Skip to main content

The Blaze Series

Part 3
-   -    -     -      -
One month ago
8:05am Monday Morning
  I just got to the office and I was feeling on top of the world in my olive green skater skirt and grey off shoulder top. My Atmosphere ankle strap heels and leather bag gave a resounding statement that I was feeling good. Everything was working perfectly for me. I just convinced a client to invest in the company and it was a huge deal. Though it was not my job but a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do. My rebate was important. I was just excited and even my colleagues got a whiff of it. Tiara had to ask if I met a guy over the weekend and probably he proposed. I laughed it off with a sarcastic 'I wish' reply. I dropped my bag on my table, sank in my chair and said a short prayer. My day had officially begun.
 12:30pm. Tiara was going for lunch and asked if I was coming. I still had a lot to do so I declined. I was just about going to the restroom when my extension rang.
  'Miss Miller? Reception here' came the tiny voice
  'Oh hi Hauwa, how are you?'
  'Very well thank you. There's a package for you here ma'
  'Package? What's in it?' I was suprised to say the least.
  'Food from Magrellos', she replied softly.
  'Magrellos? I didn't order for anything'
  'It has your name on it ma', she replied.
  'Alright. Send it upstairs'
Food? Are these people doing a bonanza or what? I sha did not order for anything. A messenger brought in the food about two minutes later and it indeed was a package. Magrellos food, a greeting card and a rose flower. I smiled when I saw the card, thinking it was one of my many admirers. My smile soon dimmed when I read the note.
   'Thought you might be hungry - Fola'
I instantly lost my appetite. This guy is really a weirdo. Seriously? Food? Card? Flower? He is really up to something. Not wanting to give signs of discomfort, I gave the food to an intern claiming it was not what I ordered for. The innocent girl collected it with joy. Can I blame her? When I told Chiamaka, she simply laughed and said 'Na so love dey do person o my sister. Just give the guy a chance abeg'
  I bet I didn't even explain what I dislike about this Fola guy. He is really not my kind of guy. I'm not saying he's ugly but he's just there. He appeared to be and proved himself to be a stalker. He has followed me on all my social media platforms: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, you name it. He has liked and commented on all my pictures. If this is love, I'd very much love to be single abeg.
-
5:42pm Friday evening, same week. I was excited that the week was finally over and I could have some time for myself over the weekend. But, fate had another plan. Bad luck hit me when as I stepped out of the reception, I saw...you know who... This guy is really a monitoring spirit and whoever does not agree with me should go and argue with his or her ancestors. I didn't want to appear cold and unfriendly. I was wearing slippers so running would be easy. Run? Hell yeah! That's how much of a bad omen this guy was to me.
  'Hi Miss Miller' he said with a smile, going for a hug.
  This idiot has plastered my surname in his gothic brain. I somehow saw his pocket square almost falling off. Golden opportunity. I 'stylishly' declined the hug and reached for his breast pocket 'adjusting' the square.   'Fola..hi' I said patting the square on his chest.
  'I was wondering if you could go to dinner with me today so we could talk'
  'I...errm...Fola, I have to see someone now and it's very important. Besides, I can't go like this, I look tired and rough. He reached out and kissed me on the forehead.
  'You're perfect' he said grabbing my bag. Why did I even utter the second statement? I wiped my forehead with my sweaty palm not minding if my makeup was smudged.
-   -   -   -
  'Fola I'm already seeing someone' Fola just asked me out. Is this dude brain dead?
'I know cos you are too beautiful to be single'
 I whipped my hair back exposing my ear not sure if I heard him properly. Did he just say he knows? And he still asked me out?
  'You know? And you are still asking me out?' I asked utterly shocked.
  'I just had to come out. I was attracted to you the day I saw you at the coffee shop in Louisiana' he said firmly.
  Someone please tell me to close my mouth cos a Lagos fly might just find shelter in it soon.
  'I'm seeing someone and this is not even an option'
  'Let's work things out please, between us'
  'There is nothing to talk about here Fola. Nothing more from you will make me change my mind' I said softly.
Fola banged the restaurant table hard. All heads turned in our direction.
  'I've waited too long Toun'
Red light!
  'Can I use the restroom please?'
  'You want to run away?'
  'No I'm not' my voice was shaking.
I signalled to the waiter who engaged him in a discussion about the bill. I removed my slippers, tiptoed out and flagged a taxi. Off to safety...
  I told you the guy was a psycopath, didn't I?

Missed Episode 2? Read it here

Thank you so much for reading. Do leave a comment or complaint, as the case may be.

Good morning! 💝💝

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Dear Friend,

On this day last year, I wrote about the buildup of events that led to my dad’s passing. I also said that day started the most chaotic year of my life. I didn’t lie. Today, on the second anniversary of his death, I thought to write to you about grief and how I have dealt with it because, in truth, grief does not leave you; it just gets better. Over the past year, across my social media platforms, I talked a lot about how his death triggered emotions in me that I didn't know existed—new descents into the deep, new levels of highs—anything to get into my emotions or consciously get out of the physically overwhelming feeling that was like a weighted blanket most days. Because I lived quite far from home—up north, to be exact—my guardians broke the news to me at the crack of dawn that Tuesday, and I was broken, as anyone who hears bad news is. I was stumped mostly, but yeah, I was broken. The first person I called was my mom, and on answering the phone, she started to say my oriki , w...

'It has pleased God to call your Dad home'

                                                              Photo by Eyasu Etsub on Unsplash 'It has pleased God to call your Dad home'. I went cold. My arms and feet. January 22nd, 2021 I was on my way home from work when my brother called. He asked for our family -read government- hospital card number. It was a very odd question because my dad had retired -as a civil worker- and we no longer used the card for consultation. In fact, we had been told on several occasions that they had taken his card 'off the shelf'. Besides my brother had his own card at the same hospital, being a government staff. So the question was very weird on all fronts.  I told him I could not remember the exact number but gave him two or three numbers that came to my head at that time. I asked what the problem was and he s...

The Stranger

Photo by Artur Tumasjan on Unsplash ‘Let me help you out.’ I hear the voice call.  I look up to see the brightest smile I have ever seen on a human. Her face is elegant, shiny, and well-structured. She must have seen me struggling with my one too many bags. I love the gesture, so lovely and pure. Genuine and selfless. She has just one box with her and a small bag slung across her chest. She looks happy. I wonder why. ‘You look like you have a lot going on’, she continues. ‘I really do’, I reply with genuine happiness and laughter. ‘Thank you very much,’ I continue in gratitude as I hand over my largest box to her. She looks willing to help, her hand is already stretched out to help. Her offer to help warms my heart. Not often do you meet someone who genuinely wants to help you out with your bags at the airport. At least not here. I rarely get help as much as I get looks and compliments from strangers. The best I can think of is getting a ride, not getting help with my bags at the ...