Immediately Nnenna got home, her phone rang. She was surprised to discover that it was Stanley.

She showed the phone to Chinasa and she encouraged her to take the call. Stanley just called to find out if she had gotten home and also if she had eaten. Immediately she dropped the call, Chinasa busted out in laughter.

“What is funny?” Nnenna asked in a feigned anger.

“I don’t know when it became a crime for someone to laugh,” Chinasa answered.

“Not when you are laughing without a reason.

“My brother in Lord just told you that one of his work as an usher is to ensure that church members got home safely after service. Of all the members, Nnenna was the one assigned to Stanley hmm! I’m sensing love o.” She let out a loud laughter.

“Nasa, will you stop being silly. You are embarrassing me,” Nnenna protested.

“Mrs. Stanley sorry o. Fear will not even allow me to embarrass my oga’s wife,” Chinasa said and continued laughing.

“Nasa, please stop,” Nnenna begged.

“It’s okay but on a serious note, Stanley is interested in you. I pray it becomes a reality.”

“What is so special about him that you will be praying that it becomes a reality,” Nnenna asked.

“Stanley is a child of God. His parents are wealthy. He is a committed member too. He is one of the few young men that have tried to avoid drama with girls. The only challenge is that if Stanley finally picks you, other girls will not be happy with you.”

“I don’t understand,” Nnenna said, rolling her eyes.

“Many girls have actually been wishing that Stanley will marry them. Even me, I am interested too.”

“What did you just say,” Nnenna asked in surprise.

“What did you hear?”

“You mean….” Nnenna said, pointing at Chinasa, but didn’t complete what she wanted to say.

“Yes, I am interested in Stanley, but I am not desperate about it. Initially, I tried to give him some green lights by sending some prayers and good will messages on Whatsapp. But he didn’t really get the message. Later, I bought cake for him on his birthday and brought it to church. He appreciated me for the kind gesture, but he insisted that he must pay for the cake before collecting it from me. I had no choice than to accept the money because I don’t want him to reject the cake for me.”
Nnenna opened his mouth wide in surprise as Chinasa was talking.

“Chinasa!” Nnenna shouted.

“What is it?” Chinasa shouted back.

“Are you telling me a fairy tale or you mean that it really happened” Nnenna asked.

“What is the big deal about it. I loved him and I decided to try my luck, though it didn’t work out. I have moved on with my life,” Chinasa told her

“It is well. I don’t think that I can do such for any man,” Nnenna said firmly.

“My friend, ‘never say, never’. If you meet a man that you truly loved, you may do more than I did.”

***********

There was a knock on Stanley’s door. He opened and found his neighbour, Tega standing carrying two plates.

“O boy come inside. What are you carrying?” Stanley asked.

“It’s rice. One plate contains fried rice while the other one is jollof rice. Go and bring spoons let’s eat it. Or are you not eating?”

“What kind of question is that?” Stanley replied as he dashed inside his kitchen to bring the spoons.

“Where did you get the food from?” Stanley asked as he sat beside Tega.

“Oge baby brought it.”

“Thank you so much I am not eating,” Stanley said firmly.

“Suit yourself please give me spoon.” He snatched one spoon from Stanley and started eating.

“What is your plan concerning this Oge of a girl. Are you going to marry her?” Stanley asked.

“If I marry her, what happens to Oma, my fiancee,” Tega replied.

“If you know that you are not interested in her, why are you leading her on?” Stanley asked with a deep concern.

“O boy, I don’t understand you. I was on my own when Oge decided to be cooking food and bringing for me. I never begged her to bring food. It is a free will donation from her mind. I can’t reject it.” Tega said, showing no atom of guilt.

“As if you don’t know why she is bringing the food,” Stanley said sarcastically.

“I don’t know. She has not told me anything. I am waiting for her to say what is in her mind. At least if she proposes marriage to me, I will tell her to give me some time to pray about it. After prayers, I will know the answer to give her,”Tega said, feeling unconcerned and trivializing the issue.

Stanley busted out in laughter. “Tega you are a wicked boy.”

“There is nothing like wickedness in this issue. After all girls do it and get away with it. They will be collecting money when you finally propose marriage, they will tell you that they want to go and pray. Why not pray before requesting for money,” Tega asked and laughed.

“Tega please eat that food quietly and allow me to concentrate on important things.”

“Important things like Chinasa’s friend,” Tega said with a mischievous wink.

“What are you talking about?” Stanley asked, feigning ignorance of what Tega was saying.

“O boy do away with that pretense. You know what I am talking about. You thought I didn’t see the way you were meandering inside church,” Tega accused him.

Stanley laughed, “Tega, you are a bad boy. I don’t know when you will start minding your business.”

“Stanley you and that Chinasa’s friend are my business. I will keep minding you, until you tell me what is going on.”

“What do you want to hear?” Stanley asked.

“I want to know what is going on between you and that new girl.”

“Tega you are unbelievable! How can you ask what is going on between me and a lady I just met. Nothing is going on for now. But then, I really like her.”

Tega shouted,” My friend is taken. That lady deserve an award. How did she do it?”

“Nnenna didn’t do anything. I just loved her from the moment I set my eyes on her.”

“Hei! So the thing has gotten to the level of love and you even know her name?”

“Tega stop embarrassing me. What is it?” Stanley tried to warn him.

“My friend, you started embarrassing yourself from the moment you left your ushering assignment and started doing another thing.”

Stanley ignored Tega and went to get drinking water from the fridge.

Stanley’s phone started ringing.

“Stanley, Nnenna is calling you on phone,” Tega shouted.

Stanley quickly ran back only to discover that Tega was the person calling his phone. He grabbed a throw pillow to hit Tega but he ran away.