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oYaTo (m)
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She was of average height and dark in complexion. She was dressed in grey faded jeans and a tope which I can’t quite remember it’s details. What caught my eye was the fact that she was petite and cute. Apart from the fact that she was also well-dressed, there’s a fourth factor that made me notice her but I can’t quite lay my finger on it or put it into words. I guess at this moment we’ll call this the “X-factor”. A moment after Rolake and I separated she came towards us and spoke to Rolake in pure, clear, and undiluted English. “Excuse me, is your friend going back to school?” Rolake nodded. After saying our goodbyes I hopped into the car with the girl and drove off.
After I took off I watched in fascination as the girl reached to the side of the car and swung the seat belt over your young, firm breasts and clicked it into place. “What’s the problem?” I asked. “Don’t trust my driving?” “No, no, not that,” she replied. “It’s just that I’m used to it.” There was a period in time when I made it a point to have a conversation with female passengers; and there was another period when I got tired of it. Now I talk when I feel like it and other times I just keep mum and do the driving. This was not one of those “keeping mum” moments. “What department are you?” “English” “Level?” “Final Year.” She glanced sideways. “What about you? What department?” I really didn’t know how to reply the question. I was a graduate and was revelling in the glory, and was willing to rub it in anyone’s face when I felt like it. So I replied by shaking my head slowly, with a puzzled look on my face. “You’re not in any department?’ I nodded. She was apparently puzzled. “What school are you?” she quizzed. Again I shook my head slowly. “You’re not in any school? Why?” she looked at me with concern. The look on her face caused me to burst out laughing. Fortunately I was wearing the OAU/ELECT shirt a group of us mad and wore on the final day of exams. I held out the logo for her to see. It said “OAU ELECT ‘06”. “Oh I see,” she said. “You’ve graduated.” I nodded. We chatted some more about other insignificant stuff and by the time I arrived at White House I decided to go against all odds and have her number. I gave her my phone while we both sat still in the car. She typed in her number, stored it, then returned the phone. I checked out her name. The phone read “Mopelola”. I’d never met anyone by that name and I remember thinking at that moment how beautiful it sounded. She disembarked and walked towards Moremi Hall in short, beautiful strides. Her walk had a quiet efficiency about it; as if each step she took was meant to achieve a purpose and not to be wasted. I took one last look at her before she disappeared behind a flight of stairs, then I proceeded about my business in White House and completely forgot about her.
Weeks went by and I still hadn’t acknowledged the fact that she existed. Occasionally while scrolling through my contact list I’d come across her name, but I’d say to myself “I’ll call her sometime” and just keep scrolling. Probably a reason for that decision was the fact that I was interested in another girl at that time, a part III Chemistry student named Bimpe. We hung around and spent time with each other all through November, December, till early January, when we both got tired of each other. I decided to hook up again with Busola on my Birthday, and I didn’t regret this because she mad it a very memorable one for me (that’s a story for another day…). We spent exactly a week together before fighting again (we’re always fighting and making up!). The fight was on Monday 29th, exactly a week after my birthday. A couple of days earlier I’d sensed that this little venture with Busola was nearing another end, and during one of my scrolling sessions I stumbled on Mopelola’s name again, and this time I decided to contact her but in a subtle way. The last image of her I had in my head was her walking away in her grey faded jeans, so I sent her a message:
“I’m not sure which to say….those jeans look good on ur butt or ur butt looks good in those jeans. Take ur pick.” I was just gambling on the fact that she might be wearing a jeans on that day. I ‘m sure it worked; I must have gotten her attention although she didn’t acknowledge the text. The next day I sent another:
“hi how was your day? Wasn’t lucky enough to bump into you today but I’m sure you must have looked as good as ever….wish I could see you right now…, D”
I was been cheeky and playful. Two facts amused me about that text. One was that I never left home that day but the text made it sound as if I was in school; the second was that I’d forgotten what the girl looked like. For all I know she could walk right past me and I wouldn’t be aware of it. I was playing games and I was enjoying myself. I wasn’t serious about the whole thing. The next couple of days I decided to spice things up a little by sending kinky texts to her. Below is a masterpiece I composed myself:
“If eyes are the windows to the soul, then lips are the doors, nothing beats closing our eyes and losing ourselves in the sensation of soft lips and shared breath…, ”
Still no response. I sent another the following day…,
“U’ve got sex appeal. U’ve got style. U’ve got intelligence. U’ve got class. U’ve got the face, U’ve got the body and I’ve got the wrong number…, ”
A second later my phone rings. Strange number. Unknown number. I pick up the call. (she later told me she called with a friend’s phone). “Hello” I answer. “Hello,” the voice replied. “Who’s this?” “Well you called me, I should be one asking the question” “Stop sending messages to my phone.” I cut the connection I composed another message to her.
“So I’ve aroused your curiosity? let me calm ur fears – I’m just an admirer who wants to keep his identity a state secret for now…, ”
I laughed myself to sleep. I had her attention! Next day another message.
