The sudden deafening sounds from the TV in the living room, jolts her awake from being lost in her makeup routine.
Stupid NEPA.
"Now that I'm off to work, the power gets restored." She looks at the shiny bulb attached to the ceiling and the rolling fan. "I just want to say... screw you people."
She sighs heavily, staring into her mirror. She has been trying to get this new weave she just purchased on. Seeing that it hasn't been successful in an hour, she immediately regrets Bolu's absence.
That girl's specialty is laying wigs and edges but now that I'm not talking to her, it's a little hard to get a good hair going through.
Oh well, natural then.
She takes off the weave and pulls her thick black hair into a high bun.
This will do.
Her familiar ringtone 'roar' by Katty Perry starts to play loudly from her phone beside her. "Ugh. I need to change my ringtone. This is so 2013." She checks the caller ID and it turns out to be Jonathan. "Hey, what's up?"
"What's up? Teni, I have been sitting here for over an hour. It's almost two pm. Didn't you say twelve?"
She frowns. "Sitting where?"
He grunts. "Are you serious right now? Didn't you tell me to wait for you at Domino's?"
"Oh. Really?"
"Teni. Gosh, I should have known.You can sly ehn. You were so focused on that rice and plantain that you didn't know what you were sayi..."
Teni laughs, shaking her head. "Calm down, calm down. I was just pulling your legs. I'll be there in twenty minutes."
"Better." Teni stands up, retrieves her bag. "Wait, Teni.."
"Yeah?"
"Can you bring me one of those cupcakes you baked. I saw your WhatsApp status this morning."
"Really? Can't you buy pizza instead? Be looking for free cupcake o."
He chuckles. "Oya please. I love you. I love you pretty T, please! And make it all nice and good for your baby, okay?" He hangs up.
Looking into the mirror one more time, she smacks her glossy lips and bats her long eyelashes, admiring her delicate beauty. It's been so long anyone has called her by her old nickname. Pretty T. Mostly because people liked her for her cat eyes and small, round lips back in school but oh well, not anymore, full lips are what's popping these days.
People are such hypocrites.
Makes me want to get my lips done.
♠♠♠♠♠
"Took you long enough." Jonathan mutters lowly after walking out of Domino's, looking sharp as usual. He's always a different person when he's not in a suit. Casually good looking. It was his radiating aura and overall pleasant personality that drew Teni in, the first time she met him. It was just so easy being friends with him. "I was starting to think you'd leave me here cos you can sly."
Teni leans against her car with crossed legs and arms. "You're lucky I didn't cos I was actually thinking about it. Got the keys to the building?"
He dangles the keys in her face. "I'm not forgetful unlike some people." Jonathan rolls his eyes mildly and unexpectedly notices Teniola's assemble. Gorgeous as usual. There hasn't been a day since the last five years he has known her where she was found wanting with fashion.
She puts so much effort in her clothes, her make-up, bags, her shoes, especially those dangerous pointy devils women call heels.
"Get over yourself." She opens the driver's door.
YOU ARE READING
REFLEX
RandomWith wounds and scars, she tried to live. With him around, she continued to breathe. She didn't think she needed him. Even after two trials, it was still the same answer. And it all happened so fast, almost like reflex.
