Okay. Yes. She might have given herself a lot more credit than she should have. Joy was truly finding out that she does act a lot more on impulse. The part about her knowing the path to the akara seller's station wasn't wrong. It only took her a little more time and asking a stranger or two before she found the seller at the junction end of the street. There were three more customers. A young boy, around eight years of age and two teenage girls. Both glanced at her side at once.

As Joy drew closer, the idea of coming down here didn't seem as enticing as it initially was. If anything, it didn't settle with her. The sight of the woman with no gloves or apron, openly frying the beans paste above a large firewood flame felt repelling. Joy was confused. The name of the food does seem familiar but this right here was new to her. Could it be that she had never bought street food? What would that make someone like her? Joy shook her head as if that would rid her of the ridiculous thoughts.

She watched the others before her buy and did the same. It did smell delicious and that made her happy. It was a feeling of achievement. On nearing the gate, she remembered the pap she was supposed to buy. Quick, she turned and hurried to the nearest kiosk that seemed stocked enough to definitely have what she needed.

"Hello." Joy called, to make the average height, round-faced young woman inside, who looked somewhat in her early twenties, realise she was here. "Good morning." She greeted with a warm smile just as the lady stood from her seat and walked up to her.

"Do you sell pap?" Joy asked, and the lady looked at her funny, before nodding. Joy decided to ignore it. She turned away and had only taken a few steps in when she suddenly turned her head back to Joy.

"You're the lady who was with Dayo yesterday, right?"

Her question was surprising. Nevertheless, Joy nodded. There was a smile on the young woman's face, excited with herself for being right. She walked back to Joy without having gotten the pap.

"You're new in this neighbourhood. I haven't seen you before." She said and Joy flashed a brief smile and gave a light nod as she wasn't sure what to say next. She wished the young lady would quietly get her order and she could leave.

"My name is Isoken. I attend the same church as Adedayo. What's your name?"

What's happening right now? Joy wished she could ask that but she held it in.

"Joy."

She sucked in her breath as she repeated the name, "Joy." Her manner made it seem like the knowledge of her name was enough for her to decipher so much.

"Joy, is there something going on between you and Dayo? I noticed you go in through his gate and don't come out. Are you living with him?" The young woman dared to ask and Joy was more than astonished by her daring attitude. Has everyone always been this way? She literally just met this young woman.

"Are you always this chatty with every customer or am I an exception?"

She scoffed, guilt and a ridiculous mixture of amusement wore on her face like a mask. "Ah, no oh, I'm just curious. That's all. I'm pretty close to Dayo and you're new in this life so I worry on his behalf."

Joy smiled. The type that said, that's enough. "I'm fine. He's fine. Can I please have the pap?"

Isoken's expression turned sour, displeased with Joy's refusal to engage her with the needed replies.

Adedayo stared at his reflection in the mirror. He'd been that way since he had his bath and wore the towel around his waist. Dayo wasn't sure why he does this but once in a while, he finds himself staring back at his own reflection. Maybe it was his own way of trying to see if he could figure himself out. Who he was, who he is and who he should be. Everyday was a seeming struggle of trying to maintain this image he'd shown to the world. The issue with it was, he wasn't sure if it was truly his image or a farce. In the end, he lowered his gaze and turned away from the mirror. Adedayo pushed the bathroom door open, stepped out and closed it behind him. He'd taken two steps towards the bedroom when he came to a stop and turned to his head in the left direction.

Joy stood frozen, staring at him with dilated pupils. This view in front of her was the least thing she expected to see when she walked into the apartment. For a few moments, he stared back until suddenly, he realised why she had such a surprised look on her face. He had nothing on except the towel around his waist. Like the gears of a machine without enough grease to ease its movement, his head turned away in a similar manner. He walked away into the bedroom and closed the door after himself.

Joy blinked a few times after he was gone. Her way of snapping herself out of the state she was. She drew in a deep breath before walking forward into the kitchen where she left what she'd bought on the counter. His image was fresh in her mind again but this time, it replayed slower, bringing to her attention the details she earlier didn't focus on. Like the water from his wet hair that trickled down the sides of his face and dripped onto his chest. His arm, his muscle which definitely looked nothing like that of a pro wrestler's but still defined and well built. Simple, and yet powerful. Did he have arbs? She wondered as she struggled with identifying that specific image in her memory but to no avail.

