More than a Chance

Anticipation

Good morning, they greeted each other with jocose. She thanked Adewale for being there for them always.

“Why do you have to mention that? I do it for my family," he said.

“No, I'm telling you just to show my appreciation,” Danny's wife replied.

Danny's two daughters ran out from their room when they heard his voice. “Uncle welcome," they screamed. They're fond of him.

The youngest one who is just three years old asked him to carry her. Their mum warned them not to dirty their uncle's cloth.

Danny came out of the room in pajamas with a newspaper in his hand. “Good morning sir, I hope I haven't interrupted your sleep?” Adewale asked. “Not at all, I was already awake. I'm just reading through the dailies," he adjusted the inept cushion on the couch properly before he sat on it.

“How's your journey sir?" he asked.

“It was fabulous, I enjoyed it," he replied him with a potent smile. Adewale knew there's something behind the smile but who is he to constrain words out of his eldest brother as well as his boss? He looked at Danny impatiently to help him fill the gap and save him the stress of guessing. Danny stretched out his neck trying to see if his wife was close by. She is in the kitchen fixing yam and fish sauce for breakfast. The sound of the sauce frying wouldn't allow her to hear anything they say. But he wouldn't want to underestimate the comprehension of her little daughter sitting beside Adewale. So he decided to keep it low for the time being. He changed the discussion suddenly into office matter.

They later had break-fast together that morning. Danny accompanied him to his car. He briefed him what happened along his journey.

“It was another thing entirely I told my wife, before she would start to think otherwise,” he chuckled, actually it's not funny Danny said.

“Her beauty is subtle and off the hook. She has this winsome smile with a dimple that looks like a centripetal force of attraction. Her steadfast gaze is thrilling with her ravishing eyelashes, and she has this piercing eyes that penetrates the heart. To be candid she could lure away your noon into night without your consent."

Adewale stood in front of his brother with a dropped jaw. He wouldn't have ever imagined his brother would be so illustrative with endearments. Anticipation began to romance the thought of Adewale. Arousal of sweetness was incited in him by the way Danny described her, Adewale felt he couldn't wait another second to set his eyes on this embodiment of an assemblage of graces. But one thing he's yet to figure out is his brother's intention towards the peach in question.

“Darling!" His wife called him from the window.

“I hope she never overheard me,” Danny whispered.

“No sir, it's not possible,” Adewale assured him.

“Never underestimate the power of a woman," Danny told him and he patted Adewale on his shoulder.

“Anyways let's meet at the gym later in the day," Danny discharged him as he walked hurriedly to the house.

“Okay, sir," he replied.

On that same afternoon, Danny was at the gym for a work-out and games. He plays lawn tennis very well.

Adewale arrived at the gym. He carried his bag which has his Racket, lawn tennis balls from the back seat and locked his car.

He anticipated elucidation from his brother on the conundrum. He went into the gym to check on Danny but he wasn't there. He couldn't wait any longer to vanquish his doubting thoughts about what Danny feel for Aaliyah. He headed back to the lawn to engage himself in playing time. When he had played for sometime, he took a time-out.

Adewale went back to the gym, he saw his brother sat on a bench perspiring profusely while he tried to catch his breath after some workout. Their eyes met when he's mopping his face with a towel. Adewale bowed down to greet him without any utterance because of the distance between them. Danny raised his hand to greet back, there were few people inside. So they exchanged greetings through action.

By the time Danny finished working out, his cloth was already dripping with sweat. He struggled out for a towel in his bag and a bottle of water. Adewale walked towards him, he helped him with his bag. He was panting as he tried to sip the water from the bottle. Adewale was amazed at where his brother's energy was emanating from.

“Could it be this Aaliyah vibes,” he thought to himself.

He gave Adewale his car keys so he could help him put his bag inside it. “I will wait for you at the bar," Danny told him.

There's a bar at the premises of the gym. He looked for a nice spot to sit, he ordered for a bottle of beer. When Adewale returned, he ordered for his beer too. They do sit to have drinks together seldomly. They poured their liquor without much conservation.

Adewale's been expecting his brother to say something about his trip and more details of the side attractions. But he never let any of their discussion passes through that lane. Not until when he ordered for the second bottle.

He cleared his throat; and Adewale could feel a different topic in the air.

“When I first saw her my wish was funny." Danny grabbed his glass cup and took a sip.

“I wished to take a flight back to a bachelorhood status." Adewale readjusted himself very well in the seat with all ears he listened.

“The unfortunate thing is that I'm married and she's engaged," Danny sighed. (The latter part of the sentence didn't sound too interesting to Adewale). All that mattered to him was he wanted to have a glimpse of Aaliyah at least. Danny gave him the t**s and the bits of the whole journey with her.

“Can I make a suggestion sir?” Adewale asked. Danny agreed to it with a nod, because of the mouthful of beer in his mouth.

“Let me be the one to teach her how to drive. You'd tell her that your schedules are right," Adewale suggested.

“It's alright, how could you be the one to tell me what to say or to do?" His voice came with a little stringency.

“I'm sorry sir," he apologized.

“It's okay," said Danny.

After some minutes they made ways to their cars. “Have a smashing night rest sir," Adewale watched him drove out before he ignited his engine.

Adewale drove down the familiar streets toward his house, his mind preoccupied with thoughts of his brother Danny and the beautiful lady he had just met. He couldn't help but feel anxious to see this easy charm and beautiful demeanor, and wondered if he would ever have the chance to meet Aaliyah soonest.

As he pulled up to his house, Adewale couldn't shake the feeling that he was missing out on something special.

When Adewale wanted to sleep at night, he thought of different ways. How he could come about a plan. He tucked his index finger in his mouth and looked at the ceiling fan while he ruminates.

“Hmmm, she would be leaving tomorrow Sunday," he thought as he tried to vanquish his zeal of seeing Aaliyah as the night fades away gently. He wanted to begin to blame himself for buying into the whole anticipation thing before he slumped into sleep.

Danny later told Adewale, they would not be going to the gym next week Saturday. The plan was that Adewale would take Danny in his car to the barrack.

He would tell Aaliyah his car's faulty and then he'd introduce Adewale to her. Moreover he has hinted her about his youngest brother; it wouldn't be a new thing to her.

Everything was going well according to the plan except when Danny asked his brother to wait on him in the car.

He walked to Adijah's shop with delight mixed with fright. He saw Adijah talking with the colonel who sat beside her. He greeted them; Danny was beclouded with the way she looked at him.

There's a wince on her face that signalled him she doesn't recognize him anymore.

“Could it be a feint or is that she sees different faces everyday," Danny thought. Not knowing that it's Colonel Kola who sat beside her.

He started introducing himself, and how he helped Aaliyah down here last week. The whole story sounded unpleasant to the ears of both of them. The Colonel's infuriation began to agitate. She pretended as if she doesn't know what Danny was saying.

“Gentleman it seemed to me you're constituting a nuisance here," said Colonel. Danny looked embarrassed and confused.

“If you don't mind please take your leave and don't ever come around here again," Colonel advised him fiercely.

Danny was shocked by what just happened. Even Adijah told him, she doesn't want to see him here anymore.

“I would be watching out for you,” said the colonel. (He touched his two eyes with his index and middle fingers and pointed them to Danny).

Danny was confused; he walked back hurriedly to the car. The way he opened and slammed the car door, Adewale knew something had gone amiss.

“Start the engine and let's get out of here, can't you get the message?" he yelled at him unknowingly.