3 Chapter Three

Caught UP

Luwi woke up with a throbbing headache, hangover, because she had consumed a lot from last night. She got out of bed and walked to the bathroom, sat on the toilet to take a piss which resulted into taking a doo-doo. She knew it was going to take a while, so she took to its advantage. It gave her time to think about the fine young man that kept her occupied.

Fast but she had already started developing feelings. One problem she had; she was too quick to fall in love and at the end will get broken beyond repair. Jamel wasn't that bad of a guy though. He was tall and had brown hair...that was how much she remembered. It was late and she couldn't score him. Moreover, there wasn't much of eye contact. They were both shy, she even tried her best to act chill and collected but still melted one way or the other.

"I hope my bad ass persona didn't scare him though. It was only...acting." She said groaning, trying to force the poop that was causing discomfort. Her eyes became teary.

Luwi was finally done. She cleaned herself and stood up. She took off her pajamas and walked into the bath tub. After she was done with bathing, she did what she had to do, the necessities, and in no time, was Bonny. Dressed in a black crop and a baggy jean trouser. She went to the living room where Eunice was seated with her boyfriend. Luwi rushed in to hug her.

"Hey Timothy" Luwi greeted. Timothy waved.

"You look snatched!" Eunice commented. Luwi flushed "Where to?" She asked.

"I am off to see our neighbor" Luwi whispered and dragged Eunice out of Timothy's lap. "A minute". Timothy nodded and grabbed the remote off the table.

"The new guy across the street?" Eunice asked as they walked to the kitchen. Luwi nodded.

"The one opposite our house." Luwi replied and took out a brown basket out of the lower cabinet. Eunice stared at her funny.

"What?" Luwi asked, giggling. Eunice shook her head.

"Why?" Eunice asked, hands on her waist.

"Well. I want to give him a basket which YOU will assist me, put in order to thank him for what he did for me-" Luwi dropped the basket on the counter. "-Last night" Eunice grinned and coughed to tease. Luwi glanced at her.

"For the most part, he had a very good first impression." She smiled at the thought of him. Eunice tilted her head to the left and narrowed her eyes at Luwi.

"Something is definitely going on...something I am not aware of" Eunice said quaking her index finger pointed at Luwi, in a circular motion.

"Nothing is going on" Luwi said and dropped Eunice's finger. She paused. "Maybe not yet" She said.

"Hm. Okay. No sweat" Eunice agreed and went to the store, bringing out various items. She smiled suspiciously and she sniffed in. "I can smell freshly baked L.O.V.E" Luwi laughed and nudged her with her elbow. "Ouch!" She cried between their laughter.

Luwi and Eunice dressed the basket, added the items, arranged them orderly and finished with a ribbon. A blue ribbon.

"Done. You are ready to go" Eunice teased. Luwi took it in her hands.

"How do I look? Simple or Extra?" Luwi questioned for Eunice's opinion.

"Perfecto!" Eunice said and hugged her. Luwi laughed and hugged her tightly. They separated.

"Bye Tims" Luwi said running out.

Luwi took a deep breath when she got to Jamel's gate. She scanned the house, and was quite uncertain. She opened the gate and walked across the yard and got to his door step, climbed a few steps and was finally at the door. "The" door. Her heart was pounding.

Wait, why am I nervous? She thought to herself as she squeezed the handle of the basket. She took in deep breaths and dropped the basket gently on the floor. She bit her lower lip and pressed the doorbell.

Jamel beneath his duvet, was still asleep. 'Ding dong ding', the doorbell rang. He growled. It came the second time, he opened an eye but was reluctant to move. He heard it again, moaned and wiggled for a short while before he sluggishly stood up from the bed to get it...every step came with a powerful groan. He went down the stairs and into the living room.

"Who is it?" Jamel asked as he approached the door. She kept pressing the doorbell. His irritation sparked like damp firewood. Jamel sucked on his teeth and rushed to the door.

"Who is it?!" Jamel asked in a low pitched tone and forced the door open. "It's a doorbell not a toy. I could hea-" Jamel paused.

"-Uh. Luwi?" She said shakily and waved. Jamel kept a fixed gaze as he couldn't believe who was standing on his porch.

