Chapter 4, Part 2

'Don’t look now,' I said to Ose and Tife as their backs were turned to the entrance.
‘What?’ Tife said and turned immediately.
‘Gosh Tife!’ I hissed, ‘I said don’t look’.
‘Sorrrryyyy’, she hissed back as we all turned to smile at Jennifer.
‘Hey you guys,’ she smiled as she dragged the poor boy across the room. ‘How come I wasn’t invited to this little party?’
Gosh where was Obi when you needed her. She would have had a good retort.
‘It was impromptu; we just kind of bumped into each other,’ Tife lied
There was an uncomfortable silence as she let us bask in our curiosity.
‘Won’t you introduce us?’ Ose asked finally
‘Oh sorry!’ She said and giggled looking back at Tade like she had completely forgotten he was there.
‘Well this is Tade’ she said smugly as she introduced us round the table and we all shook hands. The boy was smoking hot. All six feet five inches of his delectable self. I could hear India Arie singing brown skin in the back of my mind. I didn’t let my hand linger in his for too long, the electricity could have blown a fuse in my brain.
He smiled at me and dammit, he had the cutest dimple on his right cheek. Thoughts were racing through my mind. First, what the hell was wrong with the guy and did he have a license to be that fine? I made a mental note to consult the authorities that dealt with such issues.
With the pleasantries over, she waltzed to the counter with Tade.
‘Did you see his dimple?' I asked the other girls who were just as mesmerized.
‘This is what happens when you get engaged, suddenly fine ass men start popping up everywhere trying to tempt you.’ Ose said grumpily.
‘He is very delicious, I’m sure those lips taste just like candy’ Tife sighed.
‘Stop drooling, I’m going to call both of your boo’s right now!’ Mimi said laughing. ‘But he is a fine piece of work! I can’t deny it.’
‘What’s he doing with Jen from Hell?’ I asked bewildered.
‘Opposites attract abi?’ Mimi said ‘Or maybe its Jazz, anything is possible with that girl. She’s so competitive and aggressive!’
‘I guess. So any update Zee? You saw the way she and those other girls were talking about you at Ose’s engagement.’ Tife asked.
‘I don’t even care what she thinks. She claims she’s blunt but she’s actually just rude.’ I said.
‘I mean it’s not like you don’t have admirers. But I see you outside with your stony face. You are unapproachable so most of the guys have given up. We all know the story but you have to move on. Its been almost a year now’ she said looking concerned.
‘I’m very happy being single’
‘Yes of course,' Mimi said. She didn’t really sound genuine but I let it go.
‘But I’ve been thinking and maybe I’m ready to see what’s out there’. I added.
They all looked up at me with contained excitement.
‘So where are we going to start?’
‘What’s this ‘we’ business?’ I asked
‘Well we could go clubbing, you might meet someone there and we haven’t gone out in a long time.’ Mimi said with glee.
‘Great’, I said a bit cautiously. I didn’t want them to get too excited.
‘Oh and I know someone who has been dying to meet you’. He is friends with Joe. He saw you at my birthday party asked about you, but I told him you weren’t dating. Maybe he’s still available’. Mimi was getting way too excited.
‘No thanks, no hook ups for me. I’m not a pity case. I can find my own man myself.’
‘See this is the problem with you. You are not open-minded. How are you going to meet people when you refuse to let down your guard and see the possibilities.’
‘Mimi, one thing at a time, lets go out first. I’ll let you know if I need hooking up.’
‘As you wish. But he’s a really nice guy.’
'Thank you madam Mimi.'
‘So when are we going out?’ Tife asked
‘Well I think it’s a rap for the next two weeks. There are rumors of no movement during the elections so it’ll have to be after that.’ Ose replied.
'Really, Ose, no movement at all?' Tife asked surprised.
‘Where have you been? I think till after a certain time but its best to just stay home to be on the safe side.’
‘Thugs on both sides have been causing trouble all around town and they said free and fair elections.’ I added.
‘It’s definitely not going to be free and fair,’ Mimi said.
‘Did you all manage to register?’ I asked
‘Yes.’ everyone said in unison.
'Who will you vote for?'
'I didn’t watch any of the debates but I’ll vote for Jimmy Agbaje...he seems the calmest' Ose said.
‘Oh wow! It could be deceptive you know, I’m voting for Fashola’ Mimi said.
‘So am I’ Tife said.
‘Why?’
‘Because my dad is voting for him, so he must have a good idea about him,’ Tife said feeling very proud of herself.
‘Mimi?’
‘Because I like his jingle FA FA FA FA FASHOLLLAAAAA. Lagos e no go spoil, e go better, ego better eeeee’
‘Seeing as the papers are mostly propaganda we don’t know what news is real or fake. I can’t base my judgment on what I read or hear’ Ose said.
‘Yeah it’s a tough one for me. I need more information; no one is really saying what they are going to do.’ I agreed.
‘What do you mean, in FA FA FA FA FASHOLA, the song continues...plenty water…’
‘Mimi pleaasseeee!’ We all said laughing. She was driving us nuts with her crackling voice.
‘Okay so we will see how it goes then in two weeks we paint the town red?’
‘Yes! Exciting, Zee is on the prowl again.’ Tife said.
‘Well I must say I thank God for you. I thought you were never going to snap out of it.’ Mimi said. I know you were hurt, but you can’t hold onto that forever. Its like you are using it as an excuse to avoid guys.
‘Yeah maybe, it just been easier that way. At least I know I’m not getting any bullshit.’
‘Its better to have loved and lost than not to love at all.’
I’ll keep that in mind Mimi. How is Joe?
‘He’s fine’ she said without really catching my eyes. I guessed something was amiss but I didn’t drag the issue. She would tell us when she was ready.
‘Can you believe Rita broke up with her boyfriend?’ she said, changing the topic.
‘The one from when we did NYSC? She did? But she was at Ose’s party last week.’ ‘Yes Zee, after you left, they were arguing a bit in a corner and then she stood up in front of everyone, told him that she was sick and tired of waiting for him to propose then walked out on him. He chased her out and tried to grab her but her drink spilled all over him but the gist is that she actually emptied the drink on his head on purpose.’
‘She would never do that’ I said muffling my laugh with my hand. ‘That’s crazy’
‘I know right, I wasn’t there at the time but I was shocked when I heard.’ Ose said.
'Ose you and are causing discord among couples.' We talked for a bit longer then called for the bill.