||TAMIA||

"Was it tomorrow that you were going for that photo shoot?" Mom asks as we prepare supper in the kitchen.

She's cooking chapati while I peel potatoes for stew. After peeling them, she expects me to chop vegetables and prepare a few other ingredients to make the perfect beef stew.

Yesterday, I lied to her that Stella, Abigail and I have a casual photoshoot tomorrow. Well, I got to know the pretty girls last year during my holiday tuition programme.

And like birds of a feather, we flocked together in no time. On the other hand, mom got to know them a little later after introduction. Now she not only knows but also trusts them and their company.

About the photo shoot, she was a bit questionable. Although I didn't have a hard time answering her questions. I had carefully thought and severally gone over the excuse long before I got home on Saturday.

It immediately popped up in my mind when Joe suggested that we meet again this week. Once she was satisfied, she gave me her permission. But more so because I wasn't going alone. I know that if that were the case, she would have been hesitant.

Sometimes I think she has her trust misplaced when it comes to Stella and Abigail. Stella especially. She is nothing but a colourful recipe for nasty behaviour.

Abigail tries her luck in maintaining 'good behaviour' but sometimes it just doesn't work out. However, their nasty behaviour remains under the radar.

Truth be told, between us, I'm the only one who conducts myself appropriately. Well, I think saying 'used to' suits better. But only because I was hiding under the facade of the girl my parents and village community wanted to see in me.

Mom shouldn't trust me too. But it is good that she does because it is that trust that I'll take advantage of while it lasts. Sometimes I have a bad feeling dictating that her trust in me might not last long.

"Yes, it is tomorrow. And I still haven't gotten over the fact that the photographer was asking for eight hundred for a casual photoshoot. We had to negotiate to half the price. Because come on, that price was too high for us," I complain. Needless to mention, unnecessarily.

"So, did he accept the four hundred?" she asks.

"He eventually did. Otherwise, he'd have to go out and photograph himself or anyone else willing to give him that amount," I respond.

"Speaking of money, did that man get milk today?" she asks upon recall.

'That man' refers to a guy who I understand recently moved to our village and is working at Mugweru's, one of the village elders, tea farms. The man started getting milk from mom just about two weeks ago and already, she has had enough of him.

"Yeah. I measured a quarter litre for him," I respond.

"Today will be the last day he's getting milk until he pays me last week's money. I'm no longer going to tolerate his lies and lame excuses," she complains in a frustrated voice.

The man would have been better off if he had subscribed to the monthly milk payment like our neighbour. But he burdened himself with the daily payment. Well, it's not that it is really taxing. It just costs him twenty-five.

But I think paying monthly is easier as you just have to pay it all at once without pressure. Especially putting into consideration that it's not everyday casual tea farm worker will get that twenty-five given all the expenses his money might be budgeted for in a day.

"Spasha told me that you have been saying that but you still give him milk," I point out and she groans.

"I mean it this time. Today will be the last day I'm tolerating his shortcoming behaviour towards our agreement. If he cannot change or improve on it, then he might as well find somewhere else to buy milk," she insists, just as my phone chimes with a message.

I'm tempted to check but I force myself to finish peeling the potatoes first. Then before moving on to chopping vegetables, I'll take a peek to see who has texted. Although I think it's Stella. We were in the middle of some gossip earlier before she disappeared.

"I agree. After all, it's business and sometimes you have to do the necessary to make sure you are not losing profits," I tell her.

"And that is what he needs to understand," she states with finality.

A comfortable silence then ensues. Moments later, Spasha walks into the kitchen demanding a chapati since she feels famished. I smile at the girl who stole my jawbreaker and feasted on it. Mom hands her a chapati on a plate and then she disappears back to the living room.

She's staying there with dad who is as usual watching the news or whatever debate is on TV. Unless there is an interesting show that has caught his eye. Though the latter is highly unlikely.

I peel the last of the potatoes and once I'm done, I rinse my hands and the knife. Before getting the vegetables ready for chopping, I grab my phone from one of the cupboard's empty drawers. When I unlock it, a text from a new number pops up on the screen.

