CHAPTER 5

"......Trompe l'oeil has its origin traced back to the early Renaissance period as has famous artists weaving this technique into famous artwork, Artists like John F Peto, William Harnett, Cornelis, Norbet, and many others uses this Type of painting"

Jemi straightened her shades, it wasn't sunny but it was needed, gazing intently at the elderly professor, vigorously gesticulating, yet barely making out his words

".....Trompe l'oeil is a French method of painting that translates to 'deceive the eye' in English, the main reason for this technique is to create an optical illusion of the subject existing, not In one, nor two but the three dimensions"

She looked at her fingers, the words in her ears blurry echoes, for seconds all she could see were black dots, dizzy spells hitting her hard, she touched her temples, massaging.

"....Note that this isn't a mural painting which is done on walls and ceilings, these are performed on canvas"

'Deceive the eye' the chant was loud in her head, she was swivelling, faster and out of control, when she thought she couldn't get the sync of it, she was tossed back into reality.

"Trompe l'oeil is a fake painted real"

Deceive the eye.

★★★★★★★★

Will was gone the following morning, holding just a backpack filled to the brim with Emma seeing him off, Jemi had watched their emotional parting from the sitting room, seemed Emma to had second thoughts on staying in the same house alone with her, Will seemed to be the only obstruction stopping them from gnawing each others throats.

The taxi had driven Will away and Emma had walked past her straight to her room, not even batting an eyelid towards her direction were she had sat, sketching on a notepad.

The house felt so quiet it was becoming uncomfortable even to her.

She was adjusting the sketch when there was a knock on the door. Her steps slow and pondering, she pulled the door opened, coming face to face with a middle aged couple, she could see the blue car packed in the driveway.

It looked like the couple were as shocked as she was seeing her there, for the woman looked her over.

"Hi" she finally smiled "don't know if Emma's in, we are her parents"

Jemi cursed her self for not recognising the resemblance the woman had with Emma quickly, the hair and the eyes said it all

"Sorry, come in," she said politely "Emma's in her room, I'll just go get h

She left them there tapping on Emma's door "Emma you awake?"

"Yeah"

" your parents," the word sounded strange to her "they're in the sitting room"

"Oh shit" Jemi heard the thud.

She went back to the sitting room.

Emma's dad had her sketch pad, looking at it with sheer interest, when he saw her he said sincerely " this is the cleanest sketch I ever saw"

"Thanks" so as not to seem rude she added "it's Greek"

" figured that out, I'm Greek, Grey hair messed up the sleek look"

Jemi didn't expect the laugh, but it came, pouring out from her throat, "sorry didn't mean that"

"No offence taken," he stretched his right hand 'name's Lucas"

She shook the outstretched hand "Jemi"

"As in Jamie?"

"Actually Jemima, African Origin"

Emma's mum came out of the kitchen, holding plates at she placed it on the table.

"That's my Yolanda"

Jemi was stretching for a handshake when she was grabbed in a bear hug. She felt anxious, this was strange, This people were strange, when the hug broke, she was almost suffocating.

"Mum, Dad" Emma came in sight hugging her parents right, her dad ruffled her hair, and it covered her eyes, she slapped his hands playfully,"Come on dad" the laughter was real.

It was beautiful to watch, for a while She felt lonely, a different kind of isolated, watching from another world of her own, she picked up her sketchbook and began leaving.

"Hey you Jemi" Lucas called

She turned, struggling to keep a flat look

"We brought lunch, there's the table" he pointed at the set plates,

Jemi was puzzled.

" come on honey, come join the table" Yolanda ordered.

" It's okay, I'll just be outside" she didn't feel among here, the scenario was draining her.

Emma tried salvaging the situation."she prefers being alone Mum"

"Nonsense," the woman retorted dragging Jemi back down to the sofa. "No one prefers being alone"

Jemi was too stunned to speak, she just wanted out.

