Taji
"Are you okay," I asked, walking up to the short human who looked like she'd seen a ghost. I racked my brain trying to recall her name so that I'd at least have something to refer to her with.
The day had started out rather too dramatically. I'd totally forgotten that I'd made an appointment with an interior designer. My week had been hectic trying to balance between shutting out gossip and catching on the developments made when Mark was in charge. I gave myself the day off to get my apartment in order. Looking at the curly haired girl, I couldn't shake off the feeling that I'd seen her somewhere before.
Rehema.
Ruby.
Rihanna.
Something.
Jeez!
"Yeah, which floor exactly?" She asked.
"Oh, my bad. I should be the one leading the way,"
Why are you shaking so much.
She's a human being just like you.
I had never in my entire life hosted any other female other than my sister and my ex. Partly because I was always living with hawk eyed people. Mostly because there wasn't any need to. I was never the casanova type of guy, the thought of relationships was always freaking me out. Despite the bipolar, which was dying down after three seasons of therapy, I just wasn't into it. My elder sisters always thought that I was gay. I froze at any opportunity to converse with a female, especially one as gorgeous as the one walking behind me. I'd eventually say something dumb each time. This, however was just a formal visit and I told myself not to make a big deal out of it. That, was a lie.
"Uhm, would you like a cup of tea?" I asked closing the door behind me, trying hard not to be flippant with my words.
"Yeah, sure, if it's not a bother,"
I'd made sure I pushed aside the boxes into a line earlier on, in an effort to make the living room look more welcoming rather than a run down storage closet.
I scurried round the island to prepare the tea then went to pull out two mugs and two plates from the cabinet. I unwrapped the foil covered pancakes that I'd made the previous day and heated them up in the microwave. I leaned back on the counter, facing her, as I waited for the milk to boil, phone in my hands, trying to look busy.
I glanced at her to take in her features. She sat at the edge of the sofa with her legs crossed at the ankles.
She's uncomfortable.
Say something.
The light pink blazer she had on added formality what I guessed was a white tank top underneath and blue jeans. She had these cute with white ankle socks brought to life by multi coloured polka dots. Her eyes darted uneasily around her new surroundings till they eventually landed on my boxes.
She had very readable facial expressions, which I was sure she didn't know by how she furrowed her eyebrows at my dysfunctional apartment. She then leaned back onto the sofa, probably cursing herself for having to be the one to deal with my junk. It felt kind of rude letting someone else clean up after me, but I simply lacked the willpower to do so. The sound of something steaming pulled me back to the kitchen to rescue my pouring milk as it crashed onto the cooker a bit too loudly.
"Crap, crap, crap," I whispered under my breath, turning it off and rummaging through the counter top to find a cloth to wipe my mess with.
Why did I go for the open plan apartment?
I made no attempt to look up, extremely embarrassed at the reality show I was acting out in front of my guest.
Guest?
Designer.
Everything cleaned up, I served the pancakes and poured the milk into the mugs.
Does she even take milk?
I should have asked that before embarrassing myself.
Wait.
I'll use that as an ice breaker.
"Uhm, sorry about that, I forgot to ask, do you take milk?" I managed to shake out placing my can of assorted tea bags in front of her next to her plate of pancakes.
"Yeah, I do... oh and thank you so much for the pancakes, you shouldn't have,"
"Anything for the lovely designer,"
IDIOT! My conscience screamed as I mentally face palmed myself turning on my heels to get the mugs, not at all eager to see her reaction.
I need to relax.
I hope she doesn't raise a complaint against me.
Especially to dad.
"Oh my goodness these are good!" She exclaimed after swallowing her first bite. Something lit up inside me at her compliment.
"Thank you, I usually add vanilla extract to my pancakes, "
Her raised eyebrows clearly asked your pancakes?
"Yes, I cook, quite good at it, or so I hear,"
What are you talking about?
"Not gonna lie, this," white painted nails pointing at the pancakes with a pause, "is amazing."
There it was again, that choking, burning, uneasy sensation in my gut.
"Thank you," I coughed out.
Classy.
"So, how about you tell me what you'd like me to help you with?" She asked.
Oh yeah.
That.
"As you can see, my living situation is a bit... rough,"
She chuckled as her eyes squinted in the process and I didn't miss noticing her long lashes. Looking closely at them, I could tell that they weren't fake like the rakes all the city girls have on their faces these days. That would have looked odd on her as she had a minimalistic style. All she had in her face was crystal clear glossy lip gloss, or was it my oily pancakes? There was a birthmark near the corner of her bottom lip that weirdly made her face more attractive. A slim necklace hung on her neck with a tiny pendant resting a little below her clavicle. My eyes then trailed back up to her face. Her eyes were the type of brown that looked black in the shade but would definitely be hazel brown in the sun. A tiny nose piercing added a bit more sparkle to her countenance.