UNKNOWN📥: Save my new number, baby love.

Involuntarily, a warm smile spreads on my lips as my heart expands with a warm feeling and the smile-reflected excitement. Immediately, I do just that. Save his number as K~Prince with the syringe and blood drop emojis at the end to dramatically mean medication. My sickeningly sweet medication.

ME📤: Saved, K~Prince.

I look to see if mom has caught me smiling at my phone for 'nothing' again. She hasn't. One thing I like and simultaneously dislike about her is her outstanding perceptive nature. She is is usually able to notice things about us. Some of which we aren't even aware of at times.

K~P📥: Perfect. You can now text or call me anytime using it.

ME📤: Does that mean that you got a phone use?

K~P📥: Yes. Dad got me a new one just a few hours ago.

Damn, having money has quite a share of privileges.

ME📤: Does he know about your phone?

I'll be lying if I say that I'm not worried about that. I don't know why but I wouldn't want his dad to know about it.

K~P📥: Hell no! He knows I was pickpocketed in town yesterday.

I laugh despite the nagging guilt drifting inside me.

ME📤: Oh, that was quite a lie.

"Put the phone away, girl. The vegetables won't chop themselves," Mom tells me. "I'm almost done here and you should be done when I am."

K~P📥: It's your fault I lied.

Something I'll never get my guilt over. I regret having failed him so much. More so because he trusted me and I believe I broke a small portion of his trust in me. Even worse, I feel as if I have broken a bigger portion silently.

But I'll never know how big unless he discovered everything I've been hiding from him. All the lies I've been telling him. I'm such a deceptive and selfish girl. A thought that makes me feel so unworthy of him.

ME📤: And I'm really sorry, baby. I'll text you in a few. Right now I'm supposed to be chopping vegetables.

K~P📥: Okay, baby love. But text me via WhatsApp when you come back.

ME📤: Okay<3

I put my phone back in the drawer and get to work. Thoroughly, I clean the vegetables and then start chopping them. In the process, a million scenarios of how tomorrow will be run through my head. For a whole day, I'll be with my man. Free and untamed.

Minutes later, I'm done with the vegetables. I clean up the place by taking the potato peels outside along with the vegetable stems. I throw away the potato peels and give the vegetable stems to the rabbits. Spasha told dad she wanted a rabbit and he got her two.

Now they have multiplied to seven. More work for her when it comes to feeding them. Which I think mom does because the girl forgets to all the time. After, I leave the kitchen and head to the living room. Mom will take care of the rest.

There, I take a seat on the couch I usually sit on. In this house, we have designated sitting positions. No one delegated them. It is just that we found them more to our liking and comfort.

Once I'm settled, I log into my WhatsApp to find a text from a new number that is then replaced by the name K~Prince. It was sent within the same period as the text message.

K~P📥: Hi, baby love.

Holy glory. His profile photo is...damn. He is so hot. He has been photographed leaning on a wall and pausing and looking like a fashion model. Maybe he is one lowkey.

He is in a grey woollen sweater, black combat trousers and white sneakers. His neat and nearly sexy afro is trimmed on the sides and is that a black stud on his ear? Damn, K~Prince. I'm awed.

ME📤: Hello, K~Prince.

Immediately, I see 'Typing...' on our chat. A smile crawls on my lips as I wait for the message he is typing.

K~P📥: Done with the vegetables?

ME📤: Yes, I am.

K~P📥: Were you thinking about tomorrow while chopping them?

ME📤: Are you telepathic?

K~P📥: Let's just say that I guessed it. But I do know you are eager to see me.

ME📤: Very eager. Aren't you also?

K~P📥: Just a little.

ME📤: Oh? Then you might as well consider staying behind those Karen walls. I don't want to see someone who isn't eager to see me.

K~P📥: Man down! I admit that I am eager and excited to see you and spend longed-for time together.

ME📤: I'm impatiently waiting for tomorrow. And just so you know, you look so good in your profile photo.

K~P📥: I think I should be the one saying that you are looking damn fine.