"Where's Will, or do I have to beat him out of that room"

Emma laughed, "mum Will travelled today"

"Oh," she stopped " that's sad, your dad made enough"

"Yippy, what's in there?" , she got up, opening the coolers, the aroma wafted past Jemi's nose. God was she hungry

"Quite a lot" Lucas winked " for my favorite girl, making up for the vacation your mum denied you"

"Lucas, that isn't fair" her mum pouted.

He held her hands and kissed her full on the lips "I know"

Emma covered her face in an exaggerating disapproval "Mum dadddddd"

Jemi found herself laughing heartily, Emma looked at her. She shrugged.

Lucas stood up, plates in hand, soon he was serving round, done, he took his position back beside Yolanda

"Lemme guess, Appetisers" Emma nibbled on a cucumber "Individual chicken terrines" she closed her eyes savouring

the taste

"Added more carrots than usual, "

"Still same taste if you ask me, I think I make it better" her eyes playfully challenged.

"Even in the next decade tomato" he crushed her blush " just eat and shusssh"

Jemi tried not to choke on her food.

The light air pushed it's way into the main course

"This is a new one" Lucas announced "cod fillets in shrimp sauce, tried this for months before getting the hang of it, stuffs like this makes you wonder if you really that good, what do you think Jemi?"

Jemi stopped, midway into swallowing, all eyes on her, her throat felt tingly, this sort of attention, pushed her off guard, her hands suddenly became sweaty, dropping the plates she swallowed." It's great" she tried on a nervous smile "wouldn't trade this for theen dinners"

"I think I got another fan, since my first just wanna compete the hell outta me"

"Don't forget she wins" Yolanda said in between swallows.

"Because she uses my recipes"

"Oh daddy"

"What?"

Dessert was Macaroon mousse, so delicate it slid down the throat with just touching the tongue.

"Alright dad, I give up, this is perfect, you won this round"

" Again, your shouldn't be counted as Wins, till you come up with your recipes"

Jemi watched the drama, chuckling within, Emma was so lucky she didn't know it, time and again she watched Lucas, wipe Yolanda's lips with a napkin, while she looked up at him, eyes filled with adoration, now she could understand, Emma's cheerfulness and optimistic outlook, she had to give it to the man, giving her the benefits of doubts she always had towards matrimony, she still wasn't into it, but at least there's one instance that worked. She heard her name.

"So Jemi you paint?"

She shrugged playing with the little silverware with her fork "I study it, painted since I was little, it's like a part of me"

" I'll give it to you, you're perfect already" he nodded towards the sketchbook beside her.

She considered filling her mouth with dessert so she didn't have to reply, but crushed the thought, "Art needs much more than just sketches, that's the easiest and the basics of everything"

" oh really?" It sounded like admiration.

She nodded, "there are other complex techniques and features of art it might seem quiet impossible for an artist to capture them all, it's like cooking" she explained "the same technique can't be used for all ingredient" The room was silent "Art isn't far from that, most times there's a hidden message, maybe an eulogy, or allegory, sometimes it takes years to find out, that's the beauty in painting, you don't know what story a little piece hold"

" Wow" Lucas chuckled looking overwhelmed "never thought of Art that way"

"Makes me want to visit a gallery right now"

Jemi's gaze met Emma's who looked questioning, nodding her head, she focused back on her plate.

★★★★★

"Your friend " Yolanda said to her daughter when they were doing the dishes in the kitchen "she's a bright one"

"She's not my friend," Emma said flatly, drying the plates.

"Your girlfriend?"

"Mum"

"Don't blame me, I saw the way you were looking at her"

"I did no such thing" Emma rebuked "and ewwwww no"

Her mother said nothing

" and besides, we barely even talk without having a brawl"

"That wasn't what i saw during lunch?"

"It's a miracle, trust me, she barely discusses, that's the longest I've heard her say so far."

"you seem to be exaggerating things a bit"

"to be honest mum, I'm still in shocked over what happened in there, I know she loves painting and all, but discussing as much as that? that's a no no"

"she did seem reserve"

"you think that's reserved? then you need to find out about the real Jemi, in her own skin, she prefers not making a sound, just nodding and monotones" the conversation was getting worked up " or its just me, she wont speak to me and seriously i don't care anymore"

Yolanda laughed.

