FLAMING HEART

TWENTY-TWO: UNCERTAINTY

"Stop buying her things and I mean it, Francis." — Uju.

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Francis got out of his car; rubbing his neck and groaning loudly. It sure was a very long night and all he ached to do was lie on his bed and doze to sleep. He checked his wrist watch. It was six in the morning. He had spent the night at a club with his friends. He could still hear Collins asking him to stay another hour like he had not spent more than six hours of his time there already. Of course, he didn't regret going - he could never regret spending his Friday nights in a club house. It had always been that way ever since he got his own personal apartment. He loved the liveliness of the club; it relaxed him after a hectic week of work overload, the club was sure the best place to rest - but then, he needed the comfort of his bed so badly.

He stared at his phone - something he had been doing for a long time - hoping for a text or call from Obioma. He had spent the entire week waiting for weekend like a child awaiting his mother's return. Of course he had asked to see her again on a weekend because there was no way he could skip going to work without his father interrogating him - one disadvantage of working under your parents.

He still couldn't understand what he felt for her. It was strange and different from anything he ever felt. It fed on his mind and drained him of his strength. Many a night, his thoughts were clouded with images of her. One thing that had attracted him to her was her innocence and her beauty.

He had spent the night talking to his best friend: Collins about this strange feeling that was overwhelming him. Well, Collins hadn't done anything but remind him that he had a girl he wished to marry. Collins had said it was a distraction but Francis was sure it was something stronger. Of course he had met with other girls - way prettier - but had never felt this way. He found himself wanting to see her each day: to hear her talk or just watch her.

He groaned as his walked to his door, wading off every confusing thought. On getting to his door, he discovered it was unlocked. This was strange for he was sure he had locked his door before leaving for the club. He turned to stare at his two security guards who were talking at the top of their voices; laughing hysterically.

"Jude!" He called out and one of the young men got up immediately; jogging to his side.

"Boss!" He said.

"Is there someone waiting for me inside the house?"

"Oh yes, sir. Your girlfriend: Uju. She came here early."

Francis's heart skipped a bit and he waved his hand to signal the dismissal of his guard. Sighing heavily, he turned the knob of the door and walked in. Uju was sitting with her legs crossed on his couch watching a television show. Her face screwed up immediately she saw him and she turned off the television set; standing up at the process. She folded her arms under her breast and stared at him - an intimidating stare that informed Francis things weren't well. He knew that instance why she was there that early. Sighing once again, he padded to where she stood; dropping his keys on the table and propping on the couch beside her. She was the last person he wished to see. She stared down at him; angry that he had sat down like all was well despite her demeanor.

"Where are you coming from, Francis?" She began.

"I'm surprised you're asking me this, Uju. Why are you here this early?"

"You still haven't answered my question." She shook her head at him

"You know where I go on Friday nights. I'm coming from the club. I went with the guys."

"Indeed! How do I believe you?" She rolled her eyes.

"What are you insinuating?" Francis raised a brow at her.

"I don't know. You've been acting so strange lately. You've been so distant and I don't know why. What is going on with you, Francis?"

"I honestly don't understand you. I have just been stressed. That's all. I really need to rest now, Uju." He smiled at her and got up but she held him back by the wrist.

He turned to look at her; puzzled. "What?"

She looked him in the eye, "I hope you're not cheating on me." She deadpanned.

Due to the unexpected shock, Francis shivered a bit but soon regained his composure as he glared at her; menacingly. "I can see there is something up with you today. I wonder what you ate but I'm not going to sit here and listen to you spit rubbish. Okay?" He turned to go but she held unto his wrist: tighter.

"You really can't cheat on me, Francis. We've come this far. You can't throw what we have into the thin air." Her eyes were getting glossy. "You can't do this to me. Remember your parents."

For a moment, Francis couldn't speak. He stared at her instead and after a while, he held her in his arms; kissing her forehead. She relaxed in his arms and shut her eyes as she listened to his heart thud in his chest. Francis rested his jaw on her head; shutting his eyes and breathing loudly. Worry consumed his entire body as he held her. He hated being in this state.

"I don't want you getting her any more gift." Uju pronounced after a long moment of silence. Francis released her from his embrace immediately and she frowned.

"What do you mean?"

"I don't want you getting Obioma any more gifts. You've done enough for her already. These gifts have to stop. I don't want my house mates harbouring any suspicion."

"You can't stop me from doing what I want to do, Uju. I like helping people, remember?"

"Yes, I remember but when it gets very suspicious, you just have to stop. Come on, you take this girl out and buy her expensive things without informing me."

"I bought Evelyn clothes too." Francis rubbed his chin, tired.

"Yes, but not as much as you did for her. Besides, Evelyn is like a sister to me but who is this girl? She is just a maid, Francis. You shouldn't stoop that low."

"What do you mean by stooping low? You surprise me, Uju, with this enormous pride of yours. Like I said, you can't stop me from doing what makes me happy. I do all I do with a clear conscience. I wonder what problem you have with this." He winced at his own words knowing fully well it was a lie. Yeah, at first he did all he did with a clear conscience, only wanting to help but now, he didn't know. He wanted the girl!

"Okay. If you intend to do this charity of yours, include me. I'm your partner for goodness sake, carry me along. Don't just do things that would make me look foolish in the eyes of my friends. Just as you're doing what you love, don't hurt someone else in the process."

"I need to sleep." Francis dismissed her with a wave of his hand. "I'm done with this topic." He backed away but Uju's loud voice froze him on his track. He turned to look at her in anger.

"What did you just say?"

"I will have to discuss with your parents." She reiterated.

"Are you threatening me?" His voice was laced with anger.

"Didn't say anything of such. Stop buying her things and I mean it, Francis." Uju grabbed her bag from the couch and turned to go.

"You know what Uju? I don't give a two f**k. Do what you want to do." He walked away leaving Uju standing by the door angry, astonished, and hurt. She pushed the door open and slammed it with great force as she left the house.

The sound made Francis flinch as he rested his forehead on the wall; tapping his palms on the wall by his side. He couldn't think straight. All that he could think of was the last words of Collins: You have to get your head straight. You can't afford this.

But then, his heart was saying something completely different from his brain. Why was it so bad to be with someone else? He had never wanted to be in this relationship anyway.

Sighing, he pulled his clothes off and padded to the bathroom; getting into his Jacuzzi and shutting his eyes.