(029 - Imperfections.)
Hey Guys! Here you go! Enjoy ❤️
(P. S. There is an important notice in the Author's note below, please read *even though it doesn't apply to everyone* 😌)
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𝐒𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐄𝐇𝐀
(Semeeha Iris Malik)
Bitch!
Bitch!!
Bitch!!!
That was the only word that kept ringing in my mind as I schemed through Gigi Esho's Instagram page for the tenth time today.
Yes, the tenth. Trust me, it's still the shortest I've gone looking through her page.
There was nothing special about the page. She didn't have up the three-quarter of the followers I did, nothing close to the amount of social media presence that I had. Compared to me on social media, especially Instagram, Gigi Esho was lesser, a commoner, and a Nobody.
(Gigi's Instagram page)
Yet here I was, going through her page like a creepy stalker who had nothing better to do with her life.
Her posts were only twenty-seven. She only had five pictures where her face was visible. Most of the pictures that dominated the page were pictures of her running on a track, or pictures of her in several outfits... revealing outfits if I might add, cutting her face off.
There was this recent one that I just couldn't stop looking at even if I tried. It was a mirror selfie of her in a bikini, showing off her flawless and blemish-free honey skin.
Gigi Esho has never been conservative about her body, always comfortable with it. Social media didn't deter her from being herself. Why would she even want to hide a body as perfect as hers?
That was one of the very many things I hated and about her. Also one of the very many things I admired about her, in as much as I hate to admit. Her ability to keep being herself, everywhere and anywhere. And I'm guessing it was one of the many things Kizito loved about her.
One of the many things that had him completely smitten by her... that made him easily fall in love with her.
Bitch!
It's been two weeks since the night of the party. Two weeks since the Spin the Bottle game... that awful night which will forever be ingrained in my memory. The night I had to sit down and watch them kiss each other, enduring a million daggers that went into my heart as I watched them
No matter how much I tried to forget it, I couldn't. That night, I tried to console myself that it was just a kiss for the game and it meant absolutely nothing. But deep down, I knew it didn't mean nothing. There was no way it could have meant nothing, not with how intense it was. I fucking felt the spark, the chemistry radiating from them that night,
The love...
And as if Hilary and Dawn's continuous blabbing about how they were shipping Kizi and her... how they'd make such an amazing couple wasn't enough, Kizi just had to drop the dime about how he felt for her, how they felt for each other.
Since when?
When did it all start?
How did I not notice this before?
Why did this all have to happen when my feeling for Kizito was just starting to get stronger?
All these questions have been playing in my head. Even though Kizito basically answered a majority of them that night when he dropped us off. Still, his answers were not enough for me. They were not enough for me to just accept that this was how things were going to be from now on.
"Semeeha, come on." He called to me as I tried to escape and walk into the house. "Can we talk?" He asked.
Against my better judgment, I stopped, standing still in the middle of his compound, completely enchanted by his voice... by the way he called my name.
But, I didn't show it. I didn't show how much just the way he said my name had affected me. I didn't turn around, keeping a stoic expression, and waited for Dawn and Hilary to enter the house before I turned around to face Kizito.
He was standing right there, leaning against the hood of his car, staring right at me. He was keeping a normal, seemingly harmless posture but it did nothing to calm my racing heart. If anything, it accelerated it. My heart was thumping heavily against my rib cage, just because my handsome best friend was looking at me,
My handsome best friend who I was hopelessly in love with but was clearly in love with someone else. Someone I despised like the devil himself.
"Semeeha" He called again, that deep - alluring voice of his piercing through my mind smoothly. I looked up, only to realize that he was already away from his car, and was now standing close to me. I averted my gaze with my arms folded across my chest, unresponsive.
I heard him sigh.
"You don't seem too happy about Gigi and me." He pointed out and I froze.
Gigi and I. Meaning, Gigi and Kizito - Kizito and Gigi. There was now a "him and her". It was just a matter of time before they start using the collective pronoun "We".
I cringed at the thought.
