SHOES
I have been in and out for thirty minutes or so in a slumber daze, not fully awake. In a drowsy state between sleeping and waking when you dream with eyes half open; conscious but not conscious. Hands are draped around me and some soft snore in a rhythm above my head; strange. That jerked in all my senses and waking up became a possibility. I am fully aware of my surroundings; am in a beautiful, strange, dark room and not my place.
It takes a minute before the previous night's events flow back, re-occurring in my head. No, wait: I don't want to think, uplift anything, or do anything. I was in a very compromising position; my body was leaning on something lean; his side chest perhaps, my hands entwined with one of his, our legs overlapping each other, not a good posture.
How do I untangle from his body? I can't think my head is a disaster, it is like carrying its own heavy metal bands concert outdoing each other, and the crowd is extra wild. Lifting a finger was a problem, the body was tired; although my bladder couldn't hold it in for long. I think it's the main reason am up, how our bodies work is a wonder, apart from the science crap.
How do I do this without waking him up? Heavy task: he is so clingy, I had to smile. He looked so vulnerable and relaxed; easy to stab, a quick death. I didn't want to disturb his peace. My legs free first, which was difficult; wiggling out of his way, removing his hand from my waist, and trying too hard not to wake him up and I was free.
I rush to the bathroom; emptying my bowels, retching some of the previous night's consumption, brushing my teeth, the shower can wait. My stomach is experiencing a world war, I have got to feed it first. Six-hour sleep and hangover can leave you terribly starved and the nausea; I need some fresh air and something in my mouth to kill the nasty taste left from the puking. A blunt always comes in handy during these moments, it is medicine to what I'm feeling, and a glass of milk to top it up. I'll be as good as new.
I can't remember how I got to the bed, this stupid bra still on me, not healthy at all, off it goes. I'm in a plain grey T-shirt mid my thighs, good, nothing crazy happened; so glad, either way, it's Rahim. What do you expect from him? He has morals up his nose; he can't do without them, they say; to define a man, check in with his morals.
I don't see my clothes anywhere so I pad my way downstairs; everything is different, it was magnificent and dazzling, but I remember we did leave it a bit shambled up. How did he function? The place is pristine clean, and arranged, everything in its place, outstanding and radiating; I felt like an intruder as I marveled at his living room impressed.
In the middle of the counter in the kitchen island was a cake on a stand covered with a transparent lid, how did he have cake? My sweet tooth couldn't take it, besides, my body needed sugar and this was tempting and alluring. I had to have a piece, with a glass of milk, and pieces of apples; that could do.
Checking out for milk, was someone here? The fridge is restocked and cleaned, not that it was dirty. He couldn't have done all this, he was way gone and I think I passed out. Someone could have killed me or both of us, and none could be any wiser. 'They died in their sleep' they will say: the headlines and stories that will erupt out of it, the scandal that will follow the deaths; it will be a blessing because I wouldn't be around for it. How is his security, I hope this isn't his only place because it is neither secure nor safe.
Looking around, I see my purse is on the living room table like an ornament; weird but who cares we were drunk. I headed for it to find my stress reliever, and my stress filler; my phone. Whenever I have that, everybody finds me and I can't do without it, despite me hating it. Everything was intact, joint out, phone out, lighter out; the balcony beckoned an excuse to check out his neighborhood during the day and I carried everything I needed out in a tray.
Opening the adjoining doors that lead to his balcony, the air smelled different, and this promoted a look around and I took notice; it was way past noon when the sun had no respect for the eyes.
I sit and set the tray down on the balcony table. I light the splint, take in the first three puffs with a drag, watching the smoke dispatch, mind-clearing. Some milk, a piece of cake, a slice of apple—my hand moves on its own accord, and the whole process is a cycle; continuous until the meal is done and the blunt gone.
I didn't see anything vividly yesterday night, attention was occupied. I perch myself, taking in the surroundings and nibbling on the remaining apple pieces. The place is so serene, some of the buildings look like hotel suites, others are living apartments, maybe for hire. If the bathrooms of the master suites, or presidential suites are the same as Rahim's; I may take a vacay in my own city, even for two days, and recommend lots of people after taking tons of pictures to flaunt to my girlfriends. It got me thinking I needed to own one suite or apartment in the building and my accounts may suffer terribly, but it could be worth it. I can do a lot with such a building.
