CHAPTER FIVE

"Miss, come with us" a police officer tapped me on my shoulder. 

I got up from the chair with zero courage. As I walked to the interrogation room with two police officers escorting me, I bumped into Amanda and we made eye contact. I saw hatred written in her eyes. Nevertheless, I ignored and entered the interrogation room seated with two detectives, a mid-aged female and a gentleman in his late 50's. 

It was a small room with only three chairs, two for the detectives and I guess the other is for me. A recorder, an handcuff and an empty glass turned upside-down on a saucer is on the desk. There is a water dispenser at the corner of the room. I noticed a one-way mirror with nothing on the walls. I cannot see outside through the mirror but when I was seated outside, I could see Amanda inside with the detectives and some other police officers standing at the glass shield, observing the process from outside. This created a sense of exposure, unfamiliarity and isolation, heightening "get me out of here" sensation as I moved closer. 

"Have a sit". The male detective suggested as he stretched his arm to the empty chair in front of me. I sat down in an uncomfortable chair with my hands inbetween my legs, advancing my discomfort and setting up a feeling of dependence as I moved my butt cheek scouting for a suitable position. 

During this time, the interrogator attempts to develop a rapport with me, it was a casual conversation to create a non-threatening atmosphere. 

The female detective got up from her chair, grabbed the glass cup on the table, I watched as she walked up to the dispenser and pushed the button as the water rushed up to quarter of the glass. "Water?" she said as she handed me the glass of water. 

I contemplated on how to act. I didn't want to turn down the offer in order not to arouse suspicion. I took the glass from her hand and had a sip. 

"You okay?" she asked. 

I nodded in incertitude. 

"Emily Benson, it came to my knowledge you had a fight with your boyfriend, Jason before the incident occurred". The female detective said rocking to and fro in her comfortable seat. 

"I didn't do it" I replied. 

As my anxiety increase, the male detective stood up from his chair and gave me a pat on the back. "I didn't do it, I swear!" I cried out with my hands covering my face. 

"I believe you" he said calmly and went back to his chair. 

"Emily, before Jason, had there been any other who had cheated on you?". 

My eyes drifted to the right as I tried to remember. 

"Yes" I gave a simple response. 

"Please could you describe everything. Don't spare the details." said the male detective. 

I paused for a while, then I proceeded. 

"I was seventeen...." I took a deep breathe and continued. 

"My dad had enrolled me in remedial classes preparing me for college. I made new friends there, Precious and Sandra were my besties. Precious was a nice girl with low self esteem. She was tall and slender. I admired her curves and big bootie. She had what every girl dream of, a natural flat tummy, but her facial features wasn't so attractive. She had this hollow eye socket with flat nose and broad nostrils. Her full lips wasn't so bad as it defined her overly protruding cheekbones. Sandra on the other hand was very gorgeous with pretty eyes. She is fair with pink round lip. She has a mole underneath her left eyelid and she's about 5'2 in height. Sandra is an extreme extrovert and I enjoy her company so much. She is funny and very sarcastic. She told me about her elder brother. Sandra described him to be very handsome and tall. "I assure you, you will like him when you see him!" she said. 

One Saturday, Precious and I paid Sandra a visit unexpectedly, she was really excited to see us. We were offered a drink as we chatted in the living room. 

After a while, her brother walked in shirtless on French knicker as he was on the phone. 

We stopped talking for a moment. My head spun as I fantasized about his chiseled body. He's got a thick eyebrow, neatly arranged and aren't joined above his straight nose. He has full lips which seem attractive and he looks kind and open-hearted. His high cheekbones tells he is confident and strong. His broad shoulders and tensed arms appeared sexy to me because the veins added texture to his body. I wish I could feel those six packs, it shows he hits the gym often and doesn't have any unhealthy habits. His hairless torso had more pulling power than any other appendage with little hair trail that goes up to his belly button. Damn! This dude is handsome from the depth of his deep brown eyes to the gentle expression of his voice. Goodness! He is charming, pretty, glamorous... I said to myself. The body tells a story and the eyes can show it all. Sandra had left out the juicy details, I thought. 

He dropped his phone on the center table then Precious greeted "Good afternoon".

He smiled to make a friendly gesture, then he walked to the dinning room to get a drink from the refrigerator. 

"Whoa! Quite an appetite for a gentleman" I mumbled as I watched how he drank the coke without taking a break. 

Precious gasped with her hand on her chest and she expressed a melodious tone in musical note "Oh my God.. his burp is sexy" We both giggled as he belched after finishing the soda. 

As he walked in front of us to retrieve his phone on the center table, the fragrance of his cologne stirred my nostrils. We watched him pick up the phone to dial a number. Seems the recipient wasn't available to answer the phone. He tried again, turning to us "oh sorry, I hope I am not obstructing your view". 

The only thing you are blocking is my sense of reasoning, I said in my mind. 

He moved away from the TV screen and finally the recipient answered the phone. 

I over heard their conversation, seems like he was talking to a lady on the phone because I could hear a feminine voice faintly. Moreover, the gesture he made with his hands rubbing his chest tells it was definitely someone he likes. I lost interest suddenly. As he walked pass us again out of the living room, I tried to resist his cologne but the fresh smell reminiscent of the ocean was captivating.

 Sandra brought out her phone to show us pictures of him "lick my screen" she teased. 

I plunged it out of my face as though I wasn't desperate. Then Precious snatched the phone from her, swapping continuously as she blows kisses at the phone screen. 

Sandra observed I was calm and asked "What is wrong Emily, don't you like my brother?". 

I chuckled and said "he's fine but looks like a womanizer". 

Her facial expression changed as she was astonished I could say that about her brother. 

"Your brother is cool though, I love his intonation" I added to make her smile.

