FLAMING HEART

TEN - FEELINGS

"Leave me alone, Obioma! Please, leave me alone! You're disturbing me." — Evelyn.

★ ★ ★

Obioma woke up with a yawn as she stretched herself lazily on the bed. She trudged into the bathroom and freshened up slowly after glancing at the wall clock. She wondered if Uloma and Chiamaka were still at home as events of the previous night filled her mind. Uloma had asked her not to bother waking up early to prepare breakfast for they would be leaving earlier than normal. She had also delegated a chore which Obioma knew nothing of to her. Shear the flowers? What did that mean? Obioma couldn't help but wonder. Though Evelyn had been appointed to put her through, she couldn't count on someone like that. Evelyn was just the wrong person to be asked. But then, had she a choice? If she was going to be shearing some flowers - something she had never heard of yet alone done - she then would be needing help. She could sense it was going to be a long day.

Obioma grabbed her frail skirt which had seen better days - a skirt which had been through thick and thin with her - and walked to the kitchen to prepare breakfast for the rest of the house mates. She picked the bunch of plantain she had inspected the previous day and began to peel. The house was quiet and she breathed an air of freedom. It was at times like this she had her peace; completely free from yells and unending errands. While she peeled, the image of Evelyn's screwed face when Uloma had appointed her the job of assisting in the flower shearing displayed in her head. She chucked; wondering how a person could be this lazy.

Sharon and Uju were already done dressing up when she fixed breakfast on the dining table. Evelyn who had just woken up and was trudging down the step, rushed to the dining immediately she saw plates of food on the table. Obioma assessed Uju as they ate. Her floral top and penciled jean trouser looked beautiful on her taut body and her hawked sized eyes examined a content on her phone.

"You're coming to shop, right?" Sharon asked, jerking her out of her assessment.

Nodding, she replied, "Yes. I'll come after cutting the flowers."

"Okay. I'll be expecting you." Sharon smiled and Obioma watched as they both got up: Sharon and Uju, and walked out of the house. Obioma stood up immediately and followed put; opening the gate and closing it back after they had left. While she did the dishes, her thought wandered back to her family in the village. How she had missed them! She wondered how things were for them and if they were coping in her absence. Ikenna's final statement came flooding to her memory slapping her out of her worry. 

He promised to take care of mama and Nkechi, so there is no use worrying. She chided herself as she hastened up in her cleaning of the dishes.

She moved to the sitting room hoping to shear whatever needed to be sheared. Evelyn was lying on a sofa watching a foreign movie. Obioma sighed.

"Evelyn!" She called out but to her greatest surprise, she got no response. She tried again; this time louder but silence greeted her.

"EVELYN!" She screamed with all her might; already frustrated by the silent treatment.

Evelyn jerked up in anger; throwing her a dirty look.

"Yes! What's the problem? Why are you disturbing me?" She barked.

"I want to cut the flowers." Obioma sighed.

"So? Why are you informing me?"

Obioma was taken aback. "Uloma asked you to show me how to use a shear."

"Later!" She snapped and returned to the movie.

"No! I'm going to Sharon's shop. I want to do it now."

"You can go to Sharon's salon anytime. You talk like you're on an appointment." Evelyn hissed.

"Please, show me how to do it now. I want to do it now!" Obioma sighed in exasperation.

Evelyn let out a deep sigh then. She put the movie to a pause and stood up. She took a scissor from the small stool by the sofa and turned to tear a piece of paper from a book which had Uju's name on it. Obioma watched her, wondering what a paper and a scissor had to do with cutting flowers.

"Look here, Obioma." She began calmly. "Shears is just like this scissor. You use shears the way you use a scissor. Okay look, I want to shape this paper into a triangle, so I'll cut it like this. . ." She began cutting the paper with the scissor until she got a triangle. Obioma watched her cooly; air puffing out of her nose in anger.

"Here, you see it! Very simple, right? That's how you use shears. So go and trim the flowers in any shape you want." She clapped her hands; totally proud of herself as she sat back on the sofa with her legs crossed. She resumed the paused movie and began watching; completely ignoring Obioma's stunned feature.

Obioma shifted her weight to one leg as she stared down at Evelyn's skinny figure.

