Arriving on Maitama Sule Street, Audrey parked her sleek Porsche by the curb and headed towards the popular suya spot, its air thick with the aroma of grilling meat and lively chatter. Glancing around for Kimberly, a flicker of disappointment crossed her face as her friend was nowhere to be seen. She still needed to go to the mall to buy a few things for her upcoming birthday.
As she scanned the bustling scene, a girl with a beige rucksack, enjoying her suya, accidentally bumped into Audrey, sending her latest edition iPhone tumbling to the ground. The girl, flustered, quickly apologised and bent down to retrieve the phone.
Before her fingers could touch it, a strong hand swooped in, scooping up the phone and presenting it back to Audrey.
'Thank you so much,' she expressed, her voice laced with relief.
'Always a pleasure, Madam Audrey,' the man replied, his voice sending a jolt through her.
Audrey's entire body froze. It was Daniel Onuoha, the man who had saved her from falling. She couldn't believe she recognised his voice. The girl with the rucksack scurried away, leaving Audrey and Daniel alone. Slowly, she looked up, a hopeful smile blooming on her face as she confirmed it was indeed him.
'Daniel?' she breathed, her heart skipping a beat. They barely knew each other, yet his voice held an unexpected power over her. Their eyes met, and a spark ignited between them.
Daniel's eyes crinkled at the corners as he returned her smile. 'Audrey. How have you been?'
'I'm good, my superhero,' Audrey replied, feeling like she was in a dream. She was thrilled to see Daniel again. Perhaps their meeting was fate's way of bringing them together.
Daniel gazed at Audrey, pleased by the charming smile adorning her face. She looked incredibly beautiful, youthful, and radiant. He, too, looked handsome in his attire. He was wearing a white long-sleeve shirt and well-fitted blue jeans, with neatly cut hair and a modest wristwatch.
'I just finished delivering spare parts to a client,' Daniel shared. 'I'm craving suya. Maybe we could grab a bite together?'
Hearing the word 'together,' Audrey's heart melted. Without bothering to look for Kimberly, she decided to seize the opportunity and have a meal with Daniel. They both entered the restaurant. Audrey's purpose of being here was only to meet Kimberly, but destiny seemed to have orchestrated this beautiful chance encounter with Daniel. Although, if she had wanted to find him any time, she would have done that through Chioma or trace her way to him. But then, she preferred this chance meeting more because it felt like a romance drama series to her right now. And she felt happy being the lead female right now, and Daniel, the male lead.
The tantalising aroma of suya filled the air as they entered the restaurant. They scanned the tables for a seat, but just as Audrey lowered herself onto a chair, a familiar wave caught her eye. Kimberly was across the room, engrossed in conversation with her boyfriend at the same time enjoying suya with him. A small smile played on Audrey's lips as she excused herself and walked towards her friend to collect her handout from Kimberly. While she had been expecting to see Kimberly at the parking lot, she didn't know that she was already enjoying suya with her boyfriend. Nonetheless, Audrey didn't feel appalled; instead, she believed it was destiny that created a chance for her to meet Daniel. The best part was that she was going to have suya with him, making it feel like a date, which filled Audrey with joy.
'Hey Audrey! So sorry I didn't wait at the parking lot for you,' Kimberly chirped. 'Boyfriend decided to treat me to some suya once we arrived here I couldn't say no.'
Audrey's gaze darted between Kimberly and the handsome young man sitting across from her. He offered a polite smile, and Audrey returned it with a small nod.
'Actually, I wasn't sad not to have met you at the parking lot,' Audrey said, holding out her hand. 'Hope you came with my handout?'
Kimberly fumbled in her purse, retrieving a handout. 'Here you go,' she mumbled, her eyes flickering between Audrey and Daniel. 'You came with your beau?' Kimberly asked, giggling. She was dressed in a green dress paired with black heels.
'Yup,' Audrey replied, accepting the handout and quickly walking away to avoid further questions. Daniel wasn't her beau, but she was surprised that she even admitted what she wasn't sure of in front of Kimberly. What if Daniel only wanted to be friends? Audrey's mind raced with thoughts as she returned to sit with Daniel.
