CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT

Saturday, 20th February 2016.

I stared down at the envelope I held in my hands. I couldn’t believe that he had the nerve to ask such a thing of me.

“Please, I want you to think about it. We were friends once before we tried to be more. We can remain friends, can't we?” He pleaded.

I felt my eyes moisten and tried to avoid eye contact.

“I need to use the ladies' room, excuse me," I whispered.

I was out of my seat faster than he could blink. I collapsed against the bathroom door as soon as I shut it behind me.

I hated this feeling! When did I become such a cry-baby? Everything made me cry these days.

The sound of movement outside the door made me spring away from it. It opened and another lady walked in. She gave me a sympathetic look before she headed towards an empty stall. I patted my face with a damp paper towel and took in a few deep breaths. I knew that if I started crying, my eyes would turn red and it would be difficult to hide. I won’t shed any more tears. With that resolve, I returned to the table.

On my way there, I saw a familiar figure that was hard to miss. Besides the fact that other women in the restaurant kept staring at him, his impressive physique would draw anyone’s attention.

I rarely saw him outside the office, let alone in casual clothes so it came as a shock to me. He turned with a takeaway bag in his hand and was about to slip on dark shades when he noticed me. I wondered briefly how to react. My gaze shot down hesitantly for a moment before I looked up and saw that he was headed in my direction. I forced my feet forward to meet him halfway. I hoped that my face didn’t give away any sign of barely held back tears. I always seemed to be hiding my tears around him.

Dressed in a black polo shirt and jeans, he looked as young as Lara said he was.

“Good afternoon, Mr Jacobs.”

“Miss Fayola, how are you?” He replied with a rare smile that did strange things to my chest.

“I’m f-fine, sir.” I held my breath and hoped he wouldn’t notice anything odd.

He gave me a once-over look and nodded slowly.

“Are you on your way out?”

“Oh no, I'm here with a…friend.” The word tasted bitter in my mouth. I gestured towards Akin who watched us.

They weren't within hearing range, so the two men just nodded at each other in acknowledgement. When I turned back to him, his gaze snapped back to mine. Once again, his piercing light brown eyes unnerved me. I suddenly wished he would put on his shades.

“I'll be on my way now.” He turned to leave then stopped. “Is everything set for the flight tomorrow?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Good, have a nice day, Miss Fayola.”

“You too, sir.”

He slipped on his shades and walked out of the restaurant. When I returned to my seat, I realised that I didn't feel quite as devastated as I felt earlier. Somehow, his brief presence had gotten my mind off Akin and his wedding invitation. Even though it was temporary the distraction was very welcome.

“So, who was that?” Akin asked.

"It’s none of your business."

“Come on, Eni. We don’t need to resort to hostility. There was a time you used to tell me everything.”

“In case you haven’t realized, things are different now.” I sighed and looked away. “He’s my boss.”

“You two seem quite close.” He was obviously digging for more information.

Close, was Akin going blind? I scoffed.

"Why would you even think that?"

He raised his hands in mock surrender and dropped the subject. I was more than glad when I left the restaurant a few minutes later.

***

I was on the phone with my mother later that night.

“Is there any news about dad yet?” I asked.

“Well, he has been given some new prescriptions but his condition is deteriorating faster than we can handle. He needs a transplant but there’s no way we can get that kind of money now. I honestly don’t know what to do. I’ve asked everyone I could think of but all I hear is that it’s a bad time for them and they’ve got bills to settle, children to take care of or they don’t have money at all.”

I sighed and rubbed my forehead. The situation worsened each day.

Oh God, what do we do?

It seemed the only bright side of the situation was that my parents drew closer to each other. There were no arguments between them and my mother was supportive of my father in a way that I had never seen before.

“Mom, I'll send you some money today so you can buy the medicine. I don't know how we're going to get money for the surgery but I will think of something."

“Alright dear, but remember, I've told you before. Don't worry too much and hurt yourself with high blood pressure at your young age. We can't have you in the hospital too. Let God handle it.”

Sometimes, I wondered how my mother was able to have so much faith even when things seemed to crumble all around us. I guess I had a long way to go.

“Okay mom,” I said.

“So tell me, what about Akin? We've not heard anything from him for a while now.”

Akin was the least of my worries at the moment.

I still hadn't told my family.

“The thing is, we are no longer seeing each other.”

I decided to get it over and done with. Like ripping off a band-aid.

I narrated what transpired between us with as few words as possible.

“What? Let me go and meet Mama Akin. We will discuss this and that boy will come to his senses. What arrant nonsense!”

I rolled my eyes and laughed quietly.

“Don’t worry about that. I have more important things to think about.”

“Are you sure dear? I can visit his family." The threat was evident in her voice.

“No, there will be no visits. As far as I’m concerned, that is in the past now.”

“Alright, fine. I give in.” She sighed. “Are you all set for your trip tomorrow?”

“Yes, Lara helped me pack.”

“She’s such a darling. Have a safe trip tomorrow, my dear.”

“Thank you, maami.”

Soon after, I climbed into bed and went to sleep.