"That look has just proven that you are certainly not happy." His voice again tore through my thoughts. This time I looked at him, my brows furrowed in question.
"What look?" I asked, almost demanding because my voice came off hard and defensive. And he noticed.
"That look you have on your face right now." He answered nonetheless, gesturing to my face. "That look that says you are not happy about Gigi and me, just like the same one you had on throughout the drive. And that tone you just used proved the obvious fact." He stated.
There was silence right after that. Kizito was staring at me, reading me. I tried to keep up the stoic expression so that he wouldn't read me too easily and deeply.
"Why?" He asked after the moment of silence and my frown deepened slightly. That question was so annoying, it made me want to scream.
You want to know why I am not happy for you and Gigi, Kizito? It's because I'm in love with you! I'm hopelessly in love with you but you decided to choose her over me! Over your best friend! I'm supposed to be your first choice!
All of that and more were the answers I wanted to give him, answers I wanted to scream at him. But I couldn't. I just couldn't. All he knew was that I wasn't happy or excited about Him and Gigi like Dawn, Hilary and most likely the rest of the school were. There were so many reasons that could elicit that behavior.
So instead, I asked him a question of my own. A question that has been on the tip of my tongue all these began.
"Why her?"
Kizito didn't reply. He just stared at me, hands folded across his chest. I tried to concentrate and not let my eyes stray to his bulging biceps. I kept my eyes on his.
"Of all the girls in Crestview... in the entire world even," I continued when he didn't reply. "You just had to pick her. Why?"
"You can't choose who you fall for, Semeeha." Was his simple reply, a very simple reply that annoyed the hell out of me. I was on the verge of screaming at him again, on the verge of telling him that what he said was utter and complete bullshit.
But kept my cool and maintained a poker face.
"But you knew I didn't like her." I countered, my tone rising a bit and becoming hard. "That was enough for you to choose, Kizito." That last statement was enough to earn a reaction from him.
His eyebrows quirked in a mixed expression of question and shock because of what I said. I still maintained my stoic expression, waiting for him to speak. And he did.
"So you are saying I should have gotten rid of my feelings because you don't like her?" He asked, confirming the obvious interpretation of what I had said. I nodded once, shrugging nonchalantly.
"Exactly."
He chuckled, shaking his head.
"That's rather selfish, Semeeha." He stated matter-of-factly.
He was right. What I said was selfish. But I was way past caring at the point. If only he had put my feelings into consideration, we won't be having this conversation. Heck, he'd have rejected the kiss.
"Well, you were first the selfish one when you decided to fall for her!" I snapped back and this time, he veered back sharply to the point of almost falling over, staring back at me like I wasn't the same person he knew.
Like I wasn't Semeeha.
"Wow," He breathed out after he had maintained balance, shaking his head slowly as he looked at me. "I can't believe you right now." He whispered. I said nothing, only looking away from him. There was nothing I could even say.
I knew I wasn't making any sense. Kizito was the most selfless person I knew. We; Hilary, Dawn, and I, always come first in his priorities. He has always had our backs, especially mine even if he probably has no idea how. He has no idea how far his little daily phone calls, just to check up on me, go in keeping me sane for an entire day.
Now, it was my turn to be happy for him and I wasn't. But how can I be happy when the girl he chose is Gigi Esho? It would have been better if she wasn't the one. It would have been easier for me to handle. Kizito can fall for anyone and I'd let my feelings go. I'd accept.
But not Gigi Esho. Anyone but Gigi Esho.
Kizito sighed, shoving his hands into the pocket of his jeans.
"I'm going to ignore all you just said and take it that you didn't mean them," He began, but I still didn't look at him. He sighed again. "I don't know what Gigi has done to you that you just don't like her. She doesn't even have anything against you as you do of her. Semeeha, It's disturbing."
That statement almost made me scoff out loud, but I held my peace. It didn't make me stop thinking though.
She doesn't have anything against me? If she really doesn't have anything against me like Kizito is saying right now, then why did she treat me like an outcast among my own friends?
