Episode 21
By: Faith Lucky.
Audrey’s Pov:
I woke up the next morning and noticed I was lying on something big and comfy.
It felt like a bed.
I yawned out of sleep and opened my eyes and that was when I confirmed I was really on the bed.
But how did I end up here? What even happened last night?
I left the bed and went into the sitting room and there I met Rodney, operating his phone.
He was sitting on the couch and he lifted his eyes to look at me the moment he heard my footsteps.
He shot me a stare and took his eyes back to his phone.
“Um…good morning Mr Rodney” I greeted nervously and couldn’t tell why.
“Oh; morning. How’re you feeling?” He replied and asked, still looking into his
phone.
“I’m…fine”.
I paused and looked around.
“Um…Mr Rodney” I continued.
“Where did you sleep last night?”.
I knew he wouldn’t sleep on the bed with me..so I was curious to know where he slept.
He looked at me and chuckled as if I had asked an unbelievable question.
“Really? I slept on the couch” he replied and I flinched.
“Huh? B…But why?” I asked.
“Well, what do you expect? You warned me strictly to stay clear of the bed and even went ahead to tell me I had no respect for making you sleep on the hard chair.”
My eyes dilated in surprise as I held my chest.
“I…I…I did? B…But how?” I stuttered and Rodney went back to operating his phone
“Um…Mr Rodney, wh…what else did I do last night?” I asked and he scoffed and stood up.
“Can I even list them? They’re uncountable. Just one piece of advice, Audrey, stay away from alcohol” he said vacuously and walked away to take his bath.
I sunk myself in the couch and hit my head. How could I be so careless? Only God knows the crazy things I must have done last night. Why did I even end up drunk? I sluggishly stood up and went into the kitchen to tidy it. I tried recalling what happened the previous night but couldn’t. The memories were just blur. But I really hope I didn’t do anything out of the blues.
I spent a long time in the kitchen, trying to remember the previous night incidence. I could remember singing in the bar, then I had started dancing crazily in front of Mr Rodney and next…boom! I can’t remember . but I have a feeling I did crazy things.
I placed my hand on the kitchen table and looked through the window in front of me.
“What are you thinking?” I heard a voice from behind and turned in shock to see Rodney standing by the door.
He leaned on the edge and stared at me with those sparkling eyes of his. I couldn’t stop staring at his eyes.
He was through with his bath and had changed into a jeans and red T-shirt. His hair was still wet.
“Uh…I was just…thinking of something” I replied and cleared my throat and took my eyes to the floor.
Rodney scoffed and I wondered why.
“Um…Mr Rodney, I need to go home for a…”
“for a what?” He interrupted, still leaning on the doorway.
“Why do you always go home to take your bath?” He asked and I cringed. “M…Mr Rodney…”
“Do you think I’m a pervert?” He interrupted me again and I couldn’t hide my nervousness.
“Uhm…Mr Rodney, I…I think you’re getting it all wrong. It’s not that I think you’re a pervert. Of course, you’re not. I’m just…”
I paused and sighed, realising I was out of words.
He smiled.
“There’s nothing to be scared about, Audrey; feel free around me” he said and moved from the doorway
“Be quick with the bath. I’m starving already. You can make use of my soap” he added and left the kitchen.
I placed my hand on my chest and tried to control my breath. I couldn’t tell why I
was so nervous about it.
What if…
What if…
Kept running through my mind.
I decided to wave every negative thoughts aside and act like everything was normal.
I went into the bathroom and changed into one of my aunt’s towels and walked into the bathroom afterwards, making doubly sure I jam locked the door.
I took off my towel and turned off the shower. My aunty’s house was small but lovely.
When I was done bathing, I went ahead to find something to wear.
I checked my aunty’s wardrobe and found the only short that could fit me. Then I wore a black T-shirt on it and parked my hair in ponytail.
I opened the door and walked into the sitting room and there I found Rodney operating his phone again. But the moment he noticed my presence, he lifted his eyes to look at me and he stared at me from head to toe, uncannily. Like, I could tell he was staring at me in a different way.
I looked down at my dress and noticed it was a bit short. Could it be the reason he was staring at me that way?
“So, what are we having for breakfast today?” He finally broke the silence, taking his eyes back to his phone.
“Um…I don’t really know. Maybe pasta” I replied and took my eyes around the room and that was when I realised the room had been tidied up. Wow! Did Rodney really do this?
“Just pasta?” He asked and tapped the chair for me to sit.
“Are you asking me to entrust my breakfast to you? Remember you ruined my lunch yesterday”.
“Come on Mr Rodney, you know yesterday’s lunch was complicated. Just give me one more chance and I’ll prove to you I’m a good cook.’ I said and he chuckled and turned to face me properly.
“Okay then. Let’s give it a try. Pasta for breakfast” he said and I smiled. *
I rushed to a nearby store to get all the ingredients I needed for the pasta. Pasta was my favorite. So, I knew I’d be able to impress Rodney with it.
As I walked back home, I thought of Rodney. I wandered why he had been staring at me that way.
But I liked the way we had become…maybe, friends. But thinking of it, are we really friends?
Well, to me, he was already a friend. But I didn’t know of him and I wanted to know. I wanted to know what I meant to him.
Maybe I’ll ask him when I get home. Yes, that’s what I’ll do.
Approaching the house, I heard someone call my name from behind and I turned to see the worst thing that could happen to me at that moment – my mum!!! She stood with her hands at akimbo and stared at me with beady eyes.
“Mum; wh…what’re you doing here?” I asked, confused.
I looked back at the house and looked at her. I could feel my heart beating fast. “I thought you said you were going to work?” She asked as she drew closer. “So, what are you doing here huh? Why aren’t you at work?” She sent shivers down my spine.
“Mum, wh…what are you saying?” I asked and chuckled nervously; but she wasn’t smiling.
“I…I told you I was staying in aunt Tessy’s house right? And I go to work from here.”
“Yes? So why are you still here? Why aren’t you at work? Have you been lying to me? Huh? tell me, who’s in there with you?”.
And before I could think of something, she walked pass me and barged into the house.
Oh, my God!
“Mum!!” I called but it was too late.
DEAR
JOCELYN