Careless Whispers

23

Harrison did not say anything to her once she entered the car. She felt uncomfortable with the silence and was relieved the ride was short. The location was somewhere within the company’s property. Somewhere she was seeing for the first time, though. Teak trees stood magnificiently on each side of the road casting beautiful cool shades. At the end of the road she could see a pond, there were two small buildings erected on the lawn that read Pond. He pulled beside one of them.

“This is harmattan…but the lawn here is greener than the one at my place.” she murmured absentmindedly, scrunched her face when she saw a building afar above the dry trees. “Is that the factory?”

“yes…relax. Your boyfriend can't see you here." He replied from behind.

This was lunch? She thought it would be somewhere out of the property, like a restaurant or so. not a scenario like this and what about the food? Trying to hide the disappointment that they were here for talk, she asked. “How long has this place been hidden?”

“Since I bought this place.”

“when?”

“Four years ago.” He replied. One of the building there was a corridor with four chairs and a metal table.

So many things she didn’t know about him.

“Help me with this.” That made her turn around. His devilishly handsome face almost melted her heart and he stood beside the car, bringing things out from the trunk. He was holding a basket and a rainbow color handmade knitted shawl…wait, that was hers!

“You still have this?” It surprised her that he kept such thing. And he brought food!

“can you?” he lifted the basket as though it was heavy, ignoring her question.

“yes…yes.” she nodded as she took it from his hands. “What is this called, Picnic at work?”

“Your opinion.”

“I am not wearing it.” it sounded like a spoilt child whining and she hated her voice. Since he was replying monotously, maybe he thought the ring was still on her finger.

“I saw that already.” He waved the shawl, slightly waving it into her ears which made it ticklish. “You need to be careful not to spill some of the content. They were hard to come by, Obi.”

“And what is that?” she followed him up to the table, the shade was cool and relaxing.

“Assure me we will eat in peace. I only brought you here because I don’t want you to start thinking of someone else.”

“Stop replying with irrelevant answers.”

He spread the shawl on the table and patted it for her to place the basket. He opened it while she took her seat across him. He started bringing out whatever the thing held and Obi couldn’t hide her surprise. A lunch box he opened to revealed chicken laps, a box of samosa inside a warmer, a bottle of wine and two glasses, two bottle of water, chips with savoring sight of ketchup  and saviette papers.

“These were hard to come by?” she accused with sarcasm.

“Always look for the fact.”

“I will go for the chicken…or maybe chips first.”

“Is that a thank you-“

“- I don’t know how to-“

“And this?” he brought out a sealed white plastic disposable plate and she gawked back in awe.

She ran from eating them. They were the best meal they fought over when they were together because the taste was always great and spicy. She didn’t give up on relationship alone when he left, she gave up on them too. She eyed the dish Harrison was holding, her eyes reverting as if they were poison.