An Unexpected Love

Episode8

It still made me happy to have talked to him, even if I don’t want to admit it. He’s really nice, after all, and I’m starting to feel bad about how I reacted. Anyway, after saying goodbye to everyone, I go up to my room and collapse onto the bed right away, as if I’d just been running for about thirty minutes. I’m tired; I don’t even know if I’ll have the energy to take another shower. My mom calls me to come eat dinner, but my stomach is so full I can’t eat another bite. I ate well at the restaurant, so I wait for them to finish and then go join them in the living room where they’re all watching TV. They ask me how my day went and how my research is going; I just say everything’s fine, and we chat about this and that. I get a message from Mami telling me that they’ll be heading back to Dakar tomorrow. I’m so happy—no college tomorrow, that’s for sure. I’ll stay here and enjoy time with my family. I reply that I’m very happy and can’t wait to see them. But there’s something bothering me, I don’t know if Bassey will be coming with them or not. I decide to text him to ask, since I can’t ask Mami, who doesn’t know anything about what’s going on yet.

-Bassey? Are you coming with Mami, Loufa, and Dyma tomorrow?

-Um… unfortunately, no…

-What? Why not?

-Seba, you know, originally I wasn't even planning on stopping by your home during these holidays. Now I'll probably just stay here with my mom and spend some time with her.

It makes my heart ache a little, but hey, I get it he’s right too. He basically came on vacation to see his mom; he ended up at our place on the first day just by accident, given the circumstances. But still, I would’ve liked to see him again. I wonder if I could see him before he heads back to France.

-Hmm, I get it, you’re right too, enjoy your time in the city with your mom.

-You wanted to see me again?

-What do you think?

-Well, of course, own up to it, sweetie.

-Okay, I’ll admit it a little!

-lol, a little! I’ll admit I did too, but don’t worry, we’ve planned to rent a villa on the coast with the whole family for a few days; it’ll be a vacation for everyone!

-No way, are you serious???

-Yes, Mami and Loufa will surely tell you about it when they arrive, but don’t forget—wait for them to bring it up, otherwise they’ll ask you how you knew.

-lol don’t worry, oh I’m not crazy, ah I’m so happy, it’ll give me a change of pace too.

-And yeah, I’m so excited too!

I’m being careful because I can already feel myself smiling even though I’m with my family. I say good night to them and head to bed. Bassey and I keep chatting about this and that, we talk about writing, life in Saint Louis, Dakar, and France. We talk about our childhoods. I didn’t even notice the time passing because the conversation flows so easily. It’s been a long time since I’ve talked to a man like this; I always put up barriers, but I don’t know why it’s different with him. It’s as if, on one hand, I’m afraid, and on the other, something tells me I can trust him. We text back and forth until I fall asleep. I wake up the next morning in a great mood anyway. The first thing I check is to see if there’s a message from Bassey; I see there are two. In the first one, he’d sent me a gorgeous photo of the Faidherbe Bridge, writing: “I wish you could see this in person,” and another one he sent me about twenty minutes after the first, writing, “I know you’re already asleep, little sleepyhead. Sleep tight, sweetie.”

I smile from ear to ear and reply immediately, “I’m sorry, my teddy bear, I fell asleep without even having time to wish you good night. The photo is beautiful; I wish I could have been there.”

The message is sent, and I realize I wrote “my teddy bear…” without thinking. Did I really call him that? I wrote it without realizing it and without thinking, but it’s okay, he’s the first one to call me “my little one.” My phone vibrates; I know it’s him.

“My teddy bear?” I have to admit I like it when you call me that, my “little baby”, so did you sleep well?

I stare at this message, not knowing what to say! I feel butterflies in my stomach; he’s already getting to me, and that’s what shocks and worries me at the same time. And the fact that no one in the family knows about it adds a little adrenaline. It’s a dangerous game, but one I actually enjoy.

-Hmm, I like this new nickname. Yeah, I slept really well, how about you?

-I’m okay, but I’m still a little tired; I didn’t sleep much last night.

-Oh really? But why? What kept you up?

-Insomnia, maybe my thoughts got the better of me. I’m like that when I think too much.

-Hmm? Do you want to talk about it? What’s going on?

-What if it’s about you?

-Me? I’m curious to know!

-I’ll tell you one of these days…

-Hmm, I’m really impatient, but hey, it’s your choice, so I’ll wait.

-There you go, my little baby, that’s how it is. Don’t be stubborn lol

-lol leave me alone.

I’m so intrigued, what does he want to tell me? He says he didn’t sleep well because of his thoughts and that it has to do with me. I want to push him, but I don’t want him to think of me as an impatient woman. I’ll try my best to wait for him to tell me, even though I know it’ll be on my mind all the time. Anyway, I go take a shower and get dressed while continuing to text him about this and that. After I’m ready, I head straight to the kitchen where I find Amina (our housekeeper); I say hello to her and make my breakfast. It’s the meal I can’t skip, if I don’t eat it, I can’t start my day. I’m counting down the hours, I’m so eager to see the new arrivals from Saint Louis.