As i got to my hotel room after a terrible day at work, i fell on my bed, buried my head in my pillow and started sobbing uncontrolably. Ibukun entered the room and met me crying, almost wailing. She tried to pull me up, it was very difficult. Finally, she managed to do so, my eyes were swollen and red. my mouth was trembling. i was in pain. i was afraid.
Ibukun- What is it? eh? why are u crying?
YNV- Its Y( i said inbetween sobs)
Ibukun - What happened to him?
YNV- He just has a week to spend in Ghana. He has been transferred to Ivory Coast.
She slumped on the bed and kept starring at the ceiling. Ibukun understood how much i loved Y and how happy he made me feel at all times. After like what seemed like 50 seconds, she held me up and started consoling me, telling me not to worry at all since cars and planes were invented for travels. Her care helped a lot, but throughout the night, i didn't shut an eye.
The next day at the office, as i got to the hallway, i sighted Y standing and talking with some of our colleagues. When i got closer, he grabbed my hands and asked how i was. i didn't answer him. He then told me that a party was being organised for him on Friday night coz he was to leave on saturday morning. I told him i thought it was a good idea. then he invited me specially though everyone was meant to attend. I told him i didn't know my way to his hotel. He promised to come pick me that night.
i felt special...wow, the celebrant will leave his party to go pick a princess...lol. Anyway, the week ran fast in my eyes. atimes we had lunch, atimes we smiled at each other, we didn't say much, but right inside of me, i was dying. i was praying that the MD will change his mind and transfer someone else but nothing happened. On thursday morning at work, Y was just waiting for me near my office. When he saw me he smiled, i smiled back and stopped
Y- How have u been beautiful?
YNV- so so.
Y- I was wondering if you will like to spend the evening with me. I'm packing my things though they are not much and it would be nice to have you around.
YNV- Like i said, i don't know how to get to your hotel
Y- Oh i will direct you to the place ok. its not difficult. I have my handover notes to finish up. See you later beauty
He walked away and i went into my office. Honestly, it was not easy watching him and knowing it was like 2 days left. hmmmmmmm, it was tough.
After work on thursday, i headed to Y's hotel. i found him in there playing some music and doing some packing. I liked one of his african prints and he promised to buy one for me. there and then, we planned that i would be coming to Ivory Coast for sight seeing. We also agreed that i would not be staying with him but with Anne marie, another staff of ours that came around for a retreat. She was working at the office in Ivory Coast and we became friends when she came around in Ghana.
before i left that thursday, Y gave me a very tight hug. that was my first time of actually hugging a guy very tight. and when he left me, he ran into the bathroom. I was standing there, i had tears in my eyes and i was trying to control them so that they don't stream down my cheeks. i ran to the bathroom to check what was wrong with him, i found out he was crying. there and then, i carried my handbag and took off.
the next day in the office, we didn't say a word to each other. i was actually getting angry. the naive spirit in me reasoned that if Y loved me enough, he would stay back...lol. before he left, he came by my office and told me he would be coming to my room at 6 pm to pick me up for the party. i nodded. i didn't eat anything that afternoon. i couldn't concentrate. Ibukun kept assuring me that all was well.
At 6pm, i was already dressed and Y knocked at my door. i opened the door and saw his tall frame standing. he hugged me again and asked me right inside my ears if i was ready. i said i was. We left and ibukun promsied to get there a bit later. When we got to the lobby of the hotel, everyone was there, dancing and eating. after a while, people danced in circles. Y never left my sight. he just stood with me and we danced african music together. He served my food and we had real fun. The fun couldn't really digest coz i was thinking of tommorrow. The fun in my mind was not real. The reality for me was that Y, the first man i have ever had the freedom and willingness to love was leaving me and i wasn't sure when i was going to set my eyes on him again. it was getting late, people were still in there drinking dancing and getting drunk, Y asked me to follow him for a walk.
We walked around the boulevard. It was romantic and quiet. He held me and i placed my head on his shoulders as we walked. He kept saying random things like how God brings people together and how mysterious life was. All these he said with an accent. It was romantic trust me. We were actually walking to my own hotel coz it was close by. As we got to the side walk, he asked for a kiss, i said i didn't want him to kiss me coz i wasn't sure if i was going to see him and i didn't want to remember that. So he kissed my forehead very softly and told me i was beautiful. He promised me he was going to come to Ghana before i leave for Nigeria and i held on to that.
He walked me to the door of my room. Ibunkun saw us for she was just by the corrido. She told Y that he shouldn't worry for whatever will be will be. He told me to take care. I promised him that i would come to the bus terminal on saturday morning to bid him farewell. He then walked away with a smile on his face.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
7 days to go!
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
dancing in circles
Every mornng as i got ready to work, my heart will keep beating. the beats were so constant and it increased at the sight of Y at the office. Going to work became a thing of joy. i started getting very excited coz i knew i would always see him. Some days, i don't get to see him at all. i would miss him terribly. i get consoled by seeing his figure in a far distance, maybe whenever he was entering the staff bus. the truth be told, it was enough for me.
i told Ibunkun that i had fallen in love with Y. She was shocked coz i had told her about O and how much he cared about me. I explained to her that my feelings for Y were very very unusual. i always longed for him and whenever he spoke, butterflies ran through my entire tommy.
