Vida settled into her chair at the office, placing her bag on the desk beside her. The air conditioner hummed quietly while the faint sound of keyboards and distant phone calls filled the room.
Even though the big presentation had been postponed, a few people were still around, moving between desks and small meeting rooms.
Across the room, Tomi walked to her own desk but turned back once more.
"I'm watching you," she said, pointing playfully at Vida.
Vida shook her head. "Please focus on your work."
Tomi laughed and finally sat down.
Vida opened her laptop and tried to concentrate on a few emails that had piled up overnight. Most of them were routine—updates, reminders, and one or two documents she needed to review.
For a few quiet minutes, everything felt normal again.
Then her phone buzzed.
Vida glanced down at the screen.
Unknown Number
Her eyebrows lifted slightly.
She already knew who it was.
Before she could stop herself, a small smile crept onto her face.
From across the room, Tomi noticed immediately.
She leaned back in her chair and called out quietly, "Vida…"
Vida pretended not to hear.
"Vidaaa," Tomi said again, stretching the name.
Vida finally looked up.
"What?"
Tomi pointed at her phone.
"Is that him?"
Vida tried to keep a straight face. "Mind your business."
Tomi's grin widened. "That means yes."
Vida looked back at the phone again. The message was still sitting there, unopened.
For a moment, she hesitated.
Then she tapped the screen.
The message appeared.
Daniel:
Hi Vida. It's Daniel..the guy who bravely risked rejection outside the cafe this morning.
Vida couldn't help it. She laughed softly.
Across the room, Tomi immediately sat up.
"What did he say?" she asked, trying to peek from a distance.
Vida shook her head, locking her phone.
"Nothing important."
Tomi gasped dramatically.
"You're wicked! After everything I witnessed today?"
Vida leaned back in her chair.
"Go and do your work, Tomi."
But as she turned back to her laptop, her phone buzzed again in her hand.
Another message from Daniel.
And suddenly, the day didn't feel as ordinary anymore.
The rest of the workday passed slowly.
Even though the big presentation had been postponed, Vida still had a few small reports to review. Nothing too stressful, but enough to keep her busy.
Across the room, Tomi occasionally glanced at her with that same mischievous smile.
At one point she even whispered across the desk, "Did Romeo text again?"
Vida didn't even look up. "Focus on your work."
Tomi laughed quietly and went back to typing.
By the time the clock finally showed 5:30 PM, most people in the office were already packing their things.
Vida shut down her laptop and stretched slightly.
"Finally," Tomi said, standing up. "Today felt longer than it should have."
Vida grabbed her bag. "That's because you spent half the day watching my phone."
"And it was worth it," Tomi replied proudly.
They both walked toward the office exit.
Outside, the evening Lagos traffic had already begun to build.
Tomi stopped near the entrance.
"Alright, I'm going this way," she said, pointing toward the parking lot where her car was parked.
Vida nodded. "Drive safe."
Tomi suddenly leaned closer.
"And text your new boyfriend back."
Vida rolled her eyes. "Goodnight, Tomi."
Tomi laughed and walked away.
~~~~~~~~~~
About 60 minutes later, Vida was driving toward the mall not too far from her apartment.
She needed a few things for the house—groceries, cereal for Sade, and some toiletries she had run out of.
The mall parking lot was busy, but she managed to find a space after a few minutes.
Inside, the air was cool and filled with the familiar hum of people shopping, music playing softly in the background, and the distant chatter of conversations.
Vida grabbed a small basket and began walking through the aisles.
Cereal.
Milk.
Bread.
She picked them one by one, moving slowly through the store.
Then something caught the corner of her eye.
She froze.
Near one of the shelves, lying on the floor close to the aisle, was an envelope.
The same color.
The same shape.
Her heart skipped.
For a brief second, everything around her felt quiet.
She stared at it.
How could it be here?
That didn't make sense.
The envelope had been outside her apartment door the night before.
She had never picked it up.
So how could it suddenly be here?
Vida slowly took a step closer.
Then another.
Her chest felt tight.
She blinked.
And the envelope was gone.
Just like that.
The floor was empty.
Nothing was there.
Vida looked around quickly.
A woman pushing a cart passed by her.
Two teenagers were laughing near the drinks section.
Everything looked completely normal.
She looked back at the floor again.
Still nothing.
Vida let out a slow breath and rubbed her forehead lightly.
"Okay…" she murmured to herself.
Maybe she was just tired.
It had been a long day.
And maybe her mind was simply playing tricks on her.
She picked up the rest of the items she needed and walked toward the checkout counter.
But as she paid and walked back toward the parking lot, one thought kept repeating quietly in her mind.
If the envelope was just in her head…
Then why did it look exactly the same?
Vida was halfway to her car when she remembered something important.
Toiletries… and fresh chicken.
She was going to make soup for the week since it was going to be a busy one. With a sigh, she turned back toward the store entrance.
