Toni:
shut up, i cant hear the movie i say to shut Steven
up. I don't want
to hear him talk about his ex fiance. He probably loved
her sincerely.
Maybe he still loves her. Unlike me, who he wants just
for selfish
reasons. I am trying to hide my jealousy and if he
talks about Jane
right now, i know I'll burst out in tears. His closeness is
already
playing tricks with my senses. We watch the movie in
silence for
almost an hour before Steven breaks it.
so how's your ankle?he asks and i turn to him.
its fine. No need to worry but before i finish my
statement, i find
my legs on Stevens lap.
we should massage it to prevent it from getting
swollen he says.
don't!i scream because my feet are really ticklish. My
shout turns
into giggles as soon as he places his hands on my right
foot.
sto-p i-t. It tic-klesi laugh out and Steven grins.
hmm, so you are ticklish on your feet. Where else are
you ticklish.
Wait, let me find out myselfhe says then starts tickling
my sides. I
laugh so hard i almost pee my pants and memories of
this same thing
happening just few weeks ago bombard me
. Alot has happened ever since.
I missed this and i want it again but not at the
expense of a broken
heart. I don't think i can take it this time. Steven keeps
tickling me
and i laugh crazily. His hand moves upward on his way
to tickle my
armpits and it brushes my breast. He freezes and look
into my eyes.
Our eyes lock but i break the speed as i look away.
'You cant get
sucked into his life. He is a liar' i repeat continuously to
remind
myself.
antonia, please-Steven says but i stand up quickly
from the couch
and run into the room. 'don't get sucked into his life.
He is a liar
i murmur to myself as i throw myself on his bed. The
bed smells like
him and i take comfort in one of his pillows. I remain
like this, with
my face pressed to the Steven-scented pillow for a
long while before i
hear Steven walk in. I close my eyes and pretend to
be asleep.
antonia, are you awake? he asks cautiously.
i just wanted to tell you the food is in the kitchen if
you get
hungry. I have to go out. I'll be back soon. he
continues but i don't
stir. I remain silent. His footsteps starts getting closer
and i feel
his weight on the bed. It takes everything in me to not
open my eyes
to see what he's doing. I don't wonder for long as i
feel one of his
hand caress my cheek.
you look so peaceful right now. I am sorry for all the
stress and
pain you had to go through because of me. If i could
take all your
pains i would. Am so sorry and i love you. I love you
with every
breathe in me. I need you and our babies. Please open
your heart to
me he says then chuckles.
i should be saying this when you're awake. i hear
him sigh after
saying this then feel his lips on my forehead.
Something wet falls on
my face. Is he crying?.
now i am crying like a girl.he says then stand. I want
to kiss him,
hug him and console him but i also don't want to. I am
so confused
right now. Is this acting or real?. Steven walks out of
the room and i
let my tears fall.I sob into the pillow. I am so confuse
right now.I
don't want to make the wrong decision because i
know I'll regret it
for life. What do i choose now? A career in Paris or a
family in
Nigeria. Well, i cant make a decision right now. My
head hurts and i
am so hungry. Steven did say the food was in the
kitchen.
let's go get some food i say while rubbing my round
tummy. I walk to
the kitchen/dining and find food lined on the table. I
quickly sit on
one of the chair and rub my hands together. The
thought of food has
cheered me up considerably.
i bless this food and sanctify it in Jesus name.i pray
then grin at
the food. A paper under one of the plates catches my
eyes and i pick
it up. Its a message addressed to me.
Going out for a while. Will be back before you know it.
I know you
couldn't resist the food.*winks*
i smile at the paper. He actually wrote *winks*. How
old is he?. I
roll my eyes at the paper then place it carefully on the
table before
i dig into the meal. After eating, i move to the sitting
room and
watch 'blank panther' on mbc2.
The delicious smell of stew permeates the air and i
open my eyes.
Everywhere has gotten dark. I must have fallen asleep
during the
movie. I sit up and notice a small blanket covering my
legs.
Read Falling For Innocence by the same author (
Ameh juliet )
. It wasn't
here before i dozed off. The smell of stew meets my
nose again and i
stand up and follow the aroma to the kitchen. I see
Steven filtering
spaghetti. He doesn't see me as am behind him so i
just watch him as
he moves around the kitchen with ease.
like what you see?he asks then turn to face me.
ho-w did you know?
oh, i can feel you. Whenever you are close, my blood
just fizz in
excitementhe says and i blush.
hope you guys are hungry, because daddy just
finished cooking
spaghettihe says while looking at my baby bump. I
smile at him and he
looks stun.
did you just smile at me?. Halleluyah. Its a miraclehe
says and i
laugh.Steven serves some spaghetti and stew on a
small plate and pass
it to me.
appetizerhe says and wink.I laugh as he turns back
and put finishing
touches to the meal.Once in a while, he'll turn back
and open his
mouth for me to feed him.I was hesitant the first time
but its too
fun, i continue.A knock at the door stops us and i get
up to go check
since Steven is a bit pre-occupied.I open the door to
see a very
beautiful woman.She's carrying a baby in her arms.I
look from the
woman to the sleeping baby.
you must be steven's fiance.He told me so much
about you when we
talked after our dad's funeral. Wow, its true, you are
beautiful.I
hope you are using your pregnancy to get whatever
you want from
himshe says and i frown.
no sweetheart.I meant, pregnancy is an opportunity
for us women to
control our manshe says and i laugh.
oh forgive my manners, come ini say and direct her
in. Steven is
already walking towards us.
sis. Nelly, what are you doing here?
just wanted to see my sister-in-law or cant i?she
winks at me and i
smile.Steven looks at me but i just shrug.