Joy fluttered her eyes open. The night had been kind to her and she was grateful to not have had her recent vague dreams. It only left her more confused than she already was. Joy lowered her eyes, shifting a little on the bed and was surprised to find Dayo at the end, in front of the wardrobe. He was shirtless and had his back to her. Joy blinked a few times and her sense of courtesy nudged at her to look away. Yet, she couldn't.

Adedayo might be nice but it didn't change the fact that he was strangely mysterious. On first appearance, he does seem happy but there was also a hint of sadness. Well, in her case, she never chose to be mysterious, it happened. Joy had a weird understanding that this slight glimpse of his body might be the first step to opening his pandora's box and she was little by little having the urge to unravel him.

Her curiosity. Yes. That was the reason she wouldn't look away and not the fact that for a man who doesn't gym every day, the proportion of his back was beautiful. Dare she think, attractive. Broad shoulders, sturdy and fine line from the mid-neck point all the way down to the loin. His waist... Dayo put on his shirt and turned his head right away in her direction. Joy didn't think. Her eyes were shut the moment he looked in her direction. He closed the wardrobe and hastened his steps out of the room.

Only when she felt sure he was no longer in the room did she slowly open her eyes. For less than half a minute, she had a blank stare and then a light amusing scoff left her lips. She covered her face with her hand while feeling sillier than ever.

Joy stepped out of the room and was only able to catch the sight of him walking out of the apartment and in one hand, he held a black twenty-five liter plastic jerrycan. She took a look at the clock hung on the wall above the television. It was 6:35 a.m. Joy wondered where he'd hurried off to so early in the morning. It was a Saturday so she was sure he didn't have work today. She walked to the door and on opening it, again, she was only able to watch him leave through the gate.

Adedayo watched as the water from the pipe attached to the wall in a ninety degrees angle rushed into his jerrycan. He and likewise others like him in need of water had to pay to the owners of the building behind the wall. The water had been stored in a storex tank on account of days like this when the water would seize from flowing within the neighbouring houses and sometimes, the entire street. After his can was full, he closed it with its lid, folded the cloth in his hand into a roll and kept it on his head. He carried the can off the ground using his entire strength and onto the cloth on his head. Then, he began his walk back to where he came from.

The second he left the can on the ground a little away from the door, Joy pushed the door open and both looked at each other. She watched him use the back of his hand to wipe off the small sweat on his forehead and below his nose. She softened her expression.

"Good morning." She greeted him.

"Good morning." He replied with his own greeting. Her eyes shifted from him to the can beside him. He understood she wanted something a little like an explanation. As someone who didn't remember much, everything was more or less novice for her.

"I fetched water."

She nodded and folded her arms below her chest. "You could've woken me up. I could help."

"There was no need for that and besides, it's too heavy for you." He said as he came close, she understood he wanted to go in so she took a few steps back to let him in. At the same time, she wore a light frown between her brows.

"You don't know that. Maybe, I can carry it."

A casual chuckle left his lips and only after he saw her frown deepen, he realised he shouldn't have done that. He was quick to straighten his expression.

"I'm not saying you can't. I... There was no need for you to." Dayo explained better as he shut the door after himself and walked further into the living room.

"I can help. I can do something if you teach me. I'm not stupid." Joy said, her arms still folded below her chest. Dayo turned to her; he could see she was a little upset.

"I'm sorry. It wasn't my intention for it to sound the way it did."

She took in a breath, her frown disappearing and her gaze turning softer. Silence hung in their midst for a little while. "I'm sorry as well. I took it to heart way too easily."

He nodded in understanding before walking into the kitchen and walking back out with a local broom in his hand. Dayo hit the bottom so all the sticks were even and ready for him to use.

"Let me do that." Joy said as she hurried to him, her hand stretched out for him to hand the broom over to her.

He looked a little worried and unconvinced but he wasn't about to let her know he had doubts again. It would only upset her. "Are—Are you sure?"

She nodded her head. "Yes." Then, she collected the broom from him. "The broom isn't heavy so I should be able to do it."

