Because, It's you.

CHAPTER FIVE

Roses are red, violets are blue.

My mind has become a maze, just thinking of you.

©Oluwatoyosi

Darasimi’s POV

I was exhausted.

This was just the third week and I was already so bombarded with work and projects. I’m currently in my room after a full day, it was past 6pm and Praise, Anjola and Adeola were all here as well. I had returned from the shop at 5:56pm, to see that Grace had cooked, at least that’s what Praise told me, and to say I was so happy when I saw food on the table would be an understatement. Let me just say one thing: Food is my first love.

“I’m tired” I finally groaned out, stretching my hands till it hit Adeola in the face, making her hit me back. Thank God it’s Friday. I turned my body to see that everyone was on their phones, even Grace was watching a movie on my phone that I hadn’t realized was gone.

“How won’t you be tired? You have been going from school to your supervisor’s office, to your shop. Can’t you just take a day off to relax?” Adeola says

“I’ve always told her this but she won’t listen.” Praise butts in but I just stick out my tongue in response. I am already used to the stress. I just get tired once in a while, and that’s all. They are just overreacting.

“What is the big deal if you take a break, it’s not like your parents don’t send you money?” Adeola’s words suddenly made me go sour. Thank God, Grace had an earpiece in her ear. No, they didn’t know anything about my parents and me, except Praise, and it was just a little bit that I wanted them to know. Grace never asked me about my parents, mostly because she grew up around the pastor and his family, so she had immediately started calling them grandma and grandpa. They never complained, but they loved it as much as they loved her. I remember telling her when she was eight years old that my parents were not around at all and she didn’t even think too much about it because she had grown so much around another family. Praise noticed my look and rescued me.

“How about we go out after this semester? We can go to Ibadan and stay at Anjola’s house till we resume or for just a few days” My only true friend saves me, making me sigh.

“Yes, let’s do that, it would be fun.” Anjola agrees. I was about to refuse to say I had work, but then I was interrupted.

“Mummy, you have a message on w******p” Grace handed me my phone and I quickly checked the message.

‘Hi…. Good evening. You gave me your number the other day at your shop so I could send you the lady’s measurements. Do you remember me?’ the text read.

I gave someone my number? I racked my brain for anyone I gave my number to and then another text came in.

‘I came with a guy and the material and we saw each other on Monday’ the text read.

I scrunch my eyebrows trying to remember. We saw each other on Monday. Oh my.

‘Adeyemi?’ I replied to the text with mine.

He was the only one I spoke to except my friends on Monday.

‘I’m happy to see you didn’t forget me. I was starting to think so. How are you doing?’

Do I really want to start a conversation with a guy who does nothing but confuse me? I don’t think so, but I’d sound like a snob if I didn’t reply, wouldn't I? Besides, it’s on w******p, what are the chances we’d run into each other again physically, right? Or am I just reading too much into this? It’s just a conversation, isn’t it? Ah, I haven’t even replied and I’m already confused and worked up.

‘I’m fine thank you. Do you have her measurements?’ I asked, finally remembering that he was supposed to send me the measurements of that beautiful lady who, I still don’t know how, she is related to him. Do I care? Not sure, should I care? Probably not.

‘I’m also fine thanks for asking. What are you doing now?’ he replied, ignoring my question. What’s up with this dude?

‘I came back from work not too long ago so I was resting. The measurements?’ I asked again, hoping he’d at least tell me so we can end the conversation that I’m starting to like and want more of.

‘Oh, that’s good then. This keeps bothering me so I’m gonna ask, do you really want to get away from me that much?’ He asks that same question as the day we met in school. Why though? Am I that obvious? Starting conversations is not something I’m good at. I’m an ambivert, if that’s even a thing. I’m playful but shy. I love fun but have restrictions. I’m open-minded but very cautious. Growing up in a society where women are not respected and even my parents were no better, taught me to never let my guard down, to always be cautious. Which is why I’m skeptical about this guy who keeps bothering me, but not in a bad way.

‘Why would you think that? I’m chatting with you right now, aren’t I? Why do you want to have a conversation with me?’ I finally voiced out my confusion. Why does he want to start a conversation with me?

‘It’s because you intrigue me. You are like the first person who is least interested in me, like the way I look, the way I speak and who I even am.’ He replies, making me a little bit curious as to whom he is. Sure, he has a British accent and he’s very handsome, but I’m more curious as to why I’m not bothered in a negative way about his presence. It doesn’t irk me.

