Steve watched as she refused to eat from the pork leaf diah at before her. "You need to eat." He begged her for the umpteenth time.
"I shouldn't be eating." She told him.
"Jerry," he called her name as their eyes met.
It was her turn not to reply him, she ignored him.
"Okay, whatever your name is. We must have a deal." He started.
"What kind of deal?" She asked him.
"I will help you look for your sister. You won't tell anybody about our group."
Jemaima scoffed when she heard that. "So, you are scared of the poilce.?"
"That's not the point here." He reminded her.
"So, what is? Tell me. I can find my sister my self with, or without your help." She told him.
"And your mother?" He asked her.
She remained calm as she peered at him. "Is she alive?"
I don't know your mother but I know that she is very much alive." He told her.
"I don't need your help. Next thing you might do is probably find a club and smash my head with it." She said as she looked down at the food disgustingly.
"You have a boldness I admire." He couldn't stop himself from saying.
She looked up at him in utter shock. What was wrong with him? Was he nuts? To even admire her in this situation?
"I'm not reporting anything to anyone. I have business that calls my attention."
"Which is?"
"My sister and my mother."
"We can start with your sister first, do we have deal?"
"No." She told him to his face.
"With time, you will like me, I promise you." He tried a warm smile.
His smile surprisingly warmed her heart again, she hated the fact that her stomach tighten at it. It disgusted her. He was a murderer for crying out loud.
"You are a murderer." She said her thoughts aloud.
"Others can be worst than me." He reminded her.
"Better than you." She corrected him.
She stood up and walked to where he sat.
"Are you working for them or for yourself?" She wanted to know.
"They are like my brothers."
"They are not. Do you have any idea what you have done to people out there?" She asked him without any bit of fear.
He didn't answer her.
"Sometimes, it is as if I'm talking to a frog. Infact, a frog is better off than you." She turned away.
"What's your name?" He asked her.
"Never mind. You know me as Jerry. That will do."
Jerry laughed at that. "So, where are you off to?"
"I don't want to end up dead in your hands. I don't want the deal."
"You leave me no choice if you do this." He said behind her.
"Oh, I forgot you follow orders from your leader." She turned to him.
"He is like a brother."
"Like? But he is not." She told him.
"Why? You seem not to be afraid of what you are saying."
"I can do on my own." She reminded him.
"That does it." He walked towards her and grabbed her hand then pulled her close.
"Wh...sat?" She shuttered.
"I'm doing it the hard way, forcefully." He said.
"Release my hand!" She yelled into his face.
"Not that kind of person." He laughed.
******
Their argument became a frequent, daily habit. Jemaima finally had to accept that he would help her. In return, she keeps his secret. Yet, she secretly hoped that Steve doesn't return to his gang.
"Where are we?" Jemaima asked.
"Where do you think we are?"
"God! The city."
"Stick close to me." He whispered and pulled her to himself. "There are lot of thieved worst than me." He warned with a mockery face.
"Guess they cut heads and drink blood to be immortal." She played along.
"Is that a joke?"
"Call it whatever." She shrugged.
Days passed and the two were doing rather fine. Though Jemaima wasn't comfortable with Steve's rude and dangerous attitude. He stole without apology, sometimes he tried to kill but Jemaima would stop him.
"Do you think my sister might be here?" Jemaima asked him one day as they were eating dinner, some leaft overs which was left to Jemaima where she resumed work as a waitress.
Steve ignored her as usual and looked through the window.
"Steve, you are not saying anything." She called his attention.
"We will find your sister." He assured her.
"God, I really do miss her. I was careless to lose her."
He stopped eating and turned to look at her. Jerry really like her siaty. There was no day when she never talked about her sister. Surprisingly, he didn't even know the sister's name cause Jemaima was careful not to mention either of their names.
"What's your sister's name?" He asked her.
"Joan," she answered him.
"And you are...?"
She stopped to meet his gaze. "Jerry." She looked at him as she gave her masculine name.
"You still don't trust me?" He was forced to ask her.
"I never did."
"Because of who I am?"
She didn't reply him. Instead, she turned away from his gaze.
"She is a timid girl, scared to her bones of what might be tomorrow. I don't even understand how we lost each other. She was always by my side."
"Joan." He called her sister's name. "I guess she's more pretty."
Jemaima turned back to meet his gaze then she gave a wicked, long smile. "I thought you don't like girls."
"I don't but...," He paused to gather his thoughts.
The silence stretched on endlessly. Each had their had weary thoughts, mixed with staggering emotions, scared to voice their doubting new feelings.
He felt a soft tingling for the girl-like boy Jerry. She was outrageous in her boldness which was a bit frightening to him though. He wondered why she should be living an orphan's life, she clearly didn't deserve it.
Yet he didn't want to show his soft side to her, he was a ruffian and that he was, only abiding by his leader's word.