Jamel stood there, messy hair; bulgy eyes, looking unkempt, obvious he had just woken up. He was putting on a grey sweat pant, white tank top and a pair of white socks. Luwi stared at him, in a way, surprised at what she was seeing. He was right in front of her, it was bright unlike the previous night. She scanned him from head to toe. She was right about his hair though, he truly had brown hair. Dark-brown lustrous hair, even in its darkest state. His eyes were beautiful. She had never seen brown eyes that glowed. They were better than the blue eyes she fantasized about so much. His lips were nicely carved, had a darker upper lip and a pinkish lower lip...it was like Chocolate and Strawberry. He had a small nose, the tip thin, which made it pointy at the side. Wasn't that pointy up front, just small and slim with broad nostrils but was accurate. She looked at his body, he was not that muscular but who cared? it's not like it was that much of a fetish. The world is evolving, could be a dream for teenagers though, all caught up in their fantasies.

Jamel was getting really uncomfortable and pressed the doorbell. Luwi yanked. She cleared her throat and picked up the basket.

"Hey, uh I brought this for you" She said. Jamel collected it from her and immediately wore a gentle smile. Luwi returned the smile. She couldn't help it. It was warm and contagious.

"Thank you" He appreciated with a wide grin. She pressed her lips together.

"I should go now" She insisted. Jamel held her arm and pulled her back. Luwi like a shot held her breath. Her eyes widened. She squalled and he hastily let go.

"Oh. I am sorry." He apologized. She nodded; although, still in shock, she could understand it was a reflex and he didn't want her to leave. In place of a guy, she would have had a boner at what had just happened but thank heavens she was not.

"Uh. Why Uh...Can... Argh." Jamel scratched the back of his head. "Join me" He finally spoke after struggling. Luwi gritted and nodded. She walked into his house. Jamel, closed the door and carried the basket to the kitchen. Luwi was in awe. The house was big. I mean really spacious and beautiful. The interior design was keen; it was a paradise. It had three rooms in one space. The living room, a seating room and a room that looked like a kitchen but not a kitchen. It had an Island. The island was sorted with a fruit basket at the center. She wondered what his bedroom was going to look like and how big his bathroom was going to be.

"How's your head?" Jamel asked without making eye contact as he walked out of the kitchen. He offered her a seat before she sat down. He sat down. "You don't need to overthink. You know, there is always a hangover after consuming a max volume of alcohol, that's except you are inhuman" He added. Luwi chortled.

"Better days" Luwi replied, trying to get comfortable. Jamel laughed softly.

"Breakfast?" Jamel asked, this time staring at her.

"No." She said. "I sincerely wasn't expecting this." She added.

"You mean being invited in?" Jamel asked. Luwi nodded. He scoffed. "What block head will be so stupid to not invite you in?" Jamel paused. Luwi sharply looked over at him. That probably didn't come out right. "Forget I said that" He said and brushed his forehead with his backhand.

"What do you intend to make?" Luwi asked. Jamel looked at her and smirked. "Do you need help?" Luwi asked with a soft smile.

"You sure?" He asked. She nodded. "I don't want you to react when I start chopping the onions. You know?" Jamel teased. Luwi laughed.

"How and why does that happen?" Luwi asked.

"When you come in contact with onions, your eyes react to the gas that is formed, causing your eyes to burn, you know, irritation and then your eyes flush it out with tears." Jamel said and nodded.

"Wow" Luwi sucked her upper lip.

"It's totally safe though...I mean for the eyes." Jamel gestured. There was silence.

"But I am not hungry. Thank you though for the offer, I only came to show gratitude and it was nice enough of you to invite me into your beautiful home but I gotta go" Luwi said and stood up.

"Okay, just stay for a while. Chill for a bit." Jamel said. "Please?" He pleaded.

"Argh! Fine" Luwi agreed. Jamel giggled like a baby who was handed a lollipop.

"Wait, what do you mean? I don't understand" Eunice asked as she slowly left Timothy's lap, adjusting unto the couch.

"I mean, you get into an accident, I get my Money from the insurance company. Simple." Timothy said.

"Wait, I still don't get it"

"Okay. So, I got insured into this company I am about to work with and I was given a form to fill. You know, next of kin and stuff, it's a really risky job, life threatening, and I was asked to put my name in case of anything unfortunate. The pay is LARGE! FIVE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS...to be given to my fam-"

"-Still don't get it, how does this information affect me?" Eunice asked.

"Uhhm...well, it depends on the circumstances. Accidents, whether it happens to me or a family member yeah, two fifty thousand dollars. Industrial impairment, four hundred thousand and so many stuffs that I don't care about. Right now, I need that Two fifty grand...to pay for my debt. My car is still at the gamble net. I need to clear it and collect the car."

