This is the part of going out I find most annoying – picking an outfit.
What do I wear? This black leather jacket? Leather? In this hot weather? no. A suit-styled dress? Too formal for brunch with the girls. UGHH.
The sound of a notification from my phone distracts me from my search.
“Madam, I’m outside.”
Already? Ahah, am I late again?
Unlocking the multiple bolts on my door takes more time than usual so I’m not surprised when Nelo, my course mate turned sister, starts ranting.
“Why are you here so early? It’s barely 10:30. I thought we said 1.”
“You should be happy I’m here. You’ll get a free ride with me. What are you wearing? I want to get some content for my channel so consider that too.”
“You know what?” Nelo adds, already pulling out a mesh top from my wardrobe.
“Do you still have those blue shorts from Otego?”
“Yes?”
“Great? We’ll pair this with those.”
After lunch, we decided to stop by Hans and Rene in Ikoyi. The store is almost empty and Nelo thinks it’s the perfect opportunity to get content while waiting for our order.
“That guy’s wearing BEF brand.” Sola’s high-pitched voice had an echo to it.
I look at the feet of the two men huddled in one corner of the store and spot the one with the mules.
“What if it’s an imitation?” I blurted.
He definitely heard me because he turned and looked in our direction almost immediately.
Khalid? This better be a silly dream. I was beyond surprised. For a few seconds, I’m frozen in the same spot, remembering the last time I saw Khalid.
“Peju? Hi. How’ve you been?” His voice definitely had more depth to it, but then again, the last time I heard it was 6 years ago.
“You’re back?”
“Yes. I got back on Monday. Jay’s getting married next month.”
“Oh really?” I couldn’t tell if this was shock, anger or disappointment I was feeling.
“Yes. We are actually meeting for drinks later today. He’s very excited about getting married.”
Awkward silence. I remember Jay, his older cousin. He was at his graduation party too, the last time I saw Khalid. I look around thinking of another direction to stir this conversation.
He smelled of cocoa butter.
Nelo’s voice interrupted our silence. I introduced him as an “old friend” just before we said our goodbyes.
I had been excited to try the Cheesecake Gelato when I ordered it. But right now, it tastes bland on my tongue. Just like Khalid.
After we left the shop and much later that night, I kept replaying what happened earlier, trying to define what I had felt then and the different ways I would have reacted if I was prepared. Was my shock that obvious? Ugh.
A message request pops in from IG. “Hi, Peju. I hope you got home safe.”
Of course, it’s him.
“Yeah, I did. How’s Jay?”
“He’s great. Anxious though.”
“Lol, I’m not surprised.”
We continue with small talk around wedding planning, and I end the conversation with the classic excuse of going to bed.
It’s a new week and an hour into this ritual of a Monday report meeting and everything is ordinarily boring but Khalid’s text asking to meet for lunch pops up on my phone screen and leaves me with unusual excitement.
I do need the distraction from work, so I text back with a time that works for me.
Khalid and I exhausted all the small talk on our way here so now, we’re seated across from each other at this café in Adeola Odeku and there’s that awkward silence again while we wait for our order.
“So, you ghosted me?” I said, leading the conversation and he responds almost immediately.
“Peju, believe me, I wish I could relive that part of my life. We weren’t exactly dating so I didn’t know how to handle the entire thing. Ghosting you was the safer choice.”
“I see. How has your stay been?” I try to sound natural.
“I’m enjoying it so far. I mean, my leave starts on the 20th, so I’m still busy with work.”
The alarm on my phone goes off.
“I need to get back to the office. I have a shoot in an hour.”
Waking up from whatever trance he was in, Khalid clears his throat. “Sure.”
The ride to the office is not filled with that awkward silence, thanks to work conversations.
“So, you’ve worked with Jude from 21studios then?”
“You know him? That guy gets on my nerve with every project.”
Khalid’s laughter exposes a cracked tooth I hadn’t noticed earlier. We talk about how long he’ll be in Lagos and the activities he has lined up.
“Thank you for this,” I say as I lift my lunch packed in a brown paper bag. He has the same look in his eyes as earlier in the café.
I go in for a brief hug but it sure isn’t brief. And for a moment I feel like maybe the week may be off to a great start after all.
Pulling out of his embrace, I add, almost as a whisper, “Text me when you get home.”
“I will. Have a great day at work.”
For days that followed, Khalid and I would joke about the drama in my office, how nervous Jay was, and talk about his new obsession with cooking.
“It’s going to be a long week for me. I’m working on three shows so I need my body to act right and not break down mid-way.”
“You’ll be fine. Let me know if there’s anything you need.” Khalid’s husky voice on the other end of the call is all too familiar now.
We drive by Eko Hotel Roundabout and for the first time this month, I get a good look at the Christmas décor.
“I know it’s all the useless bank charges these guys deduct from my account they’re using to do Christmas decorations here,” Nelo tells us and we laugh together. She has a love-hate relationship with her bank.
Tonight’s outing was her idea.
“Babes, you people are not giving me vibes this night oh. This is my last December night in Lagos before I leave for Enugu na.” But I don’t respond, I just smile to reassure her tonight would be fun.
The traffic on our way to Lekki isn’t so annoying with the mini karaoke we’re having in the car. It’s 10:30 pm and the streets are packed. I know the city never sleeps but in December, it doesn’t even take a nap. “Hey, you up?” A smile crosses my face when I see Khalid’s text.
“More like outside, Nelo dragged us out for a listening party and I need to find a way to leave here soon.”
“Want me to come get you?”
“Nah, traffic to this place was crazy.”
“Text me your address.”
Another 30 minutes later, I tell the girls I’m leaving with Khalid.
That night, we made some late-night snacks. Actually, he did, while I watched. Then ended up settling for one of his movie recommendations. I would have been stuck in traffic if I wanted to leave for the mainland before morning.
“I missed you.”
“You should have,” I replied. We’re sitting too close so I’m doing everything to avoid turning and looking at him.
“Come with me to Jay’s wedding.”
Now I turn to him, “What?”
“I know this is late and you may not even want to be at that type of event with me but I’d love to go with you.”
I want to ask why he just thought to invite me now, instead, I tell him I’ll check if it works for me.
“Sounds great.”
I fall asleep on the couch making a mental note not to trust his future movie recommendations.
“Thank you for coming Peju. You look so beautiful.” Khalid leans in to whisper as he leads me out of the noisy wedding hall for a better conversation.
“I’ve lost count of how many times you said that today,” I said smiling like I just won the lottery.
I can feel goosebumps come up on my arm as Khalid trails my skin. He’s wearing a milky coconut fragrance with some citrus notes to it.
I run my fingers across the embroidery on his Kaftan and look up to study his face. His full brows and thick lashes pair perfectly with his dark skin.
Our eyes must have said what we were both thinking. Khalid lifts my face and leans in as my lips part for his with ease. The alarm going off in my head since we left the hall had somehow been silenced by this kiss. This felt different, I knew he thought so too.
“I want us together this time Peju. Seeing you that day at Hans and Rene may be the sign the universe is sending us. I don’t want our story to end here.”
