9 am
Huso groaned awake to the fire alarm sound that was her phone’s ringback tone. For the first time in the two years since she’d used the ringtone she wondered at her sanity for using such an alarming sound. Making a mental note to have it changed she grabbed her phone from the side stool where it lay. “This had better be good Ava” She yawned, bringing the phone to her ear.
She moves the phone from her ear and puts it on speaker. Her sister’s boisterous rendition of a birthday song filled her small apartment. Her shiny red boho braids fall generously on her cream velvet nightgown as she sits up on the bed. A good thing her sister stuck to being a spoiled rich housewife, Huso thought rubbing her temple “Thank you, Ava. You sure… killed the song” She yawned and stretched revealing her spotless ebony laps.
Ava’s infectious laughter warms her heart “You love me either way, you little ungrateful brat”
Huso smiled “’ Watch it big sis. Twenty-six is no brat” It really was happening. She was twenty-six. Twenty-six and alone. She sighed as the grandfather clock on her beige wall chimed as it struck 9 am. Even the clock knew her time was ticking. How did she go from expecting an engagement ring from Felix to verbally fighting with him and blocking him just a few hours before her birthday and then unblocking him again? Talking about 26 and desperate. She sighed.
“Huso that’s two sighs I’m hearing. What’s wrong?”Huso mentally kicked herself for the slip-up. Ava was one to easily smell a rat and have it out in no time.”You’re getting me worried Huso what’s wrong? Is it Felix” Just great. Trust Ava to know the truth even without being told.
“Relax Mother Hen. Nothing is wrong” Huso smiled as she spoke so it affected her voice. “And Felix is just fine. Let the man breathe will you”
“Just fine? Has Felix called this morning?” Huso kicked on her bed at the suspicion in her sister’s voice. “Ava I just woke up now plus my baby Felix already sent me a cute only for my eyes only message by twelve this morning”
Her sister wasn’t really a fan of Felix. In her words “Huso was too good for him”. She also believed Felix was snobbish and judgmental. But that was Ava she saw every man aside from their father — God bless his soul, older brother Asher and her Jasper as a red Flag “Oh. I Didn’t know he was capable of that” came her sister’s bored reply.” If —”
Huso quickly interrupted her sister “How are my bestest Nieces in the world? No birthday song for Auntie Huso” Take that Huso smiled victoriously for if there was something that could distract her sister from her excessive foresightedness was her six-month-old twin daughters.
11 pm
Damn, Felix for putting her in this fix. “Ma, I’m okay I promise” Huso said she applied lotion on her ebony skin and a pair of white pods in her ear.
Later, she promised herself, fastening her white towel by her side. Later, when she’d resolved this issue with Felix she was going to get back at Ava for this. For now, her priority was convincing her mother not to take the nearest flight back to Kenya.
The poor woman needed the break. She deserved it after tirelessly raising three strong-headed children alone since the death of her husband ten years ago. Now that she’d finally retired Huso couldn’t begrudge her the tour she’d planned for years.
“Ava is just talking rubbish. You know how she dramatizes everything”
Ava should have kept her mouth shut; she didn’t need this right now. Everyone was poking and prying. Not today, when she was really struggling and holding on to a thin thread. “That’s what I have been saying Ma I’m A- Okay. Yes, Felix and I just got over the phone. He’s taking me out tonight.”
Huso began pacing. Robbing her temple as a headache threatened. “What! Ma Relax. Yes, I want to get married but…” struggled to find the right word “Yes you’re correct we’re taking it slow” She began hand-fanning herself and picked up the remote from the table to increase the AC but it was already at its highest. “Mom, we’ll have to talk later. I can hear my doorbell. I think the delivery man is here with the gifts. Remember the one for my birthday LIVE. Okay, take care. Love you too”
She sank into her round bed and exhaled loudly. She should have just stayed in last night. Maybe if she had she wouldn’t have run into Felix and gotten into an argument with him.
Shame and regret pushed at her resolve as memories of the previous night flashed before her eyes.
