He had ticked all the names from his list but one.
Precious❌
Jade❌
Joy❌
Ayomipo
He had not spoken to Ayomipo yet and the sun was already settling to its resting place. As he decided to cave and flag a bike, a lady caught his eyes. She wore purple, and it fit her (a rare combo in OAU these days). She had a caramel skin with brown eyes, and she had that smile.
“Hi?” Dammy turned to his next conquest. “I am Dammy,” he said in his nearly perfected manner and donned it with a dashing smile. She tucked her hair behind her ear. “I am Tinu,” she smiled. She wasn’t an Ayomipo, but Dammy knew right there he won’t be needing a list anymore.
“Hey, Tinu. Mind a stroll?”
Tinu was pretty and incredibly smart; she watches anime. They went from SUB bus stop to white house. By the time, they were back at the bus stop, the night had carpeted the sky.
“Do you want suya?”
“Yes,” she giggled.
Dammy bought the man out. She laughed when she saw how vehement Dammy was with his meat. “If that’s 2,000, just carry gun”
She laughed a lot actually. There was something about Dammy that made her feel peace. She didn’t want the day to end. Dammy had dark eyes and dark skin. His voice was soft too. He was handsome, but not in the arrogant way. She wanted to hug him. After all, people said she gave the best hugs. But she didn’t.
The night ended where it started. Dammy gave a kiss on her cheek and they exchanged numbers. When he left, she saved his name as the “fine guy I met at the bus stop”. She didn’t want to forget. She plugged her earpiece and started playing Loving You by Welmz.
Days were fast since that night. Dammy had forgotten he even started all this with a list. He saw the list when it was laundry day and saw he had not struck out Ayomipo’s name. He struck it out that instance and thrashed the list. He wouldn’t be needing it. Things have been going well with Tinu and they were going to see a movie, the new Spider-Man Across the Spider Verse.
When Dammy was all dressed and looked in the mirror, he knew he had killed it. He dabbed two sprays of his OUD Mood, the aphrodisiac. For good luck, he added a bit of Lataffa Blue Oud to his neck. He got his treat and ran downstairs and for the street.
He took a bike before he priced it, a stupid move. Dammy was paying 700 for a distance of 300, but he was late. When he stopped at G2G cinema, his heart stopped as well. Tinu was stunning. She wore a black silk gown with beautiful earrings and her hair was in a bun.
“Hi,” She said.
Dammy stammered.
“You, UHM, you look pretty.”
“So do you! Come let's go we are latee!”
She grabbed him by the arm and dragged him to the entrance. Dammy let her.
The movie started with a love story. It was poorly written, Dammy thought. He looked at Tinu who was deep in the movie and smiled. Under his breath, he said to himself, “Our story will be different.” Dammy pulled her closer and kept his arm over her shoulders.
The movie sent a rush through him. Tinu smelt nice, like Saffron and Rose. The lighting was dim and the movie was loud. Dammy wanted to kiss Tinu.
“Hey, you do look very beautiful.”
“Thank you!” with a blush across her cheek.
“Can I kiss you?”
Tinu was silent. She didn’t answer. Rather, she kissed him instead. At that moment, Miles Morales babbles didn’t mean anything. Neither did Miguel O’Hara existential crisis. The only person that mattered was Tinu. And he kissed her like he meant it. They laughed as they heard the low and quiet awwns coming from the back.
That day was going to be in Dammy’s mind for a long time. But the movie night was not the only dear memory they shared. There was the dual paintball match at the PlayFEST arena and the karaoke night at Indeego Playhouse. Several kisses and I love yous later, Dammy thought it was time to pop the question. His phone buzzed him out of his daydream. It was Ope, their mutual friend.
“Hello, Dammy”
“How far, bro?”
“Not fine. Tinu had an accident.”
Those words stumped the air out of Dammy’s lungs. It was heart wrenching. His hands started to tremor. He didn’t hear anything that Ope said after that. The line cut. He was sweating. He kept walking around. He wore his clothes and rushed to the hospital only to be stopped by the nurses who said he couldn’t see her yet. He waited for hours but eventually left.
He called Rhayat, Tinu’s sister a day after who told her Tinu is awake. Dammy took the first bike he saw and he was at OAUTHC in an instant. He saw her mum, dad, and two elder sisters. He had grown fond of them.
“Hello Mummy, how is Tinu?”
“Hmm, She is okay, omo mi”
“We thank God.”
“Can I see her?”
She moved from the door and Dammy entered the ward. It was bright and still smelt like Saffron and Rose. He sat by her bed.
“Hey, Babe”
“How are you feeling?”
He stretched his hand to grab hers, but she flinched. Tinu sat up and with a blank expression on her face said, “Who are you?”
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See you soon,
Jide
