Time of Love

Suya at Jazzy's

It's been two weeks since I'd been back home in Lagos, Nigeria. Not much has changed in the year I've been gone which was actually comforting.

At first, my friends all wanted to stay at my house but there wasn't enough room so Minho oppa, Serayah and Taekyung stayed at my place while Jay, Soobin and Saerom eonnie stayed with Tolu. Tolu went back home the next day after we got back from the airport and her family was more than ecstatic to see her.

Apparently both our families had developed this idea that we weren't coming back home any time soon. Hehe...they weren't far off the truth. I'd definitely be going back though.

"Sister Lola, could you please braid my hair?" Simi, my sister, asks. After my mom, Simi was the happiest to see me. She had told all of her friends about how her big sister was living in Korea and how she'd go there too one day. I'm so proud of her. I'd always loved Korea and its culture ever since I watched my first kdrama and when my sister was born, I was always playing Korean music and watching movies so she picked up on the language, quite easily if you ask me since I had to do years of studying.

"Sure. Where are you going?" I ask, as I place her hair into two french braids.

"Mummy and I are going to the store, she says we need to buy more groceries." Simi says, scrunching her nose which made me laugh.

"But the pantry is full, I even thought I saw some yams outside the door." I say.

"I don't know for her o...that's how she bought a whole new pack of spoons for no reason." Simi says, exasperated.

I just laugh at the whole thing.

Our mom had always been like that. She would stock up the house with every thing she considered necessary even when it really wasn't. Almost as if she was preparing for a famine.

"Where's Dayo?"

"He's gone to work." She says.

"Ehen(by the way), Sister Lola.."She starts just as I finish braiding her hair, "... your friend Taekyung is really really cute." She says, gushing over him.

"Yes, he is very cute, he's also very much older than you." I say, getting off my bed and walking to the dining room.

"Pssht...age is nothing but a number. Besides, we were talking and he's very kind. He said he likes the way I speak. We're going to get married soon." She says, smiling at the ceiling and twiddling her hair.

"See this one o, if I kick you..." I say, as I raise my leg to kick her skinny little butt just as she runs away giggling.

"She's just like you." Minho says, striding into the dining room from. He was wearing a sleeveless shirt and track pants and had his hands in his pocket. The man was fiiinnnneee. I had the tiniest of crushes on him when we met in school back in Korea until we started hanging out and I realized he treated me like a little sister. And that was the end of that.

"Good, you're up. And I know she is. Want something to eat?" I ask, heading to the fridge.

"Yeah, coffee and some of that bean cake thing your mom made if you have any." He says, settling into one of the chairs.

I let out the biggest laugh at what he's asking.

"You mean akara?" I ask, still laughing as I pour the coffee.

"Yeah, that. 아글라(a-keu-lla)."

I burst out laughing again almost spilling the coffee on myself.

"That's not how you say it. It's a-ka-ra. Abeg no kill me.(don't kill me with laughter)" I say, pretty much dying on the counter while he just smiles.

"Oh thank God. Lola is cooking again, I'm so hungry." Serayah says, walking into the kitchen with Taekyung.

"Oh my gosh, that smells amazing." Tae says, walking over to me. He was about 6'2 and I'd never met a more adult-child in my life. The man was a complete puppy with his small brown eyes and messy hair.

"It's just coffee and bean cakes." I say, serving up the coffee and food on plates.

"Like I said...amazing. 고마워 누나( thanks Lola)." He says, snatching a plate and mug before I have a chance to smack his hand.

"Thanks b." I say, as Serayah moves to help me. "You're a great help unlike some people I know." I say, with a look at Tae.

"Sorry... food's more important." He says, stuffing his face with one of the bean balls.

"와, 진짜 맛있어(Wow, it's delicious). I love Nigerian food." Serayah says, after a few bites.

"다도.(me too)" Tae says, woofing down the food.

"Yeah, we can see that." Minho says, making us laugh. "But this really is good." He says, taking more bites of his as well.

"Thanks. I'll be sure to let my mom know you enjoyed her food." I say, finishing up my coffee. "She'll probably want to feed you even more things."

"I absolutely adore your mom. She's just so cool." Serayah says, helping me with the dishes.

