SIX – 6

I was just getting out of my Uber ride when my phone vibrated in my jeans pocket. I ignored it as I slowly found my way into the radio station with the aftereffects of Vaughn’s welcome home party and my encounter with Kareem Wihu from two nights ago starting to wear off. I mumbled greetings to colleagues who hollered at me and found my way to my office. Almost immediately after I settled down, my phone was vibrating again.

It was Faramade.

“Hello,” I grunted, wishing I could just throw my phone away and not have to talk to anyone for years to come.

“So you thought it was the wisest thing to not let anyone know you were leaving, ba?” Faramade asked, her tone chiding.

“No vex.”

“Well I’m vexed. We all are. And why didn’t you pick your calls or reply our messages after reading them? You’re so rude.”

“I said I’m sorry na. What do you want me to do, put it in a song?” It was easy to counter her vexation with sarcasm, one of the pros of been really good friends.

“You could, but sadly, you’re no Simi.”

I laughed out loud. “Ode ni e, girl yii.”

“Whatever. Anyway I was only worried. You left without saying a word to any of us.”

“I know. I was a bit drunk.”

Fara scoffed. “What else is new.”

“Oh, shut up already.”

“Have you seen him today?” she continued like she hadn’t heard me.

“Him who?”

“Him footballer. Why are you so slow today?”

“Probably because you’re boring me with unnecessary questions when I have loads of work to do today,” I rejoined.

“Oh now, I’m boring you, abi?”

My phone beeped softly, letting me know another call was waiting. “Babe, I have to go. I have another call coming in.”

“Don’t you dare cut me off, Peka!”

“Don’t worry, I know you’ll extend our friendship contract for another year. Love ya.” I chuckled and cut her off before she could protest any further. I made to take the call coming in, but I was too late. The caller had hung up.

Oh well.

I turned on my computer and was logging in when my phone started vibrating again. The ID was unknown and this prompted me to give the caller plenty of time to reconsider and hang up, but whoever it was on the other end was being insistent.

“Hello?”

No response. I paused before repeating myself.

“Uhm, hello?”

There was still no answer from the other end.

“Can I help you or do you need me to get my crystal ball out?”

A chuckle came from my phone’s earpiece. “Are you always this feisty first thing in the morning?”

“Don’t you think that’s a bit forward of you, seeing as you have me at a disadvantage as I don’t know who you are?”

“I’d have thought I made a huge impression on you on the dance floor last Saturday. Every pun intended.”

My brows lifted. “Kareem Wihu?”

“I know my last name, thank you very much. Just call me by my first name, thank you very much.”

“Are you always this impossible and highhanded?”

“You’re pretty annoying yourself,” he shot back.

“That’s what usually happens when you immortalize arrogance and big ego,” I retorted.

Kareem sighed. “Look, uhm… Peka, is it?”

“Oh so now you don’t know my name.”

He laughed at that. “My God, I was only teasing you. Stop being so prickly with me.” When I didn’t say anything in response, he continued, “Come on, man. I’m serious. I was only teasing you. Relax, okay?”

“Whatever. What do you want? And how’d you get my number?”

“I asked your boss.”

“What? And he gave you just like that? Without asking me first?”

“I told him I needed to get to know who I’ll be working with. It’s a plausible explanation.”

“Hmm.”

“That’s it?” he said, clearly surprised that he hadn’t gotten more out of me.

“I guess.”

“Come on, Peka…” He moaned my name. “Give me a break!”

“Why should I do that?”

He fell silent. A beat later, he said, “Because I’m sorry.”

Oh, I’m so going to milk this, I thought wildly. I quickly turned on the call-recording function on my phone. “Could you say that again? I didn’t hear you the first time.”

He chuckled. “Olupeka Bernard, I’m sorry.”

“For what exactly?”

“For spilling your smoothie on you and not apologizing.”

“Okay, Go on.”

“That’s it.”

“Really? Apology not accepted. If that’ll be all, I have some work to do.”

“Okay. Okay. Jeez.” He laughed again. “So you won’t make this easy for me, huh?”

“You’re right. Let’s do this the dumbest way possible because you’re always so easy.”

“You are too mean.”

“Only to people whose sense of entitlement is without a doubt disgusting. Anyway are you going to finish your apology?”

He laughed again and I could imagine him shaking his head as well. “Peka, I’m sorry for insulting you at the party, for the smoothie, for my highhandedness and for my egotistical nature. Did I leave anything out?”

“I don’t know. I might have to get back to you on that.” There was a smile in my voice. “Apology accepted.”

“Thank you.”

“So…” I drawled.

“Can we start over? Like really start over?” he asked.

I was surprised to detect some nervousness in his voice at this point. Hmm… Okay?

“Are you there?” he asked.

“Yes, I am.”

“Okay. So…a start-over?”

“Sure. That’ll be nice.”

“Would you want to go out with me sometime?” There was that nervousness in his voice again.

“I don’t know…” I hedged, not sure I wanted to socialize with this man any further than I absolutely had to.

“Please, Peka. I really want to get to know you more and this was actually why I called.”

“Kareem, I don’t think it’ll be appropriate for us to go out for drinks. I mean, you’re a football star. It’ll not be easy drinking in peace.”

“How about dinner then?”

Whoa.

“I’ll make something. Or we could order pizza. Or get I’ll get someone to make dinner for us and you’ll only have to think I did. All you need to do is make yourself available for this…meet.”

“Kareem –”

“I’m not taking no for an answer. I’ll ask you until you give in to my demands and I can be really persuasive.”

Right.

“Alright then,” I said with a laugh.

“Yes!” he all but yelled and I found myself laughing even harder.

Written by Vhar