I am in love with you Kola

I worked in a bakery, where they made different types of bread and some snacks. I specialized in making the meat pies and strawberry bread, with real strawberries inside. We also made ice-cream to go with it, with cake batter and sweet cream being my favorite. It was a friendly work environment and a busy one. So I soon forgot all about Kola and immersed myself in my work.

It was on my way home that thoughts of Kola came to my mind again. It had been like this for the past two years since we last saw each other. Kola was my best friend when we were little. We had gone to the same school and lived in the same street till he moved away right after I started highschool.

He had gotten admission to the University of Ibadan, so in case you haven't figured it out by now, he was three years older but the age made little difference. He treated me with respect as he always said I was mature for my age. Back then, I hadn't even cried when he left because he had promised he would come back for good after his graduation.

So every day, I counted the days till he would come back. At school I stayed away from boys completely even though a few guys tried to be friends with me. In my SS3, a new guy came to my school and for the first time, I was talking to him. The other guys perhaps out of jealousy began to tease him. He began to avoid me and I took the hint. The friendship ended.

I was fortunate to gain admission into the University of Lagos to study Food science which was my course of choice. I had taken a liking to cooking and all things food by that time.

During my university days, I had stayed close to my books. I hardly had any time to go out as I went to school from home everyday. I had had more guy friends then but no special one. They were more of acquaintances than friends. I had also gotten a girl best friend who knew all about my feelings for Kola.

Whenever she tried to introduce me to one guy or another, I always politely refused, telling her that my heart belongs to someone else. She sometimes teased me about it and would ask me when she would get to meet him and I always assured her someday soon.

By the time I was in my final year, Kola had finished serving and had been retained by the electrical company he had worked for during his service year. And it wasn't just because he had graduated with a first class from the faculty of engineering. Ever since we were kids, he had always had a knack for repairing anything electrical. I knew he would go places.

Just before he started the job, he had come home and we had talked. He was much taller now, a little over six feet. He looked more attractive to me even though to others, he was probably just an okay-looking guy. I particularly liked his full eyebrows, dark skin and his clean-shaveness.*

But it was more than just looks. I liked the way he spoke, liked his Yoruba accent. It made me feel like I was home even though I was an Igbo girl. I was lagos born and bred so Yoruba land was home for me.

He was also very easygoing and I was reserved, so he could bring out my playful side. And seeing him again was a dream. I woke up when he told me he would be going back and fought back tears when he said he didn't know how long it would be till we meet again. I wished him the best.

Once in a while we would chat and then go back to our lives. During my service year, I took professional cooking classes while I served at an eatery. Both were in Lagos. And I was fortunate again this time to get a job in a bakery around the area I lived in.

Ever since the last time we saw, not a day went by that I didn't think of him. But it seemed that recently, the eagerness to just be in the same place as him, increased.

Finally, Sunday came. In the afternoon, I rang him. "Fingers Delight. 20 minutes. You have five minutes extra, so be fast oh. Don't check your wallet, I'm paying. "

I was ready to step out when I called him so I quickly did some touch-ups on my light make-up and walked out in a light blue sundress. I wasn't a fan of high heels so I put on my strapped sandals.

Then I took out my purse with my phone, some cash and my ATM card and took a bike to the restaurant which was fifteen minutes away.

I got there right on time and found a seat. Two minutes later he walked in. He had added weight as I could see but he still looked as tall, dark and good looking as I last saw him.

Though it wasn't the first time we were reunited, it seemed so. It was a little awkward as he didn't seem to know whether to go for a handshake or a hug. We looked at each other nervously for a moment or two before he said come give me a hug jare*. My alarm bells rang in my head, but I hugged him anyway. It felt like I belonged there. And I didn't want to leave. But I forced myself to pull away first and sat down.

"I've missed you alot Adaora."

" Same here " I smiled.

"Wait, let me…" He reached forward and tried to pop a pimple just above my eyebrows. This guy is something else. As he drew closer, I noticed something and stopped short.

"What?" he asked.

"Your...eyes… "

"Yea, what about it?"

"It has a shade of brown to it."

"Oh. I had a bit of short-sightedness so I got contacts."

"I warned you. I always told you not to go too close to the TV back then but you wouldn't listen. Now see what has happened. "

"Actually, that does nothing to the eyes. If anything it's a sign that something is amiss in the first place."

"Mr lawyer you should have studied law now."

"Mrs health expert, why didn't you just become a doctor."

