FLAMING HEART

ELEVEN - OUR FLOWERS

"I did the job so I chose who I wanted. I chose you." — Francis. 

★ ★ ★

"I was trying to cut the flowers."

"Cut?"

"Yes. With this." She showed him the shears.

"Oh! Was that what you were doing? I thought you were fiddling with the leaves. That's not how to use a shear." Francis took it from her.

"I don't know how to use it." She replied, feeling like a fool.

"Don't worry, I'll teach you. I used to shear the flowers in my father's house when our gardener passed away. Anyway, before then, let me see the injury on your hand."

Obioma watched in shock as he took her hand into his. The bodily contact warmed her up and she felt dizzy. Blood trickled down her thumb and to her surprise, Francis caressed the hurt finger and brought the finger to his mouth. She gasped as he sucked the blood and spat down the content. Her cheeks flushed; she looked down so he wouldn't see the effect of what he was doing.

"It has stopped bleeding. Why did Uloma ask you to do this job when you don't know how to?"

"She told Evelyn to help me but Evelyn - "

"Evelyn would always be Evelyn. Lazy as always. Anyway, give me the shear. I'll trim this flowers with the letters of your name." Francis said as he rolled the sleeve of his shirt; exposing green veins and muscles on his arms. He stooped; bringing the scissor-like tool to the overgrown flower. Obioma stooped then; watching him with utmost concentration curve the flower into a perfect 'O'. Her eyes widened with surprise at this.

"Wow! This is so fine!" She exclaimed.

Francis smiled at her and then moved to the next flower. "You think so?"

"Yes. I didn't know flowers could be cut this way."

"Now you know they can be trimmed this way." Francis threw her a glance and grinned.

His smile was so contagious. Obioma stared at fingers.

"So we're done with the 'B'. I wish I could do 'y', but damn! I'm tired."

"I understand." She nodded.

"So how is it?"

"It's very fine, Francis!" She complimented and Francis threw one of his contagious smiles at her again. His strong masculine cologne filled Obioma's nostril. He was so close to her that she could see the little birthmark by the side of his light skinned neck. This time around, she smiled back at him and for a minute, it felt like they were entangled in their own world.

A thought came to her that moment, bringing her back to reality.

"Uloma will be angry about the flowers. You cut them my name."

"Of course not. Why would she?"

"She's the owner of this house. If the flowers have to be cut someone's name, it should be hers."

Francis sighed and stared at her. "Well! If she employed a gardener, then should the flowers be trimmed her name. But I did the job so I chose who I wanted. I chose you."

Obioma's heart fluttered at this. She couldn't understand herself anymore. She

tried concealing the smile forming at the corner of her lips but failed woefully when Francis smiled at her. She broke into a grin.

"You have a very beautiful smile, OB!" Francis commented.

"Thank you!" She smiled shyly at him.

Just then, the small gate opened and Uju walked in. She was laughing with someone on the phone but came to a halt when she sighted them stooping. She hung up immediately as she took gentle steps towards them.

Obioma got up sharply and so did Francis as they waited for her to get to them.

"Hi sweet!" Francis wrapped her in his arms and peppered her with tiny kisses on her lips. She began giggling.

Obioma on the other hand stood by the side like a maid awaiting orders. She felt her heart shake violently.

"Welcome, Uju!" She forced out a greeting but Uju ignored her.

"What were you doing outside, baby?" She asked as her eyes went to the flowers which were boldly shaped 'OB'. Her eyes widened as she stared at the flowers with contempt.

"I was just teaching Obioma how to use a shear." Francis replied.

"Oh! You didn't have to do that. Evelyn was asked to do that."

"It wasn't a bother. I wanted to do it! Anyway, I missed you, babe." Francis drew Uju closer and she giggled once more - the sound reminding Obioma of the stupid radio they had back at home which gave a screeching sound each time it was switched on.

Francis wet Uju's lips with more kisses and Obioma cringed; casting her gaze to the wall instead.

"I'm taking you out." He announced and just like he finally remembered Obioma, he turned to look at her.

"Do you want to come along?"

Uju's face screwed up as she stared at Obioma; there was no hiding her disgust.

Obioma on the other hand felt like digging her fingers into Francis's eyeballs. How dare he ask her such question after placing his lips on another woman's lips in front of her?

"Thank you, Francis for the offer but I'm going to Sharon's shop. I can't come." She said instead; politely declining.

"Oh okay!" He replied with a look that lasted for a second before smiling and accompanying Uju to his car.

Obioma couldn't decipher if the look on his face was that of disappointment or anger - or was it she hallucinating? She couldn't tell.

She shrugged it off as she walked quickly to the gate to open it. As they zoomed off, her face fell. She felt her heart shatter into thousand pieces. She had been carried away just as before, thinking Francis was hers until Uju made her presence known; marking her territory. What was she expecting anyway? She laughed bitterly. She was just a village girl and someone like Francis would never look her way.

She picked up the shears and stared at the flowers that were beautifully shaped into an 'O' and a 'B'. At least he chose her name, She thought. She smiled at this, suddenly feeling hope emerge from the bottom of her tummy where it laid dead some minutes ago. She stooped; placing a kiss on the flowers; Francis's words echoing in her ear: I chose you!

Yes. He chose her and not Uju or anyone else.

 ★ ★ ★

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