ANJIÁLA – Episode 3

ANJIÁLA – Episode 3

 

© Bunmi B Gabriel

 

3

 

The place was quiet, my own type of silent. I love it but the way the girls kept looking at each other weird, almost like they were going to cry. I clicked my tongue

 

‘One time I was in Paris, I got lost’ I said out of nowhere. They both smiled

 

‘We used to live in Paris. We loved the street….remember how we used to walk through cobbled passage every evening?’ Abbie asked excitedly. Great, now they are talking

 

‘My favorite is going shopping at Tue Faubourg Saint Honore Street or Avenue Montaigne’ Arie chirped. ‘I loved the shoes and bags and hats and dresses…’

 

‘And walking around our street, Quintessentially Parisian street’

 

Me and my big mouth

 

‘Can you girls speak English?’ I asked rolling my eyes. They shushed me and continued their fantasy.

 

‘When we were five, Arie would always want to jump into a boiling grease’ Abbie laughed and covered herself well with the leave blanket we made.

 

‘Or how you kept trying to bury yourself in tree – lined avenue’

 

‘How is all this even possible?’

 

‘Shhhhhh, or that time when we went to the beach and you thought you were a mermaid and tried to go to Atlantis’ Abbie laughed again

 

‘And how did that end up?’ I asked folding my arms

 

‘Very bad, Arie almost drowned’

 

‘None of that hurt more than your betrayal’ Arie said angrily. I rolled my eyes

 

‘How many times will I tell you that I didn’t sleep with your boyfriend and I’m still a f****ng virgin!’ She exclaimed throwing the blanket off. They both stood up in their feet. ‘I was drunk and looking for you and….’

 

‘Enough of your lies! You’re a sick, greedy, backstabbing b***h. I thought I could trust you but I couldn’t, you betrayed me’ she cried

 

Girls

 

‘I didn’t and why can’t you just believe me!!!!’

 

‘You’re both unbelievable!!!!’ Arie yelled

 

‘We are the ones arguing, what’s with the both?!!!!’

 

‘What’s with you? Your face sucks’

 

‘Your puss sucks!’

 

‘Your breath sucks’

 

‘You’re bad f**k’

 

Am I the only who thinks this argument makes no sense?

 

‘b***h!’

 

‘as***ole! Why can’t you just hear me out?!!!’

 

‘Because you slept with my boyfriend, you’re as bitchy as your mother’ and that snapped it. They got into their cat fighter while I let them entertained me. Arie seemed to be a fighter, she was on top punching and scratching Abbie mercilessly while Abbie pulled her hair.

 

‘I’ll ki*ll you!’

 

‘Okay, enough’ I snapped. I stood up and separated them. Arie dashed me a punch. I staggered back and held my life lips. ‘Ouch’ I groaned and massaged my lips. They both stopped and stared at me. ‘Are you guys being serious! Why are you both fighting? Over a guy!!!!’

 

‘Your boyfriend wasn’t the one stolen’ I licked my lips and stomped to a bush, I cut out a long branch and went back to them

 

‘Now sit down’ I ordered

 

‘What?’

 

‘Sit down!!!!’ They both sat. ‘Now entwine your legs’

 

‘Excuse me’ Abbie protested. I flogged her with the stick and glared at them. They entwined their legs

 

‘Now mommy’s gonna speak and you’re both gonna be good boys and shut and listen to her’ I huffed. They nodded. ‘First of all, have you been friends all your life?’ They nodded. ‘Then why let a guy get between you? Why let one boy ruin a life time relationship? He’s out there now, not bothered about what he have destroyed and you’re both here fighting’

 

‘She started it!’ They both shouted accusingly

 

‘Shut up. Arie tell me your own side if the story’

 

‘Okay, it was last year. There was this cute guy I was crushing in and he finally asked me out. He was a year older but whatev. I really really really REALLY liked him and I told Abbie, she helped me with him and soon we were dating. For the first three months, everything was fine until he started acting weird and secretly and I concluded that he was cheating so I stalked him until I caught him and my best friend kissing in my birthday party’ she explained bitterly

 

‘He was the one chasing me but I refused. I didn’t want to tell you because you liked him so much and I feared to might not believe me and he kissed me. I didn’t kiss him back. Why would I want a guy that I hate? Have you forgotten how I always warned you to not like him? I didn’t do it but you chose to believe his lies over me. How could you let a guy separate us?’ Abbie cried.

 

You know what I was thinking?

 

What the hell were they doing dating at thirteen? And that little boy being a playboy at that age?

 

Did she seriously sleep with a guy?

 

Children of this generation

 

‘And you should have at least give me the benefit of a doubt’ she sobbed. ‘I’m sorry if it hurt you but what you did hurt. You didn’t even trust me’

 

‘I did but….’

 

‘Shut up, you didn’t’

 

‘Okay, I’m really tired of us fighting. I want my best friend back’ Arie cried too

 

‘I’m sorry’

 

‘I’m sorry too’ they hugged and cried on each others shoulders. I stood there with arms akimbo staring at them amusedly

 

Did they really date at that age?

