?Beautiful??
(Ifeoma)
Written by Rejoice Jeremiah. C?
EPISODE 3
The Table
“”””””””””””””””””””””
Gladly enough, I didn’t see the wounded animal until evening but Uju and I were arranging the upper floor rooms when one of the kitchen maids, Ebube, knocked on the Queen’s door and delivered the message.
Another annoying message.
“Ifeoma, The palace physician ask for you to take your cleaning materials to the room which the wounded Ebuka is and tidy up the room.”
I gritted my teeth in anger.
‘Not again!’
Ebube left and Uju turned to me with a stupid! smile on her face.
“Ify, the more I think of it. I think this Ebuka is starting to like you o,” she said.
I glared at her. “What nonsense are you spitting out of your mouth?”
“I’m serious here friend, this is the exact way guys who are in love with girls but can’t tell them behave. That is the way they behave, it happens in movies,” she said.
“Just get off the way, you are annoying me with that,” I said and walked out.
“Think about it If,” I heard her say from the Queen’s room.
“””
Soon I was on my way to the palace clinic with a mop, a bucket of small water and a waste bin.
‘That wounded goat! He’s getting on my nerves really! I’m really going to kick his butt this time!’
My face was singing ‘no joy’ my breath was strong and my anger was just ready to explode.
I finally got to the clinic and also to the door and without knocking, I opened it wide and went in.
He was putting on his shirt at that moment and I don’t care!
He raised his brows at me. “What! Why couldn’t you knock first. What if I was unclad?”
I dropped the buckets and mop on the floor in a noisy way that some water from the bucket splashed out.
My face speak of fury.
“Hey, why’s your face that way. You better brighten it up,” he said.
“Do you have a death wish?” I asked him.
He widened his eyes. “What’s the meaning of that question?”
“Answer me, do you have a death wish? Do you!” I half yelled.
“Why..why would I have such a wish?”
“If you don’t have a death wish then don’t ever take my kindness for granted. Stop making me come here. I hate the smell of a clinic,” I said.
“Really… When was the last time you came here?” he asked.
“It’s none of your business.. This is my last warning,” I said.
“Your last warning was few hours ago.. And now there’s another last warning. Will there be another last warning after this?” he asked with a smirk smile on his face.
‘Should I just zip up his mouth! Oh God, he’s annoying’
“Better keep your mouth shut the whole minutes that’ll be in here,” I said, carried the buckets and mop and got to work immediately.
First I cleaned up the table, then followed by the floor.
I was cleaning the floor, when he began again.
“Which Village among the four are you from?” he asked.
“I told you to shut up,” I snapped.
“You want me to obey your command? You should be obeying mine,” he said.
I chuckled. “Why? Are you the King or the prince? Wait, you are not even the son of a chief or a titled man and you are so full of yourself. What an idiot,” I said, shook my head and continued with what I was doing.
“You don’t know me,” he said.
I scoffed and looked at him. His eyes was on me too.
“Who are you biko?”
“I’m…I’m Ebuka,” he said.
“Good.. Ebuka from which home, who’s your father?”
“Who…who’s yours?” he asked.
I scoffed. “Mazi Nduka Okeke, the great hunter from Eziala village in Amaeze Kingdom.”
“Your father is a hunter?” he asked.
“Yes. Now who is yours?” I asked.
“What about your mother?” he asked.
“Sop ignoring my question, answer me…who’s your father?” I asked.
“He’s dead. Both my..my parents are dead. I’m not from this kingdom so you can’t know my family. The head of menservants, Mr Orji is the one who brought me here and got me a job in the palace. All thanks to him, I’ll be living in a nice environment, I’ve never lived in any nicer place as this,” he said and smiled.
I breathed out.
‘His story sound hurting tho but he’s arrogance doesn’t make him appear like someone with such a sad story’
“Why that face? Are you feeling sorry for me?” he asked.
“I’m just wondering why you are so full of yourself. You should be humble if you want to live in this nice environment for long,” I said.
