THE MAN I THOUGHT HE WAS

LOVE IS SWEET

Sending of gifts and flowers to me in my place of work through dispatch riders, and different keke riders were alarming. Unending text messages too. Mike kept on professing his love to me, like someone reciting a poem, how I was driving him crazy, how caring and loving he would be. I was glad I was not the only one being driven crazy by love. He too was.

Tare in her words would always say, "No dey fall with all your heart o. These guys can do and undo especially these ones wey get money, wey come fine on top like say tomorrow no dey."

That feeling of really being in a long fantasied relationship, with a handsome medical doctor, and also, belonging to Uju's clique in school engrossed the better part of my thoughts. My phone did not rest as SMS trooped in nonstop. He kept thanking me as if I had won the gate of heaven for him.

The next day, the day after the day I said "Yes" to him. At work, before I could count the stocks in my warehouse which was my daily, mandatory routine immediately after the morning prayers, he was already at my office. Climbing down the staircase to the warehouse, I met his cute face smiling at me through a whined down glass of a car parked at the car slot in my company. He came with another exquisite car.

"Does this guy manufacture cars?" That was the exact description of the look on my face the moment my eyes clocked at him. Before I could say Jack Robinson, this man highlighted from his car and gave me a very tight hug which drew the attention of people around, both passersby. Probably, Oga must have seen us from the CCTV monitor in his office. He held me so tight that I could not easily let go of myself, and with a deep peck on my cheek. 

Can this ground kindly open widely and swallow me right now.

"Let's have a date this evening after work?" He requested still holding my waist closely to his. I nodded in affirmation and with a smile. That smile of being newly in love.

"I will give you a call then. I hate disappointments."

"Aright, but please don't come looking for me in my work place except if you want to get me employed in your clinic or pharmacy." I said with a straight look, but very excited inside. At same time, very shy because the attention of many were drawn. I noticed that.

"It seems my Angel is not comfortable with my visit."

Choi! Who told him I wasn't comfortable? I was only trying to secure my work. Running his fingers over my hair while still holding my waist tightly. I smiled briefly and the smile disappeared. I remained mute. Whatever he thought was in my mind should be. I wanted the scene to be dissolved.

"Till evening Mike."

"It would have sounded better, maybe more convincing if you had not called me by my name."

Eh? I gave a sharp eye-to-eye stare at him. Immediately, I cut the stare and looked away from his face.

"Till evening Doctor."

"Not anywhere close to convincing."

"Chim o. what will I use now. I had many words to use in my head. Many names to call him, but my problem was to loosen my lips and let them out. If I didn't call him what he wanted to hear, sure, he wasn't ready leave.

"Till evening baby."

Eweh! There was as sharp movement from my heart down to my stomach, in a race, fiam! Did I just call him baby? He grinned and pecked the back of my palm.

"Till evening then." He turned and majestically walked to his car.

Omo, the charisma he carried was so much for someone like me. The glory attached to his dress sense too. He turned on the engine of his vehicle and cruised away. I turned to find the OPM watching through the balcony with two sales representatives. Oyias and other warehouse boys were in front of the warehouse smiling like people who were given free drinks and foods as they communicated in their language. I never doubted that they were discussing about me because it was clearly obvious. I didn't know if I should go straight to the warehouse and continue with what brought me downstairs, or I should go upstairs, take a deep breath, then climb down to do my stock counting. Turning my neck the other way to see Tare with her boss standing in front of their company. She gave me her usual sharp but brief smile raising her two thumbs for me as if I just won a trophy. Other viewers at the nearby stores gave me their warm smiles. That was when I realized I acted an entertaining drama with Mike for the viewers to watch apart from OPM who rained her wide gaze at me like someone who had just finished watching a horrific play.