There He Goes
___________
“Here we are,” Special announces, pulling me from my wandering thoughts as he releases my arm.
Our reserved spot is a cozy corner booth, bathed in the soft glow of a neon sign with the club’s name. Familiar faces, like G-Ben’s current female friend, already occupy the space. Excited, the girls thank Special and slip into the booth. Meanwhile, I survey the centered, low, polished glass table, eager to make the most of our night.
Special offers to fetch me a drink from the bar, but I request he concocts a mixture from the array of glasses and the bucket of ice, housing an assortment of drinks and premium spirits. My familiarity with concoctions from my time at Mama Gee’s pepper soup joint gives me confidence to experiment with various alcohol mixes.
He gives me an odd look, squinting his eyes. “Shouldn’t you be on some juice or Coca-Cola diet or something?”
I laugh. “Because of G-Ben?” It’s probably surprising for him since it’s the first time I’m opting for a ‘big boys’ drink in his presence.
“No... I just want to be sure I’m not accused of offering a minor—”
“Tah.” I chuckle, allowing a playful heat to creep into my gaze. Minor? Not in my dictionary. I’m almost twenty and grew up in a pepper soup joint. “Do you know who Mama Gee is?”
He scoffs, a smile playing on his lips as he skillfully mixes drinks. “Wait till G-Ben hears that I’m the one giving you alcohol.”
On impulse, I nudge my hips against his, a surge of boldness and desire rushing through me. “Better not let G-Ben hear you said I’m looking good.”
“Hmm?” He glances at me, adopting a smug, conceited smirk.
“Or Ella.”
His hands falter as he mixes but regains composure almost immediately.
Why did I bring up Ella’s name? Wasn’t I enjoying this electrifying moment we were sharing? Ugh, the silence between us is becoming unbearable as he focuses on finalizing the concoction.
“How is she?” I ask, attempting to dispel the sudden tension threatening to crackle in our little world.
He shrugs. I see something flicker in his eyes. “She’s doing well.”
He hands me my drink, and I offer a grateful nod, my body swaying gently to the pulsating beats that surround us.
I met Ella last year during my first year. She was graduating and entering the workforce. Special should have graduated too, but he’s a year behind because of his pre-degree entry. They have had a toxic on-and-off relationship between them for over four years and are known as a couple. Last I heard, they’re taking a break from each other. The silver lining is that I get to spend more time with Special before his graduation.
Taking a sip of my drink, the concoction glides smoothly down my throat. It tastes exquisite. I have to admit, anything Special makes is bound to be this good.
Licking my lips, I let my curiosity get the best of me. “Has she got any job offers?”
Special wipes his face with one hand before folding his arms on his tummy. The corner of his lips twitches, and he finally responds, “She has. Chevron.”
I can’t hide my surprise and excitement.
Ella is a remarkable person. She embodies all the qualities I aspire to have.
“Which location?” I can’t help but hope it’s the one in Lagos. Please, let it be—
“Port Harcourt. She started there about three weeks ago.”
“Oh my God.” Port Har—why didn’t anyone tell me? I force a smile and place my hand on his forearm. “I’m happy for both of you.”
“Thank you.” He releases a small grin. “It means I’ll have to double my hustle once I get out of school.”
“You’re ready for that, aren’t you?” I gesture to my cup. “You’re not having any?”
“I’m good. There’s plenty of time for that.”
I nod.
“And yeah, yeah,” he continues. “I am ready. I’m even planning to apply for a master’s degree.”
“That’s great news.” I scrunch my face in mock tears, blinking away imaginary tears, which causes him to laugh.
I join him, laughing heartily, then take a sip of my drink. I gently tap my fingers on my cup, while briefly scanning my surroundings to make sure my girlfriends are safe and having fun. Sure enough, Linda is out of sight while Ekene is chatting with some guy I don’t know.
In reality, would those be tears of joy or regret? I don’t know. What I want to know is, how come some people have their lives so well-planned? His girlfriend started working at Chevron and I’m sure as a Remote Sensing and Geoscience Information System major, she’s earning a hefty sum, while he’s planning on starting his master’s soon.
“Wow,” I sigh, hoping my admiration for him isn’t evident in my voice. “So much is happening. I think it’s been a while since we caught up.”
“Really? I’m not to blame.”
I widen my eyes, silently asking who is?