“So you are not feeling sorry for me?” he asked.
“I am… Sorry for your lost.. I only lost my mother and I know how hurt I feel each time I have her memories talk more of loosing both parents. It must be really unbearable for you,” I said.
He breathed out. “Yes it is but if It was so unbearable, I don’t think I’d be alive today,” he said.
‘Uhm I see’
“Well… Life goes on. You should live to remember and celebrate them,” I said.
“That’s right.” he said.
“Wow I can’t believe we talked casually,” he said.
I got done with the floor.
“I’m done and I don’t want this to repeat itself again.. Next time I’m not going to give a last warning but take action,” I said.
“I thought we just talked casually minutes ago. Why using the strong voice again?” he asked.
Ignoring him, I turned to leave.
“Wait, what about the bed. It’s looking untidy. You can’t leave without tidying it,” he said.
I rolled my eyes and turned back, facing him.
“I’m not going to help you up to the seat, you do that yourself,” I said.
“Really? How do you expect me to walk myself to the seat,” he asked.
“Then what are those crutches for?” I asked.
He looked at them like he’s just seeing them for the first time and that just made me roll my eyes hard.
“I can’t walk with that,” he said.
“Should I leave then?” I asked.
“I will walk myself,” he said.
‘Good’
Gently, he dropped his legs on the floor, stretched his hand to the crutches and took them. Positioning them under his arms, slowly, he stood up and gently took the first step.
I watched him keenly.
He looked like he was afraid of using the crutches.
He took another step, then another, then another.. He wasn’t bad at it so I lost interest on watching him and was going to the drawer to grab a tissue to wipe my hands when I suddenly felt danger coming.
And just immediately that I turned back to Ebuka, he slipped.
I gasped.
He was falling and the table was just close.
He’s going to hit his head on the glass table if he lands.
Oh my God.. What do I do..
I can’t be here and watch someone die!
For the last time, I’ll have to use my powers.
Immediately, I fixed my eyes on the table, my eyes turned green and just immediately the table shifted, Ebuka landed on the floor, his head just two inches from the shifted table.
My eyes color went back to normal.
His head would have landed just on the table and it would have turned out a really bad news.
Why’s he getting into trouble and making me use my almost forgotten powers.
My father would kill me if he finds out!
I’m not supposed to be doing this.
“Arghhhh” he groaned.
I rushed to him and squatted beside him.
“Are you alright? Does your leg hurt?” I asked him.
He opened his eyes, looking angered. “Not only my leg, my back hurt, my head hurt like mad!” he said.
‘Le nu ya! (Just look at him) You won’t even be talking if you had hit your head on the table..’
“It’s all your fault. I wouldn’t have slipped and fell if you had walked me up to the seat. Why was it so hard for you to walk me to the seat..It’s not like I’m not hospitalized, I am..” he barked.
I stared at him for awhile and then breathed out without knowing what to say but I finally did.
I can’t let him win.
“I’m not a nurse! You have no right to blame me” I said.
“You are not going to accept your wrong and apologize huh?” he asked.
“I’m going to help you up,” I said and tried taking his hand but he flung mine away.
“Just go,” he said.
I raised my brows. “Really? I should go?” I asked, believing he was joking.
“I said leave!” he said, his voice getting loud.
I scoffed… What! So arrogant!
“I should leave you here like this? You can’t get up..” I said.
“Call Dr Kadi on your way,” he said.
I stared at him for awhile then exhaled.
“Okay then… Just stay there.. I will call Dr Kadi,” I said, got up, walked to the bucket and mop, carried them and
walked out.
Few steps from the door, I halted, placed my hand on my beating heart and sighed.
“Why I’m I feeling uneasy…like I did something terrible. I saved his life..I shouldn’t be feeling this way..” I muttered, removed my hand from my heat and continuing my walk to the doctor’s office.
I met Dr Kadi in his office and delivered the message.
“I have something else to say Doctor,” I said.
“What’s that?” he asked.