Gigi became friends with all of them when she came to Crestview newly, two weeks after I and Dawn had just joined. She spoke to every one of them; Kizito, Hilary, Dawn... even Jidenna. But she never said one word to me. She didn't even look at me, treated me like I was non-existent.
I didn't like her but I didn't hate her either, but I wanted to show her that she was missing out on being my friend, to let her know that I was also worthy of her talking to me, worthy of her attention.
I wanted to have what she had, wanted to command so much attention and respect just by the way I walked - as she did, or the way I talked - like she did... even more than she did.
I wanted to show her that I was also important, even more, important than my friends. Wanted to show her that she was missing out on being my friend. I never went to meet her to make friends. I wanted her to come to me.
And, I kept this up till the beginning of JSS 3, when I had just made my first debut as a model. With all the fame and attention this got me, I expected Gigi Esho to come to me just like everyone else, to famz me. I waited for her to come to me.
But she never did. To Gigi Esho, I literally didn't exist. I was nobody.
I hated her right from that moment.
And I hate her even more now for taking Kizito away from me.
"I'm not going to ask what you have against her because God knows I've been asking that question since JSS 2 and I still haven't gotten an answer from you," Kizito started speaking again after a prolonged silence.
"But things are different now," He continued when he saw that I still wasn't going to speak. "Things have changed tonight for Gigi and me, and with the way, things are going..." He trailed off, but I was able to complete the statement for him.
"You guys are going to be an item," My ability to keep my voice neutral and still hold a stoic expression while saying words like that, words that burnt my tongue as they spilled out baffled me. Those words left a bitter taste in my mouth.
Gigi and Kizito were going to be an item. And I am just going to sit down and watch that happen.
Kizito nodded, oblivious to the battle going on in my mind. "It's very likely." He confirmed and I visibly grimaced. "And the last thing I want is for my best friend and potential girlfriend to have some sort of bad blood between them. I don't want to have to choose between the both of you, Semeeha. I don't want it to ever get to that."
It will definitely come to that, Kizito. It will come to that you'll have to choose. You must choose!
But I didn't say all that out loud. Instead, I just nodded slowly.
"I understand."
I didn't.
His lips stretched in a smile when he heard me say that.
"I'm sorry." I wasn't sorry. "I don't know why I acted like that."
"It's okay," He whispered, bringing both his hands to rest on the sides of my arm.
I tried to ignore the jolt his skin contact with mine sent to my skin, tried to ignore the way goosebumps sprouted on my skin. It was hard to ignore these feelings that sent my heart beating faster than normal, feelings only Kizito made me feel.
I couldn't think straight with the way his hand dragged down my skin till he was holding my hand in his, sending bolts of knee-weakening jolts just by his fingers, or by the way, his intense gaze held mine transfixed.
How can he hold me this way, look at me this way and not expect me to fall head over heels in love with him?
It was impossible.
"Come here," He whispered again, and before I could protest or stop him, knowing that hugging him will just increase my blood pressure alarmingly, he pulled me to himself and hugged me.
I had no choice but to wrap my arms around him. In fact, I melted into his embrace willingly, burying my face in his chest, sighing in complete satisfaction as I inhaled his intoxicating and addictive scent.
"I'm happy for you." I muffled into his chest and Kizito hugged me tighter.
But it was a lie. I wasn't happy and I won't be happy as long as she has him.
And as if that last train of thought wasn't enough to make me sad, my eyes caught the latest post on Gigi's Instagram. She had posted it three hours ago but I was just noticing it. The post made my heart break in a million pieces.
The post was a reminder of what I wanted but might never have.
A picture of her and Kizito.
I clicked on it with the speed of lightning and my heart broke even more.
According to the location, the picture was taken in Greenland Park, Amber Estate. Amber Estate was where Kizito's house was and they had this big amusement park called Greenland. I have always asked Kizito to take me there one day but we have always been postponing due to my busy schedule.
Now he had taken Gigi.
