PT2: Lele’s POV

 

How quickly time slipped away from them without their notice was nothing short of astonishing! Three hours had vanished in the blink of an eye, filled with laughter and deep conversations. Both of them sensed that if they had a whole day, they would barely scratch the surface of all they could discuss. Curiosity sparked an endless stream of questions, drawing them closer, like siblings discovering shared secrets.

In those fleeting moments together, he felt an undeniable pull toward her—a desire to learn everything about her and to weave her into the fabric of his everyday life. He was captivated by the way her mind worked, and he knew, deep down, that there had to be a next time. And if she was willing, he wanted there to be many more moments like this. 

These thoughts swirled in Lele’s mind as he waited alongside Fade for a tricycle (Keke) to fill up with passengers. Just as the tricycle was about to move, he gathered his courage and asked, “Can I get your number, Fade? I’d love to keep in touch.” 

Fade rolled her eyes playfully, thinking to herself, “About time you asked!” A smile broke across her face as she tapped her phone number into his device. Lele promised to text her, and they exchanged warm goodbyes. 

As he was about to hop on a motorcycle (okada), his phone buzzed with a message from his sister, asking where he was. That simple text jolted him back to reality, reminding him of the real reason he had come to the market—to meet his good friend Prince for some much-needed help.

……….

Before heading to the market to seek help from his friend Prince, Lele pondered multiple ways to gather money for food. His mother worked as a secretary in the chairman’s office, a position she secured thanks to the connections forged by his late father, a once-successful civil engineer. Although her salary was decent, it wasn’t enough to cover the family’s needs, especially since his father’s death five years ago. 

The peculiarities of her job provided some perks and bonuses, but with the weight of rising inflation, expenses grew heavier each day. Private school fees for Lele and his two siblings piled on top of that. Fortunately, his mother supplemented their income with a small provision business and sold off some of the properties his father had left behind, helping ease their financial struggles—at least for now.

For Lele, days like today had become all too familiar, almost predictable, especially around the time when school resumed. The struggle was constant, the tension palpable. This time, however, the urgency stemmed from his impending fees for his private university. After recently completing his A-levels at Ife, he had excelled, his aggregate score soaring high enough to grant him entry into any science course he desired. The allure of studying medicine or engineering tempted him, but the lengthy commitment and expensive fees of those courses weighed heavily on his mind. In the end, he chose computer science—an ambitious yet more manageable path.

Their choice of institution was Bowen University in Iwo, not only due to the relatively affordable fees but also its convenient distance from Ogbomoso. With Lele set to resume in 200-level next month, the pressure mounted, as numerous payments had already been made. 

And Unfortunately, that left their pantry nearly bare, and with only the beginning of the month upon them, it would be three long weeks before any salary could come in. The reality of their situation loomed large, casting a shadow over what should be a time of excitement for Lele.

As Lele approached Prince's store, he spotted his good friend busily unloading a fresh shipment of vibrant tiles from a truck parked out front. It all made sense now—no wonder Prince hadn’t answered his call earlier. As soon as their eyes met, Prince broke into a broad smile and called out, “Lele! How you dey, my brother?” 

With a chuckle, Prince continued, “So this is why you’re here? You should have called me! Sorry, I’ve been swamped today.” 

"No worries at all," Lele replied, his voice full of gratitude. “But Prince, I really need your help. I could use an urgent 5k to grab a few things for the house and sort out some personal stuff.” 

“I promise I’ll pay you back once things settle down on my end,” he added, hoping to reassure his friend.

“Come on in, let’s sit down and talk,” Prince urged, gesturing towards the inviting interior of the store. They settled into chairs, and Lele shared his current struggles and brainstormed ways to earn a little extra cash. 

After an insightful discussion, Prince reached into his pocket and handed Lele a generous wad of naira notes. Lele's eyes lit up with gratitude. “Thank you so much, Prince, I can’t tell you how much this means to me,” he said earnestly before heading home, a little lighter in spirit.

………

Fade arrived home with a lightness in her heart, buoyed by memories of her day with Lele. His laughter and charm had her practically floating, each thought of him making her skip with glee. She kept checking her phone, eager for the promised text. An hour passed — nothing. Three hours later, her anticipation turned to worry as the silence stretched on. Two days went by, and still no message or call from the mysterious number she had hoped was Lele’s.

Confusion swirled in her mind like a storm. What had gone wrong? She found herself dissecting every moment they shared, replaying their conversations in her head. Was she too forward? Had she seemed desperate for his attention? The questions gnawed at her.

She even ran through the numbers she’d dialed, double-checking to reassure herself she had given him the correct one. As the hours turned into days, her heart sank deeper into uncertainty. Why had he vanished? Was he okay? The ghosting felt surreal, leaving her questioning her own sanity. Each unanswered moment only amplified the anxiety. A whirlwind of thoughts consumed her: Did he feel anything at all?

To be continued next week❤️

Ifedolapo