Chapter eight

Toriah finds herself at this classy mansion sitting in a quiet location. She is welcomed by a view of a garden full of roses, a beautiful swimming pool and a unique basketball court. Ian had invited Toriah to his place. Everything was all cool until other friends of Ian arrived. Toriah didn't seem to enjoy the place that much. Everyone was either busy with chilling, others video games and yet she was just having a drink. Even Natalie was there which made Toriah even more annoyed.

"I'll go get us some ice." Toriah noticed the ice was over so she decided to go get some more and she was of course trying to give herself space.

"Hey." Ian has joined Toriah in the kitchen and she doesn't seem to care about Ian's presence.

"You don't look that happy." Ian suspects while Toriah is taking the ice out.

"You never told me that your friends would be here." Toriah lets out an annoyed sigh.

"You're not okay with them? I can go tell them to leave…" Ian starts walking towards the living room and Toriah holds his hand.

"No need for that. I was just mad that didn't tell me. But its okay." Toriah gives out a soft smile.

The two look in each other's eyes and Ian moves closer.

"Toriah, the ice…oh so you two love birds are busy romancing in the kitchen." Natalie scoffs as she takes the ice from the counter.

"Fuck you, Nat." Ian responds, unbothered with Natalie's words but because Toriah seemed nervous.

"Guys relax, I'm not watching, okay. I came to get the ice." Natalie leaves the kitchen with the ice.

"Let's go join the rest of the group." Toriah suggests and Ian agrees.

The two joined the rest of the people and had a wonderful time. Toriah arrives home at 8. She found her aunt on the living room.

"Where are you coming from?" Nala sternly asks as she gets up from the chair.

"I went to visit a friend." Toriah is trying her best to be the best version of herself.

"Is this the time to come home?" Nala checks her wristwatch.

"Come on, I just went out for some time and its even just past seven. I don't see any problem with that." Toriah is starting to get fade up.

"If you're staying under my roof, you have to follow my rules. Next time keep time." Nala sternly warns as she points her finger at Toriah. "Go make milk for Nomi and bring it to my room." Nala walks away.

Toriah feels emo but she lets it slide. She made the milk as told and gave it to Nala.

"The milk is very hot; couldn't you cool it a little?!"

"Whatever." Toriah starts to walk away.

"Listen, prepare an omelet and wash the dishes!"

"Am tired…"

"I'll need it done soon."

Toriah bursts out to her room. Clearly, she's angry. She decided to text Ian. Nala cracks the door open; she doesn't look happy at all.

"I thought I told you to make me an omelet. And the dishes…?" Nala is on top of her voice.

"I already told you that am tired."

"I don't want to hear your stupid excuse."

"Instead of hearing me out you're speaking like that?" Nala's words really hurt Toriah's heart and she was in no mood to pretend.

"Are you going to do it or not?" At this point, Nala put her hands crossed on the chest. She was challenging Toriah.

"I already told you that am tired. I'm really sorry but am not doing it." Toriah took up her phone and ignored Nala who was busy shouting. She eventually left.

Life isn't butterflies and rose flowers for Toriah at home. Toriah lives with her aunt who is hard on her in all ways possible. During the weekends, she is basically a caregiver to her siblings. As we can guess, her weekends are usually tiresome. Being in contact with Ian, though has changed some things.

"You have like been offline for the whole day. Everything okay?" Ian stops shot and looks in Toriah's eyes.

"Yeah. It's just that I had a terrible headache today." Toriah looks away for Ian not to notice the sadness in her eyes.

"Are you okay? Why did you trouble yourself?"

Ian and Toriah were taking a stroll. They arrived at a certain basketball court that wasn't too far from Toriah's place.

"Am fine now."

"You sure?" Toriah assured Ian that she was okay and they found a place to relax on.

"My mom adores you. She keeps on asking about you. She cares about you." 

Toriah smiles. She seems to enjoy the moment since it's been long since someone genuinely cared for her.

Toriah visits Ian. She is welcomed by a mesmerizing scene of Ian in the pool. Toriah just stands at the pool to enjoy a view of Ian's masculinity, his defined jaws, the abs and his nappy hair. For a while, Toriah felt lucky to be with someone as defined as Ian, she thought. Toriah keeps telling Ian to move out of the water but he doesn't listen. Instead, Ian pulls Toriah into the pool; getting her clothes completely drenched and pulls on Toriah closer to him. The two look up at each other and become aggressive just like in the movies. They both longed for it, perhaps. After quiet some time, Toriah full of desperation pulls away to look in Ian's eyes. Her gentle hands pressed around Ian's neck.

"Can we remain like this forever? I don't want it to end." Her eyes were teary and yet she is smiling. She longs for an answer.

Ian carries Toriah, letting her legs curl around him as he gives her another passionate kiss. After everything, Ian gives Toriah her cousin's clothes to put on. The two then get to a club. Toriah and Ian separated at this place as they both ought for different things. Toriah gets to Ian, takes up his hand and get to the dancing floor. Some slow music is playing and Toriah presses Ian's hands around her waist and she places hers around Ian's neck. They both follow the beat and she smiles at Ian.

"Why are we doing this?" Ian throws his eyes around hoping to grasp what's happening.

"You see those guys…they've given me a dare. They want me to twerk for you."

