Chapter 8

On reaching my home that day after work and the embarassment.

I stared at my self contain apartment.

I moved in Last year December after my service, I didnt want to stay with either of my parents, mainly because my three siblings all got married within my service year, which put somuch pressure from my family and relatives on me.

I had saved up, so I rented an apartment at Oku, few streets away from the school I served.

When I had newly moved in, I had a neighbour called Rico.

A fair skinned guy with full beards, I totally distanced myself from him even though our apartments was close. I would greet the other neighbours and ignore him.

I just wanted to stay away from guy's.

But Rico on the other hand, tried talking to me.

'Hi' He smiled at me.

I had just returned from market that evening.

'Hi' I responded uninterestedly.

'My name is Rico, can we be friends please? I hate how you talk to the other neighbours but not to me. He said.

'I felt touched' why hate and ignore someone I dont even know, he is not the cause of my problems. I thought.

'Call me Lisa' I smiled back.

'You can come around whenever you are bored, I stay alone' He said.

'Alright' was a calmly response that came from me.

We didnt talked again throught out December.

On New year's day, He had knocked my door and as I opened, He stretched out a fancy bag to me.

'Happy new year beautiful Lisa' welcome to 2024. he said with smiles.

As I took the fancy bag from him, I smiled back and said.

Thank you, Rico. Please come in, I offered.

'Your place is nice' he said as he sat on my bed.

A large decorated space with a medium sized bed, reading table and chair, shoe rack, make up table and chair and a standing fan which was close to a mini tv and shelf. was surely a nice place for a girl living alone.

'Thank you' was my response. Thanks for the gift too, I added.

From that day, I and Rico became friends. I told him about my ex boyfriends, he had laughed and called me a hot girl.

He told me about his girlfriend of 7 years and how they ended their relationship last year November.

'I had to change location from Warri to Oku' I just want to start my life afresh. were his words.

Even though I was no longer interested in getting into another relationship because of my past experiences, there was a silent reminder that I am 29 years old and needed to settle down with a man.

Rico and I, went out alot.

He took me to really nice places, and I didnt felt lonely at all.

It was him who informed me of the vacancy at Emerald Hotel.

As I applied in January, I got the job of 'Front desk manager' same week.

'Congratulation baby girl' Rico said hugging me after I had broke the news to him.

Just 1 month into our intense friendship, Rico came over to my place one evening.

'We have bonded deeply in just a month, we are not getting any younger, you are 29years old and I am 32years. I want us to take things seriously and see how it goes, you need to forget your past and move on. He said.

He was right.

With the pressure and words from my family, and how lovely my life had become since I met him. I agreed to his words.

We started dating February 2nd.

And As we became a couple, I started sleeping at his apartment instead of mine.

But Rico wasnt only a sweetheart, he was annoying too. this I discovered after staying few days at his place.

He hated me touching or using his things.

'Please dont use my charger' 'I dont like sharing my powerbank' 'You should have informed me first before using my perfume' He had said to me on several occassions.

I could barely use or touch any of his belongings and we would always quarreled about it. This made me resulted to staying away from his apartment and then away from him.

'Why you go dey date man wey you no fit use him things' Favour said in laughs. 'How e go be if ona don marry' she added.

Favour and I, became really close after Service.

One of the guys she met in Oku, took things serious with her and she moved into his place after service, while Precious went back to her State.

After I distanced myself totally from Rico, On Valentine's day. I saw him with a girl I vividly recognized as his ex girlfriend.

'So this guy has sorted things out with his ex girlfriend abi'?

My neigbours who knew about my closeness with Rico and was now seeing Rico with a new woman, who they didnt know was his long time babe before moving into the compound took pity on me and in different times they would tell me not to worry that God will bring my own man.

I didn't even bother to explain anything.

'Amen' was always my response to their prayer.

The embarassment I faced at work made me non chalant that evening, staring into my apartment, tears continously dropped from my eyes.

'Where did I go wrong'?

'Why is it so had to just move on'?

'What is wrong with me? I wept bitterly.