Y always dressed casually. he was always looking simple. His voice was my weakest point. i loved it. Ibukun told me i should take things easy with Y. i sent an email to my favorite girl back in Nigeria telling her about Y and how much i preferred him to O, she was just ok with it. Hmmm i wondered. Ibukun later told me that i shouldn't consider having anything to do with Y since he wasn't a Nigerian. She also reminded me that our stay in Ghana was just for a while in addition to the fact that i may not visit again neither will i have the time coz i had to go back to school. i waved all she told me by my side and kept loving every minute of my time at work. as time went on, i stared thinking less of O. wow, i felt justified by my actions. i was like afterall i always have a right to express my feelings.
One morning, we had a briefing in the meeting room and Y was sitting right behind me. people made comments but he didn't say a word. he kept listening and folding a piece of paper he was holding just to pass time. he wrote down some points as the briefing went on and as our General Manager spoke. Ask me again and again how i knew what he was doing? i kept turning to look at him. the other time our eyes met, he smiled at me.
***********************************************************************************
It was Friday night and atimes we had a little get together were we eat, drink , mix up and dance in circles. Y danced with me that night. it was an ivorian dance so he was teaching me the steps. wow, it felt good. that was how we got talking. it was like boom!!! we got along quite well. he told me about his studies, his country and his family. apparently, he was in his final year in the university. he came to do his attachement just like me. i told him i would like to visit the country since it was very close to Ghana, he encouraged me to plan it. that was how we became friends, we ate lunch together. my job was not affected, i was still at the top of my game.
i felt a bit bad about O. i told myself i will let him know when i return that i don't want to date him anymore. i felt better with Y. he was romantic. very romantic.
One morning, as i came to work, i met Y at the hallway and he told me he has been transferred. He has been asked to return to Ivory Coast. i almost sank into the ground. it was like my world was crashing. i looked him closely without saying a word. he starred at me too and didn't say anything too. our minds spoke to each other. it was one of the most painful news i have ever recieved in my entire life. That night, i did not sleep. Y had just a week left in Ghana.
i told Ibunkun that i had fallen in love with Y. She was shocked coz i had told her about O and how much he cared about me. I explained to her that my feelings for Y were very very unusual. i always longed for him and whenever he spoke, butterflies ran through my entire tommy.
Y always dressed casually. he was always looking simple. His voice was my weakest point. i loved it. Ibukun told me i should take things easy with Y. i sent an email to my favorite girl back in Nigeria telling her about Y and how much i preferred him to O, she was just ok with it. Hmmm i wondered. Ibukun later told me that i shouldn't consider having anything to do with Y since he wasn't a Nigerian. She also reminded me that our stay in Ghana was just for a while in addition to the fact that i may not visit again neither will i have the time coz i had to go back to school. i waved all she told me by my side and kept loving every minute of my time at work. as time went on, i stared thinking less of O. wow, i felt justified by my actions. i was like afterall i always have a right to express my feelings.
One morning, we had a briefing in the meeting room and Y was sitting right behind me. people made comments but he didn't say a word. he kept listening and folding a piece of paper he was holding just to pass time. he wrote down some points as the briefing went on and as our General Manager spoke. Ask me again and again how i knew what he was doing? i kept turning to look at him. the other time our eyes met, he smiled at me.
***********************************************************************************
It was Friday night and atimes we had a little get together were we eat, drink , mix up and dance in circles. Y danced with me that night. it was an ivorian dance so he was teaching me the steps. wow, it felt good. that was how we got talking. it was like boom!!! we got along quite well. he told me about his studies, his country and his family. apparently, he was in his final year in the university. he came to do his attachement just like me. i told him i would like to visit the country since it was very close to Ghana, he encouraged me to plan it. that was how we became friends, we ate lunch together. my job was not affected, i was still at the top of my game.
i felt a bit bad about O. i told myself i will let him know when i return that i don't want to date him anymore. i felt better with Y. he was romantic. very romantic.
One morning, as i came to work, i met Y at the hallway and he told me he has been transferred. He has been asked to return to Ivory Coast. i almost sank into the ground. it was like my world was crashing. i looked him closely without saying a word. he starred at me too and didn't say anything too. our minds spoke to each other. it was one of the most painful news i have ever recieved in my entire life. That night, i did not sleep. Y had just a week left in Ghana.
Friday, April 4, 2008
madam mensah's canteen
On Monday the following week. I reported to work. I noticed it was the normal practice like in Nigeria. I had a desk close to Ibukun’s. It was a wide office with about 6 tables. I and Ibukun were the only Nigerians in that department. Lunch was ok. We had some Ghanaian delicacies on display but I just went for my rice, plantain and chicken just to be on the safe side. The day actually went very well. There was no drama.
