She hadn't been able to seduce sleep half of the night. She wondered about Martha's next action; what she would tell her father, the number of whips she must have fetched from the nearby mango tree, the days of starvation and jackass work ahead. She didn't plan on returning but she didn't plan on being an inconvenience either. "What's wrong with you?" Ace kicked her into reality. To say she didn't feel uncomfortable with him walking around half-naked. He was alright physically hot and penetrating like the blazing sawdust fireside at the same time emotionally cold as the midnight concrete floor she slept on. But then, did he see her an inch attractive like he did Rose? Could he ever want her like he did other girls? She wanted him to even though there were no chances ever. "I'm leaving." She avoided his gaze but sensed his drilling holes into her system as he abruptly refrained from drying his hair with a towel. Nora knew not whether to return home or join the street kids in combat
Things were getting much more complicated than he had imagined; his dad had called. That was very rare. And he never expected an agreeable conversation as both fell into fits of word exchange. He couldn't blame him for whatever is going on in the company, it was not like he was the only son. He couldn't blame him for acting like a kid all the time when they were the reason behind it. He couldn't blame him either for his decision on staying in Cameroon until he had had enough when they were the ones who sent him there in the first place. His dad couldn't blame him for any fucking thing, yet, he did. "Are you asleep already?" Nora's voice lurked in the dark. She was something. The good kind of something. For some reason, he wished he had known her all his life. She managed to make him feel things he had never felt before, regret decisions he had made, see life in many ways, and above all, she thought him how to care and nurture. It was funny even to him how he'd gotten so attached a
"You're happy," Ace remarked. "Yeah," without thinking, she rushed to hug him. "Thank you. Thank you so much for being there," He didn't hug her back but she didn't care so much about it. The most essential thing is, he was there with her and cared. "We're going out today." "Where to?" He didn't answer back. He just grabbed his towel and walked to the bathroom. It felt like she was in paradise with nothing to worry about. Ace was a little temperamental sometimes but he made her happy. Now, what had life to offer them? Will they keep living together till further notice or will he have enough of her at some point in time and kick her out? Ace's phone began to ring. She knew not which button to press or whether to touch it at all so she simply called out for him but he seemed to not have heard. The phone stopped for a while and only when she wanted to thank God did it set on blowing her ears again. Nora held up the sophisticated gadget, battling on whether to tap on the green or r
"I hope it's the last time I ever ask you this, what.the.hell is wrong with her?" The doctor eyed him above his rimmed lenses before taking them off with a long sigh as he leaned forward. "Mr. Woods, you left this place last time with three only important things to ameliorate her situation, one of which was to simply open up her field of communication which I must admit wasn't of success. Well, I'm very sorry but I can't tell you anything if she couldn't. In as much as I want to. I hope you understand that it is against my career rules." Ace's head spun. If anything, the man was succeeding in flaring a boiling turmoil in him, totally contrary to what his career compelled him to exhibit to people like him: impatient and Paranoid. "I was giving her time ok? You didn't expect me to coerce her into the topic like a rapist!" The doctor swiftly jerked his brows at his choice of words. "On the contrary Mr. Woods. But you see, I still can't tell you anything without family or her consent
They had left the hospital in a hurry, without any word exchange and she didn't understand why. She was now obediently seated on the bed as he earlier ordered her to, watching him furiously pack up his luggage. His smooth tawny face now a canvas of hostility. Did he consider returning home as mentioned in their last conversation? If so, then what will become of her after he left? "Where're you going?" She dared to quiz. Just to make sure he really was leaving for home. "We're having a little vacation." He bitterly retorted, dumping a bunch of unfolded tees and shirts from his closet into his suitcase. "We? Why?" She further interrogated but was ignored. Once done, he instructed she waited in the car while he spoke to the receptionist. No eye contact thus far. "At least, tell me where we're going." She spoke again only when she realized they were heading in the direction which led out of the region. He was hesitant for a good while before saying, "Yaoundé." Her eyes almost b
And so it was. Ace lifted a scowl all morning and thankfully Nora hadn't grazed the territory of dialogue. All of a sudden, regret began to wash all over him: If he would've minded his business ere long, none of these would've happened. Once in his life he didn't give a damn about the people around him, whether they had dined or not, their preferences, where they came from, and most of all their health. Nothing could change that about him. Well, so he thought. Now, he worried. He worried so much that it burnt his eyes and that hurt so bad. He realized along the line that if he had to finally give a shit about someone and all that she possessed then, he had to do it with the same enthusiasm that he didn't. Ace rocketed a care-less glance to his right where Nora was absentmindedly staring out of the window, a fisted hand firmly supporting her cheekbones. "I'm sorry," He said, gaining Nora's attention for the first time since they'd embarked on their journey. "What for?" Her
"Now you're just acting weird and boring," Ace commented as he shut the door. Nora hadn't shaken from the position he earlier left her, eyes still plastered to the half-buried tv on the wall. Her eyes still didn't dart at him which only made him sigh. The atmosphere that morning was intoxicating and made him vacate. Even though he wasn't gone for too long and too far, he still wished she was with him. But perhaps the space helped. "Move! you're invading my space." He attacked. Nora quietly evaporated from the bed to condense on the sofa with a growl. Ace's eyes narrowed, his lips thinned. "There too," Nora hopped onto the dressing stool. "There too. Actually, until you're outside I'll be at peace." "Are you serious right now?" "Never been. I thought you lost your tongue and that you'll keep snubbing." "Tsuip!" She stomped toward the main door. "Com' on, I'm not that heartless. The porch is yours. I have to keep an eye on you now and then." She rolled her eyes and pivoted. "U
"Nora, No!" "It's a dare like any other. Just do it and get it over with." She drew closer, so close that her breast grazed his chest. "No need to make a big deal about it. Unless you're thinking of something more out of thi..." She narrowed her eyes. Ace's brow jerked. With the speed of light, Nora's lips were enclosed in a sea of warmth. Her eyes widened in shock, slacked, and then shut. He wanted to prove her wrong, that he wasn't thinking of anything but instead, he proved himself wrong. It was new, sweet, and magical. His lips felt soft, whiskey intoxicated, and desirable. It was supposed to be a kiss-and-go but turned out to be more when he began thrusting his tongue into her mouth. At first, she knew not how to respond to his penetration. It was all so new nonetheless, not a hard shell to crack. Her body began tingling in an unusually demanding way. It felt oddly good and she loved it. She yearned for his touch. As if reading her mind, he engulfed her waist to pull her cl