The mall was just as busy as before, but this time she focused on her list. Toiletries first—soap, toothpaste, a few cleaning items—then she headed toward the fresh meat section.
As she rounded a corner near the refrigerated counters, she froze.
Daniel.
He was standing there, holding a basket with a few items, looking completely normal… except Vida felt her heart skip a beat.
He hadn't noticed her yet.
Vida paused for a moment, debating whether she should say hi or pretend she hadn't seen him.
Before she could decide, Daniel looked up, and their eyes met.
"Oh…" he said softly, a small smile spreading across his face. "Hey."
"Hey," Vida replied, trying to sound casual while her stomach did a tiny flip.
"I didn't expect to run into you here," he said, shifting the basket slightly.
Vida gestured toward the chicken counter. "Me neither. I… I just remembered I forgot a few things."
"Yeah?" Daniel asked. "I was just picking up some stuff for the week too."
There was a brief pause. Both of them stared at each other, neither quite sure what to say next.
Vida cleared her throat. "So… busy week coming up"
Daniel nodded. "Yeah. same here." He smiled faintly. "I guess we're both responsible adults now."
Vida laughed softly. "Responsible adults… that's one way to put it."
There was a small, comfortable silence as they both reached for different items in the refrigerated section.
Vida finally picked up the chicken she needed and placed it in her basket.
Daniel glanced at her basket and then back at her. "Soup for the week?" he asked casually.
Vida raised an eyebrow. "Yeah… I like to be prepared. Especially since work's going to be hectic."
He nodded, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "I get that."
For a moment, they just stood there, side by side in the middle of the aisle.
It felt… easy.
Like this wasn't their first encounter, even though it was, after the cafe.
Vida shook her head slightly. "Well, I should probably check out before I spend the whole evening here."
"Yeah," Daniel said, taking a small step back. "Me too. It was nice seeing you again."
"You too," Vida replied, smiling softly.
As they walked toward the checkout counters, she couldn't help but notice how ordinary yet strange it felt to see him here again.
Her mind briefly flashed to the envelope—the strange sense of curiosity and unease that had been following her all day.
And now… Daniel appeared in the middle of it all.
It was starting to feel like things were aligning in ways she didn't understand yet.
Vida wheeled her basket toward the checkout counter, trying to focus on the task at hand.
She heard the familiar beep of a scanner and glanced up.
And there was Daniel again, just a few feet away, placing items on the counter.
He looked up and caught her gaze. "Looks like we're shopping on the same day," he said, smiling.
Vida raised an eyebrow, trying to hide her smile. "Yeah? Didn't know chicken and soap were trending."
He laughed softly. "Essentials are essentials, right?"
The cashier started scanning Vida's items. She picked up her wallet.
Daniel leaned slightly closer, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Hey… you know, I feel like this is unfair."
Vida blinked. "Unfair?"
"Yes," he said, gesturing toward her basket. "You're carrying all this yourself. And I already saw you carrying chicken, bread… I insist—let me pay for it. I would love to pay for yours too."
Vida blinked in surprise. "You want to pay for my groceries?"
He grinned. "Absolutely. Consider it… a challenge, or maybe a small reward for being the most eye catching woman at the café this morning."
Vida laughed softly, shaking her head. "You're unbelievable."
"I know," he said with a playful shrug. "But I promise, you won't regret it."
Vida hesitated, then gave a small smile. "Okay… maybe just this once."
Daniel's grin widened, and he moved to cover her basket with his own payment at the counter.
"You're too kind," Vida said lightly, trying to hide how happy the gesture made her feel.
"I insist," he said, handing back her receipt. "Now you're officially my shopping partner."
Vida laughed quietly, tucking her bag under her arm. "I'll hold you to that."
As she walked toward the car, she couldn't help but notice the way Daniel looked at her, playful yet sincere.
And somewhere in the back of her mind, the envelope flickered in memory again.
Imaginary, or real… it was still there, quietly waiting.
~~~~~~~~
Vida finally pulled into her apartment complex, the evening sky now a deep orange fading into purple. She carried her shopping bags inside, still thinking about Daniel—and the envelope that seemed to linger in her mind.
As she stepped into the kitchen, she was greeted by a familiar aroma.
"Whoa…" Vida said, wrinkling her nose slightly. "What's that smell? I could smell it all the way from downstairs!"
Her younger sister, Sade, was stirring a large pot on the stove, a few ingredients scattered around. The rich scent of jollof rice filled the small kitchen.
"Jollof rice," Sade said proudly, giving a small smile. "I thought we could have it for dinner tonight. I added some peppers and seasoning."
Vida leaned against the counter, smiling but shaking her head. "You know, this smell is driving me crazy. It smells amazing… but it better taste as good as it smells."
Sade laughed. "You're just jealous you didn't cook it."
Vida wagged a finger playfully. "Jealous? No. But if it's as sweet and perfect as it smells, then I might forgive you for making me wait."
Sade giggled, stirring the rice again. "You'll see. I've been perfecting this recipe all week. It'll be worth the wait."