"Ha! You say that because you weren't there when I was a kid and she was whooping my ass." I say, as I quickly wash the dishes before handing them to Serayah to rinse.

"Nahh. All parents are like that." She says, as the boys bring their dishes in for washing.

"I guess. Anyway, we should get going if we're going to meet up with the others. You guys are only here for one more week so we need to make the best of it." I say, as we dry our hands.

"Yes! I'm going to go grab my coat." Tae says, about to rush off to the room he and Minho share.

"Are you crazy?! Haven't you learnt your lesson? Na Lagos we dey o...when you burn your body, na that time your eyes go shine.(this is Lagos...you'll have sunburn.) I yell, enough for him to hear.

"I have no idea what you just said but I'm guessing that's a no?" He says, with a confused look on his face.

"Duh. It's way too hot for a coat. A light jacket is fine but not a coat, not in this weather." Serayah explains, before I can hit the fool.

"But it's cold inside right now." Tae says, scratching the back of his head.

"Yeah! That's because we're inside and the air conditioners are on! I mean, you went for a run outside last week and came crawling right back in after a few minutes because of the heat. Does that not tell you anything?!" I say, exasperatedly. Honestly, it was like taking care of a two year old!

"아니야, 아니야(no,no), that was because I didn't want to work out outside anymore."

I just roll my eyes as Minho laughs and steers Tae to their room.

"He'll be the death of me." I say, walking back to my room.

Serayah just laughs and throws her arm over my shoulder.

"You know you love him."

"Lucky for him." I say, before cracking a smile and placing my hand across her waist.

Later, around 8pm...

"That's Suya. It's super spicy so you've got be careful." Tolu says, as we place the plates of peppered meat on the table.

"이 고기 아니야?(isn't this meat?)" Saerom eonnie asks.

"네(yes). But it's not your regular kind of meat. This is way spicier." I answer, making sure there's enough water and cabbages incase anyone needed to flush out their tonsils.

"I'm the king of spicy food. It can't be that bad." Tae says, plopping three pieces in his mouth without a thought.

I'm literally holding my breath. We're all staring at him as he munches on the meat.

"See, I'm fine." He says, even as his eyes start watering.

And then I can't hold it in anymore. I laugh so hard that my entire body is shaking. And so does everyone else.

"I told you to be careful." Tolu says, passing him a leaf of cabbage. "Here, this should cool your tongue down."

"So much for the king of spicy." Serayah says, making fun of Tae.

"자, 여러분....건배.(okay guys, cheers.) I say as we clink glasses even as Tae is still fanning his mouth.

Everyone seems to enjoy it which makes me happy because that was the whole reason they came with us to Nigeria, to experience a little bit of Nigerian culture.

We had spent the day going to the national museum, Tolu's studio, and the Lekki conservation center before heading back to my bakery for snacks.

Oh that's right...another thing you don't know about me. I'm a baker. I know, I know...I can do it all, hehe.

I hadn't been to Lola's Sweet Treats since I got back because I wanted to take a break and spend time with my friends before diving back into work. It was great seeing my employees though and business was doing great. My mom ran a tight ship while I was gone and I couldn't be happier.

Anyway, we were now having drinks at Jazzy's, a famous bar and grill here in Lekki because what better way to introduce a foreigner to the night life in Lagos than with music and the best night time snack ever?

Minho was currently dancing with Saerom and Tolu or at least moving because I can't call what he was doing, dancing.

Serayah was over at the bar talking with Dayo who joined us after work and I can now affirm that Serayah has a crush on Dayo. It may be mutual but I wasn't going to interfere...at least not yet.

Oop, my phone's ringing.

"여보세요?(hello?)"

"Hello, am I speaking with Lola?" The voice asked.

"Yes, this is she." I respond, switching back to English. I keep forgetting I'm not in Korea anymore.

"Hey, it's Mayowa." The voice says, making me smile.

"Oh hi. How are you doing?" I say, happy to hear from him.

"I'm doing well, thanks. How about you?" He asks.

"I'm great. Sorry, I don't have this number saved." I say, standing up to move a way from the noise.

"Yes, this is my other number. Are you busy? There's quite a bit of noise, I could call back later.." He says, with that sweet baritone of his.

