A Break Apart

CHAPTER 15. Old Friends

The door opened, and Mrs Mathew came into view. "Teresa!" she beamed, her arms already out for a hug. Her flowy dress, short wavy wig, and light makeup gave her a youthful glow.

"Roseline!" Mum called out in excitement as they hugged each other with warm giggles.

"I'm glad you both could make it," Mrs Mathew said when they let go. "Come in." She then ushered us in with a broad smile.

The interior of her home looked like it was put together by a home decor designer on Instagram.

"How have y'all been?" I heard Mum ask while I looked around. The textures, pieces, and warm colours of the apartment merged in harmony.

"It wasn't easy, but God has been faithful," I heard Mrs Mathew say, just when my eyes focused on a big family frame on the wall. A stream of sadness began flowing inside of me as I wondered how they were able to cope after Mr Mathew passed away.

"The kids should be in their rooms"— My mind came back to earth at the mention of "kids"—"I'll let them know you two are here. Meanwhile, get comfortable." She went up the stairs to get them, leaving us both in the living room.

"Isn't this wonderful?" Mum said to me, and I responded with a closed smile, bracing myself up to meet my friends after a long time.

My heart seized to beat at its normal pace as footsteps flooded down the stairs.

Mrs Mathew led the way, and behind her was Sandra, in a floral, strapped dress, her melanin skin popping like fresh-out-of-the-oven golden brownies. A wide headband tamed her puffy hair that sat on her shoulders, leaving her beautiful round face in full view.

I looked above her head, and my eyes got stuck as I stared insanely, at the tall, gorgeous guy walking down the stairs. His diet probably included a healthy protein shake that was recommended by a youtuber for body building, as he looked nothing like the skinny boy I knew back then in primary school. He had a flawless light skin, and although he wore a basic loosed sweater and sweatpants, he still was able to pull off the look of a model in a photoshoot studio. I started to believe that a love at first sight does actually exist, but in this case; a love at first sight, after many years.

"Aunty!" Sandra hastened her steps towards Mum.

"Oh, wow! We now have a fine young lady in the house," Mum said, amazed, and Sandra giggled.

"Nadine!" The letter 'i' in my name came out in a high-pitched sound after she pulled away from Mum.

I laughed. "Sandra." She opened her arms wide, the two of us holding big smiles as we hugged each other.

"I don't remember you to be this tall." Mum raised her head as Abel approached us in the living room. He laughed, and we all did too.

"Sandra, help me set up the table."

"Yes, Mummy," Sandra replied, and Mrs Mathew motioned everyone else to the dinning. Abel lowered his pace, and my heart sank.

"Hey." His husky voice turned my legs into Chinese noodles.

I held a breath, my stare wavering from his steady gaze. "Hi."

He smiled, a kind that noticed how awkward I felt around him, and walked ahead. I cringed at my incompetence to act normal as I followed suit.

It didn't get any better at the dinning table, and the eye contacts Abel and I kept throwing at each other made me more nervous, and also made me ate too cautiously. His gazes didn't falter and, everytime our eyes met, I ended up looking away, asking myself if he thought that my eyebrows weren't sketched right, or he would have preferred I wore a simple black dress and not try to make a statement with a yellow one, or he thought that I would look prettier with my braids laid down instead of it being tied up in a ponytail.