Feeling better, treatment done; a perfect remedy. I embarked on making calls, scrolling through people I have been pushing forward, or, in other terms ignoring them; it was time. After I was done, emails were next, checking what I missed that was important. I didn't hear him approach, a different scent hit my nostrils, and I looked up, across me. Rahim was in silk bottom pants, bare-chested, with a robe made of the same material covering his muscular frame. His tousled hair added to his rugged charm, and the smell of his cologne lingered in the air. He flashes me a charming smile as he approaches, and that made hearts skip a beat. .
"You have made yourself comfortable, I see." the used utensils were still lying on the tray.
"Damn, you are creepy."
I didn't hear him approach as he sat at the end of the balcony seat holding a glass of brown contents in it; suddenly, it felt weird to be with him here, in his t-shirt, to be this comfortable.
He rolls his eyes, "good morning, or is it noon?"
I snort a laugh as he lights up a blunt.
"This is interesting; you always sleep in, what changed?"
"I had less to worry about… you sleep in."
"Today is my unwinding day."
"You have those."
"I try to."
We both stare into the horizon as he blows off smoke and sips from his glass. I was waiting for him to be up before I left and know the way forward as we approach death, of many things; starting with dignity. I was dying to start the real conversation that would end all the ruse that led me to spend the night, but I gave him time to come to terms with the world, and he just woke up.
I was looking forward to using that shower of his, which has five shower heads, it is ridiculous and works for me. Hot as it gets; it opens pores, moisturizes, and refreshes all together, can't wait to get this body some pre-massage and cleansing.
"Do the other buildings have the same bathroom as yours?"
"I don't think so, they are different, I guess."
"You seem fresh enough, and speaking of showers, I need to get one before I head out. I didn't find my dress, any ideas."
"Everything of yours is on my dressing table. I didn't manage to take care of others, I know how you whine about them," he concludes with a twitch of an eye.
He is really looking for a smile or to lighten the mood, if both; its working, but I need some alone time to comprehend my situation. Not that he knows anything about my marriage and divorce; if he did, I don't think he could have brought me into Matt's circus.
The perks of that family, make me glad at times; even though I know they did it for their own good. Their names can't be tarnished with a floozy flimsy scandal, and in the process, it concealed and protected my reputation
I don't think I could have recovered, no need to go into details with him. A hefty, exhausted laugh escaped me, as charming as he can get I have to get out of here first, go think.
"I like your tee, my clothes on you look cute… and... your shoes."
"Rahim." He did check them boots.
"I get it, even I could be prepared. The question is, why were you heavily armed and how did you pass the sensors."
"What?" He checked my purse too, huh!
"Did you clean?"
"What?"
"Did you clean?"
"What the actual... no, there is someone for that... Are you working with Matt?"
"Why the hell would I do that?" He was getting to me.
"I will allow the suspicion; even I thought the same the first time, that's why I was blowing you off. I will see what to do. You could have told me all this, the day you were acting like a complete jerk with the blackmail and bullshit. I can't blame you for anything; people change, right? I understand that with time, definition of values and morals escape some over the years, or if you become strangers."
That left him dumbstruck, had nothing else to say for a moment, he cleared his thought and sipped from his glass before he spoke up.
"You are still mad at me."
"Yet here we are expecting me to help you out. You were cruel to me. You treated me like one of those... What was the reason, the excuse you convinced yourself with?"
"Z!!."
"You don't call me that; Zola is fine... It is fine if you have nothing to say, as I said before, am going to do all I can to help you out of this mess. We will talk but on my own terms and grant you and Matt your desires, but for now am going to leave. Thanks for the cake."
That was my cue to leave and be in the bosom of my house under the bedding and forget the world exists for a while, all I was running from was on my doorstep and it was threatening to bring the door down; it was either I welcomed it or banish it away. Re-entering the house, I pick up my purse I walk up the stairs to the bedroom. No need for the cool shower I had planned for, it can be kissed goodbye. I needed to go calm down and soak at my place and think things over.