The whole ‘lunch with the girls’ idea wasn’t actually the best. It was worse after Kaira’s arrival. That girl really did have a problem.
She kept talking about Ifeanyi and somehow kept relating everything to me. Like what the hell?!
I could see Chiamaka’s frustration but every other person at the table seemed to be enjoying Kaira’s company.
I decided that that was the last time I would hang out with them even if boredom took a human form.
It was now a Tuesday and I found myself at the mall. I had earlier declined going to the cinema with Chiamaka and I still felt bad about it but I had to do it.
I hoped deciding to drop by the mall wouldn't be a terrible idea. I busied myself on my phone as I was carried by the escalator to the next floor.
I went through my WhatsApp messages which I hardly- if ever- reply. Once I got to the floor, I decided to firstly get new notes and maybe a new Microsoft Surface or maybe a graphics tablet.
Almost immediately, I nearly got knocked down by someone pushing a trolley which was filled with shopping bags.
It was more like the trolley almost knocked me down because whoever was pushing the trolley was blocked out of sight by the massive load on the trolley.
"Can't you see?" she yelled coming to a halt even though it was her fault as all her shopping bags heaped in the trolley were obstructing her sight.
"You are the one with sight proble..." I paused as I recognized that familiar ascent. She further confirmed it by moving out from behind the trolley.
Kylie.
"Hey small sis", she said as I watched a smile, that didn't seem genuine in the slightest, replacing her former annoyed look.
"How are you doing?" She asked in a bored tone. I noticed that she was putting on a long dusty pink jacket on top of the black singlet and black ripped jeans she had on; finishing it off with heels.
"Is there a problem?" She asked. I looked up at her confused.
"Can you please move that thing out of my way, I need to pass", I said a bit harshly.
"Sure. I'll move the trolley away for your highness to pass", she said with an eye roll but still proceeded to push the trolley out of the way.
A huge hint that she had more important things to attend to.
I continued to move but I hadn't walked for quite a long while when I heard two very familiar voices.
I looked around for sometime but when I didn't see anyone, I continued to move.
I had barely moved a few steps when I spotted Ifeanyi heading towards my direction. He was having a discussion with somebody and soon the person clearly walked into sight.
He was talking with Kaira? I watched them chatting and laughing for a while before deciding to walk on but suddenly I was stopped by a voice.
I turned to look at Ifeanyi who had just called me and Kaira who was standing next to him looking at me surprised.
But her look of surprise immediately disappeared as I noticed a small smile appear on her lips.
"Shoot! I think I forgot my atm card in the dressing room. I'll go get it and be right back", she said and Ifeanyi only nodded a reply.
I kept walking and when I had almost walked past him, I heard him ask, "Won't you at least say hi?"
I turned to him and saw him staring at me.
"Hi", I said dryly.
He looked at me a bit surprised.
"Are you mad at me for something?" He asked all of a sudden and I just shook my head to indicate ‘no’.
"I just wanted to let you know that I am sorry for what happened the other day, I just..."
"It's not a problem", I said interrupting him. He really didn't do anything. He was just trying to help me. I was the one who pushed him. I was supposed to be the one saying sorry not the other way round.
"Alya, I..." He started speaking but before he could complete whatever he had to say, Kaira suddenly appeared with a lilac gown in her hands.
I thought she went to look for her atm card.
"Sorry if I'm interrupting anything, but do you think this gown suits me?" She asked directing the question to Ifeanyi. Before he could say anything, I left the both of them and headed for the Mall's exit.
****
Saying that I had been in a horrible mood since I returned from the mall was an understatement and the worst part was the fact that I had no idea why I was in such a shitty mood.
I stopped at a park on my way home. I sat down on a bench at the corner of the park as I tried to clear my mind. My mood was not improving.
The giggles from small children running around and the smiles on the faces of their guardians watching them play only did more to worsen my mood.
It wasn't as if anything went wrong in the mall. I mean I didn't dislike Kylie so much that seeing her would ruin my day.
I was actually still feeling pretty okay after seeing her until I saw Ifeanyi with Kaira.
The way she kept laughing at every single word he said was enough to frustrate me. And why the hell would he even go shopping with her in the first place.
What exactly was up with the both of them? According to the rumor I heard, there was a slim possibility that she was Ifeanyi's ex-girlfriend or even if they didn't date, there must have been something between them at some point.
But then there couldn't be anything between them, could there? I mean he was still dating Chiamaka.
What the hell was I thinking about of course that wasn't possible in any way. But why was I so bothered.
Hold on, are you jealous?
My subconscious suddenly chipped in. I paused for a while, I mean, an actual pause. Was I jealous? I was jealous? No way!
I was certain I was just worried for my best friend's sake but then, I couldn't deceive myself.
I was pretty aware that I was slowly getting myself into one hell of a mess. I was freaking falling for Ifeanyi.
I definitely need a doctor.
***
I returned home about an hour later feeling exhausted, mostly due to the frustration that was slowly taking over me and that had refused to leave.
I walked into the living room and just as I made my way to my room, I stopped because of the sound coming from the television in the middle of the living room.
I turned slowly to see a movie displaying on the television. It looked like a romantic movie. No seemed more like porn. I stared at the flat screen TV for a while still shocked.
I didn't watch much TV and I was definitely sure I had never in my life switched this particular television on so how it was on baffled me.
I quickly glanced around for the remote control and when I didn't find it, I headed towards the main switch which it was plugged to. I switched it off and once I turned back, my heart flew.
Sitting lazily on the middle cushion was Kylie in the same clothes she had on earlier crossing her legs and staring blankly at me.
She was somehow slumped into the chair and that must have been why I hadn't seen her earlier. I took in a few breaths trying to steady my racing heartbeat.
"You?! You almost gave me a heart attack", I said accusingly, my heart still pounding.
She just stared on blankly at me. "What are you doing here?",I asked.
She looked at me the same way for a while then with a sigh, picked up her phone. I watched her as she clicked at it for a while before she turned it around for me to see.
I eyed her and the phone before I walked over to collect it. I looked at the phone screen, it was the WhatsApp Chat between my mother and her.
I looked down at her then back at the phone before I began to read the most recent chat.
Kylie
'Ami mom, I get bored staying at the hotel all alone plus I don't like how you have been spending so much money on me. I think it would be nicer if I could stay at your house, that is, if you're okay with it.'
Ami
'Sure thing. You could spend more time with Alya, she really does need company...'
I rolled my eyes at the last part. And who told her I needed company. Why couldn't she just mind her own business?
But you actually do need company.
My subconscious reminded me and I mentally scowled before reading on.
Ami
'... and your presence might make her feel less lonely.'
Kylie
'Thanks a bunch. Love you❤️.'
Mom
'It's not a problem dear, take care💋.'
I stopped reading. The only thing that was ringing in my head right now was the fact that Kylie had to stay in this house.
"How come no one informed me you were coming?" I asked after handing her phone back to her.
"Perhaps if you would just pick your calls, you wouldn't risk getting an actual heart attack the next time", Kylie snapped.
I stared at her for a while trying to decide if she was lying or not. I brought out my phone and I actually saw missed calls from her and my mother. My phone must have been on silent since I didn't hear it ring.
And I wouldn't even had answered even if I heard it ringing anyway.
"Please switch on the television, I was kinda in the middle of something", Kylie's voice came suddenly.
I walked resignedly to the television and switched it on before grumpily leaving the house.