Maybe, You Will See Me Now

03

Translation of some pidgin English used

make I no hear say na Bolanle talk am. Because, me, I go deny am and you - Make sure I do not hear Bolanle gossiped about anything to you. Because I'll deny both it and you.

The babe's problem plenty - The babe's problem is too much.

Abeg - Please

Ijeawele swiveled on her chair, just like how she had been doing for the past few seconds. Ever since she left Mr. Olu's office, she has been unable to concentrate. At the moment, her thoughts had no particular focus. Once or twice, the memory of Andrew's face popped into her mind. Finally, she sat still and sighed. Ijeawele could not help but wonder why of all the companies, he had to work here. The thought of his presence made her feel uncomfortable. At work, she has always put up a strong front and the thought that a junior worker saw her in such a vulnerable state didn't sit well with her. Of course, he probably knows nothing more than that but, it bothered her.

She shook her head a little violently. It didn't matter. Ijeawele decided to trust the idea that he was going to be professional enough to not say anything to anyone and keep his thoughts to himself.

There was a quick knock on her door before it was pushed slightly open. Radha, her colleague and finance director stood at the entrance.

"I know, every time I ask you to join me for lunch, you always decline. But I like to ask, so, will you join me?"

Ijeawele's smile was short and faint. "That's not true. We've had lunch together before."

Radha jokingly rolled her eyes at Ijeawele's words. "Really, I can't remember. I mean it seems like so long ago."

Ijeawele's quick smile reappeared. Though she adored Radha and had accepted her as a friend rather than just colleague, there were times, she didn't feel the strong connection to share so much of her life with her. Ijeawele believed it was her strategy to protect herself.

Her rather long silence felt enough for Radha to understand what her answer was. After all, it wasn't the first. She hung her hands in the air. "Okay, fine. I'll leave you." Then she turned away.

Mr. Olu's last words about looking around and figuring out the new faces were fresh in her mind. "Wait." She called out before Radha could close the door. Ijeawele stood on her feet. "I'm coming with you." Radha smiled.

The cafeteria was a smaller building, an extension of the main building. On their walk towards the cafeteria, Radha stole glances at her friend and couldn't help wondering how she was doing. Regardless of how unbreakable Ijeawele had tried to be after her divorce, she knew deep down that the young woman was more devastated than she let on. Those days were the hardest. After coming to work, she barely stepped out of her office until closing time and was often the last to leave.

"How are you doing?"

Ijeawele looked at her and gave a half hearted smile. "I'm fine. I'm good."

Radha wasn't convinced enough. But she never knows what to do about it. Ijeawele and her weren't just different in countries of origin but also culturally and maybe their way of thinking. Though she could say they've become friends over the years of working for the same company, still there has always been an invisible wall between them. She wasn't sure how that came into existence, yet it's there and Radha was fearful of crossing the line that might make her seem disrespectful at a point. Ijeawele hasn't exactly shared her details pertaining to her divorce so she wasn't sure if whatever comes out from her mouth would be the right words for Ijeawele's hearing.