Isaac or Nathan?

“That’s a shame for you. Now if you’ll excuse me.” Izzy left the table calling out to Bernice and giving hand gestures that it’s time to go.

A part of her was a bit happy about the fact that he’s still thinking about her and might also feel the same way she feels for him.

But just a stone throw into her thoughts, she snaps out and hits her face, wondering why in the world was she thinking about that. “I know I can’t handle a relationship right now. I’m not ready so stop the fantasy lady.” She says to herself.

“Hey! Hey! Izzy?? Snapping her fingers infront of Izzy's face.  I think we should head home now. It’s getting quite late and Mom might start to get worried.” Bernice pinches Izzy out from whatever trans she was in.

“Yeah you’re right. I also don’t want her thinking that this is how late we come home normally.”

“Isn’t it?” Bernice gives off a questionable look.

“Don’t start please” Izzy cautions Bernice and they both laugh it out.

They told themselves jokes throughout their walk home and laughed out their lungs as though they were drunk. As they got up the stairs, Izzy searches for the door keys in her handbag. “Ah. There it is”. The key falls as she tries to open the door.

Mom hears the girls chatter in the hallway. “Are you girls coming in or what?”

The laughing and giggling all go away in an instance at the sound of Mom’s voice.

“ we’re coming in Ma. ” they both replied.

“You both look chatty and happy. Care to share so that I laugh too?”

“We all know you don’t even know how to fake a smile.” Izzy says whilst faking a cough.

“What did you say?”

“Oh no, was just asking Bernice when she’s coming so that we go tidy up the church tomorrow.”

“Isn’t tomorrow Thursday?” Mom asked.

“Yes, but we clean whenever the spirit is leading. Very crucial. Anyways Bernice and I will go and tidy up the room for you.”

They both excused themselves quickly as though they were being chased. They raced to the room and as always, Bernice won because of her long legs. She kept bragging about how she has never lost a race since High School.

They each grabbed two corners of the bed sheets on each side and laid the bed nicely.

As they continued tidying the room, Bernice asked “Where are you going to sleep?”

“here of course. Where were you expecting me to sleep? We’ll sleep on the same bed. It’s almost always been that way so I don’t think there’s a big deal.”

“Okay then. Good luck waking up early tomorrow.”

“Ikr? Tell me about it.” Izzy mumbles rolling her eyes.

At this time, they are done with the clean up and are walking towards the living room where Mom had started to doze off.

“Well, I’ve gotta to go. Don’t wanna be out late on the street. It’s not so safe for ladies nowadays. Let Mom know I left and I didn’t want to wake her up”. Bernice says as she puts on her leather jacket and picks up her phone from the center table.

“Sure. I’m sure she heard you already. She hears and sees everything.”

Bernice laughs sliently.

As she opens the door to leave, Mom wakes up…. “Oh Bernice? You’re leaving? Isn’t it late?”

“Oh no no Ma.”

“Ehehhnnnn okay. Anyways get home safe and send my regards to your parents whenever you get in touch with them”.

“Yes Ma. Bye Izzy. I’ll come at 14h so that we go and clean up ooo. Don’t be late” Bernice says winking at Izzy.

“Why are you shouting? I’m standing just here? You don’t know how to act natural at all. Get out of her.”

“Are you complaining?” Bernice leans in to ask Izzy with a smile face.

“Of course not… you witch”.

Huh? Bernice turns her ear to hear what Izzy said.

“I said if course not.”

“I thought as much”. Bernice smiles as she gives Izzy a goodbye hug and walks out the door.

They both waved each other bye as Mom watched.

“The room is ready. You can go in and sleep now.”

“I think I’ll take a shower first.”Mom says.

“Okay. Let me run the bath.”

Mom then stands up and heads towards the room to freshen up. The bath is running already. Mom enters the room and is about to get into the bathroom when the doorbell rings.

“Isn’t it late for visitors?” Mom questions.