My profile is a photo of me in the Aberdares standing between eucalyptus trees. It was taken over the April holiday during a hike my best friends and some other friends went on.

In it, I'm wearing a maroon cropped hoodie, grey soft jeans and black combat-like boots. The cropped hoodie isn't too cropped for mom or the meddle some village go think it indecent. I've always been keen on that when buying them.

ME📤: Thank you but I still insist. You look damn good. I'll even admit that I am jealous and I want to see more.

K~P📥: Want me to flood your gallery with more?

ME📤: Yes, please.

K~P📥: If only you'll flood mine.

ME📤: News flash, I'm not a very photogenic person. Moreover, the photos I have aren't that pretty looking in terms of quality. So, I'm sorry.

K~P📥: Come on, baby love.

ME📤: How about you take photos of me tomorrow?

K~P📥: Okay fine. Dressup for me then.

ME📤: I will. Oh, and don't forget your swimsuit. We'll bribe the soldier at the intake to let us swim.

K~P📥: Those I cannot forget. Not when I can't wait to see you half-naked.

ME📤: Pervert!

K~P📥: Maybe naked?

ME📤: Too soon, pervert.

K~P📥: Half naked then.

ME📤: I'll think about it. As it is, I would hate to have a crab pinching on my nipples, ass and coochie. Even worse, a tadpole swimming its slimy way into my shorts or bra top.

K~P📥: I can't stop laughing. That would never have crossed my mind.

ME📤: How could it when your rich ass is used to swimming in filtered waters like swimming pools?

K~P📥: Smart one. Make it a booty short for me then. I want to see that ass popping out.

ME📤: Did you forget that I come from a peculiar village, pervert? I'm not V~Girl for nothing. Booty shorts aren't on my menu. In fact, I might as well show up on a full-length tight.

K~P📥: That's a cockblocker, baby love. A short has to do.

ME📤: Well, if it makes your darn filthy mind satisfied, I'll get one. A simultaneously tight and loose short. If you get what I mean.

K~P📥: When dry, it's loose. But when wet, it's tight. Shit. The wet preference is making me think things.

ME📤: Ugh. How filthy is your mind again?

K~P📥: Just a little.

ME📤: I don't know whether I should dispute that.

K~P📥: You probably shouldn't. Ah, shit, mom is calling me and Fel. We are helping her with drafting something. I'll be back later.

ME📤: Okay, pervert.

K~P📥: Just say, 'I'll be waiting, my handsome pervert.'

ME📤: Proud Bastard.

With three laughing emojis, he disappears offline leaving me smiling discreetly. I then decide to reply to Stella's text concerning the gossip we were engrossed in earlier.

Minutes later, mom calls me to get supper. I head to the kitchen, get dad's and Spasha's supper and take it to them. Then I head back and get mine.

Later, after supper and talking among ourselves, we all retire to bed. We do that early in this house. Between nine and ten o'clock precisely. Eleven for the latest persona who happens to be me the majority of the time.

At ten, Joe still hasn't come back online. I decide to watch an episode of a series I've been following while buying time. Little do I know that I'm buying sleep instead.

🧯V~GIRL vs K~PRINCE🧯

The village today is weirdly quiet. I cannot hear the usual distant sound of power-saw cutting wood. There are no crowing cocks, bleating goats and sheep or mooing cows either. The river down-slope is silent. The house sounds quiet too as if everyone has left. I hate such silence. It gives me an eerie feeling. However, I ignore it, retrieve my phone from under my old pillow and unlock it.

K~P📥: Morning, baby love. We have just left Nairobi.

That was around five-ten am. Right now, it is around eight-fifty. It takes approximately four or four and a half hours to get here. Whoa! That means they aren't so far away. Excitement and anticipation flood within me upon the realization. I'm so looking forward to spending this day with Joe and also our accomplices.

ME📤: Good morning, K~P. Tell me when you are almost at our meeting point.

I'll shower immediately in done with my morning chores. Getting prepared early is better than rushing last minute. What's more, I would hate to keep them waiting in an unfamiliar environment.

