BUKOLA

The mail still feels surreal to me. I was supposed to resume today. Shit! It's almost past 5. I need to shop for some new work clothes.

"Aminu, could you please drive me for shopping?" I ask in the sweetest voice I could muster. He looks at me surprisingly then answers 'sure'. I honestly don't feel like driving. Drivers from these ride hailing apps are sometimes annoying these days which is why I don't want to book any of them.

"Let me just get changed into something more comfortable." I state.

"But you already look okay." He says with a huff and ending his breath with the word 'women' that I pretend not to hear.

"Nope. I don't know who I will meet there. Perhaps a man who will sweep me off my feet." I shrug.

"No man is sweeping no one off their feet."

"But you have Eunice, Aminu." I pout playfully.

"I'm serious." His facial expression is now stoic and void of any form of amusement.

"You're no fun, old man."

"You're just a year younger."

"Whatever. You're still older." I brush off and make my way to the room. After changing into a pair of jean trousers and a polo shirt, I finish my looks with a grey crocs footwear.

"All set!" I inform him with a smile. I am being nice to him because of the free drive. He scans my figure for a while and smirks.

"I'll be back." Orishirishi. Coming from someone who insisted I went out the way I previously looked.

He returns with the same clothes but a pair of grey crocs on his feet too.

"Matching crocs, wifey." Aminu is doing this just to annoy me.

"Alright." Surprisingly, I smile at him and the wiggle of his brows ceases. Gotcha!

"Let's go, please."

Throughout the drive to the boutique, we do not speak. Instead, we just enjoyed the songs that were playing from the car's stereo.

It was already 6pm by the time we arrive at the boutique. Aminu drove us in the Range Rover. According to him, we would need enough space when returning.

I shopped for dresses, cotton tops, button up shirts, chiffon tops, suit pants, shoes, bags, jewelleries. When I was finally done, I was so tired and zipping the last dress I had just picked when someone walks into the dressing room. His hand immediately snakes on my waist and on reflex, I rest my back on his chest.

"Bukola." He breathes out.

"Aminu." My own voice is also heard. After some minutes of complete silence and just finding comfort in each other's embrace, I turn to face him and give him a proper hug.

"Thank you for accompanying me here."

"You are welcome." He gives me a peck on my forehead for every word he utters. His hand is playing at the skin on my back, sending tingles across different parts of my body.

"Let me make payments so we can go." Annoyance flashes in his eyes after my statement.

"I don't understand you, Bukola. You seriously thought I'd let you pay?" I can't believe we are back to this banter again.

"It's not like you planned to come here this evening." Which is true.

"Neither did you. Just keep quiet and allow me do what I want to." He then walks out of the dressing room, leaving me stunned.

By the time I arrive at the cashier's, I realize he also made them bag the ones I wanted but had to let go as a result of their prices. He also added more accessories to the purchase. Perfumes too.

Aminu sure knows how to make a woman happy. I really can't believe it's the same man that I have a banter with almost everyday, doing this for me.

"Please, have them bagged and delivered to this address." He slides the note he scribbled to them. What happened to the 'enough space' needed when going back home?

The attendant was all smiles seeing as Oga has come to spend millions here. Who wouldn't be?

"Yes, Sir. Thank you for your patronage, Sir, Ma." Aminu does not answer them. He starts walking out instead.

"You're welcome." I respond on his behalf, smile and follow behind him.

"Aminu." I call out once we are outsude. He stops in his tracks and turn to look at me.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

On the way back home, he diverts and takes another turn.

"This is not the way home." I point out.

"Yeah. I know that. We are going to eat." He simply says.

"Oh. Alright." At this point, I am simply short for words to express myself.

"I am hungry. Besides, I figured out you've also not eaten." He points out, which is true. I nod my head, not uttering a word.

I expected a very flashy restaurant. Turns out it's a serene environment with a very nice aura. The place looks very homely and inviting.

