That morning, Andrew hurried off the Danfo bus at the last stop. He began his usual ten minutes' walk towards the building of the company he worked at. A little on his path, he felt the vibration and heard the ringing tune from his phone. He reached into his strap bag for it. Delight's name is displayed as the caller. Andrew had drawn to a stop and momentarily stared at his phone screen. A bit hesitant. He slid to answer and held the phone close to his ear.
"Andrew, what happened? You neither called nor left a single message for me." Delight's distraught voice came through. He listened while he kept walking.
"You were worried. I know. I'm sorry. But I'm on my way to work." Andrew replied. He considered her feelings and felt a sense of guilt that she cared so much for him. Still, his care for her couldn't match up to hers.
"I know that. But I had to call." She added and a second of silence passed between them. "Did you get home safely last night?"
Andrew rubbed the back of his neck out of slight discomfort. "Yes. I got home fine." He bit his lower lip, hating himself for having lied. He should have spoken the truth. Yet, he wasn't sure how she would receive it. It worried him and he did the dumbest thing. Hold back the truth. A quiet sigh left his lips. Andrew knew he needed to put an end to the lying and feeling of guilt sooner than later.
"I'm glad. I couldn't sleep. Do you know I contemplated coming over..."
"Delight, let us talk later. I just got to work." Andrew's words cut her off. He'd stopped right in front of the gate.
"Yeah, sure. I'll see you later."
He was first to disconnect the call without assimilating her last words.
The security guard opened the gate on his behalf and greeted, "Good morning, sir." Andrew reciprocated his greeting accompanied by a brief smile while he walked past the guard.
He rolled his lips in and continuously tapped his pen on the opened book in front of him. Andrew heard steps and instantly raised his head, his gaze directed at the entrance to the office. When he realised it was another employee who walked past the entrance, disappointment engulfed him and he tried his best not to show it.
"Are you okay?" Bolanle, his colleague asked. Her desk was opposite his. Andrew nodded. Yet, her eyes burned with curiosity and suspicion. She couldn't be wrong with her observation. For the past two hours, he seemed on edge and almost like he was waiting for someone. Instead of pressing him for a believing reply, she continued with her work.
During lunch, Andrew twirled his spoon between his index and third finger. His eyes were more fixated on the entrance into the cafeteria rather than on his plate or the people with him at the table.
Where is she?
"Andrew," Ebube called, forcing Andrew to look at him right away.
Ebube exchanged looks with Bolanle. "Are you expecting someone?" He shifted his eyes to Bolanle again. "Is he expecting someone?"
Bolanle shrugged her shoulders. Unaware of what the reply should be.
Andrew shook his head, feigning a weak smile as he lowered his head and gaze at either of them.
After lunch, Andrew excused himself from their midst based on the fact that he needed to use the restroom. They kept walking back to the office without him. Instead of using the toilet like he said he would, Andrew hung outside the cafeteria a little longer, hoping that he would see her. Yet, after a while of waiting, she was nowhere to be seen.
Andrew was worried. This early morning when she dropped him off, they parted on good terms. That was the last time he saw her. He'd seen her car in the compound so he knew she was around. He wondered whether she was avoiding him. But that wouldn't make sense because he didn't think he had done anything to attract such a reaction. Still, it ate at him. The questions and the worries. It bothered him more than he expected it would.
And just like that, the evening was here. It was past closing hour and Andrew was the only one left in his section. He'd spent most of the day distracted and thus, his work pace was slower than usual. Finally, he got up on his feet, ready to close for the day. On his way out of the building, his phone in his hand rang and he reached for it.
"Good evening mum."
"Evening. Andy, you've forgotten your mother. You've made me your last priority." A woman's voice came through from the other side. A little deep and not the usual feminine voice.
A brief chuckle left his lips as he hung his head low. "No. You know that's not true. I..." He couldn't quite find a befitting excuse that would make him look good. "... I should've called earlier. I'm sorry." He gave in.
"Well, that's fine. You're the only child that I have. I have no choice but to wait on you... How was work?"
He released a soft sigh having remembered the slight emotional ordeal he felt today. Nothing like he has ever encountered before. "It was okay." The words left his lips in the end, unable to share his thoughts with his mother.
She was silent for a few seconds. It would seem she read her son's mind or felt his emotions. "Andy, if Lagos is too difficult, you're always welcome home. Your dad will be happy to accept you back into the company."
