To Live For Once (Set Me Free II) - Episode 13

 

Amaya:

 I lose the battle to fight tears of frustration as I finally exit the big mall and the prospect of going back home without money for transportation hit me. I sag and drop to the bare concrete surrounding the Mall's flowers outside. I don't even care anymore that people are staring. I've been through too much in one day . I dial Michelle's number and it goes to voicemail.
"What am I going to do now?" I say in distress. I continuously wipe the tears from the corners of my eyes. I can't even call my dad or husband. It's a shame that I don't have my husband's number while my dad would definitely shout my head off. I feel completely alone.
"Prudy!" Of course she's my go to person! She'll never fail me. I dial her number and she picks on the first ring.
"Michelle, I can't talk right now. I'll call you okay?" The call ends before I can get in another word. The time on my phone tells me it's a few minutes past three pm. Of course Prudy is still in school. My head sag in defeat as more tears assail me. I try to brush them off and sniff them back to no avail.
 A sudden figure covers the sun's ray from hitting my face and I involuntarily look up. My heart stops beating for a second when I see who it is.
"Rory?!" He takes my arm and pulls me up.
"Married women don't sit on bare concrete outside a city mall

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/to-live-for-once-set-me-free-ii

. Definitely not my wife." He grunts. I can't help the explicit happiness soaring thorough me and I launch myself at him and hold him tight in a hug. For some unknown reason, the tears come more and I cry them on his shoulder.
"You came." I sob, holding him tighter.
"Why are you crying?" He pats my back awkwardly but it's still so soothing.
"Nothing. I'm just so happy to see you." I smile through my tears and breathe in the cool scent of his cologne. He smells delicious. I could eat him for lunch. My stomach growls at this and I quickly pull away from him before he hears it. It's not so ladylike. His probing eyes search mine before they stray to look around us. People are still pointing at me. Surely, they are talking about the spectacle inside the mall a while ago. I bow my head in shame.
"Why are they staring?"
"Nothing. Let's go, please." He must see the pleading in my eyes because he starts matching in front of me and I see his car close by. I follow behind hm. His long legs taking eating up the steps to his car faster than mine can carry me.
"Where's Michelle? She texted me about an emergency." Rory says as he pulls open my door for me. I smile my thanks before he pushes the door close and walks around to his side of the car.
"Seat belt." He instructs and I fasten mine before he pulls out of the Mall's premises.
"So, Michelle." He prompts.
"She left. She texted about her husband getting into an accident." I explain.
"Is that why you were crying in front of a mall like a little girl?"
"No." I say quietly.
"Do I have to ask what made you cry?" He says awkwardly.
"Everything is fine now." I say and relax my aching head against the headrest of the car's seat. It's comfortable. It smells new and of leather. I watch Rory navigate the car through the busy road. The flex of his muscles and arm is completely hypnotic.
"Can you stop looking at me like that?" My eyes snap up to his face. He's concentrating on the road. How can he see me?
"Looking at you how?" I ask.
"Like you want to eat me." He says and I literally start to choke on my spit. I cough violently beside him while he chuckles.
"I was--was not!" I protest and look out the window.
"You shouldn't cry again. Crying doesn't suit you." Rory says after a while and my heart warms up. I'm in Rory Central cloud nine right now. I exhale warm breath on the window and use my finger to scribble the few words bursting in my heart right now.
 I LOVE YOU
"Rory speaking." I turn my head to watch Rory as he picks up a call. He sounds so formal. No hello but Rory speaking. I smile at how stoic he can be. I find it attractive in him.
"What?! How many hours do I have to get there?!" I watch his face turn to anxiety as he suddenly takes a u-turn and speed up the car.
"Okay. I'll be there." He says and end the call without a goodbye.
"What's wrong?" I ask.
"Nothing's wrong. Do you have anywhere else to be today?" He asks. I shake my head.
"No." I answer when I notice he isn't looking at me but at the GPS.
"I have to get to the neighboring town for important business in two hours. I don't think it's safe dropping you off here to get a cab. It's pretty much deserted." He explains.
"That's fine by me. I'll just come with you and wait till you finish up with your business." I assure him against my growling stomach's wishes. I wonder when we'll be able to eat lunch. That's not important right now though. Rory's business comes first. My stomach growls it's approval again. I look out the window and hope Rory doesn't hear it.
"Good." He grunts out and speeds up some more.

Rory:

 Amaya's growling stomach bug my mind as I swerve out of the city. She's looking out the window and I watch her through the mirror. Dry tears cling to the side of her face. I don't want to but I wonder what could have made her cry. Michelle's husband's accident maybe? Women can sure be emotional over nothing. I slow the car to an almost stop at the stuck traffic just outside the city. Various hawkers call on the drivers to patronize them. I look to Michelle who's staring dreamily at the food being carted around.
  I check my wrist watch. I still have an hour to get to the appointment for the land I really want. If I beat this traffic I can get there before it's too late.
"Do you want to get something to eat?" I ask Amaya. She looks from the kid carrying some weird stuff on a stick then back to me.
"You have to get to your meeting." She waves it off but her stomach growls and not for the first time. She press a hand into her stomach and blush.
"I'm fine, really." She says but I maneuver through the traffic jam and pull over by the side of the road.
"You had a light breakfast. It's almost 5pm. I still have time." I say and alight the car.
"Are you sure?!" Amaya calls from behind me as she alights and hurries to catch up with me.
"What do you want?" I stop and ask. She hesitates for a few seconds before she points to a woman barbecuing bananas. Or are those plantain. I eye the unsanitary place weakly but Michelle takes my hand suddenly and pulls me towards the woman's shack.
"Good evening ma'am. How much are these bolés?" Amaya asks and I cringe.

Read " The fill-in wife " by the same author ( Ameh juliet )

. Even the name sound unsavory.
"N100 ma'am. How many you and your fine husband want?" The woman answers in vernacular.
"We'll have four bolés. You have beans right? Put a hundred naira's worth with sauce. We'll have bread too." She looks so pleased with herself.
"We?!" I ask Amaya in horror. There's no way I'm putting that in my stomach.
"It's delicious!" Amaya says with wide eyes.
"My father would never let me eat this. But I love it. Let's sit here." She pulls my hand again and drops my ass unto a dirty wooden chair. I bolt up at once.
"What? Don't tell me you are afraid of a little dirt." She giggles and I frown. Little?! Really? I retrieve my handkerchief from my pocket and lay it on the chair before I sit. Amaya just giggle beside me.
"Here's the food." The woman places a plate of the food in front of us and I cringe again. There's no way I'm eating this.