DEJI

"Keep the change." Today I want to surprise her. Nostalgia creeps through my skin as I recount the very first day we met. This very spot; in front of this cafe shop.

Her coffee preferrence disgusted me on that day but here I am, buying that same cup for her. Please, I still prefer mine but I just want to do something for her.

As the elevator door closes behind me, I walk towards her work space and sit on her desk, waiting for her to arrive work.

"Hi." I say to her when she arrives.

"Hi." She says back, smiling.

"This is for you." I hand the cup to her, watching as her expression changes to one filled with excitement.

"Awww...thank you." She says, giving me a hug. Well, that was unexpected.

"Anything for a pretty lady." I say, complimenting her.

"Please, stop." She uses her hands to cover her face.

"Seriously, you are pretty. You should see yourself right now." It's just amazing how my big-headed self did not notice this from the onset.

"Hmmm. Thank you." She says in response. My hand snakes its way around her shoulders as I draw her close to me, leaving some place between my legs to allow her fit
perfectly in between them.

"How about that date you promised me?" She lets out a small laugh, hitting me lightly on my shoulders before taking a sip on her coffee. She closes her eyes, letting out a satisfactory sigh. This sight, it will remain glued to my memories. It is not the first and definitely won't be the last.

"This coffee, I have missed it." She says and I scoff.

"What?" She asks, feigning ignorance. She really knows how to keep an innocent face. I lift my eyebrows to reply her.

"Oh." She says, chuckling.

"The date." The shrill ring of my phone is heard, distracting us from our talk.

Mom

"Please, excuse me." I say, walking towards my office.

"Hello, ma." Mom called me to invite me to dinner tomorrow and of course, brought up her usual and most loved topic; getting me hooked up. To get her off my neck, I told her I already have someone and she said to make sure I come with her.

"Heyssss, fine girl." I call out playfully to Uwa after I end the call. She just chuckles, shaking her head.

"Sisi eko." I add. She bursts into laughter before standing up.

"What?" She asks. She stands in the middle of the walkway and place her hands on her waist.

"Come here." I say and she shrugs her shoulders saying No.

"Come here." I repeat and she does the same thing.

I start making quick and long strides towards her and watch her eyebrows raise up in surprise as I approach her figure, just a few feet apart. As my hands stretch to draw her to me, she bolts for her seat but as I am faster than her, I catch her and twirl her around.

"Stop." She squeals while I assault her with tickles. Next time, she will listen to me.

"Uwa." A voice calls out behind us. We snap our heads at the same time to see a very shocked Lauren. Uwa buries her face in my chest in embarrasment before finally lifting it up to answer her.

"Yes, how far?" She asks her with a smile. Lauren clears her throat moving her eyes towards me and back at her.

"I'll excuse you both. Come to my office once you are done." I tell her and give them their privacy.

UWA

After the discussion with Lauren who was so keen on an explanation on what she saw, I head to his office.

"Come in." He says when I knock.

"She says they are done with staff recruitment in Ghana." I inform him, taking my seat.

"That's great. Work with them and plan the launching for next two weeks." He replies me, writing something on his jotter.

"So, will you go with me to my family dinner tomorrow?" This man should be giving me notice before poping heavyweight questions such as this one.

"Won't that be an inconvenience for them?" I am very skeptical about this.

"Nope. I might as well surprise them with a plus one. Well, my parents but not Shalewa. They know I am bringing someone but they don't know who the person is. So, please will you?" He asks with an adorable expression. One I could not say no to.

"Okay, fine." I say.

"Thank you. Also, you and I will be going to Ghana together." He says, winking his eyes at me.

•••••

"Well, you have met Shalewa and my mom. This is my Dad. Everyone meet my girlfriend, Uwa." He says, smiling. This man would be the death of me. I am not his girlfriend.

"Ayyyy, welcome." Shalewa's always happy mood is a vibe on its own.

"Welcome to the family." His Dad says, smiling to me.

For his mom, she says nothing. Instead, she circles around the dinning table and walks towards me, making me nervous.

As she stops in front of me, my heart begins to race. It is not news that she does not like me nor approves me for her son. She said it herself that night at his place. She stretches her hand and engulfs me in a hug.

"Welcome, Uwa." She says.

"Huh?" I respond in shock.

"You are welcome to the family, dear." She smiles back when she faces me again.

"Thank you, ma." I say, with a slight bend of my knees. To be honest, this feels weird but at least, she accepted me. What happens to me not being good enough for her son?

"Simi, bring the food." She says in a loud voice and a lady, who I guess to be the help comes in, making several trips to the kitchen before the food is finally served.

"Stop staring, it's embarassing." I whisper to him. He just smiles back, not taking his eyes off me.

"Brother, welldone Sir." Shalewa says, imitating Falz's voice, making everyone at the table chuckle.

The dinner went well and with time, I loosened up a little, feeling more comfortable in their midst.

Before leaving, Deji had a little talk with his parents who saw us off afterwards.

The air around us suddenly held so much tension as we arrive at my place. Deji stopped the car and like a gentleman, holds my door for me to get down.

"Thank you for going out with me today. I had to introduce my girlfriend to my family." He says. Girlfriend since when?

"You keep calling me your girlfriend. Who said I was?" I ask him with raised eyebrows.

"Well, soon to be." He says, wiggling his eyebrows. I fold my hands across my chest, staring at him with a serious expression.

"Do you know the things that intrigue me the most about you? Your cute frown when I get on your nerves. Your smile that used to hardly comes on around me. Your strong will. You are so beautiful, Gift." He says, staring me in the eyes while playing with my fingers.

"Will you be my girlfriend?" He asks.

"Asking me to be your girlfriend today, is it not too sudden?" Please, am I the only one that feels that way?

"I don't like to delay my interests. I have wanted this for a long time now. Kayode was the one standing in my way." He says with a low hiss.

"So, will you be my girlfriend, Uwa and hopefully my fiance someday before it transgresses into marriage?" This man.

"Woah, slow down. The girlfriend part, yes. For the others, let us see how this goes." I say, shuffling my fingers between the both of us.

"Repeat that, please." He says, smiling.

"Yes, Deji. I will be your girlfriend." I say.

"You asked to call me Jimi but I have never heard you say it."

"That's because it feels weird." I say in defence.

"Well, as long as you are mine. That is all that matters." He places his hands in his pocket and brings out a shiny object.

Using his strong hands, he moves my body towards the car, switching positions with me. My front side pressed on the car, I feel a necklace being placed on my neck.

"Beautiful." He says when he turns me back to look at him. He takes out his phone and snaps a picture of me.

"I have been wanting to give you this for quite some time now. It reminded me so much about you so I purchased it. Take a look." He says, showing me the picture he just shot.

"Wow, this looks beautiful." I squeal, hugging him.

"The pack. For safety purposes." I laugh before stretching my hands to collect the tiny box from him. Looking at it, I am amazed.

"St. Clairs? This must have cost you a fortune. Sorry, I can't accept this." His hand goes over mine which is already fondling with the hooks in an attempt to take it off my neck.

"Please, I can't have so much money and still not get my girlfriend the best. Besides, it won't affect my net worth." He says, winking at me.

"Girlfriend, huh?" I ask him, smirking and raising my eyebrows.

"But the cost of this.." What I wanted to say is suddenly interrupted by him.

"Just shut up and kiss me." He places his hands at my two sides, caging me between his figure and the car as he leans into me for a kiss.

Meeting his family, being his gitlfriend and receiving this beautiful gift all in one? It's been one hell of an amazing day.

HEYSSSS, FINE PEOPLE.
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