Andrew furrowed his brows at his mother's words. "No, no. I'm doing fine. It's a little hard to adjust but I'm an adult. I don't regret the decision I made."
He heard her sigh on the other end. "Are you going to let your brothers take over what belongs to you? I know I've said this before but I'm saying this again. Andrew, I'm not happy with this at all." Andrew ran his hand exhaustedly over his face. Not in the mood to listen to this same sermon from his mother again. "If you let them run everything, we'll both be treated like outsiders when your father is no longer around."
The door pushed open and Ijeawele walked out of the building. She held her handbag in one hand and laptop bag in the other. Andrew immediately noticed her from where he stood to the side. But she didn't see him and kept walking towards her car. All day, he craved to get a glimpse of her. Now, there she was. He could walk up to her, hold her hand, or say something. Yet, he remained glued to the spot. A sudden wave of anxiety brushed against him and he couldn't seem to do it. He couldn't get himself to go to her.
"Andrew, we have to grab the bull by the horn while we still can." His mother added her last piece. But he hadn't been listening, especially to her last sentences.
"Andrew. Andrew, are you there?"
"Yes. I've heard you. I'll call you more often. Good night." He didn't wait for a response from his mother and disconnected the call.
He watched Ijeawele get into her car, start the engine and begin to back away from the parking space she was in. She looked to her side and it was then that their eyes met. Andrew couldn't stop himself from gradually wearing a smile on his face. A part of him hoped she would do the same, for him to know they were okay.
Instead, she casually turned away without acknowledging his presence and eventually drove out of the compound. Andrew felt the disappointment wash over him even as he sucked in a deep breath. It was very clear. She would prefer to ignore his presence. He felt especially conflicted because he thought they'd somehow made progress. They wouldn't just be strangers to each other anymore. Maybe not friends but somewhere more than acquaintances.
Andrew climbed the staircases with little determination. Finally, he unlocked the door to his apartment. His first experience was the aroma of jollof rice that filled his nostrils. He locked the door behind him while unable to comprehend why the aroma of food was strong in his apartment, especially if it could be coming from any of his neighbours.
"Andrew!" Delight suddenly rushed out of the kitchen to where he was. Before he knew what was happening, she flung her arms around him and held him in an embrace. "Welcome home." She added, having leaned her head away from his chest and now looked at his face with the widest smile she could have on.
The surprise was obvious on his face. Like someone who was snapped back into reality, Andrew forced his release out of her embrace and created a gap between them.
"What... what are you doing here?"
She made her smile disappear and folded her arms below her chest. "Do you have to ask me that question every time you see me here? I'm not here to steal. I'm here to take care of you."
His lips parted as he lightly rubbed his forehead. Yet, no words came through. He was almost lost for the exact words to say to her that wouldn't quite hurt her feelings.
Andrew walked past her to carry her handbag off the center table to be laid neatly onto the corner of the couch. "I told you before, don't show up here without letting me know." He walked into the kitchen. The sight wasn't as pleasing as the aroma of the food. There were used utensils in the sink. She'd fried some fish and the tiny drops of oil due to the splashes greased the surface of the gas cooker. "You should've told me before doing this," Andrew complained as he walked to the sink and began to wash the utensils.
"Andrew, I know but I wanted to surprise you. I didn't do anything wrong." She looked at him busily washing. Delight pulled on his arm so he was forced to face her. "Stop doing that. I plan to clean everything when I'm done."
"It's okay. I'm doing it fine." He returned to doing what he was doing. She watched him without uttering a word more. Delight felt upset and had it in her to drag this situation further. But she decided to let it go. Instead, she helped with cleaning the gas cooker and turned it off when she was sure the food was ready.
The first half of their dinner time was held in silence. Andrew wished he had held back his reaction a bit more. He knew she had nothing but good intentions. Yet, he couldn't seem to see it that way then.
"I'm sorry for everything. I just wanted to make you a nice dinner to come home to." Delight apologised as she reached for his hand. Andrew stared at her hand on his. He should feel something special for her. That wasn't the case. It hasn't been the case since they started a relationship. Andrew wasn't convinced anymore that it would ever be the case. Then, it dawned on him what he needed to do. He should have done it some time ago. The worst thing to do was to keep leading her on and hurting her in the process.
Andrew lifted his eyes to her. Her eyes held hope and care for him. It made what he was about to say more difficult for him to say. But he was aware that he couldn't put it off any longer.
"Delight... we should stop seeing each other."
I hope you liked this chapter. Pls, don't forget. Vote and comment. See you next week!