A kiss for Ree

Chapter 14| Cupcake confusion!

I’ve been dreaming of Ludwig again.

Every time, he was fighting and winning. He never loses. In my dreams, it's always many versions of Jax he's up against, multiplying like a glitch in a game, refusing to give up. But Ludwig? He takes them all down. Bloody nose, bruised knuckles, cocky smirk and he always walks up to me at the end, wraps an arm around my waist, and pulls me close like he owns the world.

That’s where the dream ends. Every single time. My mind would awaken.

It’s Thursday afternoon now, and I’m tossing around in bed, pretending to read my English textbook. I’ve missed an entire school week and I’m supposed to be catching up. My friends sent over everything: pictures of their notes, summaries of lessons, but my brain refuses to focus. Not with Ludwig in it, running circles like he owns that too.

Which reminds me: "I hope he’s tired, because he’s been running through my mind all day.”

Dope pickup line, right?

Suddenly, my ears catch something—a faint rise in angry voices outside.

“You dey mad?! Sense no dey your head?!”

“Is your mother at that home that is mad?!”

"Ahh! If dem born you well, repeat am!"

I recognized the voice—it was Iyabo.

"I talk say your mama no get sense. Wetin you fit do?"

"If I woose you! You dey lucky say I no dey touch girls, if not, I for don kill and buy you!"

Curiosity got the better of me. I rolled off the bed and padded over to the only window in my room, way over at the farthest end from the door. I slid it open and peeked down, scanning the compound.

It was Kelvin, the new gatekeeper Lila hired just yesterday morning. He and Iyabo were having what could only be described as a verbal war. Iyabo looked like she was ready to throw hands, one thin foot tapping the ground like a boxer waiting for the bell. Maybe she could actually beat him up. She might be a tomboy. Who knows?

Kelvin was brown-skinned, Fulani, and average height, shorter than Iyabo, who was pretty tall.

"If dem born you well, touch me! I dare you! Good-for-nothing bastard!" Iyabo spat.

"No be your fault. Na pikin dey worry you," Kelvin muttered as he turned and began walking away.

His eyes flicked up to meet mine for a second before he strolled back to his little house by the gate, the one nobody had ever used until now.

Iyabo let out the longest birdy hiss I’d ever heard before stomping back toward the house in her short black skirt and blue round-neck top.

I shut the window and flopped back on the bed, determined to study. But trying to study on the bed? Worst idea ever. I passed out faster than I expected.

And of course, I dreamed of someone... Ludwig. Same kind of dream. Same endless fight against many Jaxes.

By afternoon, I woke up feeling both famished and dehydrated. I dragged myself to the kitchen in search of food. The burger Lila left for me looked dead and tired. I wasn't feeling it at all.

I was craving the real deal, cold garri with sugar and groundnut. Heaven in a cup.

That blissful delicacy.

I practically flew down the stairs in one breath and strode into the kitchen. Iya Iyabo was seated on a stool, wiping her hands.

"Good morning," I greeted.