Making Up With Bertha
''Tattoos? Why? Do you have a tattoo that you want removed?''
Nick had always found Inayah to be an intriguing character, hence he was very attentive to her words.
''Something like that.'' Inayah asked because she thought Nick could be of help to her.
''That is not my area of expertise but, I can recommend someone if you don't mind?''
''Really? I would love that.''
''I thought you came to ask me about Jasper?'' Nick asked as he looked at her with a curious gaze.
Inayah chuckled. ''Is it that obvious?''
''Oh, is so obvious! You eyes can't even hide it.'' Nick laughed.
''Well, I didn't want it to be so obvious that's why I asked about the tattoo first.'' Inayah chuckled.
''Shoot!!! I'm listening!''
''About Mr. Miles. Why can't he touch people?''
''Well, that is because he is sick. To put it bluntly; he can't touch the opposite sex.''
''But, he can touch me. He even…'' She wanted to say he even kissed her, but she stopped herself and flushed.
''That is a miracle in itself. I'm looking into it to find out more but, right now I can say that his case is not exactly hopeless as we thought.''
''Did he suffer a trauma before. I know that an illness like this usually happens after a traumatic experience.''
''No. He hasn't suffered from any trauma before as far as I know. He just woke up one day and had this reaction where he was having allergies towards women. We don't know why or how that came to be. It all begun the moment his girlfriend at that time touched him.''
''I see. Is that why he needs me?''
''Did he tell you why he needs you?''
''No, he only said he needs me badly to stay by his side. I don't know anything else and this whole thing is confusing me. Honestly, I'm scared. He and I don't really get along. I'm afraid that he is going to hurt me.'' Inayah sighed
''You're quite bold for your age. You're the first person to stand up to his injustice. Apart from Lilian.''
''Lilian. Who is Lilian?''
''The woman Jasper loves, but cannot touch.pppp''
''A woman he loves but cannot touch. That explains it then. He plans to use me to cure his illness so that he could go back to that woman.'' Inayah chuckled and stood up, ''I don't care what he plans on doing. If it goes against my principles, I won't sit back. I think I should go now. I have somewhere to be and is getting late.''
''Alright. Feel free to visit anytime. It was nice chatting with you, Miss Ibrahim.''
''Alright.'' Inayah turned and left the office.
....
Bertha's House.
Inayah stood in front of the green painted two storey building apartment and smiled. ''Is still the same as it was back then.''
Today, she was here to make up with Bertha. She now knew who loved her and who didn't. Her greatest mistake in this life was letting Samantha brainwash her into thinking that Bertha didn't like her.
She was going to mend all the broken friendships in her lives.
All the people who were really for her, those were the people she was going to befriend all over again and she was going to start with Bertha. The one person she has known all her life.
Inayah looked at the bags of groceries in her hands and smiled. ''You can do this, Ayah!'' She walked to the gate and pressed the intercom.
''Am I dreaming? Inayah, what are you doing in my house?'' Bertha asked over the intercom.
''Miss, come and open the gate. I'm tired of standing here.'' Inayah spoke.
The gate opened by itself and Bertha walked out. ''Hey, if you came here to pick a fight, let me tell you I won't hold back.''
Inayah shook her head and pushed Bertha aside and went in.
Bertha frowned and went in with her and the gate closed.
When they got to the hall, Inayah saw the framed photo hanging on the wall and smiled. ''You still have that? I have it too.''
It was a group picture they took when they were in first year.
''I asked, what are you doing in another person's house?'' Bertha asked and folded her arms.
Inayah ignored her and went to the kitchen. She started removing the groceries and Bertha pulled her away and asked angrily.
''Hey, I asked what you are doing here? What do you want?''
Inayah robbed her stomach saying. ''Isn't it obvious? I'm here because I'm hungry.''
''Go to a restaurant if you are hungry. This is my house, not a diner.'' Bertha replied harshly.
''I want homemade food!'' Inayah intended to act shameless till the end.
''Have you finally gone crazy? Why would you come to my house when you are hungry? Don't you have a home. Go to your house and cook if you want homemade food. Why are you disturbing my peaceful Sunday?''
''Do you hate me that much?'' Inayah's voice choked as she asked.
''Yes, I hate you. I just hate your very existence, what are you going to do about that?''
''I just want to eat with you; is that so hard to ask for?'' Inayah seemed to be on the verge of crying as she asked.
''You are determined to drive me crazy, right? You… why do you keep doing whatever you want? Don't you have any shame at all? Does it only matter to you what you feel? What about how I feel? You just barged into my house with groceries. Did you think I would open my arms wide and receive you?'' Bertha hated how easy Inayah took things.
''I was hoping to move you with my sincerity. Yes, I am shameless and I only care about my feelings but, what about you? Am I the only one who has wronged you? Haven't you wronged me too?'' Inayah hit Bertha's shoulder.
"Oh? How dare you push me in my own house?" Bertha pushed Inayah and the latter fell down.
Inayah looked at Bertha and started fake sobbing.
Bertha tussled her hair and cussed, ''crazy bitch. Hey!!! You… why are you… assh, damn you Inayah. Fine, you win, mm. You win… I… I am tired of you.''
''You are giving me the go ahead to stay, right?'' Inayah stood up and wiped her tears.
''Hey, you are so shameless. I will do the cooking. You can't even cook properly. Do you want to burn my house down?'' Bertha glared at her.
Inayah smiled and leaned closer to Bertha's face, ''does that mean I'm forgiven? You have forgiven me, right? We just made up, right?'' She sounded excited.
''Can you stop making noise, my brother just returned from night shift; he is sleeping.''b,snsa