“Come on, you know he is not like that.....He is my friend and I know him better.
Sometimes when we guys are drunk, we tend to misbehave. but that doesn’t excuse his actions. He is a good guy and you know that. Don’t judge him because of one single mistake which he made unconsciously please, I won’t be happy if you guys just end things like this. You guys look very cool and cute together, why end something so good because of one little mistake? You know it’s not fair”.........I counselled solemnly.
“Pascal we have not talked for like two days now.....Yesterday I saw him with one girl, so I guess he is not interested in the relationship any more, so let’s just leave it like that”........She said nonchalantly.
“To be sincere with you, the girl you saw him with is one of our friends, they don’t have anything together. They were coming to meet me that yesterday at Mami market.....Trust me I’m going to scold Yamani. He will come back to plead with you, please don’t turn him down again. If you do, you and I will start our own round of quarrel”.........I said playfully, and she laughed.
“No na, God no go allow us quarrel oh, you know that. You be my personal person oh”.......She said amidst laughter.
We chatted for a bit before she took her leave, and I headed to my hostel. After a refreshing shower, I drifted off to sleep. I was in a deep slumber when my phone suddenly began ringing, jolting me awake.
I rummaged under my pillow to grab the phone and checked the caller ID, and it was Sandra calling.
“Hello?”.......I croaked into the phone.
“Good afternoon”.........she greeted.
“Good afternoon, how are you?”........I asked sternly.
“I’m not fine, where are you?”.........she inquired, like one under duress.
“In my hostel, I was sleeping before you called.
What’s wrong with you?”...........I asked worriedly, sitting up on the bed.
“I miss you, so much”........She said with a calm emotional tune.
I took a deep breath, knowing that nothing bad was happening to her. A sly smile crept on my face as I replied to her.
“I miss you more, Mon Cheri”........I whispered.
“It’s a lie you didn't miss me, if you did, you would have called me.......For two days now, we have not talked, neither have we seen each other and I know that if I didn’t call you now, you wouldn’t mind not calling me till camping ends”........she complained, and I smiled.
“You know that is not true. I would have called you if you didn’t call after today. Not like I was waiting for you to call though”.........I replied, in a calm manner.
“I know that’s what you will say....The great liar of the universe”.........She sneered, and I laughed.
“Its okay abeg, are you busy? let’s meet na”........I requested.
“I’m not meeting with you anywhere, leave me alone”.......she retorted.
I was aware that she wanted me to beg her, so I chose to humor her and play along. It was a tactic she often employed when she wanted some extra attention and affection from me.
“See Shakara oh, should I sing a poem for you?”........I asked playfully.
“Leave me jhoor”........She replied, but I could tell she was trying to hold back her laughter.
“My Shakara Baby, please na.......Okay I am sorry for not calling you all these while.
Knock my head when you see me”.........I said playfully, and she started laughing.
“Of course you know I will do just that, but tell me sorry again”.........she replied, after laughing.
I apologized once again, and after much persuasion, she finally consented to meet up with me. I suggested we convene at the Pavilion, and from there, we could head to Mami market for a relaxing time together.
We settled into our favorite café in Mami market, and I ordered two plates of catfish pepper soup. While we waited for our meal to be served, our conversation flowed easily.
“So what happened between you and Pascaline, because she has been in an elated spirit since three days ago?”.........she asked.
“Nothing much. Daisy came to tell me what happened and why Pascaline was the way she was and pleaded that I talk to her, since she tried and it never yielded”.........I explained.
“What did she said was her problem?”.........she inquired.
“She told me she had a bad relationship three years ago and promised herself that she won't date anyone except he was her namesake”.........I explained.
“Hmmm!! So she was acting up because she can’t have you, is that it?”.........she asked, feeling unconcerned even after I narrated Pascaline's predicament to her.
“Not really, according to her, she said you are her very good friend, and she can’t for anything try coming close to me knowing you will be hurt”........I replied.
“She is seriously funny and insane. Does she think that even if I wasn't friends with her, that she stands a chance with you when I am involved? That would only happen in her dreams”..........She said sarcastically.
“Calm down Sandy, I already told her to get over the vow she made, and there are chances that she is never going to meet someone that bears similar names to her again and meeting the person might end up causing her more Disaster”.........I explained.
“This is even crazy, I mean, why would she even make such a vow? I think she is going psycho”........She sneered.
“Sandra, you have to understand that she was hurt. Some people don’t handle heart breaks pretty well you know”........I replied, trying to sound calm, even though I was already getting pissed by her tantrums.
“Oh please spare me that crap, Is she a kid?......If everyone decided to keep making unreasonable vows just because we are hurt, believe me, all girls will end up at the convent just as the guys will all become priests”..........She blurted out, without remorse.
“You are just too impossible......So tell me, have you joined the Kennedy group now?”.........I inquired, not even hiding my jealousy.
She let out a gentle laugh, and then her expression transformed into a thoughtful gaze, her eyes locking intensely onto mine as if lost in a profound contemplation.
“So you saw me with them that day?”........she finally asked.
“Is that a yes or no to my question?”........I retorted.
“It’s nothing to your question”.......She replied, staring into space.
“Okay then, if you say so”.........I replied, holding myself back from asking further questions.
