Sacrilege – Episode 31

Sacrilege – Episode 31

© Adeola Nissi

The sheet felt good against her skin. Strange, but good. Even in her sleep, Tito’s palm moved against the sheet, feeling its fragile texture graze the palm of her hand. And what was that scent? His scent could not have seeped into her unconscious mind to haunt her dreams now, could it? She could smell it everywhere, smell him everywhere. It was like a very good nightmare… a bad dream she enjoyed so much, she didn’t want to wake up from. She moved unconsciously against the sheets again. It felt strange. Her body was not familiar with it. Slowly, Tito’s eyes pushed open, perhaps drawn out of unconsciousness by curiosity.

Her sleepy eyes stared at the unfamiliar sheet covering the bed. It was a pale blue with large finesse designs scattered all over. She couldn’t remember having… a short gasp escaped her lips, causing her to bolt up, jerking into a sitting position in shocked alarm. Sleep was completely erased from her eyes as her pupils scanned the room in shocked alarm. “Oh no no no no…” she chanted, realizing what had just happened. Her hand covered her agape mouth as she stared. She had been thinking the scent was just a dream, but no… she had actually perceived it – that scent which clung to Chris like an identity. It wasn’t a surprise that the scent dominated the room, placing an invisible stamp on his territory. Impulsively, she glanced down at her body, raising the duvet around her waist to be sure she was still as clothed as the last time she remembered; and she was.

Just as she was releasing a sigh of relief, the door to the bathroom pushed open, causing her to gasp a little. Chris stepped into the room, a small smile playing on his lips. He had on khaki short and a singlet, with a bathroom towel hanging around his neck. “Hey… did I wake you?” his voice called as he came to a stop right in front of the bathroom, a few paces from the bed, staring at her.

Tito shut out the sight of him, running her hands over her tousled hair as she alternated her gaze awkwardly from him to the bed. “No no… ahhh…” she stuttered, finally letting her gaze rest on Chris, looking apologetic. “Didn’t mean to sleep over”

Chris shrugged, amusement playing on his face. “It’s fine”

Tito nodded and swallowed, looking away again. She stared uneasily at the bed and blushed, colour rising in her cheeks. “You didn’t ah… we didn’t…” she gestured around the bed with her hand, biting off the remaining words before chancing a nervous look at Chris. His eyes danced with open amusement. Great! At least someone is enjoying this awkward moment, Tito thought pathetically.

“No” Chris answered her unasked question. “You looked so peaceful asleep, couldn’t risk waking you with my loud snoring”

Tito blinked and broke off a short laugh, echoed by Chris’. Yeah, she knew there was going to be a comeback to that. So they didn’t sleep together… that’s good news, but the joke sufficiently diffused the tension she had been feeling and she was grateful for it. Chris finally moved towards the bed and sat on the edge, his smiling eyes, staring right at her. “Sleep well?” his voice a mere whisper.

Why does he have to stare at me like that? Gosh some men just don’t make it easy. Tito swallowed. “Yeah, maybe too well” she smoothed back her hair again, feeling self-conscious. She wondered what she must look like now, just waking up from sleep and all. Why did she have to sleep over? Gosh… life just wasn’t fair! “Well, I should err… get going. I should get to the hospital and you should be running late for work now”

Chris smiled. “Take your time, it’s Saturday”

“Oh” Tito only murmured, avoiding looking at him as she looked around the room, searching for a distraction. She got one, frowning as her hand pushed out to grab the book which sat on a bedside table. It was not the distraction she had envisaged. “You also have one of these?” she stared oddly at the book.

“Diary? Urh… Rarely use it” It’s only just filled with poetic words meant for someone who could never be his, Chris absently thought. “You have one? Sure it would have a lot in it”

Tito stared at Chris, her eyes penetrating. Absently, she shook her head. “Can’t trust a book to hold my secrets” she gave a small strained smile, thinking of Teju. “In the wrong hands, it can… wreck great havoc”

Chris stared, unnerved as Tito turned the book around in her hand, the desire to open it in her eyes but she didn’t, respecting his privacy. Instead, she raised her inquisitive eyes to his, a small smile on her face. “You know, Catherine did tell me that lonely women do find best friends in their diaries. Does it… include lonely men?”

Chris blinked. “Lonely?” he gave a strained chuckle. “I’m not lonely if that’s what you mean”

Tito nodded but still her penetrating gaze never strayed from his. “It would seem that way” Her eyes seemed to be reading him, giving meaning to his every gesture, trying to find out the secrets behind the mask. “But I’m aware that some people do use humor as a cover. Being so carefree, you crack jokes and people laugh, they often think because you seem so put together you don’t have problems of your own”

Chris shifted; he didn’t like the direction their conversation had taken. “Everyone’s got challenges” he shrugged.