Ridiculous. Joy thought to herself and casually slapped her forehead. In sincerity, she didn't believe she was at the leisure of admiring a man's body. Her life right now was a mess, not being able to tell who is who.

"Did you buy them?" Dayo's voice forced her to turn in his direction right away. His gaze wouldn't meet hers but he walked to where she was and went through the items in the black polythene bag. Joy looked from him to the items and back to him. Something about his physical expression should've hinted at how good of a job she'd done. Yet, nothing. Instead, he stiffened. She could see he was fighting off showing his disappointment.

"W-what? Aren't they enough?"

Dayo glanced at her. "One pap is more than enough."

Joy threw her head back, shutting her eyes during the same period as when her face crinkled into a frown. It was clear she felt disappointed with herself. He'd never seen her exaggerate her emotion with her expression. A very less tedious smile appeared on his face.

"It's fine. It's not your fault. I should have mentioned to you the numbers but you did well." Dayo attempted to make her feel better.

Her head was back in its balance and she narrowed her eyes at him. "You're saying that to make me feel better."

Dayo's lips parted a little to say something but she interrupted before he could. "I'll be more attentive, next time."

Next time. The words repeated in his mind. Is there really going to be a next time? Her limit to staying here was unpredictable. She could be gone tomorrow or any day. The thought of it slid him into a foul mood. He reminded himself to not be carried away easily. That was the only thought that has kept him going and helped him come this far.

The hand she waved in front of his eyes pushed him out of his thoughts.

"Are you okay? You spaced out."

He ran a hand over his face. "I'm fine."

His reply was okay but a part of Joy believed he wasn't. She watched him turn on the stove and made a mental note to herself to somehow learn to read the man in front of her.

Adedayo buried his hands into the pockets of his trousers as he waited by the side of the road. He was in a simple traditional outfit designed into a trouser, long-sleeved, and one pocket on the left chest of the top. A black Honda pulled up in front of him and the glass rolled down. Sarki waved at him from the driver's seat. Dayo went ahead and got into the car.

For what seemed like a minute, there was silence between the two men. Sarki stared at him with expectations written across his face.

"I haven't heard from you in a while and suddenly, you called me." Sarki started and it was because of those words that Adedayo looked at his side. About four times, Dayo slightly parted his lips to let the words out but they never came or rather he felt uneasy with what he was about to share.

"I need to attend a wedding."

Sarki's face was with ease. "That's all?" He shook his head at his friend's dramatic rendezvous, then he looked away. "But, I'm your only friend except your work colleagues. So, whose wedding..." His eyes dilated. "Wait—Is it...?" He raised his brows at Dayo. The look in Dayo's eyes confirmed his suspicion. His jaw dropped. He relaxed back into his seat. "Guy... you get mind oh. You wan go your ex-girlfriend's wedding."

Adedayo sighed. "We were never in a relationship."

"Ehn, but you liked her. You liked her, didn't you? So, it's the same thing."

"It's not. I... she invited me and pleaded that I come. It would be rude to not show up."

Sarki hissed. "Forget all that. None of those matters. Your happiness should be your priority. Let me take you home."

"Sarki, I called you because I didn't want to go alone. I... Do you... Look, are you coming with me or not?"

A frown planted between his brows; Sarki stared at his friend through the corner of his eyes. Sometimes, he would love to yell the words, Adedayo is a stubborn fool but even that wouldn't change his friend's mind. Why was he friends with this stubborn fool, one might ask him. That, itself was the doing of lady fate.

Sarki eased his brows, moved the gear from park to drive and asked, "What's the venue?"

Adedayo handed the invitation card for him to look at and when he got the hang of it, they drove away.

Hope you look forward to next Sunday's update, 'cause more chapters than you expect are coming your way. Don't forget, votes and comments are appreciated. Thank you for reading.