I’m Asari (Episode 59): Truth Or Dare, The Truth Is That I Fvcked Up
It’s been over a month since my sick leave started and the past month was kind of boring; I can’t believe I am saying this but I miss work. I miss my miserable bank job, getting up in the morning and having a plan for the day. I miss going out and having plenty things to do. How is my ankle? Hmmm… my ankle is not doing as good as I want it to. Don’t get me wrong; it is better than it was a month ago but I am still using these damn crutches. Every time I try to be stubborn and go without them, I incur my mother’s drama. So I have chosen to fall strictly in line with doctor’s recommendations. Anyway that aside, the most important thing now is that Christmas is coming.
I love Christmas, I didn’t really like it as a kid because I didn’t have control over anything; I wore what I was told to wear, ate what I was told to eat and went where ever my parents wanted us to go. But the moment I turned 16 years old and my parents gave me a little freedom to do what I wanted; Christmas became the second love of my life. Who is the first love of my life? My sweet father of course.
Yes, I am a daddy’s girl and I am very proud to say so. The way my dad has pampered me in this period; I’d say it’s pampering that can last a lifetime. To be honest, I was beginning to get tired of it or maybe it’s the frustration of not having a life that is getting to me. Asides my dad, the other man in my life trying to make things easy for me is Abdul. He has been taking our friendship seriously as if we took an oath. He calls a lot and whenever I tell him that I want something, before I say Jack Robinson the thing will appear in my house. My mother met him once and it was very awkward because she kept asking him all sorts of questions, as if he came to marry me.
“You are the first Hausa man Asari has ever brought to this house”. My mother is always happy whenever I bring a man to the house, like it’s a sign for an upcoming wedding. I had to tell her that Abdul has a girlfriend and that we were only good friends.
“A man and a woman cannot be only friends” she declared like it was an abomination
“Mummy, in modern times a man and a woman can be friends without any other intention” I explained but she looked at me like I had just told a big obvious lie then said something that slapped me across the face
“That boy loves you and from what I saw the day he came around; you are also in love with him. So sit down there and be deceiving yourself that you are friends until he marries someone else” she entered her bedroom and shut the door. End of discussion
My mother is a funny woman, sometimes she acts as if she has no idea what is going on; not that I am even agreeing with her on this. But she will watch you for long time then come and drop punch line and exit like a rapper. If I am in love, I think I’ll be the first to know that I am in love; so all this thing everyone is saying is … what should I call it? Noise.
One special morning, when everyone had gone to their various place of duty, I decided to look online for upcoming Christmas events in the city and I saw a couple of things but nothing that I was interested in. Then I called Abdul.
“It’s like this Christmas is going to be a dry one” I went straight to the reason I was calling
“It’s too early to tell, many other good things will come up… chill” he advised. He was at work so we didn’t talk for long but he asked to see me briefly later that night. He wanted to give me an invitation to his father’s annual end of the year party. I was sure that I was not going to go because of my leg but he refused to take no for an answer, so I just took it that he wanted an excuse to see me. “I am home all day, so you can come any time” I said
He came by 6:00 p.m. which was a good time because I was home alone; he gave me the invitation, it was for me and my friends. He believed that inviting Ashezi and Lota would encourage me to attend.
“Is this a Christmas party or an end of the year party?” I asked because from what I recall his father was supposed to be a Muslim
“Come on, you know that my father is not a Christian” he replied
“It’s amazing that he allowed you become a Christian” Abdul was the only Christian in his family and from everything he told me about his family, they were all okay with it and no one tried to infringe on the things he wanted for himself
“My father believes that you should know what is best for you than anyone else including your parents” he explained. It was almost 8:00 p.m. by then and time for him to leave, to be honest I didn’t want him to leave. Every time he comes around and says “time to hit the road” my heart always skips a beat and I just don’t know why. I don’t like it because it makes me feel attached, like I am a needy person or something.
He hugged me and walked towards the door when I reminded him to send an email he was supposed to send regarding business
“Oh yes that’s true. Thank you for reminding me” he said
“You are welcome. Alright bye” I replied as he walked out
“Alright, I love you. Bye” he said and shut the door behind him
Hmmm… I love you? How? Was it a mistake? Or did he say that to all his close friends? I don’t know menh but this love business is complicated and I want no part of it. I sat there in my living room praying that it was just something he said and meant nothing. Who even sent me to remind him of email now.