Emma stopped "what's funny?"

"it's how you say don't care but wanna break the china"

" well I don't, not anymore" she thought it over "not anymore"

"you seem angry, she did something?"

Emma narrated, sometimes going in high pitch, which she could do comfortably, because Jemi had left immediately she helped clear the table with Lucas, they had a nice conversation, Emma sat looking and steaming, Jemi really talked to everyone except her.

"so she left the table without an excuse as to why," her mum looked dismayed " and didn't clear up, alright that's rude"

"to be fair, she did pack up, cleaned the messy house before I woke, but never said sorry"

" oh" Yolanda was taken aback "did you ask her what the call was about?"

"not like she'd even say, she doesn't speak to me" why was she bristling " and you two she acts like the most easy person on the planets.

"Are you mad?" Yolanda asked amused.

Emma groaned "no really, I'm not, it just hurts we go months without having a normal conversation and she's changing skin with you"

"your dad makes people comfortable in their own skin, it's called trust"

"thanks mum" she rolled her eyes "you're not helping"

Yolanda dropped the soapy foam, she turned to her "see Emma, nobody wants to be isolated, Everybody needs somebody who looks out for them, who makes them feel wanted, who goes out of their way for them to be safe and comfortable"

" all those mentioned above just makes her uncomfortable, trust me I know Jemi, of I think I do."

"you're applying it wrong, Emma you're doing it to gain her attention, it's all about breathing space" she continued doing the dishes.

"how did you know all this?" Emma collected a plate from her.

"a little birdie told me" she winked

Emma laughed

Lucas came into the kitchen eating the leftover dessert "Emma did you know Jemi applied for a scholarship at the college of Arts Germany"

Emma paused "she told you that?"

"talked quiet at length, she's a pro at discussions, anyone who doesn't find her fascinating, gotta work on them"

"Lucas" Yolanda interrupted

Emma looked pained and walked away.

the last thing she heard as she left the kitchen was her dads confused tone "what did I do?"

★★★★★

After her parents had left, leaving behind multiple kisses and foods wrapped in foil for the refrigerator, Asking her to tell Jemi they'd have loved to tell her bye but she had denied them that wish, Emma had crept quietly to the back, watching Jemi who sat beside the pond.

Time and again she threw little stones into the water, other times she sat motionless peering at her reflection or just plucking out flowers and picking at the petals.

She looked lost.

she brought out something from her pocket and looked into it, her fingers brushing it's sides, Emma recognised the picture.

did she keep it with her all the time? it looked quite old

and who was the Little girl in the photo?

A childhood crush? a girlfriend faraway?

she felt the curiosity coming full on then quenched it, her mothers voice ringing in her head "... it's all about breathing space"

She walked back into the house.

★★★★★★

she threw another stone into the water, there was a way it disappeared into the shallow water that made her want to throw more.

it was great being with Emma's family, perfect they were, did they ever have an atom of worry eating their day, did they ever have a day were they wished they weren't alive, we're they just wanted to drown like those stones.

She doubted that.

she wasn't surprised that Emma was so carefree and vibrant, what does it feel like being raised in love. being unafraid knowing that you were backed up no matter and whatever.

she wrapped her hands around her body. Yolanda's scent from the hug wafting through her nose like Lucas dishes had.

It was uncomfortable yet....she had crumbled in a second, melted in those motherly arms, crazy how they accepted her without knowing her, listened to her even when they never had any interest in what she was talking about.

It brought back a deja vu. Sara.

she put her hand into her pocket and brought out the the picture.

there she was, how a picture so happy could make her feel guilty, she wove her fingers through it, making sure not to leave a dent, it was all she had, what she was going to have for the unknown future she was going to live in.

That wasn't the life for her, there was too much sweetness, a lot of love she didn't have the right to.

all she wanted was quiet, to roll over in her agony, drown in the unending misery and prepare herself for what was coming

she heard footsteps, turning she saw Emma going back into the house.

what was she doing there?

what had she done there?

why did she hesitate?

was she that bent on letting her be? seems like a good decision really.

"Roses aren't all red....."