A waiter walked up to her, he doesn't even looked so surprised. It wasn't the first time she would be here, and though he's always surprised to see her, he's been trained enough to not get caught staring.
"Welcome ma, do you have a reservation as usual or I should get you a table?"
"I booked a table under Mayowa Ajayi". The waiter checked the tablet he's holding.
"Yes ma, please follow me." He led her into a passage before getting into one of the rooms. The door reflected her whole body and she noticed a weave out of the tightly packed hair. She had on a neatly braided hair, weaved with attachment and it's so long that after packing it together it reached her buttocks. She used six deep black attachments twisted and curled from the waist. She spent a total of 4hours with 6 hairdresser before the hair was done.
The waiter opened the door and they entered. She sat down on the small couch as her partner is not yet around.
"Please get me zobo, not so chilled I will order when my boyfriend is here."
"Definitely ma." The waiter left the room and Jumoke looked around. There's a glass table in the middle of the room. The table is made such that one would be able to see the a small tree with flowers and fruits shaped inform of love. The tree changes colour occasionally and is enclosed in the glass table. It's so lovely.
The two chairs beside the table looks like something one would expect the oba (king) to have in their dinning room. If not for anything, just to show people how mighty their oba is.
"Here ma." The waiter entered with a glass of Zobo. "Please ring the bell when your partner comes."
"Hmmm". She answered. The wall is painted white, almost shinning. There are some paintings and artwork hanging beautifully on the wall. If one didn't know better they would think it an art gallery. It might as well be, because the place is beautiful.
She got a call right after finishing her drink. The number is saved may's John When Jumoke saw the name displayed she couldn't help but sign, Mayowa is standing her up again.
"Hello, Johnson how are you." Drop the pleasantries and say what you called for already, she thought.
"Jummy, aw are you doing?" Am not sure it can be considered good since I was so eager to eat with May, Yes I calls Mayowa May whenever am angry.
"Am fine. Just about to eat lunch.." So say it and let me eat if am still able to stomach it.
"Oh, Mayowa said I should inform you that he will not be eating with you." There it is, why am I still feeling so sad. Well it hurts every time he cancel.
"Is he alright, do I need to come over?"
"No you don't need to. He will be having lunch with the team. You should go ahead and eat." Well he could have at least call me, why is it so easy for him to cancel the plan we made. I'm I that easy? No where's that thought coming from? He loves me enough to sacrifice our date so he could make money to take care of me. How much I wish I could tell him I have more than we could ever spend.
"Sure, help me say hi to everyone."
"Yes bye"
He hung up. Secret. I hate hiding things from him. I know that a relationship that is laid on secret and lies would not last, even if it did the crack that would remain will hurt both of them forever. But unless you are in that situation one would think it easy to be open to ones partner, especially one with a dark secret.
I once read a book the lady was hiding the fact that her original hair colour was red. She thought she could hide it forever because she preferred black but once they got married he discovered that the black dye is rubbing off the pillow. When he discovered things blew up so had. Well, we discovered later in the book that the man was told not to marry a red haired woman that she would cause his death. The girl didn't know, the guy didn't say anything about it. She did cause his death because the dye she used after they got married was fake of the original product. The government seized the rest from market as it would cause the death of the users and people that have direct contact with it. The guy died since he has low resistance to the chemical. The girl cried and cried and cried forever.
I laughed so hard when I read the story. I felt like they are exaggerating, why would a simple lie lead to a broken relationship. But here I am five years later still thinking about how I am supposed to tell him about my birth. Even if he doesn't break up with me because of my blood, he will because I didn't trust him enough to share my life with him.
I pressed the button resting on the couch, and watched as another waiter came in with tablet ready to take my order.
"Semovita, ewedu, rice stew and a plate of assorted meat." That is really heavy, I know, but I am going to eat it nevertheless. I love swallow food a lot.
"Right away ma."
"I would need some takeaway puff-puff." I should get my co-workers something too. I overheard someone saying they want to know what the puff-puff here taste like.
"Sure ma, please excuse me while I prepare your order." He left and came in about some minutes later with everything except the puff-puff, I guess I will get them when am ready to go.
I moaned out after taking the first morsel, I could not help it. It was delicious. Mayowa really miss. Well I am sure my food is as good as this if not, then almost. But the thing is I tends to enjoy the food more if I'm not the one who laboured for it in the kitchen.
The second morsel, I had to call the waiter to put a tip for the cook in my bill. The good man just gave me delicious taste of heaven. And I love it. I paid the bills and when back to work.
By the time the day's work was over, I was so tired that I could not even eat not to talk of prepare my dinner.