First Impressions

4. TJ

Beep. Beep. . .

I honk for the umpteenth time. It's rather too early to be stuck in traffic on a Saturday. I am a man on a mission.

Looking out of my window, I shout at the top of my voice, "Oh boy! Comot for road now!"

Relaxing, I wait patiently for the driver to move. Guess what? He doesn't.

Leaning out my window, I holler, "If you know say you be learner, why you no paste am for your car make we know?"

Okay, hold on there for a minute. I know what is probably running through your mind right now. Who is this razz guy? Guess what, I ask myself the same question every single time and I still can't seem to find an answer to it.

My name is Olatunji Maxwell, popularly called TJ by my friends and you are in that club too if you are interested. My father made his fortune by partnering with international telecommunication companies long before my sister and I were born. Very smart guy in business, but dumb when it comes to his relationship with my mother. He's even dumber for having settled for rearing one son who has taken it upon himself to make him know he is dumb.

"Hello there! Sole heir of Maxwell Enterprise having a great day here. Please move," I sigh.

Flexing the muscles of my fingers on the steering wheels, I rev up the engine of my Mercedes. A chuckle escapes my lips at the memory of the promise I made to myself never to be involved in any roadside drama again. This guy however has made it his duty to frustrate my plans on what started as a peaceful Saturday. Stepping out of my car, I take long strides in a bid to reach the driver fast before he takes off. Sharing a piece of my mind is all I want to do, but if he provokes me, I'm not immune to throwing punches, promises be damned. This is Lagos.

I hiss as I knock on the tinted window screen.

Tap, tap, tap my feet goes.

The window screen slowly winds down, I lean in and to my greatest surprise, I discover a pretty lady seated. My eyes subconsciously assess her full bosom which is in full display, seeking for attention. My brain shuts down. Maybe her car is faulty. What was I thinking when I came up with 'a punch in the face' idea? Why do I think off track? What has she done to warrant such aggressive thoughts?

With my warmest smile lighting up my face and a soothing voice, I ask, "Do you need help?" If she does, I'm more than willing to oblige.

"You are in my way and I am in a hurry, but I can help, with a mechanic's, my mechanic's phone number."

"Oh sorry, I am actually -"

"It's no biggie and you definitely won't be inconveniencing me in any. . ." I swallow my words as a dude approaches the passenger side of the car and gets in.

"Hey baby, so sorry I'm late," he announces. Oblivious to my presence, he plants a kiss on her cheeks, then looks back to rock something behind. My eyes travel with his arm and I notice a baby strapped to a car seat.

Hold it there!

A baby? How come I never noticed? My senses today have been so. . .

"It was nice meeting you," She says as she looks at me with an innocent smile. The lines between my brows deepen as I realize that she knew. She knew!

"Can you please step aside a little? I have to move now. Sorry about the delay."

Holding on to my bruised ego, I step back.

Hands akimbo, I stare at the disappearing car.

"You should have stuck with your initial plan," I mutter under my breath.