Kindled Hearts

12// Why you childish?

It was barely 7pm when Nicole stood by the car park, feverish and highly spirited.
The cold wind that bore a dangerous rhythm to the night merely felt like a sweet assault against the bumps on her skin. Her lips quivered and parted, enough to let the sting of the cold dance lazily on her tongue, padding freshness to her mouth. A delight she so willingly welcomed.

She'd be attending her first fashion show not as a janitress but as a chief editor at Nairobi Fashion House.

Nicole watched Linda get on the company van, a white branded nissan. Linda waved to Nicole before the van purred to life, clambering the path leading out of the underground floor.

"You'd be riding along with Mr. Wayne Bajuu," Linda told Nicole earlier.

The thought of it now, pricked Nicole. Riding with Wayne would be weird and odd, back then when he was only just a date, it was easier, easier to look into his impaling eyes and curl her toes at the billow of emotions blooming in her chest. Now it felt wrong, like one stubborn spring paving no way for a hot summer, a lot of suppressed feelings had played part and though Nicole would have loved it otherwise, she knew she couldn't pry further. Wayne Bajuu didn't feel the same way.

As Nicole watched other vehicles disappear before her very own eyes, she begun to twitch restlessly in her pair of heels, her feet were growing numb. The night now spoke of an eerie silence, the wind an unbearable caress against her skin. A velvet shawl was draped upon her shoulders, clamping her long neck, but Nicole feared she could only bear so much cold for one night. Where was he?

Twenty minutes later, a blue jeep screeched dangerously next to Nicole, merely missing the sway of her polka dress by sheer luck. Nicole jolted away, her heart hammering in her chest, you'd think it a rabid engine. He almost knocked her. Her eyes immediately drifted to the driver's side, at a nonchalant Wayne Bajuu. He didn't even look her way. Anger settled between the bones in her throat and she almost spat out,"Did you not see me? You could have knocked me." But instead Nicole wiped her fiery knuckles on her cloth, willing her heels to the passenger side, where she sat angrily, barely acknowledging his presence. Why disturb herself with pleasantries when he didn't fit any apology her way? Damn him for acting so insolent.

As Wayne drove the car out of the parking garage into the busy highway, an odd and weird silence creeping in just as she suspected, Nicole sank deeper into her seat and watched the glitter of the night with less delight than she'd wished for. It was bad enough that the car brought back memories and the familiar minty essence dipped with an earthy tinge did little to aid the situation. Frustrations nipped at Nicole like a sore thumb and she remembered Jane Austin's Northanger Abbey that she read and re-read in highschool, one particular quote casting a spell to her mind: It must be very improper that a young lady should dream of a gentleman before the gentleman is known to have dreamt of her.

How pathetic of her to dream of him. Improper? No. Improper would be too sweet of a word to describe her tendencies towards Wayne Bajuu. As a child and even as a grown-up, Nicole knew not to keep her lips sealed when irked by a situation. Naturally, she was bound to explode. The only question in this scenario was how long she would hold onto her control button?

Not long enough after all.

"If I didn't know any better I'd say you acting kinda childish," Nicole said, peering at Wayne from the back seat.

"What?"

Nicole caught his glare in the rear-view mirror but she wasn't done. "A child with no set of eyes to see. Are you always so blind?"

"If I am blind, what are you then?" he was quick to ask and Nicole was jarred by the sharpness in his voice. He didn't dodge the ball like she expected, on the contrary, he willingly caught it in his palm, making a throw at her instead.

"I am one open book but not for long I am afraid, time is a scarce asset. I can't keep on waiting."

Nicole could've swore she saw something foreign flicker in his eyes but he looked away, choosing to focus on the road. When he spoke again, it was anything but music to Nicole's ears. "I figured so."

The rest of drive went on undisturbed. Nicole tried to string sleep to her eyes but it was of no use. His words lingered in her mind like the feet of a street urchin. I figure so. What was that supposed to mean? Wayne, she realized was no man to decipher easily, while many chose to speak through actions, Wayne inclined to a reserved state, his actions debatable if not a false misrepresentation.

When the car made a stop at the KICC building, Nairobi CBD, Nicole could barely hold her breath. Already a forest of people gathered at the entrance where two guards stood alert, seemingly overwhelmed.

"Stay close to me," Wayne said when they both got out of the car.

Nicole merely hummed a response that didn't quite reach her lips. She was lost in a daze, her eyes affording her a glance of posh and elegance that she only thought existed in television shows.

Talking about television, the place was packed with different news and entertainment channels, a palpable clash between the reporters as to who interviewed who, who got what piece of information. Clicks of cameras rang in the background like one piano lesson gone terribly wrong. Occasional flashes of light danced here and there, enough to jolt Nicole's eyes to a squint.

By the entrance, Wayne displayed a tag to one of the guard. The muscular guard offered a nod and moved aside. Nicole watched as Wayne looked behind, his eyes searching until he found her. His eyes locked to hers, briefly yet in that moment, Nicole's heart ached, a loud throb silenced by the cheerful night. She almost lost her balance when he failed to look away.

"After you," he said, inching to the right, to provide ingress.

Nicole took the lead, thankful that the night didn't burn bright enough to reveal the colour in her cheeks.

The venue for the fashion show was one large arena brimmed with people. The runway had a steady rhythm to it, a zigzag skirting gilded barriers that was placed in the middle. The show was yet to commence, the backdrop laid unattended but the constant buzz of voices kept the place lively and pretty much overwhelming for Nicole. A shudder ran along her veins, not due to the cold. She was ecstatic, a poignant swell of emotions settling in her chest. She thought of Kiki, how she'd love to be here, experiencing what she was experiencing.

Reminded of Kiki, Nicole searched her purse for her phone, sending a quick text to Kiki.
I'll be home late, don't wait up.

Nicole felt a warm tug on her arm. She looked to Wayne. "Linda and the rest of the crew are seated over there." He pointed at the front seats, just a few inches away from the red carpet that was laid on the runway. "Do sit with them, I'll join you guys later. I have to make sure everything is on track with our models."

"Okay then,"she said.

Wayne demurred a little, before trailing off. Nicole realized he didn't want to leave. She kept her eyes on his stour back, watching the flicker of light on his leather jacket. She watched until he disappeared behind a door.

"Oh Nicole, I was afraid you wouldn't make it," Linda said when Nicole sat next to her.

Nicole smiled, a lie trickling to her lips. "Traffic at peak hours is one big headache."

"Well am happy you are here."

"So am I."

Nicole continued to engage in a hearty conversation with Linda. Linda was a great individual to be around with and quite funny. Nicole laughed every time Linda would crack a joke and was glad that her taut nerves had cooled off. Nicole easily settled in the lighthearted moment but when Wayne Bajuu appeared next to them, breathless and troubled, the air suddenly took a grave spiral.

"We have a problem."