I stood still for hours hoping the call would come in.
My name is Frank Alexander. And what I'm about to tell you is no fairy tale.
It is thirtyfirst of December, 2009.
I had left for church. There was supposed to be held a night vigil. The night was cold.
As I stepped into the church, and someone ran like in a scene of these romance movies and hugged me. It was both shocking and embarrassing. I stood there wrapped around by her arms and mine down as if being held strong by gravity. She didn't mind that I felt awkward by the whole arrangement. It was just too fortuitous. She said she has been hoping to run into me for like the past ten years.
I swallowed a thick big ball of sputum.
It's five minutes into meeting her and I haven't said any words yet.
She kept going on and on and I kept on nodding in the affirmative.
No doubt, she was pretty.
"I was going to go into the church."
"Are you coming?"
She said,"why, it's great out here."
"It's cool out here. And you know I'm not a catholic."
"She kept on trying to make eye contact.
I did often differed the gaze with a countenance decountenancing the gesture.
"what happened to your blue eyes?"
"What? Blue? Eyes?"
"Are you wearing contacts or something?"
"I totally don't understand what you mean."
"Ehn, what's your number? It would be horrible if I did forget."
"Zero seven zero eight one nine eight one eight two four."
My phone buzzed in my pocket. I was about to save her number when I got stuck at the name."
So I punched in the name Jane and saved it.
"You don't remember my name?"
I thought I discreetly saved her name to the contact but I was wrong.
"It's been ten years! Who would?"
"I didn't forget yours. Douglas Okoro", she said.
"And who is that?"
"You!"
"That is not my name! We are birds of a feather after all."
"What are you talking about.
Your full name is Douglas Chukwuebuka Okoro. Born on 14th July. From a family of four: three sisters and one boy. You are the only boy. Are you still in doubt?"
"No no no. Your making this up. None of that is true. I was birthed on 15th October.
One sister; three other brothers. My full name is Allen John Chukwuemeka Johnson.
Though you got the Chukwu correct."
"We attended the same school in Jos."
"No no. I've never been to Jos."
"I've never left Port Harcourt."
"But my parents moved down from Jos. But that was before they got married."
"So if what you're saying is true, how come you were talking to me like you know me. Why didn't you try to leave."
"I'm a gentleman. I can't let a beauty pass by even if it was a mistake."
"Akuko."
"To be frank, I'm seeing you for the first time."
to be continued...

"Five, four, three, two, one!
Happy new year!"
They both forgot what the discussion was and got lost in the euphoria of the new year.
"So what's your new year resolution", I asked.
" To stop hugging people until I'm sure they are known to me."
They both laughed.
"You are very funny. For one, I didn't freak out though."
"Thank God you didn't", she said with a shimmering smile.
"So do we just forget something is amiss here, she asked."
"I'm still pondering on who the person you knew was", I answered.
"Could it be a twin or just someone that incredibly resembles me", I wondered aloud.
"we would never know", she replied.
It was 12:30am now and the church compound was now almost empty.
They said their goodbyes and parted ways.
As he jumped on his bed, he murmured to himself.
"lying has never been this fun."
My name is Frank Alexander. And this is the story of my friend, Allen.
The time is 4:30am, and I just dropped a call from my friend Allen.
The End!