“Yeah” Tito whispered, leaning forward so she could see the black of his eye more amplified. “But how many people listen to yours? I’d bet you are the man who gets to listen to everyone’s problems but no one gets to listen to yours. You cover it well so people won’t think you do. But, instead, you pour your heart out…” she broke contact to stare at the diary “…into a book.”

Chris stared at her for a moment then released a breath he hadn’t been aware of holding. “You’re being outrageous, barely even use the diary” he pushed to his feet and took a deep breath before facing Tito. “Are you hungry? ‘Cause I am.” Tito was smiling at him, a smile that said she knew he was trying to change the course of the discussion. “I’d make breakfast”

Tito smiled at him, mischief dancing in her eyes. “No, I would” There were just too many shades of Tito, Chris found it fascinating.

“Why?”

“Cause I want to bribe you. First time you brought me breakfast, it was a bribe in exchange for my friendship, remember?” she pushed her legs out of the duvet. “Just returning the favour”

Chris pushed his hands into the pocket of his short. He was both amused and curious. “Food’s the bait, what are you fishing for?”

Tito pushed out of the bed like a woman on a mission. She moved to stand in front of him, a smile on her face. “A secret” she said. “One big breakfast for one big secret” she leaned forward and planted a kiss on Chris’ cheek, turning away instantly to head out of the room, showing him that the deal was not up for negotiation. She glanced over her shoulder, seeing that Chris hadn’t left the spot he was rooted in. “You coming? You’ll need to tell me where everything is so I can get this breakfast started” her eyes danced with humor as she left the room with Chris following reluctantly in her wake.

*****

Deolu got to the hospital so early in the morning. Chris had called him late last night to tell him the good news, then Jane had called and then Gloria. Though Laura hadn’t called, obviously wanting him to stay away, he just couldn’t stay put. This good news was a good excuse, was the perfect excuse he had been praying for and he was going to take it. Entering into the hospital, there wasn’t as many people as was always there during the day and he was happy about that. The first person Deolu saw was Gloria, others were nowhere in sight.

“Hey son” Gloria said immediately Deolu got near, stood and hugged him.

Deolu smiled. “Congratulations ma, this is great news”

Gloria could not keep the relief and happiness from her face. “Honestly, I can’t tell you how relieved I am. Frank can be a huge pain in the butt but I don’t mind spending a few more decades with him”

Deolu chuckled, glad to see that the tension was dying down. “I am certain the feeling is mutual. Seen him yet?”

Gloria sighed. “No. Doctors and protocol… they said they want to be sure he is stable before allowing anyone in to see him, but it’s for the best. I just hope Mark pulls through too and soon, that’s the only way everything can be alright again.”

“He will”

Gloria smiled at Deolu, her eyes brimming with perception. “I can see what Laura always talked about; you can make anyone believe anything by just saying it. It is no wonder your company grew so fast” Deolu smiled. Gloria’s eyes grew serious. “You haven’t been in here much lately, Deolu”

Deolu swallowed. “I’m sorry”

Gloria took Deolu’s hand gently, looking up at him. “Don’t listen to her. I know what she told you but she doesn’t mean; you should know Laura, she is always trying to fix everyone and everything.”

Of course Deolu knew that and that was why he was hell-bent on finding out what it was that she was trying to fix. “About that, do you happen to know what she is up to?”

Gloria swallowed. “She said Teju has gone through enough pain in her life that she deserved some happiness even if it meant sacrificing hers” Gloria repeated the same words Laura had said to her days back. She had been trying to see Teju since then but she wouldn’t give her audience. Gloria had thought she was protecting her child from the pain of having a messed up person like her as a mother by letting her go, but realizing that Teju had still had enough pain to wrench Laura’s sympathy was like a blade in her heart that she couldn’t get out. She wanted the chance to make it right, to ease her child’s pain even if she couldn’t take it away but she was afraid it was too late. Yet, she would be damned if she’d allow Laura risk her happiness to fix a mess she did not create. She couldn’t have that. Four times she had tried to see Teju, get her to listen to her, even if it was for a minute, but the girl had fled from her like she was an ostracized leper. She couldn’t blame her but Gloria sure wasn’t giving up yet.

The same sentence had Deolu at a fix. Pain! The word struck Deolu again, Teju’s pain-stricken face flashing through his mind. “She has always had a mother’s instinct, always looking out for everyone but herself.” Gloria continued. “I’m sure she would be telling herself that seeing everyone she loves being happy would make her happy but she is wrong. For the past three days, she has been going about everything like a robot. She has lost that spark and I don’t want that for her, Deolu. You promised to look out for her and protect her; I’m holding you to that”

He swallowed. “Yes ma’am” he glanced away from her, looking at the faces around. “Laura?”

