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CHAPTER 8

I spotted her immediately after the food restaurant came into view. She threw her head back, laughing at something Faruq had said. My jaw clenched and I storm into the restaurant, hands itchy to make contact with her face.

She raised her head, immediately taking notice of my presence and her laughter morphed into a sheepish smile.
" Esha" she stood up.

I raised my hand in front of her face. " no Zainab. Don't Esha me". My eyebrows were drawn together in a frown, and I glared at the person who was the main reason why my mood was soiled, and I almost died of cardiac arrest.

" I looked for you-" Zainab began, but I cut her off immediately.

" no Zainab, you didn't." I dropped my purse on the table and it landed with a thud.

"Do you have any idea how I felt back there? You had me almost going crazy, and then someone called me saying you were with them".

I eyed the man; Faruq as I uttered the next few words.
"Was that a nice way of saying you're with my sister?" I place my phone against my ear. ' hello, come to Mr A's restaurant. Your sister is with me "

The only response I got from the dude was a slight tug of his bottom lips which only infuriated me.

My face felt hot. The audacity of this guy to find this humorous.
"Funny huh?" I snarled at him.

" no, no. I'm sorry," he raised his hands in mock surrender.

Zainab pulled over to sit down. I glared at her too. She was the reason why my heart was thumping heavily against my ribcage.
" If you hadn't been in such a hurry, we wouldn't be having this talk right now."

She bumped my shoulder with hers, a playful smile on her lips. My eyes zoned in on the smil and narrowed a bit. She wasn't acting like a sweet girl just because a guy was sitting across from the both of us, right?

" here's your order," a chubby lady said, gaining our attention.

He even had the guts to order food while I was stuck in that mini-market looking frantically everywhere for Zainab. The nerve of this guy!

"I hope it's not an issue that I ordered the food before your arrival?" He gave me a smile that was supposed to look charming but only made my frown deepen.

" it is". My voice came out flat as I intended it to be.

He looked taken aback. " uh...okay".

Zainab kicked my shin from under the table making me turn my head towards her. She was shamelessly staring at the Faruq guy with a smile. A love-sick smile, if I may add.
I rolled my eyes at that.

I peered at the food in front of us—jollof rice, salad and chicken.

" this won't do," I said.

Zainab and Faruq stared at me like they couldn't comprehend what I'd just said.

" this food won't be enough for me," I repeated and before any one of them could react to my comment, I stood up heading to the front desk.

" How may I help you miss?" A man who stood by the counter asked in a polite voice.

" just a minute," I said and looked at the menu behind him. I haven't taken a bite of the rice Faruq bought, so I wasn't sure how it tasted yet.

" I'll take a plate of coconut rice". I could manage that for now.

The man took down my order. " chicken or-"

I raised a hand. " Turkey please,"

I had a bad history of eating chicken, and turkey had been my 'go-to' since then.

I walked back to the table, and sat down, giving Faruq the stink eye. He smiled innocently while spooning some rice into his mouth. Slightly tilting my head, I took quick notice of his facial features. They were nothing like Ilyas's. While Ilyas had this friendly aura paired with a slightly intimidating face, the reverse was the case for Faruq. He had these boyish facial features if you get what I mean.

" your friend must eat a lot, " Faruq broke the silence.

" excuse me?" I spat out.

" I mean no offence Esha-" I cut him off.

" It's Dayesha for you".

" uh... Ayesha. I'm just surprised a beautiful girl with sexy curves like yours would want to consume much food," he flashed a toothy grin.

I was unfazed, my brows were raised. " I don't appreciate comments like that," I emphasised the 'that ' and saw his eyebrow flash.

Zainab cleared her throat to lighten up the atmosphere. Just then, a waiter placed my order on the table.

" Is this my order?"

" Yes, ma'am".

I looked at the food tray. " I didn't order three pieces of turkey ".

" well Uhm," he darted his eyes behind me. I mimicked his actions and cross from our table, was the manager who had taken my order earlier. He winked and widen his lips in a smile, exposing the teeth.

" Okay, this is awkward, " I breathe. Waving a hand in a way I wished didn't look stupid, Zainab kicked my leg from under the table.

" What?" I mouthed to her.

Clearing her voice, she turned, facing Faruq. " It just clicked in my mind right now that Esha and I have an important errand to run". She sighed.

Wait...what was that about?

" do you have to go now?" Faruq pouts.

" Oh yeah...of course. Sorry," said Zainab.

I knew it was my turn to say something when I caught Zainab's glance in my direction.

