Must Read: Awkward Ways I Met Girls

7 years ago

Must Read: Awkward Ways I Met Girls

My heart raced. Was she calling to cancel it? By the time the call ended, it was just to say she might a little late as she had to help her dad do somethings.

Okay.

Kemi went away with her wahala. I spent the afternoon watching a movie. And when it was 4pm, I began to get ready to step out.
Kemi taunted me the whole while, saying things like
“So its evening you are even going out and you ironed your clothes since morning like it was christmas clothes”
Funny girl, I cared less anyway.

I called Vicky to let her know I was on my way there. I left at 4:30pm and first went to the shopping centre to get popcorn. I asked her to pack two. She packed them in a paper packs. . And I walked to Area 10.

When I entered the theatre complex, I could see the place was busy.

Up the stairs to the theatre main hall. There were people around. Many of them were looked like academics, or people in the industry. Or those with the love for the arts, like me.

I paid for two tickets at the tickets stand, went in and took a seat, then placed the popcorn on the seat beside. Reserving a seat for Vicky.

A while later, my phone rang. It was Vicky. She was around, so I went outside to meet her at the entrance and gave her a ticket.

There she was, dressed in simple trousers and top, her face decorated with a broad smile..

“Hi!!!” She said looking really excited
“What’s up” I replied
We went in and sat down and she went on to tell me how she just bumped into an old friend of hers who had come to see the play too.
“Nice” I said. I guess people that enjoy the theatre are increasing.

She said it was her first time watching a live stage play at a theatre though.

I smiled inside. And I’d be her first in many other things…

I left her briefly to go get drinks. Outside, Ifeanyi came through on phone. I told him where I was but didn’t mention I was with Vicky. I didn’t want anybody using me to do yeye. What my eyes had seen with Kemi was enough for one day.

I went back in with the drinks.

I can’t really recall the name of the play again, nor even the writer. But I remember it was a dark big man and his name sounded like Ogogolo or Ogolo or something similar from South-South. He was part of the actors too. I had seen the name from the posters pasted on the wall outside. It had been from the posters in town I had even known about it in the first place.

Well, it was a nice time out with Vicky. She enjoyed the play. A nice piece that kept everyone laughing and clapping. And indeed, I enjoyed myself.

An easy way to relax. Vicky and I talked about the characters, plot and so on. You know, like we were watching a movie at a cinema. But something about anything stage is never same like watching a screen. The stage was always spectacular!

After it, we all gradually left the hall in a slow procession. Outside, she saw her friend again and both said ‘Hi’s and ‘Bye’s.

So I asked which way she was going and how she had come. Since I didn’t know where she lived, nor if she was headed elsewhere. I was going to stop a taxi to take her home. She simply said she could manage. And asked where I was going.

I told her I stay in Area 2.

Down the stairs, she said:

“This way” and headed to a car parked by the side, not far away.

It was same Camry I had seen her and her friends come in that first day at Ifeanyi’s place. It had been Vera driving so I had assumed it was Vera’s. But this time, it had plates. She pressed at the key and the lights flashed
“Beep beep”
We both got in. She made a turn at the Area 10 junction and headed towards Area 2. So I asked where she lived, she said she stayed in Maitama.

Well, I figured she could go towards the bridge at Area 1 and join the express through Wuse to Maitama.

At home, it was like Kemi had been waiting for me. She must have seen me coming through the window. As I approached, I had not even gotten to the door, the door flung open. Kemi was grinning from ear to ear at the doorway, pleasantly greeting me welcome. Before I could respond, she had started asking every and all questions she could possibly dig up. Where I went and what her name was and all. Don’t mind the International Amebo Kemi, I didn’t even answer her.

Anyway, it was a really nice evening. Vicky was totally relaxed and it felt very natural being with her. Most of the time, I wasn’t conscious of myself nor conscious that I was with this girl on the first day. We bot talked and laughed like our real selves.

An evening of ease.

I composed a text to her.

“Thanks for the evening. Your laughter was soothing”.

It wasn’t five minutes later I received an sms.

“More thanks to you. Had fun”
Just as I made to sleep, my phone started to ring.

Aunty Ranti. I picked up
“Nle o. Ekun omo”
“Good evening auntie”
“Your voice has changed o. Hmmmm… I’m sure you had a very lovely day. Ekun l’omo, Omo Akogun fun’ ara e”

Translation: Weldone o, Lion. Son of a warrior himself”

We talked a bit more. She never mentioned that Kemi told her anything but she kept greeting me repeatedly in a very suspicious manner.

Lol.

Na wa oh. This network of information super highway between Kemi and aunty Ranti was super fast o. CNN should be child’s play.
In the morning the next day, I called Vicky.

“Hope the night was good on you”
“I slept okay. Thanks.”

After a brief talk, I wanted to end the call so I said
“Well, I just wanted to check up on this baby and know how she is doing”
“To check on who?” She asked as if she missed something.

Slowly I repeated myself
“I said I jus wanted to check on this baby I’m talking to…”

“Oh okay”
“What did you hear? Did u hear ‘to check up on MY baby’?” I teased
She didn’t respond to that.

“Don’t be too hard on me. Somethings are obvious, are they not”

“Somethings like what?” She asked
I laughed. This is the way a smart hunter corners a happy rabbit.

But she wasn’t gonna catch this rabbit that way.

I asked what she was doing rest of the day. Just cooking for her dad, she said. He is diabetic. So he eats different from what every other person eats.
Okay. But what I didn’t know is that it was a very crucial info she had just told me…