He said no episode 38 – 39

HE SAID NO

EPISODE 38 – 39

The once-upon-a-time thick crowd dissipated as the wedding guests left the hall with smiles of satisfaction on their faces. They seemed to have enjoyed themselves to the fullest. Amifel was helping with the clearing out of the hall alongside some of her teammates. They had to clear up the hall premise and it was not a one man’s job.

Amifel felt so exhausted that when her phone rang, she gladly excused herself from the rest of the workers. The couples were still outside taking pictures with some well-wishers. Amifel propped herself in a corner outside, it was Grace.

“How far, you want to sleep there?”

“I will soon be on my way,” Amifel answered coldly.

“You don’t sound nice, what’s up?”

“Please don’t ask me…” She paused for a moment as she caught a glimpse of the young man from earlier, he was talking to the groom. In a flash, he looked towards her direction and their eyes met but he looked away as quickly as he glanced at her. She felt bad, she must have hurt the young man so bad, it was not his fault that the MC decided to catch cruise with them after all. He was as much a victim as she was and that realization made her feel guilty.

She momentarily forgot that she was on a call with Grace, who hung up when she no longer got any response from her.

She stood there, transfixed on the s₱0t while fiddling with her phone awkwardly, she decided to apologize. What if he snubbed her as she did? Well, she sure deserved it and she would have to take it as her cup of tea.

As she got close enough to breathe in his masculine cologne. He was still talking with one of the guests, so she used that opportunity to do a quick assessment of him. He was putting on well sewn navy-blue senator that was almost tightly fitted to his slim body and a pair of brown sleek loafers adorned his feet.

The person he was talking to turned around to leave and there and then, she cleared her throat.

“Hi.” She said as she popped up beside him. He heard her but he wasn’t sure if she was talking to her, maybe she wanted to talk to the groom or one of the young usher ladies beside him.

She had to repeat it.

“Hello.” She said, this time as he turned around to face her and truth be told, you can’t see anything beautiful when you are angry. A state of anger is not a great place to be for a protracted time.

The fine young man in front of her did not seem to be graced with beards but he compensated for it with his handsome baby face, his neat low cut, and his cute immature biceps. He seemed to have a petite stature, small proportions of everything but he was a good-looking man altogether and she did not notice up until that moment.

“Hi.” He answered not sure whether to smile, he did not know what to expect.

“I am sorry about earlier, I was stressed out and…”

“It’s fine, it is one of those things” He came to her rescue with a courteous smile. “Hope you are better now, miss…” he dragged, hoping she would fill in the gap, and she did.

“Amifel,” she smiled. “I am fine now.”

“Like earlier?” he smirked, he was talking about when she yelled at him when he tried to engage her in a conversation.

She laughed lightly. “Nah, I am fine for real, this time.”

“I believe you, Miss Amifel. I am Daniel, Isutoyan Daniel.” He repeated, stretching out his hands for a handshake, which she received warmly.

“Sorry? Isuto…”

“Just call me Daniel.”

“Oh…okay. Nice to meet you, Daniel “she answered, but curiosity was taking a greater toll on her. She had never heard that name before.

“Nice to meet you too, Amifel.” He smiled yet again. “And for an event planner, I must confess that you are good at what you do. The event set-up was highly professional.”

“Thank you.” She blushed lightly. “I have to go now.”

“Okay,” he said, then he added quickly. “Do you mind if I get your complimentary card or something? You wouldn’t mind some referrals, would you? I could also be needing your services.” He reeled out convincingly, hoping she won’t turn him down.

“Oh… sure, I really don’t mind. Our work rides on the wings of healthy referrals.” She smiled. “Please, give me a minute, “

She walked back into the hall briskly and went straight on to get her purse, she searched through it hurriedly, she must have forgotten to pick her complimentary cards pack, because she didn’t find it in her purse, the same with her paper bag. This was not good for business.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t come with my complimentary cards, I must have forgotten them back at home.” She explained as soon as she got back outside to meet him. He was still on the same s₱0t that she had left him.

Daniel was momentarily discouraged,

“But I can give you my phone number if you don’t mind. It’s the same number on the complimentary card.”

“Okay. That is fine.” He smiled.

Amifel dictated her phone numbers to him and he saved it on the s₱0t.

“I’ll call you.” He said as he punched his phone screen. “For business.” He quickly added and they both laughed.

“Aren’t you leaving yet?”

“Yeah, I will be leaving soon. I am waiting for my friend.” He said as he motioned towards ‘MC oracle’ with his neck. ‘MC oracle’ was laughing with some of the guests that were still around.

“He is your friend,” Amifel smirked.

