“Hurry Loveth” my neighbor and friend Chioma shouted to me from the living room.
“I'm sorry Chioma, I am almost done” I shouted from my bedroom.
Chioma and I had made plans the day before to go to the salon to make our hair. It was something we loved doing together because it gave us the chance to gist and shop randomly on the way. We also loved aunty Mary's salon because she was an excellent hairstylist, and she treated us like her younger sisters.
I could hear Chioma and my mum talking in the living room while I struggled with one leg of my jean trouser. My friends loved my mother and always loved talking to her whenever they visited .I heard my mum threaten to ask Chioma to go without me.
“Mummy don't turn my friend against me” I yelled from the bedroom.
“You better leave mummy alone before I actually leave you here” Chioma replied laughing
“Okay, okay I'm here” I said running into the living room.
“Hmm, Thank God” my mother said, and I giggled.
“Bye ma, have a nice nap because I know that's why you're chasing me away from this house” I said as Chioma and I walked out of the house.
“Make sure you choose a good hairstyle and you both shouldn't come home late” my mother said as she closed the door
“Yes mummy” we both replied, walking towards the main gate.
On getting to the salon, we discovered that plenty of customers had come before us, and it would take some time before we would be attended to. We greeted Aunty Mary who was busy with a customer and hugged her from behind.
“Ahh, my babies, why did you guys come late today?” she asked, turning around to embrace us fully.
“Aunty Mary ask Loveth, she spent like 5 hours getting ready today” Chioma replied, moving swiftly to occupy a vacant seat.
“5 hours? Aunty Mary, don't listen to her. I actually had to go to the market very early to buy foodstuffs. Chioma came a few minutes after I returned, and I had to freshen up” I replied.
“My love don't mind Chioma, I knew she was lying” Aunty Mary replied winking at me.
“So now I’m the bad person here” chioma replied with feigned annoyance “No problems, Loveth is your love right?”
Aunty Mary assured her that we were both her loves and went back to the hair she was braiding. We kept ourselves busy by helping her loosen braids of some customer old braids or with washing of hair. The salon was lively with gossip and stories, we laughed at some stories and exchanged looks at others.
“That reminds me Chioma the guy who sells nice clothes is back” Aunty Mary said to Chioma
“Which guy is that” chioma asked confused
“I'm talking about Charles. He came back recently, and it turns out the reason his shop has been closed was because his mother was ill, and she didn't survive” Aunty Mary explained.
“Oh, that's so sad!” Chioma said looking downcast.
“I know my dear, he was busy with the burial” Aunty Mary said.
The girls in the shop began talking about Charles and how good his boutique was. From all I had heard, I became curious about this boutique that was receiving so much praise.
“Who is Charles?” I finally asked Chioma
“Oh, you don't know him. We've never been to his shop before, and he has been closed for about 5 months now” she replied.
“You girls should go and check out his new stuffs. The day will not be complete if you two don't buy something new” Aunty Mary said, making fun of us.
We told her we would be back shortly and walked down to the boutique. I was impressed by the clothes. They were really as beautiful as I had heard, and the bags and shoes were just gorgeous. Chioma moved inside, and I could hear her talking to Charles, but I stood outside admiring the clothes on the dummies.
“Loveth come inside and say hello” I heard Chioma say.
I stepped inside and kept my eyes straight ahead. I was scared I would spend all my money on clothes if I looked around. My will power didn't stand a chance against the goodies I was surrounded with.
“Good evening” I said, looking around the shop for Charles.
“Good evening dear” he replied, walking in from his changing room with some clothes in hand.
Our eyes met, and I literally felt my world spinning and my heart beating faster. We smiled and shook hands as Chioma introduced us. I was browsing through the store picking up some items to try on when I heard Chioma say slyly.
“Charles, you've been following my friend around with your eyes, what is it?!”
I felt butterflies in my tummy as it dawned on me that whatever I had experienced when our eyes met, he had felt it too. We all laughed, and I was pretty sure that was the first and last time I came close to blushing. We returned to the salon just in time to discover that Aunty Mary was finally free to attend to us.
“So what did you girls buy?” She asked us curiously.
“We’ll go back when we're done to pick up some clothes” Chioma replied
“What's wrong with this one?” she asked Chioma nodding in my direction. “She's looking funny. Loveth are you hungry?”
My friend burst out laughing at this and Aunty Mary who was surprised at her reaction pinched her cheeks.
“Sorry I laughed, yes she's hungry” she replied after I gave her a look that said I would kill her if she said one word of what happened at the boutique
“Let me get someone to buy food because I'm also hungry” Aunty Mary replied, leaving the shop.
“Shut up babe, if you say a word I'll tell your boyfriend all your secrets” I threatened her.
She shut up immediately and started complaining how wicked certain people could be to their friend who had just introduced them to a nice guy and ended with “There's nothing you can do to please people of this world”
I laughed and shook my head, reclining in my chair. I remember thinking to myself, this must be what love at first sight feels like…
