Writers 
I Could Treat You Better.
Chapter 2
Her brown eyes rested on me, and suddenly, it became impossible to breathe.
Damn.
Eye contact was supposed to be mundane. Normal. Something people did without thinking.
But this felt extraordinary. Almost supernatural.
Men, I must be crazy.
What the hell was wrong with me?
“Shut your mouth, Christopher, or a fly might get into it.”
Mum’s voice broke me out of the haze I was in.
I hadn't even realized my mouth was open. But then, when you're surprised and completely caught off guard by someone, you don't exactly notice much.
“Brother, Christopher, this is my fiancée, Naomi.”
Uncle Nathaniel spoke, and I finally looked over at him.
There was a smile on his face. A proud one, almost like he already knew we'd like her. Like he'd already decided she belonged here.
Dad stretched his hand out for a handshake, and I noticed the way his hand almost lingered when she pulled away.
Did he feel it too?
That spark I thought I'd felt when Naomi walked in?
But that would be ridiculous.
My father was so in love with my mother that I couldn't imagine him looking at anyone else that way.
“Nice to meet you, Naomi.”
“You too, Sir Anthony."
She greeted him with a smile before turning to me.
I knew I should've said something. I shouldn't have just sat there staring back at her like some weirdo.
But honestly, I had no words.
“Hello…”
She gave me a small wave, and I could already tell she felt a little awkward.
“Don't mind Christopher. Let's just go have dinner. Our servant will bring the food now.”
Mum glanced at me.
I knew exactly what that look meant.
That's no way to treat a guest, Christopher.
Not now, Mother. Lecture me later.
I looked away as everyone started walking toward the dining table.
Our servant, Emem, had already placed the dishes and drinks on the table. The air was filled with the refreshing scent of hot soup, and my stomach immediately reminded me how hungry I was.
We all settled around the table.
Uncle Nathaniel sat on the left side of the oval table with his fiancée, while I sat at one end. Dad sat at the other end, and Mum took the seat on the right.
“Let's pray.”
Dad rose to his feet, and we all followed.
“Gracious Heavenly Father, we thank you for letting us see today. We thank you for the roof over our heads and for keeping us healthy. We thank you for our voices and our hearing. Foremost, we thank you for this food and for the safe journey of Nathaniel and his fiancée. We thank you for today and for better days to come.”
Dad finished, and we all chorused an “Amen” before sitting down.
We started digging in.
I was pretty hungry.
“So, Naomi, what's your tribe?”
Dad asked before taking a sip of his Fanta.
“Oh, I'm from Yoruba, sir.”
She answered politely.
“Hmm."
Dad replied as if he had gotten important information, before continueing with his questions.
"Nathaniel said you just did your master's in London. What is your field of study, and how was your stay there?”
“London was great, but I didn't really enjoy much of it. I was mostly doing assignments and keeping up with my professors. But most of all, it was an amazing experience. And I studied Microbiology.”
She answered so naturally, like she wasn't sitting in a room full of people she'd only just met.
“Oh, really? Christopher here is going for Microbiology too.”
Dad said it excitedly.
“Oh…”
Naomi smiled and turned to face me.
I looked away immediately.
I almost choked on my food.
Almost.
I cleared my throat and pretended to be very interested in whatever was on my plate.
“You know, I was thinking that Christopher could come stay with us at Lugbe since he's still waiting for admission.”
Uncle Nathaniel said, looking at Dad.
Dad pressed his lips into a thin line.
“Nathaniel…”
“Anthony, Christopher can go stay with his uncle. He's not doing anything here anyway, just roaming around and giving me a headache.”
Mum spoke before Dad could finish.
“Mum…”
I rolled my eyes at her.
She chuckled.
Naomi did too.
“Exactly. I'll take him off your hands, Beatrice.”
Uncle Nathaniel winked at my mum, and she rolled her eyes playfully at him.
“Plus, my fiancee could teach him a few things about biology that he needs to know before he actually gets admitted.”
Uncle Nathaniel looked over at Naomi.
“Wouldn't you, Mama?”
His voice dropped a little, and something about the way he looked at her made me pause.
His eyes brightened.
And something seemed to sparkle in hers too.
“Of course.”
She replied softly.
She broke their eye contact and shyly looked down at her plate.
“Nathaniel, better hold it in. Not in my house, and not in front of my son too!”
Dad teased.
Everyone laughed,everyone except Naomi.
She shyly took a sip of her soda, her eyes still lowered.
And somehow, my attention went straight back to her.
I tried to focus on my food.
I tried to listen to the conversation around the table.
I tried not to look at her.
But I couldn't.
Throughout the rest of dinner, my eyes kept finding their way back to Naomi.
And I didn't understand why.
