AMADI

"Hey, wait please." Suprisingly, I hear myself call after her.

"Yeah?" She asks me, eyebrows raised in questioning. Damn, this her attitude!

"Are you headed anywhere after now?" I ask when she finally turns to look at me.

"Not really. Why?" Yeah. Why, really? To be pretty candid, I have no idea. So, I blurt out the first thing that comes to my mind.

"Can we hang out?" I ask her. To my greatest surprise, she nods her head in agreement.

"But how do we do this now, seeing as we both drove here?" She asks. Yeah, good question!

"We could go in our separate cars and meet there. Do you know Argungu?"

"Where's that? If it's not the fishing festival, then No." She asks with a small smile. I let out a laugh. This woman just cracked me up big time.

"Arr you kidding me? Wait, tell me you're joking. You don't know where Argungu is?" That's like one very popular place here due to the fact that it is situated by the Jabi Lake Waterfront at the mall itself.

"No, I don't. I am new here." She says, leaning more to her car to rest her back. Oh, that explains it.

"New job?" I ask, a bit curious.

"Not really, but something like that." Hmmm. Interesting.

"Alright. It's a seafood restaurant, though. Do you mind?" I ask her.

"Nahh. It's okay. As long as I'm not eating periwinkles, I hate those." She squint her nose and shrugs off with a wave of her hand. Something I find very cute. I just smile, watching her talk.

"You could drive behind me, then. If you don't mind, we'll go pick up Kaima at my mom's afterwards before heading to the estate."

"Okay." I take a side glance at her as she gets into the car, and move to mine after.

Today, we discussed about Nigeria and the economy. She's really smart and I'm impressed. The therapy classes are not for sad talks. Nahh, there are the doctors for that purpose. The classes are mainly for the purpose of discussions and fun activities. On some days, we play games, watch movies, etc. We share personal encounters too but that's not the main aim.

To be candid, it was quite surprising to see her here. She never pegged me as someone who required therapy. So seeing here in the class where I volunteer as an instructor actually threw me off guard.

Looking through my side mirror, my gaze comes in contact with hers and I give her a slight nod before I start the car and lead the way.

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SHALEWA

Honestly, I am a little glad that I'm finally going somewhere different today.

We arrive at the place and the first thing I notice is how cozy the place is. Not too big but looks comfortable.

Once we get inside and are settled, I go for the simplest thing I see.

....thirty minutes into our discussion...

"....and that was why we decided to pull a prank on her." I kept laughing, so hard.

"Mrs. Edet was a definition of wicked back in the days." He lets out a loud laugh. I still can't believe we attended the same secondary school. He was my senior by far, though. I didn't even meet him. The next year after he graduated was when I started JSS1.

"Class of 2004, eh." He teases, shaking his head.

"Wahala for who finish secondary school that year o. Puh-lease!" I say, rolling my eyes in a playful manner.

"But seriously. I can't imagine finishing secondary school in the 2000s." I sneer at him, stopping to clap my hands and fold them in astonishment.

"You talk as though it's just last year I finished secondary school, Mr. Man."

"Ehn. It seems like last year nau."

"Get out. It's just 6 years difference between your time and mine. Duhh."

"Just 6 years, you say?"

"Ehen?" I ask, shrugging. He just looks at me at shakes his head before placing the smoked fish piece in his mouth.

"It's only you that thinks that way."

"Yen yen yen." I mock, laughing.

"Time that I used to finish University and even serve. Just six years, indeed." See this man laughing at my expense. Smh. Such a gentleman. Sarcasm duly noted.

"But this food has pepper o." I apply air into my mouth by constantly breathing in and out, before downing some water.

"But you're Yoruba nau." He shrugs, chuckling.

"So, because I'm Yoruba, it now means I must like pepper?" I ask him.

"Yes nau."

"Ste-reo-type." I shoot back, pointing the fork at him for every syllable of the word.

"See. Let's be factual here. 90% of the time, it happens. So, you won't actually blame me."

"Yeah, true." I nod my head in agreement.

"So you see, it is not my fault."

"Truthfully, I used to also be a pepper person, until I had ulcer. I had to reduce it." His eyes widen at my declaration.

"Wow. I'm really sorry. I could run around and get you milk." He's already standing up.

"Stop being dramatic, Amadi. I can handle this one. I'll just take Gestid once I get home to prevent the attack."

"Alright. And I was the one who told them to add enough pepper while making the order. Sorry about that." He apologizes again.

"I've told you it's okay. Ehn? Inugo (you hear)? I don't know if I pronounced the Igbo well sha. Please don't laugh."

"You did." He smiles and speaks again.

"So, I'm really sorry about that other day with Nnenna. She's a hand full."

"Speaking of your wife, I am actually her boss. Just found out on Monday."

"Soon-to-be ex-wife, please." He quickly corrects.

"Ohhh." I don't know what to say.

"Yeah. We are going through the divorce process." He says.

"Wow. Okay."

"So, you're saying you took over the hotel from your dad's care and your dad is the owner of our estate?"

"Err..Yes." I laugh. This is the second time he's asking.

"How do you Yoruba people call it? Omo baba olowo (Child of a rich man). Am I right?" He asks.

"I'm just Shalewa, please."

"So, how are you not married? Just curious." He asks and I feel a slight pain in my chest.

"Actually, I used to be married." I answer, shortly.

"Divorced too?" He asks.

"Nahh. He died, actually. Not even up to a year after our wedding." Surprisingly, saying it didn't seem as hurtful as before, even though it hurts still.

"Sorry about that, Shalewa." I didn't see pity in his eyes like most people usually do when I tell them of the fact that my husband is late.

After that, we finish our food in silence and leave.

"Let's go pick up Kaima from my mom's, then we'll head back to the estate, seeing as I'm the google map today." He laughs and I give him a slight punch on his shoulders.

"Get out, joor. Oya, let's go." Well, this outing has been fun so far.

Why did I feel relief when he told me about his separation from that Nnenna of a woman? I shake the feeling off my head and get into my car, driving behind him.