"I don't understand anything. I would learn better with flowers so please, come and use flowers."

Evelyn gave her a sidelong glance but didn't say anything.

"Evelyn, why don't you -?"

"Leave me alone, Obioma! Please, leave me! You're disturbing me!" Evelyn yelled.

Obioma sighed as she went to get the shears which was at the back of the house. According to Evelyn's description, she was able to indicate the shears. She walked to the flowers neatly planted by the side of the wall; running her fingers through the beautiful shades. She paused for a while; wondering what shape she would like to shape the flowers into. She decided alas, on a square and so got to work. The honk outside the gate distracted her and she quickly rushed to open up; wondering who it could be since none of the working class house mates got home this early. She concluded something must be left behind to come back.

The familiar car she saw in front of the gate made her heart skip heavily; she could hear it loudly in her ear. She held the gate tightly; watching the car drive into the compound. She shakily closed the gate and walked slowly to the already parked car. What would she say to him? Why was he here at the first place? Millions of questions filled her mind as she stopped beside the car. The door was wide opened and she could see Francis texting some message on his ipad. She watched silently for a while; suddenly scared to see him as events of their last meeting replayed in her mind. Her eyes shifted instinctively to the backseat but then, the window was tinted shielding her view. Her body began to shake and sweat greased her forehead as she thought of the drool. It was like she had suddenly caught cold. She exhaled as she shifted her gaze to Francis's black curly hair. She felt like running her fingers through it but wondered what he would say or react. Should she try? What was that saying again? You never know until you try?

Shutting her mind from her wild thoughts, she looked down at his ipad; wondering what it was.

"How long do you intend to stand there?" He asked suddenly and Obioma jumped a bit; placing a palm to her chest in the process. He was still looking at his Ipad so she took the opportunity to compose herself before replying.

"Good morning, sir! Uju is not around. She has gone to her eatery." She tried to speak calmly but failed miserably as her teeth clenched at the mention of Uju and so her intended calm words came out in a rush; so forced. She shivered at how bitter the words tasted in her mouth. She had to get used to the truth which was: Uju owned this boy over here. She couldn't help but wonder why a young guy like Francis would knowingly entangle himself with an older lady. She was very sure Uju was older in age. Was he bewitched?

Francis turned to look at her just then and the sight of his face again almost knocked her off her feet. Despite the slight frown on his face, his face was still dashing. She fought the urge to run her fingers down his smooth cheek.

"I thought I asked you not to call me sir but my name?" His voice was calm but she could hear the taint of anger lacing his voice. She bit her lip as she mentally slapped her mouth. She provoked him always each time they were together. She ought to make him happy instead.

"I'm so sorry. You did." She apologized; speaking slowly for fear of saying the wrong thing again. She bowed her head; staring at her feet and seeing her skirt in the process. She shuddered at the poor sight. Why today of all days? He saw her always in ugly clothes. With this thought in mind, she nurtured the plan to bolt so she blurted out hastily: Uju is not here, and turned to leave.

Francis whose face was back at his screen replied her saying:

"I contacted Uju before coming here. She would be here any moment from now."

There was something about the way he said it. To Obioma, it felt so cold - like she wasn't needed in their space. She couldn't help but shiver as things suddenly began to dawn on her that he was taken by someone else and that he didn't care about her in any way. She suddenly felt morose. She nodded; swallowing as she did.

"Okay. Please, come inside as you are waiting for her. What will you like to eat?"

"Don't worry. You can go, OB. I'll come in when I'm ready." He replied not sparing her a glance.

Obioma nodded again as she took stumbling steps back to the flowers. She felt like she had just been jilted. It was funny how a bitter lump settled in her throat. She swallowed the urge to cry; grabbing the shears and resuming the frustrating job once again. She felt like screaming out loud and finally curling on her bed; crying herself to sleep.

"Ewo!" She yelped. She had hurt herself with the shears. Seeing blood ooze from her thumb sent her wall crashing down as a tear slipped.

"What are you doing?" She heard his voice and felt him move closer to her. She flinched; wiping her tears in the process. She turned to face him; wondering when he had left his car. His face mirrored concern as he stared down at her bleeding finger, despite her attempt to hide it.