...God why me!
Su Yan tried to convince himself on his ride home that Tale wasn't different from the woman be had falling in love with. She came from money too but she loved the power the Zhang family name brought to her. If Tale knew how much wealth he came from maybe she would change towards him.
Tale was easy to read. She was a girl who cared about the simple things of life, she rode a children's tricycle for heaven's sake without shame, he smiled when he recalled how happy she was on it. But she was caught in a corner and a job that didn't give her much joy and even while she spoke of happiness he wished she could listen to herself. She could turn something small into a beauty haven, judging from her apartment. It was home.
"You know I do not worry over you again."
Woo Jin said the moment he walked into their apartment.
"Good, we finally agree on something."
"You went to see her again didn't you?" an amused Woo Jin asked, he no longer recognizes the man that is his best friend.
"Yes I did, I had to." he said as he poured himself a drink, he felt particularly happy.
And there was no fighting the reason why.
"You do know you are going down an impossible path, right?"
"Nothing is impossible, nothing!"
"Is this just a fling or you want something serious with her, tell me the truth."
"We are just becoming friends. Time will tell." Su Yan replied as he downed the last of his drink and headed to his room.
The next day for Tale felt like Monday. She was behind her desk, her glasses seemed not to be protecting her eyes like it used to, and her computer was booted. Following her routine she set to do all she had to do. There was always leftover work to do. Her challenge of making numbers fall where they should started. She was only the junior accounts officer but how most of the work fell on her shoulders was something she couldn't question as she was sure she would be guilty for ever asking.
As an accountant one plus one always had to equal two, but as whom she wanted to be, she would take those ones and form an L which would stand for Life, Living, Love and all the things she longed for.
As she skimmed through a spreadsheet her phone beeped.
It was a text from Precious.
"I know you can't talk right now, but you can text, how was last night?
"Last night was fine, I had a good night sleep.
She had indeed had a good night sleep. Maybe that person was a good vibe after all.
"Don't play coy with me, what happened!"
"Nothing did precious, but we are definitely friends now, and it's going off to a good start." He had called her that morning to check in and she had appreciated it a lot.
"I want grandkids!"
"Of course you do, I have to go!"
With that she focused on the work for the day.
It has been more than a week since their friendship was defined and he liked it but with each passing day he itched to see her.
It was taking him a great deal of control not to drive to her house uninvited. So he did his best to get himself invited.
It was another Thursday and just another day in her life. She had just closed up her office and was greeting the cleaner who had just done her last round when her phone rang.
"Are you done with work for today?" Precious voice sounded through the phone
"Yes, Why?
"I'm close by, figured I could use the company."
"Sure, I'd be at the bus stop."
"See you in five."
"See you in ten."
They say we are lucky if we get one good friend in a life time. She felt lucky then but the mild burning pain below her breast bone wasn't helping her reel in that luck. Her ulcer was getting worse, she had skipped enough meals to last her a life time. During work days she barely had enough time to eat and for all the times she tried to cover up for not eating on the weekends wasn't doing her much justice. So she made a stop at a pharmacy to get the usual quick treatment for the pain.
"It took you fifteen minutes!" an exasperated Precious said with hands akimbo. She looked like the lecturer that she is, she wore a simple high waisted straight cut pink skirt and her off white colored top was neatly tucked into it
"I'm sorry; I had to get some files in order." Despite her life she hated for anyone to worry about her. She was going to be fine so there was no point piling on something not serious. The pain had gone down so it was going to be fine.
"So where are we going?"
"Your house, it's a best friend sleep over."
"You mean a stay over, coz last time you stayed for a week."
"And whose fault was that?" Precious replied giving her friend a gentle tap on the shoulders
They pulled up 30mins later in front of her house to see a tired looking boy at probably same age as her standing in front of her house.
He held a carton big enough to contain a normal sized pillow.
Once he noticed them coming his way.
He finally let loose.
"Miss, na since I don dey wait you" (1) he said facing Precious. She played along.
Eyebrows shut up.
"Wetin happen? (2) she asked
"Your boyfriend say make i sure say i give you this package for hand." (3) the boy replied gesturing to the box in his hand.
"Ah, my boyfriend?"
At this point Tale believed it was a joke until the boy continued.
"Ma, that your boyfriend na better person sha, if not i no for wait you, but he really don help my life today! and he com fine well well, him resemble one actor like that, the man too fine!" (4) the boy dropped the box as he got out a pad for her to sign that it was received.
Su Yan had paid generously for his order and had decided to give to the boy due to his service, an early Christmas gift. He had helped the boy pay out his store rent that was almost due and given a token to expand his business. It was a Christmas miracle.
Su Yan! He's sending gifts now!
Tale told herself she was dreaming.
Slowly read the pigin language! ??
Translations*
1) Miss, I've been waiting for you for so long
2) What happened?
3) Your boyfriend insisted i have this packages delivered to you personally.
4) Miss, your boyfriend is a good human being, if not i wouldn't have been patiently waiting for you, he has really helped my life. And he is very very handsome.
XO, Tale.