Last updated on October 22nd, 2025 at 05:29 pm
This heady feeling that comes with being in love, almost like you’re intoxicated, makes you want to do everything you can to make your partner happy without even thinking twice. The smile on Angela’s face and the way she keeps relaxing into me without her even knowing is like a drug to my system. I wonder how she’ll react once I let her know that I intend to use it for my collection for this year. Even if she refuses, we can find a compromise. I could use the ones where her face isn’t visible.
It was probably a bit naive and too hopeful of me to have gone to Abuja with the intention of taking Angela’s pictures for my yearly collection. I’m asking her out tomorrow and I need everything to go well. I’ve been praying and wishing and worrying, but if her attitude is anything to go by, things can happen in my favour. It’s been a month as agreed, and we’re supposed to evaluate things but we can make it more emotional and memorable yet still practical. Coincidentally, I’m expecting a frame of us from one of my friends who does printing here in Calabar. I didn’t show her that picture on my laptop. I text my friend to confirm and he says that he’ll arrive in an hour.
I know she was worried about coming to my house because of the little bet we had at the hotel. I deliberately acted dumb. That’s my strategy. Two can play the game. Currently, we are watching a movie and eating. I haven’t let her be an inch away from me for more than a few moments since we came in. I don’t know if she’s aware that I’m trying to weaken her resolve. Honestly, without the silly game, it would have been the same. Any time she’s with me is a dream.
“Babe, how do we handle the distance?” I ask, pausing the movie. I paid my rent sometime in early February; we had not chatted then. I could have a friend move in and probably pay me for the remaining months but I don’t want to make any hasty decisions; good things require patience. One thing is sure, and I have had a lot of time to think about it: I’m moving to Abuja. Between now and the time that my rent expires, I will have had enough time to make the move. Still, I ask Angela to hear her opinion.
“I don’t know how this may sound to you. But you have the better chance of moving to Abuja.”
“Really?” I ask, busying myself with a spot beneath her ear.
“What do you think?” She tries to pull away. I hold her.
“It’s a good one.”
“Did you even intend to have this conversation, or were you just wanting to distract me?”
“Umm,” I stop what I’m doing. “So, no long distance? No option of you moving here?”
“No long-distance long-term. Until we decide, I will definitely make trips to come and see you.”
“Okay, baby,” I say, looking at her.
“That’s it?” She asks, lifting her brows. I shrug and sniff her neck. “Joe, I know what you’re doing.” She laughs.
—
“Who was it?” She asks. The frame has just been delivered.
“A delivery.”
“But we still have a lot of food.” She says and sits up. She can’t see the frame from where she is, so I open it. “Joe?”
“Yes, my love.”
“What are you doing there?”
“Baby, come and see it for yourself.” She gets up, and my heart starts pounding. I planned to have the frame in my bedroom, then after weeks or months, I would show her during our video calls. I didn’t know that she had a surprise visit for me.
“Joe, you’re behaving funny, I know you-” She sees the frame and stops talking. “Joe. What’s this?” She lifts the frame. It’s an upclose picture of her laughing as I kissed her neck. You can see our features better. One arm is around her chest, the other around her waist. Her eyes are shut, her beautiful teeth, her thick hair, smooth skin, and the joy on her face are all on display. I’m just a silent worshipper in the picture—the devotion clear in my pose. It’s a wonderful picture. “Joe?” She says softly.
“I made a frame,” I state the obvious.
“But I didn’t see this earlier.”
“Yeah, it was meant to be a-” I’m about to say ‘surprise’ when I get my own surprise. Angela’s lips crash onto mine before I can even blink.
