When the puff-puff arrived from wherever they were frying it, the caterers gave the two of them a special serving. They sat on an empty table and ate together.

They talked about their jobs, he was also an engineer with 10 years of experience. He started his Career in Houston but he is currently working in Qatar for the Company.

She was excited about this because she likes the middle east. Her Company also has operations in UAE and she has been romancing the idea of getting a transfer there so she can take a break from this naija stress and chill in Dubai. She smiled deeply as she thought about how perfect this Gbenga guy would be if they click.

They both ranted about rig life, dissed each other's company he was cool and they had a lot in common.

As they, headed back to the hall after the breakfast a ruckus started at the hall. The Environmental activists had infiltrated the event and were protesting up and down. There were like 15 of them, they were painting graffiti at the entrance, and they even went as far as hacking the stage screen and were broadcasting their message it was pure chaos.

Within minutes, police officers and private security captured and arrested the activists.

In the middle of the pandemonium, Gbenga caught and held her hand in a protective manner plus he was shielding her with his body, trying to keep people from bumping into her. It was reflex for him, he didn't even know he was holding her until the whole thing calmed down. He seemed flustered as he released the hand when he saw her looking at their entwined hands oddly. Why was he embarrassed she digged it! A macho man! She couldn't wait to give Sofi this gist.

When the conference resumed after a 30 minutes delay she sat next to him because Sofi had to leave after her plenary session to go confirm that Chief's daughter is bailed. It was not part of her Job description but Chief was like family to her and she said he was not in the country.

Since Sofi was her ride to the Conference Gbenga offered to drop her off after the conference but she declined.

"I've called an Uber already" She smiled at him.

"Cancel it. I'll drop you" he said assertive.

"Awww you're so sweet. Thank you"

He was driving a very nice black BMW she didn't know the model but it looked like a recent release.

"Nice car" She said as he opened the door for her.

"Yeah I know. It's not mine tho. it's my younger brother's" He laughed then continued "I am a benz guy. Don't worry my car is nicer than this one" He added.

"you are such a show off" She teased him

"But its true! Beamers are a joke"

She didn't know much about cars she just nodded.

"Ok. What about range rovers?" She asked him.

"They're alright I guess, but Benz is king.......oh wait you drive a range rover?" He gasped when he realized. She nodded shyly.

"Look at you, showing off too" He teased her back.

He said he was flying back to Doha the next day and she was surprised. Apparently, he came in a week early because he wanted to spend some time with his parents in Ibadan and visit his friends plus the week before the conference was his free time off the rig.

However, he said he would be very happy and fulfilled if she goes to dinner with him right. He claimed it would be the best part of his trip and she agreed.

She picked a Yellow chill, a Nigerian food restaurant because she considered the fact that he would be missing Nigerian food since he doesn't like here and she was right. He ate Egusi and pounded yam while she had pepper soup she wasn't hungry plus 6pm rule. It was a pleasant dinner and then he took her home around 9pm ish. He parked by the gate, even came out of the car to walk her up to the gate. She was swooning inside. Such a gentleman she thought.

***

Osaze had a busy day too. It was the day of the hackathon. His team did not win but he was the second runner up. Those 'Yabacon Valley' guys didn't come to play Naija has talent.

He was bummed, he really wanted to win it. He already imagined how he was going to break the news to Toyin, He didn't even tell her it was today he just wanted to surprise her with the news instead.

The event was in Ikoyi so he decided to buy his favorite Indomie from the aboki in SW Ikoyi to cheer himself up. He even got one for his precious landlady, he knew she didn't like eating at night but he just did in case because he has seen her eating late before. That one time she said she missed lunch at work. So he got an extra plate for her in case she misses lunch today too.

As soon as he came out of his Uber he saw the sleek black BMW 6 series. A tall buff guy stepped out of the driver side first then walked over to her side to help her out.

He was on the other lane of the dual carriage road so instead crossing he just stood there, frozen on that spot where the uber left him. Immobilized.

Immobilized by the deep hole he felt in his chest. Because in that moment it felt like his heart had been ripped out of his chest and there was nothing there anymore just numbness.

The Man who looked like a freaking GQ model extended his hand to shake her and it was dark but he could see that she was smiling. She looked very happy. They looked perfect and it pissed him off.

He was still standing there like a loser when the guy drove off in his beamer. He realized he was struggling to breathe so he started taking deep breaths.

'Why am I even upset. She is not his girlfriend!' He tried to convince himself that he was probably feeling the way he did because he lost the hackathon. He shut his eyes and took more deep breaths. When he felt much better and calmer finally entered the house. She was sitting on the couch pressing her phone and smiling sheepishly. He assumed she was chatting with the guy and his face dropped again.

"Hey Osaze! How did your day go?" She said cheerfully as she looked up from the phone.

"Fine" He said as he dropped his backpack on a couch and headed for the kitchen to get a bigger dish.

