FLAMING HEART

SIX - A HANDSOME STRANGER IN THE HOUSE

"Obioma, get a pack of cold juice for my boyfriend from the fridge." - Uju

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Obioma woke up with a startle. Cold water slithered down her body and she shivered. She stared at the unsmiling face of Evelyn with a mixture of anger and shock. Her blanket was soaked already due to the downpour. She couldn't believe what had just happened.

Does this girl know me before? How can she treat someone she just met for the first time this way? Obioma wondered.

"Wake up! Where do you think you are? In your father's house or what? Look at the time!" She pointed at the fancy wall clock hung by the corner of the wall. "Eleven in the morning and you're still in bed. Is this the time you wake up in your village?"

Obioma couldn't speak; all she did was stare with her mouth slightly agape.

She watched coolly as Evelyn sashayed out of the room. She grabbed a pillow by her side and flung it at the door. She stood up from the bed, panting as she walked to the bathroom. She hissed loudly as she dumped her wet blanket into a bucket and began to wash it. After washing it, she freshened up whilst. While she had been in the village, she had been the first to wake up. She woke up as soon as the c**k crowed; it was her duty to fill the four clay earthen jars they had with water. This she did alongside sweeping the house and performing other house chores. She was no lazy girl so who was this spoilt city girl to treat her this way?

Uju was sitting on a sofa reading some cooking tips and recipe on her phone while Sharon was reading a fashion magazine when Obioma got to the living room. There was a talk show displaying on the television screen and Evelyn's interest was piqued.

Uloma looked up from her nails when she heard Obioma's footsteps. She had been polishing her nails earlier. Chiamaka was nowhere to be found and Obioma wondered where she was.

"I heard about what Evelyn did to you. . ." Uloma began ". . .and I'd like to apologize."

"There's no problem. It was my fault. I should have woken up earlier." Obioma replied.

"Thank God she knows," Evelyn whispered to herself but Obioma heard her.

"Oh! shut up, Evelyn! She was tired from yesterday's journey. Do you think it's easy?" Uloma yelled.

"But you went on that journey too. You even drove the car. You ought to be more tired than she is."

"I'm used to the long distance. But she isn't. This is her first time coming to Lagos. Gosh! How many times do I have to say this?"

Evelyn sucked under her breath; muttering strange words as she stared at Obioma with eyes filled with anger.

"You shouldn't have done that." Uloma continued.

"Okay, okay, I'm sorry." Evelyn cut in.

"You shouldn't tell me that. It's Obioma you offended." Uloma responded as she continued with her nails.

"I'm sorry," Evelyn muttered still staring at Obioma with angrily.

"It's okay, Evelyn." Obioma maintained her gaze.

"Sharon, kindly show Obioma where the noodles are so she can prepare some for herself since the bread has finished." Uloma requested.

"No problem." Sharon pronounced as she stood up from the sofa.

When they got to the kitchen, Sharon took out two Indomie noodle packs from the cupboard and placed it on the kitchen table.

"Would these two be enough for you?" She asked.

"Please, what are these?" Obioma asked; bewildered.

"Noodles."

"Noodles?"

"Yes, noodles. It is easy and fast to prepare. Haven't you tasted it?"

"No, I haven't."

Sharon chuckled at that and then offered to prepare the noodles for her.

"You'd like it. Trust me." She cajoled.

Obioma sat on a stool as she watched Sharon prepare the so-called noodles which looked like yellow earthworms. She wondered when these city surprises will end.

"Sorry about Evelyn's behaviour." Sharon chirped in as she sliced onion into the steaming pot.

"There is no problem. Thank you."

"She's just being nasty." Sharon blurted out. "She was like that when I came."

"Really?"

"Yes. She found fault in everything I did. She did that for some time until Uloma told her off. I wonder why she's like that."

"Oh! How long have you known Uloma if I may ask?"

"Well, a year and a half I guess. I came here in search of an apartment and a person directed me to Uloma. She told me Uloma had a place to let. That's how I started living here."

"So you met the rest of the housemates here?"

"Yes, I did. Chiamaka, Uju and Ulo had been friends since their university days. After they graduated, they lived together since Chiamaka's parent stay far away and Uju simply wanted to stay alone without her parents. They've been living together for a very long time."

"What about Evelyn?"

"Well, I heard Evelyn was the younger sister of Uju's very good friend. She was admitted into the University of Lagos and had been staying here ever since then. I wonder why she refused to leave after graduation." Sharon switched off the socket of the electric cooker as she spoke. She rinsed a plate and poured the noodles into the plate. She scooped the residue of the eggs they had fried that morning into the plate and offered it to Obioma. It smelled delicious and Obioma was already salivating to have a taste. She thanked Sharon as she brought a fork to her mouth. It tasted delicious just as Sharon had stated.

"How's it?" Sharon asked; her eyes wide with curiosity.

"It's really delicious just as you had earlier said."

Sharon smiled beautifully at that.

"That's the only food I can prepare perfectly. I didn't learn to cook while growing up." Sharon muttered ruefully.

