UWA

I strut into the house that evening with so much elegance and joy, catwalking towards Nimi and grinning from ear to ear.

"Ahn Ahn. What is doing this one?" Nimi asks, eyeing me from head to toe. I twirl around and finally come to stop, imitating that dance emoji.

"Guess what?" I ask her.

"You got the job?" She asks.

"Nooo.." I drawl.

"So why are you now happy like this? You won a lottery ni?" She asks, to which I chuckle, earning a glare from her.

"Talk joor (please)." She says in annoyance.

"I am just pulling your legs. I got the job." I finally say. I watch as the emotions on her face change to one filled with shock and surprise, and at the same time, genuine happiness.

"It's a lie!" She jumps up from the chair and pulls me into a bone-crushing hug.

"Congratulations, Engineer. You see I told you. All ye fellows of little faith." She slaps me on the arm as she speaks.

"Ouch! Was that really necessary?" I ask, rubbing the spot where she slapped me. It's like this girl does not know how painful her hand is.

"Yes. That is for not believing. Abi you want another one?" She asks, raising her eyebrows in question.

"You are not serious." I eye her.

"Bestfriend, I am so freaking happy for you. Chei! Uwa is now a staff of Jimdey. A whole Jimdey. Those people are huge." She rants, using her fingers to tickle me. I slap them off immediately they start their assault.

"Someone cannot play with you? Is that how you use to do?" She asks, singing Kolewerk by Mr. Koker.

"Okay, do the do. Awon eyan scooby doo." I sing along and we both burst into laughter.

"Tomorrow is a good day. The beginning of something amazing in your life." She says.

"Osheyy Prophetess. By God's grace o." I really need God's grace for this job. My first ever professional work since after school.

"You need to start paying for consultation, babes." She jokingly says.

"Repeat that?" I say, chuckling.

"Haha. Mumu. I did not cook anything o. Wetin we go chop (what will we eat)?" She asks at the end.

"I no know o (I don't know)." I reply in all honesty.

"Except you will eat indomie. There's pepper, onion and egg." She suggests.

"There is even indomie and you are here talking. Please, noodles it is since we are both being lazy this evening." I say, snapping my fingers playfully.

"Oya, you will cook. You know your indomie is sweeter than the type that those mallams prepare." She teases me.

"Shey you dey whine me ni (Are you whining me)? Which mallam indomie?" I reply, giving her a once over with my eyes and she gives me the best cute face she could muster.

"Okay I'll cook it and that is because your stomach is alread growling and making those funny noises." I say in a bid to tease her.

"It's you that know." She replies, shrugging her shoulders. I just shake my head and walk to the kitchen to cook.

"Make sure it is sweet o. Sha, I trust you." I hear her shout from the parlour.

From the carton of indomie, I bring out six packs of indomie small size (indomitable). That is the only type we buy because it tastes better compared to the bigger sizes like super pack, hungry man or family size.

I take out our medium sized pot and wrinse it before breaking the noodles into it and seasoning with five sachet of spices, leaving out one for the end process.

I add some water and little oil and place it on the gas stove. Next, I take out a small pot and wrinse then place two eggs in it and cook.

While they are heating up, I wrinse the green pepper, red pepper and onions then chop them bits before pouring them into the almost cooked indomie. I cover it up to allow it cook for 3 minutes before stirring it so that every portion of noodles has some vegetables with it. Hmmm. Yummy.

Then lastly, I add the last sachet of seasoning for extra taste and also some dried yaji pepper. Stir again and the food is ready. Perfect! I turn off the gas stove for both Indomie and Egg then serve.

"Food is ready." I state, walking with the plate of food in my hand to where Nimi sits, watching 'The Johnsons' on African Magic.

"Please bring drinking water." I say to her and she dashes into the kitchen to get us water before joining me as we eat our meal for the evening.

•••••

Thr next morning, I wake up around 3am, feeling super excited. I could hardly even sleep at night because of how excited I felt.

I pick up my phone to browse about the company and the pictures that were displayed on google made me feel good. So, this fine place is where I will be working. It feels surreal that this is happening. Occassionally, I pinch myself to be sure I am not dreamimg. This is how funny it still feels.

As the clock strikes 4:30am, I dash into the bathroom to have my bath and prepare for work since the company is still around Lekki/Victoria Island province.

Finishing up my look, I stare into the mirror at myself, grateful for the days I purchased some of these clothes back then in Kentucky.

Picture of what Uwa is wearing

By now it's already 5am, so I head to Nimi's room, too nervous to eat breakfast. I knock on the door and let myself in.

"I'm going, Nimi. Till later." I call out.

"Oya, goodluck on your first day." She replies in a sleepy voice.

"Thank you, bye bye." I reply her and exit the house to resume my first day at Jimdey.

By 7:30am, I arrive at my destination and waste no time in making my entry into the building. I walk straight to the receptionist.

"Hi. Good morning." I say to her.

"Good morning. You made it, congratulations!" She says excitedly.

"Thank you so much. Please I was called in by Natasha from HR. Could you direct me to her office?" I ask.

"Sure. The same 14th floor." She says to me.

"Thank you." I reply and take the elevator to the fourteenth floor. On arrival, I meet Natasha who happens to be the same woman that co-ordinated the interview.

"Your office is on the 15th floor. Only the CEO and COO have their offices on that floor. This is your ID card that also serves the purpose of an access card to all floors; restricted or unrestricted." She says, handing it to me in a ziplock bag.

"Thank you." I say.

"How much do you propose to be your monthly salary?" She asks. What should I say now? One hundred, maybe.

"I think that is left for the company to decide." I state, smiling.

"Okay. Your pay will be Two hundred thousand Naira (#200,000) monthly. Is that okay with you?" She asks, taking me off guard. Is it 200k that this woman is asking me if it will be alright? It is perfect o.

"Yes, ma'am. It will be." I say, trying so hard to hide my excitement.

"That is all. The boss awaits you on the 15th floor. Goodluck. And please call me Natasha. We are colleagues now." She says, smiling at me.

"Thank you." I leave the office and head for the elevator, anxious to start work already. I can't wait to tell Nimi the good news concerning the pay. My stomach growls and I wince a little, I hope this not eating does not backfire at me before break.

The elevator stops and I walk on the floor then see an office with the the label 'Chief Executive Officer'. I take in a deep breath before knocking on the door.