"Do you want noodles?, I was in Ikoyi so I......"

"No. ewww i had the most amazing dinner" She chimed.

He didn't wait to hear the rest he just packed up his stuff jejely, entered his room and shut the door.

******

On Thursday, their friend Bisola's younger sister was performing at a concert called Afropolitan vibes in Marina and they went there to support her band.

The concert was good. Not her regular kind of concert, it was eccentric and different plus everyone behaved and there were no touts or HOODLUMS. When Bisola's sister's band started performing she saw someone in the Audience that looked like Osaze but the brushed it off.

'That one is definitely at home buried in his computers right now' She thought to herself.

When the music started entering the person started dancing and it really looked like him. She knew those steps. She was about to step forward to confirm but she noticed that he was dancing with a girl so she waited. The girl was wearing a short jumpsuit with white sneakers; she had long distressed locs that flowed around her arms and back as she danced effortlessly and enchantingly like a goddess. They even started holding hands at some point.

"What are you looking at?" Sofi nudged her with her elbow.

"Nothing." She smiled and looked back at the stage.

"Don't worry we're leaving after the performance, I am dying of boredom too" Sofi grumbled.

She wanted to say the concert was okay and she was enjoying it but she was not in the mood anymore.

When she got home she was feeling some type of way. So he has a girlfriend sef. Is this why he satyed back in naija to be chasing girls. She thought he wanted to do his startup stuff. She was not mad sef he is an adult but she was just mildly irritated. Also he should go leave with his girlfriend.

"Why are u still up, no work tomorrow?" He said when he met her still up in the living room by 12. She couldn't sleep so she decided to play his video game. It was one of those violent one that had a lot of shooting.

"You want me to be asleep so you can sneak in your girls" She sneered.

"No that forbidden in the house constitution" He laughed.

"I saw you at Afropolitan vibes"

"Wait you were there? You like Afropolitan vibes too?"

"I didn't go there willingly, We went to support Bisola's sister's band"

"How was it, did you enjoy it, do you wanna go again?"

"No" She said.

He sat down for a while and watched her play, she was taking out the bad guys today like it was moimoi.

"So you have time and money to be chasing girls?" She said

"What girls? Amy? She is my friend" He said "Wait what is wrong with chasing girls?"

"Whats wrong with chasing girls? You are supposed to focus on your new start up or codding or whatever plus you don't have money to date, you don't even have a place to stay!"

"Wow Toyin. You should have included this in your rules to top up craziness" He chuckled.

"Oh now I'm crazy? Why didn't you go to with 'Your friend' that is not crazy"

"Because I just met her for the first time last week, we were on the ......" He paused when he realized this is something he should be explaining to his girlfriend not his roommate. Why is she making an issue of it. is she jealous?

"You're jealous?" He said almost whispering. It was not a question.

"Jealous of what!" She scowled.

"You're acting up right now because you saw me with another woman" He said his eyes directly on hers.

"You're delusional if you think this is because....mtswww" She hissed and looked away.

"I know how you're feeling right now Toyin. I've been there. I can't explain it but I experienced what you're probably going through right now the other day you came home with that BMW guy."

She wanted to accuse him of stalking her again but she decided to ignore him. If he gets tired, he will stop.

"Look I don't want you to hurt like I did that day so I'm going to clarify. She is just my friend and we just met like 2 weeks ago. She is a programmer too and we were on the same Team for the hackathon but we lost. She was the one who invited me to come hang out because we she wanted us to cheer up. She is NOT my girlfriend." He said seriously.

She paused the game and turned to him when he said that. She did not even know the hackathon thing had passed already and he lost on top. Her heart broke for him. He has been preparing for it for weeks now.

"I'm sorry" She whispered.

"Its fine. More opportunities will come" He shrugged and smiled hopefully but his eyes were sad.

She moved to his side of the couch, pulled him in in a hug "I am so sorry. I didn't know"

"Its fine, I'am fine" He hugged her back then pulled away and chuckled. "You know, I should be mad that you are getting in my business but I'm not even mad."

He looked her straight in the eye and smiled. "Because it shows that you at least feel something for me"

He said that triumphantly like it was the best thing that happened to him. She has been a complete bitch to him that night but he was looking at her like she was the only thing that mattered. If she were more open about her feelings like him that would be her reaction too when he said that girl was just his friend.

However, she was not open with her feelings. She was coward who lied, and acted as if she didn't give a shit about him. She realized in that moment that her strategy was dumb because suppressing her feelings only made things worse. When the cocktail of emotions, confusion and sexual tension scale through the walls they emerge with a strong momentum and this is probably why sometimes she spontaneously let down her guard when she is around him.... no control. Just like now. She likes him way more than her conscious mind even comprehends.

I should change my strategy. She thought to herself as she planted her lips on his warm soft lips.

lol my middle name is african time! Next update = Saturday & Sunday. Yeah, we are doing 3 chapters per week now 😎

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