Last updated on January 27th, 2024 at 01:22 pm
This sun had no filter at all. It must be reaching us directly, the ozone layer had definitely disappeared. Maybe the sun melted it. I fanned myself with my hand and shielded my face with the other hand. I was at the park in the school, waiting for a shuttle. The school session was over so many of the shuttles had also started working in the town, just a few of them still came to the school.
While we waited, just three of us, I spotted another person joining us. It was Joe. Jeez. My heart started jumping in my chest. Joe and I had seen each other a couple of times after that call, but it was only in passing, and we had been polite to each other.
“Hi, Sweetcakes.” He said, almost whispering as he moved close to me.
“Hey, Joe,” I replied, a little bit high-pitched.
“You look so beautiful. How are you doing?” I scoffed to mask how good it felt to hear him compliment me.
“I am fine, you? You look good yourself.” And without thinking, “Do you spend all your money on your outfits?” Angelaa. He started laughing in that cute way with his head thrown back.
“Angela, are you complimenting me or just genuinely curious?” I shrugged and saw a shuttle coming. Thank goodness. Joe also saw it and heaved a sigh. “I am glad I saw you, I was honestly reluctant to come to the bus park just because I knew there wouldn’t be any around.” He said as the bus parked. I wanted us to keep talking, but even though there was enough space for all four of us, Joe went to the passenger seat at the front. Ouch!
***
“Angela, you have not really been acting like yourself,” Zabby said, sounding concerned.
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t know. You are less playful, our calls are sometimes tense because it feels like you are holding back… I don’t know, it just feels…off.” She was not lying, but I couldn’t possibly tell her everything that was happening between Tochi and me or the fact that we had not spoken in about a week now.
I had started the process for my one-year service and chose Abuja. Typically, I should have the conversation with my boyfriend so we could both decide but we had not spoken in a while and I had to decide already.
“Zabby, it’s nothing. It’s probably just school stress; project, clearance, and all of that.” I knew she did not buy it but at least these things were also true.
“Alright. Just know I’m here when you need me.”
“Thanks, baby.”
***
Are you around? I read Tochi’s message. I was tempted to drop my phone and continue with what I was doing. I had submitted my final project copies today and I cried a bit, the four-year journey was wrapping up. I decided to reply to him.
Yes. There was no reply from him. After a while, I dropped my phone. Thirty minutes later, I heard a knock on the door. Dropping the book I was reading, I went to the door. It was Tochi.
“Hi,” I said as he entered.
“How are you?” He replied.
“Good.”
“Have you submitted your project?” He said dragging out a chair.
“Yes.”
“Okay.”
We were both quiet for a while, then he started pressing his phone. For whatever reason, that action made me angry. We had not spoken in over a week and he was here pressing his phone as if he hadn’t been with his phone all these days. I cleared my throat but he did not raise his head, I repeated it a second time and he raised his head looking at me like I was crazy.
“Are you here to press your phone?”
“I don’t get.”
“You came here to talk, not so?”
“Talk?” He was acting dumb and if he planned to frustrate me, it was definitely working. I took a deep breath and calmed myself.
“Tochi, you said you were going to call me back when I called you. That was twelve days ago, you still haven’t called back.”
“Okay?” Gosh!
“Why have we not spoken in twelve days?”
“Umm,” He looked around shrugging like it was no issue. “We’ve both been busy?”
“Wow, just wow.”
We both went quiet again. I had nothing left to say. I had wondered many times if he was cheating but I didn’t think he was.
“See, Angela, I think you are overthinking things. It’s a relationship, not a military regime. I was honest and told you I was busy. I submitted my final copies yesterday and for the first time in weeks, I am less busy. Today, I am here.”
“Do you have someone else?”
“Huh?”
…
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