I went ahead describing what I needed help with, intending not to weird her out by my gawking. With every statement, she nodded, taking notes on a tablet she'd pulled out of her bag in the process.
"Would you like any structural modifications to your living space?"
"Huh?"
With a polite smile she went on, "What I mean by that is take your doorway for example, " stopping as we both turned to face the small hallway with an arch at the entrance to the living room. "The Victorian arch looks like it was added by the previous home owner because the paint is a bit fresher at that spot and it's shape doesn't go with the modern structure of your apartment. "
Woah.
I'm definitely paying her double.
"I know, I know, I'm being geeky," she said in a mundane tone disguised by the smile she shot me afterwards.
Is she really excusing herself for being good at her job?
"No way, you seem to really have all your cards right. In fact, surprise me. How long would you need?"
"To be clear, you're giving me a leeway to do whatever I'd like with your space, " she asked and I nodded. Her face lit up at the suggestion and I couldn't help but smirk at how childlike she looked.
"Okay then, considering that we're doing three rooms, four days would be enough,"
"So four days meaning I come back on the fifth?" Her eyes squinted as she worked out the math in her head.
"Actually yeah, wait... Yeah... You're leaving?"
"Yeah, I don't want to be in your hair when your in your element. "
"Oh so who will be around, a roommate or something,"
"Yo, this is a one bedroom apartment, I live alone silly, "
She seemed to be calculating her next response before she spoke up, "Not to get in your hair, but how will my team and I access your apartment?"
Good question actually.
The feisty attitude though.
I could get used to this.
"I'm leaving it in your hands."
Swallowing a gulp in her throat, "I'm really sorry but that goes against the company's policies. " The way her tone fluctuated from friendly, to professional, to cocky, to nervous showed that she was still new in the field.
"What exactly? "
"Accepting to temporarily co-own a space with a client, "
"What? It's not like I'm asking you to move in with me?"
"Excuse me?" She cut in dropping the be-friendly-to-the-client charade, crossing her arms on her chest, clearly irked. I couldn't help but laugh at how cute the expression was. I expected her to humanly bark an insult at me but she sighed and chuckled slightly in amusement.
Quit being friendly Taji.
This has gone on long enough.
"Look, in as much as I would like to help you out with that, I wouldn't want to be responsible for something that could be avoided by your supervision. "
The next few statements that flew out my lips went against everything I'd worked so hard to believe in.
"Is there a rule against looking after a friend's house while they are away?"
"Uhm, no."
I got up and unhooked my spare keys from the adhesive hook that had suspended them then walked back and handed them to her with a smirk saying, "Consider me your new friend."
She looked up at me, innocent eyes searching my face for ulterior motives, suddenly making me feel like a domineering figure towering over her. It felt good to be taller than someone for once. She got up, took the keys and looked straight into my eyes and said, "Okay then, I guess we're done here Mr Taji."
A wry smile dancing on my lips, I held onto her tiny hand before she took the keys away and said, "Call me Taji."
Her eyes uneasily darted across my face as her breathing hastened. Freeing herself from my grip, she took a step back gaining her composure and said," Alright,Taji," pulling out my name.
Why am I still doing this.
She packed up her things and my strange new gentleman self headed for the door, opening it for her. We walked down the stairs talking about colours, my head far from that, concocting a way to ask her if she would like me to drive her to the bus stop.
Am I seriously looking for ways to spend more time with her?
I managed to roughly suggest it, "Would you like me to drive you to the bus stop?"
"I'm not too certain about taking a lift from a stranger, sorry, "
"I'm pretty sure we crossed the stranger danger line when I gave you the keys to my house. "
That. Sounds. Wrong.
"I'll walk, it's not that far away, "
Is she crazy?
This is my lack of fitness talking.
"Are you sure, it's a long way down, "
"I'll be fine, "
"You don't even know your way around here,"
She paused to think for what seemed like an eternity then finally spoke up," You have a point, "
Yes.
"But I'll take an uber."
Aarrgghh.
"Okay," I said raising my hands in defeat. "Lemme get something my sister suggested for my decor first. "
I'm taking myself down that path again.
People always talked about keeping their circles small. I on the other hand, didn't even have one, it'd always been Tanya and occasionally, Mark. But there I was, serving pancakes to a total stranger. I still couldn't shake off the fact that her face looked familiar. Shutting the door of my car after picking up the magazine, it dawned on me.
She was the girl from that church thing, taking photos with her blue haired friend.
Riziki's sister.
And I still can't remember her name.