☆Chioma
"How many papers do you have left?" I asked Kenneth. He lifted a finger. Just one. Chai.
"Economics. Then I'm free."
"I have three left. Two languages and FD practicals."
"French and..."
"Korean." He raised his brows. "How many do you know?"
"Do I know or do I offer?" He asked, grinning.
"Do you speak well."
"I'm fluent in seven languages. English included. I'm offering three." What the hell! "You're screaming, Vivian." Oh my God! "Still screaming." I covered my mouth looking at him in shock. It was impossible.
"Stop playing."
"Who is playing? Me?"
"Yeah."
"Should I speak?" I shook my head. "Fine. I'll mention them. English, French, Spanish, Italian, Hausa, Korean and Hindi." He knows Hausa. "I'm learning German, Latin and Swahili."
"You're amazing."
"Tganks."
"Why are you learning so many?"
"Because of the future when I'll inherit dad's assets. His companies are international and so I'll interact a lot with foreigners. My dad speaks fifteen." I laughed. "And mehn you should see him when he's angry. He mentions the speakable and unspeakable. Sometimes you get confused." I understood. Just like when mom and dad would be switching from English to Igbo and back when they were discussing.
We had reached the learning building. "I wish you best of luck." I told Kenneth. He laughed and did the most surprising thing. Kissed my forehead.
"I don't need luck. But I wish you the best. Where are we meeting after exams?"
"Your place." What did I just-
"I'll come get you. Bye."
"Bye." I ran off. It would get too complicated if I stayed there any longer.
Dear nobody at all. Kenneth kissed my forehead. He kissed my forehead!
|°|°
"So you won't spend time with me." I apologized to Buchi.
"I'll make it up to you this holiday. I promise. Just lemme say goodbye to my friends. Okay?" I stood on my toes and kissed his cheek. "I'll stay with you tonight." He finally smiled.
"See you later then." I ran to Kenneth who was standing at a distance.
"Hey." I held him while steadying my breath.
"Hi." I panted.
"Should I carry you?" I eyed him. "That's a no then. Should I get you something?" I shook my head. "Okay. Let's go."
---
"I don't see Dev around anymore." I said, bringing out my sketchbook.
"He traveled home. Diwali. His exams were online." Ohh. Wow.
"So..." I wanted to ask the question that had been on the back of my mind. "What were you doing at Ebenezer's party? Are you two friends?" He scoffed. "What's your relationship?"
"Cousin. He's my cousin. Your eyeballs will fall off if you keep widening them." Ebenezer had a cousin I didn't know off? "He's my cousin from my mom's side. Our mom's are sisters." Aunty Emerald had a sister? That sister was Kenneth's mom? "You're looking too surprised. He never mentioned me?"
"Never." He looked up at the ceiling, smiling.
"Typical."
"I want to see your mom. May I?" He looked at me for a while then shrugged and brought out his phone.
"Here." Aunt Emerald. "That's my mom. Not Emerald. They're twins." Another mind blowing revelation. Twins. I looked at Kenneth.
"But you look nothing like Ebenezer. Cousins with twin parents usually look alike, or have similarities." But there was nothing.
"That's not a law, Vivian. My dad's genes are stronger. So yeah. I look more like him." I nodded. Ebenezer had so much explaining to do. Tons.
"So you came for his birthday celebration."
"Mhmm. So, what's your relationship with Ebenezer? Is he your boyfriend?" Boy- I laughed. Wahala no dey finish.
"He's my best friend. Since fifth grade."
"Best friend?" I nodded.
"For life." He laughed. "What's funny." I heard him whisper "Dey play". Maybe my ears were malfunctioning.
"I sorry to disappoint you." What? "Forget it."
"So... You're Nigerian." He nodded. "Tribe?"
"Ibo." I nodded.
"State?" He shook his head.
"Dunno. Never really cared. I'll ask my dad." Chai. Umu bekee. "What about you?"
"I'm Igbo too. Anambra State."
"How many tribes are there?"
"Almost three hundred."
"In such a small country. That's too many."
"Our country is not small." I glared at him.
"Sure sure. But if it was a place as large as let's say, the US... That's fine. But Nigeria?"
"That's why we're diverse. That's why we're the coolest. The sharpest. The best." He smiled, nodding in approval.
"Sure. Okay." My phone dinged with a notification. Mom had a new post on IG. God abeg oo. I smiled when I saw it. Mom the belly dancer,She was so good at it.biloved the way her waist beads moved. So beautiful. But who was the man holding her? I did not see his face too.
He and mommy were moving in sync. He could dance too. Maybe it was daddy. "Your mom?" I nodded. "She's good. Wow. Belly dancing isn't that simple." I swear. I could never do it. "That man..." He paused.
"You know him?"
"Forget it." I sent the post to my story then locked my phone.
"So another question." The heat creeped up my cheeks. I felt hot despite the cold. "That thing you did this morning, why did you?"
"Which thing?"
"My forehead. You you kissed my-" he was smiling.
"You mean this." He did it again!
"Kenneth!"
"Yes dear? You wanted it here instead?" He pecked my cheek. "Or here?" His lips were dangerously close to mine. Very close. His breathing was heavy. I could hear my chest pounding furiously. "Or here.." he repeated, his voice deeper. He kissed my chin, and caressed my face with his eyes closed. "Vivian."
I released breath I didn't know I was holding. "Huh?"
”You're really pretty. I like it. I like your eyes. I like the innocence they hold. It just makes you prettier. I like it that you're here with me. I feel happy when I'm with you. You make me happy." What was he saying? He wasn't even looking at me. "I like you. Really really like you."
"Kenneth."
"I'm leaving tonight, Vivian. My aide is coming. We'll go back to Knightsbridge then tomorrow afternoon, I'm flying to the US to meet Dad." He removed the sketchbook on my lap and dropped it on his bed before pulling me towards him. "Please say we'll keep in touch."
"We will." He made me sit on him. "Kenneth. Stop."
"I don't want to." He whispered. "I want to enjoy this moment. Let me." He ran his hands down my back. "Stay put, sweetheart. Don't move too much." It was quiet with me looking at anything but Kenneth and him staring at me. "Have you been kissed before?" He suddenly asked. I looked at him curiously before I blushed, nodding. "A boyfriend of yours?"
"I've never dated." He looked at me like I grew two heads. "I'm not allowed to date till I'm of age."
"Wow. That's a nice rule. So who kissed you? Ebenezer?" I nodded. "Guessed right." He chuckled. "It's a pity."
"What is?" He held my face and brought his closer. What was he doing. What was he trying to do? Time seemed to slow down as his lips touched mine. It became even slower as I found myself underneath him, my arms wrapped around his neck. What was I doing? What were we doing? "I'm sorry. Very very sorry. Please leave." I ran out, trying to process what just happened.
Chioma is still processing what happened. Dey play.
Kenneth has started kissing Eben's babe. Nna ehh, e go hot when my guy will find out. Ebenezer will run mad and it won't be funny.
Those two will have to fight. And damn it will end in tears. Y'all will hate Kenneth, hate Eben, hate Chioma. You might hate almost every one but stay strong. Still vote and comment. I love you.