He was carrying her in the picture. His hefty, big self lifting her effortlessly against his body with his hands steadily under her butt, and her around his neck. They were kissing.
And if that didn't irk me enough, I decided to take a look at the caption. My face contorted in the deepest frown ever.
The post wasn't the only thing that shattered my heart. I looked at the comment and felt life being drained out of me gradually. It actually felt like someone's hands were wrapped tightly around my neck and the person was choking the life out of me. That's what the comments were doing to me.
Argh! It made me so angry
And in as much as I tried not to read through, I couldn't stop myself. So I decided to look for one comment, just one comment that would declare how absurd their new relationship was. How it won't last. I just wanted to see one hate comment, just one that would satisfy the burning anger in me even if it was just a little bit.
But I didn't see any. Everyone was hyping them! It was just like Friday night all over again, when the kiss happened. Everyone cheering them on, catcalls and whistles of excitement as they gave the entire class a show! Even Dawn and Hilary couldn't contain their excitement and it annoyed me!
They are even on pet name basis. I thought in utter disgust when the first comment I saw was Kizito's.
He had a lot of replies to his own comment, most from our classmates. They were hyping him, telling how the both of them were made for each other, how they were power couple material.... how Gigi was the perfect fit for their captain.
Why can't I be the perfect fit for him?
I was nothing close to perfect, that's why. If anything, I was the complete opposite of perfect. I was pretty sure in the dictionary, beside the definition of imperfection, would be a little picture of Semeeha Malik.
Dropping my phone, I stood up from the bed and made my way to my closet, where my full mirror was. The mirror has been my companion lately. I can't count the number of times I check myself in a day. Today, this was the fifth time. The mirror was the only honest thing in my life right now.
It was the only thing that showed me, without any remorse, how imperfect I was. It was the one thing I couldn't control... one thing my mother couldn't control.
I couldn't force it to show me the image I wanted to see... the one everyone sees. I couldn't break or mold the reflection it projected back at me to be what I wanted, the image my mother had shaped me into. The image everyone sees as Semeeha Malik.
But that image was a complete lie. The mirror could only reflect the truth. The truth about me.
The real Semeeha Malik. The very, very insecure one. The one that wasn't as perfect as the world thinks. The one that wasn't as perfect as her friends thinks. The one in love with someone that might never love her back. The one that silently drowns in unhappiness and anytime she's in her closet.
That was the real Semeeha.
I lifted my shirt so I could be able to see my tummy without any interruptions. I turned to my side, knowing I'd be able to see my tummy clearly that way. I sighed when I saw the bump, the very obvious bump. I had expected it to be there but I didn't expect it to be this big... this protruding.
The bump that came from stress-eating.
Looking at the mirror, the reflection that stared back at me was dark, fat, ugly... disgusting. The complete opposite of Gigi Esho. The opposite of who Kizito wants.
Since it started, I have gained several pounds and it was very visible. Concealing the very obvious tummy bump wasn't a problem. All I needed to do was wear waist trainers to school. It was so uncomfortable and suffocating but I had to. I needed to. But my weight gain wasn't something I could hide.
Even Hilary and Dawn noticed. They didn't have to outrightly say that I had put on weight.
"I'm loving this new look on you, Semeeha."
"I thought I was the only one who noticed it. I'm so loving it!"
What is there to love about adding weight?
This has been going on since the night of the party and it all started with Kizito's donuts.
Yes, I was the one who ate them... all of them. I didn't eat them because I was hungry. That was the entire point of Stress-Eating.
Stress-Eating happened more than occasionally with me. It had become something habitual for me to do. I understood the negative effect it was having on me. It was very visible, but I didn't care.
On a normal day, I don't eat much, courtesy of the strict healthy feeding schedule my mother set for me since I was in JSS3. It was hard at first, but over time I got used to it.
But anytime I get upset, sad, angry, or any negative emotion whatsoever, I find myself sneaking junks up to my room to binge eat. If there were no leftover snacks or drinks in the fridge because we hardly stuck the fridge, I'd personally go out to get them myself and stuck the mini-fridge in my closet.
