Read What Are We? by Olaitan Joy Damilola (Ravanjie) and I for the full story.
We met in an art gallery. It was full of beautiful artworks carved by talented artists. Sorry that I mistook you for one of the pieces. But who wouldn’t? You stood like someone who had never had to carry a heavy school bag. And you would easily pass as the finest girl I had ever seen.
I remember how you smiled when I came over to say Hello.
“God sure did a fine job making you.”
You blushed. Slightly but genuinely. I could see your dimple. I asked for your name; you said Emma. You asked for mine, and I said
“Jide…Targaryen. First of his name.”
You laughed a little too loud that the old couple at the corner gave us the eye. But it didn’t matter. Nothing did except you at that moment. You asked if I was a House of Dragon fanboy, and I said I was more of the author’s fanboy. You had read his books; all of them. We couldn’t stop talking about it.
“Wait…your favorite character is Daenerys?”
“I mean, you’re both beautiful and…short."
“Dracarys!!” You shouted as you almost clawed me down.
It was funny. You were funny. We met at 3pm and left the hall by 7pm. I was surprised the curator didn’t come chasing after me for taking his gallery’s most beautiful art piece. I did see him glare though.
I walked you to the bus stop and asked for your number. I saved it with Daenerys and put a fire emoji. I showed you, and you smiled.
A month later, we went on our second date. You liked Asake, so did I. We danced all night. And I definitely didn't understand what Asake meant by “Baby Sunmomi”, you were never an inch away.
Everything was going fine for us. My guys knew it was you and me — Jide and Emma. That was what I thought too, then she came back. Sharon came back.
It started with my IG account. Sharon and I still had a couple of pictures together on IG. But I never had to open it since she stormed off a few months back. You asked who the girl was when you saw my account. But I wasn’t sure. We hadn’t really talked since Sharon saw me with a girl. We exchanged a couple of “hi’s”, but that was it. She was just Sharon. I explained, and you never asked again, but Sharon didn’t take leave of my mind as quickly as I thought she would.
When you said what I thought of Wizkid’s album, I thought about her. How we made a living off mocking Wizkid. I smiled a bit. I told you it was just there, but I liked 2 sugar. You said you liked 2 sugar too, but didn’t bash the other songs. Sharon would have bashed the other songs.
I waved it off and kissed you, hard. Like I was trying to forget something…forget someone.
I thought about Sharon more often now. When my car radio plays Lucid dreams by Juice Wrld, all I see is Sharon’s face pop up. And when I passed her hostel’s gate, I thought of the days we ate Mummy Sarah’s rice in the car park.
What are you doing, Sharon? I love someone else now
I resaved her number just to see her status. She posted about how her Biochemistry test choked, but I couldn’t reply. I really wanted to text “E de restrict PATHways’' I knew she would have laughed.
The following weeks were unbearable. Your feisty attitude started to seem more like an annoyance than being cute. I almost shouted “clip your nails!” when you tried to brawl with me once. You noticed something was off. That I wasn’t myself. I had called you Sharon instead Emma while you were in the bathroom. You saw through me. You saw that I was disturbed.
Few days later, you suggested we watched a movie together—like a movie night vibe. We did. You told me you liked me. I knew; I liked you too, but…but…
I wanted to ask you to be my girlfriend the day after. I knew you wanted it. We have been in this situationship for a while. But I didn't ask.
I met Sharon's sister, Christie, while you were doing your MBEs. She hugged me when she saw me. She wouldn't shut up about how she missed me. Although she was Sharon's younger sister, she only had Sharon's eyes and none of her seriousness.
“Why aren't you and her talking again?"
“You guys looked good together.”
“We did?"
“Yes.”
And as soon as she said those words, she completely shifted and started a new chant.
"Oya come and buy ice cream for me." Pfft, a typical girl on OAU campus
“We looked good together?” I asked again, but Christie didn't reply. She didn't need to. She was eating her ice cream now.
I sat in my car and tried to formulate a message for Sharon.
“Hey, wanna watch a movie, like old times—"
“No, no, no. We hadn't seen each other in ages and the first thing was to have her come over?”
"That's stupid, Jide," I thought
Fuk! Fuk! Fuk! Why do Yoruba girls have to be so stubborn! God, Sharon I wasn't making out with Ẹwà! I didn't cheat on you. Fuk!
My phone rang, and it was Emma.
She sounded excited.
“The exam was dope!! Let's meet up. Maybe another movie night? My treat…”
“Hey, Emma, can I call you back?"
I cut the call. Dialed her number instead.
The phone rang with a monotonous tune till she picked up.
“Hey, Sharon. I am in front of your hostel’s gate. Can we talk?”
See you next time
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