BELINA (Tender Beauty)

CHAPTER 1

I knelt down by my bed on Thursday morning to pray but nothing seemed to come out of my mouth. I placed my head on the bed and closed my eyes but I didn't have the enthusiasm to offer any prayer. Confusion, worry and anger have become the order of the day since my mother died two years ago. Everything just seemed to go wrong at the same time. I lost my job two months after her death and my plans to get my own apartment became truncated. My plan to get another job with my First Class Certificate in Applied Psychology was also fruitless but the latest development seemed to be taking a great deal of my patience and self-control.

'Lord, I thank you for today, please Father, make it a good day' I said and got up when there was nothing else to say. I washed up my face, brushed my teeth and went about the house chores.

Breakfast was already prepared before seven, I placed it on the table for my father and went to take my bath. I went back to the sitting room dressed and met dad eating. I mumbled a low 'Good morning, sir' and just as I was about to eat, I heard a knock. 'Who is that?' I asked, pondering on the same question as I opened the door. Standing before me was the very person who made my life a living hell.

*****

Prisca woke up to the ringing of her phone and from the 'I just wanna say I love you' tone, she knew who was calling. She smiled and picked up the phone.

"Morning, baby boy", she said.

"Hey, honey", Tony said over the receiver.

"Mmmm, it is nice hearing your voice early in the morning", she responded.

"How was your night dear?"

"I dreamt of you" she said smiling foolishly.

He laughed and said, "hey baby, before you make me get late for work, I need to tell you something."

"Anything for me?" she asked.

He feigned seriousness and coughed, "Well, tell your friend, what is her name, yes, Belina, that she should come to our hospital on Monday to start work"

"What are you saying!" she practically screamed, sitting up instantly. Tony laughed heartily, "Yes baby, she got the job."

***** I stared at Tunji coldly, "What are you doing here?"

He shook his head, "Is that the way you greet your future husband? Let me in", he ordered.

I laughed mockingly, "You are crazy. I have always known that, but I didn't know it was this serious". He scoffed.

"Belina", Dad yelled and I stiffened. "Let him in now". I stood with my arms akimbo blocking the doorway. "BELINA" I eyed Tunji and reluctantly stepped aside. I slammed the door after him with so much force that the house shook. Dad glared at me but turned towards Tunji and grinned.

"Good morning, Mr. Badmus", Tunji said.

"Morning, my son. Sorry for her rude behavior, she is just being childish", Dad said.

I rolled my eyes in disgust. Amazing what people would do for wealth and power. 'Why can't this idiot take 'no' for an answer?" I wondered.

"I am through with the arrangements, sir", Tunji was saying, smiling at me. Dad nearly jumped out of his skin in excitement. "Oh, oh Tunji, you are God-sent, God bless you a million times, ah..."

Puzzled, I asked, "what arrangement?"

Before he could answer, my phone rang, noticing that it was Prisca, I went to the room to answer it. Unlike our usually long chats, the call ended within two minutes. Unable to conceal my joy, I practically danced round my room after letting out a loud scream of joy. Dad and Tunji ran into my room. "What are you doing here?" I asked unable to hide my happiness.