MIND FIELDS ✓

4: Okay, what have I done to you?

      Awkward silence.

Two words was how I'd explain how dinner went, Edmund came to tell me that dinner was ready, I spent almost an hour looking for something decent to wear but I found nothing. All the clothes I brought with me we're torn and old, and the clothes that were in the closet were just so big for me. I almost considered Edmund's offer, but I pushed the thought away, he's already done alot for me I don't want it to seem like am clingy or whatever.

    So I just settled for a huge white t-shirt that said, 'She's cute and she knows it.' and a oversized short, I had to pull the string all the way and it was still big on my small waist. Well, I had no choice but to come down for dinner looking like a tooth pick in a sack.

   You should see the way Edmund was staring at me, I knew he wanted to say something but decided not to. Even Aunty chuckled in amusement when she saw me coming down the stairs, "I didn't know the clothes would be this big on you. Don't worry we'll go shopping tomorrow," she assured me with a smile.

   But Elliot on the other side, was finding it difficult to keep quiet. He never missed the opportunity to point out any small mistake I did.

       "The person that made this t-shirt should really consider who wears it before writing a caption on it." He snorted

    "Don't sit beside me, before you make me lose my appetite." He pulled the chair back when I wanted to sit beside him, I sighed sadly sitting beside Edmund instead.

  Aunty's oldest son Andrew was also at the table, but he rarely talked just eating his food and watching the drama that was unfolding. He looked quite different from the twins, I would say he was the carbon more masculine version of his mother. And he was pretty handsome too,

    "We use a fork to eat noodles dumbass, not a spoon." He fired when I used a spoon to eat, indomie 'noodles' as he apparently called it, well as they all called it. I sighed , "just ignore him okay?" Edmund mouthed keeping his hand on mine under the table. I smiled and continued eating.

   "We're eating for God's sake, don't show us what's in your mouth." Elliot said kicking my leg under table making my spoon fall down.

"that's enough Elliot!" Aunty decided to intervene, "one more word from you and you're going to your room without eating." She warned him.

   "Whatever, it's not like I want to be sitting at the same table with this village girl." He mumbled loud enough for me to hear, I bit my bottom lip. What did I do to him? Why does he hate me so much? I kept staring at my food, it was really nice and I'd have enjoyed it more if someone wasn't burning a hole with his laser eyes at the back of my head.

   "What grade where you in Nicole, before you left school?" Aunty decided to break the silence, "ummm, I was going to ss1 but I didn't make it. I failed the entrance exam."  I answered quietly.

  Elliot snorted, "that seems like what is to be expected from someone like her." He laughed, Edmund glared at him but he ignored him and continued laughing, I shrunk into my seat. Aunty kept her hands on the dinning table, "that's enough. Take your food to the kitchen and go to your room." She ordered

   He sat there for a while before standing up, "I hope you're happy now, Nicole." He said pronouncing my name like it was the most irritating thing to come out of his mouth.

Okay, how is any of this my fault?

"Okay, am thinking, why don't you rewrite it and see what happens? You're a smart girl Nicole I'll get you all the necessary textbooks and past questions you need. If you pass then you'll start at the twins school," Aunty suggested. My eyes widened. Was she being serious right now?! I nearly jumped for joy." Thank you so much Aunty, God bless you."

   The only reason I didn't pass the exam was because my mom had no money to buy me the textbook and past questions I needed for my exam, but now I know I'll pass with flying colors and make both my mom and Aunty proud!

   "That's a great idea mum, and I'll be her tutor." Edmund beamed looking at me with a huge smile, I giggled.

    "You're more than welcome Nicole, remember you're not only here to help me with the chores, you're also here as the daughter I never had." Aunty kept her hand on mine.

  "As much as I hate to ruin the moment. I need to go get some rest I have to wake up very early tomorrow." Andrew said for the first time, getting up with his plate in his hands, he pecked his mother on the forehead, "Good night." He said, and nodded his head at me in acknowledgement.

  After dinner was over, Edmund helped me packed the plates and load them into the dishwasher, I laughed so much while we were cleaning the table. "You're so funny." I chuckled shaking my head in amusement. "Yeah?"  He asked his eyes twinkling in amusement, I nodded.

   His phone started ringing, since it was close to me I stole a glance at the caller ID, and much to my dissatisfaction. It read Babe

   He took the phone and quickly answered it, raising his finger as in give me a few minutes.

    "Yeah, I've missed you too." I heard him say to the other line, i collected the cleaning items and took them back into the kitchen, I was about to pull out water from the fridge when someone slammed it hard, startling me so hard, I nearly fell down.

    "Whose permission do you have before opening the fridge?"

That voice. That annoying voice, I sighed rubbing my fingers on my temple. Here we go again, "I just wanted to drink water, you scared me." I said trying to smile, but deep inside I wanted to just shove him aside and walk out.

    "You can drink from the tap." He pointed at the sink, "aren't you used to it in your village, or have you forgotten where you came from?" He mocked snatching the bottled water from my hand.
     
I stood there for a while, my hands clinched together.

     "Okay, what have I done to you?" I asked finally getting fed up of his rude attitude. He shrugged, "you did nothing,  what makes you think you did something to me?" He asked a mischievous glint in his eyes  taking a step closer to me until my back was hitting the cold sink.

" You did not Nicole, absolutely nothing. I just don't like you that's all." He answered trapping me in-between his arms and the wall, I swallowed looking up at him. "Don't hurt me please." I begged tears clouding my eyes.

   He looked straight into my eyes, before he stood up properly and cleared his throat. "What's going here?" Edmund asked walking into the kitchen, looking between Elliot and I. "What did you do to her?" I questioned eyeing his brother suspiciously.

   "Nothing." Was Elliott's short reply as he pushed Edmund aside and walked out of the kitchen, well that's wired.

   "Are you okay? He didn't do anything did he?" Edmund asked walking close to me, inspecting me from Head to toe. "Am fine, he didn't do anything." I answered my mind swirling around in confusion. One minute Elliot was being a jerk to me, and the next he had gone all quiet.

   I sighed, yawning. I quickly shut my mouth, Edmund laughed. "You're tired aren't you? You should get to bed."

   I nodded obediently, "Good night, Eddie." I sang smiling mischievously, he raised his brows. "You're really something else, Nicole. Good night,"  he smiled at me.