'Mike... Always the perfect gentleman.' Abby thought as she was getting ready for her lunch date with him. He called to let her know he has arrived and parked outside her gate. He even told her to take her sweet time in getting ready when he learned she was running late.
She couldn't help but compare Mike to Tunde and realized; even though they’re both amazing in their own ways, the difference between them was broad.
Mike was polite, affectionate, and caring. Any woman with even half a brain would wish for a man like him to be her husband. Tunde on the other hand seemed like a no-good with a personality that only means trouble and a mouth you would want to wash out with soap and water.
Mike was a great guy but Tunde was the one her heart yearned for. She once read somewhere that girls who have a concealed inner rebellious side are easily attracted to men who can release that out of them. 'Did she have that side to her?'
She finished dressing in a white body hug top worn over skinny shredded jeans. Black high-heel pumps and a clutch purse. Wearing simple makeup and letting her braids down, she looked fresh and very beautiful. She hurried out to meet Mike where he was parked
"Hey, you... I'm so sorry for keeping you waiting, I overslept, I'm sorry." she smiled apologetically at him when she joined him inside his car.
"I understand. You don't need to apologize... And you're looking beautiful as usual"
"Thanks, you're looking good too yourself," she said truthfully. Mike was indeed good-looking. He could have any woman he wanted. She had seen how women who wanted him for themselves looked at her with envy and hatred whenever she was with him, which made her wonder why he was not dating.
It's past a year already since they met and it's past six months since the incident of her throwing up after he attempted to kiss her. They've been good friends ever since and she had never seen him with any other woman. Could her dad and Dupe be right about him still being in love with her?
'Do I still need to remind him about our agreement of being just friends when he has not done anything for me to doubt him?' She wondered.
"Still tired from yesterday's party?" Mike asked when he noticed she was not her usual chatty self.
"Not really... I just slept late... So where are we going?"
"What do you think about Moroccan cuisine?... A client took me to dinner at a new African kitchen that just opened at Victoria Island... And god! The food was very delicious... But if you don't like it then we could eat anywhere you want."
"Why would you think I won't like it? I've never tasted Moroccan cuisine before and I can't wait to have a taste. Now hurry and let's start going already!"
"I promise you'll love it," he said with a broad smile on his face. Happy to please her once again. He knew one of the things she was enthusiastic about was to taste and experiment with different cuisines from all over the world.
He fell in love with her at first sight and he has never stopped loving her, even when he agreed to just be friends with her.
He already showed her pictures to his sisters as the woman he intends to marry. They were all eager to meet her, asking when he's going to introduce her properly to them. He had to keep lying to them about her being too busy with school and work.
The only thing that had kept him going all these months that he agreed to be just friends with her was that he's the only man in her life. He believed that for as long as she's not attracted to another man, she would come round to loving him sooner.
He reached inside the glove compartment and brought out a small gift bag which he handed to her.
"Happy birthday dear. I didn't hand it over yesterday because I didn't want it to get lost among the numerous gifts you received"
"Oh, Mike you shouldn't have... You've done enough already." She accepted the small bag with a huge smile that light up her face and deepens her dimples. She reached inside the bag and brought out a long rectangular blue velvet box tied with a silver ribbon.
"Awww..." she looked up at him still smiling.
"Well are you just going to stare at it all day?...open it will you"
"Oh my God Mike...this is so cute" Abby whispered and laughed when she opened the gift. Lying on a tiny cream-colored satin pillow was a beautiful silver necklace with a tiny bucket of half-eaten strawberry and vanilla ice cream with a spoon pendant.
"I love it... Thank you. Now I'm craving ice cream right now and it's your fault." That's one of the reasons why she liked him. His attention to detail. Once he learned something about you, he never forgets. It's a pity they can't go beyond friendship.
"Okay foodie, I know you can't resist ice cream," he said with a laugh "We'll get ice cream dessert...there's an ice cream place beside the restaurant. We'll get as many flavors as you want after lunch," he said with enthusiasm.
He's always happy whenever he sees that happy look on her face, knowing that he has the powetr to make her happy gives him joy in return.