“What’s that?” he asked.
“Whatever situation you find him in, don’t think I’m at fault. I wouldn’t try to hurt him if I saved him the first time,” I said.
He raised his brow. “What? What situation is he in?”
“He slipped and fell. I offered to help him up but he didn’t want me to and told me to call you,” I said.
He sprang up. “What!”
Before I could blink twice, he was out of his office.
“What? Why’s he so concerned about that wounded sheep? Could…could it be because he’s related to the head of menservants? Ahh the more I think of it, the more I feel uneasy.”
“”””””””””””””””””””””””””””””
?Ebuka?
My eyes were on the Table when the door opened and Dr Kadi walked in.
“Oh my Goodness… Are you alright?” he asked and rushed to me.
I was able to help myself sit up on the floor but not to stand up.
“I’m fine… Just arrange the bed and helped me get on it,” I said.
“Alright..but I should help you to a seat first,” he said.
“No, I’m fine here,” I said.
“Alright. I with be quick,” he said, bowed and went to do that immediately.
I breathed out and fixed my eyes back on the legs of the table.
“This is strange” I muttered.
“Any problem?” Dr Kadi asked.
“This is strange,” I repeated.
“What is strange?” he asked.
“It’s strange.”
“””””””””””””””””””””””””
(3 hours later?)
?Ifeoma?
“I should head home now, goodnight Uju” I said.
“Alright Ify, goodnight. You don’t look so good. Are you sure nothing happened inside that clinic.. You’ve been lost in thought since you came out of there the second time,” she said.
“I told you nothing happened and I’m fine. I need to hurry home now so I can serve my father his supper. See you tomorrow Uju,” I said.
“See you too Ifeoma, goodnight.”
I left the palace and headed towards home which is the next village, Eziala.
It was dark but the moon seem to be pretty out that night but I still made use of my phone torchlight.
About ten minutes later, I began feeling that someone was following me.
I looked back a number of times but didn’t see anyone or anything.
If it’s a ghost, it better show up and stop following me like a wind that can’t be seen.
I continued my walk fearlessly without looking back again but then I strongly felt that person was just close behind me.
I halted.
“Who are you?” I asked without turning?
“It’s…it’s me Ifeoma,” the timid voice of Obinna answered.
Obinna!
I sighed and continued my walk.
“What do you think you are doing following me? Don’t you have work to do?” I asked.
He met my pace and we walked side by side.
“I’m sorry if I scared you,” he said.
I scoffed. “Scare me my foot! That looked like a hide and seek game.”
“I’m sorry I actually wanted to guard you home and see you are safe and I never thought you’d notice someone following you. You are so smart and fearless. Two of the many reasons why I like you Ifeoma,” he said.
I scoffed. “You guard me home? You are the one who’s supposed to be guarded.”
He smiled. “Then will you guard me?”
I glared at him. “Do this sound like a fun to you?”
“I’m sorry,” he said.
“Go back to your house. I don’t need a guard. I’m my own guard,” I said.
“But I want to see you to your house?” he said.
“Are you planning on spending the night in my house because the Obinna I know is a fear fear.. Before I count three, get away from me,” I said.
“I’m not the fear fear you know anymore. I’m grown up. I don’t have to fear anything..”
A noise suddenly broke out from the bush and he ran behind me, grabbing my hand fearfully.
“What…what is that noise?” he asked, shaking.
I flung his hand away.
“Don’t dare follow me and let me warn you for the last time, stop coming to our house, stop helping my father with anything. I don’t want your father’s trouble. I don’t want to see you close to my house again..” I said and walked away.
“Sleep well Ifeoma,” he said.
“””””””””””””
Gladly enough, there was no other trouble on the way like meeting Ikoro like the previous night..
I got home and met my father outside, sitting on the chair at the veranda.
At that moment, the electricity (NEPA) suddenly was restored after three days and I saw how folded my father’s face looked.
He didn’t look happy at all and there is this brown shirt he always wear whenever he is in a bad mood.
