Thank God its a Saturday. I can stay in my room all day. That's if my mum doesn't have other plans for me.
I turned on the shower and scalding hot water blasted my skin from all directions. I winced. The water was almost humanly unbearable but i reveled in it because a teeny tiny part of me hoped that the hot water will melt away some of the disgusting fat under my skin. Actually, a big part of me. So I increased the flow of the water.
"Why are your eyes swollen? And your arms red?" Mum asked alarmed at the breakfast table. I looked at my skin. Angry dark red blotches on my chocolate skin stared at me. I didn't even realize my skin would show any signs. Where's all the melanin? Smh betrayal.
"Nothing mum. My eyes were hurting throughout the night and I mistakenly turned on the hot water instead of cold during my shower" I told her calmly. It was obvious that she didn't buy my story but she played along none the less.
"You need to be more careful Samy, else one day you'll really hurt yourself" dad scolded.
"And you should see a doctor because those eyes of yours are always red"
"That's not necessary mum. I still have my eye drops from my last trip to the hospital" i said quietly. My two siblings, Raja and Abdul just stared at me. Raja who was 10 was following the conversation. She was a very smart girl so i know she understands everything while Abdul, was 7 and naive.
Mum gave me the 'I know you are lying and we have to talk about this' look. I knew i was finished. The rest of breakfast was eaten in silence lest for Raja and Abdul's little bickering every now and then.
***
Just sitting in my room, a wave a sadness swept through me. I was sad. Everything seemed against me. I began to wonder why I didn't foresee this obesity and cut down on my food intake. Self loathing set in proper and I began to cry. I hated myself for being the shapeless mass that I was and for allowing myself to become the shapeless mass. And I heated myself for being weak and a cry baby. Basically, I wish I was someone else.
A knock came on the door and I quickly rushed into the bathroom to prevent who ever it is from seeing the tears that have been soaking my sheets for the past two hours.
"Samy! Where are you?" It was my sister.
"Shower" I replied trying hard to hide my muffled voice.
"Again? Mom said to see her in her room" in Nigerian dictionary, that means you are in deep shit or something is about to scatter your mood. Therefore, I stripped out of my clothes to take another hot shower. Prepare for the worst.
In the end my eyes were less swollen but still very red. My skin was also as angry as ever. I resolved to use my trusty excuse that works all the time.
***
" Samy you've been crying" mum states knowingly moments after I step into her room.
"No mum, my eyes are hurting. Remember?" I wish it was just my eyes. She shakes her head.
"You're going to the doctor on Monday"
"I have school!"
"After school" I knew she'd won this round. If I push it any further she'll know I'm hiding something.
" did you do the laundry?" She asks. Noooo! I knew a free weekend was too good to be true.
"Oooh I forgot"
" your siblings better have clean uniforms for Monday. You can go with dirty ones if you like" she says. Yet she'll be the first one to fight me if my uniforms aren't shining on Monday. African mums I swear.
I almost roll my eyes but I know that'll get me kicked out of the house so I quietly exit the room. Laundry time.
I pull a gown over my shorts and tee. I don't really enjoy people's insulting glares so I cover up as much as possible before stepping out of the house. The washing lines were about fifty steps from our flat.
I began to spread the clothes on the line. The sun was high up in the sky, it was baking me mercilessly. Dear sun, I know you are the hottest thing in existence, why do you feel the need to brag?
I shook my head at the sun, then I began to laugh at my absurdity.
"Something funny?" Chocolaty voice floated into my ear. It was deep and smooth. idris Elba or Big Sean? Which one came to garki? I laughed quietly. I turned around and my line of sight was blessed.
'You are dumb'
He was a little taller than I was. He was muscular but not bulky, he had healthy brown skin and in conclusion, the dude is fiiinnee and I'm going to marry him.
"No, nothing" I replied, realising I was just blankly staring at him.
"You can't be laughing alone and say it's nothing, unless you're crazy" He said with amusement in his almond eyes. I swear he can pass off as a model.
"Really. Just an old joke that's all"
"If you say so. My name is Jamil by the Way" he says and begins spreading his own clothes.
"I'm Samirah. Most people call me Samy"
"Yeah, I've heard about you" you say what?
"From who? We just moved here like two months ago"
He smiles. A dimple digging into his left cheek. Aww he's so cute! Marry me please!!
"You go for walks every evening since you moved here. Samira, people are watching and talking about the new fine girl in the area" this piece of information should bug me but for some reason all I wanted was to hear him say my name again. What is happening? Is this how derangement starts? Thinking of sappy nonsense? Wait? He said fine girl right? Am I hearing things?
I shook the thoughts away and asked him a question that's been on my mind since I saw him.
"Why do you have one dimple?" He guffawed. Sounding like a damn dolphin. Can he be any cuter? I just smiled as he laughed away. Even though my question wasn't meant to be funny. I was being as serious as a heart attack.
"I guess God didn't want me to have it all" he said wiping tears away from his eyes. Okay..
I almost swooned at his reply. Who doesn't like a cute guy with a dash of ego?
His bucket was empty and so was mine. True that good things don't last. And so i have to bid my Romeo good riddance. Romeo oh romeo
"See you around Samy zayn" he smiled then he winked. I laughed. Samy zayn the wrestler. This guy is too much. He smiled and I smiled back. Like a maniac actually.
'What is wrong with you? He's probably like that with all girls. Don't get you hopes up girl!'
She was right. No one likes fat. I gathered my clothe pegs and buckets and headed home, my mood worse than it was before laundry time
A/N
HELLO MY LOVELIES!
THIRD CHAPTER! SORRY FOR THE DELAY Y'ALL, THIS SUMMER HAS BEEN HECTIC (I'VE BEEN SUPER LAZY) HOPE Y'ALL LIKE IT. VOTE, COMMENT AND SHARE. YOU'LL MAKE ME SMILE..❤