'Your friend?' Daniel enquired, passing her the menu. 'I mean the lady you just met.'
'Yup, she's my coursemate,' Audrey happily responded. 'The guy with her is her boyfriend,' she added. Audrey opened the menu and, upon seeing the prices, glanced up at Daniel. She didn't want him to spend his hard-earned money unnecessarily. Using the menu to partially cover her face, she whispered, 'Everything here is expensive.'
Audrey shifted uncomfortably in the plush leather seat, the air thick with the aroma of grilled meat and the murmur of affluent conversation. Despite the luxurious setting, her gaze kept darting towards the exorbitant prices listed on the menu. Audrey had led a privileged life and could afford anything she wanted, but now she was with a man who was struggling to make ends meet.
Naturally, she thought about his financial situation. Was her concern obvious? Or perhaps, she was falling in love with him and couldn't help but feel worried about him. Daniel, noticing her hesitation, smiled reassuringly.
'It's all right,' Daniel said, catching her fleeting glance. His voice, laced with a hint of amusement, broke the tense silence. 'Just order whatever you like.'
Audrey hesitated, the weight of his generosity pressing down on her. The thought of indulging in this extravagant setting while he clearly struggled felt wrong.
'Maybe we should go somewhere else?' she suggested, her voice barely a whisper. 'We could grab a bite of any delicious suya from any of these Aboki that sell suya on the street. I don't mind…'
Daniel smiled reassuringly. 'I know this place isn't exactly for everyone. It's meant for the elite, where people burn cash like it's paper,' he said, looking at her tenderly. 'But I wanted to treat you. Please, don't feel worried about the money or guilty. I might not be able to afford this kind of place on regular bases but then, this is my first time of treating you to something, I need to make a good impression. My bank account won't run dry today because I am treating you to this expensive restaurant. Order anything you desire.'
With a resigned sigh, she picked up the menu, her fingers tracing the expensive options. Each dish seemed exorbitantly priced. Audrey felt a pang of guilt, torn between her desire to enjoy his company and the nagging voice of reason in her head. Finally, she settled on a simple dish—grilled chicken with a side of seasoned fries. The guilt still lingered, a dull ache in her stomach.
He gestured towards the waiter, who came over, surprised by her simple choice, or he recognised Audrey to come from the rich and powerful Njemanze family, and a moment later, a tray of plates arrived with a steaming mound of perfectly grilled chicken and side of season fries of different delicacy.
'Enjoy your chicken suya,' the waiter said with a warm smile, his eyes flickering between Audrey and Daniel then, he left their table to attend to the other customers.
Audrey stole a glance at Daniel, a silent thanks passing between them. Audrey looked at her plate of suya and felt a warm feeling inside. She knew she would savour every bite because it came from Daniel, someone she loved deeply. Then, unable to resist any longer, she picked up a piece of suya and brought it to her lips. The smoky, savoury flavours of the suya danced on her tongue, momentarily pushing the guilt aside. She was grateful and happy that Daniel was here with her. With a small nod at Daniel, she took a bite. The first bite was a revelation. The smoky char mingled with savoury spices, a flavour explosion on her tongue. The guilt, for a moment, faded into the background. This simple dish, shared with Daniel, tasted extraordinary.
He watched her with a gentle smile, his eyes sparkling with something more than amusement. 'What about drinks?' he reminded her.
Audrey, still chewing, playfully stuck out her tongue. 'I'll have to look at the menu again.'
'No need to search, just order a drink,' Daniel suggested.
'Milk tea,' Audrey decided, finally swallowing the delicious suya.
The waiter brought two glasses of milk tea. Audrey took a sip, and Daniel's eyes fixated on her as she gracefully ate her suya.
'You can call me Daniel,' he said, his voice filled with intimacy.
Audrey already knew his name, but hearing him say it again felt special. She looked at him, a shy smile spreading across her face.
'Daniel,' she repeated, the name feeling both new and familiar at the same time.
Pushing another plate of spicy suya towards her, Daniel said, 'I already consider you my friend. I hope you don't mind?'
