I said ‘Hi’ as I walked towards the lady in distress but she was rather mumbling some words which I think were curses at the box she was having a hard time carrying. She was startled as I bent down to help, apparently she hadn’t noticed me all along. I had to repeat myself “Hi, my name is Tunji and you are in my space, can you show me the way so I help you with this?”

She nodded in return and led the way to the empty flat she was occupying, I speedily helped her move the remaining items, parked my car and head to my apartment so fast she didn’t notice me leave.

I dared avoiding her gaze when I ran into her later at night on my way to get Suya but it was too late.

“Hello” she said; “hi” I replied. “I didn’t get the chance to say thank you for the favour the other time, “oh, that? Never mind”. I said. But I still have to thank you though; you helped make my work easier and faster.”

She asked where I was heading and asked to tag along as she needs to get some toiletries down the street too.

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After we walked some distance and it all looked like a sea of silence between us, I uttered a word and asked “so what do I call you by?” “Oh, so you haven’t asked for my name? What a gentle man you are.” Trying to fake a laugh, I said “don’t mind me; it’s a rare for me to be in this kind of situation.” Oh well, she said, I’m Lola Silva, but you can call me Lo. “Hi, Lo” I said. What brings you here?

Then she went on “I finished my masters in the states some months back and I decided to come back home to settle down and work here, but my move was rushed forward because my parents had gotten me a job and I had to resume early next week. The place is not even far from here;” she added.

What’s the name of the company? I asked and she said “Lilies and co”. Surprised, I didn’t know when I spewed to her that it was not far from where I work. Oh nice she said, maybe I can tag along with you in the morning when you leave for work so I can get to introduce myself to the company tomorrow. (another tagging along, whew)

Alarms went off in my head, like what did I just do? What did I just get myself into? The sight of the store couldn’t come sooner as I was so happy to see the discussion come to an end and hopefully its death when she entered to get her supplies while I buy Suya outside. I was just about to be attended to when she came out with her supplies and stood by my side. “Oh, you aren’t done here?” she said “not that easy, you can see people are quite many here.

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In lesser time than we had been here, we was back on our way home and I was nearly done with my Suya before I remembered to offer her some to which she said “oh, now you remember I’m here?” “You can’t blame me.” “You are rarely in this kind of situation and scenario” she said before I could finish my line. She knows me that quick? Thank you ooo, I thought aloud.

I was about to move up the stairs bidding her goodnight when she interrupted by asking one more time if she could tag along for me to drop her off at work the next day? After some moments of awkward silence, I said “okay” which never came from my belly. She interrupted my stroll, now she’s going to encroach my space, and in my car also? Who does this nah???

“I leave very early in the morning, I said”. She inquired of the time and I said “by 6am”. She nodded and said okay and waved me goodnight.

 . . . . . . . . . to be continued . . . . . . . . . .

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Yours!

Tolulope