Revival of us

Chapter 7

MALAIKA

Landy was a horrible helper. Her lectures were never ending. You don't need that. Why buy that? Save that for another shopping trip. We were currently at Clicks buying face masks, hair masks and my make-up ( I decided to expand my make-up collection, buy some advanced products) and teeth whiteners.

"Why do you want that Malaika ? You have good skin already." Landy groaned beside me.

"You are saying that because you are my friend." I bit back, slightly irritated by her constant whining. We went to the next to the next aisle, "Oo, african black soap." I picked up the dark brown bar of soap. It looked just like the one on Nami's instagram page. Yes, it certainly must be it. I placed it in my basket.

"Remind me, we need to stop at that herbal shop for chamomile tea. " This tip had come from my mother. She loved, loved tea. Her clear skin was all thanks to the tea. Yesterday, I had accidently dropped all her chamomile tea bags in my bath. It was good for one's skin.

Landy dragged both her hands across her face.
"Ugh Malaika. Why spend money on nonsense when we can buy chocolate and clothes! Did you see those new leather jacket at The Fix? "

I stayed silent. Went to the teller and paid for my purchases and dragged a miserable Landy along with me to the herb shop. To our suprise we found Max at the elevator. He was headed to the herb shop as well he told Landy, who seemed livelier all of a sudden. No longer slumping and sulking. She stood erect beside Max, speaking animatedly. It was just the three of us at the elevator.

When the doors opened, I wish the floor could swallow me then and there. Wearing blue denims and a white t-shirt stood Enzo before me, his grin wiped off as his gaze flickered between the three of us.

Of course Max had to be standing beside me! Enzo's eyes rested on Max, who all of a sudden suffocated me with his closeness. Was he this close before? If I scampered away, I would look guilty.

"Hey, hey!" Landy said cheerfully. The little pretentious girl. She was met with a stone faced Enzo. My tongue felt permanently lodged in my throat.
How did one speak again?

.....

A knock sounded at the door. I called my mother, who was busy completing the finishing touches on the dining table.

"Open the door." She mouthed to me. Quickly scurrying to the kitchen to remove her apron.

Behind the door stood Max, Max and who I presume to be his parents. We meet once again. My mother saved me from having to usher everyone in. I was a social mess, my mother knew this. Even in my own home, I was a blabbering mess. All I could mutter out was greetings and curt answers, always said in a rush of course.

Dinner was just as uncomfortable. Turns out my father worked with Max's father. They were both civil engineers. I had lost the appetite I had saved for this feast at the mall, at the sight of Idris.

Enzo who had barely spared me a glance after rudely shutting the elevator doors in our faces. He who wasn't answering any of my calls, if my mother hadn't forced me to stay put for dinner I would have gone to him to explain. Perhaps I could sneak out later. To explain.

A large rock sat on my chest, another in my tranchea. "Malaika don't you find my food delicious?" Mom asked lightly, a stiff smile on her face. "Oh, I forgot. She had started a crazy diet yesterday."

"Oh, you don't need to diet, you have such a beautiful figure."

"Thank you, Mrs Holele." Truthfully speaking, I had completely forgotten about my diet.

They steered off into another topic. As my mother went to fetch dessert, Max who sat beside me, lightly jabbed me, no one was watching.

"A diet? Why? Most girls are sweating in the gym to get your figure." I wish people would stop using comparisons as consolations. It is vain. I shrugged my shoulders. Mom camd back, sparing me from giving a response. Chocolate souffle served with berry syrup and berries.

"Max, I hear you're an Accounting genuis."

He laughed, rubbing the back of his neck. I wouldn't say genuis, but I am doing relatively well."

"Oh, Malaika could use some help. You can tutor her, I don't mind paying."

I shot my father a glare, he took a chug of his coke, oblivious to my heated stare.

"Oh, I would gladly do it. For free."

Max was becoming a huge obstacle to my relationship with Enzo. He was taking me five steps back every single time Enzo saw me with him. I could lie. But he always finds out. Like the time when I had told him I was at netball practice by accident, I had meant to say hockey. A verbal mistake, they happen. He had called me a liar, "You are at hockey, not netball."

Or the time I promised never to attend a certain party, but somehow he had caught wind of my presence.

There were several instances like that. Enzo didn't have any friends that spied for him. Somehow, I don't know how, he always knew when I was lying about my whereabouts.