It all started on a Wednesday morning. I woke up early and prepared for the CDS (Community Development Service). Actually, there was no CDS meeting that day; We were going to go to Iticth (a community far from my Main Assignment Place) for clearance.

I got ready on time, walked out in my NYSC outfit that I was so proud of. The idea that morning (as usual) was to stand by the side of the road hoping to get a ride for me and my friend Ben (not his real name).

I didn’t spend a minute on the road when this black Camry (‘Big for Nothing’ as it’s usually called) pulled up. The driver offered to give me a ride; of course that is what he was looking for. So I accepted the offer. But I didn’t forget to tell him that Ben would come with us if he (the driver) didn’t mind. He shrugged and said “no problem”.

Ben, having just left our apartment, was surprised that he had already managed a lift, in a car for that matter (we served in a typical village in Enugu state where cars were hard to find).

So we got in the car giving thanks to the driver and to God. At least we just saved another part of our ‘allawee’ (monthly allowance).

The journey to Iticth was uneventful, but we did get to know the driver/owner of the car and two other men who were in the car. He introduced himself as architect Rogers (not his real name) from Lagos-based Kogi State, but is temporarily in a nearby community for construction of a building.

Ben and I introduced ourselves and ended with the conventional “nice to meet you.”

It seemed that the fact that I told him that I am from Akwa Ibom State tickled him and motivated him to ask for my number; when he dropped us off at Iticth before heading to Nsukka. I obliged. At least that will serve as a thank you offering from us to him. So he left with a smile.

He called the next day, requesting to sit with me. I granted the request and Ben came.

‘Awkward’ was his name that night because Ben shared the table with us and it didn’t give him a chance to say what was obviously on his mind.

Eventually, he got lucky after the drinks and meat and was good to go. When we saw him off in his car, he asked me to have a little chat with him.

So we ended up having the talk in his car. Bad move on my part, right?

The first thing he told me when we settled in was that he has a son, a girl, who lives with his sister in Port Harcourt, but is not married.

According to him, he was informing me about this because he likes honesty, so he urged me to be honest with him; without lies.

Her first and foremost concern was Ben. He asked me if I was in a relationship with him.

I told him that the idea was generally agreed between our colleagues and the community in general, because we were always seen together and we rented and lived on the same floor, in different rooms. Just the two of us.

However, I told him that I had a boyfriend in Akwa Ibom and that I really loved him.

He took the truthful information quite well. The position he decided to take after the long discussion on various issues was that he would stay away from me so as not to hurt Ben (whatever he meant by that, I wasn’t in a relationship with Ben).

Before taking his position, he told me that he didn’t want me as his girlfriend or just as a friend, he wanted me as his wife! (Just like that? Abasi mi!)

I was surprised, since I had barely known him for a day and a few hours.

Well, I played calm and pleased.

It flowed with the current to see where it would lead, though I already figured it all out, but I wasn’t sure.

TO BE CONTINUE.

STORY BY: EDITING GEORGE

EDITED BY ME.