CHAPTER FORTY TWO

“Are you alright?”

I couldn’t even respond. I was too humiliated. I looked up at the owner of the voice. Mr Jacobs, well, one of them. I wasn’t sure if it was Daniel or Simon. He wore a black sleeveless hoodie and a black pair of sweatpants.

“What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be resting at home.” His voice was firm, scolding.

Hmm… it might be Daniel. He was certainly bossy.

As he spoke, a gym staff ran over with a mop and bucket. Other people in the gym glanced at me with looks of pity and disgust.

“Don’t take it out on her,” Lizzie had stepped off her treadmill by then and stood before him. “It was my idea for us to exercise. Um, by the way, I believe we met yesterday in front of Eniola’s apartment.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He glanced at her briefly and looked at me. “Get up, I am taking you home.”

I tried to get up but stumbled. He grabbed me by the arm and led me out of the gym.

“But Lizzie…”

“Your friend will be fine.”

He led me to his car and waited till I got in.

“So, which twin are you?” I asked as he drove back to the apartment. Only he would drive to a place that’s literally five minutes away.

“Why don’t we play a guessing game?” A mischievous smile played on his lips.

“Seriously?” I frowned.

Hm… maybe it wasn’t Daniel after all. We arrived at the apartment few minutes later. While I fumbled for my key in my waist-bag, he brought out his and opened the door.

“Master key,” he said when he noticed my questioning look.

“Get in the shower first.”

“I know I stink but I can’t shower while you’re in my apartment.” It happened once, didn’t have to happen twice.

“Yes, you can and you will.” He cocked his head toward my bedroom.

“Fine.” I rolled my eyes and went to take a shower.

Were we making a habit out of this? I shook the thought out of my head. I got dressed in comfortable clothes and went out to the living room.

“Have you eaten anything besides the soup I prepared in the morning?”

Daniel. I was certain it was Daniel. I shook my head.

“Yet you thought it wise to suddenly exercise?”

My shoulders sank.

“Drink some water. Do you have any food at home? I made that soup with ingredients from my apartment because I didn’t want to rummage around in here looking for ingredients while you were asleep.”

“Thank you for the soup, it was delicious.”

“I am glad you enjoyed it.”

His smile was brief but infectious.

“I think I can handle the cooking this time,” I offered.

He hesitated. “Alright, then I will leave.”

But I didn’t want him to go.

“Wait, can you stay for dinner?”

“I thought you wanted me gone,” he chuckled. “In that case, we will prepare lunch together.”

It felt almost surreal to stand in that kitchen with my boss. I checked the cupboards and fridge to see what ingredients were available.

“Hmm…” I hummed as I looked around.

“What’ve you got in there?” He walked over to the fridge and peeked in over my shoulder.

“Not much, really.”

I quickly shut the fridge and stepped back. I accidentally bumped into his chest. I didn’t realize how close he stood.

“Oh sorry,” I mumbled.

“It’s okay. Let’s go traditional.”

Traditional?... Oh!

“B-but it’s too soon. We’ve barely known each other!”

His eyebrows scrunched together as he stared at me. “What are you talking about?”

For a moment I realized how silly I sounded. He was talking about food, traditional food. Not traditional marriage. I cleared my throat and tried to remedy the situation.

“I didn’t peg you for a traditional dish kind of man.”

“That shows how little you know about me,” he chuckled. “Do you have ingredients for soup?” He asked.

“No, I haven’t really gotten around to serious shopping for foodstuffs or cooking utensils.”

“Hm, this won’t do,” he shook his head. “Let’s go to my apartment.”

“I-is your brother around?”

“No, he went out. Why, does he make you nervous?”

“Not at all,” I lied. “It’s just that… I’m still getting adjusted to seeing you two together.”

“You will, eventually. Well, there’s not much we can use to cook here so let’s go.”

“Okay, let me just grab my phone,” I said before I followed him to his apartment.

He led me to the kitchen which was so well put together like its owner. Not a single dirty dish or item was in sight. This man was as meticulous as he was at work. Or then again, he could have hired someone to help. He could certainly afford it.

“So, what are we making?”

“Hm… eba and egusi soup.”

“You don’t eat egusi with pounded yam?” I asked.

“It’s not a rule, is it?”

“Fair enough,” I shrugged.

I got started with the soup while he boiled the water for eba. I couldn’t help but peek out the corner of my eye in amazement

Who would have thought I would prepare a meal with Mr Jacobs?

We hadn’t said much since we started so I thought I should break the silence.

“So, do you usually cook your meals?”

“Not often.”

“So, this is a special occasion?”

“You can say that,” he chuckled. “I mean it isn’t often I get to cook for a hungover assistant.”

“Ugh, don’t remind me. I am never drinking again.”

“Have you ever had a hangover before?”

“No, it’s my first time drinking actually.”

“May I ask why the sudden interest?”

For a moment, I stopped stirring the soup on the fire and simply stared into the pot.

“You don’t want to talk about it?”

“No, it’s not that. I mean you already know about the situation, the fire that destroyed my house. I went to see the remains of the building and my neighbours gave me the little they were able to retrieve from the fire.”

“It must have been hard to see a place you cherished in ruins.”

I took a deep breath and stirred the soup once more before I covered the pot.

“Yes, it was hard. I thought I was ready to see it but afterwards, I realized I couldn’t take it. When I got back here I desperately wanted something… anything that could make me forget.”

“So, you drank.”

“I never thought I would come to a point in my life where I would feel so weak. With everything that’s happened, I just…” I tried hard to keep the tears back but they made my vision blurry. I swept my hand across my eyes quickly but he noticed.

“Hey, hey, take it easy, okay.”

The soup was ready so I turned off the cooker and went to the sink. I splashed some water on my face and turned to face him with the smile I could muster.

“I know a fake smile when I see one.”

He took a few steps toward me till he was right in front of me. I looked everywhere but at him.

“Look at me,” he said as he tilted my chin up.

The look in his eyes came as a surprise to me. I had never seen him look at me or at anyone with such a tender gaze.

“I will do my best to help you… if you would let me.”

“I…”

The front door slammed shut and the sound of footsteps alerted us to someone’s presence. We sprang apart, well, I did. He remained right where he was. Moments later, a nearly exact replica of the man standing before me peeked his head around the corner.

“I followed the aroma of food and it led me to you. What’s cooking, bro?”

Daniel turned around and threw a napkin at his brother.

“Get out.”

Simon caught the napkin and smirked.

“What, did I ruin a moment?”

I focused on dishing the food and stopped midway.

“I will take mine back to my apartment, if you don’t mind.”

Daniel glanced at me then at his brother.

“That’s fine. I will see you later at work.”

As I left his apartment, I wondered what direction our conversation would have gone if Simon didn’t show up.