He’d said she was too childish and unserious. All for what because she’d lied about being sick to avoid another boring dinner with his stuck-up colleagues from the investment bank. In all honesty, it had been more about her not wanting to spend the eve of her birthday in a company that made her feel out of place and stupid than them being boring.
Huso was clueless about investments save for the shares and coins Felix had talked her into getting and honestly, she didn’t know why he constantly dragged her to such events —the conversations were constantly about work, money, and investments. But because she loved Felix and wanted him to see her as that dream woman, she had tagged along. Even going as far as reading up some things on investment. But that didn’t seem to ever be enough. She picked up her phone and refreshed her network as she heard the clock chime as it struck 11 am.
12 pm
Her stocky jerk of a boss had said Huso would never make it as an influencer.
It had taken Huso exactly Six months and one week to prove him wrong. Within those she had built her first 100k subscribers on TikTok and 50 followers on Ig.
Now two years later here she was with over 500k subscribers on both platforms. Her pick of endorsement deals and a bohemian-style studio apartment at her dream location. Her saving for her dream Corvette was almost done. She’d done more than well for herself. She’d blew herself a kiss as she paused in front of her heart-shaped mirror.
Huso grimaces at the little piercing spot on her nose. Felix hadn’t didn’t like it “They made you look cheap” he had said. So she’d stopped wearing it.
A wave of deviance hit her and she opened out her jewelry box and fished for the nose ring. Finding it she inserted it in its rightful place. The silver glow of the little stud gleamed happily as though to say “Finally free”. She gave herself one last appraisal. She snapped her fingers in her satisfaction “My make-up game is mad!”. The Lady who looked back at her in the mirror was a woman, not a child. Feminine and Soft. The blackberry lip matte she’d decided drew one to her lush lips and gave her face the delicate feel she wanted. Smoothing her hands over the brown velvet bustier she wore.
“Huso” She turned, hearing her name, to see her assistant Naomi. “It’s almost 12. You need to be seated” She gestured to the right corner of her room where her camera, phone and lights had been set up to film her birthday LIVE. She smiled at the boxes of gifts laid artistically on top of each other in different corners of the space. Her fans and friends really outdid themselves. She doubted if she’d be able to unbox all of them in the LIVE video. She wondered if Felix’s gift was among the anonymous gifts.
She heard her phone beep and quickly rushed to it. Detaching it from the tripod “Huso it’s 11:50 already” Naomi cried “I need to quickly respond to this —” Huso’s Voice trailed off as she realized it was a message from her bank wishing her a happy birthday. Placing the phone back on the tripod stand she moved towards Noami who was now holding a mic. Her baggy jeans and black crop top gave her the vibe of a hip-hop dancer
Huso’s disappointment must have shown, because after Naomi clipped the mic behind her back, she moved to stand in front of Huso lifting her slacked shoulders with two hands “Really, Are you okay?”
Huso sniffed almost giving in as Naomi’s pair of wise dark eyes bore into hers. Maybe talking will help. As she opened her mouth to spill the tea, the clock struck 12 with a loud chime.“I’m fine Naomi. let’s get started” She smiled, patting Noami.
Squaring her shoulder she sat elegantly on her blush pink sofa and beamed at the camera. Nothing was permitted to ruin this day.
3 pm
“Three O’clock” Huso sighed, dropping her phone on the table. She could have sworn she heard her clock chime as she took out her clothes from the washing machine and folded them into the laundry basket. She giggled at the thought. Just great! Now she was psychic. Hearing her clock from the floor’s laundry room. In an apartment complex with soundproofs. Just a great Huso! She chuckled
“Care to share the joke”
Huso turned to see her slimy neighbor — as she called him resting on the beige wall of the laundry room. He held him in a lazy pose that would have been attractive if he hadn’t made her uncomfortable.
“Hey, neighbour. I didn’t see you there” This loser just ogled at her breast she thought bringing the clothes in her hands to her chest. “Do you want anything?” she asked. Fixing him with a glare.
