chapter six

I raised my palm and gently placed it into hers. She smiled almost looking relieved by my acceptance.

Keisty lightly drew me to the dance floor. Suddenly her steps were like floating. When we got to the dance floor, some couples created a room for us in the middle.

Keisty held my right hand in her left and her other hand went to the small of my back. Instinctively l put my left arm on her neck. We started moving elegantly and rhythmically to the soft music.

I was surprised by how easily l found my steps like l had been doing that dance my whole life. Some of the couples parted for us and stared in adoration.

"Um, this feels familiar", l whispered.

"It's not the first time you did this", she said.

I was about to ask her where else l had done this before but she spun me around before l did. Now my back was leaning in her. Her right hand which was once on the small of my back was now over my belly possessively. Her other hand was on my hip, securing me in front of her.

I raised both arms and held the back of her neck. She nuzzled into my neck and exhaled. A shiver ran through my whole body. She must have felt it because I felt her smirk against my neck.

She started to whisper in my ear. "Arielle promise me you will remember me after all the storm has ended. I know you are still in there, the real you. All other memories may fail to come back but please let not what we had before be washed away too. Let not anyone steal your heart in the duration of this time we can't be together as one. Both our families will be happy if we survive this to the end. It's hard to win your heart right now. We can't even look at each other with eyes full of intimacy as before but it's the right thing to do right now"

I spun myself around, utterly lost in her words. She quickly reached up her hand to wipe her tears but l held it halfway. I tried to look into her eyes but she kept looking down.

I cupped her cheeks and used my thumps to gently wipe off her tears. She finally looked up but her eyes were filled with many unfathomed emotions. I was so confused that l wanted to ask what she meant but l was afraid she might break. I just decided that this was not the time for such questions but l managed to ask her a question that l thought went with the atmosphere.

"Keisty in all honesty, do l make you feel something?".

She nodded, "nostalgia "

I pondered on her words for a while. The more l tried to figure out what she was implying was the more l shoved away the sense in it. It left me mystified and with more questions than before. I was starting to fill dizzy.

"Would you be happy if we fall in love? ", l asked hesitantly.

" No, not yet", she answered.

I withdrew my hands from her and just stared at her. Some of the couples dancing around us would steal glances at us because we had literally stopped dancing and we were just staring into each other's eyes. The tension between us was so thick it felt almost solid.

More than anything, l was so confused. Keisty smiled at me like nothing had happened then grabbed my hand in hers as she had been doing all day long.

"Come on let's go home now. I'm sure Prisca is getting bored of waiting and soon mom might be getting worried."

I nodded and followed her to the parking lot. She turned to me with an apologetic look.

"I'm sorry for watering down your mood. I'm such a party pooper, my apologies. But don't let the whole day be forgotten. Cheer up and l will treat you with my favorite dessert at home."

I laughed heartily at her easy charm. She laughed too. I felt the tension between us subside.

The instance we arrived at the car, Prisca started complaining.

"You always say l take forever Keisty but you took eternity to come back."

We dropped Prisca at her house and went home. When we stepped into the house, Deborah came rushing down the stairs with an apron and a scoop in her hand. She sighed in relief with her hands on her chest.

"Ah good grace, l was starting to get worried she said still on the stairs. "Good evening ladies, did you have a good day?"

Before we could answer we heard a shout from up stairs and knew that we were not so clever about coming back this late.

"Girls?", auntie Yolei shouted from above the stairs. We looked at her as she looked at us. She was already in her night gown and her hair was tied up.

It could have been that she noticed the guilt on our faces that she decided to skip the questioning.

"Deborah, where are you with the dinner?"

"Almost done ma'am, was just filling up the table", she answered.

"Ok girls let's wait at the table", she said looking at us. Deborah quickly ran to the kitchen.

At the table, auntie and Deborah sat opposite Keisty and l. Auntie's eyes were narrowed into tiny slits as she scrutinized us. Keisty stayed calm whilst I couldn't help but fidget uneasily. We ate in silence for a while until auntie broke the ice by asking

"How was your day girls?"

"It was amazing, l didn't know you had a mall. It was fantastic, l had a great time and I am very grateful for what you did for me. I don't deserve it ", l said then remembered something, "and thank you so much Keisty for giving me a great time."

Keisty was caught a bit off guard that she chocked on her food. I lightly patted and rubbed her back with my other hand. After a while, the coughing fit stopped. She dabbed her mouth with a serviette.

When l looked back across the table, l saw auntie and Deborah opening their eyes with their mouths hanging low. We just passed silent looks at each other and then continued eating.

" Keisty dear, what about you? Did something special happen today?", she asked with a curious look.

"Yes, l mean not really but yes as in the entire day was special because of Arielle".

Auntie Yolei slowly nodded looking into her plate. "Beautiful necklaces by the way", she commented.

Something about her comment made me curious but I wasn't in the mood for a serious conversation so l kept quiet.

"Congratulations Arielle, tomorrow you will be joining Keisty to school. I talked to the principal, you are enrolled".

It wasn't me who made the noise after, it was Keisty who excitedly screamed. She rose from her chair, ran around the table and attacked her mother with a hug from behind.

I thanked auntie whole heartedly though I was starting to feel an inkling of nervousness in the pit of my stomach. I started to imagine meeting new people and opening up to them. I wasn't up for the idea especially at this time that l was uncertain of myself.

After dinner, auntie Yolei called me and Keisty to her bedroom. We entered the large bedroom. It was easy to forget that we were not in a hotel. The room was not brightly lit like our rooms. There were opulent lights on the other three cream white walls except the outer one which was entirely transparent glass from ceiling to floor.

