Chapter 35—Avoiding Awkward Tensions

Naomi paced around her room, hands fidgeting with her phone as she tried placing a call to Korede.

"Come on, pick up!" Naomi's voice cracked as she placed her phone in ear.

Why was it that all of a sudden she couldn't answer a phone? Just when she had something important to tell her.

Finally, Korede answered. "Hey, Naomi, what's up?"

"Korede, Finally!" she exclaimed. "Where did you drop your phone? I've been trying to reach you since yesterday!"

"Oh, about that, I saw your missed calls. I'm sorry. Mide and I went on a date, and we both switched off our phones to avoid—"

"Yeah, I don't need to hear about the details, madam."

“Well, you’ve got quite the attitude this morning. Did mummy ask about your love life?”

Naomi could picture the smug expression on Korede’s face only seemed to make her impatience grow.

“Where are you? I need to talk to you,” she huffed.

“Hmmm, sounds important,”

“You think I would be buzzing your phone with calls if it wasn’t?”

“Then why don’t you just spit it out right now?”

“It’s not something we can talk about on the phone, Korede.”

“Hmmm, alright,” Korede replied. “I’m at home, but my friends and I will be heading out to the saloon to get our hairs done later today. We can talk over there.”

“Okay, text the address to me when you get there, and I will come over.”

** ** **

Azeez sat in the company's lounge where all the workers gathered to have lunch together. It was his father's idea as he hoped it would build Harmony and familiarity among the workers, but it was optional of course. It came as a shock to Azeez when he saw David walked into the lounge, approaching him with his lunch in his hand.

"Hey, man, you finally stepped out of your work zone to sit among us lazy folk, eh?" Azeez sneered out loud as David approached.

David rolled his eyes at a couple of co-workers, who chuckled, then sat next to Azeez.

"Well, I've run out of jobs already…And the office became stuffy all of a sudden," David muttered.

"For real?"

David gave a slight nod in response.

"Whoa," Azeez gaped. "Including the changes that Mide's grumpy old aunt made?"

David didn't respond this time.

"That means we're good to go ahead for setting up tomorrow right?"

"Yup, tell the guys to get ready," David replied before taking a gulp from his beverage.

"Guy, you be real workaholic. Oh!" Azeez exclaimed. "Your work rate when you've got a broken heart is unreal, man. I should go thank Korede right about now."

David slapped his face in frustration, and Azeez laughed.

"How are you doing, man?"

"How do you think?" David shot a glance at him.

Azeez rested is his elbow on the desk, then arched his back in a curve, sensing the birth of an intriguing conversation.

"So let me get this straight: you only told her how you felt. Then, she rejected you once—just that once—and you chose to give up? Just like that?"

"Guy, it's not like she gave me any option," David countered. "She clearly chose him and not me, and she isn't ready to ruin what she has with him because of me…If she wasn't getting married, that would be a whole different ball game, but she is, man. I can't be the guy that puts a relationship in jeopardy because of my own feelings."

"Mhmm, that's true…Have you at least asked her what she meant by her statement?"

"How can I when she won't even pick my calls or answer my texts?" David snapped.

"Wow, that's unlike Korede. You must have really scared her for her to act like that." Azeez laughed.

David gave a short, irritated mockery of his laughter and hissed before taking another gulp of his beverage.

"Don't mind me. I'm just in the mood for jokes this afternoon."

"Well, they are not finny." David grimaced.

"I'm sorry, man…" David gave a slight shrug and continued eating his meal. "Regardless, I am still proud that you're finally ready to move on. I never thought this day would come."

"There you go again!" David fumed at his final remark.

"My bad. Last one, I promise." Azeez chuckled.

David looked down on his plate and let out a sigh. "Well, you're right, though. I'd never had imagined it too. I just wish there was a room for proper closure."

"It will be okay, man," Azeez reassured. "You just have to let the next two days play out like a movie, and you will get your chance."

David's eyes scanned for any co-worker who was staring. He puffed a sigh.

"It's such a drag that I'm going to be at the wedding, man. I mean, every second that will be spent watching her be happy without me is going to be pure torture," he lamented.

Azeez was puzzled by David's shallow resolve. "Who says you have to stay? You can just do your job and leave," he pointed out.

"Yeah, but if I leave early, people might think I'm still holding on to some grudge, and I don't want that," David explained "What? So now, you care about people opinions on your actions?" Azeez beamed. "I must say, I'm starting to like this new Dave."

For the first time since he walked into the room, David chuckled. "You know how people talk, na. I just don't want to leave any awkward tension behind…" He paused as soon as he remembered something. "Speaking of awkward: Mide invited me to his bachelor party tonight."

Azeez gaped at him. In David's eyes was a serious gaze. He wasn't joking.

"Wow, that's…absurd," Azeez blurted. "Maybe he's just trying to be nice since you and Korede we're once close."

"Yeah, maybe," David said with a shrug.

"So, will you go?"

"Well, I have to, right? It might seem awkward if I don't," David answered.

"It's definitely going to be awkward if you go," Azeez countered. "Sure, Korede won't be there—it's a bachelor party. But Mide's friends are going to be there, and you don't know any of them. Heck, you barely even know the guy."

David nodded. "I thought about that too. That's why I came here to sit with you lazy folks," He paused, and they both chuckled. "Will you be my wing-man?"

Azeez laughed again. "No can do, man,”

"Come on, you said it yourself: it's going to be a weird night. But if I have you by my side, things are going to be a whole less awkward."

"I'm sorry, man, but I can't," Azeez objected with a calm tone. "I have to be home to take care of Aminat. The baby is due soon, and I don't want to miss anything."

David sighed. "Yeah, you're right."

Azeez kept a steady gaze at him, already knowing what he was thinking.

"Don't work yourself up," he said. "I know you can handle it."

David nodded once more and forced a fake smile. "Thanks, man."