TWENTY TWO

CHAPTER FIVE

MY PHONE RINGS

It's the first time my phone is ringing today. The last time my phone rang was yesterday afternoon when Amina called to ask what time she was supposed to come for my make over today.
I check the caller ID; Victoria.
It's past five now, I have less than seven hours left before today ends and she's just calling.
I answer the call and brace myself for whatever excuse she's going to give me.

"Hello" I say in the most casual voice I can
"Happy birthday Hans" I hear her smiling through the words. She doesn't sound like she's about to give an excuse, she's not saying she's sorry, not admitting she forgot, she's simply calling and saying happy birthday.

I don't know what has changed, maybe I'm older, but I don't blame any of my asshole friends anymore. It's all me. I have asshole friends because I've been an asshole.

"Thank you" I say
"How did your day go?"
"Moses broke up with me" I wait for her to say 'i told you so' because she did tell me so. Not just her, a few of my non social media friends told me so.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm not not okay so yeah, I guess"
"Do you want to spend the weekend with me here?" she's inviting me to her place because she feels bad, I know. I also know she doesn't want to tell me she's sorry, she's wired that way and I actually like it, I don't want people to feel sorry for me.
I'm not sure I want to spend the weekend with her, or anybody. "I'm fine" I say.
"Hans," I hate that name. I'm not a baby and I'm definitely not a horse. "I know how much you were into Moses and it's okay if you need some time away from the city"

She thinks I moved here for him? Well, I did but not like that.

"I work here. I was transferred here for work" my voice is a bit louder now. I'm angry at where this conversation is going.
"I just want you to know you're always welcome back here"
"Welcome back? I choose to leave!" I remind her. It's my house, more than it's hers, and I don't need her telling me I'm welcome back to my own house
"Because of that Akinfenwa boy" her voice is louder than normal.
She calls him 'Akinfenwa boy' because she thinks I'm with him because of his last name. I don't argue with her, it's pointless.
"I'm hanging up now. Thanks for calling" I really can't keep having this conversation with her.
"Hans,"
"Hannah. My name is Hannah"
"I'm sorry, okay? I'm just looking out for you"
"We'll talk later" I say and I hang up.

How am I just realizing I'm surrounded by assholes? Victoria, Moses, everybody.
Just like I did with Moses, I made myself paint a perfect picture of Victoria.
She's family, she takes care of my mother, that's perfect for me so I ignore that she's insensitive. That's not something I should have completely ignored.
.
.
.

After Kevin got a call from his wife, we both left the bar. I didn't feel safe staying there anymore, not after properly thinking about where I was and how I looked -with my too short gown.
I still didn't want to go home but I wasn't in the mood for anything happy like Kevin suggested so I'm staying in Tobi's pharmacy till I trust myself enough not to cry when I'm alone at home.

"This is the second time you're in my pharmacy" Tobi tells me ushering me in "the first time you were sick and Amaka had to bring you here"
"I don't feel like going home yet" I say sitting down. I'm still not used to the heel I'm wearing.
"You should go home though, Chika was looking for you this morning, a while after you passed. I had no idea today's your birthday. Happy birthday, I wish you all the good things of life" he's smiling.
I look away and fake a smile "thank you and amen"

Chika was looking for me, that means he didn't forget. Once again I painted a picture of everything I felt was true. What If he didn't call? I just jumped into conclusion. I left my house this morning, I didn't for once think anyone would want to visit, the only person I cared about was Moses; he didn't remember and I assumed everybody else was like him.

"What did you tell Chika?" I ask
"That I saw you going out, told him you looked really nice too" he's smiling as he says the last part "for someone who moved two months ago and is barely at home, you know alot of people around" he adds.
I want to ask what he means but I don't have to, he continues talking
"Chika and Amaka organized a little party for you, it's supposed to be a surprise. I'm bad at keeping secrets, sorry" he laughs "just act surprised" he stands up and though I'm still trying to process everything I stand up too and I follow him.
I follow as he closes his shop at Six thirty -for someone who opened past eleven this morning he's closing really early.
"Why don't you get someone to help in the pharmacy? You can't always be available" I suggest as he locks the shop

.
.
.

I still have about five hours left before today ends and I'm going to have a happy birthday.

Thank you for reading ☺️❤️
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