An Unexpected Love

Episode5

What do I see? It’s a friend request. I see that he’s accepted it, and it’s at that exact moment that I truly realize what I’ve just done. I don’t know if it’s just curiosity; I don’t know if it’s this need to find out more about him. I don’t know if it’s something else; honestly, I’m not looking for love, I’m not looking to get into a relationship, and that’s for sure. I don’t even trust men anymore—I’ve never really trusted them anyway. So rest assured, I’m definitely not going to get involved in another relationship, or in anything that’ll just end up wearing me out; I wouldn’t do that. But I think we’ll get along well as friends, and that’s where it ends—nothing more, nothing less. Anyway, I’m not going to text him. I’m lost in my thoughts when Caroline snaps me back to reality; this girl loves gossip way too much—it’s just not possible.

⁃ Her: Oh, come on, Seba, stop daydreaming. You look like you’ve seen a ghost—what’s the problem, exactly?

⁃ Caroline, why can’t you be patient? You just want to know what’s going on,

⁃ You and I are the same anyway, so stop acting like I’m the only one who loves gossip.

⁃ Well, what I was saying is that Bassey is really handsome, but that’s all. Anyway, I don’t care.

⁃ Hmm, are you sure? I don’t get the impression that you you don't care. Don't hide anything from me, Seba. I know you!

⁃ Anyway, he's my sister-in-law's brother, so he's family. Stop getting ideas.

⁃ Okay, so did you two talk? Even if you didn't have much time?

⁃ Not really. He’s really reserved, and you know me, I don’t talk much with people I’ve just met. He seems like a cool guy, but for now he’s playing it cool, and that’s fine by me.

⁃ The way you talk, I can already tell you wanted to talk to him even more. Seba, I know that since your breakup you don’t want to let another man into your life, but you have to understand that your ex didn’t deserve you—he’s just a jerk who doesn’t know what he wants. You shouldn’t let him stop you from living your life, though.

⁃ I’m not stopping living because of him—on the contrary, I’m doing just fine! You think you absolutely need a man in your life to be able to live? I’m not into that. I’m not stressed, I’m not worried—I’m living my life peacefully without anyone getting on my nerves. And why are you even bringing up romantic relationships? I told you nothing can happen between us—he’s like a brother to me.

⁃ LOL, what brother? You’re not related by blood; you’re just connected through your brother’s marriage to his sister—that’s all.

⁃ Anyway, I’m tired, and I’m even starting to get hungry because of you.

⁃ No need to change the subject!

I change the subject because I’m tired; we keep chatting about this and that. She brings up Moussa again—it’s her favorite topic. She’s so in love; I just hope he never lets her down. In any case, I wish her all the happiness in the world. As usual, nothing too special—we keep talking while we wait for class to start. I forgot to tell you that I’m also my class representative; sometimes I love this role so much, and sometimes I hate it more than anything. So I’m about to go see the department head to catch up on class stuff, but I get a message on i********:. Which is very rare because I don’t talk to anyone there; the only notifications I get on Insta are when Loufq or Mami send me posts, videos, or photos to look at. I wonder if it’s Bassey before unlocking my phone. And guess what?? It really is him; my heart skips a beat. I don’t hesitate for a second; I jump right into our conversation.

⁃ him: ah, but you’re quick, huh! lol

I look at this message and laugh; honestly, I don’t know if I should laugh or cry—it seems like he’s making fun of me.

⁃ me: whatever, don’t read too much into it; I was just bored and had nothing to do.

I don’t even know why I replied that, but whatever—I just did it without thinking. And I see he’s already typing.

⁃ Him: Really? Especially with this heat!

⁃ Oh, I’m telling you, it’s unbearable—there’s not much you can do. I heard that in Saint Louis, though, it’s out of control.

⁃ I’m telling you, it feels like there’s no air at all—it’s unbearable.

⁃ Oh, hang in there—you’ve got to deal with it. At least there’s a little breeze here!

