The roads were busy as usual. I watched people go in and come out from the restaurant opposite our building. For a moment, I imagined being a spy. I could take a picture of anyone that went in from the balcony. There were people I imagined snapping and posting on social media; people like the old men who went into the restaurant with young girls and came out with bags of whatever. Their relationship could not have been what I suspected but the hand on the neck and waist made me strongly believe in myself.
Anyone reading my thoughts at the moment, would ask, why I am not minding my business. Well, Blessing came later than usual to work and she politely asked me to step outside so she could mop the office and shop. I stood outside like I was being punished for her impunctuality.
"Nene, you should carry your friend and come and see o," Madam Chinaka called out. "I have restocked. Ogbala."
"Okay ma," I replied without verifying which of my friends she was talking about. It could only be the fine man that his car rolled into the parking space of the restaurant. He was wearing a white T-shirt with grey chinos and a color of moccasin that seemed to be navy blue or black.
He stood on the road demarcation and waited for a chance to cross over. He then looked up and I waved at him. He smiled and began to cross, waving at a car to slow down as he crossed. I smiled. I was yet to learn that. I always ran to cross the road if there was a car coming.
"Aunty, you fit come inside, " I heard Blessing say. I turned and walked into the office.
I went round the shop, noting the clothes on display and the ones that have been sold .
"People too like this one, " Blessing said, touching an ankara palazzo.
"Really? " I asked, feeling the material like I did not know just by looking at it that it was a very light one.
"This one just remain. The waist small," she said, removing it from hanger and showing me the waist.
"Not my fault, " I shrugged, "It's for the slim-thick," I laughed like I cracked a joke but Blessing only smiled showing that my joke was lost.
I worked over night so there was no work on my table except the materials I bought to make clothes for display. I sat behind my table and began to sketch the different styles I wanted to make.
Tunde came to my office at noon. He stood at the door like a beaten pup.
"What's wrong? " I almost laughed at his facial expression.
"Madam Chinaka has been preaching to me all morning. "
"About_"
"Just come along, " He said, turning around.
"No, if it's about her wares. I'm not interested, " I said, remaining on my seat.
He turned back to face me. "Please come and make a choice. I want to get you a gift. "
I stood up and followed him to Madam Chinaka's shop which was just after mine.
"You people are welcome, " She said, then offered Tunde a seat. "Nene, please go round and make your choice. "
I walked round the shop with racks on each corner of the wall stacked with shoes and bags of different sizes and designs. On the moveable hanger at the centre of the shop were clothes of varying sizes, colours and styles. Tunde walked behind quietly waiting for me to make a choice.
"Tuntun, " I said, turning to face him, "We can not buy any of these bags. This is Okrika for Christ sake and before you know it, it's expired. "
He smiled and spoke calmly, "One problem at a time. Just make a choice. "
"I don't like anything here," I said with a pout, stamping my feet on the ground like a child.
He laughed and began checking out the wares himself.
"Nene, have you seen something you like? " Madam Chinaka asked, coming up behind me.
"They're all beautiful but I can not find anything that will not begin to peel in three days," I complained.
She laughed. "Come, let me show you. You don't know what you are talking about. "
She took my hand and led me back to the front of the shop, where a heap of clothes was left on the floor for easy selection by customers.
"These ones now," She said, bringing out a black bag from the shelf and dusting it. "This is first grade. Original quality. "
I took the bag and began examining it and she returned with another color.
"This one is also first grade. It's from here all those boutique people buy na."
I sighed. "I will take this one," I said, holding on firmly to the first bag she showed me.
Tunde settled her payment and we left the shop.
"I'll show you this bag would spoil," I said at the door of my shop.
"Isn't a bag supposed to spoil? " He asked obviously amused.
I jabbed his chest and walked into the shop.
"You have broken my fragile heart, my lady, " He said, walking in after me. I turned to look at him and he quickly held a hand over his chest, feigning hurt.
"Thank you though. I have not had a gift in a long time."
I sat on the cushion and he stood at the door. "Can I steal you for an hour? " He asked with arms crossed.
"It depends on why you want to steal me. "
"I want to take you somewhere. Is that okay? "
"Ermm_ "I said, tapping a finger on my lips in thought. "Alright. Fine," I concluded drawing a night plan in my head.
I packed my sketch pad and a few other necessities into my handbag then we left with me holding my new hand bag in a nylon in one hand and the old one on the crook of my arm.
We left for the mystery place in his car. I replied a few messages from customers before I faced him and asked for the third time, "Why are we going to? "
"Baby," He said, then placed a hand on my thighs. He smiled at me briefly before he turned back to the road. I was silent for a while until I realized what he did.
"That did not work," I said, laughing.
"For a moment, it did."
He drove into a plaza and parked then he unbuckled his seat belt.
"Hold on for me, baby, " He said.
I nodded, smiling at the endearment. It was the first day he called me, "baby". I waited in the car and he walked into one of the shops there. I entertained my eyes with the sight of everything passing by because he seemed to be taking a long time in coming out.