‘They do make me curious, but you are a customer and I don’t need to go around getting really interested in my customers. It’s not that I want to get away from you, I just want to mind my business’ I replied, hoping that would clear the air a bit.

‘So, you do want to have a conversation with me.’ Again, with the familiar responses, I don’t understand this guy, is he flirting with me now? How would I know it’s not like I’ve dated anyone before? I got married, not the good kinda way to find out about dating.

“Who is flirting with you?” Adeola asked. Did I say that out loud? I slowly looked at her only to see the three of them stirring at me like a found puppy, including my daughter who seemed very curious with a smile on her face. Growing up, she always asked me about where her dad was, but I never knew how to respond until I just told her he had gone to heaven, even if I knew that’s not where he is.

“Why are you guys looking at me like that?” I say still looking at me and Praise even winked.

“It’s a customer. He came to the shop to ask me to sow a gown for a girl.” I confessed to them only for their grins to become even bigger.

“A he? Who is the girl? Why do you think he’s flirting with you?” Praise says as her face inches closer to mine.

“Yes, a HE, I don’t know who the girl is and he’s not flirting with me” I say trying to stop this conversation from expanding or these girls would never leave me alone.

‘Are you still there?’ a ping came in

‘Or did I scare you off? I’m sorry’ And another one.

‘No, my friends attacked me, that’s all. The measurements?’ I ask for the measurements again because I didn’t know how to answer that question.

‘Are you hurt?’ he asks and I can almost imagine his brows creasing together, making me chuckle.

“Did she just laugh at what a guy was telling her?” Praise said, gawking at me.

“Who is this guy?” Anjola says also gawking at me. I just shook my head at them.

‘No, I’m fine. I really need the measurements so I can start on the dress. I really wanted to ask who the dress was for but I had to keep it in. I don’t even know the guy. Why am I so interested in him?

‘I’ll tell you in person. I have to go now, have a nice night with sweet dreams’ he replied, earning a snort from me. Did he just say ‘in person’ he wanted to meet me again?

“Who is this guy” I said under my breath so my friends wouldn’t catch it, but I guess I failed.

“Who is the guy? What’s his name?” Anjola keeps asking.

“You were chatting with a guy. Oh my God. We need to give a testimony in church”. Now Praise was just over reacting. I’m not that bad.

“I’m not that bad, guys. Stop over reacting”, I say, so we can stop the drama.

“Oh, you are that bad. So, spill. Who is he?” they try again.

“As I already said, he’s just a customer other than that, I’m saying nothing” I responded and then did the action of sealing my lips before closing my eyes to rest.

“See her head. Anyway, you guys should attend my church this Sunday. It’s our youth Sunday and Adeyemi Coker will be coming as a special guest minister.” Anjola says excitedly, making Praise and Adeola squeal in joy, while I was just very curious as to who this guy was.

“Mummy, give me your phone back” Grace asked in a small voice.

“How was school today?” I asked instead of giving her the phone. Grace can be very conservative at times and quiet, but she can also be loud when she has a lot to say.

“It was fine, our PTA meeting is coming soon, and Mr Kayode said we need to buy an English text book, one for primary six for those that want to write Common Entrance from primary four”, she explains. Grace is nine years old and, due to the fact that I was financially a disaster when I ran away from home, she had to start school with the help of Pastor Ayo. She is currently in primary four and she is the brightest student I have ever seen. Her teachers recommended that she takes the common entrance from primary four as they believe she will pass it very well and I don’t doubt that.

“Oh, remind me about the PTA two days before, alright? And how much is the book?” I asked.

“One thousand, seven hundred naira” she responded in a thinking manner and I opened my purse to give it to her. All the while, my friends were busy looking at their phones and Praise was shouting about how tired she was of her supervisor. I handed the money to Grace.

“Thank you, ma” she hugs me while I just smile. I had made it my goal to always provide and make her happy. At times, I spoil her with gifts and all but other times, I make sure she receives discipline and I keep praying to God to help me be the best mum I can be.

“Have you ironed your uniform?” It was Praise who asked

“No ma, I was waiting for you to iron since you don’t like it, so you won’t tell me to iron your own with it.” Oh wow, I busted out laughing while Praise stood up to slightly hit her back.

“Go and iron your clothes Joor, I’ll do my own myself” she says in a playful manner.

“Yeye girl, she cannot iron to save her life. Ordinary iron”, Adeola says, laughing at Praise while I just chuckle.