Love In Silhouette

❇「Chapter 29」❇

'Love is that condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own.'

Robert A. Heinlein

"Your work is really great Arinola. I can't remeber the last time I came across such expressive art here in Nigeria. Most of what I see is usually just, you know...I don't know, it's just..." I was gesticulating with my hands for lack of words to complete my sentence. "Lol empty?" She smirked. "Thank God it's you that said it o not me." I rolled my eyes in relief and she chuckled. "Except for the likes of Mrs Nike Davies Okundaye and... "Oh, Mrs Nike! I''m proably her number one fan; I admire that woman so much, and her works are just out of this world. Do you know how many times ive visted the gallery just to draw inspiration?" Arinola all but screeched.

"I know right? It seems our generation is more into tech these days. Nobody really wants to get their hands dirty with mud and sit for hours splashing paint around a canvas that'll probably just end up in someone's bedroom or office wall." "My Sister!" Arinola exclaimed in affirmation.

"But there are always a few exceptions to the rule of course; the likes of you and quite a good number of others like ianwesiga, Fhatuwani mukheli, and Ohab TBJ But they're so few and far between. The rest are just...the usual. I like to communicate with the artist just by studying their work, know how they feel...and that can only happen when he is one with his art." I locked my fingers together and tugged. "That's why it inspires me so much when I see my fellow youngins like you coming up with great stuff like this. I've been following your works for some time now, which is why when I saw you were hosting your first exhibition, I had to come."

"And here, you had never even reached out to me. I would have loved to connect with you."

"Lol, didnt think it was necessary. I preferred to admire from afar." I smirked.

"Hmm, I see." She eyed me suspiciously while sipping her glass of champagne. "So where do you display your work Mrs Observer?" She tilted her glass at me. My ears flushed and twitched ever so slightly.

"Me?" I blurted.

"Yes you."

"And who said I was an artist?"

"Lol...what do you think i am, an idiot?. It reeks off of you!" She laughs like she didnt just expose my biggest secret.

"Oh, I don't know what youre talking about." I denied.

"So, its a seeecret huh? She wiggled her brows.

We had somewhat moved away from where most of the crowd was, so we didn't have people interrupting us to have a word with Arinola from time to time.

"I've told you, i'm not an artist; i just love art." I lied, hoping to throw her off my scent. I was beginning to get irked.

"You might fool everyone, but not me. However, it's your choice; i only wonder why you'd want to keep it a secret."

"Yeah I don't know, maybe you could tell me, since you know." I replied sharply.

She smirked and raised her hands in surrender. " I shouldn't have insisted. There's probably more to your reasons than i know."

My annoyance was most at the fact she'd so deftly uncovered my basement with little to no effort. Didn't want that blowing up along with my profile.

*****

The giant black gates swung slowly open as i pulled into our private street. Yeah, Asher actually bought up the entire street before erecting his Godzilla structure of a house. The guy's a certified weirdo.

It's one of the Naija gossip blogs and news media houses favourite topics to chew on ''Asher Eze's Outlandishly Luxurious Ikoyi mansion!/ TEN things you didnt know about Asher Eze's Luxury Mansion/ Inside the Asher Eze Mansion/ How much is the Eze mansion worth?"...and so on and so forth. Funny how majority of those blogs are written by people who've never even stepped foot near these streets which explains why they end up with all kinds of funny stories and nonsense.

At least the media houses are better, as expected.

I changed the gear to park and pulled my phone out of the cup holder, turning off the bluetooth. "Good evening David, please come out and help me carry some stuff into the house. Thank you." I got out and headed for the back seat where I had kept the works I purchased from Arinola's exhibition today. David had already reached the car.

"Welcome ma." He bowed and I patted his shoulder. "Please be careful, they're delicate. You'll carry these ones to my room for me." I pointed first at two large frames, "I'll take this one." I picked up the much smaller one. "When you're done, come back and park the car; before you do, check for anything I left or you need to throw away first. Please make sure there's nothing in it when you're taking it to the car wash." I gave him the keys and went inside after him.

My phone chimed: it was Auntie Chidinma asking how i was doing. I'd missed her; we hadn't spoken in a while.

"I'm doing very well ma, and my sister?" I texted a reply.

Chidera had mentioned to me about a start up she was working on with a few of her colleagues: a private project. Until it was stable enough, they were keeping it under wraps. It had somethig to do with solar technology and using it to power gadgets when converted. I knew cause she'd let me read the pitch deck once. It was quite impressive.

It seemed like i was the only one who didn't have anything going on; just the same old boring consumer life.

"She's doing great, it's just this project she's on that keeps her busy all the time."

"Startups are like that; it needs a lot of work to get up and running. But once that's done it's smooth sailing and clear skies."

"Oh really..."

"Yes ma. How is your husband and the boys...lol"

"The boys have missed you o and my husband is fine."

"I should come around soon."

"It's fine dear; I just want to be sure you're doing geat that's all. What of the book I gave you, I hope you're still reading it." I smiled as I saw her last message pop in.

That book....it's been my saving grace.

By now, I had gotten to my wing and David had already kept the frames by my door and left. I closed my phone so I could carry in my stuff before returning to our chat.

Asher's unfinished painting still stood at it's usual location, the white cloth drapped over it's canvas. I smirked and my mind drifted to him.

Was he back even, cause I sure didn't see his car parked in the lot. It's usually right in front of mine when I come in late. I shrugged and set the frames on the floor to lean next to my lounge couch. I'd hang these up tomorrow. I took off my clothes and went in to take a shower.

*****

"Honestly, I don't know what to say. It's been such an extreme blessing. Opening it every day is like reading a horoscope. I don't understand how the words in that book can totally predict almost everything that eventually plays out in my day. So when they happen, it doesn't come as a surprise. I know the right thing to do; it's just up to me to decide if i want to do it or not. That's just the twist; doing things the way is pleasing to God all the time. Sometimes it's difficult and all you just want to do is you know, let loose and not even care who gets it. But then, i've also realised that as i spent more time studying, the devotional and my Bible, and just with God, it became easier to do what he wants of me. Of course, i'm still stubborn but I want to please him more these days. I know I never cared before. I mean look at me, 3 months ago, who'd have ever thought i'd be all God, God, God lol. It's amazing. The book? It's just been about a month and it's changing my life everyday. I didn't know so much knowledge was locked up in the verses of the Bible. So much! It's remarkable. Pastor Chris is amazing."

I was smiling from ear to ear as I clicked the send button.

Author's Note

I'm actuallt back with another chapter guys. Despite my terrible AWOL habits, I hope you guys like it. Let me know what you think in the comments and don't forget to vote if you enjoyed the chapter.

The Artists mentioned at the begining can be searched out on Instagram with the exact names used here.

See you in the next chapter!