She blinked thrice, one major reason to get the hell of a cousin out of her head, hopefully out of her front.
Taking a glance at his empty plate that was a few minutes ago filled, she faced her own and decided to feed her stomach which had stopped grumbling after the third time.
The fork drove into the pounded yam for the second time and with it going straight into her mouth after gathering the native soup in it, she relished its taste. Delicious and very mouthwatering.
The meal was scrumptious was her testimony at the end of her fifteen minutes challenge of finishing the entire pile on her plate.
Mouthing a ' thank you ' that was audible enough for Fred to hear, to the maid that had appeared again after her meal, she left the table and into the sitting room which was the dining room giving way to a spacious room with expensive furniture. She strode to the room and sat on one of the couches.
Her room was too stuffy, though it was big enough for ten people to stay even sharing spaces on the floor. It wasn't because of the space, the more enclosed or alone she gets in her private time, the more the memories of her beloved mother sneak into her head.
Her nose tickled and-- Achooo!. Too heavy was the sneeze that not only did it startle the person close to her but also shocked the hell out of his life. Before anything was said or done, their heads collided. Diva's head going backward, Fred's head upwards and sideways.
' Geez! You should have informed me first '. He shot her a glare with his hand rubbing against his forehead as he moved to the side.
Inform?. What in the seven rings of hell!. Just how much of Fred's clinginess does she not know? One minute she was all by herself, here in the sitting room, and the other he was by her side and not just a few feet away, no...no, he wasn't. He was over her head!!! Seriously why did she miss that tiny detail of her cousin living in Nigeria when she agreed to start anew?. And why would a human wear so much of a cologne?.
'Well, if you had sat on your part of the couch. I wouldn't.....I mean you wouldn't have gotten hurt. Sorry but not sorry for your head'. Her words hit his face flat as she got up to sit on the next chair. His eyes followed her with a shallow tint of curiosity in them.
' So..'. He began. ' would you mind telling me why you hate me so dearly? '. The anger that was building up in her eyes wavered a little as she turned to look at him who had spoken, minding the sarcasm in his tone.
Hate? She wouldn't say hate. Hate was a strong word but she won't deny that she deeply disliked him being around her. He was too cunning, too playful, rarely serious, and even though he worked hard till he owned an empire of wealth, he was so damn annoying. Always teasing her and trying to irk her. Like he was born to get her angry and pissed off at all times.
' You are too full of yourself. Too egoistic '. Were the only words that left her lips and it got her cousin slightly surprised.
' Egoistic? '. He asked in mere surprise and got up to stalk closer to her.
' Don't even think of it '. Being alarmed at his almost closeness.
'Am not a contagious disease or virus, Diva. I am your cousin. The only one you have. Don't you think you are being too guarded and reserved than cautious of me.?It is like you are too scared of leaving your shell and exploring. Not that you are avoiding me but you are afraid of a part of you that want to step into the light'. Despite her warning, he moved closer to her, sitting by her side, and wrapped his hand around her shoulder.