 

Why am I so surprise?

 

‘Aren’t you guys done yet?’ I sighed going back to my spot

 

‘No, this thing takes five to six hours’ Arie whispered in tears. I rolled my eyes and faced the stars

 

Dad would always show me the different consolation

 

I was too close to him

 

Way too close and him leaving really broke me

 

I suddenly felt warm hands around me. I looked at Arie

 

‘What are you doing?’

 

‘Hugging you. Don’t worry baby, I’m here for you so don’t cry’ she whispered

 

‘I’m not cryi…’

 

‘Shhhh’ she pressed her dirty finger on my lips. ‘Mommy’s here for you’ I looked at Abbie who was laughing silently. ‘Now, I’ll put you to sleep. Twinkle twinkle little star….’

 

‘How I wonder what you are’ Abbie joined

 

‘Please don’t sing’ I pleaded. They sang anyways

 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

 

I stretched to my full length yawningly. The sun was out and the day wasn’t giving me a good vibe but what could I say. Arie is a wacko. She woke up early and stripped then went into the water to pretend like she was having a nice hot bath in a jacuzzi. She snag and danced and played with her imagination while Abbie was trying to sit up since. She wanted to exercise but was still in number one in her sit-ups

 

It has been an hour

 

‘Just cut it out Abbie, you’re hopeless’ I said chucklingly

 

‘No, I’m almost there’ she groaned holding her knees

 

‘You’re not suppose to hold anything except your heads’

 

‘Well I’m trying!!!! One! I did it!’

 

‘You’re using the ground as support’ I said as a matter-of-fact. She huffed

 

‘I’m still trying,’ she went back to trying

 

‘I’m back’ Arie announced skipping to us butt naked. ‘Did you miss me baby?’ She asked grinningly at me

 

‘So much’ I said sarcastically

 

‘Awwwn, you’re so cute’ she cooed. ‘Aren’t you baby’ she crooned pressing my face together

 

‘Urgh! Stop it’

 

‘Of course baby’ she pat my head like I was some kind of puppy and kissed my nose. ‘Mommy will be back soon’

 

‘You are annoying’ I huffed wiping my nose

 

‘You haven’t seen anything yet’ she said winkingly. I rolled my eyes with a smile. ‘So what for breakfast? I’m starving’

 

‘Aren’t you suppose to be the mom’ I said scoffingly. She shrugged

 

‘Do I look like your mother to you? If I was yours, you wouldn’t be thus skinny’

 

‘I’m not skinny’ I murmured checking myself out. ‘Okay, maybe I am’

 

‘Glad you know. What do you even eat?’

 

‘Junk food’

 

‘That’s not good for your health’ she scolded

 

‘Says the girl who devours fifty percent of sugar everyday’

 

‘That was in the past. I’m all vegetables now. Mama need to look slim and fresh for all the boys to give phwoah!’

 

‘You’re too expose’ Abbie sighed

 

‘What do you expect? I have three older nymphomaniac sisters and a jungle mom’ I smiled and sat on the floor. ‘So what are we eating gurlfriends?!’ She asked shriekingly. We cringed

 

‘You talk too much’ Abbie sighed

 

‘Gurlfriends?’ I asked puzzledly

 

‘It’s how I roll’ she shrieked again fist pumping the air

 

‘Okay can you put some cloth on? Your nakedness is disturbing’ I said irritably

 

‘Why? Don’t like what you see?’ She asked teasingly smacking her a$$. I chuckled. ‘I’ve got all the wonderful goodies, you want try em? Ew, I’ll just shut up now’ she went to dress up

 

‘So how do we get out of here?’ Abbie sighed finally given up. I shrugged

 

‘I don’t know but I say we keep heading north’

 

‘Why north?’ She asked trying to stand up

 

‘I dunno. Most cartoons and movies always head north so north’

 

‘Or east, so we can land in South Africa!!!!!’ Arie shouted from behind me. I flinched. ‘What’s wrong?’

 

‘You!!! Stop shouting. You’ll get us killed’ I huffed

 

‘I say we head West’

 

‘Why?’ I asked suspiciously

 

‘Don’t look at me like that’ she sighed

 

‘Why do you always like sighing?’ I asked with a frown. She shrugged

 

‘I’ll out grow it’ she said nonchalantly. ‘So West?’

