A Silver Lining (#Wattys2018)

Chapter 8| path

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"Life is too short to wait"

Dedicated to: siml13

Song of the day: golibe by flavor

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Yeah, there were so many things, I wasn't expecting or did not expect. The weeks after that day, were turning points in my life.

There were witnesses of my budding attraction to Asiwaju, though Jessie was aware of every tiny detail in our relationship (ok, not every tiny detail). There were the audience that screamed our cuteness.

It was in them, that I found my person (or so I thought), it was amongst the seemingly endless week, that Asiwaju enacted a tender kiss on my lips and all I functioned for in that moment, was to return the kiss, with so much  fervor.

It was during that week, when we had concluded our terminal exams for the year  and stopped by our regular ice cream shop, that he asked me out.

I remember that day, like the tiny scar on my left knee. I was just taking scoops after scoops of ice cream, I was through with senior secondary one, it felt surreal. I didn't even notice that he wasn't taking his own ice cream, it was Jessie that asked him. He shrugged and replied with lousy excuse of not feeling it. How do people or how can a person not feel the need to scoop ice cream.

We walked Jessie to her house, it was the closest to school. We continued our journey, while he told me the possibility of his traveling to five different places. I could not believe, but he was Asiwaju and he had up to a thousand aunties and uncles.

We were a short distance from my house, he'd always enter a keke napep or motorbike to his house after walking to either Jessie or my house. That day, it was my house.

He suddenly stopped, and that made me stop too, i was asking him why when he threw the question at me 'Willyoubemygirlfriend?'

"What?" It was the only thing I could utter, be I was sure I heard the last part correctly. Girlfriend.

He swallowed. I noticed that, whenever he was nervous, his eyes would dart back fort. His honey color eyes, was darting back and fort.
"Will you be my girlfriend?"

It was a slow question. I wasn't even sure, if I heard it correctly.
Be his girlfriend?

I did not give him a reply, and shortly after that he entered a keke napep, when he waved at me, i could not find a response.

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We were on break, and the only good thing about, breaks like this, was the fact that they were longer.

I was in the kitchen, with mom. Our goal is to make that spicy pasta, that she has been raving about. We never really got round to doing that spicy pasta, I guess so many things happened and it could not hold. Not that we didn't eat pasta, no, we had our fair share of pasta, but today were going to make it to mom's specification and desire.

So we had, a two hundred and fifty gram pasta, a bulb of onion, a medium sized bottle of oil, two sachets of tomato paste, seasonings, salt, green peas,  Cameroon pepper, carrot, scotch pepper, green pepper, fried fish, and a large bowl of water. Don't forget, the tomato sauce we have in freezer, which mom is definitely going to add.

With the above ingredients, we were going to Jollof spaghetti. It is a remake of the famous 'Nigeria jollof rice'.

Firstly, I break the spaghetti into a pot of boiling water. Mom had washed, the carrot, green peas, scotch pepper and the rest of them, she was chopping it. I, on the other was trying to cut the fried meat, mom added, into long and thin forms. I was trying, but the knife is been uncooperative.

In a few minutes, mom removes the spaghetti and drains the water from it. She place another clean pot on the fire, this one is bigger than the first pot, she adds groundnut oil to it, then she turns the bowl containing everything she chopped in to the pot.

I replace her, by stirring the mixture, while she occasionally add various seasonings. And finally the meat that I tried so hard to cut. We add the Cameroon pepper to the mix, before I can even ask her, if it is okay to add water, she appears with the cold tomato sauce, she's avoiding my gaze but there is a knowing smile on her lips.

After sometimes we add water, wait for it to boil before we add the parboiled spaghetti. At this point, I can barely taste it. But mom, finds nothing wrong with it, as she takes a sip of the mixture and nods her head satisfactorily.

By time its ready, dad arrives just in time, to join us. The meal is superb, not that I wasn't expecting it to be, but I was just apprehensive of the pepper. Its okay.  Its amazing. Dad even asks for a second plate.

Sidelines

Hey 💖

Things are speeding up between Asiwaju and Aramide. 😉

So, Asiwaju finally asks her out.
What do you think was her response?
Yes or no?

Who loved the jollof spaghetti?
Who is going try it out, i'd be willing to hear your experience.

Jollof rice vs Jollof spaghetti.
Which one do you prefer the most?

Mom: comment spicy pasta, if you absolutely love spicy pasta.

Don't forget to hit the vote button!!!

Thank you!!!!