The Irony of Life(19)😔😔

THE IRONY OF LIFE (19)😔😔

Duration: 4mins

The possibility of meeting Fatima has made Jamani rule out patronizing MAC. If he must eat-out and her mother’s restaurant was the only one left, he would rather starve. 

Besides, he's got no money of his own, so there was no point. 

Oreoluwa considered offering to give him a treat as he did a couple of times in the past; buy him lunch. But it's been a long while he did that. Bringing that up all of a sudden could get him wondering to what occasion? 

Even if he got past that. There were many other restaurants around to patronize.

What reason could be strong enough to get Jamani to step foot into MAC again?

This kept dancing around in Oreoluwa's head for days. His head was beginning to pound from the  fruitless, endless thought then he decided to give it a break. 

With eyes closed, he lounged in his usual corner at the house that Wednesday afternoon, taking a rest when Jamani, by himself brought him the idea to hook him and get him to MAC.

“Hey Hommie,” he tapped Ore by the shoulder and sat by his side.

“I’ve been wanting to ask, how far with you and that babe, Ceci?”

Oreoluwa was close to dropping the Cliché on everyone’s lips 'fine' (even when things are not so), when the password struck him,

Ceci!

“As though you care.”

“What do you mean?  Of course I do”

“I see. Yet you left your boy all to it, knowing I rely on the encouragement and helpful tips I get from you.”

To say Jamani has this charm with girls wasn’t flattery. However, hearing it from Oreoluwa bursted his head, he felt like an authority when it came to wooing girls.

“C’mon Ore, I'm ever after your interest. Just that I had a lot on my mind of late, Vivian in particular. You should know naw,”he replied with a smile. “Tell me, what’s currently happening?”

“Nothing. I have practically lost her. She called about two weeks back, we were still talking when she hung up.”

“Wait o, Ceci called?”

“Yes.”

“Are you kidding?”

“No I’m not.”

“Wow! You've done a great job already. The Ceci I know wouldn’t give any man her number, not to mention call.”

“Guy, Don’t get overtly excited. She didn’t give me her number. Besides, she  hid her caller ID.”

“Even at that, for Ceci to have called, you’re getting through to her already.”

“Have you tried crafting a love letter and leaving it somewhere she would be the only one to see and get it?”

Oreoluwa stared blankly, lost.

“Like by the door handle to her dressing room at the restaurant.

That moment, Oreoluwa’s countenance was suddenly as when a lightbulb's switch flips on.

“Wow, that never occurred to me. Guy, you’re a genius. That’s what I'm talking about. I've missed this part of you.”

Jamani grinned from ear-to-ear as he sang his praise. 

“What you now need to do is find out her shift for whatever day you decide to drop the letter. You know there are 3 service girls using the room according to the 3 shifts in the day, you don’t want the letter getting into the wrong hand.”

Oreoluwa listened with rapt attention, soaking up every word that fell from Jamani lips.

“Also, make sure she does not see you while you’re at it. You may need to do it a couple of times more before she decides to respond by calling you. I suggest you include your phone number in the letter, in case she doesn’t have it again. That’s all.” “Best of luck, Hommie,” he added.

“What do you mean by that, don’t tell me you’re leaving me all to it?”

“C’mon Ore, I’m done with MAC. I no longer have any business going there. You’ll only be dropping a letter, you don’t need me for that.”

“Of course I do. How do I go about dropping the letter and at the same time making sure she doesn’t see me? I’m no ghost man. I need you to watch my back. Situation may warrant you blocking and engaging her to buy me more time while I’m at it. If it’s about Fatima, we can always find a way around that.”

There was a moment’s pause, Jamani remained unbudging.

“Most times, Cecilia comes in for afternoon shift. We could go on a weekday when Fatima would be on campus receiving lectures and doesn’t show up at the restaurant till evening.”

Jamani was still not responding.

“Please Jamani just this one time. I promise I won’t ask you to accompany me again. Plsssss...”

“Alrite-alrite.”

“Thanks man.”

“Don’t thank me yet. You make sure you carry out your findings. I wouldn’t like to set my eyes on that spoilt, Mama's girl.”

“I will.”

Oreoluwa felt guilt-stricken with the turn out of plan. The idea of getting Jamani to MAC was Fatima’s. He would have to inform her so she could also take advantage of it. 

The next two days; Friday was most ideal to execute the plan. Oreoluwa couldn’t wait to see Cecilia again. He was positive he would win her heart this time.

During break at the factory that day, he placed a call through to Fatima and filled her in on the current state of things. 

“This coming Friday? Of all days? Oh no. I’m have practical on that day.”

Fatima was a final year student of Food & Nutrition. She looked forward to running a set up like her mother’s someday, one of a better standard.

She would have to settle for the one that mattered more to her--meeting Jamani again, or  missing her practical.

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To be continued same time, next week. Hope you enjoyed the read? Please leave a comment. Thank you.