Nakupenda By Stephen Toochi

NAKUPENDA! (I Love You)

A Short Story 

Lagos!
A city where ladies of different sizes, colours, shapes, charisma and characters  reside.

Lagos!
A city that shuts you down or lifts you up. Makes or Mar you. A place where I understand to be a snarl of traffic, life and activities.

Lagos!

This experience is one of the reason why I do no “nakupenda's” anymore.

Yes.

Considering the consent thingy flying around and my gentleman attributes.

I had said hello. It was super close. Like winning a trophy at the war of cupid. Scooping honey into your container, getting close to checkmate, last card, then tragedy struck.

A deadly sucker punch. A shock wave stunning my system. An invisible blow to my groin.  That I survived it was even a miracle.

I had been compelled to visit the place that Sunday evening. My cousin had wanted a promise kept. So I jumped into my white short, revealing two legs marred with scars of injuries yet complimented by curly hairs.

I reach for a black turtle necked shirt and dashed out to keep my promise. I had no wallet save for the exact amount for their promise.

Standing afront the purple coloured building. My eyes darted round to see the shawarma spot brimming with humans, ladies especially. Then the ‘suya republic’ steaming and frying beef of different proportion. The mouths of some people moved aimlessly while others waited their turn.

The shop with different cable television networks displayed, had the lowest turn of humans. I cocked and started towards the building with ‘Jendol Superstores’ as it's name.

When I walked into the building, people swam like bees, moving from one shelf to another. Some chattering, some gossiping, some nodding to the music in their headphones while others like me stared  at nothingness.

I walked with the gait of a cat. The cozy air-conditioned breeze carresed my skin  as I  approached the shelf that housed consumables. I picked out two biscuits, started to move, then went back to pick another for myself.

Done with that, I proceeded to the fridge for the next item on the list. Ice cream. As I tore open the refrigerator door, another hand reached into the fridge before me. As the hand went in and drifted through the ice creams for a chocolate flavor. Her ebony skin shimmered like bronze.

My eyes followed as she dropped it into her basket. Then our eyes locked in. The skin on her face was spotless. Gold coloured glasses covered her eyes. Her attached hair dropped at her side, giving her face a triangular shape. It took a second for it to click; a nerd.

Her Chichi was obvious, just like Rihanna's, it pointed to the north. She was endowed to say the least. Still standing and taking in her features. My mind made a mental note of my next relationship — An independent lady, at most twenty two that shops for her needs and wants— not a liability that needs help everytime.

“Good evening,” her voice catapulted my mind to the present.

“Good evening Miss. How has your weekend been?”

“Beautiful! My weekend has been beautiful asides from a tingling sensation felt from a youngman's stare.”

I think I blushed or maybe my eyes fluttered.

“How do you mean?” I feigned ignorance.

“Nevermind. My name is Ann” she stretched her hand. A smile plastered on her face.

My heartbeat increased in pace. I could see hers do same. See confidence o. I took her hand in mine and God! It's as tender and soft as a baby's.

“Oh! Ann. Your name should have a prefix or a surfix to it, right?”

"Yea. You got me — Maryanne, but call me Ann. Okay?”

“Okay.”

Few minutes later after enough chattering, giggling and shared laughter. I was holding the last cup of the ice cream. Belonging to my cousins. Her hand was somewhere on my elbow doing God knows what.

Then tragedy struck. I dropped the last cup into the shopping basket and allowed my hand stray and rest on top hers. The next words I heard kept me on my toes.

“ Youngman! What exactly are you doing with my daughter?”

I turned to see a semi fat woman advancing our way. Her face was filled with fierceness. My hand dropped from the lady's arm as I peered. Your mother? Like seriously? My eyes asked.

She held unto me and said.
“Leave him mum, we're just having a harmless conversation” I shuddered at the realization and muttered a good evening to the woman afar, bowing my head thrice.

 She neared and let's the cat out of the bag, shattering my resolve.

”What do you know? What have you seen eh, Maryanne?  You're just fourteen years and I won't let boys like him corrupt you.” her fiery eyes darted as she nodded towards me.

Goosebumps spread across my body like a mayonnaise. I tore my hands away and asked.

“You're fourteen?” shock registering on my face. She nodded and makes a cry face. I turned to her mother with a remorseful countenance.

“I'm sorry ma. I never knew she was underage.” I quipped and vanished.

There you have it, the reason I might get to ask your age first before any emotional entanglement.