“Okay, I agree. I’ve been busy with project and the whole Student Union thing.”
There… I push out a forced breath. “Are you sure you want to remain in it?”
His eyes seem to drift to some distant place as he takes in a long breath.
“Spesh?”
He exhales slowly, returning his attention to me. “I think it’s good in the long run…”
“For?” I press, playfully nudging his arm. “Leadership skills? On your resume?”
The sides of his mouth curve into a small smile.
Oh! I swear, it’s like someone kicks my stomach anytime he smiles like that.
“How come you’re this smart?”
I inch closer, our shoulders gently touching. “I won’t take that as an insult, but as a compliment.”
A small laugh escapes him. “I meant it as one. You’re so smart.”
Some dudes come around, and after brief introductions, they waltz Special away, leaving me to go find my girlfriends. Without taking control of my thoughts, it wanders to Special.
The thing about Special and me is that… we… get each other.
That day we formally met for the first time at G-Ben’s place, I found out too soon that he was in a relationship. It hurt, but it has its perks. I know he’s focused on his relationship, so I have nothing to worry about in that regard. It also makes G-Ben chill with our relation—friendship. Friendship.
I need to remind myself often what we are.
Friends.
Even though Linda and others have hinted, not so subtly, that I have a massive crush on him, I don’t want to mess what we have.
Given the chance, I would gladly date him. He’s a great guy!
G-Ben trusts him enough to let me hang out with him whether or not he’s present. For real, he’s the only one of G-Ben’s friends who isn’t promiscuous and has a solid plan for his life.
Such a fine manly specimen. And Ella disrespects him.
Tsk-tsk.
Despite Ella being the epitome of the lady I would like to be, when it comes to her relationship with Special, I believe she can do better. Twice, G-Ben has told me she and Special have fought in his presence because she disrespected him by receiving lavish gifts from other men and that she went to the hotel room of one big boy in Port Harcourt and slept over. She claimed someone drugged her and can’t remember what happened that night.
Special, the thoughtful guy that he is, would argue with her to get these confessions, and then she would turn on him, gaslighting him. I witnessed their fight once. It was right before Ella graduated. I asked G-Ben what Special saw in her. His response was, “When people are in love, they go through ups and downs. If they share the downs with you and want to remain in the situation, you respect it, mind your business, and be there for them.”
And that’s what I’ve been struggling to do with Special, to be there for him. We chat from time to time.
Personally, I enjoy his sense of humor, which is nothing short of delightful. He possesses a natural wit that can light up the dullest of moments and leave everyone around him in fits of laughter. His jokes are clever and well-timed, often catching you off guard with their unexpected twists.
It’s as if he sees the world through a comedic lens, and his ability to find joy in even the simplest of things is absolutely infectious. His humor is never mean-spirited or hurtful; instead, it’s lighthearted and playful, intended to bring joy and laughter to those around him. He has a unique way of teasing and bantering that leaves you feeling cherished rather than offended.
I move with the music, laughing at something Ekene says. She pulls out her phone and we strike poses, taking multiple pictures.
And then, without warning, I feel it—a sudden jolt against my shoulder. I wince, my irritation surging as I swiftly turn, fully prepared to unleash my frustration on the oblivious offender. But as I lay eyes on the apologetic stranger whose hair is neatly styled in an inch-length afro with fades on the side, my annoyance fades, replaced by curiosity.
The stranger’s captivating, deep eyes meet mine, and there’s a flicker of recognition in his gaze. His dark eyes, a pool of endless depths, draw me in, and I momentarily forget the irritation that flared just a second ago. He tries to touch me, but I pull back, moving away from him. He gets it and doesn’t try again, keeping his hands to himself.
His voice, when he speaks, is a soothing balm. “I’m really sorry about that. I didn’t mean to bump into you. Are you alright?”
I notice the way his lips move as he speaks, and I struggle to gather my thoughts together. “Yeah, I’m fine,” I respond, blinking in annoyance that my voice is a tad softer than I intended. “Just watch where you’re going next time.”
What’s this fluttering feeling in my chest?
“Fifi, you won’t believe who this is,” Linda interjects, placing a hand on my shoulder. “Evans, meet Fifi, one of my closest friends and roommate. Fifi, this is Evans, my course mate. He’s in his third year.”
Evans extends his hand, and as our fingers touch, a spark—something tingly—runs from my fingertips to that point beneath my breast.
