***sweating inside AC** I stood up to place a order for
Betty. I got to the counter and opened my wallet to
pay for what I bought. I realized I had just 1,500naira
left with me. I returned back to my table with a forced
smile pretending to be ok, but deep down inside me, I
wasn’t ok.
BETTY: **smiled** thanks for the meal
ME: **smile by force** you are welcome.
BETTY: **eating** so, tell me about your occupation.
ME: **lost in thoughts** you mean me?
BETTY: yes na.
ME: ehmmm, I work as a secretary and also a P.A to
the manager of a pure water company.
BETTY: that’s nice.
ME: ***eating my remaining pie with force*** you are
welcome.
BETTY: so, how is your girlfriend?, tell me about her
ME: me?, girlfriend?
BETTY: yes. You look uncomfortable, hope no problem?
ME: not at all, I was just wondering if I locked my room
door properly this morning when leaving.
BETTY: eeyah. Sorry oo, so answer my question
ME: I don’t have any girlfriend at the moment.
BETTY: hmmmm, what happen to the previous one you
had?
ME: she left me for a rich guy, so I have decided to
work hard and make money before going into another
relationship.
BETTY: eeyah, sorry about that.
ME: you are welcome.
BETTY: so when will you have enough money for
another relationship?
ME: hopefully soon.
BETTY: **smiled*** so what makes you think the next
girl won’t dump you for another richer dude?.
ME: that’s one of my greatest fear
BeTTY: you are so funny onihaxy.
ME: thanks oooooo. So what about you?, how about
your guy?.
BETTY: hmmmmmmm, he is fine.
ME: why hmmmmm?. I sensed something fishy
BETTY: well, its a story for another day. Where do you
say you are living?
ME: not too far from here.
BETTY: maybe I would try to visit you before I return to
lag.
ME: waoooh, I will be happy. When are you travelling?
BETTY: ending of this month
ME: that’s 3 weeks from now.
BETTY: yeah.
ME: **smiled** so tell me more about you.
BETTY: hmmm, ask me what you want to know about
me
ME: you told me you graduated last year. So do you
work?
BETTY: hmmmmm, not really.
ME: I don’t understand
BETTY: I’m managing somewhere and still job hunting.
Will you help me with a job? ***smiled***
ME: here in ado or lagos?
BETTY: me?, Ado for where?, this your local village?
ME: for where?. Na state capital ooooo ”
BETTY: hmmmm, if not for my grandma who refused to
come to lag, will I ever step into this village?.
ME: hmmmmm
BETTY: you have a nice look, feminine face and nice
lips. Keep it up
ME: hmmmmmm. Teasing me abi?
BETTY: not at all
ME: you aren’t looking bad as well. You are even
prettier in real life than in pictures
BETTY: **laughs***
We continued to gist, make jokes and chat on random
topics for the next 25 minutes.
BETTY: I would soon be going, I told grandma I won’t
stay long.
ME: **heart beat faster and shocked*** eeyah. So till
when?
BETTY: we would talk on phone now
ME: ***chaii, how will I pay for the take aways oooo***
ok dear.
BETTY: let me get the take away, **stood up and
walked to the counter and I followed***
She approached the table and ordered for 3 take-
aways of rice. The cashier told us that it was 3k.
“Chai, wetin I go do oooooo?”. I smiled and dipped my
hand in my back pocket to remove my wallet. I flipped
through it and counted the money. “Oops, the cash on
me isn’t enough”. I brought out my ATM card and told
the cashier that I wanted to use POS.
“What is POS?” The cashier asked.
” Point of sales machine” I replied.
The cashier replied “We don’t have that here. If you
want to use ATM, walk down to the 3rd junction and
branch inside, you would see an ATM to use there”.
Betty was just smiling at me as she stood still there
looking at the drama between the cashier and I. She
dipped her hand inside her purse and paid the cashier.
I looked at her and I was dumb. I felt so embarrassed
and don’t know what to utter.
We walked out of the eatery and people were staring
at us as we are walking out, “chaii, shame catch me
but I just locked up” . I opened the door and we stood
outside the eatery for a little chat.
ME: I didn’t check my wallet earlier sha. I didn’t know
that I don’t have sufficient money in my wallet. Please
follow me to the ATM and let me withdraw some
money for you.
BETTY: **smiled** don’t worry onihaxy,I am not asking
for a refund.
ME: ***began to form again*** no now betty, I
promised to buy the take aways for you earlier so let
me pay for it.
BETTY: ok, if you insist, then keep it till the next time
we will meet, I will collect it then.
ME: ok dear. So which one would take you home
faster, a taxi or a bike?.
BETTY: ****smiling and silent***
ME: hmmm, always smiling, ok, I think a bike would be
better
BETTY: ***smiling continued****
We hugged and I held her hand as we walked toward
the main road. I stopped a bike and told the bike man
to take betty to her destination. She just stood still for
about 10seconds smiling before telling the bike man to
go. I was baffled and I told her “don’t you like the bike
or you want to take a taxi?”. She smiled and reply me,
“not really, I don’t need a bike”.
She held her nylon on one hand and her purse on the
other hand. She walked about 5 feet from where we
stood and walked towards a Honda EOD packed by the
side of the road. She opened her purse and brought
out a key, opened the door and entered. I stood still
with my mouth wide open and speechless. She drove
to the position where I was standing and she lowered
the glass of the door.
“Onihaxy, come inside, let me drop you off ”
“Don’t worry dear, I wanted to visit a friend at the next
street” I replied.
She waved at me and drove off. I stood still there and
it seems as if the ground should open and swallow me
as I was watching the car moving away slowly.
I got home and was thinking of what happened
previously.
“But this girl doesn’t look rich to me”
“Or is she into aristo?”
“Abi na runs girl?”.
“But she doesn’t look like one”
“Abi na borrowed car?”
“But why does she had to oppress me with a car?”.
” Abi na grandma’s car?”
I was just asking myself a lot of rethorical questions as
I sat down on my bed. I even got scared the more to
ask her out. I couldn’t recover from the shame and
embarrassment. I called her to check on her and she
thanked me for hosting her earlier. I felt like asking her
questions about the car but I don’t know how to go
about it and I ignored. I then logged on to whatsapp to
chat with my friend.
ME: sege, how far?
SEGE: I dey jaree my guy?. How far with the babe you
go meet for eatery?
ME: omo, drama happen ooooo. Come see as shame
catch me.
SEGE: gist me, she carry her friends come?
ME: if na that one, sebi e for better.
SEGE: wetin come happen?