"I don't get the point. Be straight" Eunice said dryly. "I don't seem to understand"

"So, I insured my name and also your name in, to ma-"

"-WHAT?!" Eunice yelled. "YOU DID WHAT?"

"Hey, hey hey" Timothy whispered as he gently took her hands in his. "I have already submitted the form. I am to resume next week. Do this for me, babe...please?" Timothy added and kissed her hand.

"Don't you have sisters?" She asked. "And you didn't even ask for my permission" She added.

"I do, but I want you to do it. Please, and I don't want them to find out at home" He said "I am sorry I didn't ask you"

"Babe, this is impossible for me. I think you either leave the job or find someone else" Eunice said and stood up. Walking away, Timothy followed behind her. "Or better still, YOU do it. You filled your name in".

"What is your problem?" Timothy asked her as he forcefully hoicked her hand backwards. Eunice groaned.

"Timothy?"

"Do you love me?" He asked "ANSWER!" He yelled. Eunice began to shake. The last time Timothy acted this way was a long time ago.

"I-I-I do" Eunice stuttered, fear gripping her soul.

"You are not even sure if you love me?" He asked fuming.

"You know I don't like to meddle into things like this?" Eunice whispered.

"You piss the fuck out of me when you tell me no. You know how I feel about it." He said and leaned in. "That's why you, are doing this for me" Timothy added.

"I said No! You need to start respecting my decisions." Eunice retorted.

"Did you just yell at me?" He asked with gritted teeth and grabbed her hand. Staring into her eyes, he began to squeeze it, digging into her flesh with his fingers.

"Please, stop. It hurts" Eunice whimpered.

"You started it" Timothy retorted with a smirk. "You are doing it whether you like it or not." Timothy ordered. "It's something simple, you'll recover. What's so hard in jumping in front of a moving vehicle or better still, staging something...no, bad idea, because you are terrible at acting." Timothy added and flung her hand aside.

"I want to help but not this way" Eunice whispered as she gently rubbed her wrist.

"This is the only way." Timothy said softly.

"Look for someone else, I don't want to get hurt. What is happening right now is, very unnecessary" Eunice moved closer and cupped his cheeks.

"You promised to always assist even in hard times." He replied and held her hands.

"But this is not just it" Eunice said softly.

"Just get into the hospital so I can get my money...it'll pass" Timothy said, rubbing her shoulder.

"You are nothing but a selfish bas-" Interrupted by a mighty slap, Eunice fell carelessly to the ground. Her eyes widened, her mouth gave out, weak and confused, she held her face in shock and whimpered. She continuously rubbed her cheek which in no time, turned red. It stung. He held her by her jaw and repeatedly slapped her. She pleaded with him to stop as hot tears streamed down her face. He flung her head to the side, sending her lips and eye into the wall, it didn't take time before she started bleeding from her lips, her eye had developed a blood blister. He pulled her hair and dragged her to the kitchen, grumbled and stormed his way to the kitchen cabinet, taking out the dishes, her very expensive ones.

"YOU...REALLY...IRRITATE...ME!." Timothy yelled as he broke plates with every word that came out of his mouth. He went back to her. Eunice cried as her hair was forcefully pulled back and dragged around by Timothy's huge hands. She screamed in pain as it began to feel like her scalp was giving up on her. Her eyes blood red.

"SOMEONE HELP ME... PLEASE!" Eunice screamed.

"I give you two days to think about it or I'll-" He hissed and shoved her head into the shattered pieces. She winced as her head picked up a piece of shattered glass, leaving her designed, with her own blood. Eunice screamed.

"Just two days." Timothy said and disappeared. Eunice sat up and continued crying. She got up and tried to figure out where she was going with her mind. She entered the bathroom and locked it. Temporarily blind in one eye. Her eyes were probably bloodshot and the tears beginning to blur her vision. Wiping tears away from her face with her hand, she failed to suppress a sob. She cleaned the fogged mirror and stood in front of it. The tears continued to seep down her cheeks but she didn't sob, feeling pity for the lady in front of her. She packed her hair in a bun and washed her face, she squawked as her hand touched the affected area on her head. It stung because she hadn't removed the glass. She opened the drawer and took out a tweezer, tightened her jaw and inhaled. She went closer to the mirror and slowly plucked the glass, groaning silently until she was done.

"Luwi, what are you still doing?" Eunice said faintly and burst into tears again.