That's How It Began

There was something about Chimaobi. Yes, he was handsome, dark in complexion, well-built and about 6feet 2inches. But those were not as intimidating as his presence. He seemed to fill up the kitchen. For a moment, Ugochi thought she will suffocate because of his aura.

His gaze held her eyes. She could see some amusement in them. He had big, warm brown eyes with thin long lashes. “Almost feminine,” Ugochi thought, “but certainly beautiful.” Her eyes travelled to the next salient feature on his face – his smile. His lips had curled into a smirk leaving deep dimples boring into the flesh of his cheeks. She almost felt like putting a finger in the dimples.

“This proves that beautiful ladies are not good in the kitchen,” he spoke in a rich tenor voice.
She smiled in embarrassment. Was he calling me beautiful?
“It’s not what you think…” she stammered.
“You’ll have to prove me wrong then.”
She had to evade his penetrating eyes so she decided to pick up the pieces of fish on the floor. As she squatted, he joined her.
“Let me help,” he offered when she gave him a warning look.
She melted.
The first fish she picked was still hot that she winced as she picked it up. He was quick to reach for the kitchen glove hanging by the cooker. He gave it to her.
“Please don’t hurt yourself anymore,” he said softly. There was so much care in his eyes.
“I’ll be more careful,” she said with a smile that could not last long because her lips were quivering.
He held the colander while she filled it with the pieces of fish.
“Roasted fish for dinner!” he said humorously.
“It’s such a waste,” she said sadly, “and my mother does not condone wastage of food. I really feel so bad about this.”
He helped her up her feet as they were done with picking the fishes.
“Don’t worry, it’s going to be alright. It’s a mistake.”
“Yeah, thanks," she said gratefully. He's nice.

While she wiped off the spilled oil, he stood by a corner of the kitchen intently watching her.
“Won’t you like to go into the living room to see the person you came to see?” she asked
“I came to see the family and you are part of the family. What’s wrong with being with you in the kitchen?”
“Everything. I really don’t want you in here. I like to work on my own.”
More like you are distracting me and if you stay here any longer, something else will burn.
“Strange. The Ugochi I hear about is so quiet, soft and timid. The Ugochi I see here has a fierce mind of her own and is resolute. Tell me who is the real Ugochi? Is she the one that does not talk to guys?”
The latter statement made her become defensive.
“You bring out the otherside of me,” she said a bit sarcastically.
“Do I take this as a compliment? That I am special?” He burst out laughing.
Ugochi wanted to retort with something to quieten him but just then, Uchechi walked in.
“Hi Chimaobi, I heard your voice. Hope Ugochi isn’t boring you with her preaching sessions. Please join us in the living room. Adaeze would like to challenge you to a game of chess.”
In no time, Uchechi had taken Chimaobi out of the kitchen leaving Ugochi to run back to her thoughts.

For almost a month, Ugochi never saw him again. But ever since that day, her thoughts made a U-turn. At night, she thought about him. She could not forget his handsome look and all-male presence that left her on edge that day. She thought about the softness of his voice when he spoke to her. For once, she could understand why girls said they were head over heels in love for a guy, if they were able to appreciate such physical handsomeness and tenderness. For the first time in her life, she imagined a boy being more than a person to preach to. She imagined him as a close friend. She thought of his dimples and wished she could get the chance to touch them. Thoughts of him could not leave her head. She prayed that the devil would not tempt her into the sin of lusting.

But that was a futile prayer for her heart began ruling her head. How could she not expect that to happen when she spent her days taken stolen glance at him from her window? The more she saw his image, the more she continued the sin of lusting. All those things she had heard her elder sisters saying they did with boys, all of a sudden she wanted them too but with no one but Chimaobi. She could not explain these feelings she suddenly had a boy, let alone her next-door neighbour.

It was during those times she wrote the poem entitled “Peeping Girl”.