For Blood And Country

March 6, 2014 - FOLAKEMI

I looked at the stranger sitting next to me from the corner of my eye, he was definitely good looking. He was a shade darker than me and there was something about him I couldn't explain that I found really appealing. His eyes, piercing and soothing at the same time in his oval face were the colour of caramel. He had a sensual intimidating look even as he sat with an indifferent expression on his face. I was usually not the kind of lady who paid much attention to men talk less of noticing features such as the colour of their eyes. In fact, I would tell my mother and friends whenever they asked about any man in my life that I just was not ready – and it was the truth. But now I couldn't understand why I was looking at myself in the mirror to see if I looked presentable. It was not as if I did not clean up nice, I just was not the makeup-always person. That was how I was brought up and as I grew older I did not see the point in wasting time wearing makeup every time I wanted to step out of my apartment. But why did I care if I looked presentable to this stranger? Why did I even offer to help him after he spilled my drink? It was clear that my actions weren't mine and I needed to check myself – but I still wanted to help him, anyway.

I looked at him again but he was looking outside through the glass away from me and he looked as if he was taking in the view outside, but there was nothing special outside so I guessed he was lost in thought. I turned on the radio to drown the awkward silence, and Passenger's Let her go was playing. The sound seemed to draw him out of his reverie as I started singing along.

"Cool song." He said.

I know, right! You like passenger too?"

"What?" He said, uncomprehending.

I couldn't help laughing. "The man singing is passenger and I asked if you knew him."

"Oh! No, I don't. But he sounds good."

"Yeah, I'm a huge fan. You know, since I heard this song on the radio last year, I've been addicted to it. I even had to go download the whole album just because of this song."

"Really? I hope it was worth it."

"Oh, it was. Every song on the album is just great. You should listen to it."

"Hmm. Maybe I will. It sounds tempting." He said as he nodded rhythmically to the music.