"Sorry, what now?"
"I too have no idea why she is here. She looks like someone my age, so I'm sure she's just a lady who wanted to check in with you. She doesn't have anything to do and it's Saturday. So it is understandable why she would come to you to say 'Hi' at 6:45 AM."
Her voice trailed off like that and it came off as nothing short of scary, it was like she was finding reasons for her to stay sane about this matter.
"Calm down Aunt, I am sure she is just a concerned and friendly neighbor."
Ayo claimed, standing up from his bed and grabbing a shirt from his black wooden wardrobe which was just opposite his bed.
"I thought you wanted to sleep?"
"Aunt, not even you would allow me to delay a stranger."
"I don't mind if you delay, in fact, reject this one."
"That goes beyond the good ethics you've taught me. I choose to not let go of my good ethics."
Ayo stopped as he reached his door, he turned back a little and asked as sweetly as he could:
"Can I invite her in here?"
"Do you want to die? Is that part of the 'good ethics' you were taught?"
She cocked her head, exuding the semblance of a mad butcher.
"I guess I'll just make use of my sitting room then."
He didn't need no for an answer to know no is the answer.
"Hey, Ayo."
The nice silky voice was like music to his ears. Although he had not known what to do with this woman, Ayo was having a pleasant time cooking up thoughts as he walked up to her.
He sat down right beside her on the three-seat couch.
Seating up close like this he came to appreciate her beauty the more. She was chubby, and this was in no way a body shame. Because her charm was in that very fact.
Her breast was loosely dropping in her dress compared to the first day Ayo met her (then they were packed by a bra). For a moment he was tempted to think of what they would look like, they did seem humongous from the outside.
But just that time, his aunt walked out of his room, throwing him one last gaze before she excused herself from the parlor.
Ayo took a big gulp and turned to his neighbor.
"So... you came to me."
"I came to greet you... although I didn't exactly know that you'd have people over."
She said seductively, letting out a subtle smile. She was like an Egyptian enchantress, especially with the distinguishing mole beneath her left eye and small round lips.
"Why? It's not like we have been on talking terms... you helped me once. To pick my lock?"
Ayo pointed out, spacing his words as he spoke the later part of his speech.
She looked down, as though her plan had failed.
"You are right, we aren't particularly close like that."
Seeing her, Ayo couldn't help but feel that something was off, he scrunched up his eyes as he observed her entire disposition. Then he asked:
"What do you need?"
Her head rose sharply with an alarming gaze right at his face.
"Your help!"
She exclaimed but not loudly enough to attract attention.
A woman older than him needed his help, she wasn't going to tell him to fix her bulb right. Ayo had been taking quite an interest in some rated 18 manhwas and that's how he knew what happens when you go fix an older woman's bulb.
"With... what?"
Cautiously, he asked.
"I need to go out. And it's quite urgent, but then... I'm scared. Y-y-you know... with the things happening?"
Ayo would be lying if he said he didn't perceive a subtle cunningness attuned to her voice. But a man gotta do what a man gotta do.
He would under no excuse refuse a damsel in distress.
"It's alright then, I will grab a more comfortable clothing."
Ayo said to her, standing up and heading to his room. In three minutes he was out in a black hoodie. It was still early in the morning and the cold these days has been maddening, while he was unsure about what to wear, the breeze from the window brushed in briefly, as if it had come to specially warn him of how harsh it would be outside.
She naturally stood up and walked out of the parlor as Ayo came out of his room. In a few seconds, they were out of the house.
"Go, follow him!"
What started as a silent bickering between two people, Shola and her daughter ended with a loud yell.
"Mom, he's not a kid!"
"And you are strong enough to protect him."
"Ugh, I think you didn't get me. I just said he is not a kid. Ayo is old enough to protect himself. And what are you so scared about, he is just escorting the neighbor, what harm can there be in that?"
"What if they encounter monsters? Eh? Who will be there to protect Ayo while Ayo is protecting in quote now, the neighbour."
She wriggled a quotation into the air with an irritated mouth gesture.
Knowing fully well she can never win an argument with her mother when it came to the matters about Ayo, Dara threw in the towel.
.
"Fine, whatever for you Mom. I will go after them."
"Yes thank you."
Shola wore a big smile as she watched her daughter haul herself outside to go protect her cousin.
–
The twilight painted the whole scenery a vibrant hue of orange, the streets were scanty, and only the rustling of nylons and papers, or the clanking of metal cans by stray cats was left of what was once a lively neighborhood just a few weeks ago.
This situation was not specific to Ayo's estate street alone. With the gate breaks and awakenings. The government had done a great job in providing a temporary safe zone for citizens.
It was a matter of choice but almost everyone was rushing into it with their families, leaving the streets to the stray cats.
"With all that is happening, it is hard to believe you are still around. Everyone had gone to the safe zone. Why haven't you?"
Ayo was at first desperate to kill the silence that was between the two of them, however... upon asking the question, he became curious.
'...why is she still here?'
"I am waiting for someone."
She said with her head bowed as they both walked, she had been silent with her head bowed the whole time they'd been walking. It was a huge play as to why Ayo was not feeling this atmosphere.
Not wanting to pry further Ayo seized the words that swelled up his throat. He put his hands into the pocket of his hoodie.
'It was a good idea to wear this'
Ayo slowly breathe out the cold air and took a glimpse of her. What he saw made him stop walking and turn to her.
"Is something wrong? Is there something you are not telling me?"