"Let me call her first so she'd know I'm on my way" she brought out her phone, after unlocking the screen and she saw she already missed her friend's call.
"Omg!...she called me already, but it didn't ring, I didn't hear it ring"
She turned to Paul "...or did you hear my phone ring when I was making my hair?
"No it didn't ring, maybe you put it on silent mode"
"Yes it's on silence mode...but I can't remember changing it.
Abby dialed her friend Dupe's number...it rang several times before she finally picked.
[Abby I tried calling you earlier...why didn't you pick my calls?]
[I didn't hear it ring sister Dupe, I'm sorry!...it was in my bag while I was making my hair. I guess, it switches to silent mode all by itself...anyway, I'm on my way to you, just thought I should let you know]
[Exactly why I was calling you earlier, hubby and I are on our way to see my mother-in-law, she suddenly called that we should see her ASAP. I don't know what was so urgent...listen, I can't talk freely right now but I'll gist you when I come back, okay?]
"Okay"Abby replied to herself after her friend had already disconnected the call, feeling dejected she sighed.
'Just when I thought I was finally going to have a fun-filled birthday.' she thought sadly. 'What is the matter with all of them today!?'
"Are you okay?" He asked since he noticed her long face.
"Yeah, I'm good. My friend canceled."
"Your friend?, didn't I heard you call her sister right now?"
"Yeah! You heard right. She's my bestie, even though she's way older than me." She replied with a faint smile on her face.
"doesn't make sense to me..."
"To you maybe, since you are oyinbo( oyinbo means a white person). I'm a Yoruba girl and we are big on respect. Once someone is way older than you, you don't call them by their given name... it's logic!"
"Okay...thanks for the insight. Ehmm...since your friend canceled, how about we go on that date?"
Despite today being her birthday, it's certainly not showing the prospect of being a fun-filled day. Abby felt so alone just then 'Wura didn't even bother to call me' she thought staring at her phone's screen as if she can somehow will her mother call into her phone.
"I can't go on a date with you Paul"
"But seriously, why not? We had an agreement six weeks ago remember!?"
'Yeah, before I learned the crazy side of you' she thought but said...
"...because I can't risk being seen with you" She gave the first excuse that came to her mind thinking...
'Is that the best excuse you could come up with Abby?' She asked herself. Now she's skeptical about going on another date with this insufferable man that has heartbreak written all over him. Well, it was just a tiny part of her that did not want to go while the other large part wanted to spend time with him.
"You can't risk who seeing you with me... Your boyfriend?" He asked a little curtly, feeling downgraded and disrespected. Women always want to be with him so what's her problem?
Seeing his countenance changed, Abby was happy to finally be able to ruffle his feathers "Yes! My boyfriend, his friends, his colleagues at work, his parents, siblings, and neighvbors." she said sweetly. "They are all aware of our relationship you see, and I need to be careful about who I'm seen with you know" she added a little too seriously.
"Oh good for you then, now that you've met them all; when is the wedding?" He asked coldly with a fake smile.
"Don't worry, you will certainly be among the first to get an invite" she replied with a cheeky smile. He was silent, lost for words! It suddenly feels as if all the warmth in the vicinity were drained and replaced with ice.
'We'll see if you would still have a boyfriend by the end of today when I'm done with you. He muttered under his breath.
"So what next...you gonna go back home? he asked changing the topic.
"I wish; I didn't remember to bring my key along with me this morning and I'm meeting someone by 6 pm" Abby suddenly felt drained. 'What a day!'
"You could come home and hang with me" he offered tentatively, somehow knowing she was going to refuse him.
"I already told you..."
"...that you are not going to sleep with me. Yeah, yeah!... I know that already 'cos you told me like four times in the past four hours" He interrupted abruptly finishing her statement for her. Abby glared at him, angry at being interrupted in such a manner again.
"What!?...you don't wanna hang on the street do you?" He asked and sighed deeply; looked into her eyes before he continued.
"Okay Abby, here's the truth...I don't know about you, but the fact is... I am attracted to you. Although I can't honestly promise not to steal another kiss from you if you agree to hang with me. I can promise I won't force myself on you."
I won't do to you what you don't want to be done to you...alright? You don't have to be scared of me " He said with a very serious look on his handsome face."
Abby considered what he said and surprisingly trust him without much consideration. At least he's honest with me' she thought and shrugged.
"Who's scared? Why would I be scared of you? You don't know what you are saying" she answered.