That goes to all these fine boys we have in this company.”
“Don’t you have confidence?” Zikora asked with a smirk.”
Why are you so scared of competition?”
“I am scared, yes.” He confessed.
“If you guys don’t want a national strike action, then warn all these guys to stay off her.”
“Strike action?”
“Don't mind me.” He giggled. “But seriously, I am in love. I just found her.
For those of you who have been asking me to get married, very soon, insha Allah.”
Maraah who was sitting quietly behind her computer smugly grimaced.
Jubril looked serious even though he said it like a joke.
Who was that girl who wanted to take what she had been nursing? Jubril was for her and there was no shegiya (bastard) that was going to have him
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PETRA POV
Petra did not have breakfast that morning and she felt the need for something to eat. She saw a restaurant just close to the skyscraper in which they were located but chose to go for something lighter.
She came out of the building, looked round and not sure of where to find a snack bar. She thought of using her car but hesitated then changed her mind.
She would take a stroll, and find any grocery where she could get some soft drinks and snacks.
She walked along the highway, hearing the whipping sounds of cars that passed her, she shifted on the sidewalk, feeling the warmer. She was astonished the rain had not started falling but the sky was still warning. She increased her pace.
She was lucky to find a caravan where light food was sold. She went there and saw a young girl with an apron.
“Good morning, you are welcome. We have noodles, omelette, tea, toasted bread, oats…..” “ Oats and milk.” The young girl said.
“Do you want potato chips to go with it?” she asked and Petra shook her head. “No, thanks.” There were about three other customers having breakfast or brunch rather. It was a few minutes after ten o’clock in the morning.
She was served in a ceramic bowl, and given some cubes of sugar, and milk. She has barely started when Jubril walked in with an umbrella and small bag.
What the hell was he doing here? He saw her, smiled then walked to her.
“May I?” He asked as he sat down.
“But you should have waited for my response.” Petra said
“I am so sorry. I am famished and usually come here for my brunch.” He said and leaned the umbrella on the table and then dropped his bag.
The girl came to him. “Good morning, what do you want sir, we have oats, omelette and noodles, potato…..”
“Why don’t you just drop a menu?” he interrupted.
“It is on it’s way…..potato chips, plantain chips, noodles, tea, bread and cornflakes.” The young girl remarked.
“Let me have oats but with chips.” He said. “That would add more weight to the food.” The girl smiled and left.
“Why are you carrying this big umbrella? Petra asked
The weather has been like this since morning.” “It is going to rain before we leave here insha Allah.” He said assertively.
“Now you have become a weather forecaster. How do you know that?” she asked.
“I saw a red sky some minutes ago, I took a deep breath and smelt earth and compost, the flowers at the office smelt stronger, the sky is void of birds, and I saw goats running.” She smirked.
“Crap! Why do you have to take note of all of these.”
“I fear rain more than goats.” He said. “I am allergic to water.”
“What?”
“That is why I don’t take bath.” Her face narrowed, “Just kidding.” He smiled.
That smile. “I have problems with rain water falling on me so I am very proactive and I got skills at forecasting rain.” “Just a random guess.”
His meal was brought. Petra loved the chips at sight and regretted not ordering. They began to eat and she remembered Justin. She always did and would always do.
It began to rain. She gave him a sharp glance.
“Now I guess you are so proud of yourself.” He smiled.
“It is nothing.” He said. “I do it a lot.” He said
“Now boasting.” “Trying to impress you.”
“I am not impressed.”
“Then take back the looks you gave me.”
“So, what is your discipline?” “Sociology.” He said. “The truth is I am not very good academically. I know I am trying to impress you, be that perfect guy, and if I knew I was going to meet you today, I would have worn my sallah cloth, have some Umar Borkan swags in me, some Robert Pattinson personality, fix my Heretic Roshan façade, and give some Mario Cimarro impressive walk.” She chuckled.
She could not tell him that he was very impressive and gorgeous the way he was. She did not want him to have ideas. The intensity of the rain increased.
“I hate calculations, so I avoided anything to do with mathematics. But I know a few maths. I can find the LCM of 4 and 5 but I hate HCF.” He said.
“I used to hate maths too but I developed love for it later and became good at the topics that were relevant to me though.” Petra said.
Where did you school?” She asked.
“I had my primary school at Demonstration Comprehensive school, Port-Harcourt, then FGC Port-Harcourt then proceeded to Pennsylvania State University and managed to graduate. Thank God, they accepted me here.”
“Do you have a younger brother?” She continued with her questions.
“No.” He responded.
