KEMI

Have you ever been in a situation where time stopped and everything around you just went in a slow motion and you just can't hear anything, butterflies in the pit of your stomach, erupting like waves and your heart dropping to the floors of your stomach? Maybe you haven't, but this moment, I felt these and even more; The butterflies where like bats making me feel queasy and sick but my heart beat which I could hear so loudly couldn't let me think straight.

I staggered a little as I felt weak in the knee, and all of a sudden cold sweat sipped out of my skin which was already bathed in goosebumps.

Lord, I pray my soul to keep.

"Kiki, are you fine?" His voice was laced with concern, he took a step forward and instinctively I had taken two steps backward.

"She is just tired, I suppose, Kemi always has a stressful day at school, head girl and all" Mum sighed. I wished she wouldn't be so chatty with him.

"Ohh wow, she is a Head girl, impressive" He flashed a knowing look at me and back at Mum, he had a charming smile.

"What are you doing here?" I managed to spit out, despite the heaviness that shrouded my body. It felt like energy was sapped out of my body continually but gritting my teeth with resolve, I didn't let him know that.

"Ah ah, Kemi, why speak to your cousin like that?" Mum who had walked through the front porch and began unlocking the door  paused and threw me a stern but puzzled look.

"Auntie, don't mind her, she is probably too happy to see me, just be forming hard girl" He laughed and Mum laughed with him muttering something like; Children these days.

She laughed WITH HIM!

Anger bubbled weakly in my gut, so weak that it could even be transfuse to helplessness.

I tuned in on what mum was telling him; "...she really doesn't know how to take surprises, here I was, thinking she would jump and scream, with how she had always been so clingy to you know back then, it's really been long"

I wanted to scoff. I wanted to run and tear this boy's face into shreds and feed it to the dogs, I wanted him out of our premises, I wanted mum to turn and howl at him and not smile at him! I wanted to not feel so much...so much fear that weakened even my heartbeat.

Mum opened the door and ushered us in, I really always wondered why she never got us even a housekeeper or a chef, one time I asked her— more like I complained, she said those things made people lazy and lose sight of who they really were.

Now I wonder, only those who know whom they are fear that they would lose sight of that, and I wish that we really had those workers in our house because I can't afford staying in the same space with that wolf in sheep's clothing alone.

"Kemi, why are you spacing out? Close the door on your way in" Mum called from inside the house and after saying her piece to me, she walked further in with him asking him about his  family and whatnot. I could see him ogling silently at the massiveness and majesty of our house, this would have brought pride to my heart if it were another person but him. This sight made me nauseous.

He must have caught me staring because he glanced at me and then threw a wide smile at me.

I shivered and sharply turned my eyes away and ran up the stairs and into my room. I could hear mum showing him around the house and their happy conversation but it was very faded and whe,n I leaned on my door and sank into the floor, I felt it after it's absence in a long time.

Fear.

I tried to get my self together. He wasn't worth  it, I consoled myself.

I went in for a cool shower and thought of everything else but the familiar stranger lurking in my house. Well my mother's house.

After my shower, I got dressed in my usual but shorts and oversized shirt and I rubbed Vaseline jelly on my face for soothing effect and got into doing my assignment while nodding off to the music swirling in my ears from my headset when a knock came.

I rolled my eyes. I was sure it was mum, probably coming to give me lectures on respect and amiability towards extended family.

I opened my door, "Mum, I know, I'll be—"

My words died in my throat like a dead battery because standing in front of my door was him.

"Hi Kiki" He flashed a toothy and lazy smile as he glanced down at me.

"What are you doing here?" My face fell and turned ashy.

"Calm your horses Kem, Auntie said to call you down for lunch " He said righteously. "Nice shorts by the way" He glanced down at my legs which I immediately felt like covering with thick clothes. How could I forget it wasn't just me and mum again?

"Okay" I deadpanned and closed the door immediately and shut the door... Maybe I banged the door instead— a little too loud.

I frowned and looked walked into my closet, I picked one of my baggy pants which I rarely wore at home and only wore it on occasionally stroll. Desperate times calls for desperate measures. I changed my butt shorts into the baggy pants and headed downstairs for Lunch.

I could decide to throw a tantrum but then again, Mum didn't know about what happened between both of us, I couldn't punish her for his sins since I was too cowardly to tell her about it. I knew deep down that if only she knew, she would be as hostile as she was friendly to him.

I would be barking at the wrong tree and sincerely, my tummy couldn't bear any tantrum from me, I really did not want to eat cereals or snacks and mum would ensure I don't have takeouts if I decided to throw a tantrum. Go all out or go home, and I would rather go home.

I jumped the stairs and I already perceived the aroma of the food.

Jollof rice!

Omo.

My stomach rumbled at the smell. Mum knows her salt abeg.

I walked into the kitchen and mum was already changed into a satin-like bubu gown which she usually found really comfy and she was at the counter putting the food into the dinning bowl.

The aroma from the food almost made me forget his existence somewhere in the house and I took a greedy breathe.

"You are now doing big girl Abi?" I didn't know she discovered my presence. She didn't turn to look at me but busily transfered the food from the pot to the dinning bowl.

"Mummy it's not like that" I sighed. I walked to her side and gave her a peck.

"Shift abeg, before you rub your saliva all over my face and into our food" Mum scrunched her face, but I knew she liked it when I pecked her, she always does. I started raining her kisses and she gave in and giggled.

"Oya, you win, come and help me with the chicken and drink, Fi mi si le.

"Aye, aye captain!" I gave a mock salute and giggled as I opened the fridge to bring out the drinks for our meal.

I finally thought it out straight. I would behave like I had an amnesia and nothing ever happened between me and him, I would show him I wasn't a push over anymore nor was I a wounded dog and threaten to tell on him if he made a move, I would tell Mum this time if he made a slightest move and I stay out of his way as much as possible.

Smart right? I know.

He entered into the kitchen as I set the two  cartons of Chivita Juice on a tray on the counter.

"Aunty, I have set down the plates" He was speaking to mum but his eyes were on me. I saw the amused glint in his eyes when he stared down at my baggy pants.

"Okay, thank you, my darling" Mum smiled and turned to him, holding the flask she motioned  that she was done. She covered the pot with her free hand.

"Let's go" she told him.

Now I was like the third wheel, I didn't know whether to cry or laugh.

"Ah ah, Auntie I can help you" He stretched his hand to help her carry the bowl but she swatted his hand albeit playfully. "Who is the host here? Someone will think I am the visiting one if they see you like this" she teased.

They both exited the kitchen but not without him throwing a provocative smirk at me.

My former resolve was thrown into the air and I felt trepidation and anger mix together in my stomach.

I reigned my disgust and placed three glass cups on the tray and carried it out to the dining where Mum and a certain someone where already sitting and talking.

They looked like a beautiful painting of a harmonious mother and son, only that they where aunty and nephew.

Anger and pain stung my chest almost suffocating me at this sight of this perfect painting. But I'm not a willful child. I braced myself and walked towards the duo.