 

‘Sure’ I smiled

 

‘Can someone help me up? I think I fractured my moveable waist’ she said gigglingly

 

‘You’re foolish’ Arie scoffed

 

And I was thinking, so says the kettle

 

We later started our long journey to the West. We talked about ourselves and we got to know each other a lot. They were pretty cool. Abbie was the quiet type. Not that quiet that you can intimidate her type or that devilish quiet type. Just don’t like talking too much

 

She loved books and was somehow shy. She was the type that could crush on guys but never let it come in the way of her education and life. She marked them as future planning. She was the type that loves planning most of the activities that goes on in her life. Very caring, lazy and a softie

 

Ariana, a crazy girl that liked doing whatever she wanted and whenever she wanted it. She was loud, rowdy and tough. The opposite of Abbie. She talked a lot and was a fighter, a trouble maker, and a dare devil. She feared no human, respect but not fear and the one way to describe her was “I don’t care about what anyone thinks of me”

 

Her nuts were missing but I loved her best

 

‘Wait! Can you guys hear that sound?’ I asked shakily. ‘Is that snorting? Like wild snorting?’ I asked trembling already

 

‘Hmm, I’ll go find out’ Arie said. I pulled her back

 

‘Are you crazy! Okay you are but when have you ever heard or seen a case where someone check the eerie sound in the middle of a dangerous forest?!’ I whispered yelled. She mouthed a ‘O’

 

‘We have to g…’ Abbie shushed at the sound of the paws. We gasped

 

‘Tree!’ We ran to and climbed the tree, we hid there and waited until a pack of wolves ran past. They almost sniffed us out. We sighed and rest our head. Not until a big green snake jumped on my body. I screamed and instinctively grabbed it head and flung it away. It was coming back, we jumped down and ran screaming

 

We ran for over an hour before we took a break

 

We sat under the big olive tree breathing heavily. I rested my head on it and held my chest

 

‘That was wild. Why am I so delicious?!’ Arie exclaimed holding her head. Abbie and I simultaneously turned to look at her since she was in our middle. ‘What?’

 

‘Really? We just almost got eaten and that’s all you have to say?’ I asked plainly

 

‘Then what am I suppose to say? I’m bitter? I’m too delicious, I can’t lie. Trust me, I’ve tasted myself’ Abbie face palmed herself and I sighed. ‘God! I can’t die without having sex first’

 

‘Arie!!!’

 

‘Okay, okay, whatever!’ She said in surrender. She kept shut for three minutes then started murmuring to herself and gnawing at her nails

 

‘Do you gurls hear that?’ I asked looking around

 

‘Oh come on! Don’t tell me it’s more wild animals!’ Arie cried. I rolled my eyes

 

‘No, it’s like someone’s singing’ I said standing up. They stood up too and we all looked around. ‘It’s coming from the tree’

 

‘Or my stomach, I’m hungry’

 

‘No, it’s not it’ Abbie sighed touching the tree

 

‘Why can’t it be?’

 

‘Because stomach don’t sing!!!!’ I yelled stomping my feet. The whole place quaked and I blinked. ‘Did I do that?’

 

‘No, she did’ Arie panicked pointing at the tree. I gasped, the tree was opening up. ‘Er…shouldn’t we be running and screaming for our lives?’ She asked scratching her head. I shrugged

 

‘Not the weirdest I’ve seen in my life and I’m tired of running’

 

‘Me too’ Abbie sighed. Sigh queen. Air surrounded us and pulled us into the tree, we screamed as we fell down the deep hole. ‘Hold hands!!!’ We held hands forming a circle as we continued screaming until Arie sighed

 

‘Aren’t we landing to our death sooner? This is boring, I’m tired of screaming’

 

‘How long does it take one to die? I’m tired of falling and getting queasy here!’ I huffed. ‘This endless pit is making death too stressful’

 

‘You’re both foolish’ Ms Sigh Queen added. We fell for about an hour before we saw land, a glowing gold sandy ground

 

‘Is that golden sand?’

 

‘I think we should be more worried about how we’re going to plunge to our painful spluttering death’ I said rolling my eyes. I removed my hands and did aerial somersault until I dived into the sea of sand. The others did the same. ‘Safe!’ I exclaimed

 

‘Hey gurls! I can’t feel my leg!’ Arie cried holding Abbie’s leg

 

‘That’s my leg’

 

‘Oh’ I looked around, it was dark and only the glowing gold sand was light. Three faint speck of light lit up. The lights were like fireflies. It came out of the wall opposite us and quite far and the glow increased until the whole place was shining. ‘Those lights are beautiful’

 

‘I know and look’ I pointed to the green sea between us and the wall, the lights were at the middle of the sea. The walls were emerald vines with jewel flowers sticking out and the walls itself a thick barrier of gold. ‘Where are we?’

 

‘Heaven?’ Arie asked amusedly

 

‘Where else would we be?’ Abbie snorted

 

‘Hell, bitches don’t rock paradise’ I ignored them and walked to the lake, the middle light which was white in colour was calling me. It was like I was hypnotized. I walked on the water. ‘Anji, where the hell are you going to?’

 

‘It calls me’ I murmured

 

‘Anji don’t go’

 

‘Can’t you hear it voice? Listen’

 

‘You can get hurt’

 

‘What’s the worst that can happen? We’ll die anywhere’ I shrugged. I continued walking and Arie followed me with Abbie who didn’t stop nagging about us never listening to her. We reached the middle and the light descended to us. My eyes were spinning and I could ear voices. I touched it and the light glowed

 

Images flashed in my head, horrific images of wars and cries, of blood and death

 

‘Anjiála’ it whispered. I screamed at the image wanting to swallow me before everything became black

 

To be continued

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