Derele checked me out today for real. I caught him and he didn’t flinch or something, he just kept staring. He is sipping tea at the dinning and I am descending the stairs. Anyways I am dressed for lectures in the early hours of Friday and I am wearing my sleeveless gown.
As I crossed the dinning to the kitchen after dropping my bag pack and sweater in the nearest settee.
“Don’t you think that sweater is a bit too thick for the afternoon?” Thanks, but no thanks; I was pretty cold yesterday morning when I wore a blouse without my sweater.
“You need a ride?” Thank God he is done at the dinning so I can do my thing.
“No, thank you.” I said to his back as he marched to the door baring his suitcase in stride.
After fifteen minute, I have salvaged his left over breakfast and managed to apply a quick makeup. I gathered my things, put on my sweater and I am outside only to see Derele beside his SUV.
“What took you so long, are you going for an audition or lectures?” I don’t reply. It is obvious he is driving me to school and I should be grateful right? I entered the vehicle and he sped away.
We rode in silence until I could not cope with the air conditioning in the vehicle.
“Mr Kumuyi, could you turn off the AC?” I asked amidst shiver.
“Mr Kumuyi is my father Miss Maureen.” He used his right hand to turn off the AC and proceeded to wrap his hand around me. I shifted to my side of the vehicle.
“I am just going to keep you warm. You really need that not with that skinny body of yours.” He is checking me out again, from my two months old braids to my gown which stopped midriff; okay, that gown was supposed to be just above knee length when am not sitting, and back to my face. Just then a car hoots us and he is focusing on the road again.
“Now that makeup is pretty dumb and why is your lips all shiny? Is that the egg sauce from breakfast?” he finishes mockingly.
“Duh, last I checked, I am not Miss Toke. If you need an eye candy, she is your best bet and available as it is.” I replied rolling my eyes. He is shocked because he applies the brake outrightly. My sharp tongue has gotten the better part of me.
“No, Miss Toke is everyone’s eye candy. I will tell her to get you the right makeup things for your face if you really want to wear one; but I do like you natural. You should cover yourself too. That gown for one is way too short, sleeveless too. What were you thinking that when the sun comes up you can still have that sweater on?”
At this point am getting modesty advice from Derele, a guy whose girlfriend is a female version of a gigolo. Wait a minute, this is supposedly the advice an elder brother would give his little sister. Again I have outdone myself and misconstrue his interest.
To save face, I say “My cloth is short because that is the only size I could get from the run down store I visit and since it is a second hand gown, you don’t actually select your size rather your cloth is manipulated to your size.”
I waited for the comeback that never came; he is quiet like I never spoke. We rode the rest of the journey in silence. Then he dropped me off at the university gate. I sense him watch me cross the road before he drove off.
©Tiana
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