"Why are you smiling like that? " I asked .
It was a stupid question. My own smile could actually be broader than his that was just done with a side of his lips.
"Let go of your cloth. It did nothing to you. "
I agreed and freed my poor dress that I could have torn without noticing. It was the effect of being under his gaze.
"I should be going upstairs, " I said.
He walked to where I was and began tucking my hair behind my ears.
"You are beautiful, " he said.
"Thank you? " I replied, unsure of the sudden compliment.
I tried so hard to compose myself so I do not look like a silly teenager being complimented for the first time.
"There was a man," he began. His face was just a few inches from mine. I found it strange listening to him when he was that close to.
"The man was a taxi driver who witnessed an accidental clash of two cars. One driver made it out alive and the other died at the spot. The driver who survived, paid the witness who is the man I'm talking about, to say that the dead driver was the defaulter. The man agreed. On the day of the hearing, the judge was a woman - a beautiful woman, a very beautiful woman."
I ran a hand slowly down his arm. "What happened to the man?"
"He could not speak anymore."
I laughed. "Did you compose this story?"
He took my hand in his with a smile. "I did, my lady."
I took my hands back while nodding and kept them behind me. He sighed.
"I'm sorry about the other day. I wanted to be sure it was what you wanted to happen. I did not want things to change between us for the worse."
His face had turned serious, I had only seen that face once - when he stood to give a sermon. "I did not want regrets and the awkwardness that comes with it."
I was relieved to know that what he meant that day was, I should never apologize again for what I did, not that I should never repeat what I did.
"There would have been no regrets," I said but I was not even sure of that.
"What about now? "
His body was so close to mine, I gave in to the urge to run my finger down his neck to his muscular arms. Flattening my palm on his chest, I mastered what that place was like absentmindedly. It was as if I wanted to learn him so I could be able to recognize him in the dark just by feeling him.
I felt his lips on my forehead and I leaned in to him, wrapping my arms around him. The feeling was overwhelming, the same way I felt the first time he held me as I cried. He held me to him like I was a child.
"You didn't answer the question, " he said, using his palm to smoothen my hair. His eyes had a look in it- one I have come to associate with lust but he was hesitant.
I raised my head from his chest and looked at him. It was the moment he was waiting for. He gently lowered his lips on mine briefly then he pulled away to look at my face.
I stood on tip toe and returned the kiss, gripping both of his collars as his lips met mine like we were dancing with fire. He responded in pure undisguised passion. He tasted of mentos gum and I loved the taste of the mint on my tongue or on his tongue.
His hands were moving from my hair down to my waist guiding me closer and closer to him even though there was no longer space between us. He cupped my face, he played with my hair. I loved it. It did not feel like Ike. Ike.
I pulled away slowly letting my head rest on his chest to compose myself.
"Are you okay? " he asked, patting my hair.
"I am in a relationship, " I blurted out. "I'm sorry. "
He did not seem to hear. He continued rubbing his palm down my hair still holding me close to him.
"Tunde? "
"I heard you, " he said without stopping what he was doing.
"I'm sorry. "
His reply was to place a kiss on my forehead. I left him and went back to his office. I sat on the padded bench and waited for him to come out. He came out after a while, opening the second button of his shirt. The place suddenly became hot and I wished I could also zip down my gown a bit. I watched him sit on the table, facing me.
"Regrets?" he asked.
I shook my head, broadening my lips in a smile. I did not want the awkwardness he predicted. Looking at the magazine beside him, I asked, "So you will carry me home everyday till my car is done and I'll make a dress for you as payment? "
"I actually had another offer but_ "
"What's it? "
"I'll pick you up and drop you off every day but after we would have dinner together maybe not in my house, anywhere of your choice," he said then began flipping through the pages of the magazine, next thing he was fanning himself with it.
"We can try that, " I said.
"I'll think of more terms to guide us," he said, now sounding less interested.
I got back to my shop and began cutting the materials for the bridal train, just grateful the style was a simple one and did not need additional designs but just a touch of lace or cotton.
Tunde dropped me back home. In the car, I could not join in his jokes. I just sat, gazing out the window then he started playing songs. He sang along at times or hummed. When we got to my gate, he held my wrist.
"I'll come pick you tomorrow if that's okay with you."
I agreed, nodding. I could not even imagine doing otherwise.
Ike's call came just as I entered my room. Our calls had not even been like it should for people in a romantic relationship. Sometimes, I did not even notice. Maybe I was angry because I expected him to call more often and I would ignore it when I wanted. I let the phone ring while I kicked off my shoes. Then on the second ring, I picked it.
"How's my baby doing ?" He asked.
"She's great and how are you doing? " I asked, playing with my lips remembering what Tunde's lips felt like on it.
"How's work? " He asked.
I rolled my eyes and sighed. His calls always had one pattern. The next question would be, " have you eaten something?" The truth was that I did not even look forward to his calls anymore.
"Honestly, I am not in the mood to do this with you. I just returned from work. I need to shower and fuel up. I will call you when I'm done. "
I dropped the phone on the bed and began to undress.
"My lady," he called through the speakers, I turned to the phone like he was there and I was looking at him waiting for him to talk. "Are you okay? "
"Yeah. Just tired." I replied.
"It's not just about now. Most times, you tell me you would return my call but you don't. It's either I call too early or too late."
I sat down back on the bed, wishing he was here at the moment. I would have ran my hands all over his face reassuringly and even litter kisses on his eyes, to his nose.
"I am sorry," I said. "I'm so sorry."
"Nene, it's okay. I know we rushed into things but that doesn't mean we can't work. I actually believe strongly that we can work," He said.
I nodded, hugging my bare body. If he believed that strongly in a future for us, I also wanted to hope in his belief.