LIFE AS HE KNOWS IT (Chapter 3)
The weeks rolled by and soon turned into months. The rains reduced drastically, although it rained so heavily and unexpectedly one time Tunde decided to go see a movie. However since then, it was pretty much heat and the characteristic dry air that felt like tiny slivers of glass to the nose. A light film of dust was beginning to form on leaves of weeds and a rundown car parked close to his compound.
Kola asked Tunde only once if his offer had been considered. Tunde replied that he was still thinking about it. They kept a cordial collegial relationship. Tunde just wasn’t sure how to deal with this heterosexual guy who was so open to homosexuality in Nigeria. In his final year in the university, he told his best friend since secondary school of his true sexual identity, and the so-called best friend had proceeded to punch him and call him a fag and stopped talking to him. It had hurt but Tunde had toughed it out. At least he got out of a friendship that wasn’t worth it.
It was a particularly sunny day, and Tunde was hurrying out of the mall with nylon bags full of groceries, when there was a “riiiiiiiip” sound, and all his precious packages came tumbling out of the bags. Both bags. Tunde groaned. What kind of luck was this one now?
His car was a bit far from him and he couldn’t exactly scoop up everything in his arms and carry to the car.
As he bent to start picking his things, a deep voice said, “Excuse me, do you need a hand?”
Tunde looked up, about to tell the stranger not to worry, when his eyes locked unto the most beautiful eyes he had ever seen. They were kind and seemed to be the colour of honey that light was passing through. The eyes belonged to a handsome face with a strong jaw and full kissable lips. Tunde gulped and stared.
“Do you need help?” the stranger said.
Tunde began to stutter in response. “Erm…er…erm…yes, please,” he finally managed to say. And the stranger smiled. Tunde was glad he didn’t have dazzling white teeth, because that would have been too cliché for an actual human being. The man’s teeth were just okay.
As the stranger helped him pick up his things, Tunde wondered how wise it was to let someone he didn’t know help him with his stuff. What if the guy took off suddenly?
They stood up slowly, arms laden with groceries, and Tunde took in his Good Samaritan’s height. They were almost the same height. And there was something oddly familiar about the dude’s face. He was wearing a shirt and a pair of jeans that seemed a bit too tight.
Hmmm.
They walked briskly to Tunde’s vehicle in the parking lot and after he unlocked the doors, they placed the groceries in the back seat.
“Thanks so much,” Tunde said. “I should go back in there and see if I can get extra bags.”
“I’m to meet up with someone in there too,” the stranger said. “Let’s walk together.”
Tunde’s heart fluttered. This angel wanted to walk with him? His knees felt a bit weak and his palms turned sweaty. What the fuck was wrong with him? He had been around handsome men before. He was even quite the looker himself with his killer smile and lean swimmer’s build. There was only one time he’d felt remotely like this and alarm bells rang in his head. He wanted to decline and drive away as fast as possible from the stranger, but that would have been very rude and he had already said he was going back inside to get his things.
“It’s okay if you don’t want to,” the stranger said.
Tunde replied that he didn’t mind.
“What’s your name?” the man asked as they walked, snapping Tunde out of his reverie inside which he was leaning against the handsome stranger as they walked.
“Tunde… yours?”
“Dele,” was the reply
Tunde nodded, and they fell back into a silence that was oddly not awkward or uncomfortable.
“I saw you bought Chimamanda’s latest book,” Dele said as they neared the mall.
“Yes. I’m buying it kind of late, thanks to work. But better late than never. I love her writing. She’s…”
“Amazing,” Dele completed.
Tunde smiled. “Exactly what I was going to say.”
Dele was staring at him, and Tunde felt a bit weird. Self conscious.
“This is my way. I guess you’re going the other way?” Dele said.
“Yes,” Tunde said, realizing that he’d have to leave the wonderful aura he was getting from the male beside him. “Thanks so much for helping me with my stuff.”
“Thanks for walking with me,” Dele responded.
Tunde turned and soon went into the shop where he had bought his things, feeling a bit disappointed that he wouldn’t get to see that fine male again. The staff gave him a new set of nylons and apologised for the breakage. He was a regular customer.
As he made his way to his car, he heard his name being called. He turned around and saw Dele hurrying to him. His heart began to flutter again.
“Hey, sorry… I was hoping I’d still see you,” Dele said, panting slightly. “I was hoping you could give me your pin or something. I’d like to talk about the book with you. I live with my brother and he’s only interested in watching movies. Maybe you’d be interested in talking about the book sometime or something… Over some food or something… I don’t want it to be awkward or anything… I’d understand if you don’t agree but I…”
Tunde could see the guy really tripping over his words, and if he had heard correctly, he was being asked out on a date sometime. It was all so cute the way the man kept ducking his beautiful eyes; the seemingly effortless confidence that seemed to surround him earlier was gone, to be replaced by a sheepish nervousness.
It warmed Tunde so much that he soon found himself reciting his pin and phone number to the man he’d just met minutes ago.
Later, when he was home and had had dinner, he went to bed early and dreamed about beautiful eyes and sheepish smiles.
Written by James
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39 Comments
Absalom
October 03, 03:55Nice one, James.
enKayced
October 03, 04:05‘Book or something, some time. Over food or something, some time.’
This is the bravest line when asking a guy out, particularly a stranger or acquaintance whom you know next to nothing about.