"Why?"

"I guess I was over pampered." She laughed shakily. "I had four elder sisters. They did all the work and I stayed at home doing nothing. I thought I was enjoying myself not knowing I'll regret it later."

"I can teach you how to cook If you don't mind?" Obioma offered.

"That'd be great. I'd be really grateful if you can do that."

Obioma held her hands and rubbed it slightly; suddenly feeling bold to act normal around this girl. 

After Obioma had finished eating, they did the dishes together; talking and laughing like high school girls. They tidied the kitchen together and finally retired to Sharon's room to finish up their conversation. Sharon asked to help with dinner and Obioma instantly agreed.

That day, Obioma retired to bed with a broad smile. At least, one of the housemates was acting like a human being. She stretched her full length on the bed and closed her eyes. It was a mystery why she still felt exhausted from the previous day's trip. She wrapped herself with a blanket and drifted to sleep.

She got up just as early as the day broke and stared at the wall clock whilst switching the socket of the fluorescent. She didn't want another downpour of water though it seemed Evelyn would never attempt such after Uloma's reprimanding. She got up from her bed and walked to the sitting room. She yawned as she tidied up the room. There was this desire to make Uloma; the last thing she wanted was to be sent back to the village for laziness.

The girls came down the stairs: Uloma first, then Chiamaka and Sharon, immediately Obioma turned to leave.

"Obioma, you're up already." Uloma chuckled. "Perhaps, Evelyn's action yesterday wasn't that bad after all."

"Good morning!" Obioma grinned at them

"Good morning." They responded.

"Here's so neat." Sharon complimented. "Nice job, Oby."

"Thank you." Obioma smiled.

"Alright girls, what are we eating today. Today is a free day for us all." Uloma plopped on the couch and crossed her legs.

"Ohh! I love Saturdays." Chiamaka sat next to Uloma.

"Let's have something light. It's breakfast, isn't it?" Sharon suggested.

"Goldenmorn or cornflakes?" Uloma asked

"Goldenmorn." Evelyn's light voice filled the air. Uju was by her side and they carefully walked down the stairs like they were delicate flowers walking through thorns.

Everybody but Obioma laughed immediately Evelyn said that; Obioma stood dumbfounded instead. She couldn't understand what they were talking about.

"Alright, Obioma go and prepare golden morn for us," Chiamaka ordered.

"Ahh! You want to kill Oby. Does she know what Goldenmorn is? Do you want her to prepare poison all in the name of Goldenmorn?" Uloma teased and the rest laughed. "Let's just prepare it ourselves while she watches."

And that was how they ended up eating Goldenmorn. Obioma ate her meal with great relish; savouring the taste. The city must indeed be a world of its own as meals she never knew existed came were prepared. After breakfast that day, Sharon helped out as usual in the dishes but soon retired to her room to speak with a client - so she said. Obioma remained in the kitchen, tidying and arranging. She trudged to her room after these chores to have her siesta before any other work.

She fell to her bed; covered herself with her blanket since she didn't know how to turn off the air conditioner and slowly drifted to sleep but before she could fully elope to the dream world, her name was called loudly. She swayed lazily to the other side of the bed convincing herself that it was only a dream until she heard her name; louder and fiercer. It was the eerie and rambunctious voice of Evelyn.

Obioma jerked up from the bed; kicking her legs in the air and throwing her pillow to the door.

"Can't someone have peace of mind in this house? I've been working since yet they call me still." She muttered to herself; angrily walking to the sitting room with a huge frown etched on her face; her forehead furrowed. That instance, she couldn't care less if she was taken back to the village. All she wanted was her sleep.

Evelyn was lying on the sofa watching an episode of a television series and Obioma rolled her eyes at her, wishing she could drag her by the hair and fling her through the window. Her murderous thought was however cut short when her eyes came in contact with that of a young man sitting on the other sofa with Uju closely leaning into him like she wanted to merge into him.

Obioma stood awestruck for a moment completely mesmerized by the brown pair of orbs staring back at her. He was light-skinned with a black mass of curly hair. His lips were thin; a light shade of pink: upper lip a bit narrower than his bottom and the cupid bow dipped delicately at the centre. It was sensuous. His nose: long and pointed, complimented his looks. His dark brown eyes were decorated with long lashes and full brows. Obioma was temporarily frozen and all she could do was stare.

"See this mumu girl." Evelyn's light voice jolted her. "I've been calling your name since and here you are standing like a tree."

"I'm sorry, I was. . ."

"You were what?"

"Evelyn, it's okay." Uju cut in; her deep cool voice echoing and Obioma shifted her gaze to her. The neatly trimmed slender fingers gripping her shoulder firmly made Obioma's stomach turn. She wished she could grab those fingers and never let them go.

"Anyway, Obioma, please get a pack of cold juice for my boyfriend from the fridge." 

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A/N: Okay, guys! This is where the story begins. The first five chapters were just an introduction of what is to come. I just want to plead with you to be patient with this book. There is so much to anticipate.