He was putting on that shirt.
I inhaled and walked to him.
“Good evening Father, I’m back,” I greeted him and he nodded.
“Welcome my daughter. Sit down” he said.
“Papa are you okay? You don’t look happy,” I said.
“Sit down,” he said.
“Yes papa,” I said and sat on the bench beside him.
“What happened at the palace today?” he asked.
I looked at him. “What happened in the palace?”
‘It’s been a long time he asked me that. Why’s he suddenly asking this night?’
“Yes, what and what happened, starting from the morning while you were going to the palace,” he said.
My heart skipped.
“”””””””””””””””
?Ebuka?
‘The more I think of it, the more I’m getting d@mn confused.
I can’t stop wondering about the table.
Before the incident, the third leg, was before the blue line design on the tiles and the last leg was at the center of the flower design.
I was d@mn sure that was where they were because all the while she was mopping my floor and when she was cleaning the table, my eyes went several times on the legs of the table and I knew the spot all the four legs were.
She never shifted the table nor did I.
Then how did it got shifted just right after the incident.
I don’t remember hitting my hand or any part of my body on the table to make it shift.
But seeing the table again, it was shifted, the third leg had crossed the blue line and the last leg had left the center of the flower design on the tile.
This is so strange.
If I had fallen while the table was where it was before, I sure would gave hit my head on the table..
Oh my goodness, this is making me go cr@zy…
Did some magic happened?
What could have shifted the table?’
The door opened and Ola walked in.
“Hey, are you okay?” she asked.
“I don’t know… This is driving me cr@zy.” I said.
“Is it the pain? It’s okay. You’re going to be fine soon okay,” she said, walked over and stretched something to me.
My favorite sweet.
“How did you know about this?” I asked her.
She chuckled. “Who else if not mom.. She said you liked it a lot. I think I remember too that you did.”
I chuckled and took the sweet. “Shush! You were just months old then,” I said.
She laughed.
“I’m just curious, how did the trunk manage to fall on your leg… I told you this was a bad idea.. If you had not been in disguise then there was no way you would have gone out there and get hurt,” she said.
“Shh stop talking about disguise, walls have ears,” I said and dropped the sweet into my mouth.
“Hmm tasty,” I said and smiled. “I can’t believe this candies are still in the market.”
“Yes they are,” she said.
“I’m curious about something,” I said.
“What’s that?”
“That Ifeoma, is there anything weird or special about her?” I asked.
Ola gave me a suspicious look. “Why..why would you want to know things special about her?” she asked.
“I mentioned weird too,” I said.
“Well nothing that special except that she’s hardworking and friendly,” she said.
I scoffed out a chuckle, “What, friendly you say..”
“What.. Ifeoma is friendly and had never had issue with anyone except one girl who’s no more in the palace,” she said.
“But..is there…anything…like do she have some…ahh never mind.. ” I said. “Is there more of this candy?” I asked.
“Yes, I brought more,” she said and showed me.
“Nice”
‘I’ll find that out myself’
“”””””””””””””””””””””””
?Ifeoma?
“I’m so sorry Papa… I had no other choice, I couldn’t leave him with the trunk on his leg and I couldn’t also let him hit his head on a glass table…” I said.
“You disobeyed me Ifeoma. You thought I won’t know about it but now you know that whenever you use your power I know cos I feel it! I felt it twice today. I told you ifeoma, that no matter what never you use that power.. I told you the dangers of it!” My father said disappointedly and angrily.
We were inside now for fear that people might hear us outside.
“I’m really sorry papa. I promise never to use those powers again. I promise,” I said with tears rolling down my eyes.
“How do you expect me to believe you this time Ifeoma. How! Do you want to see me alone in this world?”
I shook my head. “No papa, never” I said.
“I don’t think you are being truthful to me, your father.” he said and walked away into his room.
“Papa…I’m sorry. I promise never to think of my powers again talk more of using them… Please forgive this last time..”
I bursted into tears.
“””””””””””””””””””
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