I'd stuff myself up till I'm filled up - even over-filled, but it did only little to quench the dull ache... not just in my heart but everywhere
When it initially started, Mama Marie didn't know it was stress eating so she indulged my sweet tooth by making me several snacks. She has never agreed to the feeding schedule my mother set for me but there was nothing she could do about it. She was still my mother's employee.
But when she started seeing the effect of what I was doing, she tried to talk me out of it. When I didn't listen to her, she stopped indulging me all together. At some point, she even threatened to tell my mother on me. She didn't. She knew the implications it would bring on me if she did. Mama Marie cared way too much about me,
And my mother would kill me if she finds out. Yes, she'd proudly wear my spine as a necklace and my skin as a coat. And I'm not even exaggerating.
Good thing she's out of town till God knows when. That's enough time for me to get myself back in shape.
A loud knock on my door alerted me back from my self-loathing. I wanted to ignore it, knowing that whoever was behind the door, a maid most likely since Mama Marie had traveled, would leave when there is no answer. But the person was persistent because the knock kept coming.
I rolled my eyes, walked out of my closet and towards the door
"What is it!* I screamed at the maid as soon as I opened the door. Her head was already hanging down in a bow because she knew I was going to scream at her.
She knew she was disturbing me so why did she knock in the first place? I hissed.
"What is it?" I asked again impatiently when she didn't answer the first time. "Why are you disturbing me?"
"I'm sorry for disturbing you, small madam," She started and I rolled my eyes at that awful title. "But, Big madam is around and she's..."
My eyes widened.
"My mother is around?" I cut her short abruptly, trying to confirm what I just heard in case I've started hearing double now. And I hoped and prayed so desperately that I was actually hearing double.
"Yes, Big Madam is around. She came about an hour ago." The maid answered, affirming what she had said earlier. "She said I should call you to join her at the dining for lunch," she added.
It was as if someone drenched me with cold water from head to toe. I began to shiver, but at the same time, I could feel the sweat coming out from every one of my pores. I mumbled words of dismissal to the maid and shut the door before resting my back against it.
My mother has been around for an hour. How did I not know? How did I not hear cars drive in? Is that how far I had gone in my thoughts? Most importantly, why didn't she give me a heads up that she was going to be back today?
I immediately knew the answer to that last question and sighed.
Knowing my mother, I'm sure she decided not to tell me about her coming because she wanted to catch me unawares... most likely catch me doing something that would give her the thousandth reason to be disappointed in me.
I quickly got to work, trying to do everything in my power to make sure she doesn't notice the change about me. After changing my dress to something befitting, with the waist trainer sucking my tummy in, of course, I decided to put on little makeup, contouring my face a bit so hide my swollen cheeks.
When I was done, I took a look at my reflection and sighed in dissatisfaction. I still wasn't okay with the way I looked, even with how I tried to conceal everything.
My mother had the eyes of an eagle. She could spot an imperfection from twenty miles away. But I tried my best, and I prayed that my mother won't notice anything.
I pleaded the blood of Jesus on my body as I made my way out of my room and to the stairs.
From the beginning of the stairway, I could see the maids running around. My mother didn't have to bark orders for them to go about their duties promptly. They knew that any slip-up will cost their job. My mother paid them way more than the country's minimum wage. No one would want to lose that kind of pay.
"Iris!"
My mother's loud voice thundered, alerting me back to the present. It was then I realized that I had gotten to the foot of stairs for God knows how long, staring at God knows what.
"Yes mother," I quickly said, heading towards the head of the dining table where she sat, eating her meal with so much poise.
"Sit," She simply said and I obeyed immediately, sitting down right beside her. She didn't say anything again, she just kept eating, her well-manicured finger handling the cutleries like it was something delicate. I didn't say anything, I just sat still and watched her eat.
My Mother, Natasha Malik, unlike me, was light in complexion. She used to tell me when I was much younger that I looked like my father. That was the first time she ever mentioned him. I didn't know who he was, I've never met him... not even a picture. The only thing that could connect me to him was the resemblance.
