Last updated on February 9th, 2024 at 04:15 pm
Since I initiated a chat with Joe, we’d been in constant communication. I felt guilty already considering that for two days I totally forgot to reach out to Tochi until he did. It also felt unfair to Joe who might start getting ideas. I had to put an end to this.
Joe, how’s your girlfriend? What a solid way to go about it.
Ummm, I don’t have one.
Oh, okay. What now?
Is this because we have been chatting constantly? Was I that easy to read? I bit my nails as I thought what to tell him.
Not really. It’s just that, I don’t want what happened the other time to happen again.
Well, Angela, I have moved on. We can be friends, not so? And friends chat, sometimes often and sometimes barely. Maybe I was just selfish but him saying that he moved on made me feel bad. What do I expect?
It’s true. We are friends. With Joe, I had accepted that we couldn’t be together. I loved Tochi and Joe was a smart guy, he knew I refused him because there was someone else, and I doubt he’d ever give us a chance. Us? Angela, get a grip!
***
Joe and I have not chatted since the day I called him out. If you ask me, I’d say it made me feel at ease and at the same time, sad. At ease because we both knew and understood that we needed some time off. Sad because it felt like I was losing a friendship. I couldn’t even tell Zabby because she would turn into a therapist immediately and start analysing what’s not.
***
I was at Zabby’s for New Year’s Eve, she had some work to do and I would be assisting her. My parents didn’t want me to leave but I was twenty and they knew to start acting like it. Since I got here, we’d been creating content for Zabby’s YouTube—she was filming her hair routine and I helped her shoot it. Content creation was a lot of work and I still insisted that it took a lot of passion for anyone to do it. After complaining all through while ensuring to get the best angles as she had described to me, we eventually got enough for her to put together.
I just got into the room now and saw that I had missed two calls and a WhatsApp message from Tochi. I checked the message first.
Angel, my dad’s dead. What?! I immediately dialled his number. Thankfully, he picked up.
“Tochi, babe. I’m so sorry.”
“I called you.”
“Yes, I didn’t hear my phone ring. I was assisting…” I was going to tell him I was with Zabby but I decided against it. “I’m sorry I missed your calls.”
“It’s fine.” He sounded really sober. So he can be this serious. I immediately cautioned myself for thinking this way, this was a serious thing.
“Tochi, what do you… was he sick? Are you going home?” Honestly, a part of me worried that he’d completely shut me out now, but I was hopeful considering that he had called me.
“They told me he was sick last week but that it wasn’t serious.” He sighed harshly.
“Oh my…I don’t know what to say. I’m sorry.” Zabby came into the room at the time I said ‘I’m sorry’ and gestured to ask what was happening. If looks could kill. I was glad Tochi couldn’t see her expression. I whispered ‘nothing’ to her and turned away to avoid further silent interrogations. I tuned into the conversation just in time to hear Tochi say he was packing to go home and he would be taking a night bus.
“Oh…” I worried about his safety but it wasn’t about me, so I refrained from making any suggestion. Unfortunately, this happened and now I have to walk…or crawl on thin eggshells around him. I didn’t know what to do and I didn’t feel confident doing what came to my mind.
“I’ll call you later with the updates.”
“That’s fine.” I heaved a sigh, but it wasn’t only because I was concerned, it was relief from the strained conversation.
I faced Elizabeth and she was already editing her video, her huge headset in place. So, I splayed on the bed and stared at the ceiling.
***
“Madam, dinner is ready.” My eyes were opened but I wasn’t fully awake. Well, just until the aroma of whatever Zabby had made hit me and I sat up.
“What…” I cleared my throat and continued, “What did you cook?”
“I was filming a day in my life video and I tried to make something special.” She said, beaming with pride. She should be proud of herself, she had done a lot in just one day.
“Do you work this often?”
“Some days, I just film days in my life. Those days are not busy. On other days, I have to shoot something special and highly requested, like my hair routine, a Q&A session, or something. Those days are busy with a Z.”
“Wow! It’s paying off though.” I stood up as I headed into the kitchen. “Your subscribers are really increasing.” She tailed me into the kitchen.
“Babe! I might even get to 10k by midnight.” At this, I turned.
“We should eat to that!”
“We are.” She replied, laughing.
“Oh! Tochi’s dad is dead.”
“Angelaaa…”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know how else to deliver it.”
“Wow… that’s sad.”
“It is.” Now I didn’t know if serving my food wouldn’t be considered insensitive.
…
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