“It might just be Bernice who forgot something. You know how she is.”

Mom says nothing as she shuts the bathroom door.  

Izzy runs to the door to see who it could be. She opens the door and …..

“Isaac? What are you doing here?”

“I came to see you. It’s been a while.”

“What? Do you know the time? It’s 10pm for goodness’ sake.” Izzy says placing her hand on her forehead, looking anxious and sweating awkwardly.

“I know it’s early and that this is not the normal time I see you, but I missed you so much and I just wanted to see you and maybe we could watch a movie together? After which, I would be on my way.” Isaac responds looking as nervous as hell.

“Early? Izzy laughs sarcastically. You’ve got to be kidding me. You know what? Now’s not a good time so maybe some other time okay? I’ll call you!”

“Is there another guy here? That’s why you don’t want to let me in?”

“I honestly don’t have the time for this right now. Like I said, Nows not good. I’ll call you when it’s convenient for me.”

Izzy looks back to the room as she responds to him.

Issac is not convinced. “Why do you keep looking at the room? Who do you have here? He pushes his way through the door.

“What the fu*k do you think you’re doing badging into my apartment like you own the goddamn place?”

They struggle until the entrance of the room when Mom calls out from the bathroom.

“Elizabeth??? Who is it??”

“Oh it’s no one. Just Bernice. She left her charger. She came to get it. She just left.”

“Your Mom’s around? And who is Bernice?

“Get out!” You have no right to ask me who is who. Now if you would, please let yourself out.”

Isaac tries to come closer, scratching his head knowing fully what he had done.

“I said get out! Don’t make me start shouting.”

“You don’t have to. I didn’t know your Mom was around. You should have told me”.

“Smhhh. Please leave. Now.”

“Okay….okay. Can I call you later?”

“We’ll see”. Izzy feels so disgusted at this point that all she wanted in the world was for him to leave.

She shuts the door in front of him once he was out. She gets to the room and starts toke off her wigs she has had on all day. As she sits in front of the mirror in total disgust, she says to herself…..

“He smelled so awful. Jeez.”  

As she talks to herself infront of the mirror, Mom comes out of the bathroom.

“Who is “he”?”

“He?” Izzy is startled.

“I’m sure I heard you say he”. Mom assured her of what she had heard.

When Izzy saw that Mom might have heard what she said, she had to nip it in the bud. “Think Izzy…think!”.

“Oh he……he…….he…….? It’s a song?? A new one. I don’t know it so well so I mix the words. That must’ve been what you heard”.

“Hmmmm…..okay. I guess.”

Still a bit doubtful, Mom laid the topic to rest as she also went straight to bed.

Ding!

A message notification pops up on the screen of Izzy’s phone.

[I’m so sorry for what happened today. I was just in over my head and the thoughts of you seeing someone else who isn’t me just sends me of the cliff. Isaac. ]

[ We are just friends. I don’t know where you’re coming from with such a thing. What you did today was totally unacceptable. Very disrespectful. ] {send from Izzy’s iphone?

[we can’t be just friends. We are more than that!]Isaac

[I’m sorry to disappoint you but you’ve got it all wrong.]

-contact blocked-  

Early the next morning. Mom and Izzy are having their morning devotion.

After 2hours of devotion, Izzy says, “I’m going up to the balcony to stretch a bit.”

“Okay. What would you like for breakfast?”

“Oh no. You’re here to see me, you shouldn’t be doing anything, but resting.

Don’t worry yourself. I’ll take care of breakfast.”

“Do you know…..” Mom starts.

“I know Mom. Your bones as as strong as a youth. We are not debating. I’ll see you in a few minutes !” Izzy says as she walks towards the door and opens it.

“Nathan?” Izzy whispers in shock as she could feel her heart skip a beat.

“ What are you doing here?” Izzy pulls Nathan farther from the door and closes it.

“I want you…I want you so bad”.