Chapter 13 Tough Girl

“She is clothed in strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.” – Proverbs 31:25

.........

"Oh ma God!" Tomison gushed. "He told you that?"

"Now I'm sure he's totally into you" Lara added.

We were walking out of the school premises. Mum was also busy at work to pick me up so I took public transport home after closing hours. Since, Lara and Tomison live close to each other, and they have to go through my area to get to their house, we decided to always go home together.

"If he's into me or not, I don't care. I just think it was nice of him to say something like that. So what's up with Aisha?" I asked Tomison in attempt to switch topic.

"What else? She's still her miserable self. She even reminded me about the reason why I'm supposed to be friends with you. She thinks I'm not taking it seriously and thinks I should be more close to you."

"And she's still blackmailing you?" Lara asked.

"Yeah" Tomison answered.

"She's a very Tough Girl o, shouldn't her family secret be bothering her at the moment?" I said.

"It's bothering her as hell, that's why she thinks she needs to release someone else's secret to get people off her case." Tomison answered.

"Then I guess I've got work to do then." Lara said and we  boarded a yellow Tricycle and told the driver our destination.

"The whole school is talking about Emem's party." Lara said all of a sudden.

"Yeah, Emem didn't even come to school. Aisha says her parents her going in big for the party. Heard it also supposed to promote her mothers Jewelry line and her fathers Winery."

"So how does that stop her from coming to school. Isn't the party on Saturday?" I asked.

Tomison laughed and gave me a look that said, 'are you kidding me?'

"She's the daughter of an Executive Politician, I mean, a man that has a seat at the house of assembly, you think she'll be in school? When her party's only days away?"

I was confused and turned to Lara for a better explanation but she also looked as confused as I was.

"I don't understand." I confessed.

"Here's the thing, I'm sure she's getting pampered right now. She's going to be at a spa for probably two days, getting her skin touched and body rubbed. You know now. Relaxation. Then she'll get her hair done, her nails and then she'll go for shopping. I actually know all these things because I've been with them."

"What a life!" I heard myself say.

"So after the party?" Lara asked.

"What do you mean?" Tomison asked.

"After the party what happens. She'll probably come back to school to meet a whole load of work. What's the point,then?" Lara said.

"That's her business, I guess." I replied.

"So what are we going to wear?" Tomison asked.

"It's not like we can wear jean and T-shirt. It's supposed to be a Cinderella themed party. Who does that?" Lara hissed.

"Probably someone that has seen too much, Mara and Clara." Tomison said and we laughed.

"Joke apart." I said. "What are we going to wear?"

"Look who's talking, your mum owns a big boutique. We should be the ones brooding here." Tomison said.

"And what makes you think my mum has Cinderella themed outfits?"

"Oh" she said in realisation. "I totally forgot your mum went for urban style. So what are we going to do? "

"If you girls won't mind, we can go shopping together. I'll pay."

I was about to ask, "with what money?" When I remembered that Lara's was in fact, from a rich home.

"Then I'll pay for our makeovers" Tomison piped in.

I couldn't believe my ear and eyes. We were actually planning to look good at the party of our enemy and we made it sound like it was prom or something.

"I can't believe we're actually worrying ourselves sick about Emem's party." I finally said.

"What? If anyone should be worried, it's you." Tomison said.

"And why's that?" I asked.

"Because..... You might, or might not have a potential boyfriend"

"Oh oh, don't forget to add, 'with good tastes of shoes.'" Lara added and I smiled as I watched them laugh.

"Okay, then. If you," I turned to Lara. "will take care of the outfits. And you, will take care of our makeovers. Then I'll supply the wigs. What!? We can't possibly take our corn rows to a Cinderella ball?" I said and this time we all laughed, making the tricycle driver look back at us and ask if everything was alright.

.......

I got home afterwards, I didn't meet Rotimi home so I made noodles for myself and ate as I did my assignment. When I was done, I felt sleepy but as I was about to sleep, The power holding company decided to give us light so I also decided to bring myself joy by watching a movie on DSTV. I was engrossed with the movie that I didn't notice or hear someone knock till the movie had to go on commercial. It was an Indian movie and I love Bollywood.

I went up to the door and didn't bother to ask who it was, concluding that it could only be Rotimi. I was shocked to see a total stranger standing in front of me.

'Dear Lord, don't tell me it's another person that thinks I can help him' I thought, but he didn't look like he needed help, he was smiling.

"Good evening" he smiled. He was actually mildly attractive and he looked not too older than I was.

"Yes? Sorry, Good evening, but I've seen this face before."

"Neither have. I'm from Konga. I have a package for Mr Rotimi Martins." He gestured to his motorcycle that had uber logo on it and I breathed in relief even if I was disappointed. Kinda thought he was one of those street boys that summoned the courage to ask me out.

"He's not at home at the moment." I said.

"But this is his house? Yeah?"

"His Father's house." I deadpanned.

"Oh, okay and I take it that you're his wife?"

