THE MAN I THOUGHT HE WAS

SWEET AFFECTION

Inside the warehouse with my calculator, stock books and pen, doing my normal work routine, calculating stocks and making some necessary reconciliation; Oyias, one of the warehouse boys, knocked at the burglary gathers.

   

Manager Person say en dey find you." He said, almost turning to leave.

"Who is that? Na customer?"

"I no know o. He say en dey find Amaka." The expression on his face asked if calling my name, "Amaka" would upset me. But he was disappointed by the casual look on my face.

Oyias was one of the warehouse boys, very respectful and obedient just like the other two. They addressed me as "Manager" knowing fully well I was not the manager of the company, Maria was. I actually did not know where and how the title originated from, and I cared less to know. I only thought maybe it was because some of the sales representatives normally addressed me as the "warehouse manager".

I went forward to unlock the burglary gathers that were normally locked whenever I was counting stocks in order to avoid distractions. Coming out of the warehouse, Oyias pointed at a black jeep, with glasses all whined up, parked right in front of the warehouse. I went closer to know who was inside the car that wanted to see Amaka. It was very unusual. Very, very unusual. I knew nobody who could possibly own a black jeep in the whole of Bayelsa State. On getting there, the glass by the driver's side gently whined down. A fresh, good looking, smart young man gave me the cutest smile ever. I felt like melting.

"Amaka, I'm Mike." He said with pride, still wearing that ever charming smile. I perceived a sweet longing and lasting cologne of an expensive perfume. Many questions ran through my head simultaneously.

"Could this be the sports car man? This was the exact deep voice that drove by my side that day. Does he have another car? Oh my God! This man is freaking cute. But wait o, how did he get to know my name?'

But mhen! Asking myself how he got to know my name was not really important anyways. I was even happy he finally knew my name. I felt his soft palms, though he never touched me, but was able to sense how soft his palms were. They were as reddish as a freshly pilled udara fruit. I blamed myself bitterly for not giving him my time that very first day. But was he the one? "Of course he's the kind of man every lady would fantasize to have. He's my answered prayers."  I was completely lost in admiration but was called back to reality with his sweet, deep voice.

"Pretty, you're okay?" He asked. I realized that he had been saying a lot without getting any reply from me. I acted like we have not met before. But had the thought of "he might leave this time and would never come back" in mind. But of a truth, we had never met. I only heard a familiar voice, that deep voice of the driver of a white sport car, the sports car man I never looked at. Then again, it was an office hour so I needed to dismiss him as soon as possible in order to return to work.

"Please do I know you sir? Or you're here to buy something from our warehouse?" I said in a hurry. I almost fumbled.

"You would have known me if only you gave me a moment of your time the day I followed you down to this place in a sports car, white in color." Damn! Pride was so much on him. His charisma too, too much for my comfort.

"Oh, I remember. But, I....I.....I am actually on duty now, and eeh...eh...eem, I would like to return to it, maybe some other time...and you know. Like... you know? And..."

"When will it be?" As if he knew I was talking rubbish, he cut in. There was a brief moment of silence as we starred at each other. His eyes so charming and dark. He was in a beige silk suit and a turtleneck pullover as black as his silky thick hair. He looked like a businessman taking a break from the fast paced cooperate world of finance. But there was a thermometer hung on his center mirror. "Is he a medical personnel? A doctor?"