Chapter 11: Forever moment of awkwardness.
THE SPECTATORS LOOKED like they adhered to a dressing code, as they majorly took to only two colours of jersey and majorly divided the stadium according to their dressing code. Fascinated like every other person in the stadium, he watched his team play against the other, the light from the television screen brightly shining through the sitting room. Right in front of him, on the table, was his phone, an album of a tile collection, a pack of fruit juice, a half filled glass, and an empty one. On the couch, by the hand rest, laid a partly eaten carton of family sized pizza.
Engrossed in the game, he paid no attention to his phone, which buzzed continuously with notifications on the table. Iyke emerged from the room half-dressed, hanging the top of the striped pyjamas he was wearing on his shoulder. He held his phone by his right hand, in an angle that allowed the phone's camera to cover his face down to the abs.
"I can't lie to you nah, my love," Iyke confessed passionately, with his deep baritone.
"You know I trust you. It's Clint I . . . ," Clint gave out a loud shout as a player missed a kick.
"What's that noise?" The caller asked.
"It's Clint. His team is playing tonight," he turned the camera to the direction of Clint and the television.
"Hey, Clint, Anna. It's Anna." Iyke handed the phone over to Clint and took a slice of the pizza from the box. He shoved it into his mouth, cutting a large chunk of it. His mouth swelled from the content.
"Xup, babe, what's good?" Clint asked Anna in an elated mood.
"Awesome. My goodness, it's all fun here," she replied happily.
"I can see that," he said.
"What's going on over there?"
"The town is as good as you left it, except for some entities," he replied
Iyke unsuccessfully tried to snatch the phone from Clint, "Oga, gimme ma phone. I know say you wan talk rubbish now."
"I knew it. What have you guys been up to?"
"You knew what?" Iyke queried her from behind Clint, laughing.
"You need not worry. I be responsible gent. I got your back. He won't do anything silly when I'm around," Clint assured Anna.
"No be only. Nwoke m, give me ma phone?" Iyke said, his mouth filled with pizza.
"Whatever you guys are up to, it better not be nasty," Anna said, "because, I'm going to get really . . ."
"Aar....h!" His team missed a goal.
They cracked up with laughter. Iyke took the phone from Clint and sat beside him. "Pass me the pizza," Iyke asked. He took one slice and passed the rest across to Iyke.
The match ended with an equalizing score and an unhappy Clint. He picked his phone, the next handy object of attention. He had messages including a WhatsApp message from Tina. As usual he had sent her evening greetings which normally started their usual evening chitchat. On lucky days, they would have a topic to discuss, like most of the days, but if not, they exchanged greetings and went their separate ways.
He clicked on her message.
Tina: Normal day at work, nothing more
Yours?
Clint: Good
Didn't get to do much work today
And it's weekend
Spent my day on a light mood
Tina: Enjoy
Clint: How's your weekend gonna be?
Tina: Work-books-movies-work
Have lots of works to do
Clint: Can I be of help?
Tina: Spare me that line
You know you can't do anything
Clint: C'mon I'm just trying to be a caring friend
Tina: Thanks Bro
Except you are a magician, there's nothing you can do
Clint: Have I ever mentioned to you about my magical abilities?
Tina: Merlin or Legend of the Seeker, which one are you?
Clint: Albus Dumbledore's unknown grandson
"Guy, who are you chatting with like this?" Iyke called the attention of Clint, who was engulfed in his chat. He was too engrossed; he didn't hear him calling from the refrigerator to gist him.
"Nobody!" Clint answered, almost screaming, now facing Iyke who finally got his attention.
His phone vibrated again.
Tina: Smh!
Tell me more
Clint: Classified information
Not for muggles
He replied to her, while humming to Iyke's gist.
Tina: Lols [Laughing emoji with tears]
I need to go now
Got some works to do
Good night
Clint: Sleep tight
He attended to other messages, analysed and argued the match with Iyke afterwards.
Hours into the night, while watching a replay with Iyke, Clint discovered that Tina was still online.
Clint: Still awake?
He messaged her.
Tina: Yeah
Clint: Still working?
Tina: Not really
Watching videos
Clint: Ok
Tina: There is something I have been meaning to ask you
Clint: What's that?
Tina: Never mind
Clint: Go on
Say it
Tina: It's not important
Clint: I insist
Tina: Just forget I said that
Clint: You sound distant these days
Is anything wrong?
Tina: No
Clint: You know you can tell me.
What's the problem?
Tina: Stop it
Clint: If you say so
Tina: Fine,
I have been meaning to ask you
Clint: Go on
Tina: Do you have plans for us?
Clint re-read the message to confirm he wasn't getting the message wrong. He lowered his hands and rested his back against the couch in an attempt to assimilate the message. Iyke's prophecy came to pass a little too quickly. The last thing he expected was this quick manifestation of prophecies.
Clint highlighted the message.
Clint: I don't get
Tina: Why are you sticking around?
His thoughts ran from the day he first met her to the recent conversation he had with Iyke at the bar. He failed to define his interest in her like he earlier promised. He led her on. He felt guilty.
His reply to her question was as simple as no. He could deal with whatever he had for her, but he knew very well that it wouldn't go down well with her. How was he going to reply to her without making her feel bad?
He turned to Iyke. He was pressing his phone. He couldn't bring himself to tell him about it. It happened too quickly. He stood up and left for his room.
He lay on his mattress and opened the message again.
Clint: I'm sorry, I don't…
He typed and deleted, after deliberations.
Clint: I don't know how this makes you feel, but I don't.
I'm sorry.
He cleared it again.
After several minutes of deliberations, he opted for the second option. He clicked on the send button and waited for a response. She was no longer online, but he waited for a response.
Clint: Are you there?
He typed but decided against sending it. He cleared it.
Tina: There is nothing to be sorry about
Tina replied, after what looked like forever moments of awkwardness, if there was such a thing on the Instant Messaging app. He tried to read her emotion and picture the disappointment on her face after she read the message through her response but failed. He thought about apologizing but decided against it. It was better to end the conversation in the manner it already was.