Must Read: As Deep As The Sea

Episode 7 years ago

Must Read: As Deep As The Sea

“Fine, thanks.”
“Promise meet my friend, Charles Oduro.”
She shook hands with the dark but broad shouldered man standing beside her colleague.
“Hi, it is nice meeting you.”
“The pleasure is mine,” she smiled back at him.
“Here comes the landlord.”
She followed Boma’s gaze and gapped in astonishment when she saw Gbenga Lewis.



A conversation she had, had with him about renting out his boys’ quarters flashed through her mind. He had been putting it off for a while. She was glad her advice was not discarded.
“Promise how are you doing?”
She nodded and kept staring at him. He looked so good in his blue jeans trouser and black tee-shirt.
“Do you both know each other?” Boma asked. He was surprised that Charles’ landlord knew her.
“Yes,” they choroused.




Oyetunde narrowed his eyes and sq££zed his lips, pondering over who Gbenga was to Promise.
“Promise and I dated for a while and broke up recently. Are you guys ready for lunch or not?” He headed straight for the elevator.


Oyetunde could hardly believe his ears. Promise was single at the moment. That was pure goodnews. He needed to strategize how he would sweep her off her feet and make her his.
“See you on Monday,” he winked at her and followed Gbenga.
“It was nice meeting you,” Charles bid her goodbye and joined the crowd in the elevator.



Boma noticed the angry look in her eyes.
“Are you okay?”
Her frown deepened, “We didn’t just date for a while, we were planning to get married!”
It became obvious to him that her ex-boyfriend’s comment had angered her.
“I think he was just trying to make light of the situation.”
She glared at him. On whose side was he anyway? She eyed him, turned around and blended into the crowd.
“Promise… ”
Promise strode into Mega Plaza. The grin on her face turned into a frown when she saw the crowd of people in the large building. She doesn’t like been in the crowd for too long.



People tend to pull and push at their own leisure without caring about the next person.




She should have known the place would be populated during the weekends. She wouldn’t have been able to make it during the week days because of her time consuming job and she had been procastinating the errand for two weeks.



Her father was losing his patience and if she had not made the journey that day, he might have gotten angry.


She took the elevator and alighted on the second floor. She located the phone accessories store on the business card her father had given her three weeks ago and asked for the store owner. She was led into an office at the back of the store.


Fifteen minutes later, she walked out of the store with a sealed large brown envelop. While waiting for the elevator to open, someone tapped her on the shoulder. She turned around and came face to face with Boma Etuk.
“Hello,” he grinned.



They had been working together for less than a month and the opportunity he needed to really get to know her was scarce. It was as if she built a wall between them a purpose.
“Hi… ” Her surprised gaze met his pleased ones, “What are you doing here?”
“Definitely not window shopping.”
Laughter bubbled from within her. She placed the envelop under her shoulder.
“I didn’t know you stay on the Island.”
“I don’t,” he shook his head.



The elevator opened and some people came out. Boma and Promise stepped aside.
“I stay in Dolphin Estate with a friend during the week. I go home during the weekends. I live in Ilupeju.”



She folded her arms across her chest.
“Today is Saturday, what are you doing on the Island?”
“My friend convinced me to stay behind this weekend so that we can use our expertise to help his landlord to purchase a brand new flat screen T.V.”
“Interesting.”
“We met Oyetunde here too. He spotted you when you walked out of that store,” he pointed at the phone accessories store.
“Oyetunde?” Her puzzled gaze met his smiling ones.
“He lives in the building behind this plaza. I guess he frequent this plaza often.”
“Really?”
“Yes. So, what are you doing here?”
She glanced at the envelop she held under her shoulder.
“I came to pick up a package for my dad.”
“Oh, okay.”
“So, catch you in the office on Monday,” she turned to leave.
“Wait, why don’t you join us for lunch?”
She bit at her lower lip. She doubted if she was ready to socialize that afternoon.



Oyetunde and a guy about his height approached them.
“Promise how are you doing?” He smiled, revealing a set of white teeth.
She ignored him and headed for the stairway.
‘Make light of the situation indeed. What situation?!’ These thoughts ran through her mind.
Boma caught up with her.
“Promise please wait.”
“Stop following me,” she climbed down the staircase.
“Promise… ” He followed.
“Stop calling me and go and meet your friends.”
“I will catch up with them later.”
She hastened her steps and found her way out of the plaza. She hurried towards her car which was parked close to the gates, but, Boma caught up with her before she could climb in.
“What’s your problem? Why are you following me?” She lashed out at him.
The hurt in her eyes saddened him. She looked like she was about to cry. The break-up must have ended badly. He wished he could hug her and sooth all her pains away.
“I am here as a friend,” he raised his hands, “I come in peace.”
“I don’t need your friendship. Leave me alone!” She got into the car, started it and backed out of the compound. The security man at the gate waved at her, hoping to get a tip, but she barely noticed him. She drove out and nosed into the road.



Boma located his car, got in and followed her. He needed to make sure she was safe. He didn’t think it was wise to drive in her fragile state of mind.


**********