Chapter I
I
She was underdressed in a graphic tee and jeans, but she hoped her massive afro and gaudy cosmetic jewellery elevated her overall look.
She trailed Funsho through the throng of dancing bodies.
They were at a club. She had only accepted the invite because it was a break from the routine that had become her life, and not because she had any particular desire to be in the middle of a bunch of sweaty strangers.
Most of the girls were in high heels and mini dresses, and she accepted that she looked out of place.
She saw a few people she knew and exchanged waves and brief, sweaty hugs, but she tried not to stray too far from Funsho’s side.
It was packed, but eventually they found a wall to lean against.
“You sure you don’t want to dance?” Funsho said, almost pleading. He was tapping a foot and wining his waist, as though the music had taken possession of his body.
She smiled and shook her head. “Maybe later.”
She was a confident dancer, but she didn’t feel like drawing any attention to herself.
She determined to spend her outing watching—girls grinding on guys, taking selfies, filming TikToks or updating their Snapchat feeds.
She had a page, like most other people her age, but she was a consumer, not a creator.
She was content to live on the fringes. She wondered what a therapist would make of that.
Then a voice said, “I finally found you.”
Later, she would wonder how she knew she was the one being spoken to.
She didn’t recognise the voice; but she turned and found herself transfixed by his eyes—the same umber eyes that had stared at her unblinking after he’d taken the long-awaited breath; eyes that were currently fenced off by a pair of rectangular glasses.
He held her gaze and she felt her mouth go dry.
Something shifted inside of her, and she was tempted to reach out for balance.
His expression was sombre, almost stern; but then it softened into a smile, and she thought it was the most gorgeous smile she had ever seen.
“I was starting to think you weren’t real. No one seemed to know who you were.”
She tried to think of a smart or witty response, but her mind drew a blank. “Perhaps you dreamt me,” she said. That would have to do.
He laughed then and reached out to touch her, even though she had not invited him to; but now she wondered if this was exactly what she had wanted, as he gently rested his palm on her wrist. Her body tightened in response and she parted her lips to take in some air.
She couldn’t understand why this stranger was affecting her so intensely.
“No. No. You are real.”
“And you are?” The stranger looked up, surprised at Funsho’s question, and withdrew his hand. She had forgotten Funsho was there. In fact, all the bodies in the room had melted away the moment he caught her in his gaze. She cleared her throat. She felt a little silly.
“Zubby. I should have said. My name is Zubby.”
Zubby.
And then he turned to her expectantly. But it was Funsho who replied.
“I’m Funsho. And this is Eniiyi.”
“Eniiyi,” Zubby repeated, not looking at Funsho. Her name seemed to gather more meaning when spoken by him. “Eniiyi. I’ve been wanting to thank you.”
“De nada. I’m just glad I was able to help.”
“You did more than help.”
“Oh! Oh!” cried Funsho. “You’re the guy that was drowning.
” He seemed relieved to have pieced together the mystery unfolding before his eyes.
Eniiyi was grateful he could not hear the way her heart was beating.
She resisted the urge to press her palm to her chest to steady it.
“You look like you came through that experience unscathed.”
Funsho’s observation was an understatement.
She hadn’t realised Zubby was so tall and lean.
He was at least six foot three, and his skin was golden brown, the light to her dark.
He had a smattering of faint freckles, and his head was crowned with small loose curls, not long enough to hide his large pointy ears.
He wore a plain black tee with Spider-Man emblazoned across it, and an ill-fitting pair of jeans.
She remembered that beneath his shirt he was sculpted.
But why was she thinking about his chest?
“Are you okay?” he asked her.
“I feel a little faint…Funsho, do you mind getting me some water?”
Funsho hesitated, but when he looked her way, she gave him a brief smile and nodded. He walked away from them, glancing back twice.
“Your boyfriend?”
“No. No. We are just good friends.”
“Does he know that?” Zubby was quite close to her; too close.
He smelt delicious. She needed to reboot her system.
She tried to take a step back, but as if he sensed her thoughts, he smiled at her.
“I am really grateful, Eniiyi.” Her name was like honey on his lips—his voice was deep and smooth.
“You saved my life. I would like the opportunity to thank you properly.”
“In some cultures, you would now owe me your life.” She was embarrassed as soon as the words came out of her mouth. But it won her a smile from him.
“Let me take you to dinner first, and then you can decide if you want my life.”
“Here’s your water.” Funsho shoved the bottle between the two of them. He was much faster than she had expected. Had he held the bartender at gunpoint? She took it and mumbled her thanks.
“Let me give you my number,” Zubby said, and she handed him her phone.
He typed his number in and handed it back—she’d thought he would drop-call his own phone so he had her number too, but he hadn’t.
It would be up to her to call him. “See you soon,” he said, and then he was gone.
She could breathe again, even though the room had become significantly more crowded.
She opened the bottle and gulped the water.
“It was a really good thing you did, Eniiyi, saving someone’s life like that; but you shouldn’t feel under pressure to, like…maintain a relationship with the guy. You’ve already done your good deed for the year.”
“Mmm.”
“Do you think you’ll contact him?”
“I…I doubt it.” She couldn’t tell him that the truth was, Zubby terrified her.
Her body was still humming, her senses were still tingling.
She was famously level-headed when it came to the opposite sex; and yet she knew that if she were to continue speaking with Zubby, her life would change, and not necessarily for the good.
After all, hadn’t her mother always warned her it was better to be alone, but if you ever decided to pair with someone, choose with your head and not your heart?
No, she should stay well away from the man she had pulled from the sea.