⁃ You’re making fun of me—oh yeah, that’s just how you are, huh?

⁃ Well, maybe a little—I’ll admit it!

⁃ You’ll see what happens to you

⁃ Forgive me, I’m just an innocent little girl with no problems.

⁃ Hmm, how old are you, by the way?

⁃ I turned 23 about a month ago, and you?

⁃ Oh, really? Happy belated birthday—I’m 24!

⁃ Hmm, so you mean you’re only a year older than me?

⁃ Do you think a year is nothing? You’re my little one, oh

⁃ What little one? Go over there

I'm losing track of time,in just a few minutes, I'd forgotten that I was supposed to go to the department head's office, and it's almost time for class. It’s so weird, over the phone, it’s like we’ve known each other forever; we’re already starting to tease each other, talking as if we’d actually chatted yesterday, when we haven’t at all. What I do know is that he seems more open and sociable than I expected. Surprisingly, I’m actually glad he sent me a message. Anyway, I snap out of my thoughts and head to the department head’s office; we quickly catch up, I pick up the class register, and head to my classroom. Once there, I sit next to Caroline but don’t say anything to her about Bassey’s message, I know her; she’d probably bug me the whole class just to get me to tell her, and I need to focus. I really like today’s class, it’s constitutional law, a subject I’ve loved since my freshman year. In fact, that’s the topic I’ll be writing my senior thesis on, and I’ve chosen this very professor to supervise it. I’m paying close attention, answering questions, and sometimes asking them myself. The class is lively, though there are always those disruptive students who just chat and never pay proper attention. The teacher isn't a problem; he rarely gets angry. In fact, he's everyone's favorite teacher,he's very calm and doesn't lose his temper easily. On the other hand, when it comes to giving grades, he's pretty stingy, but that's actually a good thing, at least it pushes us to work harder. I’m trying to focus as much as possible, too,it’s just a three-hour class, even though the messages Bassey and I exchanged are still on my mind. I haven’t touched my phone since then, so I don’t know if he replied or not; I’d rather wait until after class or during break to check. An hour and a half later, we take a fifteen-minute break; we all get up and leave the classroom. While some go to get something to eat, others hang out in the hallways chatting. I’m a little hungry, so I go with Caroline and two other classmates to buy some snacks. We talk about this and that, sometimes teasing the other classmates, sometimes talking about the teachers, as always, that’s just how it is among students. We get back to class; there are still a few minutes left before class starts again. I check my phone and see that he actually replied.

⁃ him: whether you like it or not, you’re mine!

⁃ C’est ce qu’on verra Monsieur! Sinon je ne savais pas que tu avais un talent !

Lui qui répond 5 minutes après: moi? Un talent? Mais non tu parles de quoi?

⁃ de tes textes, je les ai parcourus très rapidement mais tu écris très bien!

⁃ Oh mais merci beaucoup, tu sais ? J’essaie juste mais je ne suis pas doué!

⁃ C’est moi ou tu fais semblant d’être humble ?

⁃ lol mais je suis humble , ou tu voudrais que je te dise que je sais que je suis trop fort

⁃ Voilà! Là au moins, je suis sûre que c’est ça ta vrai nature, tu es narcissique et non humble comme tu veux me faire croire .

Dès que je termine ce message, j’entends mon professeur m’appeler par mon nom. Je soulève la tête et je vois que toute la classe est déjà de retour, que c’est la fin de la pause et que je ne m’en suis même pas rendue compte . Tout le monde me regarde !

⁃ Monsieur N : Mademoiselle Seba , vous allez bien?

⁃ Yes, sir, I’m fine.

⁃ I called you more than three times, but you didn’t hear me—you seem distracted.

⁃ I’m sorry, I’m focused on this!

I look at Caroline and give her a dirty look, saying

⁃ Hey, why didn’t you tap me so I’d snap out of it?

⁃ But I pinched you—you didn’t even feel it!

⁃ You’re lying!