I wish I had my mother's complexion. At least, I'd know that all of me is tied to her.
Natasha Malik, asides from managing my modeling career, was a businesswoman. There was no particular name to give to what she did, but she traveled a lot and had so many connections with big people in the country. It was what made her this big, this wealthy... what made me this influential and popular.
Asides from her wealth, my mother was an embodiment of beauty, elegance, class... all-round perfection. Growing up, I wanted to be just like her. But right now, I wasn't so sure anymore.
Our relationship was less of a Mother and Daughter one and more of a Master and Servant relationship. We don't have conversations. She tells me what to do and I obey. That's how we have been living for years.
At first, I didn't see anything wrong with it. She was my mother and she knew what was absolutely best for me. It wasn't until I saw the relationship Hilary and Dawn had with their mums that I realized there was nothing normal about what Mother and I had.
I don't pray to have that kind of relationship with my daughter.
One of the maids lined up a few steps away from us walked to the table and made to dish out my meal.
"Stop."
I flinched at the intensity of her voice. She didn't shout, but the tone she used held more weight that shook me. The maid stopped what she was doing and stood upright.
What's going on?
"Step away." Mother ordered the maid still eating her meal.
The maid obeyed prompt, stepping away to stand with the others. I clasped my hands together and held my breath, knowing something was about to happen. My mother was about to do... or say something.
She paused eating for a moment and looked at me. A slow, scrutinizing once-over that made me feel naked beneath her stare. She repeated the process more than once like she was looking for something off about me. I held my breath and prayed within me that she won't find anything.
Her eyes stopped when they met mine. She held my gaze, her face in a hard, yet very subtle glare. I couldn't look away. I dared not to. When she had her feel, a slight scoff escaped her lips, and went back to eating her food.
I held my breath.
"You have added a few pounds." She stated so simply, it made me almost choke on my own saliva.
Not because she had figured me out because I knew it was only a matter of time before she did, but because of the way she had said it so calmly. She had said like she was talking about something so random, something irrelevant.
Anything that had to do with my weight, or my body in general wasn't something my mum took lightly. So, her being so calm about it now was extremely scary.
I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out. Mother wasn't watching me but the humorless chuckle that rang from her lips that moment told me that my silence had only confirmed what she said.
"You think I wouldn't notice, hmmn?" She asked rhetorically, glancing at me with a sardonic smile playing on her lips. I gulped, audibly, completely tongue-tied, not knowing what to say.
"I am your mother, Semeeha Iris Malik, I know you more than you know yourself," She stated gingerly, then stabbed her fork into the piece of shredded chicken on her plate before putting it to her mouth and chewing softly.
"Just because I'm not always around, it doesn't mean I don't have my eye on you. I know when you sleep and wake up. I even know when you breathe." She drawled and I exhaled, while I kept my eyes on my hands resting on my lap.
There was nothing I could say, except...
"I'm sorry, Mother." I apologized like I've been taught to. No arguments, just apology.
The clanging sound on the ceramic plate told me she had dropped her cutleries. I could feel her staring holes into the crown of my head since my head was hanging low in a bow and that was what she could see.
"Of course you are," She muttered.
I rose my head so I could meet her eyes but she wasn't looking at me anymore. Instead, she was cleaning her already clean hand with the serviette. When she was done with that, she dropped that serviette and picked another one to dab her lips gently not wanting to ruin her bright red lipstick coated lips.
Mother didn't have to tell the maids to clear the table before they all ran up, carried everything on the table, and scurried away to the kitchen, leaving the both of us in uncomfortable silence.
So, she didn't call me down to have lunch. She called me to scrutinize me, to know if I was fit enough to have lunch.
"We have to fix you back to normal before your next photo shoot, so starting from now till then, you will only be on fruits and water." She wasn't asking me, She was telling me.
And all I could do was to nod.