There’s a hint of excitement in his voice as he raises it to be heard over the thumping music, his grin contagiously wide. “Fifi? It’s such a pleasure to meet you. Linda has told me so much about you.”
“Oh. Nice to meet you too.” It’s a pity I can’t say I’ve heard so much about him.
“Have fun guys!” Linda winks at me before slipping away with a knowing smile.
I watch her go, wondering; What has she told him about me? Why is he this excited to meet me?
Evans’ attention remains on me, his eyes warm and welcoming. “So... are you enjoying the party?”
I nod with enthusiasm. “Definitely. The energy here is incredible!”
He smiles, his charm radiating. “Um, would you like a drink? I was heading to the bar.”
For a moment, I’m torn. Evans seems like a responsible guy, and his offer is tempting. But I’m here to have fun with my friends, and I don’t want to send the wrong signals. I covertly glance over at my group’s table, then decide to decline his offer.
That was a close call.
While Evans appears to be a nice guy, I’m not quite ready to jump into the whole ‘getting to know you’ routine. Tonight, I came here to enjoy the company of my friends, and that’s precisely what I plan to do.
Linda approaches me, inquiring about Evans, and she doesn’t hide her disappointment. I’ve locked up, she should too.
Soon, several artists get on stage and we’re singing our lungs out to familiar Afrobeat songs.
“Are you ladies okay?” Special asks as he returns to our group, and then he turns his attention to me. “Need anything?”
I smile, feeling special that the former Director of Socials cares enough to look out for me. “No,” I reply, “I’m fine.”
As the night progresses, I realize I’m alone in Special’s company. The crowd seems to fade away, leaving just the two of us in our own little world. He talks about his partnership with Madras Club to set up this event and the challenges he faced with the collaboration. Although I eagerly absorb his words, there’s a burning question I need answers to.
“Tell me,” I begin, “how soon are you looking to start your master’s?”
“Immediately after this,” he says, referring to his undergraduate studies. “I’ve already started preparing to sit for GRE and GMAT exams.”
“Meaning you’re planning to study abroad?”
A broad grin stretches across his face, and he playfully nudges my jaw. “You’re so smart.”
I chuckle, tempted to lick my lips but refrain from doing so. “Even a baby knows no Nigerian university requires that for admission.”
“Yeah,” he agrees, “I’m planning to study in the United States. I pray they accept me and grant me scholarships because it’s expensive over there.”
Money shouldn’t be a problem for him, and his father is a firm supporter of education. He has a doctorate degree without being in the medical field. I’m sure the man is dancing with joy in celebration of his son’s decision.
“You’ll do great,” I assure him. “It would be a privilege for them to have you as a student.”
He mulls over me, and I’m curious about what’s going on in his mind. After a moment, he nods and says, “Thank you.”
“And Ella?”
“What about her?”
“Umm…” I hesitate, a voice in my head warning me to mind my own business. “Umm... Aren’t you two planning to settle down soon?” I finally ask.
He shrugs, his expression inscrutable. “All in due time.” A small, mirthless laugh escapes him as he studies my face. Then, shaking his head, he places his hands on his thighs and starts smoothening the fabric of his trousers. “Do you want to dance?”
“I thought you’d never ask,” I reply with a playful grin.
He stands up and extends a hand to me. Without a second thought, I reach out and take it, and we move to the beat of ‘Pana’ by Tekno. We share dance moves, waiting for the other to follow and breaking into laughter when we miss our steps. I take pictures with him, making funny faces.
Suddenly, he stops dancing and struggles to pull his phone from his pocket.
What is happening?
I watch as he scans his phone’s screen, his eyeballs darting left and right. His eyebrows shoot up almost to his hairline as he takes in whatever he’s reading.
My heart skips a beat. What could it be? Is everything okay?
His eyes meet mine, and I see shadows that weren’t present earlier.
“I, um, I,” he begins, hesitating and glancing around.
I nod, urging him to continue.
“Ella is here.”
My mind races, trying to make sense of his words. “What do you mean?”
He looks guilty, his gaze shifting away. “She’s visiting this weekend. She’s been on the road all day. Her bus had some issues, and I’ve been awaiting her arrival.”
Awaiting her arrival?! I thought they were on a break? He didn’t mention their reconciliation. And… Why is he acting so strange?
He’s acting as though he’s been caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
We haven’t done anything.
Yet.