One month on the job, things were moving on very well. The General Manager was a Yoruba man. He was of average height, heavy looking but very very sweet.I and Ibukun had fun buying Ghanaian prints. They were so cheap. I also spent some Cedi’s buying the original kente. I wanted to make a sassy style in Lagos. O called at least once a week. It was not enough for me, but I felt it was better than not calling at all. We exchanged emails as well.
One Monday morning, I checked my intranet and there was an announcement that we had an emergency staff meeting. I wondered what it was going to be about. I kind of liked the idea because I would have the opportunity to meet the whole staff. I was taken round the office for introductions upon my arrival but I released that a lot of my colleagues were not on seat that day. All of us sat down at the meeting room. Half of us were Ghanaians, a few Ivorians, a few South Africans and an Ethiopian. It was a wonderful mixture. All of us could speak English. I was loving every minute I spent there. I planned to apply to work there after my studies.
When the Managing Director showed up, there was silence in the room. The emergency meeting was just to announce that some staff would be transferred to Ivory Coast while we would be expecting 2 Ivorians to replace them. It was a normal thing in the company. Staff transfers. I heard from a staff, a cute South African lady ‘if you spend a year working in the company, you would have lived in at least 3 different African countries’.
The next two days, Ibukun was off work. I had finished my report so I headed to the staff canteen for Lunch. When I came in the morning, I ran an important errand for my Manager so I wasn’t in the office. When I returned, my colleague Mefiah told me that the new staff from Ivory Coast had arrived. A man and a lady. I said to myself I would meet them later on. When I got to the Canteen, Madam Mensah asked for my order, I told her what I wanted and waited for her to dish it. As I took the plate of food to find a seat, a tall unusual man entered into the canteen and for the first time, my heart skipped at the sight of a handsome man. Our eyes met, but because of what went on inside of me, I ignored his gaze and sat down quietly and tried very hard to concentrate on my food. After what seemed like a few minutes, the gentleman sat down right opposite me and ate his food quietly.
I felt quite uneasy, the reaction was much. I had almost finished my food and all of a sudden he said ‘Hi, my name is Y’
‘Hi’ I retorted, ‘you must be the transfer staff from Ivory Coast?’
‘Yes’ he said ‘What’s your name and where are you from?’
‘My name is YNV. I am from Nigeria’
‘It’s my pleasure meeting you’
‘Same here’ I said and hurried with my food
‘See you later’ I said and I ran away!
I kept saying to myself ‘Oh I love Y’s voice. I love his accent. He spoke just like a perfect gentleman. The kind of man that will send flowers to a lady!’ That was the day my problems started.
One month on the job, things were moving on very well. The General Manager was a Yoruba man. He was of average height, heavy looking but very very sweet.I and Ibukun had fun buying Ghanaian prints. They were so cheap. I also spent some Cedi’s buying the original kente. I wanted to make a sassy style in Lagos. O called at least once a week. It was not enough for me, but I felt it was better than not calling at all. We exchanged emails as well.
One Monday morning, I checked my intranet and there was an announcement that we had an emergency staff meeting. I wondered what it was going to be about. I kind of liked the idea because I would have the opportunity to meet the whole staff. I was taken round the office for introductions upon my arrival but I released that a lot of my colleagues were not on seat that day. All of us sat down at the meeting room. Half of us were Ghanaians, a few Ivorians, a few South Africans and an Ethiopian. It was a wonderful mixture. All of us could speak English. I was loving every minute I spent there. I planned to apply to work there after my studies.
When the Managing Director showed up, there was silence in the room. The emergency meeting was just to announce that some staff would be transferred to Ivory Coast while we would be expecting 2 Ivorians to replace them. It was a normal thing in the company. Staff transfers. I heard from a staff, a cute South African lady ‘if you spend a year working in the company, you would have lived in at least 3 different African countries’.
The next two days, Ibukun was off work. I had finished my report so I headed to the staff canteen for Lunch. When I came in the morning, I ran an important errand for my Manager so I wasn’t in the office. When I returned, my colleague Mefiah told me that the new staff from Ivory Coast had arrived. A man and a lady. I said to myself I would meet them later on. When I got to the Canteen, Madam Mensah asked for my order, I told her what I wanted and waited for her to dish it. As I took the plate of food to find a seat, a tall unusual man entered into the canteen and for the first time, my heart skipped at the sight of a handsome man. Our eyes met, but because of what went on inside of me, I ignored his gaze and sat down quietly and tried very hard to concentrate on my food. After what seemed like a few minutes, the gentleman sat down right opposite me and ate his food quietly.
I felt quite uneasy, the reaction was much. I had almost finished my food and all of a sudden he said ‘Hi, my name is Y’
‘Hi’ I retorted, ‘you must be the transfer staff from Ivory Coast?’
‘Yes’ he said ‘What’s your name and where are you from?’
‘My name is YNV. I am from Nigeria’
‘It’s my pleasure meeting you’
‘Same here’ I said and hurried with my food
‘See you later’ I said and I ran away!
I kept saying to myself ‘Oh I love Y’s voice. I love his accent. He spoke just like a perfect gentleman. The kind of man that will send flowers to a lady!’ That was the day my problems started.
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