Since
I began schooling at TV College and got used to explosive words like shooting
and rushes, bulletin, burn cd’s. Since I left the peaceful city of Calabar,
with nights garnished with the lullaby of chirping crickets, to Jos the city of
sweaters and duvets, the city where Keke-Napeps
have doors; I have felt homesick , nostalgic, but not until I saw her.
Since the day I saw her, her bright
eyes, lightening, flashing, unsteady like flickering fire, I’ve seen nothing
else since then. But the problem, always, is telling her about it.
“About
what?” I always ask myself
"About
how I feel" I always answer.
“Feel
what?” I don’t know exactly.
I don’t know exactly how to describe
that levitating feeling, the indecisive whispering I hear each time I hear her
speak. The 3D figure that makes her look like she had been designed by an
artist, gives me a pumping heartbeat, like the rhythm of rap music.
I almost talked to her once. I
rehearsed every single thing I know about love, researched on the words that
would blow her mind away, but when I officially raised my hands and told her
“excuse me” she didn’t reply. I’m still not sure if she purposely didn’t reply
or my voice wasn’t audible enough. I tried again, she was walking out of the
ATM path and I was right next to the railings, but my lips refused to part. My
head seemed preoccupied with thoughts I now consider trivial, cascades of them,
hovering over me like gathering dark clouds. I tried yet again, but she had a
pack of friends my subconscious transformed into a fearsome entourage, her
friends looked terrifying, like they could eat me up in one bite, they passed
by, chewing bubble gum like their lives depended on it, their huge behinds
swaying from side to side like a wobbling flag. Their pervasive perfume
rendered me nervous.
But I tried once again, making the
sign of the cross on my chest, whispering a silent prayer. “Hello “. I
muttered.” My name is Betse”.
“I
am Winnie” she replied
My
prayer worked! Her voice was so sweet, her lips pursed. There was something
about her smile, deceptively alluring, like a dead end trap. Her face was
questioning. I just realized she was taller than me. I felt like a dwarf.
“How
can I help you” she said coldly.
Her
words pinned me to the ground. I felt like peeing in my pants. The words came
out of her mouth too easily for my liking. I opened my mouths so words could
come out. None did. She hissed loudly and left, and in that fleeting moment of
confusion, hot embarrassing tears dribbled down my cheeks.
By: Freddie Betse
Keep it coming
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