FLAMING HEART

FOURTEEN: CHIAMAKA'S BOYFRIEND

"Who the hell do you think you are?" — Evelyn.

★ ★ ★

Evelyn was asleep on the sofa as a movie showed on the television screen.

"That's what you know how to do. Lazy thing!" Obioma blurted out in anger.

After keeping and arranging everything she had bought at the right place, she retired to her room to rest. She laid on her bed and shut her eyes; events of the day flooding into her mind: Francis's fingers on his cheek; his intense look filled with emotions of various sorts. Just then, the conversation she had heard with Evelyn at the salon overshadowed her mind. Was Francis her Mr right captured by Uju? Was it her duty to rescue him? If that wasn't the case, what other explanation could be given for a man to be in a relationship with a lady five years older than him?

Obioma sighed once again as she sat up; removing the phone pack from the nylon as she examined it. She opened the pack and brought the manual alongside the phone. She began to read then but soon dumped it on her bed. She picked the phone and Francis's last word echoed in her ear: I saved my number just in case. That made her smile a little.

She could hide the phone in her room and no one would find out, although she would like to inform Sharon about this. Perhaps, she should just stick by Francis's word and tell anyone that cared to know, Francis bought her a phone. But then, what would Uju do if she was to find out? What would Sharon say about this?

Her head was already burning from thinking a lot so she returned the phone into the pack and stuffed it into her bag. She laid back on the bed and drifted to sleep.

She was woken up by the slight knock on her door.

"Come in!" She said as she rubbed her eyes sleepily.

She watched as the door opened and Sharon walked in.

"You didn't come again?" Sharon asked.

"Sharon!" Obioma shouted instead. "Why are you back home by this time?" She asked.

Sharon looked taken aback as she stared at Obioma; amused. "Was I to sleep in shop?"

Obioma quickly looked at the wall clock and gasped. "8pm? Oh my God! I didn't know time has gone o. I haven't cooked any thing."

"Relax Obioma - "

"Uloma and Chiamaka would be here any moment from now." Obioma jumped up from the bed as she ran to the kitchen with Sharon tagging along. While they made dinner, Obioma said:

"I'm sorry I didn't make it to shop. I was so tired when I came home from the mall."

"Oh! No problem. How was the shopping? Hope you got everything needed?" Sharon asked as she whisked eggs in a bowl.

Obioma bit her lower lips slightly. She wondered if she should spill the beans.

"Obioma! Are you okay?" Sharon asked; looking into her eyes.

"Yea, I am! Shopping was fine. I saw Francis today at the mall. He came to get something for his mother."

"Oh! What a caring boy! So what did you do when you saw him?"

"Well, he was the one that saw me first. So he came to meet me and then offered to take me home. On our way, we started discussing. He asked about my family. I told him everything and how I have no means of communicating to my mother. He was feeling sorry for me, then surprisingly, he bought me a phone. I didn't ask him to. He did it on his own free will. He said Uloma should have bought one since." She rushed the words but left Francis saving his number out of her narration.

Sharon stopped whisking the eggs and turned to stare at her in shock. Obioma's heart skipped a bit as she wondered what would come out next. She was relieved when Sharon broke into a beautiful grin.

"Oh Francis! That generous, good looking, kind hearted, gorgeous Francis! That's just the typical thing Francis would do."

Obioma relaxed and smiled. "You look very happy about this."

"Yes of course. I'm glad you got a phone. I've always wanted to buy you one as a birthday gift."

"But my birthday has past."

"Did I give you a birthday gift?"

"You didn't know me then."

"Well! Not an excuse. I wanted to give you one now that I know you. But now that Francis has bought you a phone, I'll just look for something else to buy."

"Wow! Thanks a lot, Sharon." Obioma extended her hands to her as they embraced.

"But how do you think the rest would take it especially Uju and Evelyn?" The last experience wasn't a good one.

"Who cares? You didn't force Francis to get you one. He did it on his own accord. Besides, Uloma could have longed bought you a phone. Don't worry about them." Sharon assured. "Can I see the phone?"

