Hey, Stranger?

It was the best moment Nkechi felt in so many years when she turned around and realised it was him. She quickly rushed toward him and hugged him, unconcerned about the bicycle he was on.

He too, feeling excited, held her tightly like he'd been waiting for her all his life. They both felt strongly for each other, considering they've only met and seen once. It was love at first sight after all and they knew in their hearts that they were both meant for each other.

"Hey, stranger? I thought I'd never see you again," said Nkechi.

"I thought the same too, but I always looked forward to seeing you each time I leave my house," he responded.

"By the way, why were you by the pool, do you have plans of jumping in and hoping I'd rescue you like the other day?" he continued and smirked.

Nkechi punched him on the shoulder and they both laughed.

"You are always with your bicycle. Are you practising for something or do you just ride for fun?" he asked.

"I am preparing for a cycling competition coming up in two days. The qualification stage" replied Nkechi.

"Talking about bicycles, I went to get a proper bicycle today and it costs so much," she continued.

"Yes, sports bicycles are a lot more expensive now," he replied.

"Will this be the first competition you'd be participating in?" he asked.

"Yes, this will be my first," she responded.

"Can I ask you something?" asked Nkechi.

"Yeah, sure. What's it?"

"Did you mean all those things you wrote about me? The way you felt the first day you saw me?"

He looked at her without saying a word, unsure of how she knew the things he wrote about her or maybe she was just trying to make a guess.

"Are you the CEO of Bicycle Palace?" she asked again.

He said nothing still, amazed at how she knew things about him in a short time. He managed to let out a smile.

"I take it that the smile means yes," she continued.

She walked toward the pool to get her bicycle and walked back to meet him. She suggested they take a ride around the neighbourhood while she told him how she knew so much in a short time.

Nkechi didn't waste so much time with long stories, she summarised them because she knew he'd break his silence soon and say lots of things to her.

"I went out with some friends to get a new bicycle at the Bicycle Palace, while we were at it, my friend made her way into this office and came across the note I referred to earlier. And it was no coincidence that what you described in that note was what I told her too, so she rushed to call me to take a look.

By the time we were back, the office was locked and the manager said the office belongs to the CEO. That's why I asked all those questions."

"Yes, I am the CEO. I've only been the CEO for two days now, I was recently appointed."

"Sadly, the last CEO passed away a few weeks ago and from the board, I was unanimously appointed acting CEO for now until they find a permanent one," he explained.

"Wow, that's a lot. How has it been as the acting CEO?" asked Nkechi.

"It's no big deal. Anyway, no one knows I'm the CEO yet, just those in the company know, my family has no idea, I haven't told them yet. I think before the end of the month, the owner of the company would appoint a new and permanent CEO, while I focus fully on things to do."

"Your family? Are you married?" asked Nkechi, looking despondent.

"Oh, no. I meant my parents and siblings. I am not married," he giggled.

Nkechi's mood came to life again as she heard she wasn't married. They made a stop somewhere at the edge of a tree, away from the sun, parked the bicycle and sat down at the edge of the tree and continued to chit chat.

"Have you fixed your phone," asked Nkechi.

"Your friend told you every bit of that note, didn't she?" he said and they both laughed.

"I fixed the phone today though," he continued and brought the phone out of his pocket and showed it to her.

"What bicycle do intend to use for the competition? Is it this one I'm looking at?" he teased.

"Bicycles are expensive and I don't know where to get the money from for a proper one. And I think the time has run out, I'd just use what I have currently."

She turned to him and he seemed not to be paying attention, he focused on his phone, tapping on the keyboard.

"Did you hear what I said?" asked Nkechi.

"Yes, I did. Sorry, I had to do something with the phone."

"This particular bicycle you have won't ride fast enough if you need to qualify for the next round," he continued, still focused on his phone.

He was done with what he was doing with the phone, he rose his head up, looked at her and smiled.

"I guess you are the very busy type," she said.

"Not at all. I have a very flexible work plan," he responded, still smiling.

His gaze didn't drop after that, he kept on looking at her and smiling.

"You are very beautiful, the most beautiful person my eyes have seen. I couldn't stop playing your voice in my head over and over again after the first day. I never believed I'd ever feel this way, seeing someone for the first time but here I am, with that feeling and happily expressing them," he continued to tell Nkechi all he had felt after the first day.

Nkechi's face nearly turned red from blushing because of his compliments. He adjusted slightly and held her hands and both their eyes locked, as though they were kissing.

As they leaned closer to each other, an ash-coloured van stopped at their front. On the van was written 'The Bicycle Palace' in black and navy blue colour.

He stood up and helped Nkechi stand up too.

The driver came down and walked up to him and greeted and all three walked back to the van. The driver opened the boot of the van and brought out a sports bicycle and handed it to him, took his boss's bicycle and put it in the boot.

Nkechi stood frozen while all the exchange was going on, she wanted to see how it'd all end. He turned to her and handed the new bicycle to her and it turned out to be the same bicycle she was offered at the Bicycle Palace earlier in the day.

She gave him a warm but tight hug with her eyes almost teary and full of gratitude.

"I am sure you'd qualify for the next round with this bicycle," he said, as he hugged back.

"I have to leave now, I have to meet up with other things," he continued.

Feelings of sadness overcame her as she heard that and her hug tightened because she wasn't sure of the next time they'd meet. As she thought of that, she realised she hasn't asked for his name and he also hasn't asked for hers.

"I am Nkechi, what's your name?"

"The next time we meet, I'll tell you my name. And nice to meet you again, Nkechi."

He leaned forward and kissed her on her forehead and walked to the van, waving his goodbyes as he entered the van.