Knowing Amaka

Chapter 2

   I stepped into my shared room with my younger siblings, i still have no idea on what to wear!. My choices are very limited and I don't want to make a habit of repeating clothes weekly. I opt for my black jeans and black round neck shirt.
   I checked the time on my phone, it's a few minutes past 8am. I hurriedly pack my things as I come up with yet again another excuse as to why I'm late to work...

   I work as secretary for a small business not too far from my house, it's within walking distance so I don't have to take the usual public transport people use when they don't have a car. I mentally prepare myself rehearsing my lie in my head over and over again, but as i stepped in I only see the other guy I work with.
Here we go again with my horrible attempt at speaking igbo

"Nonso Kedu ébe oga nó" I asked him with a puzzled look on my face("Nonso, where is oga?" translated from Igbo- a major Nigerian language)

"Ón'jhi yá"("He's not around") He replied with a smile

"O ga'bia tata"("He's still coming today?")I asked again already smiling.

He nodded his head in confirmation, I saw him stifling a laugh as he walked away. I know I'm not fluent enough in speaking either Yoruba or Igbo, but I keep putting myself out there to have conversations like this so I can learn better although it's a little bit embarrassing when we have our average toddlers conversing well in their mother's tongue.

   Today seems to be my lucky day, I thought to myself as I settled down. Not quite long a customer steps in, he's a regular and I'm a little bit familiar with him.
While Nonso gets his order ready, he starts up a conversation with me.

"Amaka how are you?" He asked after licking his lips. I cringed internally.

"I'm fine sir" I replied with a bland look on my face. My legs tighten on reflex action, I know how these goes, he wants something from me, I have to be nice to him and dismiss him without being rude, that way I can still get my tip. (Don't hate the players, hate the game.)

He reaches across the table to hold my hand and I instinctively reached for my pen at the same time instead.

"Amaka" he says while smiling.
"You're a very beautiful girl, and I've told you I like you already, let me take care of you"

Nonso steps in and notices what's going on, he's used to customers always flirting me. As usual he saves me and sits with us at the table, my eyes light up slightly and I thank him with a slight nod of my head, I proceed to writing his receipt so he can leave quickly.
He writes his number on a piece of paper and tells me to call him, I take note mentally in my head to throw the paper away as soon as he leaves.
He tips us both, mine slightly higher and takes his leave, I sigh with relief.

"Another husband for amaka" Nonso says while laughing.

"Stop jare" I say while playfully swatting him across the arm.

I start telling Nonso about what happened this morning while I take stock of our inventory. I know I tend to talk a lot, but one thing I like about nonso is that he nevers complains, always indulging me and listening.
I'm trying to show Nonso how to dance a particular move but he's very bad at dancing and I'm not too good either. He fails at it once again and we both erupted with laughter but it was halted as soon as we saw someone walk in.

  "Good afternoon sir" I greet him out of courtesy and walk by to my designated post at the table front, he eyes watch me and I become uncomfortable.
"Not again" i thought to myself, halfway into preparing his receipts, he asks me a question.