“ Hello!” he said confidently as party jams fill the atmosphere.
“ Hi!” the lady responds arrogantly.
“We seem to be the only ones not catching the fun at this party, don’t you
think so?” he fired.
“Please, excuse me. I’m not interested in the pleasure of any conversation.
Thank you!” she snapped.
“Whoops! That was rather cold, lady. You haven’t even met me, before, have you?”
“And if I have, must I talk to you?” she boiled.
“Well, we could at least save ourselves the mystery to know our names –”
“And then what?”, she queried.
“Nothing…nothing, at all”, he jacked. “Just the pleasure of having an innocent conversation. By the way, my name is Ben Afolabi Junior”
“Ben Afo?”, she asked shockingly. “Wait a minute – you mean, your father is hosting this party?”
“Sure. I’m one of his sons”
“So, you’re the governor’s son?”
“Are you disappointed?”
“Yes!” – I mean, -- No! But –” she said, confused.
“Are you okay?”
“ Sure - c-ca-can we dance?”, she stammered. “My name is Lucy Kayode Adetola. I live at –”
“Nice to know you, Lucy. Sorry, but I have to run along now. I spotted you from a distance looking lonely and had thought it wise to come cheer you up?”
“Oh, thank you very much. But please, can we see again soon, some other time?”
“Really, I’d be delighted to. But I’m afraid that would be difficult. I mean, I’m resident in the United States…only arrived Nigeria last night just to attend daddy’s party”
“Wao! But if truly you would be delighted to see me again as you’ve said, couldn’t you drop in soon again?”
“Oh. I’m sorry, Lucy. But you’ve got to understand. I’m a very busy man. I have a lot of patients waiting to see me in the states”
“So, you’re a medical doctor?”
“That’s right. listen, it’s been nice meeting –”
“Can I travel with you?”
“ To where?” he asked, amazed.
“To the U.S, isn’t it?”
“Ofcourse, that would be impossible. I’m married and I have a daughter, and we all are in the states. I’m sorry, Lucy. Cheers!”
He had started to walk away.
“ Em… w-wa-wait, Doc. pl-please, can I have your call card or number? I –”
“Oh! Come on, let’s cut the crap! I’ve only been jiving, you know, just bluffing. My real name is Otsemobor. I’m an undergraduate student. I only accompanied my friends to this party. Em…can we still dance together?”
“Well… em… I don’t know… I mean –“
Suddenly, the background music changes to a soft romantic piece.
“You dance great, you know?” he approved.
“I’m in tune with the times” she acknowledged.
“So, what do you do for a living?” he asked.
“I’m an architect”
“That’s why you come dey show me shakara before, abi?”
“Don’t mind me… let’s just say it’s the way of the world. Guess what, you could really pass for the governor’s son, you know?”
“I know. Wao! This music is just right”
“Abeg, hold me small-small… you students no dey fear sef”, she submitted finally.
NB: THE STORY AND ITS CHARACTERS INCLUDING THE SETTING HAVE NO TRUE EXISTENCE OUTSIDE THE IMAGINATION OF THE WRITER.
THE CONTENT ON THIS PAGE MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED IN WHOLE OR PART WITHOUT THE PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER.
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