I AM WHO I AM [A SHORT STORY]

Rachael could no longer hide the anger boiling inside her. For the second time that night, she felt like slapping Richard. The first time she had the urge to do it was when he drank the juice from the plastic bottle without using the straw provided.

“Can’t you act civilized for once?” she made sure nobody heard her except Richard.

The young man looked at her, smiled, and continued eating. After defeating the pieces of meat trying to take over his teeth with a toothpick, he finally spoke up.

“If eating chicken with my bare hands is uncivilized, then I’m afraid I don’t know what ‘civilized’ means.”

He washed his hands in the only bowl on the table, shifted his chair forward, and faced her.

“You know it’s actually uncomfortable eating with a fork. It’s stressful and you won’t enjoy the chicken as much as I did. I believe the hands has its own flavor too. This chicken needs to be grabbed with both hands.” He pointed at the chicken on her plate.

“Stop embarrassing me, Richard. Look around you, how many people are eating with their hands?”

_Pixabay

Although Richard knew finding someone eating with bare hands in Tatinz eatery is as difficult as finding a 40 year old virgin, he still looked around. The eatery was filled up as usual. The attendants kept going and coming, attending to people’s orders. He saw a lady eating Eba and Egusi soup with a spoon and that disgusted him. David was sitting not too far from him. He sat with Deborah, Rachael’s friend. When David looked at his direction, he winked at him and gave him a thumbs up.

“What was that for?” Rachael asked.

“A thumbs up can be used in place of saying ‘well-done’. Do I need to explain that?”

“Whatever! I’m sure you’ve finally realized you are uncivilized.”

Richard smiled and looked straight into her eyes.

“So, that woman eating a meal specifically made for the hands is civilized while I’m uncivilized because I ate a chicken the best way I will enjoy it?”

“Who said Eba is meant to be eating with bare hands?” she raised an eyebrow.

“Let’s not end our first date with arguments. I’m sorry. I’ll try a fork next time. You look beautiful when you argue though.”

Racheal couldn’t help but smile. She giggled like a monkey and was about saying something when Richard belched. She slapped him immediately.

“I’m still looking for the right adjective to qualify you. I should have known you came here to embarrass me.” She stood up and went to meet Deborah.

“I’ll be waiting for you in the car. Please hurry up!”

She cat walked out of the eatery not minding the billions of stares at her bum.

Richard knew a lot of people will be staring at him. Some might be taking pictures. He tried every possible best not to look anywhere else but his phone. He had never been slapped by a lady. He was more annoyed because it happened in a public place.

“I’m sorry this is my fault.”

He looked up and saw David staring at him with a sad look.

“Where’s your date?”

“The last thing I want right now is a slap. I had to send her away before I got one too.”

Both of them laughed and rose to leave.

Rachael was still fuming in the car. She was anxious to leave the place. When she saw Deborah coming, she became terrified because she had never seen her with an angry look on her face.

“I hope you have money for public transport? There’s no way you are going home with me. And let this be the last time we see.” Deborah said.

Rachael was shocked. She was surprised her friend could be mad because she slapped an uncultured guy.

“What’s wrong with you, Deborah? That guy is not my class and I’m sure his friend is below you too.”

“David is not his friend. They are brothers. I’m sure you are the only one that doesn’t know the governor’s sons. Do you know how long I’d planned meeting them? I should have brought Maria along, not you.”

Rachael placed her hands on her head. She got out of the car and ran inside the eatery. She bumped into the brothers on her way.

“You forgot something, Miss Civilized?” Richard asked.

“I’m sorry, Richard. I don’t know what came over me. I promise I will…..”

She was interrupted by Richard’s loud laughter.

David hissed and walked out. Richard followed suit and continued laughing. His laughter could still be heard when he entered his car.

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@afolwalex writes.

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