NOT FOR SALE

𝑇𝑜𝑟𝑜

I was startled when the kitchen walls rallied a high-pitched sound I had to turn. As if my wits told me something was about to happen, I turned just in time to stop the lamp that would've smashed my head into two. I was caught off guard by the sudden attack from a woman I didn't know or never met before in my entire life.

Her gunmetal blue eyes were clouded with questions and I don't know if I was mistaken but I saw a little bit of fear. The question was who is she and why would she attack me in my own house? Her hair fell on her shoulders with bangs coating her forehead, she wrinkled her brows at me in a questioning manner but her dark red plump lips were pressed in a manner that almost amused me. I kept a cool demeanor but she startled me when she yanked the lamp from me.

As a result of her forceful act, we ended up on the kitchen floor. All this while one thing which bothered my mind was who she was. I guided her with my arm from squashing the side of her body but I got pushed off in return for my kindness.

"What are you doing?" I was flustered at her question as she got to her feet. "And what are you doing in my house and kitchen?"

I lifted a brow at her outburst, Is she kidding? Why would she barge into my house, attack me in my kitchen and then ask me such questions?

 "Your house? Your kitchen?"

"Yes," she folded her arms against her chest, glaring at me. She looked over my shoulders to the pot on the fire. "A burglar can't be treating himself to some dish...."

𝑊𝑎𝑖𝑡 𝑤ℎ𝑎𝑡? A burglar? In my own house?

First of all, who is she? Interrogating me like some detective? Is she drunk or something?

"Listen….." I took slow steps towards her but she stuck out her hand, halting me. "I believe you are in the wrong house...this is my house, not yours, you must be mistaken."

"Sorry Mister," she unfurled her hands and positioned them on her hips. Accusing me with her eyes. "I think you are the one who is mistaken..."

She widened her eyes and gasped as if something terrified her.

"This isn't right," she whirled away from me and paraded the whole kitchen. For goodness sake who is she? When I bought this house from Mr Warren, he didn't mention something like this would happen. He didn't mention that I would be attacked by an unknown crazy woman.

I mean I saw some female clothes in my wardrobe so I thought the one who lived here last must have forgotten about them. Was even planning to get rid of them.

"No, you can't be here, you can't buy this house," she turned to me and briskly moved towards me. Her face was an inch close to mine and the look in her eyes was a serious one. "This is my house and it's not for sale…."

"Pardon me?" I lean my head backwards, dazed at the words that flew out of her mouth. What is she yabbying about?

"Who are you?"

"I'm Nino, the owner of this house you just raided." Her eyes were fixed on me as she made that statement.

 "I don't know what Mr Warren told you but you can't buy this house, it isn't for sale and didn't Mr Warren tell you someone was still residing here?"

"And a woman to be precise," she gestured dramatically to herself.

"When I bought this house," I retorted, took off the apron and tossed it on the kitchen counter. "Mr Warren never mentioned a woman is living here, a crazy woman to be precise...."

"Crazy?" Her mouth dropped, prolly shocked but I cared less. Wasn't she taught manners by her parents? I took slow steps towards her and she quickly defended herself by moving backwards, the triumphant look in her eyes when she introduced herself was replaced with fear once more.

"What are you doing?" She struggled to keep her voice firm but I could hear the tension in her tone. "Stay-aw-ay," she stuttered, pulling herself out of the kitchen to the sitting room.

She darted her eyes around, didn't know what she was looking for but I saw her grab another lamp and pointed it at me. 

"One more step from you and you will regret it."

"Who the heck are you and what are you doing in my house?" She reiterated her question.

She tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear, still clutching her weapon. Was she bent on smashing me with that?

Honestly, I don't get the picture here. When I bought this house Mr Warren only told me the owner was out of town and put the house on sale. Not just anyone but a lady who might be in her late twenties with a slender figure covered in a hooded sweat mini gown and the heels she wore were kinda uncomfortable from the way she kept striding backwards with that lamp pointing at me.

And her face was sort of familiar, I tried hard to remember where I saw that face but nothing was coming into my head. I don't keep tabs on people's faces.

"Like I said earlier. This is my house."

"You are kidding, right?" She gave me a crisp laugh, lowering the lamp. "You can't just barge into my house and claim it as yours," she prompted emphatically.

"Listen I don't know you," I stopped in my tracks. "But I think you are not understanding….."

"You are the one who's not understanding what is going on," she snatched the words from my mouth. "This is not just a house but a home...a HOME," she accentuated.

"This is my parent's property and it's not for sale, you can't buy a house, you see someone put up on the net…."

"Too late, I already paid for it," I said calmly, watching the different expressions displayed on her face. "Mr Warren never mentioned anyone was residing here."

"What?" She stumbled backwards at my utterance. She shut her eyes momentarily and opened them. "I don't know how much you paid him but I'm willing to pay double so you can leave."

I creased a brow inquisitively. "You can't possibly tell me to vacate a house I already paid for?"

She dropped the lamp on a couch and heaved a breath. "How much did you pay him? I will give it back."

