Aida gazed at herself in the mirror, her lovely brown and curly hair which she inherited from her Ethiopian mother fell on her shoulders, her lovely brown skin which was from both Nigerian Dad and foreign mom glowed.
She had changed the shade of her lipstick three times, this time it was orange red, she felt it too conspicuous. Effe should be tired of waiting by now, she had spent almost 20 mins checking and rechecking herself. With a sigh she wiped it off and used a darker shade.
It was Effe’s fault he told her they would visit a special place and she desperately wanted to be that special somebody for Effe even though she knew she wasn’t good enough.
Her saviour’s voice rang back with love as she told her years ago. “Any man who loves you should love you for who you are and you’ll meet that special someone to whom you’ll be special too, there is one made for everybody.” Aida had believed her, maybe because she was desperate at that time and needed such reassurances even if she knew it was a lie.
‘Finally out.’ Effe said when she finally emerged from the room.
‘I guess.’ She said smiling, her thoughts about how the special outing would be were embarrassing her.
She was surprised when they pulled up in front of a hospital creases appeared on her forehead.
‘You okay? Effe asked.
‘Yeah, what are we doing here, is someone sick?
‘No.’
‘Hospitals make me very uncomfortable.’
‘Sorry about that, we’ll take less than hour.’
‘An hour that’s longer than visiting a sick person.’
Effe smiled, kissed her on the forehead held her hands and said, ‘just relax, we’ll be fine.’
‘Why are we here if someone is not sick.’
‘Ermmm I thought we should get our HIV statuses checked.’
She raised an eye brow. ‘Really, if that was the case you could’ve have told me from my place.’
‘Hey I’m sorry, I thought it would be a surprise, hope you’re not angry.’
‘No, although it’s weird surprise but what if I know my status and can produce evidence.’
‘Well I could also do the same but what if we just get it directly from a doctor?
‘Hmmm so we know that it is not its not forged.’
‘Exactly my point.’ He said with a small laugh.
‘The thing is coming to a hospital of your choice then is a luxury we can’t afford.’
‘Why?’
‘You could have your results altered.’ She said with a serious face, a short moment of discomforting silence followed before they both busted into laughter.
Aida was not at ease not because of the test she was about to take but about her love life, she felt Effe didn’t have a right to drag her down here without prior notice. Yet she followed him into the hospital willingly even though odds were in his chances with them being at the hospital of his choice.
Her last relationship lasted five years, it turned out to be the biggest mistake of her life, she received scars which will remind her for the rest her life for how conceding she had been perhaps stupid. Yet she has found herself on the same part again doing everything a man who had no right what so ever over her wanted.
She consoled herself with the fact that Effe and her Ex were two different people. He was very considerate of her feelings, her Ex was not, he cared enough to ask her about herself and even listened to her.
Her Ex could never stop talking about himself, about how much he would inherit if his childless uncle passed away, how handsome he was and how the girls he dated before could not have enough of him and kept coming back.
last but not th least and worst of all his crimes he felt he owned her and could take her anytime without prior notice and without appropriate protection. He left the matter of protection sorely to her and when the mistakes happened he blamed her. And here was Effe confirming their statuses before he could think of consummating their love, no they weren’t the same she assured herself.
The antiseptic smell and depressing walls nauseated her, she sat while Effe went about some business, later he came back and called her. She followed him into a consulting room, it looked more like a corporate office except for the examination bed, by size and furniture with the large round table and comfy chairs, a sofa by the side with a flat screen.
The doctor was all smiles as she greeted them and talked to Effe with familiarity, she was too carried away to the past to keep track of their conversation.
‘Young lady I’m glad you both took this decision, it tells how responsible you both her.’ Dr Inyang said.
‘Actually it was his decision not ours.’ Aida answered.
‘Excuse me.’
‘I mean erm.’
‘Its okay we are here for the test that’s what matters.’ Effe said and knock came from the door.
‘Come in.’ Dr Inyang said her attention averting from Aida.
A young lady in a lab coat came in she greeted all of them and waited for Dr Inyang to give her signal before she started taking their blood samples.
The lady deliberately let cleavage show while taking Effe’s sample, Aida saw how he averted his eyes when he noticed, though the girl took longer while taking Effe’s sample he did not let his gaze wander there a second time.
‘So much for a special outing, seems like you know the doctor very well.’ She said as she strapped her seatbelt when they were back in the car,
‘Yea she worked together with my mom for a quite a long time.’
‘Your mom is a doctor?’
‘Yes, I’m really sorry that I didn’t inform you before hand.’
‘It was childish did you think that I might run away or freak out?
‘No I thought you’d be offended if I asked?
‘I’m not offended about the tests, we already have the results but for the fact that you didn’t inform me.’
He held his ears, made a funny face and said in funny voice, ‘Please I’m sorry.’
‘Its okay, your coming here shows signs of being raised by a doctor.’ Aida said, she couldn’t help laughing.
‘No to think of it was crazy, I’m really sorry.’ Effe said again in a more serious tone and face, she just nodded.
Aida smiled, Effe’s innocence bothered her if only he knew about her past, she wondered what will happen when he found out.
She shuddered at the thought. Her past was horrible, the secret she’s had to keep was dirty and she knew Effe deserved better.
But how could she tell him, what if he left her and a woman is a like a flower she’d wilt without a man.
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