HEAR ME TOO!

PART EIGHTEEN

"Oh man! I'm so late!" Uche cried, hurriedly buttoning his shirt. He rushed to his shoe cabinet, picked a pair of brown dress shoes and while struggling to put them on, he almost tripped. When he was done, he grabbed his phone and checked for his car keys. Then he remembered his car was at the mechanic.
"Shit! Of all the days not to have a car!" He shouted in frustration, picked up his jacket and headed outside. He decided that he would just get a cab in front of his gate instead of calling an Uber because he didn't have time and couldn't afford to wait.
The morning air was fresh but he didn't have time to enjoy it. He really needed to get a new car. Ben had been hounding him to get one since but he loved his car and wasn't interested in owning more than one. That Camry had been with him for a long time and he didn't want to give it up but Ben was right, the car was old and tired. It was time for a change.
He abandoned thoughts of his beloved Camry, called his secretary and told her he'd be late then waited for a cab. As soon as he saw one approaching, he put out his hand and the vehicle slowed to a halt. Just as he was about to open the door, he noticed a lady rushing towards him.
"Please, let me take this one. You can grab the next one," she pleaded.
Uche was quite taken aback by the plea and he would have given in if not for the fact that he was really late and needed to be at the office in a matter of minutes.
"I'm sorry but if I don't get going, I'll be late to my interview," she continued, sounding as desperate as he felt.
"Sorry but I'm already late to work and I don't want to get fired,"Hesaid.
"Please, I really need this. I can't afford to miss this interview," she said.
"Where are you going?" He asked, trying to find a diplomatic way to solve the situation.
"Garki," she replied.
"Shocker! I'm going in the same direction. How about we take the cab together since we both need to be on time?"
"Okay, fine. Thank you so much!" she replied with a huge sigh of relief. Uche smiled and opened the car door for her to get in. When they were both seated, he told the driver where they were headed and asked him to hurry. He checked his messages, replied the one from his boss and apologized for being late.
They rode in silence for a few minutes then Uche glanced at her. She was pretty, dressed in a pantsuit with her hair neatly pinned up. She was wringing her hands nervously and so he opted for small talk.
"So, interview huh?" He asked, hoping she'll oblige him and not think he was creepy for talking to her.
"Yes," was her simple reply.
"What time is it scheduled for?"
"10am," she replied without looking at him. She was staring at the road ahead as if counting the miles she had left to get to her destination. Uche checked his watch.
"It's currently 9:15 so I think you'll get there on time if there's no traffic," he said, trying to make her a little less anxious.
"I really hope there'll be none, because I can't afford to miss this interview," she said and then muttered "That damned cab driver."
"Sorry?" he prompted.
"Oh, It's just that that the cab I got into before this one broke down. He knew his car had issues but didn't fix it and when I alighted, the only thing he could say was 'Madam, sorry, I bin think say e no go misbehave again. I no get money for mechanic, you sabi as the economy take be.'(1)
Uche chuckled at the look of indignation on her face and then cleared his throat when he noticed she wasn't laughing.
"I'm sorry about that. It must have been frustrating."
"You have no idea. If I don't make it in time, I'm going to personally track him down and give him a good kick in the shins." She said and then huffed.
"Don't worry, I'm sure you won't be late."
She didn't say anything for a few minutes and he didn't want to push further so he wouldn't cross the line. But then, she suddenly asked "So what happened to you? What made you late?"
"Umm, I woke up much later than usual and then I realized my car was at the mechanic."
"Oh, alright. At least you have a car, you don't have to stress yourself on most days," she said.
Not having a reply to her statement, Uche kept quiet.
"I'm really sorry for the inconvenience and for not considering you might be late too," she apologized.
"It's okay. Good thing we were going in the same direction," he replied with a smile.
About twenty minutes later, they got to Garki and Uche asked her to give the driver her exact destination. He didn't want her missing the interview. He could afford a few more minutes and even though he knew he'd get an earful from his employer, he didn't waver. When they got to the company, she thanked him profusely, got out of the car and waved goodbye. Uche returned the wave, asked the cab driver to take him to his office and prepared his mind for the scolding he was about to receive.