Our food arrived, and we dove in with gusto, savoring every bite. The catfish pepper soup was incredibly flavorful and spicy, and we made a show of focusing intently on our meal, pretending to be completely absorbed in it to avoid any, ahem, uncomfortable repercussions. Once we finished, I ordered two bottles of malt to round off our meal.
“I have this connect that could help us work our posting to a very good PPA (Place of Primary Assignment), don’t know if you are interested”.......I announced, breaking the silence after taking a gulp from my bottle.
“Hmmm!! Who or what is this connect?”........she inquired.
“You don’t have to worry yourself about that, just indicate your interest and leave the rest to me”.........I said boastfully.
“I am asking because someone already sold that idea to me which I didn’t buy. I wanted to confirm your interest before giving the person a reply”.........She replied.
“Who is that person?”........I asked curiously.
“Okay you are now asking for my source but just a few seconds ago you refused telling me yours, how fair is that?”.........She snapped.
“Are we now playing a game of fairness here?”........I fired back.
“Exactly who you are, always trying to exonerate yourself from situations which you created while expecting every other person to be held back into it......Well it’s Kennedy.
He wants to help me with the posting”........She explained rudely.
“Pull out your phone now and tell him to hell with him, and you aren't interested in his cheap disgusting connect for posting”.........I grumbled.
“This is exactly the reason why I didn’t want to tell you the source in the first place, I know you are going to push it into the trash can”.......she retorted.
“You are damn right, the trash can, that’s where I just pushed it and that’s where it would be......Any offer from Kennedy isn't welcome, it should be trashed immediately”.........I annoyingly retorted.
“Well, before we leave it in the trash can according to you, why not tell me the market from which you are buying yours and we can compare the credibility and legitimacy......As for me, I so much trust Kennedy's source”.........She said nonchalantly.
“Just for the record, there is no way I am going down with you on Kennedy's link. Call it my pride or whatever you think, but if that’s the only link left in this world, then I will rather leave my fate with NYSC to post me where they like”..........I spat.
“Noted, that's your own cup of coffee. But first tell me who is selling you this link”.........She inquired.
“There is this friend I recently met, that’s how I got to know about it”........I replied.
“And who is this friend you recently met?”........she asked anxiously.
“Does it matter who the person is?”........I sneered.
“You can just stop trying to play smart with me because if it’s what my mind is telling me, then be rest assured that there is no way that I am buying it”..........She said coldly.
“And what is your mind telling you? I know it’s telling you shits right now”.......I said sarcastically, She looked at me with disdain and scoffed.
“Is this your link not coming from Evelyn?”........she asked, and I scoffed too.
“Your mind always has a funny way of roaming around.......Sorry to disappoint you, it has nothing to do with Evelyn, or anyone you even know”.........I replied, using a tone of mockery.
“Then who the hell is this person? If you aren’t going to talk, then be rest assured that I am going with Kennedy, with or without your consent”........She yelled, and stood up to leave.
“Don’t you dare walk out on me, don’t try it”........I grumbled.
“And if I do so, what will you do? You know what? Get the fûck out of my head. If you are ready to talk, let me know”........She spoke in a frosty tone and turned her back on me, walking away.
I settled the bill for the drinks and pepper soup, then departed. Although I can be defensive at times, I chose to hold back, otherwise I would have pointed out the person who initially suggested the idea to me.
Ironically, I was aware that she would never tolerate such a suggestion from another woman, just as I wouldn't accept it from a man associated with her.
As I strolled towards my hostel, deep in contemplation, my attention was abruptly diverted by a familiar sight. Glancing in that direction, I spotted Kennedy and Sandra walking hand in hand, heading towards her hostel.
I froze in astonishment, my eyes fixed on the pair as I struggled to process what I was seeing. Just moments before, she had walked away from me, and now she was strolling hand in hand with him towards her hostel.
A surge of indignation swept through me as my pride took a hit. How could she move on so quickly? Did she always run to him at the slightest hint of trouble?
“What are you staring at?”.........Pascaline asked, interrupting my thoughts as she stood beside me.
“Errmm!!….nothing”........I replied, drawing my gaze away from them.
“Don’t tell me that, you have been looking towards that direction for over five minutes”.......she retorted.
“Please not now”........I said out of frustration.
“Not now what? I just asked what you are staring at and you are telling me not now, is that an answer?”.........she pressed on.
“I am not in the mood for this now please”........I replied, walking away towards my hostel.
“Then get in the mood and tell me what the problem is”.......she pestered, walking behind me.
“Not now and probably not today so please leave me be”........I said coldly.
“Is it about them? I mean Sandra and Kennedy?”........she inquired.
“So you know already? congrats. Can you now let me be, I don’t want to talk about it, thanks”........I retorted.
“If it’s going to make you feel better, then go on ahead and talk to your bed”........she fired back and turned around.
I didn't bother to watch her go; instead, I chose to retreat into solitude, needing some time and space to gather my thoughts and untangle my emotions.
It was clear that there was a connection between Sandra and Kennedy, but even if they weren't involved, her sudden rush to him raised my suspicions. What was behind her instinctive decision to turn to him?
I trudged into my hostel, exhausted, and collapsed onto the bed. Before drifting off to sleep, I carefully stowed my waist pouch and phone beneath the bed sheet, securing them safely out of sight.
To be continued........
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