“Yes.” He said, then what she meant dawned on him almost immediately. “No no, it’s not what you think, we didn’t plan that.” He said in defense as he laughed heartily, Amifel joined in simultaneously.

“That is how my friend is, he is just doing his job. I am sorry he got on your nerves.”

“No, it’s fine. “Amifel said as she glanced briefly at the MC in his corner, he was still laughing but this time, he was with another group of people. Beyond making people laugh, he seemed to love laughing a lot. Only that the joke was on her earlier.

“Seems like you are still going to be here for a while. I would have loved to keep you company but I still have quite some things to attend to in,side, so I can be ready to go home in time.”

“It is totally fine, I understand. “

“Enjoy the rest of your evening.” She smiled.

“Yeah, I will. You too.” He flashed her his well-arranged set of white teeth.

Amifel walked back into the hall grinning from ear to ear, the wedding event wasn’t totally a bad one after all…

To be continued.
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HE SAID NO

EPISODE 39

Grace emptied the food packs that her friend brought in one after the other, there were 4 plates. She licked her l-ips at the sight of the well balanced and spiced chicken. Amifel came with more than enough food and drinks for both of them. She also brought her portion of the yummy cakes served at the party.

“This looks yummy,” Grace said as she got set to pounce on the food pack with the largest chicken. She sat on the floor, so she could enjoy her meal better.

Amifel saw her complimentary cards pack on the wooden table where she left it in the morning.

“Thank God.”

“What’s that?”

“My card pack, I was looking for it at the party and I was scared that I probably misplaced it. “

“I thought you left it on purpose.”

“No, jare. I just made this batch and it would take a while to get another.”

Amifel undressed excitedly, she seemed to look different from the way she sounded earlier, Grace looked at her through a corner of her eye and she used the other eye to focus on the delicious meal in front of her.

“Is there something I need to know?”

“Like what?” Amifel asked as she removed her gold dangling earrings.

“I don’t know, you tell me.” She said, the stuffed rice in her mouth gave her voice a funny sound.

“Nothing, really…” Amifel grinned.

“Let me guess, was your money doubled?”

“I wish.” She chuckled.

“So, what could it be, because, for someone reluctant to go to that wedding party, you seemed to have enjoyed yourself.”

“Well…”

“Well?” Grace asked impatiently as she paused her meal for a while. “Talk now!” Amifel laughed heartily.

“You are not serious, when you are ready to talk, let me know. “Grace continued as she resumed her meal. “But this rice is delicious sha, the chicken was properly grilled and well spiced.”

“The chicken is a little too spicy for me,” Amifel commented as she changed into her white towel and headed for the bathroom door.

“I didn’t forget that you have not told me why you are excited oh.”

“Why are you talking as if it is a crime to be happy. Do I need a reason to be happy!” The sound of the running tap made Amifel’s voice sound faint but Grace heard all the same.

“Even though you tried to act smart, I can still figure out that you are a little too excited for someone who practically dragged herself out.”

“Leave me alone!”

“I have left you oh.”

In a few minutes, Amifel was done bathing, and she was mopping her body when she started.

“The MC was such a clown.”

“He must have really made your day.”

“What is this one saying…”

“So, he is responsible for that glow you came in with.”

Amifel shrugged. “Well, not exactly, or maybe not directly.”

“Okaaay… it is indirectly.” Grace chuckled.

“Would you let me talk?”

Grace kept quiet and Amifel could hear the silent go-ahead in her silence.

Amifel slipped into her cream-colored nightgown as she settled beside Grace who had demolished the food before her in less than 20 minutes. She picked one of the food pack and opened it as she started relaying all that she experienced at the wedding, starting from when the MC called her out, Grace laughed at her at the point when she said, she almost tripped on the stage.

When she got to the point where she shouted at the young man.

“Abah! Why did you shout at him now? Is it his fault that the MC joined the both of you together?” Grace rebuked her after she emphasized that he was a fine gentleman.

“You can’t blame me, I was embarrassed and he was a part of it.”

“Do you know maybe he was embarrassed too?”

“Well, maybe but he didn’t look like he was.”

“Not everyone is good at showing their emotions.”

“Yeah, but I went back to apologize.” She continued, with a mouth full of chicken as she told her about how they reconciled. “He asked me for my complimentary card.”

“Awwwwwn. “

“But he claimed it was for business.”

“Yes na, a lovely relationsh¡p is a serious business,” Grace chuckled and she blushed.

“That was when I discovered that none was in my purse.”

“Ah! The devil is a liar!”

Amifel laughed lightly, Grace was such a clown. “Yeah, it pained me sha but I gave him my phone numbers instead.”

“Uhn uhn.” Grace cleared her throat.

“What?”

“Nothing.” She giggled. “So, what’s his name?”

“Daniel Isutoyan.”

