CHAPTER 2
Living alone, away from her parents, was not a new thing to her, since she lived alone when she was in school. Although she goes on weekends to visit her parents and work part time in her mum's Super-Market. She decided to rent a place with her best friend, in order for them to share the rent.
They have been friends, since their University days, from 100level( Freshmen year). They were from the same Faculty, but different department.
Kevwe Learned Tailoring ( Fashion design), the Year she wrote her SSCE Exam, WAEC. So on getting to school, she started sewing for her friends and then for people, From there on her business started.
They met on Orientation day. On getting to the Orientation venue, Chelsea found out that almost all the sits were taken or filled up, with Fresher's ( 100level students). She discovered that there was a sit that nobody was sitting on, and a bag was on it. She saw that a girl was sitting close to it.
The girl was not that taller than her, but was fair in complexion and very pretty and slim.
She thought the bag must belong to the girl, and if not she might know who it belongs to. She wanted to ask her, but decided against it, because the girl might not agree to move the bag, if it belongs to her.
After waiting for 1 hour, and the orientation was still on, she decided to go ahead and ask the girl.
" Excuse me " she said, but there was no answer.
Then she tapped her.
" Yes! ? Kevwe asked
" Is the bag your's?" Chelsea asked.
" Yes, it's mine, why? the girl asked.
" Please, may I sit on the chair?. I'm pretty tired from standing so long" Chelsea said.
" Oh!, sorry my bad. You can sit down" the girl told her, as she removed her bag from the chair.
" Thank you very much " Chelsea said, while sitting down.
After the orientation, When they where both living, Kevwe took a step to friendship, by introducing herself to Chelsea.
" I'm Kevwe, What's your name?" she asked.
Oh, hmm___my name is Chelsea" Chelsea introduced herself to her shyly, wondering why this pretty girl would want to talk to her.
" Wow, what a pretty name. I have heard that people answered it, but have not met anyone answering it" Kevwe said in surprise.
" Yeah, I know what you are thinking.
Isn't it the name of an alcoholic drink, but I wasn't name after the drink. My dad decided to stick his only child, with a name after his favorite football club" Chelsea clarified.
" Wow, that is dedication. That means he loves football a lot?
" Yes, but I'm not a fan" says Chelsea
" Why!?" Kevwe asked.
" No reason really, is just that ,I don't just get it, not that I'm a snob or I hate or criticize those that play, love and watch it.
Which is one of the issue I and my dad disagree on, since he loves it, he expect his only child to love it." Chelsea said, "Although I do support the football club I was named after, even though I don't watch it. Which is not me playing favoritism, I just love their Jersey, which is blue in color , which if I may add is my favorite color" she added.
"Well you don't have to feel bad about it, because me neither, but don't tell my Dad and Brothers. They flip and freak out that I have been pretending to love it just to please them" said Kevwe.
". Don't worry I wouldn't tell them, my mouth is sealed" Chelsea promised pretending to zip up her mouth, moving her hand in a zipping motion over her mouth, after which she started laughing.
". I will hold you to that" Kevwe told her, then joined her in laughing" You are so funny" she added.
" So, which department are you?" Kevwe asked.
" Business Administration" Chelsea replied " You?" she asked.
" Economics" Kevwe answered
" That means we are in the same Faculty" Chelsea said excited.
" Yes"
" That's great, Nice to meet you" Chelsea told her.
" You too" Kevwe agreed.
From then on they were inseparable.
As a teen, it was hard for Chelsea to make friends, because she was mocked because of her weight. That's why for a long time, she was surprise and wondering why someone like Kevwe( someone so perfect in Chelsea's own opinion and Imagination), would want to be friends with her.
People were quick to judge her and body shame her, so she chooses to make friends with her books and TV.
As a child she was a Tom girl, who played with boys. But as she grew up, she made friend with other girls, and later drift apart from them, due to an incident that happened and she couldn't forgive, until later on in Life.
She was a beautiful child, taller than the other kids her age and not an ounce of fat on her. But after some years of isolation from others, apart from her family and people she encountered when she went out, to church, in school etc, due to the inability to forgive a wrong done to her, she started gaining weight and became fat.
She ate without controlling her intake of food, and became a laughing stock and a ridicule in the eyes of others.
Life was really tough for her and only people who faced (the a me thing or pass through the same thing) body shaming will know and was only God and her savour Jesus that understood her, she even became depressed and found it hard to feel good about herself.
It was not easy being plus sized, not knowing why people instead of looking at her face, when they meet her or are talking to her, they will be starring at her stomach and either Judge her in their mind( heart) or say what they are thinking or think about her and her character out loud. That was Chelsea's daily life.
An hour later, Chioma came out of the bathroom.
" I'm through " she shouted, standing at the front of Kitchen door.
" Okay, I'm coming " Chelsea replied from inside.
" You took long ." Chelsea stated, as she came out of the kitchen, having clean everything she used for kitchen and put them all away, after cooking.
" I'm sorry, if I delayed you" Chioma apologized.
" No, problem" She said going into the bathroom, " Your food is on the kitchen table" she informed her.
" Thanks dear, sorry I didn't assist in any house choirs today" Chioma said.
" Thank God, don't mention it. What are friends for?. Just eat and get ready, so that you wouldn't miss your bus, have a safe trip." Chelsea told her.
After bathing and dressing up; Chelsea took her sweeping brush and swept her room and their parlour (Sitting room), arranged her room and warm the spaghetti she prepared, while Chioma swept Kevwe's room, which she slept in through out her stay with them.
Chelsea ate her own portion of the food and place the rest in a bowl, with a cover and kept it in fridge for Kevwe to eat when she comes back from her shop.
She ensured that, she didn't eat too much, in order not to gain more weight, which she has been doing since she was in school . But from experience, she knew, she could easily gain weight, even from small intake of food, that's why she is planning on cutting cost of transportation, by trekking ( going around by foot) in order to lose some weight.
A tear drops from her eyes, as she recalled her weight/ size battles. She washed the plates she used for eating and locked her room.
" Chioma , you are still here?" Chelsea asked, as saw that Chioma was still at home when she came into the sitting room, touching up her face.
" I forgot the Ideal of the time" Chioma told her as she picks up her hand bag and traveling bag and checked her wristwatch for the time.
" Oh, my God , I'm late" Chioma shouted out loud.
" Start going now. Hurry up, so that you would meet up" Chelsea advice's.
" Thank you, see you when I move here next month" Chioma said as she walked out.
" Okay, see you. Have a safe trip and journey mercy, bye." Chelsea said as she waved to Chioma, who has board a Tricycle and turned around and locked their door and gate, and finally walk the short distance to the school, she taught Catering as a part time subject.
She went to work, deep in thought of what she has pass through and is still facing in the hands of those that believe that , it's Everything that comes to their mind that they must speak or say out. Sometimes, we need to observe to make sure our thought or observation are correct before we get to our conclusion.