"Alright." Ian scoffs and raises his hands as though in surrender. Moments later, the song changes to sassy. Toriah Beyonce handles Ian, leaving the entire crowd stunned.

Ian pulls Toriah closer and whispers into her ears "My bitch." Making Toriah fall weaker and weaker for him.

Ian is driving Toriah home. She is clearly over the moon and Ian can see it.

"How was it?" Ian looks at Toriah for a second and then puts his focus back on the road.

"It was great. In fact, it was the best day of my life." Toriah shyly looks away as she tries to hide her smile. "What do you think?"

"It was freaking crazy but I enjoyed it."

Toriah smiles. She then freaks out when she stretches her hand and sees the time.

"OMG, it's past nine!"

"What's wrong with that?" Ian almost crashes the car as he unexpectedly pulls over to give Toriah some attention.

"My aunt is going to kill me. Now I have to listen to one of her lectures again. Fuck this life!" Now Toriah can't breathe. She's full of anger and self-pity. Ian puts his hand on Toriah.

"I could go in with you, if you like." Toriah holds back Ian as she shakes her head.

Ian speaking to Nala would only make matters worse for Toriah as the last thing her aunt wants to see is Toriah taking after her mother. Stepping into the house, Nala storms out on her. Toriah excuses herself by heading to her room and sleeping. Early morning, Toriah is woken up by a blurry image of Nala who takes out Toriah's clothes and is about to set them ablaze. She hurriedly jumps out of bed, her eyes full of terror.

"What are you doing?"

"I see these clothes are the ones making you misbehave." Nala applies friction on the match box, ready to set the clothes on fire.

"No!" Toriah jumps on Nala and snatches away the matchbox. Nala grabs on her blunt.

"What do you think you're doing?!"

"I don't want you to end up like your mom, Toriah." Nala inhales some smoke, lets it in for some time before she releases it.

"Gosh, you're crazy! Please leave my room." Toriah was not ready to compromise. She knew it was marijuana acting up but this just made her curl up in a corner and cry. She felt sorry for herself. After some few moments, Toriah got to the living room with her tiny backpack. Her main focus was the door.

"Where you going?"

"To grandma's place." Toriah did not even look at Nala nor did she even stop short.

"What the fuck? Get back here…-" Nala goes after Toriah but getting at the door, Toriah slams the door in her face. Nala tried to plead with Toriah in a somewhat rude manner and she wasn't taking it."

The sky is blue and the sun is at its fullest. Everyone walking as fast as they can to all sorts of places. Street vendors trying to make a living and the working class on their ways to work. As soon as Toriah got her bus ticket, she called Ian who came at her disposal. They are about to be 200km away from each other. Ian is genuinely hurt and doesn't want to let Toriah go just yet. He tries convincing her to move in with them which she throws away. Toriah leaves for Lilongwe where she is warmly welcomed by her grandma. Getting to her room, she has noticed everything is the same. Her bed as neat as always, her clothes intact and the scent is the same. She figures out friends won't be the same. Toriah throws herself on the bed and blacks out.

Though Toriah has some peace, life is rather compromising. For some reason, Toriah finds herself sharing laughter with Violet. How they put their differences aside is a story for another day. This has lightened up her day. After everything, sunshine is replaced with dawn and it is just Toriah with grandma again.

"You called for me?"

"Take a seat." Grandma points to the seat next to hers as she's stitching up a cloth. Toriah hesitantly slides herself in the chairs.

"Nala called." Toriah groans.

"I don't want to stay with her anymore." Toriah puts her hands crossed on the chest and looks away.

"I know. I even spoke to her and she has changed. Everyone deserves a second chance."

"I've already told you that am not going back."

Grandma puts away the needle and the clothe to focus on Toriah. "You have to. Just for this semester. This time around things will be different. I'll even escort you myself." She presses her hand on Toriah.

"When are we leaving?" Toriah doesn't even give out a smile. Her grandma is just happy that she has accepted to move back in with Nala. After everything Toriah leaves for her bedroom.

To grandma's behest, Toriah was back in with Nala. She just felt different so she just stayed in her room.

"Rahan, go and bath." Nala walks into Toriah's room where Rahan is. Stuck in a game, he doesn't react.

"Go…you can get the phone." Rahan takes Toriah's phone and leave for the bathroom. She dives her attention back to a novel she is reading.

"The food is ready." Full of guilt, Nala decides to break the silence.

"Am not hungry." Toriah doesn't even take a second to look at Nala as she flips the book.

Nala sits on Toriah's bed. "Look, I know that we don't get along but am trying. It's okay to give it a chance or leave it this way."

"Our relationship has completely changed. She doesn't treat me the way she used to. I can even tell her anything nowadays." Toriah's eyes are full of life and a smile doesn't seem to leave her face as she presses her hand on Ian's hand.

"Are you ok with it?" There is some sarcasm in Ian's voice.

"Yeah. I mean she apologized!"

"You're so softhearted, Toriah." Ian dramatically shakes his shoulder.

"Everyone deserves a chance. I've always wanted to be loved and this is like a dream come true.

"Life's a bitch, Toriah. You can't trust anyone."

That's right, these two are talking about Nala. What does Ian mean one can't trust anyone?