“What?”

“Same way I exclaimed,” Amifel said, laughing.

“Oh wow. Isutoyan? What on earth does that mean?”

“I’m not really good with Yoruba but from my little knowledge of it, ‘Isu’ means yam, ‘toyan’ well, I don’t know what that means.”

“Yoruba girl that does not understand Yoruba, what a shame.” Grace jested.

“I am not a Yoruba girl madam! I am a proud Igbo girl, “

“But your mum is Yoruba.”

“Yeah, and my dad is Igbo, that makes me an Igbo lady.”

“As if you understand Igbo too.” Grace hissed slightly “Why didn’t you ask him.”

“I wanted to but I cautioned myself, I mean, we barely just met.”

“It’s true though, so you won’t start sounding like a parrot.” Grace chuckled.

“Abi.”

At that point, Amifel was about to hang her teeth on another huge chunk of her chicken and this made Grace salivate.

“Give me small na,” Grace said as she made for her plate just beside her. Amifel hit her hands.

“No!”

“Pleaaseee.”

Amifel gave in to her request as Grace bit a mouth full.

“I’ll ask him later when he calls.” Amifel continued. “Or if he calls.”

“He will call. He must call.” Grace laughed still chewing hærd. “I don’t know him but I like him already.”

“Me too…”

“I can’t wait.” Grace screeched.

“You have to. It is too early to jump to any conclusion. We don’t know him or anything about him, maybe he is not even what he looks like… I don’t even want to get myself hurt again by letting my emotions take the lead.”

“Yeah, you are right. We are not led by our emotions, we are led by God’s spirit.” Grace affirmed and Amifel nodded. ” But what do you think he looks like?” Grace asked with a smirk.

“Leave me alone jor,” Amifel said as Grace cackled, she loved to pull her legs.

Grace let her be as the room grew silent, although it only lingered for a few minutes. Amifel who still had halfway to go with her meal focused on her plate. Unlike Grace, she was very sluggish at eating.

“Ami.” Grace began, suddenly sounding serious.

“Yes.”

“Mummy called.”

“Okay.”

“She is very worried about you.”

“Wait, whose mum are you talking about.”

“Your mum. She called yesterday, in the afternoon while you were asleep, it was a new number and the call was incessant. So, I just thought to pick it to tell the caller that you were sleeping.” Grace peeped at Amifel whose countenance had changed. She continued all the same.

“I wanted to hang up as soon as I discovered it was her but she was just scre-ming your name and she even sounded like she was crying. Amifel, please talk to her. Stop doing this.”

“So now, she already knows, I’m at your place.”

Grace kept silent as she looked at her friend, Amifel was soft yet very rigid. She wondered how someone could manage such opposite characters so well.

“Ami, please.”

“Grace, I have told you times and over. I am not ready to talk to them. At least they are sure that I am fine now and that is good. I will talk to her when I am ready.” Amifel said calmly.

“I am okay. Do you mind helping me with the rest?” She asked as packed her food remains aside as stood up.

Grace looked on at her in wonder as she picked a sachet of water, which she gulped hurriedly as she made for the bed.

“Ami.. c’mon!” Grace said, refusing to back out. She sat beside her right on the bed and tenderly placed her hands on her body.

“I am going through a lot already; my parents are not making it easy for me. My mum particularly, makes me feel like I am unfortunate and even compares me with other people. It hurts Grace, it hurts. Does she want better for me than I want for me? No! “

“I understand, Ami. I am sure she has realized her mistakes and she has learned her lessons. She misses you and wants to talk to you. Please forgive her.”

“I have forgiven her, I have forgiven my dad too. But you know what they say about keeping certain people at arm’s length for your sanity and peace of mind…”

Grace had run out of words to say. Amifel was indomitable.

“I will talk to her but not yet,” Amifel assured. “When I am ready. “

“When will that be? “

“Soon, I promise.”

“Okay. I would take your word for it this time and I would be there to remind you if you forget. “Grace smiled, Amifel did not respond as she turned her back to her. “Would you at least come and finish your food then?”

“I am full already, you made me lose my appetite. Go ahead, finish it.”

“It’s the chicken I want,” Grace said as she resumed back on the floor. “Should I eat the cake?”

“Glutton.” Amifel mumbled loud enough for her to hear.

“Thank you!” Grace said without shame. It didn’t matter what she called her now, so long as she got what she wanted. She would definitely deal with her later.

Grace did not see Amifel shake her head mildly as her mouth curved into a wry smile.

Amifel missed her parents too, especially her mum but she wasn’t ready to talk to her. Maybe not yet, her mum said such hurtful things to her. She could still remember some of them.

But she knew that she would have to let this go, maybe not yet but definitely, much later.

To be continued…