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I saw Chima through the glass window at the entrance of the restaurant that evening, he was sitting at our usual spot. Maybe today I could finally tell him without having to choose every word.
I opened the door and walked into the restaurant. Then I headed straight to him.
"Girl, you had me waiting for a long time," he said as I walked up to him.
I chuckled a little "Sorry, I slept off. Forgot our meetup" I apologise
"Always sleeping. Always running late." Chima replied. He was angry.
I apologized again to him. I was always fond of being the late one at every meetup. We went ahead to make our orders from the waiter that Chima signalled immediately after I got in. I could tell that he was hungry but had been waiting for me to come before would make an order.
Chima was just a friend in my university days. We were close, maybe not closer. But when we were done serving our father fate brought us both to Lagos and somehow we met at the supermarket one day. That was how we reconnected and became close. Even closer this time.
It is not always difficult for us to get the gist going. It was either gist about work and how we are struggling to cope or whatever.
My relationship with him has always been a puzzle. Sometimes he was just warm and being that guy I wanted but on some days days, he seemed distant and very occupied, leaving me to wonder if I had done something wrong or if I was worth it at all. I have planned on asking him about it but never got the courage to. But on this day, I swore never to let it pass me by.
Gradually I chipped in the question. Asking why he blows hot and cold at me. I made sure I did not hide how I felt from being treated that way. I also made sure to ask him if he was tired of us.
"No, don't ever think that way. You know how busy my work can get at times" He apologised. I tried studying his face and I swore to myself that he was being genuine.
But I guess I was wrong.
In the following weeks, everything went smoothly. UUntilwe made plans to hang out again. He initiated the idea. In his words
"Just a night for you and I alone".
I had dressed in my finest clothes and ubered myself to the restaurant he had selected. I got in and made just an order of bottled water. It has always been our routine to wait for the other person to come before we could place our orders together.
I sat there, waiting for him for minutes which turned to hours. I buzzed his phone severally and a quick text of
"Sorry, I am running late" was all I could get.
I made an order just so it would not seem like I was there to wait for nothing. And minutes after I finished eating, he still did not show up. Then I decided it was time to go home.
I woke up to a text the following morning from yesterday. Probably after I was home and slept off.
"Sorry I can not make it again tonight. You can make your orders and send me the bills".
I grunted and went about my daily Saturday routine of cleaning the house. A few hours later, a knock came at my door. I opened it to see Chima standing there. I did not let him in but I let him go on about how he was sorry and would love to make it up to me.
I made sure he was done when I dropped my bombshell.
"Chima, I guess I had better focus on my work and life. There is a way better future ahead of me than being blown hot and cold over. Also, I do not want to be the one keeping you away from your dreams and work and the same with me. I think it is just nice we call this off. I am sorry" I said, making sure to sound very polite and not hurt.
Then I shut the door.
Yes, it was not easy for me. The truth was that, It took me weeks to recover and that was with persistent calls from Chima which I did not give in to. But I guess my decision was for the best.