Gloria smiled. “Some nurses have fallen in love with her, when she refused to go home last night, they got her a room” Deolu smiled. “Come with me” Gloria said, leading the way.

*****

The kitchen was alive with delicious aromas. Chris watched Tito move around his kitchen as he sat at the makeshift dinning he had inside the kitchen since he apartment had no dinning area. She was enjoying herself and watching her was more than enough enjoyment for him. She kept a steady conversation with him and though Chris had always enjoyed being in the kitchen, trying out one or two recipes, he found that he thoroughly enjoyed it with her. He couldn’t remember having anyone in his kitchen, cooking for him, it was oddly satisfying. If only she had agreed to let him help, he was certain this experience would have been infinitely splendid. He could have had the opportunity to stand closer and know if she still smelt of flowers in the morning, or maybe he would have had the opportunity to tuck her hair behind her ear everytime the stubborn locks fanned around her cheeks. But no, she had forced him to sit and watch her instead. Like watching her back view waltzing around the shelf wasn’t enough torture. “Who taught you how to cook?” Tito asked conversationally as she carried on with what she was cooking. Fried plantain was already dished on two plates.

“Let’s say my mother didn’t believe in the whole ‘kitchen is meant for women’ thing. Learnt enough from her and improved on it myself when I started living alone”

Tito glanced at him over her shoulder, smiling. “I love your mother” she turned back to what she was doing; flipping over the egg she was frying. “You know, my dad always said it’s a terrible idea to marry a man who is an excellent cook. Said the man would never appreciate your own cooking because it wouldn’t measure up to his”

Chris frowned. “Can’t say that statement is entirely true or false”

“Know what I say to him when he says that?” Tito glanced over her shoulder. “That he was just trying to make excuses for his poor cooking skills” she turned to smile at Chris. He saw the wistful look in her eyes which she covered up with a smile. He could tell that any subject that pertained to her father was still touchy for now.

He gave her a bright smile. “Well, any lapses he had in the kitchen he made up for it in the makeup department”

Tito grinned, turning to turn off the gas “Yeah, that he did, it’s no wonder I never got good at it. Can’t even apply powder right”she dished the fried eggs beside the plantain and grabbed the two plates, taking them to the table. As she leaned forward and dropped the plates, Chris watched Tito’s hair fall around her face. It took all his willpower to stop his hand from reaching out to tuck the hair back. This was becoming a sweet torture.

Chris watched her walk away, seeming unaware of the tension. She got to the shelf and stretched, standing in tip toes, the fabric of her gown straining as she reached up to grab two mugs from the cupboard. Chris swallowed. “Need help with that?” he managed.

“I got it”

Chris sighed. “You really have stuck your foot in”

“Yeah. I’m just holding my end of the bargain which is to make breakfast” she filled the cups with beverage and put in hot water.

Tito took the mugs to the table and went back to get the sliced bread before finally settling down on the plastic chair opposite Chris. Chris had never been so grateful for the small makeshift dinning table. It was so small, Tito was practically an arm’s length away.

Tito looked down at the meal and raised her smiling eyes to his. She raised her mug of tea. “Cheers to bribery and corruption”

Chris rolled his eyes and she chuckled. He looked at the table and glanced at her, amused. “I don’t think I’ve ever taken plantain with bread and egg before.” He was curious to know what it would taste like.

“I take plantain with anything. Taste and see that the Lord is good”

“Amen to that.” Without warning, his hands stretched out, capturing both of hers. Tito swallowed. She had been sweeping around the kitchen since, behaving as if his presence wasn’t unnerving her. It hasn’t helped that he had felt his eyes boring into her back. It was the reason she forced him to sit without assisting. With him hovering over her, she was sure she’d have spiced and salted the food beyond measure. But now, all he had to do was stare at her and hold her hand for all her bravado to fall off. “What?”

“Let’s bless the meal. Close your eyes”

Tito blinked. She hadn’t expected that. As distracting as it was having her hands in his, Tito found herself wondering when last she had prayed before a meal, it was definitely the last time she had stayed with her dad before getting an apartment of her own. The many problems she’d faced had made her lose faith in the authenticity of prayers. She obeyed, closed her eyes and said amen when Chris said a short prayer. He let go of her hands and she quickly pulled them out of reach.

“Alright. Let’s see if it’s good bribery” Chris picked his fork, staring at the egg mixed with fresh tomatoes, onions and scent leaves he couldn’t remember having. He dug into the lump and stuck it in his mouth. “Ummnn” he chewed, his eyes looking dreamy. Tito grinned at him, watching as he chewed. “Oh, that’s good”

Of course, it is. She couldn’t measure the feminine satisfaction she felt at his reaction and approval. “Making it count” She said and lifted her mug. “To secrets” with that, she took a long hot sip.

To be continued

 

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