LOVE & FLAWS | A NIGERIAN ROMANCE |

Chapter 18: Breakfast in bed.

Yellow Rays Fell over his face, discomforting him. He groaned and tossed, suddenly aware of the figure on his bed. He quietly removed his hands from her waist and robbed his heavy eyes. She stirred at the wake of his movement. He placed a kiss on her forehead, her skin soft and warm as ever. For some time, he sat and watched her smooth angelic face, as she consecutively breathed in and out at perfect intervals. She looked at ease. Clint quietly detached himself from the ruffled blanket, careful enough not to disturb Tina.

After minutes of sitting, he left for the bathroom. There, he let out fluids that accumulated in his scrotal sac; they flowed freely into the ceramic plate. He picked his tooth brush and polished off dirt from his buccal cavity and poured some water on his head and rigorously ran his hands through his afro cut. He poured a handful of the liquid again and washed his face. He checked himself at the mirror; reassured, he made his way to the kitchen.

Tina Joined Him in the kitchen. She passionately wrapped her hands around his waist and leaned on him. He placed his hands over her hands and gently released them. He turned to her and embraced her passionately. He kissed her forehead, as they shared a hug. She wrapped her hands loosely around him while caressing her hair. He lowered his head and placed his cheek against her plump cheek in a cheek-to-cheek bonding. Her hair faintly smelled of apple.

They separated from the morning bonding, seconds into it. She reared her head towards the meal on the fancy wooden kitchen table and inhaled the aroma.

“It was meant to be breakfast in bed, you know,” Clint relayed to Tina. 

Tina blushed. She signalled something to him next. He wasn't sure of what she meant, but she left the kitchen. Would he ever be able to learn all these signals? He wondered. Definitely he would; it would be a matter of time, he reassured himself.

He took his time to arrange the fried plantains into a fine shape. He went into the dining space aiming for the refrigerator; he picked a tin of milk and went back into the kitchen to open it. He placed it on the tray by the custard, plantain, and a small saucer containing cubes of sugar. With a spoon on the tray, he was good to go. He left for the bedroom. “Ready for breakfast?” He announced with a smile. 

Time runs fast when you spend them with your loved ones; that’s a popular saying. The morning went by faster than any other day, but it didn’t matter; they spent it in each other’s arm. Another popular saying has it that the best times are the ones spent with your loved ones. It was almost noon, when they moved up to their next item on their schedule for the weekend; cloth shopping. 

Tina Made Sure to look perfect in her makeup. She did and redid her face till Clint worried she never finish up. Her powder was neatly applied and layered, with every mistake carefully erased with the aid of moisturized wipe. Her hair was intensely oiled and combed until every strand that dared rear its head submitted. Leaning on the door frame, Clint watched her dab her brow with the moisturized wipe for the second time. She dropped the dirty wipe on the table and began to redo it. He watched her redo the cat eye thing or so, whatever Julia called it. She would make a good team with his makeup freak junior sister. 

“Perfecto.” He had to intervene; else she would clean it and start again.

She smiled at him and began packing her makeup box. It was obvious; she didn’t stop because she was satisfied. She stopped because of him.

He strode after her in his black joggers pants, coffee coloured loosely fitted polo and white sneakers, with his headphone on his neck. He busied himself with WhatsApp, fending off his bugs of a friend who repeatedly teased him with his initial stand about Tina and her stay for the weekend. He would tell them a few things later, but that would be until they met. 

He feels uneasy talking about himself and Tina to anyone. It was not like their friendship was any less good than it had been, but the uncertainty surrounding his relationship with Tina hung on the air like a dense fog. It called for caution. He doesn't know if he is overdoing it, but he knows one thing for sure; he will take things slowly until the coast was cleared. 

Except for the momentary teasing, Ken and Iyke seemed to understand him and played along coolly. They went around any serious discussion that had to do with his relationship. 

Tina assumed the job of the Disc Jockey till they got to the mall and got engaged with the business of the day, which was all her idea. She made a few videos on their way, which didn’t seat very well with Clint, even when he smiled and pecked her a few times in the video. His smile was handsome but uneasy. She would later post the clips on Instagram with a sticker over his face. No public display of affection — that was the rule, and she was playing by it. She didn't have to do it if he hated it.

He Quietly Went through the female session of the boutique with her, occasionally lending his opinion when sought. She compared two tops, placing them on her chest, one after the other, repeatedly. “They will look good on you,” he suggested. She rolled her eyes at his suggestion. He would have to be more specific next time.

“Ma'am, I suggest you go for this,” the sales rep hinted, pointing at one of the tops, “it complements your colour and will .  . .” She ranted on. His mind drifted off as her rants bored him.

“Clint!” A lady approached him. “Jenny,” They shared a hug to Tina's distaste. Jenny, his angry date the night he fought Ugo, Tina recalled. She continued her shopping, stealing glances at them. It unsettled Clint. 

Jane became more dramatic when she his discomfort. She took a look towards the direction of his glances and caught Tina glancing back too. She talked about paying him a visit and having a good time, speaking a bit louder than necessary. He glanced at Tina; she pretended to pick clothes, but her body language said otherwise. She paid attention to their discussion. He knew this gender a bit too well to fall for that even though he hadn't seen Tina in action.

“Uhmm, Jenny, let’s talk some other time,” he said out loud and intentionally. Tina was coming towards them.

Jenny pretentiously followed his gaze, to Tina who walked towards them at the moment “Isn't she the dumb girl from the party?” She stressed the word “dumb”, pretending to have only noticed Tina for the first time. “You are with her? Cool, but . . .” She pressed her fingers on his and leaned in on him, “I know what you do, but then, you are better than this.” Clint closed his eyes for a second to assimilate Jenny's words.

“I think we should go now, Jenny.” He dismissed her.

She hugged him again. “See yah!”

“Babe, I'm sorry about that,” he apologized. 

His apology was met with a shrug and no response afterwards. She signalled him and walked away instead. Clint couldn't make a holistic comprehension of the signal, but he knew it had something to do with him shopping. He was able to fix some pieces of the puzzle based on what she taught him so far. He followed her lead. 

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