"I think it's high time I learned how to cook," I break the silence the moment I step into the kitchen and see Karen cutting some leafy vegetables on the table.
With that, she turns around to look at me drawing close to her with my hands folded around my chest.
"Are you that terrible?" She replies, her eyes focusing back on the vegetables.
"Terrible is an overstatement," I say and she giggles a little. When I was still in the UK with my mom, I could still try and prepare fast foods like noodles but after relocating back to Nigeria for college, I can't remember the last time I turn on the gas stove.
Here, the chefs and housemaids prepare our meals or rather order from a restaurant.
"That's so bad," She reacts and I shrug gesturing whatever.
"But I can be of help," I back up. "At least I can cut some vegetables into those small sizes,"
She looks into my eyes like there is something she is searching for.
"What?" I react, eager to know why she is staring at me that way and she instantly takes her eyes off me, clearing her throat.
She hands me over a spare apron as she agrees with me to offer her some help while she moves to the cabinet. I put on the apron that has a Maggi star written over the chest, then I pick up the knife she left on the table, and I begin to chop the leafy vegetables.
Even though I do not know the name of the leaves, I'm sure it's not spinach. It has that kind of smell I can't describe.
"What veggies are these," I ask as I glance at her rinsing the large pot.
"Why did you ask?" She throws back a question.
"I'm perceiving an unpleasant odor," I answer. By now, she is turning on the stove while the pot is already half filled with water. I have no idea what she is about to prepare.
"You should taste it then," She shrugs, staring at me.
"Who eats raw leaves?" I roll my eyes at her.
"Of course, some can be eaten raw," She argues. She is right but not this typical one, smelling somehow.
She draws close to me, picks up a chopped one, and put it in her mouth. I furrow my eyebrows as I watch her grimacing in disgust.
"Come on, take a bite too," She says. Why would she wants me to take a bite with her facial expression? Well, I never back down from a challenge.
I also grab one chop leaf and nibble it.
"What the hell," I react, grimacing as it tastes so bitter that I wanted to spill it out.
"It's bitter leaf so expect it to taste bitter," She explains. Of course, I have heard of bitter leaves but I do not identify the leaves until now.
"You should have told me," I say and she bursts out laughing, making fun of me. I veer to the tap to rinse my mouth.
"No," She shouts, stopping me to open the tap.
"Why?" I shrug.
"Give it some minutes, you are going to feel better," She answers with a smile.
"And you think I should trust you this time?" I smirk at her and she chuckles.
"One last time," She assures me. I shrug okay and veer back to the cutting table to continue chopping the bitter leaf.
She brings out some unripe plantains on the table next to me. I side-eye to watch her slicing the ends off the plantains before cutting them in half.
No sooner than I gradually begin to have some sweet taste in my mouth.
"I'm having a sweet taste," I break the silence in confusion and she looks up at me which meets my gaze.
"Exactly what I want you to notice and feel," She reacts, her lips stretching for a grin.
"That is the reason they say there is always sweetness in every aftertaste of bitter leaf." She adds and this makes me recall the proverb.
This is mostly what old ones say to encourage people not to give up. I can't believe Karen makes me experience this and I'm surprised the proverb is valid.
"Wow! What an amazing experience," I marvel.
"Yep," She retorts focusing on pilling them. It reveals she wants to boil the plantains but what I do not get is the use of the bitter leaf for boiled plantains.
"Why the bitter leaf?" I inquire.
"To make bitter leaf soup for everyone in the mansion," She answers with a smirk. "It's a request from your dad,"
"Wawu!" I react.
"Your dad loves healthy foods," She expresses.
"And so do I," I reply as I feel a little jealous for commending my dad.
She chuckles a little.
"You that can't even eat a raw bitter leaf talk less of drinking the juice," She teases.
I roll my eyes.
"This stuff is so bitter babes," I pout my lips and she laughs. "That reminds me, we have a party to attend tonight,"
"We?" She asks, now she turns to the sink to rinse the plantains while I'm also done cutting the veggies.
"Yes, Tracy invited us," I answer, turning around in the direction where she is.
"Count me out,"
"Come on! It's gonna be fun,"
"I'm not a partygoer," She argues as she draws to the stove to gently place the plantains into the boiling water.
"What about you heeding my advice," I shrug and she tilts her head back, groaning loudly. I can see I get her with that.
"Urgh! Fine!" She finally agrees and I raise a fist bump in celebration. She then moves to the fridge to bring out some ingredients which include some smoke fish, boiled beef, tripe, crayfish, cloves of garlic, and so on.
I assist her by dropping them on the table.
"Great!" I say.
"How do you even cope with Tracy and your dad?" She asks in confusion as she reaches for the blender and veers back to the table.
I wonder if she knows about Tracy and I dating back then.
"What made you say that?" I manage to say as I play along.
"You guys are friends and I even thought you guys are dating till I started working here and seeing her with the chief," She explains.
"Have you been stalking me?"
My question makes her roll her eyes at me.
"Who doesn't know Michael Anderson at Imperial College?"
I scoff a little before answering her.
"Well, it's her choice I can't stop her,"
She smiles slightly, wanting to rinse the peppers.
"You should go check the plantains, I will do this," I suggest, stretching my hands for the bowl in her hands and I suddenly catch her staring at me with that face again.
"What?" I react, furrowing my brows.
Just tell me you are already falling for me. My thought and wishes.
She hands over the bowl to me and walks to the gas.
"I'm just wondering if this is the Michael I do think of before getting close to him?" She finally replies to me as I am rinsing the peppers.
"What Michael do you think of?"
"Arrogant, proud, selfish, deceptive..." She is saying and while I can't take it anymore, I react, my brows raised in shock.
"What!" I shout in disguise and she bursts out laughing.
What a wrong impression of me.
"Why would you even think of that?"
"What do you expect," She responds. "The son of a rich politician,"
"I need a sincere apology from you," I say as I move back to blend the peppers and tomatoes.
"Why?"
"Because I deserve it," I shrug and she lets out a sigh.
"What if you are hiding the real you from me? Who knows?"
I gently gasp in shock at her response. All I do is chuckle a little as I am lost for words.
This girl!