I fake-glared at him and he mirrored my

expression. We both burst out laughing at the same time.

Then he said, "You know, there is something I didn't notice you had all along though. You have a bit of a dimple. You don't see it at first but when you smile widely it shows."

"Really? I didn't know that. "

"Who are you pretending for? You know jor*."

"This guy you can cast somebody sha*."

"That's what friends are for," he smiled.

His words brought mixed feelings. I was happy he still considered us friends. At the same time, I wanted it to be more than that. At my sudden quietness, his face showed concern and he said "You haven't told me what was bothering you so much that you had to ask me here. Here, being for big emergencies and all." I still didn't say anything. "If you didn't look so lovely, I would have said you look worried. Tell me, what is it?"

Kola I don't usually do this. I don't ask guys out and tell them my treat, but I asked you because you are special to me. Kola I want to ask you a question. Listen carefully and think about it very well because I won't ask you again after today. Kola, do you have a girl-friend? "

"Why, ye..oh no. don't tell me you... Do you? After all these years? How is that even possible?"

"Kola is it a yes or a no. I am finding it hard to understand you."

"Hmmm... it's a yes Adaora. "

"I was crushed. And I couldn't hide it. "Ok, good," I managed to say. "Stay with her. Forget I said anything."

"Adaora. Why didn't you tell me all these while? If I had known you liked me… "

"Point of correction, love. I am in love with you Kola. Ever since we were little. I just didn't know it then. But I do now. Well, I guess it's too late. "

"What if I had said I didn't have a girlfriend, what would you have said? "

"I would have asked to get to know the new you. The you that formed after all these years. And I would add it to the old you and see if I would love you even more. "

"Adaora you know I love you don't you? You're like the sister I never had. And someday, you would find someone that is better than me who truly deserves you."

"But it's you I want Kola. I don't want someone better. I don't know if I can ever love anyone the way I love you," I cried inside. But outside I smiled and said " You're right. I shouldn't have said anything. But I needed to. For closure. "

Then I asked, "So when can I meet this girlfriend of yours?"

"That's part of why I am in Lagos. We met online a few years ago and that Wednesday we saw, I was going to meet with her for the first time. "

"And? Did she meet up to expectations? "

"Yes. everything and more. "

"So when are you seeing her again? "

"Later today. "

"Ok, call me when you're with her and I'll meet you guys up".

"Hope you won't strangle her or something when you see her. "

"Come on, get over yourself jare. Like I would kill for you."

"I would for you. Anybody that look for your trouble just call me and I will be there."

"Oga 911*. You try. "

"Oya take this one hold body till then." I passed him one of my famous meat pies. He took a bite and his face was expressionless. "Well?" I prompted.

*Oga 911 - Playful term used to mean chief of police.

"Tasteless."

"Really? "

"I'm kidding. It's delicious. "

I playfully hit him on his arm.

"But didn't you taste it while making it?" he asked.

"Nope. Don't need to. I don pass that level.* As long as I put the right measurements I know it will be sweet."

"Be like say you never see when dem mix plenty baking powder with flour and you no know.* Try to taste your mixture before baking biko."

"Ok I will do so Mr adviser."

'Advisee, I want to come and be going. I go chow* the rest for house. "

"Ah ah, are you not going to order something to take with you?"

He stood up. "Dont worry. I don't need another one when your own is there."

I escorted him to his car. And went back inside to order a sumptuous meal. Abeg*, I can't come to Fingers Delight and not buy their peppered turkey. Delicioso.*

But after the meal, I felt down. So as soon as I got home, I slept off. When I woke up, my phone was ringing with Kola as the ID. "Hey I'm at the door," Kola said. I had been too weak to do anything, much less change my outfit, so I went straight to the door. And what I saw drained whatever power was left in me.

Expressions explained:

* cleanshaveness: being without a beard

*jare- Yoruba word which means please.

* jor - Yoruba word for please

*cast somebody - Nigerian slang which means to expose a person

*sha- used to stress a point.

*Oga 911 - Playful term used to mean chief of police.

*I don pass that level - Nigerian Pidgin for: I am bigger than that.

* Be like say you never see when dem mix flour with baking powder and you no know - Nigerian Pidgin for: It seems like you haven't seen when they mix baking powder with flour and you don't know.

*biko- Igbo word for please.

*chow - slang which means eat.

*Abeg -Nigerian pidgin word for please.

*Delicioso- Spanish word for delicious.