15
I hadn’t slept well last night. I’d known it the moment I’d blurted out wanting to continue this thing with Ofure that I was probably being a little too impulsive.
No, I definitely was being too impulsive.
But once the words were out, I didn’t want to take them back. Especially not after she’d said yes.
I knew we needed to actually talk about this. I knew I needed to actually think about this, but I didn’t want to.
I didn’t want to think about how my love for my best friend was morphing so fucking rapidly it made it hard to tell if the possibility had always been there, or if it was just that fucking easy for me to fall.
Some part of me had a feeling it was the latter, and I didn’t know if I preferred that to the former.
All I knew was I was greedy for this—for her. And staunchly refusing to see any possible impending consequences of my selfishness heading straight toward me like a bowling ball in my periphery.
I spent the day listening to music and polishing my portfolio in an attempt to distract myself.
As I worked, I couldn’t help but once again think about Ofure not wanting to be an architect—how she’d felt boxed into it from childhood.
I couldn’t stop feeling I was probably in the same boat, because, as the only child in my household, I’d always done what I was told.
Unlike Ofure, I genuinely enjoyed what I was doing, which made it harder for me to determine if it was really what I wanted. I’d honestly never given it much thought. I was good at it, and it made me happy, therefore I must love and want it. Right?
Ofure’s bombshell came in the evening, when I knew her shift with Bernice and Fiona had ended. When she didn’t reply to my last message, my heart sank. Before I could think of sending another message, my father called.
By the end of the call, I could picture exactly how Ofure’s conversation with her own father had gone.
My dad had spoken like he usually did—with a not-so-callous disregard for what I might want.
He’d laid out the facts, and I was expected to follow like I always had.
He hadn’t been interested in my opinion, if I’d had any, and to be fair, he probably didn’t think I did have something to say, which would have been true before.
I probably wouldn’t even have noticed how easily he just expected me to go along with any new career plans he threw my way if my conversation with Ofure hadn’t forced me to pay attention.
My thoughts were racing after the call ended; I’d agreed to the new career plan, of course I had. I didn’t know what else to do. But I didn’t want to think about that right now.
Ofure’s message said she was on the bus home, so I quickly put on some proper outside clothes and left my room. I glanced into the sitting room before heading out, but neither Prince nor Dayo were there, even though I knew they were home. Probably in their rooms, then.
I quickly made my way down to Wok and Go, then the corner shop, and hurried to the bus stop to wait when I was done.
I got there just in time. Ofure’s bus arrived just a few moments after I’d rested my butt against the uncomfortable ass bench. I straightened, the goods I’d purchased clutched in a plastic bag in my left hand.
Ofure didn’t notice me at first, and my heart lurched at the expression on her face. She looked miserable, eyes shadowed, lips slightly downturned in the corners.
She only saw me when she stepped off the bus, and, despite her obvious upset, immediately brightened. My heart gave another lurch. Behind her came Fiona and Bernice, with the latter’s arm thrown around the former’s shoulders.
“Hey ladies,” I said with a playful grin. “Just here to take this particular lady off your hands.” I motioned at Ofure.
Bernice groaned out what sounded like a “hello”, but I couldn’t be sure. Fiona rolled her eyes, though it seemed directed more at the woman in her arms than at me.
“See you later, then,” she said with a little wave, then she and Bernice walked off.
I reached out with my right hand, and Ofure easily tangled our fingers.
She followed the pace I set, which was a little slower than Fiona’s and Bernice’s so we could have some privacy.
We didn’t speak, though, simply basking in the silence.
And even though we didn’t speak, I could tell just this short, slow walk was already making my best friend feel better.
“How’re the guys faring? I think Bernice might’ve drank a little too much at Felicia’s last night,” Ofure said when we were inside my room, her lips curved with an amusement that didn’t quite reach her eyes.
“I’m guessing they’re fine,” I replied, mirroring her slight smile. “I heard them come in, but I’d still been asleep. Haven’t seen them all day. They’re in, though, probably sequestered in their rooms.”
“Ah.”
“Here.” I handed her the bag of goodies.
She opened it. Inside was her favourite meal from Wok and Go: beef fried rice—large, extra spicy; her favourite mango pop drink; and a pack of Eclair caramel chocolates.