"Good evening. Welcome." The security guy greets us. Aminu squeezes in some Naira notes into his hands and the man jubilates, hailing him.

"Thank you, Oga Aminu." Seems he is frequent here. Here I was, feeling special.

"Taiwo, don't mention." He actually smiles a genuine one to the man before we leave him to find a place to sit.

"Seems you come here very often." I voice out my thoughts from earlier.

"Yeah. Right from when I was younger. Anytime I need the peace and quiet, I come here."

"What is troubling you, Aminu?" I place my hand ontop his that is already on the table. The man looks at me and sighs. His eyes go to our hands on the table and then back at me. I smile in a bid to encourage him to talk.

When he finally opens his mouth to speak, we are interrupted by a voice. The distressed expression on his face quickly vanishes and is replaced with a smile.

"Aminu, my boy." The older woman calls out.

"Good evening, ma." When he stands up as a sign of respect, I do the same.

"Good evening, ma." I also greet her.

"Ma, meet my wife, Bukola. Bukola meet Mrs. Olagoke, popularly known here as Mummy Titi." After the introduction, the woman engulfs me in a hug. She is so welcoming.

"I never thought I would get to see the day our Aminu will bring a woman here." She says.

"Ah! Ma, It's not that bad." He laughs.

"I did not say it was, my dear." She answers before turning to look at me.

"Please be nice to our Aminu. Take care of him for us. He can be a handful sometimes." The mumu man is scratching the back of his head and smirking.

"I'm already doing that, ma."

"I can see that." She beams. Mummy Titi looks like a very sweet soul. As it is, I already feel bad lying to her.

"Anything you both eat tonight is on the house. Consider it my welcome gift to your woman." She says to Aminu who shakes his head in disagreement.

"Ma, you know I won't agree to that."

"You have done so much for us, son. It's not so much but allow us do this."

"It's the thoughts that count. It's not how much it is." He shrugs. It seems like I am seeing a whole different Aminu from the one I know.

"So, you accept?" She asks again. He nods. From the look in his eyes, I could tell he would do otherwise.

"Great! Enjoy your evening, my babies." She whisks off to attend to other customers.

"She is an amazing person." I state.

"Yeah, she is."

"I just feel bad for lying to her, though." I admit.

"You know, we don't have to keep lying to everyone." Is he asking for a divorce? Why is my mood suddenly sullen at that thought?

"You're wanting to separate from me?" I ask. Perhaps because of Eunice.

"No. What I am saying is, what if we make this work?" I am stunned, I won't lie.

"We? Make us work? We are basically at each other's neck every time and at every given opportunity, Aminu."

"Yeah, but we could change that."

"You hate me." I state.

"No, I don't." He answers.

"Alright, then."

"Does that mean I can kiss you henceforth without the fear of violence following after?" He asks me.

"You're crazy." I let out a loud laugh. Something you already did twice.

"I'm serious, Bukola."

"Yes, you can."

"Do you mind PDA?"

"I do. I'm not a fan." The ground will just open and swallow me up.

"Or you're just simply shy." He points out.

"Shy? Not me." I am, though. Very.

"Yup." He answers.

"You're just baiting me. Not going to work." He just chuckles, shaking his head.

"Hi. I'm Bukola. Everyone calls me Bukky."

"Hi. I am Aminu. I'm not everyone. I'll call you Bukola."

"You're stubborn. Coconut head."

"Yeah, I know that. And I forgot to add a very important part about me."

"Which is?"

"I am married to the most beautiful woman in the room." The way his gaze sweeps across my figure stopping at my face, accompanied with the biting of his lips, those actions make my insides melt.

"Cheesy." I laugh out, trying to hide my nervousness.

"Only for you, Bukola. Only for you." He states with a smile. His voice trails off in my head as he caresses my hands in his. We just keep staring into each other's eyes. For now, we are not ready to order for any food.