The best relationship I'd ever had wasn't planned. It was so easy and smooth, like it was written in the stars, that I'd see Ifunanya in the back of that Keke (tricycle) that hot afternoon.
I'm sure the sun that afternoon in Uyo was on a mission to drain the life out of me. I was already sweating just walking down the streets of Abak Road, and the handkerchief I carried was useless. It was soaked through.
"Maybe the sun had a personal beef with someone today" I muttered.
At that point, all I wanted was to get home, shower, and sit in front of a fan with a cold bottle of malt, maybe.
I flagged down a passing keke, and as always, the driver slowed just enough to make me jog after it. I squeezed myself into the front seat with him, thankful for the little air the open sides provided. The seat was a bit hot. You know that kind of heat that bites on your butt and laps as you sit on it. I squeezed my face and sighed, then I stretched my hands to hold the bars and prepare myself for the bumpy ride.
But as I turned my head to not see the people seated at the back, I froze.
Sitting right there beside me, like some trick life had planned, was Ifunanya.
Ifunanya was the girl I had crushed on so much all through university that Michael never forgets to tell me how stupid I looked and how out of my league she was, so I never thought of approaching her. The same Ifunanya who loves sitting in the front row during lectures. The confident and intelligent one who was always answering questions. The one girl I secretly stole thousands of glances at.
Now here she was, sweating in the Uyo sun like me. Like everyone else. Her makeup washes almost washing of her face with the sweat
For a moment, I felt like I was hallucinating. I knew or thought Ifunanya had left Uyo immediately after school for her state. But then, gradually her lips curled into a slow, surprised smile.
“Wait… Marriot? It can't be.” she said, tilting her head. “Is this really you?”
I forced a laugh, scratching my head awkwardly. “Yeah. In life and flesh.”
She laughed softly. “So you can talk. You're always the quiet one in class.”
I smiled and shook my head out of shame. “I do talk… just not to you.”
"Why? Do I bite?"
"Maybe?" I raised my hands like I was weighing my words playfully..
Gradually, her eyes widened, her lips curled into a smile, then she burst out laughing, covering her mouth. I laughed too.
I felt the Keke driver shove me a bit. I adjusted myself and cleared my throat. There was silence between us. I could feel other passengers staring at us with their side eyes. The keke rattled loudly filling the silence. The driver started humming a familiar tune to himself, as if he was giving us a soundtrack. I turned to her and continued talking.
"Thought you left Uyo immediately after school?" I asked. The heat was unforgiving. I watched as sweat rolled down her face. She quickly dumped it with her handkerchief.
"Thought you did the same too?"
"Well, I did at first but returned to chase dreams?"
She leaned forward. "So you're working now?"
"Just freelance jobs. You?"
"Got a bank job here in Uyo through an uncle. It's nothing short of managing."
I got to my stop and alighted. As fate would have it, she did too. We paid for our rides and stood by the roadside. Nobody talked. Nobody moved. We just stood there in silence.
Then I cleared my throat. I knew it was now or never. I either ask for her number or maybe lose it forever.
“So… I know this was unexpected.”
“Very,” she replied almost immediately like she was waiting for me to say that.
"But I hope to see you again," I said instead of asking for her number, my heart thumping.
She smiled, adjusted her scarf, then looked me in the eye for the first time that day. “You should ask for my number?”
My eyes lit up with surprise. My mouth curved to a smile.
"I mean... That's... If you want to see me again." She stuttered.
I smiled. "I do. Please hand it over before you disappear."
She brought out her phone, we exchanged numbers, and when her hand brushed mine, it felt electric. We stood there a moment longer, smiling like teenagers. Then she waved a bike down and jumped on it. I turned and walked my way down to my house.