She should have listened to Naomi when she said she should change from the bustier to something casual. But she’d been in a haste to escape Naomi’s penetrating stares to listen. She wasn’t ready to talk. Wasn’t ready for anyone to think badly of Felix.
“It’s Roy sweet. You always tease me” Roy grinned revealing a perfect set of white teeth. “And concerning your offer it depends on what’s on the table sweet” Huso felt like tiny ants were crawling on her skin as he licked his lips, setting it in a pout. The man had no shame.
She said a quick prayer for the poor religious woman who was unfortunate to be married to Roy – if that was even his real name. Hell, the poor woman was such a quiet mouse. Barely seen and always minding her business if only she knew what a slim she’d married. “It’s Huso, neighbour. I’m sure your poor wife would not appreciate you making suggestive remarks at other women”
He chuckled undisturbed by her threat. This man definitely had no regard for his wife or women in general.“Feisty, I like” he winked.
“I’m not trying to be feisty or whatever disgusting notion you have in your head. All I’m saying is No. I have a boyfriend and even if I didn’t it most definitely won’t be Bro-hore”
Some ladies who had been coming in laughed ”Bro-hore from the word whore.” They echoed, bumping their hips.
Roy shot them a glare, his ebony eyes deepened into a frightening shade. The mockery of the ladies’ laughter filled the room as he walked out in a fury —
But not before she saw the silent promise of retribution in his eyes. She had to do something about him. He didn’t look like someone who took public embarrassment lightly.
6 pm
Huso tapped her feet as she rocked back and forth on her eye chair. The bright sky suddenly became covered with clouds as the breeze almost blew her wrap away. She immediately snatched it in place covering herself with it. Until it actually rained she wasn’t going back in. She wasn’t ready to be back inside. Wasn’t ready to find out if the phone she’d purposely left in had rung or beeped with Felix’s name on it.
She gazed at the cloudy sky but not really seeing it. As the memory of the previous day washed over her. Felix impeccably dressed — handsome in a black tuxedo, black hair cut a simple low cut, his black shoes shunned to blind and finally sealed with a Rolex watch, as though he was about doing a shot for a cooperate magazine.
He had been watching her for a bit before he had approached her she realized now from his words. One minute she had been sitting and laughing with her friends. The next minute Felix was grabbing her bag and dragging her out of the noisy restaurant with not even as much as a response to the greetings to her friends.
“You didn’t have to be so rude” She glowered when they were in the parking lot.
“Maybe I wouldn’t be if my business partners hadn’t shown me an embarrassing clip of my girlfriend who I had told them was homesick and couldn’t make it to the dinner, frolicking with some set of miscreants” He said stiffly, his face stony.
How had the video gotten out she wondered“They are not miscreant” She muttered.
He looked at her incredulous. Then he took some breaths in — the one he did whenever he was hanging on to control, he suddenly stopped “What do you call people who have more piercings and tattoos than they have skin?”
“You’re profiling right now” she had said testly. She didn’t know him to be so judgmental. Yes, they had lots of piercings and tattoos but they were good people. Cobi had helped her when she was having some issues with the director on set and Lucy and Jim had put in a good word for her and helped her land an even bigger deal with the same difficult director — who was now excited to work with her. When they saw her post-birthday gifts unboxing post they offered to take her out today since they’d be busy shooting on her birthday.
“Call it whatever you want. I don’t care. I have had enough of your childish behaviour. First, you left a good job I had gone through a lot to get you. All for what? For a wimp. To live recklessly and shamelessly all in the name of being an influencer. Hell look at you shivering out here because you chose this excuse of a dress ” Looking so supreme. He took off his jacket and put it around her covering the short strapless dress she wore.
Where was all this coming from?
For the first time, Huso had wished she had the fiery nature of her siblings. Ava would have slapped Felix across the parking lot before he completed his first statement. “Wow,” she finally said. Her breath catching momentarily ‘ I didn’t know we were still on the issue of me changing my career. I thought we had it sorted out. Two years. It’s been two freaking years since you said you accept and support my dream of influencing” She yelled, ripping his suit off her and throwing it at him.