" why did it have to be now when I just ordered some food?" I whined.

" we can always come back," Esha chimed, already pushing the chair backwards.

Wait...she's serious about this o

Tilting my head, I blinked twice at her, questioning the game she was playing at. She slowly blinked back once in response.

Oh well, I can't let the free turkey I got go to waste.

"Excuse me," I beckoned at a waiter.

" Yes ma'am?"

" Could you wrap this up," I motioned towards the food. " we have to go".

" Sure ma'am, " he said.

All this while, I peeked at Faruq's face which was contorted into a frown.
Poor boy, I don't like you, or else I would have persuaded Zainab.

" I'll keep in contact with you. Maybe we can meet sometime again," Zainab said.

" Okay babe," he answered.

Toh, su babe anji wiki.

The waiter came back with our food packaged, and I took it from him while Zainab grabbed my purse.
"Nice meeting you Faruq," I said, trying hard to suppress the laughter threatening to escape from my lips.

What a disappointment.

He nods in reply, and Zainab grasped my hand, pulling me out of the restaurant.

" Okay, what was that about?"

"Shh..let's get to the car first".

While crossing the previous gutter, I made sure to raise my pink gown to avoid stories that touches the heart. My phone vibrated against my hand, and I already know who it is.
Ilyas.

Probably sounds cringe, but I'm always expecting his messages whenever my phone pings. Not because I'm getting addicted to his heartwarming messages or deep soothing voice, but because he's most likely the one to send a message.

And no, I'm not falling for him. He's just a likeable guy, and I will be lying if I say my heart didn't long for his messages.

" Now we're here," I said.

" get in, I'll drive."

Rolling my eyes, I got into the passenger seat, pulling the seat belt and fastening it. Zainab did the same, placing the food pack in the back seat.

" He's a creep."

My eyes widen abruptly. " what?"

" Well, you were right. I shouldn't have agreed to meet up with him. He gives me the chills, and it's not in the right way," she shudders.

" Yeah yeah, I know I'm awesome like that, " I puff my chest. " but you were all smiley back there."

"Well, I didn't want to make it too obvious," she said. We have left the street and were back on the main road. I let out a sigh of relief.

" glad to know that you wouldn't be engaging with a guy who gives off the creepy vibes".

"Yeah yeah. I'll block any means he could use to contact me. I'd rather stay single than to be with a creepy man who has no respect for the female folks ".

Seeing as we were finally on the same page, I unlocked my phone, immediately logging in on Facebook.

" you're grinning."

"Huh," I glanced at Zainab. " Oh, it's nothing."

"Is that lover boy?"

"Yeah," I simply said, my fingers flying all over the keyboard.

Ilyas: I got a cat today, and can't help thinking about how both of you looked alike in many ways.

Me: comparing me now to a cat?

Ilyas: do you believe in love at first sight? Coz you took my breath away, just like this cat.

I snort, slightly amused.

Me: what are you doing right now?

That's what I simply did—changed the topic. Ilyas must have picked up on that as he pretended not to read the message, instead sending a reply that almost had me choking on my saliva.

Ilyas: Will you marry me?

Me: you almost had me choking.

His reply came almost immediately, making me wonder how fast his fingers typed.

Ilyas: give me a reply. Will you?

I stare at the screen, blinking rapidly. Was this also part of flirting? Was it part of the game we were both playing? What was I supposed to say in reply?

Me: this is awkward.

Ilyas: it's alright. How did the encounter with the online boyfriend go?

And that was what he did— change the topic ever so swiftly. But, a part of me wanted to know what he was thinking, why he had asked me that question.

Me: didn't go well as she had thought. On our way back home.

Ilyas: okay.

He didn't send any message after that. We reached our house, and Zainab turned off the ignition. We stepped into the house with the food pack in hand.

"So, anything serious going on between you two?" Zainab inquired.

" no, it's all a game."

" if you say so. Don't get yourself deep into the game, and risk hurting yourself in the process oo".

"I won't."

I'm sure of that.

Deciding to log off since no messages were coming from him, my eyes zeroed in on the message notification. New message.

My lips involuntarily stretched into a smile, and I tapped on it.

Ilyas: I would though, in a heartbeat—marry you.

And there goes my heart doing the weird flips yet again. At this rate, I might be lying to myself about having no feelings for him. My deepest fear was coming true.

I'm doomed.

Phew...since the beginning of 'Dayesha, no chapter gave me such a hard time as this one did. And that's why the update is coming very late.

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