Chapter Twenty one

KELECHI'S POV

   There was nothing better than a nice shower after a hectic day. Traffic that day was worse than normal. Normally, Lagos was a busy state with an annoying traffic. You could be going to a place that should be forty-five minutes away. But you would end up spending three hours on the way instead.

  That day was just a few days before Christmas. The traffic was so horrible I slept two times on the way but still saw that we had not moved an inch! Mama refused to let us buy soft drinks or snacks. She saw it as a waste of money since we were "almost home". Very annoying!

   I had to sleep again to escape the horror of waiting for the traffic to get better. Ben woke me up when we had reached home. Trust me when I say this. You can only appreciate a nice shower after a hectic day. I know I did.

***

   We had swallow for dinner as usual. You can't be living with mama and not have fufu and soup for dinner.

   I thanked every elder in the house for the meal before going to my room. It was a tradition.

Daddy was still giving me the cold shoulders. So instead of saying "thank God" like everyone did, he simply nodded. That was normal for me. He sometimes behaved like that whenever he was not happy with whatever I did. I knew it was a bit childish of him. What can I say? I didn't get my childish attitude from nowhere, that's for sure.

   I had already gone to my room when I remembered something.

  I might end up sleepwalking to Ben's room.

  I might as well go there now that I am awake

   Whatever courage I had when I decided to sleep in Ben's room vanished immediately I was in front of his room. I was having second thoughts about it.

Wouldn't I look shameless going to sleep in his room while I was wide awake? I mean sleepwalking was better. At least I wouldn't be conscious while opening his door.

   Before I could convince myself to go back, I heard Ben's voice at my back. "Are you going to enter or not?"

   My heart skipped a bit at the sound of his voice. He had caught me. There was no going back. I could feel his imposing presence at my back. If I had taken a step back, I was sure I would feel his chest. Memories of our hug that morning evade my thoughts. I could remember how warm he felt, how firm his chest was against me, how relaxing his caresses was, every little feeling I felt when he held me tight.

   What was wrong with me? While I was lost in my thoughts, Ben open the door and pulled me in holding my hand. He shut the door and helped me put on a black head warmer. The weather was cold, so I was grateful.

   He went to lie on the other side of the bed that face the window, so I lie on my favorite spot close to the wall.

   "Have you changed your mind?" He asked. I can't remember why I was being so speechless. Maybe because I had just been caught?

  "I'm coming." Ben watched me lie on the bed. The way he watched my every movement made me nervous. Immediately I laid down, he covered both of us with a duvet.

  "Did you see Alex?" He whispered against my hair. I hadn't notice when he had gotten that close to me until he spoke.

  "Which Alex?" I turned around to face him.

   "Our former classmate, Olafemi Alex. Remember?"

  "Ohh! Yeah I remember. Was he in Vanessa style?"

  "Yeah, I saw him. We spoke for a while. So, you didn't see him?"

  "No, I didn't. I was too busy with the fittings. " My response brought a smile to his already attractive face.

  "Ladies..." He said before smiling again. "Alex told me he knew that aunty we greeted. That   he wasn't planning to pay for the outfit he ordered."

  "He is still full of himself. Who does he think he is anyway? Even mama is going to pay for all our outfits. What makes him think he's escaping the bills?" I laughed softly.

  "Did you know that lady was married? She looked really young."

   "I had an idea she was married. She married while i was still in school, before the all mighty ASUU¹ strike. Mama hyped the wedding for months. " A smile graced my lips as I remembered Mama's happiness over the wedding.

   "I can Imagine that. Those two seem so close. You'd think they were actually mother and daughter."

  "Yeah, she is like the daughter she never had. Mama keeps saying that. No wonder she could easily tell mama her problems today."

  "I thought you said you were busy with your fittings. " Ben smiled that cheeky smile again. I didn't realize when my eyes fell on his lips until he asked. "How do you know she was telling mama her problems. She wasn't saying it in your presence, was she?"

   "I was walking on my own when I overheard them. It's not my fault my ears are too sensitive." I explained but he kept staring at me with that cheeky smile. "What? I'm not lying."

  "Did I say you were?"

   "You looked like it."

   " Guilty conscience." He laughed softly. When he noticed I was glaring at him, he said " okay, okay. I believe you. Your ears are sensitive. So what did you hear? I mean overhear. " He was still smiling.

  "Her mother in-law told her to quit working." That was enough to make his smile disappear.

  "Like for real?"

  "Yes" I said solemnly. I really can't imagine that happening to me.

   "That's really cruel of her. What was her reasons? She's got to have a long list of important reasons to say that."

  "Because apparently, the stress of her work is stopping her from conceiving a child." Remembering the reason made me upset. It also reminded me of what killed Ben's mom. Womb cancer. It kills many women than the public would care to admit.

   "I can't believe people with that mindset still exist." He said it more to himself than to me.

   "I know right. They are always placing the responsibility of conceiving on the woman. Like they did not even consider the possibility of her husband being impotent. " Controversial topics like this always got me worked up because I knew it could be me it might happen to in the future. No one can tell.

  "You're right." Ben looked like he was lost in his thoughts for a while before he suddenly promised me. "I would never let anyone treat you like that."

   Something about the way he said it had me speechless. His eyes rested on mine intently before it fell on my lips. His unwavering attention on me made me feel so self conscious.

  He got so close I could feel his warm breaths on my lips, his gaze on it. I didn't know when I licked lips.

When he brought his hand to my cheek and started caressing it, I felt warm all over. The anticipation of what he would do kept lingering in my stomach like a storm building up. My toes curled. I closed my eyes expecting his lips to touch mine.

  And it did. His soft lips brushed against mine before he gave it a soft press. With his other hand on my waist, he pulled me closer, stirring something in me.

  He moulded his lips to mine, licking it, tasting it, sending a rush of sensations to every part of me; especially that sensitive spot between my legs. I could feel the sensation build there and at the tips of my boobs. Everything part of me longed for more.

  I gasped when he bit my lips. I can't explain the sharp mixture of pain and pleasure I felt. He took that opportunity to kiss me deeply. The sensation I felt when his tongue rubbed against mine was indescribable. I could feel every part of me go hot.

   My hands reached for his hair as I tried to get closer to him. I wanted more of him.

   Whatever spell I was under broke when he lightly traced his thumb on the sensitive tip of my boobs. He felt my body go stiff . He pulled away to meet my eyes.

   "Did I hurt you? I can stop if you're uncomfortable."  He stared at me intently. I could hear the concern in his voice.

   "No no. It's not that. I..." I braced myself before I said it. "I'm a virgin."

  "Ohh. " He looked surprised.

  "Did you really think I would give myself to anyone that way? Like someone like me can't be a virgin."

  "No, it's not that. I'm just surprised a girl like you exist."

   "Are you? ...a virgin?" I knew the answer but I somewhere hoped he would say "yes".

  He shook his head. "I think we should stop here, I don't think I can handle going further."

   I couldn't stop my eyes from looking down at his torso. He was right. We should have stopped what we were doing. We shouldn't have started it to begin with. He was my cousin for goodness sake!

GLOSSARY

ASUU : meaning the Academic Staff Union of universities.