SHALLOW DEPTHS

Chapter 12

     Scuba Diving was everything, a tour guide had picked the perfect spot, where the water was crystal clear at St Pierre off Anse Volbert Praslin. Cyril insisted on staying on the boat to plan his birthday party, but I knew he was just trying to avoid getting in the water. I had never seen a water so blue, corals everywhere, I touched a sea turtle and had several glasses of Pina Colada. And while I was underwater, I could have sworn I saw a reef shark.

I laid on a bamboo bench, half naked, soaking in some sun and catching my breathe while I was at it. The boat rocked in a slow and steady motion, if this was a dream, I did not want to wake up. I could tell Cyril's party was going to be grand, he was searching for private islands and the best cocktails, he made calls about a celebrity appearance and an exclusive Dj. The meal of the day was a popular delicacy among the large variety of exotic foods of Seychelles, Bat Curry. A meal prepared from the meat cut out from the wings of a fruit bat.

I found it a bit revolting, but it was a dish immensely enjoyed by locals, and he was going to hire the chefs of the famous Marie Antoinette Restaurant to prepare the traditional creole dish.

''We need to go shopping'', I heard him beside me.

''We need to get beach wears too, for my party''.

I didn't know which sounded better, his voice, or the idea of shopping in Seychelles. I felt like I was living a celebrity lifestyle.

''Yes Hon!'' I squealed, turning around to face him.

''Where do you have in mind?''.

''You'll see'' he grinned, handing me a glass of red wine, he pulled his chair closer and shoved the blanket off my body. Chills ran down my spine as his eyes were fixed on my camel toe.

''You look beautiful'', he whispered.

All eyes were on him as we walked into a female store, nodding and smiling, he held my hand and led me to the counter.

''Please get us your finest beach wears'', he said coolly, his sensual mouth curved into a smile.

The lady at the counter couldn't take her eyes of him, women, old and young, kept staring and making flirty faces at him. I felt my face stiffen, I wasn't finding it funny, he was mine and mine alone, his entire being was my party, and no one else was invited.

''Why don't we look around ourselves'', I blurted, clinging to his arm tightly, and making a face at a woman attempting to go unclad. I led him around, fondling his arm and kissing him every chance I got, they needed to know he was taken.

''Try these, they look chic'', he said, reaching for some skirts on a shelf. It was nice to know he was focused on the shopping, and not the ladies, who seemed to giggling behind.

I walked into the changing space and closed the curtains, praying he wouldn't be married by the time I was out. The women were mostly whites, but they seemed as sticky as the women back in Nigeria, their heads on a swivel for any handsome young man. I unzipped my gown and let it slip to the floor, admiring my perky set of breasts in the mirror.

''Fine boobs, Finer man even'', I heard a voice behind me, a lady of 25 or thereabout, she looked like she was torn off a magazine, and from the jersey she had on, I could tell she was Nigerian.

''Am Adunni, Adunni Iliya'', her voice was soft and warm, a tampon dangled from her hand, and her eyes were fixed on my breasts.

''Ziggy Lora'', I answered, straightening the skirt with one hand, and covering my breast with the other.

''What are you doing here?'', I asked.

''Lady Minutes, needed to change my stuff''.

''So, what brings you to Seychelles, business, pleasure, business of pleasure?''.

''Oh! Am here for pleasure. With my boyfriend,'' I added pointedly.

''It's his birthday tomorrow''.

Speaking of boyfriend, I turned around and peeped through the curtains to make sure Cyril was still intact. He had several other outfits with him, and I knew it was going to be one hell of a shopping experience.

''Well in that case, you should wear that with a batwing blouse'', she smirked.

''Am I invited?''

''Sure, I'd love to have you'', I managed. Cyril was going to invite all his friends who lived in Seychelles, and that meant he would have less time for me. Her company could put an end to possible boredom at the party, and it would be nice to have another Nigerian I could relate with.

''Yay! That's great'', she squealed, pulling out a pen from her purse, and scribbling something on a torn off designer label.

''This is my email, you can reach me with that''.

''You have a great body Ziggy, I'll see you tomorrow''.

That was random, I thought to myself. Why was she in Seychelles, Business, Pleasure, Business of Pleasure?.