Meeting Someone Unexpected 2

"Ebilade? Is that you?"

Ebilade's eyes flickered with confusion as he looked at the girl who had called his name. Her voice was warm, familiar even, but he couldn't place her face. His brows furrowed slightly as he searched his memory, trying to make sense of who she was or how she knew him. But nothing came up.

The girl, sensing his hesitation, smiled. "It's me, Grace—from JSS 1, remember? We went to Community Secondary School Abam-Ama together," she said, her voice light with nostalgia. Her eyes brightened as she spoke, leaning in just a little, as if her presence alone should stir some long-lost memory.

Ebilade's confusion deepened as he blinked at her, his mind still drawing a blank. Grace's smile faltered slightly, but she pressed on, her tone more urgent now. "Come on, you used to be the bell ringer! You were always the one dragging the huge bell around during assemblies," she said with a soft laugh, her eyes scanning his face for a flicker of recognition. "We started school together, you've got to remember something."

Her voice was eager, almost pleading, but Ebilade's expression remained distant. He studied her face, the excitement in her eyes, the way she seemed to be genuinely trying to reconnect, but nothing clicked. His heart sank a little at the realization. She was trying so hard, but he couldn't meet her halfway.

"I'm sorry," he finally said, his voice flat but not unkind. "I don't remember you."

Grace's smile froze for a second, and her shoulders dropped slightly. She seemed taken aback by his bluntness, but before she could respond, Ebilade continued, his tone growing firmer. "If you'd like to place an order, I'd be happy to help. Otherwise, I need to get back to work."

He kept his voice professional, but there was a quiet finality in his words, a subtle distance that Grace couldn't ignore. He wasn't interested in rekindling old memories or catching up on lost years. His eyes, though polite, carried a message she couldn't miss: he had moved on.

Grace's face fell, just a little, her excitement dampened by his cool response. For a moment, she stood there, silent, searching his face as if hoping to find a glimpse of the boy she remembered. But the years had changed them both, and in his steady, unflinching gaze, she realized the connection they once had was no longer there.

"Alright," she said softly, her voice quieter now, almost apologetic. "I'll just... take two chicken sandwiches and a bottle of water."

Ebilade nodded, jotting down the order without missing a beat. "Coming right up," he said, his tone neutral, business-like.

As he turned to prepare her order, he could feel Grace's eyes on him, the weight of what had been left unsaid hanging in the air. But he didn't look back. He had nothing more to say. To him, the past was just that—the past. And some things were better left there.

As Ebilade turned to the kitchen, he heard a light cough, and he instinctively glanced back. The boy who had entered with Grace was standing just a step behind her, looking a little uncomfortable. He was tall, with a casual air about him, but there was a slight frown on his face as he observed the interaction.

"What's going on?" he muttered, his voice low but audible, as he shifted his weight from one foot to the other. He looked at Grace, his eyebrows raised in confusion.

Grace snapped her attention to him, her cheeks flushing slightly at being called out. "Oh! I'm fine, really," she replied quickly, waving a hand dismissively. "Just trying to catch up with an old friend from school." She glanced back at Ebilade, her smile strained.

"Okay, while you're busy with that," the boy said casually, his voice dripping with playful mockery, "don't forget you're here with me." He leaned against the counter, crossing his arms, a smirk dancing on his lips as he placed his order with a nearby waiter, casting a sideways glance at Grace.

Ebilade, still focused on the task at hand, nodded absentmindedly, then turned back to the counter. "Sorry about that," he said, a hint of sheepishness in his tone as he realized he had forgotten to take the boy's order. He quickly jotted down the details before heading back to the kitchen, feeling a flicker of anxiety as he moved. He could sense the tension in the air, and it made him slightly uneasy.

As he stepped behind the counter, he caught Grace's eye. She was watching him intently, her gaze softening as she observed his movements. Ebilade could feel the weight of her attention, and it caused a faint blush to creep onto his cheeks. He tried to shake off the feeling, focusing instead on the sandwiches he was preparing.

Meanwhile, the boy, noticing Grace's lingering gaze, felt a pang of jealousy stir within him. He wasn't sure why it bothered him so much, but he decided to have a little fun with the situation. He cleared his throat, a mischievous glint lighting up his eyes as he called out, "Hey, Ebilade! Got a moment?"

Ebilade paused, glancing back over his shoulder. "Yeah?" he replied, a touch wary. He didn't know what the boy was up to, but he could sense the playful intent behind his tone.

The boy leaned in slightly, feigning a casual demeanor as he raised an eyebrow. "So, what's the deal with you and Grace? She's been looking at you like you're some kind of hero or something," he teased, an exaggerated smirk stretching across his face. "I didn't know you had a fan club!"

Ebilade felt his heart race, heat rushing to his face as he quickly turned his attention back to the sandwiches, desperately trying to hide his flustered expression. "It's not like that," he muttered, his voice a mix of embarrassment and annoyance. "I barely know her."

The boy chuckled, enjoying the moment as he leaned back against the counter, arms crossed and a playful glint in his eyes. "Come on, man! Don't act all cool now. You should at least acknowledge that she's into you!" His voice was light-hearted, but there was a hint of seriousness underneath, as if he was trying to gauge Ebilade's reaction.

Ebilade sighed, feeling the pressure of the situation. "I'm just here to work, not to be a part of some love triangle," he replied, his tone half-joking yet edged with frustration. He focused on arranging the sandwiches neatly on the counter, his fingers deftly moving as he tried to ignore the tension building between the three of them.

Grace, standing a few feet away, couldn't help but overhear their exchange. She felt a mix of amusement and embarrassment as she caught the boy's eye, who was still smirking. Her cheeks flushed slightly, but she decided to join in. "Maybe he just needs a little encouragement," she said playfully, crossing her arms and leaning against the wall with a teasing smile.

Ebilade shot her a surprised look, his eyes widening as he struggled to keep his composure. "That's not helping," he replied, the corners of his mouth twitching into an involuntary smile despite his best efforts to maintain a serious demeanor.

The boy laughed, enjoying the playful banter. "See? Even Grace thinks you need to step up your game!" He nudged Ebilade with his elbow, a friendly gesture that made Ebilade relax slightly, despite the embarrassment still hanging in the air.

Ebilade shook his head, unable to suppress a grin as he finally looked back at Grace. "I'm just trying to make ends meet here, not chase after anyone," he said, his voice softening. He could feel a warmth in her smile, one that made him wonder if there was more to this moment than he had initially thought.

Grace smiled, her expression genuine as she shrugged lightly. "You never know what could happen when you least expect it," she replied, her tone encouraging.

Ebilade turned back to the kitchen, shaking his head, a smile lingering on his lips. "I'll stick to my sandwiches for now." But deep down, he couldn't shake the feeling that perhaps this unexpected encounter might lead to something more than just a brief reunion.