Friday couldn't come fast enough for Deji. Time seemed to drag agonizingly slow as he counted the seconds, minutes, and hours as the days went by. It was a painful and very nervous one week.
Finally, to his relief, it was Thursday evening. He picked up his phone and dialed her.
"Hey you."
"Hi babe. Are you ready for your trip tomorrow?"
"Why are you so anxious?"
"Why won't I be?"
"Relax, young man." She said cheerfully.
"Deola, that's me you're calling a young man, y'know?"
"So?"
"Okay. No vex. I'm just anxious to see you again."
"Okay oh, Mr. Lover man. I will try leave here as early as possible. Are you ready to receive a very important visitor?"
"I'm ready for you." Throughout the day, he had taken his time to clean up his room. He spent hours meticulously dusting, sweeping, wiping and airing out everywhere. He scrubbed and disinfected his bathroom until the tiles gleamed white. He dusted his mattress and laid out a clean bed sheet. He made sure everything was well arranged and in the right places. He planned to go to the market the following morning to buy stuff for food too.
"Yes, I'm ready to receive anyone."
"Really? Hmm..."
"Do you want me to send you some money to add to your transport fare?"
"Are you saying I can't afford to come there on my own?" she sounded offended.
"No oh Deola. It's not like that. I just thought..."
"Thought what?"
"...Okay I'm sorry."
"I can afford to pay my own fare. You don't need to insinuate you are forcing me to come."
"I'm sorry. It's the anxiety in me."
"I'm also anxious to see you too, but I can afford to pay my TP."
"I'm sorry."
"Better."
"I'll try and see if I can leave in time. Ilorin to Ibadan is about three to four hours. I have a few things to take care of in the morning. I'll be there latest by six in the evening."
"Sure."
"Can't wait to see you again."
"Me too."
"G'nite. Dream of me okay?"
"I surely will."
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Friday morning. Deji woke up early. He did a last minute one-over on his room, making sure everything was in order once again before going out to the market. He bought some ingredients to prepare stew and vegetable soup. Having been cooking since he was nine, he had no problem in the kitchen. Soon a couple of his neighbors were knocking on his door.
"Man yi, o fe di wa ni imu ni(do you want to block our noses?)" he heard Kola, one of the guy opposite his room yell through his open door.
"A nbo wa jeun oh(we're coming over to have some of that delicious meal)." Dele, his roommate chirped in.
"Eyin guys, no show oh. I dey expect very important visitor." Deji fired back. He stepped out of his small kitchen to meet them both standing in the middle of his room.
"Shey l'oto(really)? Who she be?"
"Who told you it's a she?"
"So you think a man will spend all his morning cooking for another man? You no serious. Abeg lay down the koko jare." said Kola.
Deji laughed. "Na my babe. She's coming for the weekend."
"Hmm!! After you feed her full belle, you will "feed" her "FULL BELLE" abi?" Dele stated, implying a big belly with his hands. "Ekun!!"
"Eyin boys yii sha."
"We must meet this babe oh." Dele said.
"I will try."
"Try kini? I'll be watching your door throughout today. Shey o ti lo opa eyin e? Ma fa idi omo olomo ya oh(don't fuck the girl to death)."
Laughing loudly, Deji dished out some of his vegetable soup for his friends before shooing the two nosy guys out of his room.
"See, the guy even arranged his room. Ojo wo lo tun yara shey ko wa tidy bayi last (When last did you take care of your room)? The power of abuna."
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Around two o'clock that afternoon Deola sent him a text to let him know she was on her way. To while away the time, Deji decided to watch a movie, but he realized he kept on glancing at his watch every five minutes. He watched as the clock hands dragged slowly till it was almost six in the evening. He didn't want to call her as he didn't want to sound desperate. He just waited for her to call.
Around six-forty, Deola called to tell him she had arrived Ojoo.
"I know my way to campus. Where will you come get me?"
"There's an eatery opposite the school gate. I'm heading there now. I will be waiting for you there."
"Okay. See you soon."
Fifteen minutes later, Deji was standing in front of the eatery. His heart was beating. Finally, the moment had come. The moment he had been waiting for. Would he still recognize her? How would he act when he saw her? He put his hands in his pocket to steady his trembling fingers.