⁃ I swear I’m not lying. You need to tell me who you’re talking to, because you were completely zoned out just now.

⁃ Oh, focus!

⁃ You won’t be able to avoid me for long; you’ll see, by the end of class you’ll have to explain yourself!

⁃ Okay, okay, now focus.

I knew it would turn out this way

The constitutional law class is back in session. Professor N. is laying out his theory on the separation of powers and the institutionalization of the constitution; it touches a bit on my thesis topic, but my mind has already left the university to wander elsewhere. I’m taking notes mechanically, because I can’t help myself, because I’ve never been one to do things halfway. But deep down, I can’t help thinking about him. I don’t know if it’s because it’s new, if it’s the intrigue, or if it’s curiosity—or something else entirely.

I shake my head discreetly. No. No, Seba. Focus, for goodness’ sake!

Caroline, sitting next to me, has been shooting me glances ever since the break ended. She knows. She can sense it. That girl has a radar for secrets—it’s both handy and terribly annoying. I pretend not to see her, but her elbow discreetly nudges my arm.

“What?” I whisper without turning my head.

“Nothing,” she whispers with a smirk.

“Shut up and pay attention to the lesson,” I grumble.

“I’m listening, I’m listening… But I’m also listening to your breathing speeding up every five minutes.”

I don’t answer her. I grip my pen a little tighter and refocus.

A few minutes later, class ends. I pack up my things, hoping Caro will forget about it a little, even though I know it’s a lost cause.

As soon as I step out of the lecture hall, she blocks my path, arms crossed, a knowing smile on her lips.

— Okay, now you’re talking.

— Caroline, ohhh, aren’t you tired? I’m so tired.

— All that’s true. But that’s not why you were smiling like an i***t during break and had your head in the clouds. So? Is it him? Bassey?

I sigh; I know I’m not going to get out of this.

— He sent me a message, I admit as I walk toward the exit.

— NOOO? Already? Wait, what? What did he say?

— Nothing special... He just said, “Oh, you’re quick,” because I added him.

— Added? You added him? She stops dead in her tracks and adds: Seba, you added him?

— Yeah, but it’s no big deal, you know, he’s family.

— Family, she repeats in a tone that clearly means “yeah, right.” You, who never makes the first move, you went looking for him, you looked at his posts, and you added him. Talk to me about something else!

I don’t answer. I quicken my pace because deep down I know she’s right.

— Listen, I finally say, we exchanged a couple of messages, that’s all. He’s nice. He writes well. But that’s where it ends. You know me, I’m not going to fall in love like that, so don’t get your hopes up.

— I know, sweetheart. I know you’ve been through a lot. But not everyone is like your ex—not all men are the same. And you have the right to be happy, even if it scares you.

— You’re jumping to conclusions too fast. I’m just curious—he seemed mysterious.

— Curious, she laughs. That’s how it starts.

At the door, our paths part; I take a taxi, the ride is quiet. I watch the streets of Dakar roll by, people going about their business, street vendors.

My phone vibrates in my pocket. I take it out, I look.

Bassey: “You’re narcissistic, not humble” lol I’ll take that as a compliment

I laugh to myself like a madwoman

Me: Hmm, what makes you think that’s a compliment?

Bassey: Everything’s a compliment when I say so!

Me: You sure played your cards close to your chest, didn’t you?

His reply comes almost immediately.

Bassey: I’m a mystery; you can’t figure me out. Maybe you’ll manage it, maybe not.

Me: I take that as a challenge.

I put my phone away and look out the window again.

Back home, I say hi to my parents and Ablaye. The house is quiet—almost too quiet. I go up to my room and flop onto my bed. Mami sends me photos and videos of the city—they’re really having a great vacation; Saint Louis is beautiful! I call her, and she gives me a rundown of their first day there. We chat about this and that, and I talk to Dyma too, who’s sitting on her mom’s lap. Suddenly I hear Bassey’s voice, and my heart skips a beat. I just realized....