"As soon as you leave this place, you are heading to the gym to burn every pound you gained and even more. Every day till your next photoshoot, when you are not in school, you are in the gym. And you are you going work out till your legs can't carry you anymore. Have I made myself clear Iris?"
I knew what all these entailed. I knew the next week or two would be hell for me. But there was nothing I could do. I had no choice, so I just accepted... as I have always done.
"Yes, Mother."
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Mother left as soon as she was done talking to me. Not the country again but the house. I knew she wasn't leaving anytime soon, especially with my next photoshoot coming up. I wasn't sure how I was going to survive being in the same house with her. That woman's presence choked the life out of me. I needed breathing space.
That's why I was getting down from the Uber that was parked in front of Kizito's house.
I wanted to call Hilary but I remembered Saturdays have been set aside for her therapy. I called Dawn instead but she told me she was out with her brothers. She offered for me to join them but I knew I'd feel left out so I just declined.
Kizito was the only one left and I didn't even think about it before I called an Uber to bring me here.
After paying the driver, I walked through the opened small gate. The lack of many cars in the large compound told me his mum was already out. Kizito's car was parked which meant he had. to be inside, so I made my way to the door, hitting the doorbell as soon as I got there.
I didn't have to wait for long before the doorknob turned and the door opened, revealing Kizito... in all his shirtless glory.
Oh My God.
I swallowed, audibly, trying to keep my eyes away from his body and on his eyes, but it was hard... so hard!
He is so hot.
Kizito's eyes rested on my mine and his face lit up.
"Semmy, hey! I wasn't expecting you." He chirped, leaning against the doorpost, his arm stretching the door open further, his biceps flexing in the process. I swallowed again, flashing a very nervous smile at him.
But of course, he had no idea what he was doing to me. He was so casual, unsuspecting. I didn't want to do or say something embarrassing so I comported myself and acted as naturally, I would do around Kizito on a normal day.
"So I cannot come and visit you again, hmmn?" I asked with a teasing smirk, folding my hand across my chest. He laughed, deep and booming laughter that I'm sure caused his chest to vibrate. I held myself from reaching out my hand to feel it for myself.
Don't do something embarrassing, Semeeha. Be natural. Be yourself.
But then again, I didn't even know myself.
"No na, It's not that." Kizito started, shaking his head. "You always give me a heads up before you show up so..."
"What's up?" I frowned, then peered in over his shoulder. "Is this a bad time?" I asked, looking back at him. He went errr then began bobbing his head from left to right, a small smile playing on his lips.
"Well..." He drawled and I cocked my head to the side, waiting for him to speak. "It's not exactly bad timing, but..."
"Babe," The familiar voice coming from inside causes Kizito to trailer off... and also made me freeze on that spot.
It was her voice. Gigi's voice.
She's here? They weren't done with their date?!
Before I could even think further, Gigi was already coming towards us, towards Kizito. She was wearing an apron over a crop top and jeans shorts, the same one she had in the post on Instagram, her hair now in an up-do and a spatula in her hand.
My face contorted in a deep frown before I could stop myself. Not just because of how bizarre the scene before me looked, but also because when she got to Kizito, she ignored me.
It was almost like she didn't see me. Like I was invisible.
"Babe," She called again, rolling her eyes comically. "Once a donut is done, you take it out of the deep fryer. If you leave it, it will absolve a lot of oil and you won't enjoy it at the end of the day." She said.
What the...
If my frown could go deeper than it already was, it would have. I looked at Kizito and found him smiling, staring at Gigi like she had just jumped down from heaven. I fought the urge to hiss out loud.
"I'm sorry, the doorbell went off." He answered her, gesturing to my side. "Semeeha was at the door."
It was at that point Gigi noticed me. She actually turned to look at me. No, looking at me was overstating it. She just glanced at me, a ghost of a smile that I knew wasn't directed to me tugged at the corners of her lips.
Then she looked away, back at Kizito.
"Alright. I'll be inside. Those donuts will not fry themselves." She said and Kizito nodded. She then went ahead to press a kiss on his cheeks before walking back in. The vein at the side of my head almost popped at the action.