“Kisses blown are kisses wasted, Kisses aren’t kisses unless they’re tasted; Kisses spread germs and germs are hated, but u can kiss me baby I’m vaccinated…”
That prompted a reply from her.
“I would really appreciate it if you would stop sending such indecent texts to my phone. Don’t know u, and if you want to remain a mystery, fine. But I don’t appreciate such texts”
I fired back another missile.
“Indecent texts my ass! I bet you were sending that message with a big smile on your face! Anyway didn’t mean to get on your nerves, I just love playing pranks. Ok, my name is……”
I sent the message at about 0020 hours on the morning of Feb 1 (Wed-Thur). Since it was only a couple of minutes away from the free call hour, I decided to give her a call. She answered after five rings. “Yes?” Her tone was cold. “Not yet asleep?” “No. I’m trying to read, but your texts are not helping matters.” I laughed. “You liked them, didn’t you?” “On the contrary.” She paused. “How did you get my number?” “What do you think? You gave it to me of course.” “I gave it to you?” She said unbelievably. “I don’t even know you!” “Yeah, so you go about giving complete strangers your number?” “No of course not.” She hesitated. “What’s your name?” “I’m not telling ya.” She paused again. “Gboyega is that you?” I hissed. She mentioned a couple of guys’ names as well. I laughed uncontrollably. “Are these the array of your boyfriends?” “Yeah, didn’t you know?” There was a long pause. I checked my wrist watch. It was a few minutes to one. I decided to leave my room and sit outside on the pavement for some fresh early morning breeze. “I think I know you,” she said. “Really,” I replied. “I’m listening.” I had reached the pavement and I prepared to sit. “We met at white house.” I was in the process of sitting but my ass paused in mid-air as I held my breath. Oh shit! I muttered. The game was about to be over! “You’re in geology and you name starts with a T.” My ass landed on the pavement with a flourish. She was totally off target. I started to breath easy. “You’re totally off the mark. I signed off as ‘D’ in my text messages, remember?” “Oh I completely forgot.” She decided to try again. “What department are you?” I hesitated. I wasn’t willing to divulge any info just yet. “One of the departments in White House,” was my reply. “What level?” “Part one.” I had to struggle not to laugh down the mouthpiece of my cell phone. The conversation drifted from the issue of my unknown identity to academics, then to relationships, and then back to my identity. “Please tell me your name,” she pleaded. “No, I want you to think about it and about me in your sleep.” I glanced at my wristwatch. We’d been talking for thirty minutes. “I gotta go to sleep, it’s past my bedtime.” “Ok,” she said. “I’ve got some reading to catch up on too.” “Yeah. Goodnight.” “Goodnight.” I went to sleep with a smile on my face. Stage two was complete.
I called her same time twenty-four hours later. She answered on the first ring. She had been waiting! She was more open this time, and her uncertainty seemed to have vanished. “How was your day?” “T’waz ok…, uneventful, except for an impromptu test.” “How did it go?” “As usual. Everyone dubbed.” I burst into laughter. She joined me and we both had a good laugh. After some frivolous chatting she hit me with: “I think I remember you now.” Just like yesterday, I thought. Aloud I said “You think so?” “Your name starts with a D.” Is this the endgame? I tried bluffing my way out. “Yesterday you called me someone else by saying my name starts with a T; now you’re giving me a new identity?” I held my breath, waiting for her next response. They were indeed crucial. But I was totally unprepared for what came next. It completely blew the wind out of my sails. “How’s your friend Rolake?” I closed my eyes. Oh shit! Game over. I heard her laugh at the other end. The sound trickled over and fell like raindrops through the earpiece of the little instrument I was gripping tightly, pressured against my ear. “You gave me a ride from my hostel to White House……” “Alright alright, you got me. You must have really stayed up all night racking your brains!” I managed a laugh. She ignored me. “What’s your name?” She said “I only remember it begins with a D.” “No no no,” I shook my head vehemently, an action that puzzled me, because it wasn’t like she could see my head movements. “You’d have to figure that out as well.” “Oh no, don’t do that to me….” Just as the day before we covered a variety of topics and spoke for an hour before we signed off and went to bed.
The next day I was in my dad’s office, doing some research on the net concerning my masters programme when I got a call from Jennifer. “David I’m tired of reading. I’m bored, feeling hot, and I need some fresh air.” I needed no further encouragement. My response was brief. “I’ll come pick up up.” I solved all her problems one by one. She got the needed fresh air on the drive over to pop’s office, forgot about feeling hot after cooling off in the A.C., and after talking for a while which ended in both of us kissing and rolling on the couch in the office, the boredom disappeared.