I would know, because I do it when I meet someone I really like or something, some time.
pinkpanthertb
October 03, 04:06LOL. Don’t we all, see someone and want to make that move in order to achieve something, some time…
Dennis Macauley
October 03, 05:42Sweetheart where have you been?
enKayced
October 03, 23:39My brother, work has been such a bitch. Demanding drastic, gut-wrenching, erection-weakening, grueling hours and hours of some crazy work. Not been long I stepped into my house sef.
Considering the fact that today was supposed to be my day off, I would categorically state that I put in at least 9 hours of work. The good part is that I enjoy my job though. I was scheduled to interview Dame Patience Jonathan today but unfortunately, owing to her impeccable command of the queen’s English and her British accent, the interview was cancelled seeing as half her would-be listeners wouldn’t be able to understand her.
Anyway, she no come sha and I missed the dollar notes she would have dashed us at the fm studio. Hope you’re good too Mr Macaulay?
Have a great work-free bunch of days with Mrs Macaulay!
Doropaul
October 03, 07:33being in the media i am sure u use those lines with a lot of celebs.
gad
October 03, 05:17A beautiful piece.I hope the stranger won’t turn out to be kola,s big bros.wonders
enigmous
October 03, 07:29It is Kola’s bro na…Kola told Tunde his brother’s name is Dele and it’s too good to be a coincidence
JustJames
October 03, 10:40Biko.. go back to chapter two and read what was said. Tenkyou :*
pinkpanthertb
October 03, 10:44Someone’s imagination is apparently so hyper he’s recounting an entirely new storyline. lol
Rapu'm
October 03, 05:33Lol. Okay. This is too short, James. Why do you enjoy teasing us, eh?
Dennis Macauley
October 03, 05:41Oh wow! This was great!
Don’t we all have those moments when you meet a stranger and the world momentarily stops?
James stop teasing us!
Meanwhile wait oh is dele the brother to the colleague who wanted to hook him up?
Obatala
October 03, 05:49obviously Dele is Kolas brother
daniel
October 03, 06:05Is there another part coming in the afternoon? Bcos I swear this was short….. If Dele turns out to be Kola’s brother, is it safe to say Que Sera Sera?
gad
October 03, 16:54Interpret and name your prize
daniel
October 03, 19:55Oh Gad, u don’t know the meaning of that?
gad
October 03, 21:45Must u throw the illiteracy of a poor unlearned soul to his face? Was it my fault that my headmaster retired the I was supposed to start school?
enKayced
October 03, 23:30Just for educational purposes, Que sera sera simply means: What will be will be… Q. E. D.
gad
October 04, 07:33How kind! Thanks
Ruby
October 03, 06:39Wow! This felt like a Disney story that sure swept some people of their feet *gives Pinky side- eye n goes back to brushing my dark wavy locks*
Once again, beautifully done James…
Paul
October 03, 06:54D coincidence wuld b too much if Dele turns out to b Kola’s bro n ds may ruin our hunger n thirst.
I tink James def has somtin different up his sleeves n ds makes d suspence deadlier.
Nice piece!
king
October 03, 07:33Fun fun fun…James more!
Brian Collins
October 03, 08:07Jamisi ogini kwa. Too short jor. The shop seemed like it could have been shoprite at ikeja mall. Dele would most likely be kola’s bro.
Ohizy
October 03, 08:27So lemme make a forcast that Dele is Kola’s brother whom Kola had wanted Tunde to date. Nice one James.
Constant
October 03, 08:35Short but worth the while….Good one james….now forward the rest before an army of ISIS visit thy abode…..
#TeamKizito
October 03, 09:00Hmmm.
Legalkoboko
October 03, 09:31So far so good. But this episode made me feel so uncomfortable.
What if Tunde is right? What if this stranger is some kind of an unpleasant setup?
Well, let me hold my breath till the next episode.
king
October 03, 16:55Don’t think so….didnt you see how he was so giddy about getting his no? no kito devilish agent could even act dat part!
JustJames
October 03, 10:00Y’all need to calm down.. who says they will even get together seff… lol
Keith
October 03, 11:58Perfect James, although its too short
xpressivejboy
October 04, 06:58Yeah, Keith, so short…annoyingly short for those of us who love it long.
Deola
October 03, 14:39Bia, where is chizzie though, as controversial as his comments were, and boy were some of them jaw-dropping. He was one of the early users of this blog, and while it pains me to admit it, he always had something to say that sparked dialogue.
Who knows where the bros is??
xpressivejboy
October 04, 06:51Make his hunt a GUS item…
He should be somewhere having some candy over something, somehow; BJs help to quiet his kind at such a time.
OAN, James, I love this…make 4 available sharperly…Kudos, Bro.
Lothario
October 04, 11:41Oh wow…Ibrahim’s brother is a gent. Nice!
That is where this is leading to, right? *squinting menacingly at James*
pinkpanthertb
October 04, 11:49Ibrahim? There’s an Ibrahim?
gad
October 04, 13:28Whether Dele,Akin,Tunde,Ibrahim, name is name.
pinkpanthertb
October 04, 13:41You do realize you don’t have to comment against every comment thread, don’t you? Especially wen you’ll say something way off base…
gad
October 04, 17:25Does a rule on the number of threads one has to comment exist? We have different levels of understanding and how we view things. What you should do when a comment beats your comprehension is to seek clarifications.We must not always say what you like or what you understand.
Brian Collins
October 04, 20:30I smell trouble brewing.
*where is that my new tea cup*