Tomi (A short story)

Chapter 16

Song for the chapter: Give me love by Ed Sheeran.

Tomike

"You look pretty intrigued. Don't worry you're not alone on this one." Camden chuckled

"I'm guessing this is your first time at a sip and paint?" I asked.

"Yes it is. But I'm having a great time don't worry about me." Tunmise answered with an eye roll and I shut my eyes asking God how I was related to such a troublesome human being.

"I wasn't talking to you Tunmise." I rolled my eyes for the umpteenth time since we got here. "I was talking to Camden ." I sipped slowly on my glass of wine.

Tunmise was hosting an exclusive sip and paint event and since we started painting and sipping wine Tunmise had been on our necks. If he isn't making ugly faces at Camden, he's busy threatening to stab him if he thinks of ever breaking my heart in Yoruba. Like I just met the guy some hours ago and Tunmise was already trying to scare him away. What happened to 'talk to more guys Tomi.'

"Not really..what I mean is how could I possibly concentrate when your beauty is mesmerizing."

"Mesmerizing ko mesmerizing ni." Tunmise whispered in my ears and I fought the urge to burst out in laughter. Even I was tired of hearing that line over and over again.

"What did he say?" Camden asked completely oblivious of everything.

"He says you speak nicely."

"Oh thank you." He smiled widely and Tunmise scoffed.

"I dey go Abeg."  He said.

Now Camden is a correct oyinbo guy. The type that you can blatantly insult with pidgin and Yoruba right in front of them and they wouldn't understand a thing. He was one of those tech guys that loved to work from home. He drives a Bentley and lives in Banana island. Had he not been a white man I would have said he was a typical yahoo yahoo boy.

"A penny for your thoughts?" He broke the silence and I offered a small smile.

"I'd accept a dollar instead and mind you, I think a lot." I joked and he chuckled.

"I'm more than willing to spend on you." He smirked.

"Let's see how that goes." I replied in an almost flirtatious tone.

"Sorry about my cousin, I guess it's the stress from organizing the event."

"Oh it's nothing. He seems like a pretty cool guy. I mean setting up an event like this." He smiled. "A friend of mine is so into art and I think he's going to love your cousin's pieces."

"Oh really? I should place a call right across to him right now." I picked up my phone.

"Place a call across to who? Don't forget the studio is my sanctuary and I hear and see everything." Tunmise winked at me then turned to face Camden. "Cam my guy! I knew you were special from the very first time you walked into this place. Tell me, where does this your friend stay?"

"He stays in Capetown but he'll be more than willing to pay for the transportation and services."

"Wow Cape Town here I come!"

"Sorry excuse me. I have to pick this call." Camden walked out and Tunmise squealed like a child.

"You know I've been thinking of South Africa since yesterday. I just had this feeling that I was going to meet my helper today."

"Which feeling? Is it not the same man that you were making faces at some minutes ago that you're calling your helper."

"And so? Tomike shine your eyes. Good things really come to those who wait." Tunmise sighed dreamily and picked the samosa on his plate and chewed slowly. "But wait the patient dog doesn't always get the fattest bone. Where does he work?"

"He's a tech guy."

"Okay that's impressive. But you know how these tech guys are Tomike. Okay What car does he drive?"

"What kind of Q and A is this?" I hissed.

"Hope I'm not interrupting something." Camden gestured to the both of us and I smiled.

"No you're not. Is everything okay? You seemed serious when you were on the phone. We have all kinds of snacks that can make you calm down." Tunmise grinned and I resisted the urge to slap my head in embarrassment.

"Just work stuff." He glanced at his watch. "About that I have to head home now." He turned to me. "Walk me to my car?"

"Sure." I replied and Tunmise tagged along.

"I hope you don't mind if I tag along."Tunmise chuckled and I laughed. "Here's my card in case you need to reach me concerning your friend's business or you could even terrace me through my cousin."

Is that another of your slangs?" Camden chuckled.

"Terrace you as in how?" I asked.

"Terrace as in trace. Some guy with some weird accent pronounced trace as terrace and since then it's just been stuck in my head." Tunmise laughed as he talked and I shook my head.

"Thank you Tun. Mind if I calm you that. I can't seem to pronounce it properly."

"Tun is fine. Nice car by the way."

Now I was sure Tunmise was going to scream any moment from now but he was doing a great job in keeping his excitement in check.

"I'll call you." Camden said to me as he got into his car and I nodded.

"See you around." I said and he drove away.

"Tomike! Your days of singing single ladies by Beyonce is over. You have found your husband!" Tunmise yelled and I burst out in laughter.

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