My Medschool Ride: Year One

Chapter Six: Saturday

I took a second look at the fast-food joint Amarachi asked me to wait for her in to be sure it was the right one.
I had called her when I arrived at the junction at least five minutes ago. She was a few minutes away so she asked me to wait in the restaurant until she meets me there.

The security man helped me to open the double glass door as I approached it. I walked inside after thanking him and mouthing a good morning.

They were just a few customers in the restaurant since it was still early in the morning. It was a few minutes past 10 A.M. I found an empty seat at a corner and took it. I casually looked towards the road through the glass door of the restaurant to see if Amarachi had probably arrived, but she wasn't here yet. I prayed she comes earlier. It felt awkward sitting inside the restaurant alone and just waiting without ordering for anything. I didn't see a need to order for anything since I was already full with the jollof rice and fried beef meat I helped aunty Jumoke prepare in the morning before leaving.

I distracted myself by going online. WhatsApp was uninteresting as always with just a few messages from the class group chat.

"Hello," I heard someone say besides me, just as I was about moving to check out my Instagram.

"Hi." I raised my head up from my phone. "Good morning," I had to add when I saw the person before me. He was a middle aged man dressed sharply in a red polo top with black jeans and white sneakers.

"Are you here alone?" he asked, taking the seat opposite me.

"I'm actually waiting for someone," I replied and aimlessly continued typing on my phone.

"Don't you want to order for something?" His face was now fixed on the empty table before me.

"No. I'm okay."

"I'll pay for it," he said.

"I'm good, really."

"My name is Ezekiel. What's your name?" the guy asked.

Was all these necessary? He was a total stranger to me.

"Um.. I-I don't think there's any need for that."

"That's why it shouldn't be a big deal telling me your name then." The man smiled.

"It's Torera."

"That's a nice name." The man cleared his throat. "I'll like to keep in touch." He gave me a once-over. "Can I get your number." He brought out his phone.

Seems like I'll be leaving here before the arrival of Amarachi.

"No, I don't see a need." I stood up from my seat and clutched my petite handbag. "I'll be leaving now," I said and hastily walked towards the door. I gripped the door handle and opened the door but suddenly collided with a guy who was just about entering in too, with a girl walking closely behind him.

"I'm so sorry," I apologized to him, while holding on to my forehead which hit his. It's all because of that man I was running from.

"Are you okay?" the guy asked with concern ladened in his voice. I finally found the courage to properly look at his face. I had never come across a face so perfect like that for a long time. Despite the pain emanating from my forehead, I couldn't help but be drawn into his eyes that was filled with genuine concern, and the dark skin of his handsome face that simultaneously expressed shock.

"I'm okay," I quickly said when he was about reaching to touch the skin of my forehead. Did he think he was a doctor or what?

"It's my fault," I acknowledged.