GALE'S TUITION

After Helen left, Eva got up and went to do as told but this time, she wasn't too sleepy anymore. She looked around the messy room and sighed.

"Can't believe this girl." She told herself as she lowered herself to pick a pink dress on the cushion. 

After arranging things and folding the littered clothes, she went to the kitchen, got out a medium size bottle water and gulped half of its content; drinking directly from it. If Helen was home, she would have been in serious trouble for such an act. And the thought of it made her giggling. Helen prefers drinking with a glass cup except it's in public.

Eva thought about keeping the water bottle back but, changed her mind. She took it along just incase, she was going to need it later on.

While passing her the wall mirror, she stopped after seeing her reflection. She turned now facing it directly. The closer she got, the more concerned she was.

"Is this me?" She thought out loud in disbelief.

Her cheek bones were almost visible. She was extremely slim. All the stress she was going through were taking a toll on her. under her eyes were bags and the clothes she had on, looked so big on her as well.

"How did that dude even find me attractive?" She asked, already disappointed by her body features. Body shaming herself. Though, her curves were still there but, every other thing didn't look attractive enough to lure any man. Not to talk of such a handsome fella who is supposed to be on the lookout for models with class.

Eva sighed and walked away, then dropped face down on the bed, still holding on to the bottle of water. She closed her eyes, trying hard not to imagine anything and from that, she fell asleep. 

The following morning, Eva opened her eyes. The first thing that run through her mind was her work. She immediately faced her phone, pressed the power button and was relieved to see 4:59am.

She got up from bed, got dressed and was waiting patiently for Helen to return before she leaves. While putting on a little makeup in front of the mirror, her phone rang out. She diverted her eyes to the bed thinking it was still on the bed. Following the sound of it, it rang from her bag and she sighed at herself for being so forgetful. Everything she needed was already inside her work bag that included her phone.

She took out her phone and looked at the caller, seeing the name she took in a deep breath before picking. 

"Hello mum." 

"How have you been?" Cynthia asked.

"Fine and you?" Eva didn't need anyone to tell her what answer could come next but then, she was the bread winner of the family so, for everything, they would ring her phone.

"Eva, you are yet to send your brother's tuition fees and," She took a short pause before continuing, "The loan shark came yesterday and ruined most of our things. I don't know if you can send something for that too. I know you are trying but, I don't have enough money on me. You know how things are over here. The daily feeding is on me." Her mother replied.

Eva remained quiet for a while, using her head to calculate the money in her account so far. It might not be enough but, it would go a long way.

"I will send something later. And as for the loan shark, tell them to give me some time, maybe by month end when I get my salary. Right now, I have nothing else except Gale's tuition fees," Eva said with a low tone. 

"Okay. Please do." Eva heard Gale's voice in the background and rolled her eyes.

"What about dad?" Eva asked.

"He is fine. Your aunt came over so, she's keeping him company. I'm about leaving for the market with your brother. Send the money now so, I can go with my cards." She replied.

Eva could tell it was an indirect way of asking her to add more money. 

"Okay." She said dryly and hung up.

Eva sat on the bed with her phone in her right hand and the bag, laying on the bed next to her. 

"And here it goes." Eva mumbled as she clicked on send.

All that she had left in her account was $3.06. After a few minutes, her phone rang and it was her mum again.

"I just received the alert. Thanks sis." Gale said the very second the call was picked. There was so much excitement in his voice.

"Make sure to do well in school as usual. Show me your new grades after your test. If you do well, I will increase your allowance." She promised and it prompted more excitement in the young boy. 

"Thank you and yes, I will." He said. Then a slight noise was heard.

"Eva, take care of yourself. Do not overstress yourself and we are sorry if it's too much for you." Cynthia's voice was heard. She had taken the phone from Gale

Just then, the door to the room Eva was in, flung opened. 

"Okay, I have to go now. Byeee." She sighed again after ending the call.

"I can tell it's your family. How much did they ask for now?" Helen asked, approaching the bed and at the same time, struggling to take off her shoes.

"Just Gale's tuition fees." Eva asked as she got up from the bed. Now glad Helen was home. "I do have to head out now. Is traffic bad?" She asked Helen, immediately changing the topic. She didn't want to keep talking and filling herself up with bad energy.

"If you get to work on time. You should consider that luck. I've been on the road for up to an hour. My butt hurts from sitting for too long. This is the reason that I prefer night jobs. I won't be late to work because the road would be free." Helen complained as she took off her polo, standing there with just her bra and trouser.