Sing Of A Tree In The Wild

Rendezvous: Part Two

Dedicated to ToniaDaikpor

Elfrida

Phew!

Gbagada isn't all that far from Ikeja, but boy, traffic makes time feel stretched. Matthew just pulled up in the parking lot. And he hasn't gotten down. I don't know why he just decided to be a total douchebag today.

"I didn't come here to inhale stuffy air for three hours, Matthew."

Matthew just heaves a noisy, disgusting sigh. Of course, he's flashing me his irresistible smile. "Neither did I. Has anyone ever told you how beautiful you are?"

In situations like this, my stupid cheeks never fail to disappoint. Come to think of it, I can't remember the last time someone called me beautiful. Not my dad. Not my mom. Not even Dennis. I'm not supposed to be weighed down by this discovery......but no. The insults, the beatings, the low self-esteem, it's all getting to me now.

"Elfrida? Come on, don't cry." Matthew edges towards me and wraps me in his arms, patting me gingerly. He just shifted my face to face his. After drying my eyes, he says quietly, "You don't need anyone to tell you what you've always been. I just told you; that should be enough."

I guess he's right. I mean, this is Matthew. He's my everything. How about....

"Matthew?"

"Yeah?"

I fall towards him and clasp his palms tightly. "Do you mind if we pass off as a couple today?"

Matthew responds by giggling and hitting the steering. I don't know why he takes everything as a joke. I really want to experience the feeling of dating my cousin.

"You never cease to amuse me, Frida. What if any of your friends see us? What if De-"

"Don't just go there." I say, sternly.

"What? He could be here with his sister! And he wouldn't like it if he finds his girlfriend cheating..."

Without thinking twice, I drive my fist into his lower abdomen, slightly...above...his..

"Ow! Can't somebody play with you again?" He yelps, clutching his abs, wincing in pain. "It's like guilty conscience-"

"You're being serious. And me defending myself should not be mistaken for guilty conscience. And sorry for hitting you there. You made me do it."

By now, Matthew should have recovered from my attack. Evidently, Matthew's good build isn't in sync with his endurance. "I should add that Dennis and his sister were resting comfortably well in their house when I went there. If they intend to go out, it's definitely not happing around this time. So, about my request. Deal or no deal?"

"Deal," Matthew mouths as he stretches out his palm for a high five. I smile and hit his palm with mine. Today is going to be amazing.

"Let's get out of here. I'm done inhaling stuffy car air." Matthew says nothing. The edges of his mouth go up as I give him a hug. We untangle and step out of the vehicle. Matthew reaches for the sunshades hanging on his T-shirt and puts it on. He just wants to form big boy today.

"I never knew there was a place this awesome on the Mainland." Matthew says as we trudge towards the interior.

"What do you mean by that statement? The Mainland has pretty cool places. You've forgotten them, and you haven't even been away for three years."

"I guess. Until you leave the shores of this country, you'll never realise that Nigeria is a struggle country."

"I'll hit you again, Matthew. This time, I'll go lower."