CHAPTER FOURTEEN
The Call
I went down the stairs with my slippers constantly making slap slap sound as it hits the heel of my foot. From the base of the stairs, I can hear the noise of my new family as they chatter about the Nigeria reality show called Big Brother Naija that I paid a Nigerian youtuber to stream for me 24/7.
I mean what is the point of having thousands of Euros in my bank account if I can’t buy a little bit of happiness for me to feel like myself again.
It has been over two weeks since I arrived at the Glass House and so far so good, everything has been going smoothly. I have been taking French classes in Eureux city and French as I discovered is very hard. I keep saying it, I should have paid more attention to it back when I was school. After my French classes every day, I go around Eureux shopping for myself and Kylian. I got him clothes, underwear, shoes, sneakers, perfume, everything he could ever need when he comes over to my place. Alice helped me with getting the right accessories for him and when you get into my closet, you would think he actually lives with me.
I have spent my time writing and also, have been taking some driving lessions from Jude to Alice’s displeasure. But there was nothing she could do about it, I am her boss after all
During the little time I have been in this place, I have become so close to the Clouder family. I learnt that Jude was a seal and during one of his tour in France, he met Maria and fell in love but because of his duty to his country, he had to go back to America. Years past before they met each other again in New York where Maria came to study at a culinary school but this time around, Jude decided never to let her go and came back with her and their first daughter to France. Frances, the eldest daughter of the family, as am told lives in Paris with her boyfriend.
Jude is a quiet man and I envy the way he looks at his wife or even talk about her while taking me on some driving lessons. I wish Kylian would look at me like that. Maria is dedicated to making me fat and after several tries at making Nigerian Cuisine, I decided to take the apron and cook myself.
Isa compared to her parent is a party barbie. During the day, she is assisting her mother with the affairs of the glass house and when she is not doing that, she is either on tiktok creating some make-up contents or mixing some make up ingredients. She hopes to start her own make-up line one day and every Friday, she is out partying in some club with her brother, Esaia.
When not partying or running errands, Esaia is always in his bedroom making money as a gamer. Apparently, he is a well-known gamer and I took that opportunity, to take some gaming lessons from him hoping to be able to pay some games with Kylian. I learnt that the family were living in Monaco before Kylian offered them job.
Alice on the other hand remained a stranger. I only see her when it is time to eat or when she needs to escort me for my French lessons or shopping. Every other time, she is locked up in her room doing only God knows what but then again, I didn’t make an effort to get to know her either. I just couldn’t get past how she treated me the first time we met
The Clouder family has shown me more than love than I could expect from strangers who didn’t know me but it didn’t come close to the love I left back home with my family or the love I could have had with Kylian. I couldn’t quite shake off the nostalgic feelings I get each time I miss my family.
I entered the kitchen and found every occupant of the glass house except for Alice as expectation, in the kitchen. Esaia is on his phone probably playing game while Jude watch his wife and daughter go at each other arguing about people they don’t even know
“Bewa, tell Mama that Bayo’s switch to Lola was the perfect move. Sophie was just a bitch who didn’t deserve him” Isa argued intensely as she dragged me into the discussion
“Bayo is a dog and he is just with Lola to spite Sophie” Maria stated
“Sophie continually disrespect him, took him for granted. Should he stay in such a toxic relationship, Mama? Would you want me to stay in such a relationship” Isa said with a nerve in her head burgling
“I don’t know about Sophie’s disrespect to Bayo or her disregard for him” I added calmly “But Lola should never have dated Bayo, it breaks the code”
“What code?” Isa asked as she raised her head from the vegetable she was cutting “She broke up with him already”
“I don’t know how you people do it here but back home in Nigeria, you don’t date your friend’s ex or your siblings’ ex for that matter. It is wrong”
“How is it wrong….” Then she trailed off in French
“English, Isabelle!” Her father corrected her
“I am sorry but that code is absurd”
“Maybe but that is just the way it is” I turned to Maria “Is the melon grinded?”
“Yes” She handed me a bowl filled with a dull whitish coarse substance. We are making another Nigerian cuisine, Egusi soup and eba tonight. Not my favourite, but it taste well too especially when it is garnished with fish and beef. I gently poured the palm oil that was gotten at an exorbitant price into the hot steel pot to steam it. In fact every African ingredient used tonight was very expensive
“Onion please” Maria handed me another plate with chopped onion which I gently poured into the hot oil. It makes a loud sound and I gently stirred the onions to prevent it from burning.
“Alice was looking for you earlier” Jude uttered
“Really?”
“Oh! I forgot” Maria blurted as I poured the grinded melon into the hot oil and stirred “She went up to your room but you were sleeping”
“I will see her later”
“I think it was about Kylian” Isa added. I snapped my head at Isa
“Kylian?”
“We don’t know that Isa, how many times have I told you never to say things you are not sure of?” Jude scolded Isa
“I was with her when she received the call and then she ran out to look for her… It has to be about Kylian”
“Still, you don’t know” Maria reprimanded her
“Then, I should go and find her” I handled the wooden spoon to Maria. “When the melon becomes balls, you should add the grinded pepper and every other ingredient, I am coming” I instructed and left the kitchen
Kylian hasn’t visited me like he said he would but I am patiently waiting for him. I understand why he hasn’t come, he needs to focus on his recovery or at least that is what I tell myself to stop me from overthinking. He is getting better every day and from what I read on the news, he would be playing again in their home game against Nice Fc. So, the wait is actually worth it
I knocked and didn’t wait for a come in before I entered. I met Alice on her computer during what I don’t know
“I was told you wanted to see me earlier” I said
“Yes...” Then she turned her swirling chair without standing “Melissa called, Kylian will be coming tomorrow”
“Really?” I asked in disbelief but then, she nodded. Finally, I get to see the love of my life, everything inside of me leapt for joy as I actually pounced on Alice and hugged the living life off of her. It was when she starts to wriggle in my arms that I remembered that she was the enemy. I left her instantly
“The fuck was that?” she asked me unpleased
“He has a match tomorrow, will he be coming in the morning?” I completely ignored her sour mood refusing to let her bring me down with her
“After the match”
“Okay” I march to the door and then suddenly turned to her
“Can you help me with my braid?” I asked her and she gave me a wandering look
“What?”
“I know we are not friends but you are kind of the only person I can ask. Isa is busy with her mom, loosing this myself will take time and I need to look good for Kylian tomorrow”
“And that is my problem, why?”
“I can pay you”
“Are you kidding me?” she scolded. Resigned, I left her room and went back to the kitchen.
“You can handle the eba right?” I asked from the door
“Oh! Kylian is coming right” Isa stated. I nodded and she jumped on me the next minute grinning so hard “Congratulation”
“We have a lot of work to do then” Maria muttered. “We are going to be cooking Kylian’s favourite”
“And you need to look good” Isa retorted “Come, we need to get this braid out of your hair?”
“Aren’t you needed here”
“Don’t worry, we gat it covered” Jude said “Esaia, enough of that game, let help your mother with the food”
“Now let go” Isa put her hand on my back and gently pushed me out of the kitchen
TO BE CONTINUED NEXT SATURDAY
0 Comments