Jennifer’s really a remarkable girl. She’s light-complexioned, tall, and shapely with the curves and the right statistics. In the past she’d never allowed me beyond the point of sucking on her nipples, which I always did with relish because she had such lovely breasts, but today I managed to coax her outa her jeans and before long she stood before me in her bra and thongs. I looked her from head to toe and marvelled at such a creature. I even persuaded her to turn 180o so I could see her rear view, and she complied although she was quite shy about it. I looked around the office, hoping my dad didn’t have a surveillance camera hidden somewhere. Although she dangled all these invitingly for me, she declined to have sex. She even took my hand and ran it through her pubic hair, an action that made my mouth dry and my blood hot. But that was it. In the end I sighed as she put her clothes back on. After a while we left the office and I dropped her off at her hostel.
That evening I laid down on a couch in our living room, my mind wandering. My dad had traveled, my mum had gone for night vigil, and my brothers were in school. I was home alone. I suddenly sat up. I had the benz all to myself. I looked at myself from head to toe, and came to the conclusion that I was much too well dressed and looking too fine to let it all go to waste. I picked up my phone and dialed Mopelola’s number.
“Hi,” she said when she answered the call. “What are you doing?” I asked. “Not much, just reading on my bed.” “I’m coming to your place. I’d like to see you.” “No no, I’m not ready yet.” I could almost see her shaking her head. “Still enjoying our little game.” “Yeah I’m enjoying it too, but I’d like to see you,” I pleaded. “Not now, David” she replied. “Besides, I’m reading.” I pleaded some more but she wouldn’t budge, so I ended the call. Since it seemed I was destined to spend the evening alone in my living room I kicked off my shoes and stretched out on the sofa. I was just starting to get comfortable when my phone rang. It was Mopelola. She had one message for me, one I was itching to hear. “Ok David, let’s meet. Come to my room at 9pm. If you fail to arrive at nine on the dot, you can kiss seeing me goodbye.” “I won’t disappoint you,” I said, my voice filled with certainty. Thank God! I glanced at my wristwatch. It was quarter past eight. I decided to get out of the house by quarter to nine, which gave me more than enough time to get to her room. Her room! It suddenly hit me. How was I supposed to be at her doorstep if I didn’t know her room number? I’ll just have to call, I resolved. I stretched out on the couch, anxiously waiting for the minutes to tick by.
I was slipping on my sneakers at 8:43 when my phone buzzed. It was my brother. He too had a message for me. “Bro, I want to come home, and I need a ride. Could you come pick me up at White House?” Tonight of all nights! I swore inwardly. But I had no choice. He’s blood. “I’ll be there.” I glanced at the wall clock as I bolted out of the house: 8:47. I sped to White House, picked up my brother and his girlfriend, sped back home. I barely waited for them to disembark before I threw the gear into reverse. Checked my wristwatch. 8:57. Oh shit! I was flying out of the driveway when I had a call from Buddy. He was telling me about a Zenith Bank test he’d been invited for but I hardly paid any attention to the words he was muttering. After he ended the call my eyes swept over the time display on the car dashboard. 9:00. As if on cue, my phone rings almost immediately. I didn’t need to check who it was. “Where are you?” She demanded. “I’m on my way, I’m almost there,” I pleaded. “You’re late and I’m out of my room already” “Gimme two minutes!” I drove like a mad man. I gave new meaning to Formula 1 racing. I pushed the car like it’d never been pushed before. I’m sure the benz actually surprised itself, because it probably never knew it had such potential to achieve such performance. It must have been proud of itself!
As I approached Rock of Ages hostel – the hostel preceding hers – I decided to call and inform her I was downstairs, even though I hadn’t arrived yet. I dialed her number, at the same time keeping a wary eye on the road while I navigated through the untarred road dotted with potholes filled with rainwater from the previous day’s downpour. “This road’s getting worse,” I thought to myself as I wriggled my way right and left, in and out, keeping an eye out for a girl approaching at the left side of the road so as to avoid splashing muddy water on her. The steady ‘beep-beep’ on my phone earpiece informed me the call had gone through and was ringing at her end. Now imagine my surprise as the girl in my headlights glanced at her phone, then raised it to her ear as if to receive a call. With my heart racing I cut the connection, trying to establish the obvious. I watched her carefully, my whole attention riveted on her little frame a few yards away. She pulled the phone from her ear, looked at the display, then stuck it down the back of her jeans. Those actions confirmed her identity. That was fate. I would have driven right past her if I hadn’t chosen to call her at that moment, because I could hardly tell what she looked like.
I changed course, crossing the road and abruptly swinging the vehicle directly onto her path, hitting the brakes a few inches away from her legs. She stopped short, glanced at the windscreen, then walked over to the passenger window and gave me one long, hard look, as if trying to evaluate my mental status. Although she couldn’t see much of my face, I smiled at her. She took a closer look, then her expression softened with a cheeky smile. “Is this your 9 O’clock?” “I got held up,” I grunted. “Where’re you heading to?” “I’ve got to go meet my friend, she just arrived from OSU.” “Hop in.”
enough 4 now. . . .
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