“You are causing a scene Huso ” He smiled. A smile that didn’t reach his eye. Looking around to see if anyone was about. Felix was always so conscious about how people saw him. Other times she would have cared but not that night.
A gentle shake jolted Huso back to the present. She looked up to see the apartment’s receptionist. “Sorry for disturbing Ms Huso” Huso almost whined at the addition of Ms to her name. She’d try to have this call her Huso but the strict-looking woman refused.
“What is it, Naomi?” She frowned. Wondering what it was that brought Anna all the way from the ground floor to the rooftop.
“Mr.Lank requests that you come to the ground floor. Actually, some officers need to take your statement”
“Officers? What statement” Huso frowned, her mind a whirlwind of confusion.
“Mr Declan has just been arrested,” She said grimly.
“Who is Mr.Declan and what business do I have with his arrest?” She said lividly.
“Mr.Declan is Roy”
11:30
It poured so heavily as though it hadn’t shunned so brightly that day. Huso sat up — finally giving up on catching any sleep after tossing and turning, the event of the day flashed through her mind from the heartwarming call with her sister to the arrest of Roy.
She still couldn’t understand how a person could be capable of such vile. From physical assault to sexual harassment. The shocker for everyone had been the discovery that his religious wife was not his wife a victim of Roy. They had met online and started a relationship. In love she had to travel to Kenya — at his behest, to see him only to have her passport and cards seized and forcefully tied her to him with a sex tape. The Niqab she wore was not born of a religious need but of the need to mask the bruises she sustained from his brutality.
Her phone beeped and picked it up from the nightstand slowly in trepidation. Unlocking it she saw it was just a social notification. So Felix really wasn’t going to call or text her tonight. Had she been that much of a bad girlfriend to him that he’d accept the first break she gave him without even a fight? How have they gone from planning their lives together to this
Had she overdone? He had tried to calm her down the previous but she had been erratic, and angry. Angry that he all these years he still harbored such thoughts of her. Her words came back to her now, “If I’m so flawed as you claim, why don’t you leave me the hell alone because with all you’ve said tonight, I don’t think I Love you anymore” She started to walk away from him but stop when —
“Be reasonable Huso” She looked at him. Really took a good look at him. Before her was a man who believed himself perfect and she, a flawed person he could fix.
“I will never be reasonable Felix. Never and Honestly I don’t want to be. And I needed a man who sees that had a plus, not a flaw to berate me on ” She pulled out her phone from her purse and began typing “There, I’ve blocked and deleted your numbers. You are a free man now” And she walked back into the restaurant. With every step, it had hurt that he didn’t run after her. Hurt that he didn’t declare his love for her or his willingness to try to be the man she wanted.
At first, she had been filled with rage but on getting home she became scared. Scared of being alone. Scared of starting all over. So she saved his number and unblocked him. She had slept off expecting a call or message from him. Hoped he would show up here today to try to fix things or call her with the number of a friend if he thought he was still blocked.
She slipped into the warmth of her duvet. A sob broke out of her as she hugged her pillow. She was tired of hoping. What did she really think a phone call or message would fix? Would it change his impression of her as flawed? Would a call or conversation change the fact that she would instinctively carry herself protectively around him, from here on? Would it change the fact that she’d seen him yesterday in a light she hated?
Maybe he knew this, that’s why he hadn’t reached out. Because he knew the truth that she’d been too much of a coward to face —that things would never be the same with them. Hell, things had never been the same with them from the day she followed her dreams over the path they had both charted during college. But as with everything in her life, she had stubbornly held on to it, thinking if she put in more work she could fix it.
The clock struck twelve with a resonant chime that filled her room. Each note was clear and intentional, cascading in harmonious sequences that filled her senses. At the final chime, her phone rang and she saw the caller ID—
Felix.
But unlike before, Huso turned her back against the phone and closed her eyes. Falling asleep, the moment her head hit the pillow.
