Remedy

7. Sharing

"Tell Bucket that this is my seat," Mbuso said through clenched teeth. "Tell Big Toe to back off or else," Asari replied. "Or else what?" Mbuso challenged. They had been arguing ever since they came back from the buffet.

They found out during that week that their shared a class together in which Mbuso ensured that she was thoroughly annoyed and frustrated by the time it was over. He had named her Bucket for some odd reason I couldn't understand no matter how many times he explained it and Asari had retaliated with the name 'Big Toe'.

Esi and I just watched the encounter. Esi had her mouth full of popcorn and was waiting in suspense for something dramatic to erupt from the argument while I sat there annoyed and still blushing from Seyiso kissing my hand. The feeling lingered there like his lips had never left my skin. It tingled and sent sensations of heat and exhilaration down my spine.

"I started shooting lessons last year and I've got excellent aim and a gun waiting for provoking comments like that," Asari said. "I'm glad you have something to let off steam. You're always so tense and...steamy. But I've been dodging bullets way before you knew what a gun was. And if you think this is me provoking you, you've got a lot more coming," Mbuso said.

They stared each other down. I couldn't tell who was winning. Mbuso's glare was playful but intense. Asari's eyes screamed fire and death upon anyone who looked at them. I saw Seyiso stepping on stage. "You two sit down and be quiet. This is a music night and I'm here to support Seyiso. Behave or go have this childish feud outside," I said. "Childish?!" they both exclaimed. At least they agreed on something.

"Yes. Sit down. Now," I said, wearing my own violent glare. They obliged but their eyes remained on each other. It was as if one of them would pounce and attach if the other let their gaurd down.

I dismissed whatever issues they had and fixed my eyes in the man in the stage. The stage lights enhanced the gentle but intense gaze his eyes beheld. Surely, the man had to be made in God's image to carry the sunset and eclipse in his eyes but the gentle lull of soft rain on his lips.

"Good evening everyone. I hope you're all doing well because I am. Thank you for making it tonight. It's your first week back and most of you your first week here. It's a hectic time but you made an effort to be here and I appreciate that more than you know.

"The song I'll be singing tonight is Misty by Ella Fitzgerald. As usual, it's a song dictated to my first lady. My mother used to sing this song so many times the lyrics never left my memory.

"And I think for the first time, I feel what she felt when she sang these words. My blushing lady knows herself. She'll read into the words that carry the simplest clues to why my heart beats a little faster when she's near," he says before letting his fingers dance on keys that struck strings I didn't know my heart possessed.

Was he talking about me? The first part was his mother but the second had to be me. That meant he saw me blushing. Embarrassing.

"He dedicated the song to his mom and you? He's into you, Raiah. Cease the moment tonight," Esi said. "He's a romantic. I don't think he's ever trying to be romantic but he is," I said. I sighed.

None of us could speak as soon as he started singing. I could feel my cheeks tear apart as my smile widened to the point where it couldn't anymore. Esi kept making sounds and praising his talent. Asari just stared in awe. Mbuso tried to look uninterested but instead looked more engaged in the performance than anything I've seen him watch his entire life.

When the song ended, we all clapped and cheered. I could feel the entire room come alive in celebration of his performance. He bowed and left the stage. "Wow. I see the appeal, Raiah," Asari said. "He's good, right?" I replied. "Are you insane? He's not good he's... I couldn't speak. I was in awe. The man sings like he's loved and lived before the beginning of time. His voice carries the message of the song so softly but pierces through every perspective and question you have about love."