FEMI'S POV
My elder brother,Tunde returned from China after 3 years.It's been a really long time.
He came with the news that he had already made reservations at a hotel here in Lagos so we could spend some time together.
I lost my parents in a car accident last year so I stay with my aunt.She doesn't like me staying with her though. I just hope Tunde takes me back to China with him.
We've spent about a week here now and I was at the pool when I saw her.
She's so beautiful,they are definitely not from Nigeria, I tell myself.
I'm not actually good when it comes to girls but I'm gonna try talking to her."Wetin u dey look" I hear Tunde say.
"Nothing" I reply casually.
It's surprising that after spending 3 years in a foreign country,he still understand this Nigerian pidgin language.
The next day, my friend and I went to get some drinks at the pub .Then I bumped into her spilling her drink on both our dresses.
Oh No!!!!!this isn't the way I want to meet her.She probably hates me already without even seeing me.
She looked really angry but her countenance changed when her gaze met mine."Am soo sorry" I say as I hand over my hankie to her and watch as she cleans her dress.
"It's fine, I'll just go and change" she replies.
I don't know what to say again. Then I remember those movies I watched where a man and lady bump into each other spilling the lady's drink, then the man offers to buy another drink for the lady.
It most cases the Lady refuses so I decide to ask despite the fact that I have no money with me. I was willing to take the risk.Didn't want to look like a fool in her presence."Okay let me buy you another drink?" I ask.
"Maybe some other time" she says quickly and walks away, almost running.
She said maybe another time,maybe I could still meet her afterall.
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It's really late now, almost 1am.Tunde still hasn't returned and am not sleepy.
Stella, what a nice name and it suits her perfectly.
It took a lot of courage to peck her hand last evening..I just couldn't bring my self to do the same to her cousin.
I actually didn't expect her to agree to come with me outside the hotel.
Maybe she would have thought I wanted to kidnap her.But I'm glad she agreed.
It's 2pm now,in 14 hours, I'll be seeing her again. I'm so anxious...****Later that day****
"You look nice" I say as we move towards the hotel gate.
"Do you mind giving me some fashion tips?" I ask."Thanks" she says smiling and "why do you need that from me?" she asks
"Well,as you can see,I'm a really bad at dressing" I reply chuckling.
I was putting on a black T-shirt, black jean and my white disruptors,which took me over an hour to decide."No,you are not" she says smiling.
"So where are we going to?" she asks,quickly changing the topic."Since you've not been to Nigeria before, we are going to a nearby neighborhood. There is a restaurant there where we could eat Nigerian food" I reply slowly.
I was about to stop a taxi when she said she wants to enter Danfo.
I was surprised,where did she learn that from."You look surprised" she said laughing softly.
"Our guide told me that on our way to the hotel from the airport and this is my opportunity to enter those rickety vehicles" she adds"Okay then" I said as we got into a danfo..
She seemed amazed by the bus and she kept on asking me different questions concerning the way the conductor was talking or when he jumped out of the bus when it was still in motion."Bros,dis your oyinbo babe fine o" the conductor whispered to me as we alighted from the bus.
She didn't hear what he said ,so I whispered back.
"No be my babe oo,na just normal friend"The conductor laughed,
"Na so una go dey talk" he said and the the bus moved.We crossed the road and we decided to walk to the restaurant. I asked her to stop taking pictures. She had been doing that since and I didn't want anyone take offense and eventually approach us,those touts for instance.
We eventually got to the restaurant and she asked me to order for her saying she would eat anything..
I ordered for Pounded Yam and Egusi soup for the both of us." I don't see any cutlery" she says as the waiter brought out the food.
"We don't eat Pounded Yam with cutlery" I put in quickly,
"We eat it with our hands" I add"Eeewwww" she said sounding irritated..
I didn't expect such a response from her and I gave her a disapproving look.
"Am sorry I said that" , she said quickly.
"Let's eat" she quickly puts in,changing the topic.."Are you sure,you're okay with your hands" I ask.
"Yeah,I'm good" she replies.
After eating for a while,she asks
"Are you here alone?""No,I'm here with my elder brother" I reply
"What of your Parents?" She asks again.
I actually don't know whether I should tell her or not.I guess I will.
"They are dead" I say slowly.
"I'm sorry about that" she said.
"I also lost my mum to brain cancer" she chirps in.Why did she tell me that. Maybe she just wants to sound fair.
"Am sorry" I say.
She doesn't ask anything again and the silence is a bit awkward.
"So where are you from and why are you in Nigeria" I ask breaking the silence.
"I'm from California and we here on vacation".
I couldn't help but gaze at her as she spoke.
"You're beautiful" I say quickly."Thank you" she says blushing.
"Don't you think,we should head back to the hotel now" she says after a while.
We take a taxi to the front of the hotel gate and we walk to her house.She kept on asking questions although I couldn't answer some.
"So we'll see eachother tomorrow right?" I ask her as we get to the front of her house.
"Yes,we will" she replies smiling
Then I hug her.As I pull away,I was about the kiss her when I heard her name.
We both looked back.
*******GLOSSARY
1..wetin you dey look = Nigerian pidgin language for "what are you looking at"2..Bros, dis your oyinbo babe fine o = Nigerian pidgin Language for "This you foreign girlfriend is very beautiful"
3..No be my babe o,na normal friend =
She isn't my girlfriend, She is just a normal friend.4..Na so una dey talk = That's how you guys talk.
5..Pounded Yam and Egusi soup = a Nigeria delicacy.
6..Danfo = Nigerian slang for commercial bus.
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Hey guys
How's the Vacation going.
I believe you guys like itIf you have problems with understanding the glossary, please let me know.
Thanks for your comments and votes
Namastey🙏
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