She stared down at the goods for a moment, her lower lip wobbling. Then she whispered, “I love you,” and began to tear up.
“Aw. Fure, baby. Come here,” I said, pulling her into my arms. “I love you, too.”
She hugged me tight, chest hitching. I held her for as long as she seemed to need it, giving her time to compose herself.
“Come on,” I whispered when she seemed more in control, tugging her gently toward my bed.
I made her sit on the inner part of the bed against the walls, her legs stretched out in front of her, then I grabbed my laptop and joined her.
“You didn’t order anything for yourself,” she said with a pout, glancing around my room like another takeaway bag would appear from thin air.
God, she was so fucking cute, even when she was upset. “I’m good, I promise.”
“We can share if you want. I don’t mind.”
“I really am good, Ofure. I mean it.”
“At least have some Eclairs.”
I hesitated. “Fine. I will have some Eclairs.”
She beamed, reaching for the bag of sweets.
I’d gotten her a pack with fifty pieces of the caramel, chocolate-stuffed candies, and she proceeded to hand me a fistful after she’d ripped the bag open.
I took them from her with a fond smile, dropped them in my lap, then unwrapped one and popped it into my mouth.
“Happy?”
“Immensely.” She brought out the rectangular paper packaging holding her rice, then fished out the chopsticks.
I put on an episode of one of our favourite cartoons. She ate, I licked my sweets, and we laughed occasionally at the characters’ shenanigans happening on the screen. She was done eating when the episode ended, and had popped open her mango soda.
She looked at me, her eyes so full of love it made me want to kiss her.
I was allowed to kiss her, but for some reason, I hesitated, my heart pounding oddly.
Every other kiss we’d shared had been under the guise of our “pact”.
I’d come to a realisation when I’d asked her to extend said pact last night, but only fully accepted it to myself just now.
I wanted to kiss her, now and always. Just because.
“Thank you for this,” she said earnestly.
“You’re very welcome.” I closed the laptop, using the brief moment to get my head back in the game. I thought about moving the device but remembered the other half of my plan and left it between us, balanced on my left thigh and her right. “So. You ready to talk about it?”
She sighed, resting her head against the wall. I mirrored her pose, taking my eyes off her so she wouldn’t feel pressured.
“My father also called,” I admitted, just in case it’d make it easier. “So, I kind of get the gist.”
“Right. Yeah. So. Yeah. I’m assuming he told you about our updated career paths?”
“Yup.”
“Right. Anyway. So. He just—he laid the whole plan out and was waiting for my acceptance, and I just couldn’t do it.” I fished for her hand in the space between us, holding it lightly. She slid her fingers between mine, and inhaled again. “He was very upset, Uzi.”
My heart ached for her. “I’m so sorry, Fure. Did he ... say anything?”
“Not really. I think he was in shock. He just ... ended the call.”
“Right.” I tried to look on the bright side.
“Give him some time, all right? Like I said before, he’s not an unreasonable man.
Sure, he’s upset right now, but he won’t be upset forever.
He’ll take some space to calm down, then I’m sure he’ll call you again.
But! Before then ...” I grabbed my laptop and flipped it open again, then clicked on my browser.
I had the settings saved so any tabs I left open when I closed it automatically came up when I re-opened it.
“What’s happening right now?” Ofure asked, her eyes flying over the tabs.
“We’re brainstorming,” I replied, flashing her a grin.
“Brainstorming?”
“Yup. I did some research after you told me you wanted to quit, but you weren’t sure what you did want to do. So, here are a few options. Obviously, you don’t have to pick from the list I’ve made, but I thought we could get a head start.”
“Uzi.” She sounded overwhelmed.
“You’re welcome,” I said cheekily, grinning when she laughed softly. “So. First up, we have Culinary Arts, or something food related.” She loved cooking and was amazing at it, so this seemed like a no-brainer.
So colour me surprised when she said, “Oh, fuck no.”
I blinked.
She laughed a little. “Sorry for the dramatics. But—that was the first thing I thought of, too. I don’t know how to explain why I’m not interested; you’re an only child, plus, no offense, but you’re a guy, and I don’t know if you’ll get it.”
I shifted around to face her, smirking slightly. “No offense taken. Now, try me.”