*****
Ben sat in his office, thinking about what he would eat during lunchtime. He always went out for lunch at one o'clock but today, he was considering going earlier because he was famished. Setting up a virtual menu, he went through the food options and only stopped when his phone rang. He checked the caller ID and it was Uche.
"Hey man, what's up?" Ben asked when he picked up.
"I'm dying bro, my boss just gave me so much work as punishment," Uche replied, sounding as if he was about to start crying.
"Punishment? Why? What did you do?"
"I woke up late today and I had a slight situation so I clocked in at ten."
"Ten? That's unlike you. What made you late and what was this 'situation'?"
"I woke up late and I realized my car was at the mechanic. As for the situation, I'll tell you about it at lunch. Let's eat together today, I need someone to rant to."
"Sure, let's meet up at Jevinik. As for your car, I've told you to replace it. That car has visited the mechanic more times than I can count."
"Don't talk about my car Ben, she has feelings," Uche said defensively.
"Fine, have it your way. But you know I'm stating facts. I'll see you at lunch."
"Okay then, see you there." Uche replied and hung up.
******
They met up at Jevinik restaurant later that afternoon. Ben quickly ordered a plate of fried rice and chicken with salad because he was starving and Uche took a longer time to decide what he was going to eat. He finally picked the same thing as his friend and when their food arrived, Ben started eating almost immediately.
"I wanted to ask you a question though," Uche said while they were eating.
"Alright, shoot."
"Is your dad hiring? I mean, he likes me so I don't have to go through the usual stressful hurdles."
"Why do you ask? Do you want to quit your job?" Ben asked, laughing.
"Yes, I hate it there. I mean the pay is good but my boss is the devil's assistant. You needed to see the insults he rained on me today, and this is the first time I've been late to work."
"Devil's assistant? That's a new one," Ben said with a chuckle and then continued in a serious voice, "I'm sorry about that bro. One of the company directors quit recently because he was relocating with his family. I'll talk to my dad and see if we can work something out."
"Alright, thanks man, I really appreciate it."
"But you know my dad, you have to go through the proper channels to get the job."
"Yeah I know, I was just joking earlier. I'll send in an application."
"Okay, I'll drive you to your office after lunch and you can give me the documents. My dad will be glad you're applying. He's always wanted you to be part of the company. In his words 'I'll have two brilliant sons working for me'."
"Thanks a million bro. Your dad is the real MVP, I love that man," Uche said fondly.
"He loves you too and would adopt you if he could. You should hear him go on and on about you. If I didn't know any better, I'd be jealous."
Uche laughed and Ben joined in. They talked about work for a while longer and then Ben told him what happened with Isabel.
"That Ken sounds like a real piece of work,"Uche said after listening to Ben.
"I feel the same way. I didn't know what else to do except advise and console her."
"Do you think she'll eventually give him a second chance?" Uche asked.
"I don't know, but I really hope she doesn't," Ben replied, taking a sip of water.
"And is this out of genuine concern or selfishness?"
"What do you mean?" Ben asked, not understanding Uche's question.
"Okay, let me rephrase. What's the reason you don't want her to get back together with her ex? Is it because you're concerned and want her to break the cycle or because you want her to be with you instead?"
Ben was silent for a while and then asked "Can't it be both?"
"No man. If it's the former, then it means you really care about her and you're willing to be there for her no matter her decision. The latter however is selfish and just means you want to be the one she dates and you're not interested in her healing."
"Hmmm. So you're saying the first option is better?"
"All I'm saying is, if this is out of genuine concern for her wellbeing, you're on the right path. Even if you both eventually date, it would have more meaning," Uche said.
"Alright."
"You need to think about what your end goal is Ben. And you also need to fix your Tina problem before you even think of dating someone else."
"My Tina problem? Who says I have a Tina problem?"
"You and I know you do. You're not completely over her and that's understandable. She didn't tell you the reason for the breakup. So while you're advising someone else to fix their past, you have to fix yours too or we'll be back to square one in no time."
Before Ben could reply, Uche looked at the time and exclaimed "Oh crap! It's past lunch time. We better start going before I become dog fodder."
Standing up, Uche headed to the counter to pay the bill and they exited the restaurant.

A/N
(1): Nigerian Pidgin English
Translation- "Sorry madam, I didn't think it would misbehave again. I don't have money to take the car to the mechanic, you know how the economy is."