“Why?” Petra asked.
I am the only son with two elder sisters and one younger sister. You are interrogating me, isn’t that sweet?” he said.
“Do not get me wrong.” She said. “You remind me of someone and I was just wondering…or curious but it seems I am just been hyper curious. One more thing did you ever have a missing brother…like missing at birth?”
Jubril raised his eye brow. “No..my mother only gave birth four times and we are all alive and around. Strange. Do you want to share?” “No.” “ I guess you only talk to me because I remind you of someone and you want to know if I am related to the person or not. Now that you are sure I am not, it seems you are done with me.”
“I don’t know what you want from me.” Petra said.
“Your friendship.” He said. “I am not going to prevaricate. I felt something for you from the first day I saw you and I never forgot you for a second. I did not know where you live or have your contact I would have stormed your place…..”
“Thank God you did not.” She cut in. “It is imperative I let you know that I do not want anything personal to do with you. I am here to work and we should remain as colleagues. I think the rain is not reducing and I am already getting late.”
Jubril tried to hide his pain. “I know that. They don’t joke with time there and it would not be good for a first day worker to be found wanting.” “But it is raining.” “That was why they provided a restaurant close-by.” He said.
“But we would have to leave now.” “That umbrella cannot stop us from getting wet. It may be extra-large but there is wind.”
“I told you I am skilled when it came to rain-protection. I got my paraphernalia intact.”
He opened the bag and brought out two long rain-coats, with two rain boots. “One for you-one for me” He said. She frowned.
“You don’t come here with these. You were stalking me. You said you always have your brunch here which is a lie. This is your first time here. Now you bring out two raincoats and two boots….isn’t that sticky?” she said
“Yes, it is. I actually saw you coming here and I knew it was going to rain so I decided to make your first day void of negative memory.”
Their eyes met and she took it off. He wore his glasses back. Without a word, she accepted the raincoat, removed her shoes and he picked it and put it in the bag. She was not liking this. This guy was doing something to her.
She wore the raincoat and boots and covered her head with the hood. He did the same, carried the bag and called the girl.
“Our bill?” “No….”She wanted to protest . “A bowl of oat is five hundred naira then the chips is also five hundred. One thousand five hundred naira ” He paid her.
“Get a menu.” “Okay, sir. Thank you for your patronage. I hope you enjoyed our meals?” “Yes, We did.” He replied. She eyed him.
“You don’t know how I feel.” “There you fail.” “What?” “Come on, we are going to be late.” He spread the umbrella. “Here we go.”
Maraah was standing by the window on the second floor and watching them return without making any physical contact. She noticed that they were both wearing identical raincoats and were standing under the same umbrella.
Something that she observed between them sent a sharp pain through her body. She couldn't quite put her finger on it. Did Jubril take this seriously? He was cheerful and friendly, but there was something odd about him and the new girl.
Maraah did not have a clear view of her, but she could tell that her face was attractive. Damn her! She was also quite attractive. A more attractive woman than the girl. "Could it be her?" A voice had come from behind her and said something. It was Zikora . Maraah nodded, her eyes penetrating them as she did so.
.
“We can handle her.” Zikora said. “She is playing with fire.” Maraah smirked.
“She can’t just come and take him from me.” “No, she can’t. Let us see if Jubril is serious. We must not jump into conclusion.” “Tooh (Okay).”
Jubril and Petra got into the building after they pulled off the raincoats and boots. He dropped them with a security man then got into the lift with her. Petra felt so uncomfortable.
She had never felt anything like this since Justin left but she was not going to let the feelings deceive her. She had to put an end to this now. She did not want to make a great mistake. They came out at the fourth floor.
“Thank you.” She said and walked away without turning back. “You are welcome.” He replied after her, smiled then went towards his office.
“Jubril.” Someone called. It was Jalat, his friend and colleague.
“Maza.” Jubril said. “I saw you with the new chic.” “I know what chic means but it sounds too unfitting for her. I am not saying it is an insult.” “Damn! What do you want me to call her?”
“Girl or lady … I am in love.” “What? Do you want Maraah to roast you.”
“I said I am in love. I want to marry this girl.”
“Go ahead then.”
“Is it that easy?”
“How?”
“She is not responding positively. I think there is something in her mind…..or someone else who seems not to be there now.”
“You just met her today, so you can’t conclude.” He shook his head.
“No. She is the girl I told you I met at Ummi’s graduation.” He said. “And I think about her every minute of my life. Now fates brings her close….I am going to fight for her….and win her heart, and get married to her.”
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