Sophia and Jumoke went in to see her mother, she was already awake.
"mummy are okay?"
"Sophie my darling, I'm fine"
"The doctor said...."
"I know what the doctor said, don't remind me, I need to rest" Her mother closed her eyes to sleep.
They both went back to the living room, and sat in silence, both deep in their own thoughts.
Sophia's phone rang, and she discovered Tunde was the one calling her.
She had totally forgotten about their meeting, they were supposed to go out today, and shop for their wedding rings, the wedding was only few days away, and they were yet to get their rings, anyone who heard this, would think them to be very unserious.
Not that it was far from the truth any way, between the two of them, they both knew the ring was just for show off, and it meant nothing to them. Left to Sophia, they won't buy any ring, after all, they are only going to be married for only a year, but Tunde insists they buy a ring, and not just any ring, but an expensive one. So long he is footing the bills, she has no problem with it.
"Hello" Sophia answered trying her best to sound normal.
"Hi Sophia good evening, what's up are you okay?" he asked calmly.
"yeah I'm fine"
"okay that's good, you remember we were supposed to meet by 4pm, and this is already 5pm, are you stuck in traffic or something?" his voice was calm, no hint of anger.
"uhmmm I'm so sorry, I might not be able to meet with you today"
"What happened, are you okay? Is something wrong?" Tunde asked with so much concern in his voice.
Sophia didn't know if he was concerned for fear of her backing out on their agreement, or he was just genuinely concerned for her. She decided to push the thought out of her mind, what does it matter if he is concerned or not?
"Sophia are you there?"
"Yes sorry, what did you say?"
"So what happened, why are you canceling?"
"My mother fainted this afternoon"
"What? what happened?" he sounded genuinely concerned.
"uhmm, I don't know, she just fainted" she said this, because she can't bring herself to tell him her mother fainted, because she was having an argument with her sister.
"Oh, so sorry, how is she now?"
"The doctor said she will be fine"
"Is she at the hospital?"
"No she is home"
"Alright, I'm on my way to your place now"
"No need, you don't have to worry yourself, let's just see tomorrow instead"
"It's no bother at all, I'm coming"
"Are you sure?"
"Absolutely, is there something you would like me to get you?"
"What?" Sophia asked, not because she didn't hear him the first time, but because she doesn't understand why he would be asking to get her something.
"I asked if you would like me to get you anything on my way to your place"
"No, no nothing, I'm good"
Sophia didn't know why she panicked, but the thought of him going out of his way to get her something, anything at all, seemed like a lot, and they becoming familiar with themselves, she didn't want any of that, and neither did she want to get too close to him, the less close she is to him, the easiest it would be to walk away when it's time to do so.
An hour later, Sophia's mother woke up and requested for water, Sophia was giving her some water to drink, when Ifeoma rushed into the bedroom.
"How is she?"
"I'm alive" Sophia's mother answered sarcastically.
Ifeoma sent to her mother's side, and sat beside her on the bed.
Sophia decided to give them some privacy, so she went back to join Jumoke in the sitting room.
She was surprised to see Tunde seated in the living room conversing with Jumoke, and she was laughing at whatever it was he was saying to her.
"Hi Tunde, I wasn't expecting you" she said, trying her best to hide her surprise.
"But I told you over the phone that I was coming"
"Oh yes, that's true" Sophia suddenly looked stupid, how could she have forgotten about what they just talked about, only an hour ago?
"How is your mother?" He asked
"She is fine"
"Sophie I think I should be on my way" Jumoke said.
"All right I will see you off"
"It was nice meeting you Tunde" Jumoke smiled sheepishly at him.
It was then it occurred to Sophia that she hasn't even introduced the two of them.
"Oh sorry my manners, Tunde meet Jumoke my best friend, Jumoke meet Tunde my fiance"
"We already met Sophie" Jumoke pointed out the obvious.
"I know, I was only trying to___", Sophia stuttered for lack of words to say, all thanks to her friend who always chose the oddest time to be sensible.
"Are you still seeing me off?" Jumoke asked, snapping her out of her reverie