Selina was bored. She pinned it to waking up too early and her restless heart. In fact, she had finished her chores before 7 am, and her stew was simmering on the fire. She looked around for anything amiss to occupy her; there was nothing, except furniture and books. So, to expend her restless energy, she rearranged the furniture in the bedroom and shelved all her books in alphabetical order of titles. She proceeded to clean up her kitchen, turned off the fire and cleaned the stove as well. But her heart did not settle, so she stepped out for a stroll.
On a different day, she would have called Basil to hang out or just drive around. She shook her head… he hadn’t even called to apologise after that embarrassing night a month ago.
The afternoon was merciful. Even though the sun was out, grey clouds moved across it so the weather was cool enough. She had gone about 100 meters before she realized that she had left her phone in the kitchen. No one would call her, anyway, so she shrugged and continued her stroll. But her heart kept missing a beat, like there was something ominous on the horizon.
She stepped away from the street when she heard the engine of an oncoming vehicle. When she looked back, it was a bright electric blue Toyota RAV4. Only one person had the nerve to spray his car that colour… Selina shook her head; Basil wouldn’t be in her neighbourhood now. Even if he wasn’t at work, they were not on the best of terms, thanks to him.
The car ground to a halt before her and the driver’s window came down to reveal Basil’s familiar half-smile, the one that used to make her heart flutter.
“Hop in,” he said, gesturing to the front passenger seat with his head.
Her body obeyed before her mind could make a reasonable argument. As soon as she closed the door, he asked her, “Where to?”
Selina rubbed her upper arms. “Nowhere and everywhere. You?”
As she buckled her seat belt – you always needed a seatbelt when Basil was driving – he replied, almost lazily, “You.”
Selina rolled her eyes and folded her arms beneath her breasts, “Basil, seriously? After what you did the other time?”
His confident half-smile disappeared. He gunned the engine and sped off. Only the seatbelt held Selina back from being thrown onto the shiny black dashboard. As they exited the estate street onto the untarred road of the developing area, Selina sat up, curious.
“Where are we going to, Basil?” She couldn’t hide the tension in her tone.
Basil smiled that unnerving half-smile again and reached for Selina’s hand while his left hand held the steering wheel steadily on the bumpy road. He kissed the back of her hand. “Trust me.”
“Trust you? After what happened―”
The car suddenly screeched to a halt in front of one completed but unpainted bungalow. Selina gasped. Basil’s corky smile had disappeared, and his face had taken on the sharpness of a school master about to dismiss a recalcitrant student. Selina had never seen him like this before. The engine kept running.
“Look, I’m sorry, okay? I shouldn’t have made fun of you at the party. I should have come over a long time ago to apologise for my childish behaviour but I was embarrassed.”
“No, you were too proud to admit that you were wrong, Basil. You are an arrogant and rude―”
He swiftly reached across the compartment between them and swallowed the rest of her words in a slow, deep kiss, still holding her hand. He could feel her body shivering, and he didn’t stop until he felt her calm down.
Then, with his forehead on hers, he whispered, “I’m sorry, Selina. I didn’t mean to embarrass you. I was overcome by how attractive you were in that straight dress of yours. It actually flattered your figure, and I desperately wanted to hide how much your overall appearance affected me.” He sat back and continued, still holding her hand, “Yes, I was rude. And yes, my ego prevented me from coming to apologise. But that’s why I came today.”
“Basil, we don’t do things like that. You ruined my night to shine. In the presence of my bosses! The things you said. God, I don’t want to remember them.” She withdrew her hand and folded them across her breasts. “And you can’t just drive back into my life and tell me you’re sorry. It’s not right.”
Basil sighed. “I’m sorry.”
“And you knew how I feel about you…” she muttered but Basil caught it. The silence hung between them.
Then he said quietly, “How do I make it up to you?”
“You can’t, Basil. I’ve moved on. And it won’t happen again. Take me back, please.”
“Selina… is there any hope for us?” She didn’t respond.
Basil shifted the gear to Drive and turned towards where they had come from. This time, he drove slowly, lost in thought. Selina looked at him sideways, wishing she knew what he was thinking. She had forgiven him, but she didn’t want to let him off so easily. He needed to learn that rash speaking had consequences such as losing the person you love.
When they got to Selina’s gate, Basil sped past it. “Ah!” Selina remarked.
“I can’t let you go without closure.” Basil parked about five houses from Selina’s and turned to her, taking both of her hands once more. “Is there hope for us?”
“If I say no?”
Basil closed his eyes. Selina saw his Adam’s apple bob up and down. Then he opened his eyes and said, “I’ll leave you alone, much as it will kill me.”
Selina sighed and smiled. She loved him. And she knew he loved her too, in his own arrogant way. She just had to find a way to temper him. “Take me back, please.”
Basil sighed. He deserved it. He really had to tame his tongue. When he pulled up at Selina’s gate, Selina said, “Thank you for coming, even though late. I guess we’ll meet again tomorrow.”
Basil smiled. “If you want me here, I’ll be here.”
Selina smiled back and rubbed his beard. “I do, Basil. Let’s work things out tomorrow over a bowl of fufu and goat meat light soup.” Basil laughed, and Selina’s heart danced. She leaned over for a kiss and slipped out of the car. Suddenly, the clouds disappeared, revealing the sun. Her boredom had dissipated.