The nerve of this bitch!
"She's making donuts in your house," I tried not to sound as irritated as I felt, and Kizito didn't even notice because he was grinning, glancing behind him to look at the retreating figure of Gigi.
"She's actually teaching me how to make them," He answered, looking back at me. "She said I spend way too much money on buying donuts. Truth be told, I spend more than half of my allowance on donuts."
"You know you could have just asked Mama Marie to teach you right?" I found myself saying, my voice coming out harder than I wanted it to. "I'm pretty sure she can do a better job than your little girlfriend."
Kizito must have heard the sarcasm in my tone when I said little girlfriend because his brows furrowed in a slight frown, but it disappeared as soon as it came, replaced with a small smile.
"It's good bonding time." He said with a shrug. "She wasn't in a hurry to go home after our date so, why waste an entirely good day."
"Right." That was all I could say. I was too annoyed to even start exchanging words with him. I just wanted to leave this place before I combust from anger.
"You can join us if you want." He suggested and again, I almost hissed out loud.
He wanted me to join them. To do what? Watch them kiss and make out as they fry donuts together like married couples? God forbid.
"No, thanks," I said instead, flashing him a tight-lipped smile. "I wouldn't want to intrude on your honeymoon stage."
I knew he read a meaning that what I said, which was kinda the entire point anyway, because he sighed, shaking his head slightly but didn't say anything. I wanted him to say something, or do something. I wanted him to apologize because it was obvious I wasn't happy.
But he didn't. Kizito didn't apologize.
Instead, he nodded and said, "Alright then. I'll call you later, yeah?"
He was dismissing me. Because of her.
"Sure," I replied, waving as I made my way out of the house. I heard the door close behind me, indicating that Kizito had gone back in.
I was angry, livid even.
No, I was jealous.
I know what jealousy feels like and that's how I'm feeling right now. Utmost jealousy and envy. They are now making donuts together, acting like newly wedded couples. It was irritating, disgusting. It made me so angry but not as angry as when I saw the way Kizito kept looking at her. Kept staring at her.
Like she was this celestial, ethereal being from a divine planet.
Standing right in front of them, I was able to get an up-close view than the night of the party. Kizito was hopelessly in love with Gigi. This babe has literally gotten Kizito's mumu button. She was in his house, wearing his mum's apron, deep frying Kizito's favorite snack for him, in his mum's kitchen.
I didn't need anyone to tell me Kizito already introduced her to his parents, especially his mum. This only meant Kizito was fully serious about this relationship. I didn't stand a chance.
No! I can't just give up. There has got to be something I can do.
There has to be. Kizito was the one person that didn't directly or indirectly remind me of all the Imperfections in my life. I can't let him go just like that.
𝐀/𝐍
Semeeha Iris Malik, Hmmmn.
For everyone that felt that there was something up with her, your intuitions were right. There is a lot going on with her. What you saw in this chapter, especially with her mum is just a glimpse. There is still more to come.
And just like Jidenna, Semeeha might be making very terrible decisions in the course of this book. I think the last paragraph already gave that hint. Sigh*
I didn't write this chapter to the best of my ability, but I hope you liked it. Now for the Important Notice 👇🏾
I just want to put this out there. If there is anything I enjoy and love the most, it's having readers being engaging in my comment session. I can't even count the number of times I've said it. I love it when my readers express themselves, airing your opinions and I am sure y'all can testify with the way the comment session is always buzzing 🤣.
So... under no circumstances should anyone insinuate that I don't allow my readers to express themselves. There can be clashes of opinions which is totally inevitable, but never ever insinuate that nonsense. I find that insinuation very insulting to my person. I can actually mute and block anyone for that blasphemy 🙂. Plus, just because I allow my readers express themselves doesn't mean I will condone ignorant comments.
Will try to update as soon as I can, but in the meantime, don't forget to VOTE! COMMENT!! SHARE!!! See you when I see you❤️.