FEELINGS

Art work

It had been a week since Sola started working at the Bakares and it was indeed amazing, work was less tedious than she had expected. There were lots of people doing the work she initially thought would be hers. They had a dry cleaner, a gardener, a girl named Kevwe who came every two days to clean the entire house, drivers, security guards, a delivery man who did food shopping and all other shopping related activities. Basically, all she did was cook and clean on the days she felt like.

The Bakare brothers were nothing short of nice to her. They treated her like she was a friend and not a minor. She was beginning to blend in and she was, in fact, loving it there. She also loved the special care her mom gave her on returning home, the poor woman thought she was working her ass off at the Bakares.

The only minor challenge she had in the house was facing Femi Bakare. She was still embarrassed at the fact that she was working for him, nothing beat the embarrassment she felt upon realizing he was a Bakare son.

She was greatly bewildered and she had her tongue tied for the rest of the day. Even after welcoming her warmly, she couldn't help but notice the mockery in his compliments. She said nothing to him except "yes" and "ok" when he showed her round the house while praying for the earth to open up and swallow her forever. After the day, she had made up her mind to quit her job until she got home and witnessed her mother's joy for her.

She had successfully avoided conversations with him in the past week and always had a reason to absent herself from a room his appearance graced. Although, she knew it made her look stupid and childish, she just couldn't bring herself to face him.

There she was in her mini royal bedroom curating a perfect food time table when she heard a knock on the door. Through the peephole, she saw the magnificent figure that was Femi Bakare's and her heart beat doubled as she rested her back against the door and thought of a lie to excuse herself.
Really slowly, she opened the door and made sure to avoid his stares.
"Hi Sola." He greeted with his perfect signature smile.
"Good day." She replied, with the exact opposite of his demeanor.
"Are you busy? If you don't mind, I would like to talk to you"
"Oh! I actually have to check my food on the fire now so.."
"No, you do not Sola, because there's nothing there. I just got back from the kitchen."
She could feel herself sweating over the room's air conditioner, his presence felt like fire itself and she just wanted to be far away from him. She hated herself for not cancelling the job when it was still young.
"Look Sola, I know how you feel and I totally understand why you should feel this way. But you hiding from me isn't making things better for any of us, the truth is...."

There was the talk, the one she had successfully avoided in the past week. She listened carefully trying to make sense of what he was saying even though a thousand thoughts were racing in her mind. After what seemed like an eternity in hell, he stopped talking and she looked at him blankly for more than a minute.

"Sorry for disturbing you." He said with regret.
"Wait! No, I mean yes. What?" After a couple minutes of self coordination, she continued, this time, slowly. "It's true, my working for you brings me mortification and I still don't know how to act based on that fact. I always feel you're in some way mocking me even though...mmhm...never mind. I'm sorry for hiding and making you feel bad or however you must have felt."
"Seriously? The boys think we must have had sex once cause of how you behave around me. Really unnecessary."
"Ewww please tell them that's not true." She didn't want to be tagged alongside the multiple girls he had slept with. If she wasn't mistaken, there were about 4 of them in the past week.
"Hmm who should I do that?"
"Because it's not true?"
"Are you embarrassed of me?"
"Is there any reason to be?"
He watched her with a raised brow, probably regretting his decision to talk to her. "It's nice you're finally opening up. I hope it would be this way when I wake up tomorrow."
"Yeah"
"Do you promise?"
"I'd try." She tried to convince herself. "So can I start cleaning your room now? I feel bad that you refused to let me do that."
"No no. I didn't stop you from cleaning it because you were uncomfortable. I normally don't let people in my room unless they have serious business for me."
"Yeah, serious business." She stressed.
"Sola, jealousy doesn't look good on you. Now, forget about my room, how about your food that's on fire?"
"It's still there." She giggled and rested her right hand on one of the many portraits in her room. She watched as his face dropped alongside his countenance, and he stared at the portrait, sadly.
"That" He managed to say.
"What?" She quickly removed her hand. How crazy would it be for him to easily be provoked by her placing her hand on a precious portrait, she thought.
"Do you want these in your room? I can get them out now"
"No! Why would you? I actually love all of them. I've studied them closely and they are all beautifully done, master piece of art."
"Oh" He heaved a sigh of relief. "I actually dumped them here, I couldn't bring myself to get rid of them neither did I want to see them."
"Are you for real? I'm glad you dumped them here. Are there any more for dumping?" Even though she really meant the question, she could sense the bitter-sweet smell of sarcasm that she couldn't control.

From his lack of reply, she believed he sensed it too and instantly thought of changing the topic. "I particularly love this one here." She pointed at the one closest to the door, it was of a young shabby looking girl who looked like she bore the whole world's problems. As dirty and ill as she looked, there was a part of her that remained unblemished, her eyes. They were beautiful, captivating and full of hope. "I love everything about it and I believe behind this picture is a story that may get me to tears." She added.

"She died a few weeks after I drew that." the then devastated Femi said.
"What! She died? Wait wait wait! You drew this? You drew all of this? Wow!" She exclaimed and recollected herself as Femi wasn't exactly in a happy state. "Oh she died. That's sad." She withdrew from the portraits and sat at the edge of her bed.

"It was my last work" He walked to the portrait and continued. "Isabel was beautiful, full of life, hope, everything good. Despite her surroundings, she always smiled. I should have done something, but I was selfish, I saw an art work not a human who needed help. By the time I went back with the portrait, it was too late. I was too late."

She listened keenly as he spoke with increasing pain, the next word hurting more than the last.
"I'm sorry." She muttered. She hated herself at that moment for not being good at consoling people. She was always confused as to what was suitable and what wasn't.
"You don't have to be. The fact that I'd never hold a pencil again is enough punishment for me. This is my punishment." He waved at the portraits.

Like he was summoned back to the real world, he abstained from the portrait and cleared his throat.
"I'm sorry for the unwarranted story." He awkwardly said. "I should leave now." He walked out in a flash leaving Sola confused.
Was he mad that she couldn't console him or did he feel he had said too much. Those were the thoughts that occupied her mind till her phone rang.

Smiling foolishly as a result of the caller, she picked it up
"Nkechi Nkechi, my darling Nkechi." Her best friend, Sheila teased.
"You know you're a tribalist right?"
"Nollywood is the tribalist, not me. My baby girl, how are you doing? I've missed you a lot."
"I'm ok dear. How are you?"
"I'm here where you left me. Sola you don't try at all, you don't call, I even sent you a WhatsApp text and I'm yet to receive a response. You this girl, you're not a good person."
"Common now, it's this work. I actually thought I had replied you, maybe it was in my mind. I'm sorry my love."
"Ehen, the work, that's why I called self. How's it going now? Are you planning on quitting already?"
"Quit ke? It's actually better than I had expected."
"Shey I told you, you were just panicking for nothing. So the children aren't giving you issues right?"
"Children? That's funny. They are grown men Sheila."
"Grown men as in people's husbands, I don't understand."
"Grown men as in youths like us."
"Wawu wawu! How are they please? Are they fine? Let me know when I'd come visiting."
"I trust you! I won't lie to you, they are fine like I don't know how to describe them.....you know Tony from our hostel, they are finer than him and they are tall, yoruba demon built."
"You are a liar! You are lying Sola!"
"What would I gain from lying? I have plenty gist for you self but I'd wait till I get home."
"No now, tell me now. My blood is hot please"
"Amebo special, I've actually missed you a whole lot." She smiled.

"Who are you and what the hell are you doing here?" A husky voice called from the door causing her to drop her phone flat on the floor.

How's your ride going? It's getting intense for me 👀👀.

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