"Of course!"

Just then, Evelyn walked into the kitchen with wide eyes. She leaned on the kitchen wall and crossed her arms.

"What phone?" She asked.

Obioma stiffened as she stared at Sharon for defense. She wondered why she was feeling insecure for accepting a phone someone gave her out of free will.

Sharon moved closer, smiling broadly at Evelyn, "Francis got Obioma a new phone. I'm so excited for her."

"Francis?" Evelyn gasped.

"Yes, Oby saw him in the mall and so something led to another and he got her a phone."

"What nonsense! I've been asking Francis to get me a new phone since but he never did." Evelyn scowled.

"Why would he get you a phone? Is something wrong with your phone? Oby here doesn't even have a phone to begin with."

"Well, if he had bought me a phone, I'd have given Oby my own phone."

"Do you know what? Keep your phone to yourself. Oby deserves better than your phone." Sharon replied. Then turning to Obioma, she said, "Come and show me the phone."

"Let's go together. I want to see the phone." Evelyn proffered.

"Not at all!"

"Why?"

"Because I said No." Sharon replied as she dragged Obioma along with her. "Take care of the food. We're coming."

Evelyn let out a big hiss and walked away angrily making Sharon and Obioma laugh as they walked to Obioma's room. Obioma brought out the phone from the bag she had kept it and gave it to Sharon.

Sharon gasped and let out a small shriek.

"Wow! Obioma, this is beautiful. Francis really picked the latest version for you. Look at the camera, thirty two mega pixel. Very sharp." Sharon examined the phone.

"He asked me to read the manual so I can know more about the phone." Obioma told her.

"Yea, you can read it when you're chanced. I'll also help you understand the operation." Sharon offered.

"Thank you, Sharon." Obioma caressed her hand and Sharon patted their entwined fingers.

The moment Uloma and Chiamaka returned back from work, Evelyn was quick to let out the news. Uloma didn't look surprise a bit. She told them Uju had earlier informed her about the phone while they were discussing and that Uju was spending the night with her boyfriend: Francis. Obioma's felt her heart violently squeezing. She stuck a spoon into her mouth with the bitter truth in her mind. He was hers anyway!

★ ★ ★

Obioma sat on the dining table, scrolling at some pictures which Sharon had sent to her. She was amazed at the amount of pictures her phone could contain. She laughed when she stumbled at some hilarious pictures.

Sharon had left for her salon as usual and Uju was yet to return from her boyfriend's house. Obioma felt she shouldn't be calling him by his name anymore.

Uloma and Chiamaka had gone to work and Evelyn was watching a movie as usual. Evelyn kept throwing glances at Obioma; her eyes filled with envy. Obioma pretended not to notice her furtive glances as she kept admiring her new phone and laughing out loudly like nothing was happening.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door and Obioma got up quickly - a part of her hoping it was Francis. However, the reverse was the case and she came face to face with a moderate sized, bearded young man with dreadlocks falling on his shoulder, standing by the door. His eyes were bloodshot and his lips black. He was wearing a hood with sagged trousers. There were rings on his fingers and necklaces plus chains all over his neck. There was a plastic bag in his hand and Obioma was taken aback when she saw him. What was a mad man doing at their door and how did he get in? She wondered.

"Hello! May I come in?" He asked with a grin. His voice was deep and croaky and he kept assessing her: from her head to her toe; feeding on her looks and licking his lips slightly. Obioma checked herself on impulse to check if any part of her body was revealed. Luckily, her dress was well past her knees.

"Why should you come in? Who are you?" She growled; angry for she was disappointed.

"I should be asking who you are." The man laughed, displaying a gold tooth. His laugh sounded like the chirping of a cricket.

Obioma stared at him and folded her arms. "Please, you must be in the wrong house." She tried to maintain her cool as she spoke to him.

"Oh! Forgive my manners. You must be new here. Well! I'm here to see Chiamaka."

"If you truly came to see Chiamaka, you wouldn't have come here because she would be at work now." Obioma glared at him suspiciously.

