Last updated on October 22nd, 2025 at 12:04 pm
Joe’s arriving on Friday, tomorrow, and I don’t know how to breathe again. I’m torn between wanting to look good and wanting to look normal. I’ve been unable to sleep since Tuesday, and this doesn’t bode well for me, considering that I’d rather look good and not puffy. My alarm rings as I get up from my bed. I have woken before my alarm twice in a row now, and it’s unbelievable because sometimes Zabby comes from her room to wake me up.
I head to her room and enter without knocking. As expected, she’s up and editing a video. Being a Content Creator is one of the most tedious jobs ever.
“You can’t sleep?” She says, eyeing me.
“He’s coming tomorrow, Zabby.”
“See you shaking like a leaf.” Zabby turns away from her laptop and gives me her full attention. She has a face mask on and with the room barely illuminated, she looks like what I believe ghosts look like.
“See your face like a ghost’s.” I retort and flop on her bed.
“So now you can wake up without me coming to wake you?” She stares at me incredulously.
“Zabbyyy, what should I do?” I drawl.
“What’s the problem here?”
“What should I wear? Should I get a makeup artist or something? Won’t I be overdoing it?”
“Honestly, everyone is on edge. I don’t know why that sweet guy decided to just show up like this. I don’t feel prepared enough.”
“Really?” I stare at Zabby. “What’s this one? Which one is that you don’t feel prepared enough? Is it your visit? Why are you taking paracetamol for someone else’s headache?”
“Ah, sorry. I thought we were in this together. Sorry.” She answers, scoffing. Just like that, I start laughing and we both fall into laughter. This is Zabby’s superpower.
“Zabby, you’re a clown. Seriously, though, I’m nervous. It’s been about six years since I last saw him.”
“I understand,” She says, looking serious. As serious as she can look, given her face mask. As if on cue, she adds, “Let me take off this mask.” I huff and drop on her bed. She comes back into the bedroom without the mas,k then turns her work chair to face me.
“The thing is that I’m nervous. I can barely eat.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know. He’s flying all the way from Calabar randomly to see me, nothing is happening, we’re not even in a relationship yet. Elizabeth, I told him about Eliam and he didn’t even shake. It’s just a lot.”
“Do you question his motives?”
“No. It’s just… just too easy, too smooth.”
“After your experience with that silly Tochi, I’m not surprised. Everything with him was a struggle, so it makes sense that something contrasting can evoke these feelings.”
“I guess that’s it. It feels strange. I’m thinking that I have to do something extra to like…compensate for it.”
“Yeah,” she nods. “Like I told you earlier, you deserve love, and if this guy wants to love you, receive it. You’re worthy of love, of something healthy. Go through your fear but don’t let it hold you back.” Sensing that she already succeeded in calming me, she gets up, “Please, let’s go and check that your boring wardrobe for something. We need that guy to faint when he sees you.” She stops and looks at my legs, then nods, “We need to flaunt those long legs. You don’t need a makeup artist, by the way.”
I get up and follow her to my room. Of course, I don’t need a makeup artist. I rarely ever wear makeup. Zabby says it’s unfair how insanely clear and bright my skin is. I’m well aware of my clear skin. Sometimes, when I have a single breakout, I pretend to fret the way Zabby does when she breaks out, which is more often than she likes. Usually, I do lip gloss and I’m good.
