BUKOLA

The sweet chirpy sounds of birds just outside the windows. The clank sound cooking spoons make when they collide with pots. The sweet aroma that filled the house. All these are whay usher me into the new day.

"Good morning." Madam Christie greets me cheerfully when she sees me.

"Good morning, Mrs. Ogwu." I say to her, her mood lifting mine.

"How is today? You look exceptionally happy." I ask and she shrugs, letting out a grin.

"Yes. My daughter is coming visiting." She lets out.

"Oh. That is amazing. I would love to meet her." Madam Christie's daughter is her only child. She is a University student outside the country. According to the woman, the lady is so academically sound that she even got a scholarship to study.

Taking a handful of the plantain she's frying, I make my way out of the kitchen, prepared to look for my target; Aminu.

The one place I know he will be at even during weekends is his home office. Without knocking, I burst in on purpose just to annoy him. He just looks at me, hisses and continues what he is reading.

Did I mention how lovely he looks in his glasses? Well, it's drool worthy. Never let him know though. He's an arrogant idiot.

"Good morning, husband." I say in the sweetest voice I could muster. Note the sarcasm.

"What is it, Bukola?" He asks like he is already tired of seeing me in just a few seconds.

"Uncle, who stole your biscuit?" I ask, arms akimbo. This is a popular Nigerian phrase that could mean anything. It's purpose is to taunt people.

"What is it?" He asks again.

"I'm bored." I state with puckered lips.

"And I'm busy. So, get out." He is still not looking up to me. In fact, he flips a page and adjusts the glasses.

With a hiss, I march forward to him and snatch the book from the table where it was placed.

"Kevin Ali." I gasp and jump a little in excitement.

"So?"

"It's even a limited edition copy. I could swear I had read this book before. The cover is what changed and the quality of the back cover too. I am jealous." I play with the book excitedly.

"Alright. What do you want me to do with that piece of information?" He asks like I did not just fan girl over an author of the book he was reading a few minutes ago.

"Don't be silly. Do you know the Author?" I wiggle my eyebrows at him and drag a seat to sit beside him. When he does not answer, I nudge him a little on the shoulder.

"Yes, I do." He lets out a sigh and rolls his eyes.

"Then, it won't be a hard thing for you to let go of this copy?" I ask with a squeaky voice.

"Bukola, just hand over the book." He stretches his hand to me. Such a nerd.

"Okay, let's strike a deal."

"What is it? You're disturbing me, honestly." He grumbles.

"Simple. I am really curious on the Author's identity. Introduce me to him."

"You must be crazy to think I would do so." He replies and rolls his eyes.

"You leave me with no choice, then. You can't have this one."

"Alright. Suite yourself."

"So, back to the reason I came here. I'm bored." I say with pucker lips.

"So, what do you want me to do about it?" He asks me.

"See, I want to go see a movie at the cinema. I want you to accompany me." I suggest to him.

"No." He shakes his head. I knew he was going to reject going out when there's a mini theatre in the house.

"No? But I want to watch a movie." I stomp my feet and sulk, hoping he falls for my antics.

"2 hours and I'm done." He states.

"Yay." I falsely rejoice.

"But we're using the theatre in the house." He finally speaks what I want to hear. Bingo!

After pestering him continuously, he finally gives in and proceeds to set up while I go ahead to prepare popcorn.

"Here you go." He collects his popcorn without even uttering a word of thanks. Ungrateful soul.

Lightly chuckling, I take a seat on the sofa and start munching on mine.

"What the fuck, Bukola." I hear him scream and I burst into laughter.

"Consider that as a very mild revenge for the statement you made to me the other day." Did he really think I'd let it slide just like that?

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AMINU

As I watch her laugh, I can't help but wonder why I even indulged her in the first place.

When I left her in her room yesterday, I went to mine to continue what I was doing before she decided to leave. I could not even figure out why I have been letting the caring aspect of me resurface lately.

It's why I have been staring at her for the few seconds she has been enjoying her salt and pepper antics.

She packed salt and chopped fresh pepper into the popcorn and locked the door so I can't go out to have water. Well, good thing I know my house better than she does.

"I swear, you sure being so childish right now." I say to her, but she just scrunches her nose and ends it with a tongue out.

"It is a fun sight to see." She adds.

"Real mature, Bukola." I hit my feet above a key on the floor and a compartment buried within the wall opens up.

The shocked look on her face evokes a smirk from my lips as I make my way towards it. Luckily, there's still a pack of water in there. Quickly, I drink the contents of the bottle and the hot sensation thankfully lessens.

I don't say anything to her. I just keep on drinking water and breathing through my mouth in a bid to lessen the feeling.

"You've been giddy all morning, Bukola. You interrupted my peaceful morning. It's time to interrupt yours."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"This." In one flash move, I have her seated on my laps.

"Aminu, are you not mad like this? Free me jare." She hisses and attempts to stand up but I toughen my hold on her.

Mature content ahead.....

"Look, I am going to kiss you." I tell her squarely. The moment her breathing pattern changed, I sensed it. Seems Miss. Confident smart mouth is getting affected by my declaration.

"And I don't have a say in this. Why?" She asks, rolling her eyes. She tries avoiding eye contact with me.

"Just shut up, Bukola." My lips cover hers. It brushes her soft and delicate lips. It feels like I am kissing a flower's petal. So soft, mild, fragile and at the same time, soothing.

We are so close that I can practically inhale her breathe and her scent, it did all sorts of things to my senses.

As my lips mash against hers, Bukola pushes me, attempting once more to flee but I hold her in place before lifting her up to balance her back on the sofa.

Working my mouth against hers, we fight like wrestlers, none of us wanting to give up on the fight for dominance. However, after a while, she succumbs and I swear, the silent moan that escapes via the base of her throat drives me wild.

Bukola began breathing faster. Something about her changed, and I felt it the moment it did. Her hand reaches for the back of my head and she starts to kiss me aggressively.

Tongues twisting against each other, we suck in ourselves to a world entirely different from the one we currently occupy.

Our ragged breathes slowly start becoming normal and we stop to look at each other. The conflicted emotions registered in her eyes sure mirror the ones I know mine would definitely be giving off at the moment.

So when she stands up to walk out, I do nothing to stop her. She needs to process what just went down. Same way I do.

We both need time. What the hell did I just do? I won't play it off as not knowing what I was doing because I know what I did. I wanted to kiss her. I just don't know why I wanted to do it so badly.

AN:
Well, my January 1st wasn't as I anticipated.

However, Happy New year, guys.
May God's grace and continuous blessings keep being in our lives.

Cheers🥂🥂