More than a Chance

Episode 2 - Acquaintance

Aaliyah removed her sun glasses to have a clearer view of him. She squinted to prevent the rays of sunlight getting into her eyes.

“I stopped for just a reason and nothing more than to help. Moreover I'm a married man,” he showed her his finger.

She tried to give a glimpse, it's a conviction she couldn't deny. But yet she was still looking askance.

“Being a married man doesn't mean you can't be a philanderer,” she challenged him. She didn't want to buy in totally. Though his gesture suppressed her catecholamine hormone and she surrendered to listen up partially.

“I'm heading towards “Abeokuta", and if that's your way it would be my pleasure to give you a ride,” said Danny.

She was left with no choice but to dance to the tune of his persuasion.

“I'm also going to Abeokuta,” she answered him reluctantly.

“Okay, you are welcome," he bowed down with one of his hands behind his back. “It's an honor to have a paragon on board,” he said.

(It seemed somehow to her, Danny should be in his late thirties. And she's in her mid-twenties.)

“Why are you bowing to me and what are you hiding behind you?” She asked confusedly.

“I have nothing to hide, he showed her his hand. I just like to treat women with respect and as a married man I wouldn't be happy to see my wife in this kind of situation," he added.

“He seemed to be a kind person but I'm not going to believe all his acting," she thought and walked with an atom of reluctance towards the car despite his cogency. But he left his intention transparent to her. She opened the door and hopped in. Danny got into the car, he fastened his seat belt, without hesitation she pulled hers too.

The belt pushed her bust out a bit leaving its light and fresh upper part revealing, she looked at him to read his mind. But he only gave a glance to see if the belt was properly strapped.

(If you're in that position don't even look at all or else it might become addictive. Why would Danny even look in the first place? When she's not a primitive.)

The pedant of her gold necklace tucked down in between her cleavage. The smell of her perfume took over the aura of the car with a sensational fragrance. He turned on the engine and revved away.

Danny gripped the steering wheel tightly, his eyes fixed on the road ahead as he tried to shake off the anxiousness that had been building inside him since he picked up Aaliyah. Her eyes trained on the passing scenery, and lost in thought.

The silence between them had been prolonged, and Danny knew he needed to break it before it became unbearable. He cleared his throat, stealing a glance at Aaliyah before turning his attention back to the road.

"Beautiful view, isn't it?" he said, gesturing towards the lush greenery on the side of the express road.

Aaliyah looked out the window for a moment, seemingly lost in thought before turning to Danny with a sharp smile. "It sure is," she replied.

Danny felt his nerves dissipate a bit at the sound of her voice.

He cleared his throat, “I'm Danny, married to my dream woman and gifted with two beautiful girls,” he said. This kind of chaste conversation made her feel more tranquilized with him.

“That's lovely, my name's Aaliyah, I am in a very very serious relationship,” she replied. That's just the only thing she said with a sharp smile.

“Some married men can be crafty, they've different styles in getting in,” she thought. His face was glued to the lonely road as he drove.

He kept quiet for some time to figure out a straightforward conversation that would last longer. He finally thought of the scene that happened outside the restaurant.

“I thought you were with that man in Agbada," said Danny.

“Were you trailing me?” She asked curiously.

“Not really, I was the one who sat beside you at the restaurant, I think, I told you the other time," he said.

“I'm sorry, I wasn't paying attention to the distraction,” she said.

“It's ok, no problem,” he replied.

“Don't mind the man, he's a flirt. It's shown even from his body language after I thanked him. I could decipher it,” she said and adjusted her sunglasses very well.

Danny adjusted himself in his seat.

“Please, I hope you're not like him?" She asked.

He scratched his head stylishly. “Not at all,” said Danny.

It's just about fifteen minutes drive before they entered “Abeokuta” city. He turned on the car radio, in other not to irk her with much conversation.

King Sunny Ade (a Nigerian popular musician from the western region who speaks with guitar and his dance steps). His music was in the air, she rocked her head to the rhythm of the song. To his utmost surprise, she even hummed to it. (Eventually Aaliyah lost her guard).

“It looks like you're enjoying the music,” he said.

“I love his music, my dad used to play his songs a lot," she replied ebulliently. “There's this my younger brother, I would like you to meet someday if you don't mind, he can sing most of his tracks. He likes King Sunny Ade more than any musician," he added.

“Are you serious?” she asked.

“Yes, I'm dead serious," he replied with a smile.

It's seven minutes gone pass the hour of five, when they arrived at “Abeokuta” city. He exhaled heavily and lowered the volume of the music. (A sigh of relief for journey mercy).

“Thank God for the journey mercy,” he said.

“Glory be to his only name," she added.

Danny pulled over at the first bus-stop; she loosened her seat belt for a relief. “Thank you very much for the ride I really appreciate it sir,” she said.

She longed for her hand bag with the left hand and she opened the door with the other at the same time.

“But before you go can I make a simple request from you?” Danny asked. She wished, he wouldn't ruin the nice time they just shared with his request.

“Okay I'm listening," she said as she stood outside the car while she bent on the window talking to him. Her posture brought to light her upper bosom giving a shot of an awesome and decoying look. (He swallowed a large volume of saliva in his mouth that gave a gulp sign through his Adam's apple).

“I hoped she's not trying to bait me," he thought. After the first glance, he never looked again. He was looking at the windshield as he talked to her.

“Please can I be a brother from another mother to you?” He asked. She laughed; “No offense sir, is just that is peculiar to me, no one has ever made such a request from me. It would be hard for me to say no,” she said with a winsome smile. (She has only one elder sister but she didn't want to let him know too much for now). Her immaculate set of teeth is startling with her luscious lips. (Those are just more than enough to solicit for a kiss before you leave).

“Thank you for accepting me,” he said. You are welcome sir, she replied.

“What a good caring brother does is to make sure his sister gets home safely,” he said jocularly. Aaliyah gave him a wide smile for the first time.

“Common on in, let me give you a ride to your door step,” he said confidently. She began to see more of his austerity. She opened the door and felt at home in the seat for the first again since the beginning of the journey.

“I even barely know my sister," he asked with style. She peeked at him.

“Please don't say I'm too inquisitive. I'm just glad to have a sister because I never had one," he said facetiously.

She wore a grin on her face; “I don't know my brother either," she said hilariously. They began to interact freely; she felt the spirit of one family in the air. She removed the glass from her face

and hung it at the V of her shirt.

“Could it be one of his strategies he use in alluring ladies into bed, I hope he's different if not I would be waiting for him at the middle of his game not at the end," she thought.

“Anyway where are you heading from here?" He asked.

“I'm going to the Army Barracks to see my mother. She sells palm-wine and pepper soup at the mammy market. I teach in a government secondary school at “Ikorodu" in Lagos state. Most weekends, I come around to see how she's faring and help her with weekend sales. Then I would return to my station on Sunday," she said.

“That's nice of you,” he said as he drove toward the Barrack.