Amorphophallus

© 2021 by Ireland Rea. All rights reserved.

I gave a polite smile and a nod of the head. He gave me one back but his smile was much more guarded. He was a tad intimidating not by his looks but by his aura as if he's daring anyone to rub him the wrong way.

He was dressed in a crisp white collared shirt tucked neatly in his black trousers. I as well as everyone else in the store had to take a double, judging by the many eyes in the store looking in our direction.

He commanded a room with his presence easily making someone feel small in his presence. I couldn't be bothered there's so small a man would ever make me feel.

"I also just ran by to pick up a book I've ordered."

Right after she said those words, Mr. Ross came from the back carrying a few books in our store bag. You could tell he was freshly shaven and as he walked up a whiff of a nice fragrance came forth. I gave a polite smiling reminding myself to show emotions in this conversation so I wouldn't come off as if I was getting… bored?

I don't know all I know is that sometimes Niyah would mention I would start to look uninterested in a conversation after a while. We laughed about it a lot when we still went to school together.

I noticed Irene perk up a little when he walked forth.

"I have the book you ordered. The other ones we were speaking about just came in so I threw those in there as well, no worries."

They had a moment when he handed her the bag which made me glance away to give them some privacy. It seemed Soul had the same feeling causing us to accidentally lock eyes. His eyes flashed with amusement causing me to smile without meaning to. I turned back I couldn't help a small smile that stained my face.

"Adanni."

My name is mentioned caused everyone to turn to me. I shifted slightly, shaking off their glances. I looked around at everyone, finally locking eyes with her.

Why was she just callin me out like that like I wasn't paying attention like this break in conversation was not necessary.

"Um yes?"

"I spoke to your mother."

I automatically raised my eyebrows not ready for her to say that. I cleared my throat, not ready for what she was about to say next.

"Right before we got here we ran into her and she asked me about you."

I glanced over at Mr. Ross to see he had turned away shuffling through papers on the counteractively trying to give us space. Soul had a whole different attitude though, his eyes were locked on mine studying my face waiting for my reaction. All in my damn business.

And it ain't like Irene isn't enabling it. It ticked me off a little making me purse my lips making the face I know my mom would scowl at me right now and tell me to fix it.

"Well, she has my number so, if it's serious she'll contact me."

Irene nodded, shrugging her shoulders unfazed by my attitude she always allowed me to have freely.

"You're right, she just was asking me have I had spoken to you since you were upset before you left."

She stared at me a tad longer after her last comment. I knew what she was doing, but I wasn't about to give it to her.

Irene knew how my mom was so dramatic it would be borderline a lie. She was trying to read me to see if I would tell her silently hell yeah I had an attitude, so the fuck what? Or of course, I had one you can't help but have one when it comes to her type thing.

The fuck is she doing though?

Like? Why would you bring this up now in front of your son who I don't know? I mean yeah he was there but still, I don't like that.

I just shrugged my shoulders, my emotions shutting down by the second. Of course, she'd hang me out to dry too, just like everyone else.

"I'm fine. We're fine."

She just nodded in reply.

"Alright well, I hope I'll see you soon?"

From her hopeful look, I felt bad for giving her any reply but okay, but I was upset, and I just didn't want to deal with so many people right now. So I put on my fake polite smile.

"Yeah of course."

I turned to her son ignoring the creep up of anxiety from locking eyes with him.

His face was hard to read, a mixture between amusement and judgment. I stopped the emotion that really wanted to bubble through and calmed my breath-holding my tongue.

"It was nice meeting you, I've heard many good things, but I must go now. It's been pretty busy around here."

I nodded politely and walked away without looking back.

Me and Niyahs last conversation was fine I would say. She was fine unless any topic about Terrence came around and I knew something was wrong, but I just let it be. I don't have time to be focused on other people's issues.

Besides, we were like sisters. We can argue one second then be fine the next. So I walked towards the store from the side door on the opposite side of the store and sped walked there.

There were a decent amount of people in the shop. I saw about 8 workers. 2 cleaning the floor 2 behind the counters making coffees and the other two and Saniyah at the front at the cash registers.

When we locked eyes I could tell she saw the look in mine, because she automatically started walking away from the group waving at them about something.

She gestured towards the other side of the counter From the wide circle counter we were slightly hidden from the machines.

"Girl what? What happened?"

I gave her a slight run down, whispering some of the curse words. We were gone have to talk about this again at home.

"Then this bitch had the audacity to say I was pretty upset when I left like I'm THAT child. I don't like that."

Niyah scrunched her face up, shaking her head.

"Yeah me either, but why did she ask when everybody was right there though? That's what I don't understand?"

"That's what I said!"

I waved my arms in frustration, grateful somebody seen I wasn't trippin.

"I felt bad a little for dismissing her but, I don't care if you get treated like the birds when you act like one."

We laughed at my comment. Quieting each other remembering where we were.

Five hours later. Sore and half-sleep I walked out of the store towards the main entrance. Saniyah was already standing waiting.

"You ready?"

She yelled. Her voice echoed through the empty building. I nodded in reply, too tired to say anything.

She laughed heading to the exit. We walked to the car, me slightly limping from my left heel paining from standing on it for so long.

"You want me to drive?"

We slid into the car. Immediately after I said it I regretted it. I did not feel like driving, I don't know why I even said it. She glanced over at me to see the disgusted look still itched on my face making her burst out in laughter.

"Adanni whatever! Shut up, anyways. Put in the google maps it dark. I don't wanna get lost."

I snorted, reaching for my phone to unlock it.

Ignoring the feeling from not seeing a text from my mom I scrolled on. Usually, it annoyed me because she would blow up my phone continuously, but I am missing it. Lowkey. Real low key. Cause Nah, she stressed me out deeply daily even when I was doing everything she wanted. So, no.

Fuck that feeling.

I was getting myself mentally ready for tomorrow. Going through my head on everything I had to bring.

I knew I would be able to save up for a car soon as well as my place. The only debate would be to see which comes first. It seems staying with Niyah is going decently.

To be honest I never truly ever wanted to because I never knew If I could live with her every day. She sometimes is in her attitude, which I'm not gonna lie clashes with my own sometimes. So I'll see.

© 2021 by Ireland Rea. All rights reserved.