It was the weekend and Shade her best friend insisted on a makeover. She urged Debby to use a salon as her hair, though neat was in a bad form. She had it woven regularly all through the phase of mourning which was as she said "understandable and acceptable". But as of now, but it was such an obsolete fashion she stated.
"Who am I looking beautiful for Shade?, please, I don't really need it. As long as it is neat, I am satisfied with it". Debby protested.
"I would call your mother into this room right now if you refuse to come with me and she will nag you to it" Shade attacked her.
"You have won Shade. Which salon are we going to?, Since I can't have peace in this house anymore because of you and my mother."
"So glad I could convince you bestie" Shade exclaimed in excitement. "Its a new one that just opened in the lekki phase 2 axis. I don't really know the name, however, I heard that they are very good". She continued winking at Debby who was least amused by Shade's tantrums.
"It's alright, It's not so far from here but did you drive?" Debby asked.
"Yes of course I did. Shall we go?" Shade replied smiling.
As they approached the door, Mrs Olatunji enters the room.
" I can see that you are ready to go out. It's a good thing. Shade thank you so much for being a great friend to Debby. it means alot to me. Anyways your father asked me to tell you to come to the living room you because have a guest Debby."
"A guest? Mummy I am not expecting anyone. Besides,Who is it?" Debby enquired.
"Just go out and answer your father." Her mother replied.
Debby feeling confused at her mother's mysterious manners, walked to the living room leaving her mother and Shade strolling behind her whispering to find Adebola, her boss sitting there opposite her father.
He looked so handsome in his black linen native.
"Good morning sir" She greeted him with her face towards her Father.
"Good morning miss Debby". Adebola responded.
"Daddy, I was told you sent for me". Debby asked her Father.
"Yes Mr Adebola came visiting. In an old fashioned way, which i admire and I must say its good. He said he came to ask you for a date to see a movie. A Christian one I might add."
"Huh?" Debby muttered feeling confused as though she did not hear her father clearly.
"It's so good of you Adebola. She was even going out with her friend" Debby's mother said from behind her.
"Huh?" She muttered again. She was finding it difficult to process the scene before her mentally, hence no appropriate response was forth coming from her mouth.
Her mother's smile annoyed her. "You should bring her before 8pm Adebola. I don't want her keeping late nights" Her Father instructed.
Adebola rose up from his seat to shake the hands of the good pastor.
"Yes sir. I will sir. We would be home long before that time. Shall we Debby?". He gestured to the door of the living room urging her to go ahead as a gentleman.
Shade smiled and thrusted her purse into her hand,at the same time, whispering into her ears "Have fun. He is so handsome!" She almost squealed in delight.
"What is wrong with these people? This man does not like me. He wants people to stop having the impression that he is gay. Daddy use your spiritual eyes to look at him!!!" Debby screamed inwards finding it hard to speak out.
Everyone was looking happy and she couldn't disappoint her mother's expectation. She walked in front of Mr Adebola out of her parents two bedroom apartment. It was a mission rented apartment. Small but conducive in a serene environment adorned with flowers and alot of vegetation which her father says helps him meditate and accept the mystery of the universe.
"Hope it was not too much of a surprise? I craved your company and seeing little of you at the office, I decided to come have my fill of your presence today. How are you miss Debby?" Adebola asked as soon as they were alone outside walking towards his car.
"I am fine sir."
"So would you like lunch first before the movie? It's almost 12pm."
"I am not really hungry for food sir. I just want to know what do you want from me? Because the last time we spoke, I was not your type. So why this unnecessary friendship. It's unnerving and I don't have the strength to encourage it." Debby attacked him.
" You see the way you responded is the exact reason am here" Adebola replied calmly.
"How did I respond sir?"
"Alot of women will die to have me say "hi" to them even in church but here you are, pushing me away"
"So because I am not interested in you, I am now intriguing to you?.
"Exactly" Adebola responded smiling.
"Mr Adebola, let's stop with all the pretense. The answer now and in 30 days time is no". Debby stated
"Settled then. Let's have lunch. I already called the hotel ahead. They are having your special "party Jollof rice flavour". Adebola declared still smiling.
" Which part of I am not interested is too hard for you to comprehend?
" I already said settled, now get inside and let's have lunch like two civilized people with no strings attached.
He shove her gently to the car, opened the back door and shut it while she entered. He entered from the other side and beckoned on the driver to move the car.
They drove in silence to a prestigious five star hotel which was a 15 minute drive from her house. The valet service had her door opened and she appreciated the young man.
As usual a royal treatment was what was available from the courteous greetings at the entrance to the ushering to a private dinner with soft music playing at the background.
" Do you always feast like this" Debby asked
"Whenever I am in the company of a fascinating woman, I try to treat her as such.
"You mean plain and too skinny right?" She asked him sarcastically.
"Hmmm so you remember the conversation?
"How can I forget the most unromantic proposal I have ever gotten?
" Tell me the most romantic one you have gotten then? Am all curious to know the boy who made you know about romance."