 Then she said "Don't let the phone call ruin your chances with him. He's a nice and caring guy if you get to know him better".  

"Oh my God, is he single?" precious interrupted. She seem pretty interested. Her eyes lights up as she smiles. 

Sandra and I turned to her with an eyebrow lifted. We couldn't say what was on our mind but I believe Sandra and I was definitely thinking the same thing, she had told me she'd denounce her brother if he ever falls for an ugly girl. 

Sandra chuckled and then said to me  "Nathan just broke up with his girlfriend. He puts up a tough face but deep inside of him, he's emotionally demoralized. That is the reason you see him making those calls. He's desperately in need of a partner, someone that can show him genuine love".

 We felt pity for him as we listened to Sandra. "Awwn! Poor thing" I muttered.

 "Don't sympathize with me, he's a strong man!" she said with her chin high. 

"How old is your brother? I'm available to love him". Precious uttered licking her lips.

"He'd turn 22 by November and I don't want you to date my brother, you are not mature enough to take care of him" Sandra confronted. 

"I'm sixteen. Why would you say that, moreover Emily is just a year older" Precious contradicted. 

"Exactly my point bitch!" Sandra yelled.

I watched as the two argued over Nathan.

 "I don't want an ugly bitch around my brother" Sandra finally spilled the beans.

Precious inhaled through her mouth with moist eyeballs. I rolled my eyes, looking up to the chandelier and whistled like I did not know what was happening. It became really awkward I had to speak softly with Precious. 

"Oh no no no, she did not mean it that way, you know right?" I pat her on the back, stroking her hair to pet her as she struggled to hold her tears in. 

"Precious bae, precious love.... precious honey?" I sugar coated her name to make her smile but she was still seated mere. 

I immediately turned to Sandra "Bitch! At least apologize to her".  

"I'm sorry" She apologized holding precious hands then Precious sucked in the mucus running in her nose. I used my hand to wipe the tears seated on her eyelid. "it's all good honey, it's all good.. " I said. 

"it's okay, I understand, we should take our leave now" said Precious standing up from the sofa. 

The atmosphere was ruined already. It felt blue. "Sandra we have to go now" I said elevating my butt from the sofa.

"O-oh, alright then, I'll see you guys around right?" Sandra asked in uncertainty. 

I smiled and hugged Sandra "sure, anytime" I whispered in her ear. 

On our way out, as we walked through the narrow street to the main road, I had a conversation with Precious. 

"You know why people intimidate you? Because you have a low self esteem. Look at Sandra, she's not as tall as you are, I'm not even as tall as you are but Sandra in particular never questioned The Almighty about her height. She walks confidently in that short fine legs". 

Precious paused and looked at me like she does not want me to stop. Then I continued "self-hate isn't cute. I knew what you was thinking back there. Stop the self deprecation. Stop deflecting compliments because you don't want to show others that you also recognize the good in yourself. Stop belittling your achievements because you are too scared to openly celebrate them. Stop overly criticizing yourself as a defense mechanism against the possibility that others might criticize you instead". 

"Bu-but, but..." she stammered. 

I cut her off "This is not humility. It's a lack of self love and you owe yourself better. Many girls would kill to have your height, flat tommy and big round butt! For crying out loud precious, people die from butt transplant. Have you been grateful to God for what he has giving you? You are beautiful in your own way and I can't make you see that. You've got to figure that out on your own Precious". 

Not like I was taking sides, but I was now pissed at her. I only said those words to encourage and motivate her. 

She hugged me tightly "Gee thanks, I'd yield to your advice. You are indeed a true friend". 

As she let go, I saw how her face lit up. I felt fulfilled. Pep talk really pays after all. We teased each other and boarded a cab back home. 

Later that evening, I was in my room munching popcorn and playing video game 'Need for speed' when I got a notification message from facebook. 

I paused the game and picked up my phone. It was a friend request from Sandra's brother. The popcorn I was chewing dropped out of my mouth. I immediately entered my logbook, scrolled through my contacts and dialed Sandy💞.

 ...Rrrring.....Rrrring.... Rrriiing.... 

Finally she picked up after 2 missed calls. "Heyo babe, what's up?" she said in a jolly tone. 

"Where have you been, your brother just sent me a friend request on facebook" I said anxiously. 

"Hahahaha" she laughed out loud "When you left, he came back to the sitting room and was like oh, your friends are gone already?" She stated in excitement.

"So... get to the point already" I said. 

"Calm down girl, I didn't give him your ID. He must have searched for you" she said.

 "Mmmmh, how then did he know my full name" I doubted. 

"I don't know, why don't you ask him!" she replied. 

"What? No way. Why would he be interested in becoming friends with me, I barely even talked to him" I exclaimed. 

"Well, he caught you staring at his body...". 

 "Wait, what?!" I broke-in immediately. 

"Ooh don't you dare deny girl, we all saw the way you looked at him" she responded. 

"Oh, hell no! That doesn't mean I want him" I defended. 

"I don't like the act you are putting up right now. When you left, he asked me so many questions about you. He told me you are beautiful and he likes your sense of fashion. I had no idea he was gonna look you up. I just detected he has eyes for you. If you are so bordered about his friend request, why don't you just decline" she spoke furiously. 

I tried to discuss amicable with her and made her understand I wasn't bordered if her brother is stalking me. 

"So you gonna date him right" she teased. 

"Not so fast. We have to get to know ourselves first..."

Instantly I got a warning message from my phone server 'One-minute-remaining'. 

Sandra was still talking but then I disrupted "I'm sorry babe, I'm low on call credit. We will talk soon okay?" before she could respond, the call ended. 

"So what happened next?" In curiosity, the male detective asked.