Vida set down her shopping bags and peeked into the pot. "Hmm… if this is as sweet as it smells, I'm going to be in trouble. I'll probably eat too much."
"You better save some for me!" Sade teased.
Vida laughed, taking a deep breath. The warm smell of the rice, the comforting sight of her sister cooking, and the quiet hum of the apartment building made her feel… at ease.
A little while later, the jollof rice was ready, steaming and fragrant.
Sade called out from her room, "Vida! Dinner's ready!"
Vida followed the smell into the kitchen and smiled. The aroma of the rice was rich and inviting.
Sade, already bustling with energy, set the table herself, placing plates, cutlery, and even pouring freshly pressed juice into the glasses. "Here! Everything's ready," she said proudly, placing the last plate down.
"Wow… it smells amazing," Vida said, settling into her chair.
Sade grinned. "Of course! I've been perfecting it all week. You better eat fast before I eat it all myself!"
As they dug into the steaming rice and chicken, they gisted—laughing about small things from school, work, and their day at the mall.
After a while, Vida leaned back slightly and said, "Sade… we're going home to see Mom and Dad for Easter this year. You know, for the celebration."
Sade's eyes lit up. "Really? I was hoping we'd go! I miss their cooking, and Mom will probably make all those little treats I love."
Vida smiled. "Exactly. It's going to be a busy week, but we'll spend some quality time with the family. And yes… Mom's treats are non-negotiable."
Sade giggled. "Yay! I'm so excited. I've been waiting for this."
Vida laughed softly, enjoying the simple moment—the warmth of home, the laughter, the jollof rice that Sade had cooked and prepared perfectly.
Just as Vida was taking a bite of the jollof rice, her phone buzzed on the table. She glanced down and saw Daniel's name flashing on the screen.
She took a moment before answering, letting a small smile play on her lips. "Hi… Daniel."
"Hey, Vida! How's your day been?" his warm voice asked.
Vida leaned back slightly in her chair, pretending to be casual. "It's been… fine. Busy, as usual. How about yours?"
There was a soft laugh from him. "Pretty much the same. But… seeing you at the mall actually made my day better."
Vida paused, tilting her head just slightly. She didn't respond immediately, giving the impression she was unfazed. Then, finally, she said, "I see. That's… good to hear."
He chuckled softly. "Are you ignoring me?"
Vida let out a soft laugh, playful but restrained. "Maybe just a little. I'm… in the middle of dinner."
"Ah, okay," he said. "I'll let you eat then. Talk later?"
"Sure," Vida replied lightly, ending the call.
She placed the phone beside her plate and took a careful bite of the jollof rice, letting the little thrill of the call linger quietly in her chest. She wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of knowing it had made her day… not yet.
Across the table, Sade let out a fake cough, leaning forward playfully, eyes narrowing as if trying to get Vida to spill something.
Vida raised an eyebrow. "What?"
Sade smirked. "Nothing… just thought I'd check if you're hiding something."
Vida shook her head, keeping her calm expression. "Sade… it's nothing."
Sade waved a hand dramatically. "Sure, I'll believe that."
After finishing their food, Vida and Sade moved to the living room, settling onto the couch. The TV show was already on, the room filled with soft laughter from the scenes on screen.
Vida's phone buzzed again. She glanced at it and saw Daniel calling.
She raised an eyebrow, hesitating for a moment, then answered with a small smile. "Hi again."
"Finally!" Daniel's voice was playful. "I was starting to think you were ignoring me on purpose."
Vida pretended to sound annoyed. "Me? Ignore you? Never."
He laughed. "Sure, sure. I guess I'll let it slide… this time."
They fell into easy conversation, talking about small things—how their day had been, funny moments, music, and even little dreams they had for the future. The more they talked, the more Vida felt that flutter in her chest, but she kept her tone cool, laughing softly, not giving too much away.
After a while, Daniel spoke up, a hint of nervous excitement in his voice. "So… I was wondering. Would you like to go out for dinner later this week? Just us. I promise to behave… mostly."
Vida tilted her head, considering it carefully, still keeping her hard-to-get act. "Dinner, huh? That's tempting. But you'll have to give me a good reason why I should say yes."
He chuckled. "Oh… I think spending a couple of hours with me will be reason enough. What do you say?"
Vida smiled softly, trying to sound casual. "I'll think about it."
"Fair enough," he said, with a playful lilt. "But don't take too long. I might start thinking you're avoiding me."
Vida laughed quietly. "I'm not avoiding you. I'm just… careful."
Daniel teased one last time before ending the call. "Alright… careful it is. I'll be waiting for your decision."
Vida set the phone down, a small smile lingering on her lips. She glanced at Sade, who was busy scrolling on her phone, oblivious to the conversation.
Vida leaned back on the couch, thinking to herself.
Careful… yes. But maybe just a little fun wouldn't hurt.
The TV show played on in the background, but her mind was already halfway through planning how to tease Daniel when they went out.