"Listen, Miss, you seem not to understand the picture," I bit my lower lip and proceeded. "I'm not leaving, don't you get it? And Mr Warren never mentioned someone was residing in here anyways."

She shut her eyes and hit a fist on her left palm. Darn it! She mumbled and flung her eyes open. 𝑇ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑎𝑠𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑙𝑒, ℎ𝑒 ℎ𝑎𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑣𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑝𝑢𝑡 𝑚𝑦 ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑠𝑒 𝑢𝑝 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑠𝑎𝑙𝑒. I gawked at her and watched her render curses to whoever she was referring to.

"This house isn't for sale, this is my property and it isn't buyable." She motioned with her fingers, giving me a stoic stare. "This is my parent's house...I don't get why Mr Warren would sell it off without telling me."

"I don't know what you are talking about and I don't care what personal problems you have with Mr Warren. The fact remains I'm the owner of this house….'

"Says, who?" She wore a pointed look on her face.

"Says me."

"Tomorrow, we are meeting up with Mr Warren. This is all a misunderstanding, he'll also refund your money. Please understand that this house isn't just a house, this house is more than that and I can't sell it off like some piece of cloth."

She leaned close to me and batted her eyes but if she believes I'm gonna get fooled by the fake sympathy in her eyes, I think she should think again. I gave her a brief look and strode past her but turned again to give her a response and I knew she was anticipating it. Her face said it all.

"I'm meeting up with Mr Warren not to get a refund but to know why he lied to me."

I turned and made my way upstairs to the rooms. She just ruined my peaceful moment and I wasn't in the mood to wrangle words with her but from the corners of my eyes, I saw her trailing behind me. She needs to leave but only after we meet up with Mr Warren tomorrow and clear this whole drama.

I bought this house because I wanted tranquility although it was in the heart of the city, kinda inside, something about the house intrigued me when my eyes spotted it on the internet. Though the amount was kinda huge, the house was worth it. And now some woman is claiming this is her house and not for sale?

I made my way to a door, the room I picked for myself but like a volt, she barricaded my path with her arms spread out. I knitted my brows wondering what was up with her attitude. Okay, she might be the owner but I already purchased the house so what's her deal?

"Why are you interfering in my way?" I raised a brow giving her a confused look.

"You can't take this room," I snorted out a muffled chuckle at her outburst. "This room is not in use….." She outstretched her arms.

"And you can't use it." She added.

"First, you barged into my house....."

"My house," she prompted. Arms spread out.

"You called me a burglar and now you are denying me access to my room?"

"I don't know the business you did with Mr Warren without my knowledge but I got to tell you can't pick this room. You can pick another room, not this one."

I don't know why but whatever she was doing, I am finding it irritating and I can't watch her blab anymore or watch her order me around. I nudged her aside and as much as she tried to stop me, I shut the door before she could assert another irritating word.

I plopped on my bed, staring aimlessly at the white ceiling. Many thoughts flooded my brain as I gaped at the empty ceiling. I managed to get away to have some peace of mind, I wanted to restrain myself from the outer world and when Mr Warren told me this house was for sale and not a soul lives in it. I was filled with hope…..only to find out he lied.

Why did he lie in the first place and assuming that crazy woman out there who was endlessly banging desperately on my door was telling the truth, why did he peddle her house without her notice?

I was pulled back to reality when I heard a beep from my laptop that lay on the desk next to my bed. I slouched towards it, pulled the chair out and sat down. I saw an incoming call and pulled out my airpods and fixed it in my right ear.

"Yo man," I answered the video call. His face was twisted in a frown and was right in the camera, I could see the rough outlines of his face including the mole at the corner of his lips and his gray pupils.

"What's up with the frown?"

"What took you so long to pick up my calls?"

I let out a small chuckle, "Kenny, I didn't take time. I answered you immediately."

"I called twice," he lifted two of his fingers.

"Ohh sorry, I was busy making dinner~"

"That reminds me, how's your new house?" I saw him pick a sachet of cheeseburger and rip the seal open. "Hope it's nice?" He took a big bite out of it.

"And what's that sound I'm hearing in the background?"

"Just some rattling from some strayed cat outside my door."

He arched a brow at me, giving me a skeptical look. "Toro, that doesn't sound like a cat meow. It sounds like someone is jabbing on something or stuff. And what is a cat doing in your new house?"

"Forget the cat," I rubbed my forehead and irked at the questions he was throwing my way. I wasn't in the mood to go into details about some woman I found in my house. 

"How are you, dude?"

"So how much longer are you gonna stay hidden? You don't have plans of returning?"

"I don't know," I heaved a frustrated sigh. "I might return if everything dies down..."

"I would suggest you return and defend yourself, you shouldn't be on the run."

"You know I can't, I need to figure out what's going..." I was startled by a rattling sound followed by a shrill. I facepalmed myself inwardly, seeing the look on Kenny's face. He must be wondering where the sound was coming from.

Great, moved in today and had no peace. "I should go check…..on the cat," I added and hung the call before he could say another word. 

I walked out of the room and saw her sprawled on the floor, the side wooden polished stool squashing her left leg.