The ceiling was also transparent glass giving sight of the clear night sky. In the middle of the room stood a plush bed with a large curving cream cushioned headrest. Night lambs on both sides stood on cushioned nightstands. There were small digital touchscreens displaying massaging and room conditioning functions.

We walked to the bed. She set on the bed and stared at us. l could sense that she wanted to say something but she was restraining herself.

She picked a new grey suitcase from the bedside. She opened it and unfolded a large grey plastic. A logo of an eagle extending its wings was printed in the plastic. That is when I realized that it was my school uniform.

" I judged with my eyes so l want you to try the uniform and see if it fits you well", she said drawing out the complete uniform on a plastic hanger.

I noticed the silk grey blazer was expensively hand crafted with gold cotton woven edges. A bright white blouse with a hard collar and a grey butterfly necktie with golden stripes.

The plaited grey skirt was short that it would almost align with the hem of the blazer. Auntie had already bought a pair of black glossy formal heels and a black butterfly scrunchie for my hair.

She handed me the uniform and pointed to her suite bathroom so that I might try them. I stood before the mirror before I went to present myself to auntie.

The uniform punctuated my blossoming youthful beauty. The butterfly scrunchie holding my hair at the back was giving my face a cute juvenile look but the high heels were giving me a mature feminine stance.

As l had imagined, the hem of the skirt almost aligned with the golden bottom edge of blazer. This left a generous view of the creamy whiteness of my legs. It made me feel a bit shy. Only the butterfly tie and the blazer gave the outfit a scholarly look.

I walked out of the bathroom into the bedroom. Keisty was now sitting beside her mother on the bed.

They both looked up with scrutinizing eyes making me blush. I started to wonder how l was going to survive at school if l was  feeling this way from the people l am close to.

"You are going to drop the guys at your school dead, because you look drop dead gorgeous", auntie said with a gleam in her eyes.

" But the girls might hate you, especially Whitney", Keisty added.

"Who's Whitney?", l asked.

"The school's queen, she is the captain of the school's cheerleader team. She's untouchable, every guy is after her", Keisty answered.

"So does she have a boyfriend or she's really untouchable?"

"She chooses a boy to date among the cutest in school every week."

"Impossible!", l shouted in surprise.

"You mean a disgusting whore"

" Hey language", auntie complained.

"Sorry mom", Keisty apologized.

"Why don't you continue your girlish gossiping in your rooms, l want to get some rest. I had a busy day", auntie said yawning.

"Ok goodnight", we both said walking out of the room.

"Wait!, before you go to sleep, give Deborah your uniform. She will press off the folds. And you girls should make sure that you sleep early, tomorrow is a school day. By ten sharp l want to hear no more of giggling or walking."

We nodded.

" And tell Deborah to prepare both of you lunch boxes and bottle drinks early in the morning before going to school."

"Oh, why. We are not kids anymore, we can buy from the cafeteria ", Keisty complained.

" No, l don't want the two of you to eat junk foods. If you both grow plump, l would have to create another brand of clothes for you."

We laughed at her joke.

"Tell Deborah to fill your bottle drink with fruit juice and use a flask for Arielle's warmed milk "

I looked down disappointed. Auntie Yolei noticed my reaction. She chuckled good naturedly.

"Arielle, don't be disappointed, it's much needed for your body right now, besides you can add any flavoring you had like. Deborah can give you powdered chocolate or strawberry or banana or vanilla if you like. Just take it with milk, that's all."

We did our good night again to auntie then went to look for Deborah. She was sitting on the lounge room couch with her legs folded underneath her, reading a thick volume romance novel.

We told her all we had been informed by auntie then left for our bedrooms. I first went for the shower and after l was done l went to the dresser. I couldn't find hairpins so l thought of going and ask Deborah.

Still wrapped up in my towel l went out of the room. I was walking barefoot so my footsteps didn't make any sound.

I found Deborah still sitting on the couch but her book was closed. She had unbuttoned the top buttons of her dress and was lovingly holding a locket from her necklace in both palms.

She kissed the locket and smiled. Streaks of tears fell down from both cheeks. I felt so sorry for her that my eyes started to well up too. I know it's hard to lose someone especially a loved one.

She hadn't noticed me. I quietly walked to the couch and lightly sat beside her then embraced her from behind. She went rigid at first then limped in my arms when she realized it was me. I pressed my cheek on her back.

"I understand how it feels, it's okay to feel lonely at times but always know that I am always there for you as you are always there for me. You are the closest to a mother l have besides auntie."

My words seemed to trigger a new wave of emotions. I felt her body crumple in my arms that were around her. She quickly covered her mouth with her palm to muffle the burst of wailing that wanted to spill out.

Fresh hot tears started falling like the rain. Her body began to shake from the inside. I regretted my choice of words. I was afraid that they might have opened a healing wound. Now that she was already broken, l had to console her.

At last, she turned to me. Her body had calmed and relaxed. Her eyes were still reddish but livelier than before.

" You are the cause of my joy and my sadness", she said smiling.

She leaned forward and kissed my forehead. " Go to sleep now dear, tomorrow you have a big day".

I was about to leave for my bedroom when I remembered the reason l came to her in the first place. Not that I needed the pins anymore but it would seem like l was spying on her if l came without a reason to.

"Deborah, would you happen to have extra hairpins?"

" Oh those, sorry l put them behind a lotion bottle on your dresser."

When l went back into my room l found them right there. I thought it was an obvious place to look for things that's why I hadn't looked there in the first place. Now it would definitely seem like l was spying on her, like l am a creep.