K~P📥: I will, sleepy head. What do you want me to get you?

ME📤: Uh, anything you feel I'll love. Surprise me.

K~P📥: Anything?

Ah, shit. I forgot how generous he feels about spending his money on me. I don't want my eyes balling out of their sockets from shock. I'm not ready to become eyeless.

ME📤: No, K~Prince. I meant something.

K~P📥: In your mind perhaps. But you told me anything. So, anything it is.

ME📤: Bring me the whole of Naivas then, you stubborn prick.

K~P📥: You know better than to test my insanity again, baby love. I could buy you the whole of Naivas and more.

I don't doubt that for a second. He has already proved that he can do exactly that. Maybe not today. But perhaps somewhere in the unknown future.

ME📤: How about we stick to something for today?

K~P📥: I'll try.

ME📤: Try it like you mean it, okay?

K~P📥: Okay, baby love. I'll text you a little later.

ME📤: No problem.

I kick off my blankets and step out of bed. I don't bother making it. I never do. Spasha does it for me when she is in the mood. I walk out of the bedroom, bypass the empty living room and step outside.

The rate at which the sun is shining this month is making me think that the weather seasons have changed. It's supposed to be cold but it is not only sunny but warm. I'm not complaining though. I'm happy about it because we get the perfect weather for a hangout at the intake.

Spasha is quietly having her breakfast on the compound chair while the sun warms her pretty and innocent face. Mom and dad are nowhere to be seen. Perhaps they already left for the farm or someplace they needed to be.

"Morning, baby girl," I smile at Spasha.

"Morning, Tams," she responds, curiously studying me.

I nearly groan when I recall that she inherited mom's perceptive nature.

"You look excited for your confused or grumpy morning demeanour," she points out.

"A kid your age shouldn't be able to see that much. But yes, I'm excited. I'm going for a photo shoot with Abigail and Stella," I say.

"Ooh," she nods in understanding.

"Yes. Where are mom and dad?" I ask.

"You forgot mom was attending the tea farmers meeting at seven down at the tea collection centre?" she asks.

Oh. I indeed forgot. Mom mentioned the meeting on Sunday while we were going to church. She was praising the leaders for scheduling it early enough so that after, people can resume their work.

In this village, people are always busy working. Time wastage is sacrilege to them. Though it is understandable because they know laziness will cost them a hungry stomach. Plus there are too many expenses to cater for such as school fees for their kids.

"Dad is out on the farm spraying weeds. There is a portion of the tea farm ravaged with the annoying wandering jew and datura," she adds.

"Alright," I nod before walking into the kitchen.

I put my phone on mom's wooden chair. A chair I'll have you know is just a few years younger than me. It's too old for a chair but still standing strong. I fetch myself a cup of tea from the kettle and grab two cakes.

Once I'm done with breakfast, I attend to my morning chores which include cleaning the house and doing the dishes. After, I take the goats down-slope where I tether them at a portion with 'deliciously' looking grass.

Due to my anticipation, I feel as if time is mockingly dragging itself. I get ready and chill for Joe's text message or call. While I wait, Spasha indulges me in some village drama gossip that happened while I was in school. At ten-ten, a text finally comes in.

"Oops, time to go, baby girl," I say, excitedly shooting up from the couch.

"At what time will you be back?" she asks.

"At around four or five," I respond, carrying a grey leather monkey bag one of my aunts gave me last year on my back.

"Bring me a lollipop, okay?" she requests with a sweet smile meant to cajole me.

"Alright, you spoilt little brat," I smile at her.

"You can't blame for your deeds," she pouts.

Admittedly, I'm responsible for spoiling her tiny ass. Anytime I can, I always buy her treats.

"Fair and square. Anyway, will you stay home or go keep dad company?" I ask.

"I'll just stay here and wait for them. Whoever comes early will keep me company. Assuming they don't have other things to do," she says.

"Okay, baby girl," I say. "I'm off. Later."

"Alright," she nods in response.

I walk to our meeting point which is a shopping centre I happen to pass through sometimes. It is quite a distance from home but I'm not one to complain when I know why I'm walking all the way there. About half an hour later or more, I arrive.

