see, I already got food on my way before I got here and mummy was complaining that you won’t eat anything, so I decided to bring it in as well, so go into the bathroom, wash up and have your lunch” she stated

“ but I don’t have the appetite” I pouted like a spoilt child stubbornly.

She drew me up from the bed and pushed me into the bathroom.

Well Celine was more like an elder sister than a friend and I was very happy to have her.

I was out in a few minutes, applied my lotion and other skincare products then I just wore my towel and sat down on the bed.

“ You look much better my girl, now eat, mummy made coconut rice and I got you yam and egg sauce, so you have a variety to choose from”. she opened the plates and takeouts for me.

"Thanks Cel"

"It's nothing, Jas, now eat up before the food goes cold".

I started with the coconut rice and before I realized I was done eating and was eating the other one.

“I thought you said you didn’t have the appetite” Celine queried laughing.

“I’m surprised as well”. I replied with my mouth full.

“But Cel, what do you think I should do now?” I asked peering into her eyes.

“That’s part of the reason I’m here, but first do you have any plans?” she asked.

“I can’t even think of anything now other than going with Mum to her fashion store, cause I can’t just sit at home like that from day to day”

I told her plainly “No, that’s far from the plan, you know what, let’s not think of anything else than just wait till tomorrow, there’s this colleague of mine at work, she’s invited me to her house party, maybe something might come from it” Celine told me.

“ Which colleague of yours?, And what is the party about?” I asked curiously.

“Her name is Thelma, and the family is holding a welcome party for her brother who has been Abroad for thirteen years, don’t worry they are influential, when we get there you’ll see for yourself” Celine assured me.

“Thanks Cel, I don’t know what I would have done without you” I said hugging her.

“ I too Jas, you’ve always been by my side every time I needed you, you deserve everything good, and that’s why I want to take you somewhere nice” she said to me smiling.

“ Really?, Like now?” I asked her excitedly.

“Of course, sweetheart, so dress up quickly let’s hit the road” she said and I jumped out of the bed.

I opened my wardrobe and got out a pink crop top and a black baggy denim jeans.

“Is this okay for the outing?” I asked her showing them off.

“Very much, you look good on everything” she said.

I quickly changed into them, restyled my braids, applied a little makeup and cologne.

Then I took out a pair of black slides and my pink side bag.

“Ready!!”I said

“ Looking pretty as always, Girl, you’re too pretty, that’s the reason Mr. Wilson couldn’t take his eyes off you” Celine joked.

“Is that even supposed to be a joke, that old man” I frowned in a playful way and she laughed

“I’m sorry baby, let’s get going before it's late” she said and we headed out.

★★★★★★★★★★★

We had just left the aquarium, I don’t know how Celine gets to find out about new tourist centers in town when she’s always busy at work, well the thing is she’s the active social and outing type, there’s no party without Celine.

I really enjoyed the view there, and the treat was superb.

We had chips and smoothie after taking a tour round that aquarium, we saw different aquatic creatures but those I never knew were in existence.

Now we’re driving back home in her red SUV, I don’t know which home actually.

“Hope you enjoyed yourself Jas?” she asked

“I sure did, thanks to you, Cel” I said all smiles.

“You deserve it and more baby, you know say I love you die, if I be man, I for don marry you since” Celine replied in pidgin and I laughed hard.

“Babes, is there a problem?” she asked again after some moment of silence, Celine was quick to detect my mood swings, that’s how sweet she is.

“You remember that house I told you about I was trying to rent out?” I asked her sadly.

“Yes, the one from this LING Real Estate Company, please don’t tell me you’ve paid” she said.

“Well, the problem is that I can’t even pay anymore and they’ve cancelled everything since I couldn’t meet up with the deadline, I was supposed to pay up last week after salary dropped but mine was seized so I couldn't pay” I complained.

“It’s fine dear, everything happens for a reason and this one happened in my favor” she said smiling.

Ever since her immediate elder sister, Claret, got married and left town, Celine has been begging me to move in with her, she was really sad when I told her about my plans of getting an apartment.

But I guess I have no more options left here than to move in with her.

She stays at an Estate not too far from my former workplace.

“Celine you’re unbelievable” I couldn't help but laughed.

“So Jas, what’s your say, I really need you to move in ASAP, that house is quite big for me to stay alone” Celine begged.

“Fine girl, I’ll move in with you” I said and Celine giggled.

“Thanks babe, you’re moving in tomorrow but you’ll sleepover tonight” Celine said and we continued our journey home.

So a little to know about me. I’m Jasmine Oluchukwu Festus and I’ll be 24 in few months.

I’m a graduate of Marketing and Finance, I’m one of those who graduated at a young age, I graduated at 20 and got a job immediately after my youth service.

So I’m the last of just two of my parents, Nicholas is my elder brother, he’s five years older than myself and he’s a Certified Pharmacist, he recently got married to his heart rob Maureen, and he’s working on launching his own brand.

We’re not too poor or rich a family, we’re just average.

My dad is a trader, he deals on electronics and home appliances but his health has been failing recently, he’s been diagnosed with a Heart disease and he’s on medications so he no longer goes to his store, whereas my Mum is a fashion designer.

She owns a designer’s store.

That’s all to know about my family.

Soon we got to Celine’s place and we headed inside.

She took me to one of the spare rooms in her house cause it’s a three bedroom flat.

The room is close to hers. It’s just as though she knew this day would come, she already arranged the room and set a few things up

“Cel, you’re too sweet” I embraced her.

“You too are a sweetheart, you deserve everything good, you know I’ll do more if it were in my power” she was all smiles.

“Thanks girl, you’re the best” I said.

“So, tomorrow you’ll just need to get your personal stuff, you already have everything here. But for now, just take your bath, toiletries and unused underwear are at the bathroom, and there are a few dresses and night dresses in the wardrobe and then come down to the sitting room, okay?” she said and I nodded positively.

When she left I got into the bathroom, filled the bathtub with warm water and added a little lavender scented shower gel and soaked myself In it.

That was what I needed.

A long warm bath.

After a few minutes I scrubbed my body with a soft pink bath brush, washed the soap lather off my body then I got into the Jacuzzi for the final washing after which I got out.

I wiped my body dry with the clean white towel, and checked the drawers for underwear then I went back into the room.

Applied deodorants and body lotion, wiped my face with a make up remover and applied face oil.

I was in shock when I opened the wardrobe.

Cel said there were a few dresses whereas the wardrobe is filled with clothes.

I just chose a pink chiffon night gown and the coat, covered my hair with the matching bonnet and headed for the sitting room.