It was Friday!
I had just escaped the island by the whiskers
Barely beating the rush hour traffic that was bound to plague the hard-working masses.
A lot had gone wrong, nothing seemed to have gone as planned.
I boarded the bus at CMS, it was loading.
I climbed down to get boile and fish, I was still a Ph boy and it was a taboo to eat boile with groundnut.
I came back in and sat by the window in the back seat.
I closed my eyes, not in prayers but fatigue and relief, it washed all over me.
I daydreamed of my house on the mainland.
Soon, I comforted myself.
I'll be nestled on the bed.
I preferred the seat by the window side.
Not because the view or smell is spectacular.
But at least, it beats the body odor the passenger next to me might have.
And the heat in the bus from carrying four at the back or five sometimes, the window seat was a luxury.
So I preferred this luxury, no matter how selfish and terrible it was, it was worth holding on to.
I was exposed to Lagos life by the window. I enjoyed watching the hawkers run and walk together like comrades, they seem to enjoy their work.
I loved watching the fleet of cars drive by and straining my eyes to catch a glimpse of the driver, whether male or female.
If it was male, I envied and ignored.
If it was female, I checked to see if she was beautiful or ugly and then I romanized with her smiling at me and mouthing her numbers.
The sky is the limit indeed for such intriguing thoughts.
Fool... Yeah, sometimes my thoughts shame me.
I had daydreamed enough, my stomach reminded me.
Then I became gloomy.
How ugly life was.
All my challenges came at me suddenly.
No peace for the wicked they screamed!
I couldn't even reminisce about peace without chaos slipping in and spoiling things.
Still hungover in a plethora of ideas when a scent suddenly invaded my nostrils.
I felt a brush on my shoulders, followed by a polite sorry.
It sounded distant yet it sounded like music.
It took every will power not to turn, and I didn't.
I didn't wanna lose focus and be drawn into another plethora of romantic fantasies.
Then we moved and I breathed out finally... I'm coming home, tell the world I'm coming home, was the song in my heart and lips as the bus moved.
Suddenly we hit a bump and this time, it was I who collided with her, my shoulders brushed her breasts and I just had to turn and apologize.
As I did, I was caught between sorr and wow!
I didn't complete the apology, I was tongue-tied
She smiled.
She noticed.
I smiled back.
"Hello" I blurted after seconds that seemed like hours had passed.
"Hi" she smiled again and focused on the book on her lap. I didn't see that before.
*****************************
She was on a low cut, it was dyed yellow and matched her skin. She was resplendent like wildflowers and pierced the very core of one's heart. Even her scent and smile was crippling in its glorious form.
She was beautiful, not the kind that was accompanied by a large bosom or bottom, but the kind that flowed from inside. Without even undressing to see what her insides looked like, you just knew without words that this was one who was as beautiful inside as you could see outside.
You couldn't help but be attracted, not necessarily the kind that denotes romantic interest but the attraction that had a voice and calls your name.
She was lush and posh, glorious and pleasing, and so I smiled and stared and at that moment, as if she heard my smile, she looked up, laughing from something she read and caught me smiling sheepishly. I froze like one in a trance.
"Do you mind?" I asked immediately and offered her my meal to diffuse the weird silence those few seconds she caught me staring and smiling like a psycho caused. I prayed and hoped she thought it was triggered by her laughter.
The second my request came out, I began calculating. My mind immediately attacked me in nanoseconds. Fool, fool, foolish you...how can you offer a total stranger boile and fish, the gesture is even worse than smiling and staring at her like a retard.
"Really, sure, thank you." She said and dug in.
The voice was silent immediately. I was shocked and pleased.
"Aren't you gonna eat?" She said
"Watching you eat is satisfying, and all the nourishment my body needs." I cooed.
She laughed that soft laugh again, it was real, not fake and not forced. "Hope there's no love portion inside?" She teased.
"He who is enchanted, enchanted not" I cooed again, I hated the way I sounded, and prayed it sounded poetic and romantic... Not like a bird.
"Nice quote, who said it" she asked interested after smiling and shaking her head at me.
"One of the greatest writers and poet, Kingdavid Chinaeke Ofunne, the Authorpreneur." I replied.
"Oh yeah, I know him. I've read all his books and even study his poems in school. All my course mates and teachers are crushing on him." Her eyes lighted up as she spoke about poetry and writing.
In that moment, I was complete. I had discovered Aphrodite, in the flesh
"Join me please." She said
Instantly I obeyed and joined her to eat my food.
**********************
We made light conversations after eating and wiping our hands with the wiper she brought out from her bag. I kept it cool even though my insides were on fire. I deduced she was a student from the statement she had made previously, and then she revealed her business on the island.
Apparently, she had come to visit a friend for the weekend, it was supposed to be a surprise visit, so she came without calling.
She was the one who ended up surprised.
She had found her roommate who left school in the pretext of going to her family house some days back, wearing her T-shirt in her Friends house.
"Friend?" I asked.
"Yeah, he is just a friend now." She said it so casually, I thought she was still in shock."
As if she read my mind. "Don't worry, I'm good, I don't hate him or her, in a way I caused it. I never loved him, never could, I was just sorry for him and couldn't leave him out of pity and because he is a really nice guy, besides they both are a perfect match. She is just as nice and gentle as him."
"So, you forgave him...them?" I asked.
"Yeah, even had lunch and gisted for a while then wished them well." She said.
I scratched my beards for a while then reached out and took her hands in mine. No words, just a stare that said it all.
She understood and smiled again, then mouthed, "Thank you" and allowed her hands stay in mine.
We sat in silence, holding hands and sharing each others strength and energy till we got to Ikeja and alighted.
**************************************
"I'm going to Ogba" I said
"Ojota" she replied, holding my hands now and smiling up at me.
"Home or back to school?" I asked. My voice sounded teary.
"Home," she said. Then after a brief pause, she looked me right in the eyes and added, "I live alone"
I knew what was about to come and what I was to do. My head became dizzy and my heartbeat increased ten times.
I walked her to the bus going to Ojota and asked if I could hug her.
Without minding or caring what the passengers in the bus would say or how they would react.
She laughed and drew me close to her and hugged me tight, then she planted a soft and tender kiss on my lips.
She looked me straight in the eyes again, and we locked gaze, then after some seconds she nodded.
I nodded too.
We understood, even without words.
"Remember me" She said
I turned, and didn't look back as I walked towards the bus going to Ogba, where I lived with my girlfriend, never to forget her.
Remember me...It's been five years now and I remember.
Her name was Adaeze.
Kingdavid Chinaeke Ofunne
Authorpreneur
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