Her sentence was a hint for him not to press any further. Adedayo wasn't doubtful because he believed she couldn't do a thing herself but simply because he felt uncomfortable and unaccustomed to letting anyone do his work. For a long time, he has been by himself and now, there's this person who says it's okay to let her help. He should, shouldn't he? But it was a bit more difficult for him than he understood. Adedayo went ahead into the bedroom to gather his already worn clothes that needed washing.

Joy looked around the broom before walking to the side of the room's door. Her aim was to begin from there. When she was there, she paused for a while and no part of her memory reminded her that this was familiar. She felt stranded. Not sure exactly how sweeping works. Nonetheless, Joy was determined to stay true to her words. So, she started sweeping and disregarded the part of her that stated the obvious of her doing it all wrong.

Joy was surprised when she felt a hand on hers. She turned her head and met Dayo. His gaze focused on his hand on hers as he loosened her grip and made her reattach it firmer. Joy's surprise deepened when his act of direction made her bend her back further down and he was right behind her.

"Sweep with the sides, not the tips." He explained and demonstrated without changing his stance. At this moment. Joy wasn't sure if she was listening. She could only think of the man whose broad chest made contact with her back. Really, she didn't want to. She understood he was trying to make a point. To teach her the right away to get the job done but at the same time, she was intensely distracted.

Joy shifted her eyes to the view of the side of his face and this time, he shifted his eyes and met with a gaze from hers. Their faces were barely three inches apart. For a moment, his eyes stared down at her lips, something he hadn't done before. Suddenly, he recollected himself and let go of her hand, taking a few quick steps back, away from her.

"Sorry." He apologised and without waiting to hear a word from her, he picked up all the clothes he'd left on the floor when he stepped out of the room and saw her state. He carried them in his arms and walked out through the door of the apartment. For a while, she stood straight, spaced out as a lot of thoughts went on in her head at once. She shook them away and continued with her work.

Adedayo decided not to put any thought into what just happened and spent his time washing his clothes. Anyone could slip, forget him or herself. It happens and he wasn't an exception. Joy peeped at him through the window then looked away. She contemplated going out there to meet him but she couldn't come to a decision. It felt... awkward. A sigh left her lips. Her stomach growled. She was hungry and she still had no idea how to turn on the stove or what to have for breakfast. Joy decided to freshen up, that'll give him the time he needed to finish up.

Joy stared at the only clothes on the bed that she could identify as her possession. The thought of putting it on again, didn't sit well with her. She was also in need of new and more underwear. How could she lay her troubles on him? A roof over her head and food to eat was more than enough he'd done for her. Asking him to buy her clothes, stuffs, that would be too much. She resolved to put them back on. After all, they became clean after she washed them.

There was a knock on the door and she went ahead to open it. Adedayo stood in front of her.

"I would like to take something." He explained without meeting her eyes for a good second. She stepped aside and let him in. As she watched him, she felt bad for taking his room away from him.

"Are you okay with pap and akara for breakfast?" He asked while he picked out a thousand naira note from his wallet.

The word breakfast was all she needed to hear and her interest was piqued. The combo didn't appeal to her as much but she was hungry so anything would work. "Yes." Her reply came through and it was all he needed to hear. Joy watched him walk out of the room and towards the door.

"Are you going out to buy them?" She asked and he nodded.

"I can do that. Let me go." She suggested as she hastened her steps to him. This time, his gaze steadied on her. Dayo could see she was once again in the same dress.

"It's fine. I'm okay."

"N-no. I insist. Let me do something." She pressed further and stretched out her hand for him to handover the money to her.

Dayo hesitated but gave her the money in the end. Her brief smile was her sign of gratitude.

"Do you need me to give you some directions?"

Her eyeballs went left and right. "I don't think so."

Adedayo was at least a bit convinced. Still, he didn't want to make her feel bad by not allowing her to help out.

She smiled. "I'll be fine." Then, she put on her slippers and went out.

Hope you enjoyed the chapter. Don't forget, votes and comments are welcomed.