Mide’s Abor with Olamide Longe
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Feyisola Thomas approached the restaurant located in the basement of the office complex with some trepidation; she was feeling like a fish out of water. Well, she was a fish out of water, all things considered. She took a deep breath, then pushed open the door and walked in. The place was half-full. She took a quick look around and spotted an empty table in a far corner of the room. Perfect, she thought, as she quickly made her way to it. The place grew quiet as she moved to the table. She tensed up but her steps didn’t falter. She reached the table and sat down, heaving a huge sigh of relief. It had felt like the longest walk she’d ever taken. Heavens knew being in an unfamiliar place always made her nervous. And she only just started work at the company.
Five tables away from where she sat, Michael Oladapo sat frozen in his chair, his food forgotten, and his eyes fixed on her. He was having difficulty believing what he was seeing. He’d looked up when the din in the room had lessened, wondering whether some VIP had entered. (The big bosses hardly lunched there, so whenever they did, it caused a stir). He’d been unable to look away since then. He was glad he was the only one at his table. It would be difficult to explain his immobility to co-diners.
He knew her. He took a deep breath and tried to calm himself his heart seemed to be flipping about in his chest.
He’d been in his third year at the university when he finally met her. Before then, he’d only observed her from afar, even though he’d been attracted to her from the very first time he saw her. Her beauty was such a powerful force and he had found himself unable to resist its pull like many heterosexual male, he was sure. Nevertheless, he’d only admired her from afar and kept out of her path. Fear had been the first reason. He was afraid he would lose control and embarrass himself if he went near her. He didn’t want to look like a hyena with its tongue hanging out. The second was his vow that he wouldn’t allow anything to get in the way of his studies. The third was his belief that he wasn’t her type, even though she was very much his. Then, one fateful day, his best friend, Fisan Adeniyi, had introduced them to each other. It had been at a birthday party of a mutual friend, a party that he had only attended after much cajoling from Fisan. Fisan was a fun-loving party goer and that day was one of the very few days he’d succeeded in dragging Michael along to a party.
He had shaken Feyisola’s outstretched hand, looked straight into her eyes, and from the depth of his heart told her: “Pleased to meet you,” and held on to that hand.
She‘d responded by giving him a brief glimpse of her pearly set of teeth and a flippant “pleased to meet you, too.” Then gently but surely, withdrew her hand from his.
“I hear you are the faculty’s Einstein,” she’d then said. It sounded as if she was mocking him.
He didn’t care. He was surprised to learn that she’d heard about him. And secretly delighted too. “I’m just Michael. But you are undoubtedly Nefertiti,” he replied, without irony. He’d heard Fisan wince, but didn’t mind him.
She held his eyes. “Just Feyisola, but, I’ll take the compliment.”
He noted that she didn’t thank him for the compliment. Unable to stop himself, he’d reached for her hand again. He felt something. She’d felt it, too, because her eyes widened slightly. “Not a compliment, but the truth,” he said.
She didn’t answer. She withdrew her hand again and with a soft “See you around,” she excused herself and moved away.
She had led him a merry dance.
The last time he saw her, he had been gazing at her quickly receding back and willing her to turn and look at him. He remembered that day clearly. He’d just returned from the podium after receiving the award for the best graduating student in the entire school for that year and a well-wisher was shaking his hand when he saw her departing the hall. He’d wanted to run after her, but been unable to. After the ceremony, he’d searched for her on the grounds surrounding the venue to no avail.
Everything had gone downhill after that. Even though he’d achieved his objective of coming out tops and everyone, his parents, his four grandparents, his three siblings and many close friends were over the moon, delirious with joy over it (a rocking, big party had been thrown for him), he‘d ended the day with a deep depression, one that did not go away for days.
He shook his head and resumed eating. There was no gain in reliving the pain of those days. It’s been almost six years since then. He gazed at his food. “What is she doing here?” he whispered. He’d been ravenous when he came in. His morning had been quite busy and his energy had dissipated by the time lunch break showed up. Now, he couldn’t eat for the excitement shooting through him.
He watched her as she ate now, careful not to be too obvious about watching her.
Where had she come from?
Was she married now?
Questions were tumbling over themselves in his mind, Questions only she could answer.
He grinned suddenly. And they would be answered.
She would find he was a different Michael now.
Oh, yes.
He rubbed his hands together with glee and continued eating.
