Becoming

Chapter 2

"You guys! Ndanti don catch big fish." Emilia said to her flatmates as we walked into her apartment that evening.

"Ah ah, Ndanti Ndanti. How you take run am?"

"Please tell us more abeg"

They said as the conglomerated around us.

"You guys should calm down first. Precious collect this stuff and take it to the kitchen." Emilia said to one of her friends as she handed her the take away bag. We had gotten takeouts for them and Henshaw paid for it. Just to say his name sent a thrill throughout my body.

"Ah ah, you guys even got take away sef," Inyene the other flat mate said.

"Gist dey no worry." Emilia said as she beckoned to Precious to go drop the bag in the kitchen.

When Precious came back, Emilia began to tell them about our escapades for that day. Where we went to, what we saw, she showed them the pictures we took.

When she described my meeting with Henshaw, she made it more colorful that it was.

"You need to hear Ndanti, speaking correct English."

"Ah ah, and she go form say na only pidgin she sabi oo"

"You guys I can speak English. I mean I went to school after all."

The banter continued until my phone rang. It was a strange number. My heart began to pound beneath my rip cage.

Oh my God, is it Henshaw?

"You guys should calm down. Ndanti's phone is ringing."

"Is our fine man that is calling?"

"You guys I don't even know if he is the one."

I ran to the corner away from the eavesdropping ears.

"Hello", I said trying to sound formal in case he was not the one on the phone

"Hello" He said.

I recognized his voice instantly and my heart began to beat against my ribcage.

"Oh hi!"

"It is Henshaw."

" Oh Henshaw," Emilia and her flatmates were giving me the eye. "I recognized your voice"

"Really?"

"Yes."

"It was nice meeting you today, Ndanti. And I must say you really look beautiful. And as you noticed I couldn't take my eyes off you."

"Thank you. You are very handsome as well."

"We would make the perfect match don't you think. A handsome man and a beautiful woman.'

The idea did cross my mind but as he mentioned the picture began to form in my mind. I would not mind dating him. I mean he's handsome and tall and looks like everything I want. He is rich I think and that's a plus.

"Oh really?"

"Yes, really. So where do you leave, Ndanti?"

" Why do you ask?"

"So I would know the address I will be sending flowers to?"

I snorted in the most unladylike manner.

"As if you would."

"You think I wouldn't send you flowers? Do not be surprised if I do? Or maybe I would turn up on your door step with the flowers."

Henshaw darkening my doorsteps? That image did not sit well with me. I lived in an environment that someone like him would not step foot into. It was dirty and smelling. Full of busybodies and thugs. I lied in a slum.

"No, please. Do not bother yourself about where I live."

"Really? I actually meant to show up at your place with flowers "

"You and I know that you don't mean that."

He laughed

"Ndanti, I would very much like to meet you again. How does your tomorrow look like."

"I don't think I can make it. I mean I have work and all."

I really wish I did not have work. I had skipped work today just so I could hang out with Emilia and that already made work to pile up for me. And my boss would expect me to show up so I could meet up with clients targets.

"I skipped work today so I can't skip again tomorrow. i can't really assure you but if my schedule frees up I will let you know."

"Ndanti, I'm not asking for a whole day. Are you not free in the evening?"

"Well I close from work around seven. Seven is too late to be go out."

"Seven is not late. Plus you're with me, so you will be safe. I mean don't you want to see me as much as I want to see you?"

Well, when he puts it that way, I realize that I really have nothing to fear because he is going to be there and I really wanted to see him too.

"What makes you so sure that I want to see you?"

"Don't you want to see me? I mean if you do not want to see me I would actually back off."

"I didn't mean it that way I mean I want to see you too."

"So seven in the evening it is. Where will I pick you up?"

"My work place."

My work place was better than my house. I gave him the address of my workplace and we said the goodnight pleasantries and all. Oh my God. I was really going out with this man.

"Was that our man?" Emilia's voice rang out from behind me.

"Man ke." I said with a smile on my face.

Despite how hectic work was the next morning, I did it all without complaining. My boss raising her voice at me or my coworkers trying to annoy me, I didn't mind all of that. There was spring in my steps and I think a coworker asked me why I was humming through the day. I tried my best to do my work without mistakes and I did it very fast. I mean I wanted to be through before four so that I would enter the local market to look for what to a dress to buy.

After the call with Henshaw ended yesterday, I had realized that not only did I not have what to wear but all my clothes were not befitting of going out with the caliber of men such as Henshaw. if I was to go out with this man, I had to change my wardrobe. I had laughed at the thought of changing my wardrobe. Like where would I get the money from.

The money I was taking to the market today to go buy a dress was given to me by Emilia and it was a sort of loan. I had to pay her back.

When it was four, I begged my boss to let me off work for a few hours. I had lied that I had to get some stuffs for a friend who is sick before could she let me go.

I found a very beautiful dress at a thrift store. It was a yellow dress and really suited my complexion. When I wore the dress, I felt an instant surge of confidence. The way it hugged my curves made me feel both elegant and undeniably radiant. I loved how the bright color drew attention to my figure, accentuating my waist and highlighting my natural shape. The sleek cut felt playful yet sophisticated, and as I moved, I noticed how the dress caught the light, giving me an extra glow. With every step, I couldn’t help but feel breathtaking—like I was walking on sunshine. I felt beautiful and I bought it immediately without trying out other dresses.

I went back to my workplace after buying the dress and as the clock ticked close to seven, my heart hammered harder against my rib cage. My hand were shaking in excitement and anticipation. I hurriedly changed to my dress when it was six thirty and when my coworkers saw my dress,it earned some remarks from them. Good ones and bad ones.

Good one like: "Oh my God, Ndanti you look so fine." "Ah Ndanti, I love your dress. Where did you buy it?"

Bad ones like: "Ndanti, you don start ashawo work? This one you are dressing like this."

I said thank you and smiled at the good remarks but to the bad remarks I replied.

"Yes o, your papa na my first customer."

Well if my boss wasn't around that would have caused a very big fight.

He came to my address few minutes past seven. My work place was closed for the day and I was sitted outside the front door in a dress that didn't look fit for sitting on the front door of a workplace.

"Ndanti, oh my God. I am so sorry I came a bit later than seven. Work was crazy, traffic was crazy." He said when he came down from his car. He opened the car door for me and I felt like a passenger princess. No one has done that for me. Open and hold a car door for me.

"Thank you."

"It is common courtesy."

"If you say so."

"So how was you day, Ndanti."

"Well you know, normal work. Hectic as usual."

I almost added but now everything is better. I held my tongue on that one.

"Oh I am sorry. You look very beautiful by the way. Very beautiful. Did you wear this for work?"

"No I didn't."

He laughed.

"I mean it is too beautiful for work. So where are we headed?"

"I don't know I mean you are the one driving."

He laughed again and then accelerated off.