Although I don't find Joe waiting for me. Sheraw or Kel either. I conclude they haven't arrived yet. When Joe texted me, he said they were almost. Perhaps they are just a few minutes away. As I wait for them, I sit on a culvert that's beside the sublocation's dispensary gate.

A dispensary that Spasha hates because the doctors rarely give medicine prescriptions. They work with injections. Prying eyes rake over me as their owners pass by, reminding me of one thing I hate about people at home.

Their constant nosiness. They simply don't know how to mind their business. My phone rings and I flip it to see the caller. It is my Karen Prince. Instantly, I slide on the answer button.

"I can see you, baby love," he says with a detectable smile.

"But I can't see you," I say with a frown, staring at the direction in which I expect them to come.

"You're sitting on a culvert and looking pretty," he says making me smile. "And now you are smiling."

"Come on, where are you?" I groan with a smile, wondering where they are hiding.

Well, until my eyes land on an approaching silver-grey land cruiser prado. Scrutinizing it, I stand from the culvert feeling a little nervous and unabashedly excited. In a matter of seconds, the car literally parks beside me.

"Goodness," I mumble, admiring the handsome man behind the wheel through the windscreen.

He smiles at me causing a warm feeling to coax within me as an excitement knot tugs deep in my belly. The engine goes off before the door opens and he steps out. He walks around the front whilst smiling at me with his sexy lopsided smile and checking me out.

"Hey there, baby love," he greets, engulfing me with arms.

"Hi," I happily murmur, soaking in the awesome feeling of being in his arms.

If there is anyone by chance who knows and has seen me will definitely be having some juicy gossip for their consorts. By tomorrow, mom could know about this. News travels fast among meddle some creatures. But I could care less. It would be a pretty easy job denying gossip.

"I thought you were going to come on a bike, a matatu or uber because your rich ass can do that. But a car?" I ask upon retreat, eyeing the somewhat intimidating land cruiser.

Kel rolls down the passenger seat window and waves at me with a smile.

"Nice to see you again, Tamia."

"Nice to see you too, Kel," I smile at him. "Where is Sheraw?"

"Snoring in the back seat. The poor thing claims that she didn't get enough sleep," he says in a deliberate tone.

Perhaps he wants to get on Sheraw's nerves.

"Sleep can't wait. Just wake her up," I say with a smile.

I then turn to Joe only to find him staring at me intensely. My eyes dart between his searching for answers.

"What?" I ask with a smile.

"You look so pretty," he responds in a matter of factly tone.

"And the Bantu knots are really knotting," he adds with a sincere smile.

"Thank you," I appreciate. "I had mom make them for the photoshoot I'm supposed to be at as we speak."

"You lied that you were going for a photo shoot?" he asks with an amused smile.

At the same time, I hear Kel saying, "Wake up, baby girl."

"Yes. I had no other better excuse in my mind at that time," I respond.

"Well, your excuse might not end up being a lie. Thanks to Kel for bringing a camera with him," he says.

"Just my luck," I smile. "But speaking of lies, I thought you told your parents you were going on a trip with a travel company. How come you brought your own car?"

"Well, Fel helped me with that. He lied to mom about visiting his friend's place on it with our contracted driver. But after he got the car, he gave it to me," he responds.

"So whose car is this?" I curiously ask. I'll not even be surprised if he says it's his at this point.

"No one's in particular. It just belongs to everyone in our family," he responds, just as Kel steps out of the car and opens the door to the back seat.

"But surely, it has someone's name registered under it," I point out, staring into his eyes.

"Baby love, why do I feel as if you don't believe me?" he asks with a knowing smile. "I don't have a car if that is what you are thinking."

"Come on, I promise I'll not be surprised if you have it," I insist.

"I swear I don't. Ask Kel if you don't believe me," he says in a serious tone.

"He doesn't," Kel confirms just as Sheraw steps out of the car looking adorably sleepy and beautiful.

"Do you believe it now?" Joe asks with a smile.

"Yes," I nod in response.

