IMADE AND JAMAL novel Chapter 4

JAMAL.

"So she's an intern?" I ask, failing woefully at masking my surprise.

"Yes dear, but she seems very intelligent and trustworthy so I'll do as you asked and keep her under my wings." My aunt Lydia, assures me and I sigh in relief. At least she was impressed by her.

  "Thanks a lot auntie. I owe you one but please do me another favour, take care of her and don't let her get anywhere near Natasha. I don't want her involved in Tasha's jealous fits and I'd also prefer if this stays between us. You know how Tasha gets when she feels threatened." I tell her and she stares back at me with a bored expression on her face.

"I think it's high time you put a name on this weird relationship you have with Natasha. Like I've always pointed out, I don't like her attitude but she has being a part of your life for seven years now, following you everywhere like a housefly and yet you only tag her as just a friend."

"I know for sure that you're sexually involved with her and I know it's none of my business as well but I'm your aunt and I wish the best for you. The relationship you have with that young lady needs a proper name before her obsession with you gets out of hand." She blurts out sternly and I bow my head slightly in embarrassment.

  "I'm not looking for anything serious with anybody auntie and as for Natasha, she and I are as you said lovers but it's nothing too serious, at least to me. I genuinely care about her and would do anything for her but I'm not interested in putting a name on anything."

"I like where we are and I already told her where I stand and we're both cool with it. I don't need to tell her I love her before she gets the memo, she already knows she's my irreplaceable gem." I explain to her and she's sighs defeatedly.

"I will never understand that relationship but if it makes you happy, then I have no problem. I'd just advice you to keep that rude girl on a leash. She needs to know her place and stop going around throwing jealous fits and embarrassing herself. Talk to her." She advises and I nod in agreement.

"I'll do as you say ma but please don't forget to help me with Imade and also keep this a secret from her, I don't want her to get the wrong idea." I remind her and she furrows her brows.

  "You're starting to confuse me o, young man. What's your deal with this young lady? Are you a secret admirer?" She inquires and I roll eyes.

"She's just someone I feel guilty towards and I feel the best way I can make it up to her is to protect her from the shadows. I don't like her and I want nothing to do with her personally." I reply her and she shrugs.

  "Whatever you say my boy. Just make sure I see you at work tomorrow or else you'll hear it from me." She warns and I chuckle quietly, engulfing her a quick hug before watching her get in her car and drive off.

***

The next day...

  "Have you had lunch?" I ask Natasha, who simply ignores me and continues to admire her newly polished finger nails.

"Are you for real Tasha? Are you really going to act like this?" I ask boredly, hoping she'd snap out of it but she didn't and that partly infuriated me. She knew how much I hated the silent treatment and for whatever reason, she's doing things I hate to taunt me.

  Firstly, she wore a yellow coloured dress, knowing how much I hated that colour and now she's paying zero attention to me and focusing more on her stupid nails.

"Fine, I'm leaving." I say in frustration, hoping to get a reaction from her but I got nothing. Absolutely nothing! Her eyes remained fixed on her nails and she didn't even spare me a glance.

  "If you're mad at me, you need to speak up and tell me what I did wrong. You can't keep ignoring me like I'm some talkative parrot!" I yell at her in frustration and bam! That got her attention as expected. Knowing her like I did, I knew one thing she didn't like was getting yelled at. It completely infuriated her.

"Do I have to be mad at you Jamal? Did you do something that you think might annoy me? Do I look angry? Or is your guilty conscience catching up with you?" She retorted and I deadpanned. Is she joking with me?

"I have being in your office for the last hour and you've said absolutely nothing to me. What exactly am I supposed to make of that?" I reply confusedly and she laughs, her laughter irritating me beyond words.

"You know what, I think you're a little unwell. How about you take a break today to clear your head and when you're much better upstairs, we'll talk." I say to her angrily and turn to leave. 

  "Wait Jamal!" She calls out but I ignore her and I leave. She can't take out her anger on me and expect me to just ignore and comply, I'm not her puppet.

  "Jamal!" A voice calls out and I turn around expecting to see Tasha but I'm beyond surprised when I see Imade instead walking towards me with an unreadable expression on her face.

"You again?" I ask, attempting to sound upset and irritated.