Within these walls

Chapter 8

Sundays come with in-depth loneliness for me. I see Sunday as a rest day because in this part of the world nothing much happens on Sunday. It is slow-paced and calming. In Abuja, you can count the number of cars you see on the road on Sunday. To me, it is that day you stay at home with your loved ones or if you have to go out it is that day you hang-out with that person dear to you.

2:30 p.m driving on the empty street of Abuja, with my windows down enjoying the beautiful weather and humming to Ayuu's for me, featuring Efe Oraka, the Sunday's loneliness hits me.

"It will be nice to have somebody to hang-out with sha," I said to myself.

I have friends and siblings that will instantly agree to hang- out with me. But the need on Sundays is not platonic, the need in my chest currently is that of having someone I am romantically involved with right on my passenger seat. To be in a space where you can be vulnerable with someone without the fear of it being used against you, to be loved wholeheartedly and intentionally, to be cheered and be looked out for. But then it is what it is, I can't go about beating myself on things that I can't control. Also when I think of all my exes I will rather chew grass or deal with this occasional feeling than end up with them.

I am on my way to meet up with Sadiya, we have an appointment by 4:00 p.m with her wedding planner. I don't understand why people have meetings on a Sunday, it doesn't make sense to me but I am here.

Yesterday, Wednesday we presented the finished video to AK and Mr Ahmed, I don't know what it is about Mr Ahmed o but all the team members like him and are being so efficient. I mean Emeka sorted out everything with the influencers without fighting with any of them, if you know Emeka, you will know that is rare. Amira has finalized everything concerning advert placement and I couldn't be gladder. Hopefully, this efficiency leads to good revenue for Mr Ahmed's company because that is the goal.

I walked into my office to find two boxes of cupcakes and a big gift box.

"What is this?" I asked Bimbo after replying her greeting.

"I don't know, the security brought it in a while ago, saying it is a delivery for you," she shrugged.

I dropped my bag and picked up the card attached. The card read, thank you for being efficient and delivering excellent work. It was signed, AbdulJalal Ahmed.

"It is from Mr Ahmed," I said to Bimbo with a smile.

"Aww, AbdulJalal is so thoughtful, an amazing man," she said.

I looked at her with raised brows, "you are on a first-name basis now?" I asked.

"Yeah, he is kind, listens and not to add very handsome," she said.

"Woah! Okay, just be careful," I said, because God knows she caught me off guard, I didn't know what to say.

I stepped out to call the other team members to come share the goodies and also place a call to Mr Ahmed.

"Hello, Mr Ahmed,"

"Hi, Miss Bello,"

"You know you can call me Salima, Miss Bello is just a little over the top," I laughed.

"O! Really, so you know that but you have been calling me Mr Ahmed for weeks," he mimicked my voice at the Mr Ahmed part.

"First, I don't sound like that, secondly you are a client and not my friend, so you must be accorded that respect."

"Well, I am no longer a client so you can call me AbdulJalal and hopefully we can be friends?" he asked.

"Okay, AbdulJalal I called to thank you for the goodies, you didn't have to but you did and we are very grateful especially Bimbo."

"You are welcome, you know your job and you don't leave any stone untouched, I am impressed," he said ignoring the Bimbo part.

"Just doing my job. I have to go now, so thank you once again."

"Alright then, see you around." He added.