"No! Sorry, just give me a minute." I say quickly, before he hangs up the phone.

"Is it better?" I ask, as I get outside.

"Yeah, it is. I hope I'm not bothering you."

"No, not at all. Is there something I can help you with?" I ask, a little out of breath from hurrying to get outside. Damn, I need to get back in shape.

"Um, not really. I was wondering if you would like to have dinner with me, sometime." He asks, making my eyes widen.

"You want to have dinner with me me?" I repeat, like a fool. Didn't he just say that?!

"Yes, I do. You don't want to?" He asks, with a chuckle.

"No! I mean, yes! I'd love to." I say, feeling my cheeks expand in a smile. one might say I was blushing but I'm a strong believer that I was incapable of blushing. Too much melanin.

"Great! Is Friday next week okay? l

Let's say around seven?" He asks.

"That's perfect." I say, with a smile.

"Good, I'll pick you up."

"Uh no, I'll just meet you there. Text me the address?" I say tentatively, biting my lip. I definitely don't want him coming to my house, especially not with all my friends there. I'd never hear the end of it.

"Umm, sure. I'll see you then." He says.

"Yes. Goodnight, Mayowa." I say, just wanting to hear his voice all over again.

"Goodnight Lola."

I can't help smiling at the way he calls my name. Lord, I could listen to his voice for hours.

"What are you doing out here?" Minho says, scaring the life out of me.

" 아 갑자기, 옵바!(You scared me, Minho) Are you spying on me?" I ask, narrowing my eyes at him.

"아!(ouch!)" I say, as he flicks my forehead.

"I didn't see you anywhere so I came to find you. What are you doing?" He asks, throwing his hand around my shoulder as we go back in.

"I had to take a phone call. It was way too noisy inside."

"There you are, Lola. We were looking for you everywhere." Tae says, and by the way he looks, I think he's drunk already.

"Is he..?" I start to ask.

"Yep. Downed two glasses of that thinking it was water." Tolu said, pointing at the empty glasses.

I just sigh and pat Tae's head as he passes out on the table.

"So where were you?" Tolu asks, as I slide in next to her.

"I just got off a call with Mayowa Koker." I say, smiling cheekily as I pop one of the fries on the table in my mouth.

"What?! You mean, the Mayowa Koker? 대박!(awesome!). What did he want?" Tolu says, getting into the gist.

"He called to ask me out." I say, smiling even brighter. I'm pretty sure I look like the cat from Alice in wonderland by now.

"How did he get your number?" Tolu asked.

"We met at the airport. I thought you saw when I bumped into him." I say a little confused.

"Oh, I didn't know that was him. I heard you hit someone but didn't turn around to see so that I wouldn't catch any of your clumsy. That thing is contagious, you know." She says, mischievously.

"Ha, ha, ha. Laugh all you want but I've got a date next weekend." I say, with a smile.

"와, I can't believe you're going on a date with Mayowa Koker." Tolu says, raising her voice.

"Who's going out with who?!" Minho says, his eyebrows doing that angry slant thing they do when he's mad.

"Yeah! Who's going out with my 누나?!" Tae suddenly wakes up to say, scaring Jay who was sitting right next to him, before passing out again.

"아무것도 아니야, 옵바( It's nothing, Minho). Just an old friend who wants to meet up." I say, quickly dispersing any ideas.

"Ha! Nothing, my ass. Since when is your first love nothing?" Tolu says, ignoring the pleading in my eyes.

I'm so getting you back.

"너의 첫사랑?( your first love?)" Saerom asks, munching on the potato chips.

"아니야, 언니( no, Saerom)" I say, at the same time Tolu says,

"어(yes). She's been in love with him since secondary school but he never had eyes for her...aww, so sad." Tolu says, making a fake sulky face.

"You little.." I say, reaching for her but Minho holds me back.

"Whatever, we're just having dinner. Nothing special." I say, before flicking a chip at Tolu, making her laugh.

"You say that now but what would thirteen year old Lola say if she could see you now?" Tolu asked.

But my mood shifts slightly as I remember...

"Thirteen year old me would have never have stood a chance, she was nobody."