"I don't see any baby version of the Aswan High Dam around here. Just a dispensary, a school, an open field and a shopping centre ahead," Sheraw says as she takes in the surroundings.

"Because this was just the meeting point," I smile at her, leaving Joe's arms to hug her.

"Hi, baby girl," she greets me with a pretty as we hug each other. "I've missed you, my PIC."

"I've missed you too," I admit, retreating from our hug.

"I'm jealous of you. You live in such a peaceful environment full of fresh air, space and beautiful sceneries," she says, taking in the place once again.

"Let the peaceful state not deceive you, Sheraw," Joe tells her, pulling me back into his arms by my hand. I smile and lean on him.

"Ask V~Girl. Under that peacefulness lies disastrous chaos," he adds.

"If I start talking about that, I'll never finish, "I grumble.

People here are always fighting demons both externally and internally. Verbal and non-verbally. Silently and loudly. No wonder there is the existence of vipers and witches. The place may be peaceful on the surface but when you dig deeper, you'll find the beings living in it nothing less than chaotic.

"Never mind. But I love the place," she says.

"You're lucky the place loves you too. It's sunny and warm but the weather could change at any moment," I tell her, pointing at her light clothing.

She's in a white polka-dot dress that would pass for a sundress and Maasai sandals you'd think she was going to the coast for a vacation at the beach.

"Oh, don't worry about that. I have heavy clothing in case the weather changes. So I'll be good," she says.

"Ah, that was thoughtful of you," I say, just as Joe takes me by the waist and steps towards the passenger seat of the car.

He takes a seat on it and settles me between his legs. With a wicked smile, he rolls up the tinted passenger door window. Of course, he wants to use the door as a cover for whatever nasty thing he wants to do with me. I smile as I wait in anticipation.

"And, I'm leaving," Sheraw says, practically running towards Kel who is taking photos of the area.

Joe and I smile as he pulls me flush against him. Then, in less than a second, his addictive lips take mine hungrily yet passionately. He devours them mindlessly making me feel a blazing need to feel his touch somewhere else other than my lips. For a long minute, we ravish each other's until I'm moaning into his mouth, clinging to his shirt tightly.

"I missed you, baby love," he confesses on my lips in a breathy whisper.

"I missed you too, K~Prince," I breath on his lips.

He kisses them again for a second and then my forehead before pulling me into an embrace. It lasts for a long while with a comfortable silence ensuing between us.

"Is home far away from here?" he softly asks as we retreat so that we are face to face.

"No. Maybe a kilometre or two," I respond and he nods in understanding.

"I thought you'd be waiting for us near home," he admits. I laugh at that.

"So that mom and dad can get wind of their good girl going out with an old man in a huge car? Because who would believe that a kid is driving such a machine?" I ask.

"I'm not a kid," he grumbles making me smile.

"You only turned eighteen not so long ago, baby boy," I point out making him grunt.

"It doesn't matter as long as I'm in the adult's category now. But if I am being honest, I already dislike your village people," he says.

"That makes the two of us," I huff.

Of the overall population, I love and care for only a few human beings. The rest mean little of nothing to me.

"Anyway, let us just forget them and enjoy our day. We have come from far to start bickering and complaining about people who aren't adding any value to it."

"Yes, please," I say with a smile.

"Yoh, guys, let us leave for the intake," Joe calls on our best friends.

"One last photo of my girl and I'll be there," Kel says.

"No problem. Just know that you will be keeping Sheraw company in the back seat. My passenger princess is here," Joe says.

"I'm happy about the changes. I was getting bored sitting next to you," Kel retorts.

"Liar," Joe argues, just as Kel and Sheraw walk back to the car.

"Just get the engine started," Kel groans, hopping inside the car.

Sheraw hops in from the other side as well. I step aside so that Joe can step down from the passenger seat. When he does, I hop in and buckle up. He shuts the door for me and then proceeds around the front. I don't know how or why I find it sexy seeing him behind the wheel. Perhaps I'm just coming down from the high our kiss got me. Anyway, he starts the car and drives off to the intake.