Her room was a changing theme, alive one moment, dead the next. She shifted closer to the sunlight that streamed upon her bed; she drank it in, closing her eyes. She loved the feel of it on her skin, kissing her breath away. Even the dewy wind that came in, mixed perfectly with the day.
Seudama Onar watched from her window as the clouds moved, passing her sight. The way the trees blended with the background outside her window was a breathtaking scene. She could see her neighbour's backyard from here; it was decorated with much withered leaves.
Sometimes, she wondered if anyone lived there because of the lack of care given to the compound; but the noise she heard every night from there proved otherwise. It always sounded like someone was bathing outside their house.
The first night she had heard it, she couldn't help but to be scared. She had talked about it with her mother who assured her that it was nothing, and that Seudama should wake her up in the night if she heard the noise again. She had done just that, and was relieved when her mother convinced her that someone was bathing outside; as weird as that had sounded, her mother had talked about it like it was normal. Nevertheless Seudama's mind had been calmed.
And now as she viewed the compound again, she felt safe and relaxed. It was better than the horror stories Angeline had made up about it, who by the way slept like a bull throughout the whole night. Those days, she couldn't help but to believe her, because she had a convincing manner about her; either that or she had been naive.
The constant blue skies that followed the day by and by made Seudama happy. She couldn't wait to hang out with her friends the whole summer long. She had planned everything that she wanted to do, and she was sure nothing would go wrong.
"Hand me that towel, Seud." Angeline called out to her from the bathroom.
"You know, you could have just taken it with you in the first place." She avoided looking at her naked sister as she handed over the towel.
"Yeah, I know. But there's just something about it that makes me smile when you do it for me; the way you make that face, it's hilarious!"
"Maybe from now on, I will stop. Who knows? Since you find it so amusing."
Angeline wiped herself dry as she made her way across the room, then she wrapped the towel around her body. She aimed for her body cream on top of the dressing mirror as she sat on the bed to do her creaming. "Maybe you should. But you can't, can you? You're just too obedient, and that's where your fault is at."
"I'll do it. I really will do it Angeline, so don't provoke me."
"Okay. You're free to and whatever else..." She said as she squeezed the cream out of the container, "...you want to do."
Seudama ignored her older sister, she knew Angeline just wanted to argue this afternoon; after all she missed her friend Rosa.
The thing, was that Rosa travelled for the holidays; who by the way had been pretty emotional about it, as she discussed it with Angeline when she had visited. But Angeline had acted cool and unshaken by the sudden change of their plans together. But immediately Rosa had left, her tough act had been broken. She had refused comfort from anybody for a few days, save from the food she hugged and chugged down her throat then; though she allowed their father to comfort her with his wise words sometimes... sometimes, when he was around.
Looking at her now from the side of the bed, Seudama couldn't help but to feel sorry for her sister. Who knew friendship had such strong emotional attachments to it! Especially when you're someone like Angeline, who so often was emotionally detached. Gosh!
Seudama got up from the bed; she had decided to go for a walk, to see if the fresh air outside would clear up her foggy mind. When issues like this arise, it had always been best for her to leave Angeline alone to her own comfort; give her some space to breathe. At least that has always helped her in some way.
"Where are you going, Seud?" Angeline giggled. "It was just a joke. My word! No need to run away."
"It's not that. I just need some fresh air." Seudama persuaded.
"You should have just said so. Wait for me, I think I'll join you."
Seudama stared at her in utter disbelief. "What! You're coming with me?"
"Yeah. Thought about it, turns out I'm getting too lazy nowadays; I need some kinda freedom, need to go out, if you know what I mean," She crossed her long legs.
"I don't. You're usually at home," Seudama played with the rubber band around her wrist, "I thought you liked it here; always reading or writing something with Rosa. I don't understand, what's up with the sudden change of attitude towards life?"
"Rosa's not here, that's what!" Angeline snapped. "I don't get why you're asking me so many questions, Seud, it's not like I agreed to join a gang or something. Now, are you gonna give me privacy to dress, or you wanna see me naked again?"
That said it all as Seudama raced to the door for escape. "Sometimes, I could swear you do this on purpose." She said as she closed their room's door, after she had caught a glimpse of Angeline's small smile, of which had confirmed the answer.