"What's happening here?" Evelyn's light voice popped in and for the first time, Obioma was grateful for Evelyn's presence. She shifted a bit so Evelyn could see the man at the door since she had shielded the door with her whole body at first.

Evelyn gave a loud shriek immediately she saw him and jumped into his arms. The man laughed and hugged her back. She kept screaming as he spun her around. Obioma stared quietly in disgust and shock.

When the drama ended, Evelyn squeaked:

"Oh my goodness, Charles! Is this really you?" The man named Charles chuckled a bit.

"Oh! Come on in!" Evelyn held his arms; dragging him into the house and slightly pushing Obioma away. Obioma stared with dropped jaw, still not comprehending what was happening. She walked into the house; shutting the door behind her.

Evelyn clung to Charles on the sofa and he laughed heartily at her behaviour. He whispered something into Evelyn's ear immediately Obioma walked in and Evelyn giggled.

"Who's she?" He asked then.

"She's the house help Uloma brought from her village. All these village girls you know." Evelyn blurted out sarcastically.

Obioma gulped as Evelyn said that. She was not surprised at Evelyn's behaviour. Evelyn had always made her look like a lower class; she took it as her hobby to downgrade her in a way she looked worthless. She had tried it with Francis the first time they had met.

Obioma held her head up as she made her way to her room - she could care less about what Charles thought of her - only to be called back by Evelyn. Annoyed, she turned to look at her with a deep scowl.

"This is Charles. He's Chiamaka's fiance. He just came back from China where he was on a business trip. You shouldn't have harassed and stopped him from entering into the house."

"I'm very sorry. I never knew he was Chiamaka's fiance. Nice meeting you, sir!"

Charles chuckled a little showing his gold tooth. "Just call me, Charles. I'm okay with that. Besides, it wasn't your fault. This is your first time meeting me."

"Okay sir..mmm...Charles, but Chiamaka is at work at the moment." Obioma informed.

"Yea! I know. I actually didn't remember today was a working day because of the difference in time zone from China to Nigeria."

"Okay, is there anything I can offer you?"

"Just a glass of water." Charles replied and Obioma nodded; glancing at Evelyn who was scowling darkly to her surprise. Obioma brought the glass of water to Charles and then excused herself to prepare. She had intentions to meet with Sharon.

While she dressed up, her mind drifted to an endless thought about Charles, Francis and Uju. First, why would Chiamaka want to spend the rest of her life with someone like Charles? What on earth attracted her to him? He was extremely ugly with a disgusting character - someone good enough for Uju alone. Though it hurt her to say this but if she was given an opportunity to switch partners between the two ladies, she sure would have given Francis to Chiamaka; she was much more better in character.

Thinking of Uju, she wasn't back yet from her so called night spending. The night had been over for so many hours now so why then wasn't she back? Obioma couldn't help but wonder. Her heart ached at the thought of them both kissing and holding each other. Her stomach tightened in discomfort as she waded her useless thought off.

She walked out of her room after looking at the mirror. She had applied for the first time some brown powder and a tiny bit of lip gloss. It had taken a lot of conviction from Sharon to try applying makeup to her face. But now, she loved how it made her look. She loved how her lips were much more fluffier and kissable. She giggled at her perverted thought.

Charles had left the moment she walked into the sitting room and Evelyn was sitting on the sofa with her legs crossed on the table. She had a deep frown on her face and the plastic bag Charles had brought with him was on her laps. Evelyn jumped up the moment she saw Obioma. She began walking menacingly to her and for a moment Obioma wanted to back off. But then, why would she? It would only give Evelyn satisfaction. For this reason, she maintained her stance; returning Evelyn's glare with a fury of her own. There was something about the way Evelyn was looking at her; Obioma couldn't understand what she did to deserve such look. A look that screamed murder.

"I'm going to meet Sharon in her shop." Obioma spoke out; hoping to calm the demon.

"Who the hell do you think you are?" Evelyn gritted her teeth instead abound Obioma was taken aback.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •• • • • • • •

Who can guess why Evelyn is mad?