'Wife? What the HELL! How old did I look! 30'

I laughed dramatically. "I said this is his father's house, did it even occur to you that I could be his girlfriend or at least, his sister?"

Realisation hit the nosy errand boy.

"Oh oh. That's true. I'm very sorry ma'am."

"Ma'am?" He was within my age range so I asked. "If you won't take offense sir, but how old are you?"

"Oh, not at all. I just turned 18 last week."

"And I'll be 16 next month. So do I look old to you?"

He smirked in a way that made me wonder if messengers were allowed to.

"I was just teasing you........"

"Remi. Remi Martins."

"Oh, of course."

"What?"

"Nothing"

"Nothing? And you said 'of course?'"

"Seriously, it's nothing. Now, will you help him sign this or should I wait for him to?"

"Then you'll be waiting for years. Pen please." I asked and he brought a Blue ball pen out of the back pocket of his denim jeans that looked pretty expensive. Made me wonder how much Konga paid their workers. I signed and waited as he went over to his bike to retrieve the package. I couldn't help but admire how well built he was for his age. His name was written in bold capital letters at the back of his Konga T-shirt. "OBINNA"

I quickly looked away as he walked back with the Konga box. I couldn't help but wonder what a, if I am permitted to say, hot boy was doing with Konga at such a young age.

I signed once again on the box and he brought a tabloid out and typed on it before smiling and handing over the box to me.

"Hey, why are you clearing the box. From what I see here, he's not paid you." I said.

"How did you know I was.....".

"I'm sixteen. I spend my free time watching foreign movies. And my brother is always patronizing Konga. you want more reasons?"

"With the billions of reasons you've listed? I think I'll pass." He smiled and displayed an impressive set of dimples and pink lips you could only day dream about. What was I thinking? Was I crazy?"

"So, you've not still given an answer to my question, why are you clearing the package without payment."

He pretended to think before nodding his head in fake realisation.

"One, you're pretty and funny. Two, I insulted you. Three. Mmmmm.....I like your frown, makes you even prettier."

'Okay today is officially weird

"You're forgetting that the package isn't mine right?"

"Don't care, I'll take care of it."

"It's expensive!" I shouted.

"I know, I said I'll take care of it. And I'll take your phone number as payment, that's if you still insist."

"Knew it, you're just a pervert." I rolled my eye.

"Nope, I'm just a guy that appreciates good things especially when I see it.... standing right in front of me."

"And what if I don't give you my number?"

"Then I'll keep bringing stuff here till you do."

"Sounds good to me, I actually need a lot of stuff. If I may say."

"Fine then, you'll see me tomorrow. Remi." He smiled, did a mock bow and went over to his bike. I was about to call him back and tell him i was kidding, probably even give him the damn number but he plugged his earpiece on and zoomed off, not turning back to me.

"What the hell" I whispered, standing outside with a box in my hand and the door wide open. I think I stood there for like a minute or four.

'What if he comes tomorrow, what do I do?' I thought, although a part of me really wanted to see him for reasons best known to my heart and my head only.

'He says I look beautiful when I frown, March says I look beautiful when I laugh? Who do I believe?'

'Believe March, he's rich. Rich boys know good things more.' A voice in my head said.

'Okay, that's stupid as... You can't possibly determine the sincerity of a guys compliment by the size of his wallet. And come to think of it, Obinna paid for your brothers package, what makes you think he's poor? Cos he works with an online delivery store?' Another voice said in Obinna's defense.

What in the world! Why was I even comparing both boys? That day I thought I was insane or something. When Rotimi got home that day, I told him I'd paid 20 thousand naira for his package and that I wanted it back. He thanked me and gladly gave me the money.

"What's in the box anyway?" I asked our of curiosity.

"You didn't open it?" He asked in surprise.

"Why would I open it?" I asked in confusion.

"Cos you're nosy! Everyone knows that. I'm surprised"

"See who's calling me nosy, someone that's interfering with my personal life and collecting money from a girl young enough to be his daughter to spill secrets on his sister, his blood sister!"

"First of all, I don't see how me going to the party to catch fun qualifies me as nosy. I don't get. And secondly, you really think I'll do that to you?"

"Actually,.......yes!"

"Then you don't know me." He sounded disappointed.

"Don't even start acting drama for me and pretending to be the victim. I'm the victim here!"

"That's your wahala. What did you cook?"

"Just a pot of nothing. I'm not your slave."

"You're kidding right?"

Of course I was. Anyone who's had an encounter with Rotimi knows he doesn't joke with his meal. Especially when he started working out.

"It's in the kitchen. Wash the plate and the pot when you're done o"

"I'll bend if I wash it" he hissed and paused on the way to the kitchen. "Hey, Remi?"

"Yeah?" I looked up from the TV.

"I just wanted the quick cash. What was I even going to tell her? You don't even have a life, talkless of a secret."

I threw a throw pillow at him and hit landed on his head. He pretended to be hurt.

"Idiot." I said and smiled.