Last updated on October 22nd, 2025 at 11:41 am
“You’re really patient,” I say, rolling my eyes.
“I want to believe that you’re not being sarcastic. I choose to believe that.” She answers, grabbing a pillow and wedging herself.
“Well, we just sort of agreed to a slow burn.”
“Slow burn? We? Who? Fill me in. I thought I heard boyfriend or something.”
“It’s Joe.”
“Hmm, wait.” She sits up fully, briefly lost in thought. “Joe, the same Joe? From when you were in the university?”
“Yes, ma. Are you sure you don’t need his surname and features so that we’re totally sure?”
“We might. Actually, we do. Angela, show me his picture now!” She says in a mock order. I stifle a smile as I unlock my phone and open Joe’s IG page. I have his pictures in my gallery but Zabby won’t let me hear the last of it if I casually show her. She moves close and snatches the phone from me as she scrolls through his page. After a while, her mouth is ajar. I cover my mouth to stop laughing. I can tell what she wants to say already. After what seems like forever, I tap her.
“Angela. This is Joe. You had the nerve to be confused about this guy?”
“That’s why I didn’t show you his picture then. But Tochi is also fine na.”
“Fine?” Zabby makes a face as if she’s about to puke.
“Elizabeth, let’s not dwell on the appearance. You’re getting distracted.”
“I am, sis. I am. Whew! It’s hot here.” She fans her face, and I eventually let out a laugh.
“You’re dramatic!”
“I am. So, talk to me. What’s up? How did you guys reconnect? I’m all ears.”
“First, you won’t believe this. Do you remember that photography event we went to?”
“Yeah, the one I dragged you to last year. I think it was PhotoFit.”
“Yeah, yeah…”
“Wait!” Elizabeth seems to finally wake up. I expected that she would remember Joe as soon as she saw his IG. I think she just did. “This is Joe, one of the coaches. Angela. Oh Lord! I’m so dull. Angela. You saw him that day, right? That was why you started acting weird when we were in the hall. Oh Lord! Angela. I’m going to pass out.” She slaps her palm to her forehead as I sit, unsure of how to react. I decide to keep quiet so that she can gather her thoughts. Zabby is being a bit dramatic, but honestly, it’s a lot to take in.
“Zabby, Elizabeth. Are you okay now?”
“I am. I am. Naaa, Angie, I could never be okay. You saw your long-time crush last year and avoided him then refused to tell me. You’ve kept this to yourself for what? A year? Jeez. Or wait, did you guys see each other?!” She adds with an exaggerated gasp.
“Zabby, let’s calm down. He’s not my long-time crush.”
“Angela, don’t try me now. Don’t even. And don’t distract me. What’s happening now? Have you guys been chatting since then?” I sigh and explain everything that’s happened, from unblocking him to when I got a message from him to our last call.
“That’s it.” I wrap up feeling relieved. Holding such a thing from Zabby hasn’t been easy. I’m glad, though, because I’ve processed much of my emotions without any interference.
“Wow, Angie. I appreciate you telling me. I have nothing to say except that you deserve a good life and you deserve love, not only from yourself but from others. Do you understand what I mean?” She looks at me and I nod. “If Joe is here again offering to love you, to support you, to comfort you and add ease to your life, if you want it don’t turn it down. If you want it.”
“Yeah,” I whisper and pull Zabby into a hug.
“Talk to me, babe. What’s on your mind? That your big head.”
“I like Joe.” I smile timidly. There’s nothing to be shy about with Zabby, yet I am.
“Oh, I didn’t know.” She throws her head back and laughs.
“I don’t trust myself regarding my feelings for him, though. I’m thinking that I’m feeling this way because he once asked me out. Like, is this a way to distract myself now that I’m finally trying to build a life for myself? How do I know that it’s real?”
“Hmm, I understand you. All I can say is that you should give it time. You’ve both agreed to a slow burn, flow with it and see where your head is with time.”
“Make sense,” I nod. “I don’t want to overthink it.”
“I agree.”