Audrey was overjoyed by his words. She looked up at Daniel with her charming smile and replied, 'I accept being your friend.'
'Have some more,' Daniel offered her suya from his plate.
Audrey took a bite and smiled. 'I'm full,' she said, pushing the remaining suya towards Daniel, its spicy aroma lingering in the air. He devoured it with a satisfied smile, his eyes meeting hers briefly before returning to the plate.
As Audrey finished eating, Daniel handed her a wet tissue from the empty table beside him. She gratefully wiped her hands clean, their eyes locked again.
'Does that mean we're now friends?' Daniel looked at her affectionately.
Audrey's lips curved into a genuine smile. 'Absolutely,' she replied, her voice soft yet firm.
Daniel appeared content with the answer. He understood that a relationship takes time to develop and grow. He believed that eventually, she would be his. Daniel recognised that everything in a relationship starts from somewhere, and he considered this moment as the potential beginning of their journey together.
As the afternoon sun began its descent, casting long shadows across the restaurant floor, Daniel glanced at his watch.
'Well,' he sighed, a hint of regret creeping into his voice, 'I should probably get going. I have a client to meet later.'
A pang of disappointment flickered in Audrey's chest. She had been thoroughly enjoying his company, and the thought of their time together ending so soon left a void.
'Oh,' she replied in a whisper. 'All right then.'
Daniel stood up, his gaze lingering on her for a beat longer than necessary. 'But hey,' he continued, a playful smile tugging at the corners of his lips, 'how about I walk you to the mall? You mentioned needing to buy a few things. There is a mall not far from here. I could walk you there then later you pick your car and drive home.'
Relief washed over Audrey. It wasn't goodbye just yet. 'Sure,' she agreed, a genuine smile returning to her face. 'That would be great.'
As they exited the restaurant, the cool evening air enveloped them. The city buzzed with activity—car horns honking, street vendors hawking their wares, the rhythmic beat of music spilling from open storefronts. Daniel walked beside Audrey, their shoulders brushing occasionally, sending a pleasant shiver down her spine.
They chatted about their favourite parts of Abuja. Daniel chuckled at a group of men engaged in a heated game of checkers on a makeshift board.
Reaching the entrance of the mall, Audrey stopped, a flicker of nervousness replacing her earlier excitement. She wasn't sure what came next. Was this just a friendly outing, or was there a chance for something more?
Daniel seemed to sense her hesitation. He stopped in front of her, their eyes meeting for a long moment. A hint of shyness coloured his features, but his gaze held a warmth that made Audrey's heart skip a beat.
'So,' he began, his voice barely a murmur, 'would you maybe like to, I don't know, grab coffee sometime?'
An involuntary smile spread across Audrey's face. This wasn't goodbye after all. It was a beginning. 'I'd like that,' she replied, her voice filled with hope.
Daniel's grin widened, his eyes crinkling at the corners. 'I'd like that too.'
As they said their goodbyes, a lingering touch of his hand on hers sent shivers down her spine. The promise of a future coffee date hung in the air, and Audrey felt that it was a sweet melody that filled her heart with newfound optimism. She watched him walk away, his tall figure disappearing into the throng of people, a sweet smile playing on her lips.
The encounter had been unexpected, another meeting that was by chance. This time her phone had fallen, and as her hero, he had picked it up for her. It seemed today's meeting had blossomed into something far more meaningful. With a spring in her step and a lightness in her heart, Audrey entered the mall, ready to face the bustling crowd and happy to shop for a few things that she would be needing for her birthday. And in her, she had already chosen Daniel to be her escort; she just wanted him to agree with it when she would tell him about it.
Audrey had a wonderful time that day, largely because she spent it with Daniel. She didn't mention her upcoming birthday to him yet, but she planned to visit his home and personally hand him the birthday invitation. She felt it would be another opportunity to spend time with him, and she was elated that thoughts of Daniel consumed her mind.
Later that night, nestled in her pink bathrobe, Audrey savoured the sweetness of the lollipop in her mouth, mirroring the hope blossoming in her heart. Gazing out the window at the dazzling night sky, she couldn't help but feel a deep sense of contentment and excitement for what the future held.