It was workday as usual, customers yelling at the top of their voices, asking to be attended to. But we could only do the best we could with the bad network that day. Upon all our efforts to switch to different servers, it just didn't help.
I was sweating but couldn't tell why. Maybe it was from the number of customers clustered at the counter waiting for me to attend to them or maybe it wasn't.
Maybe it was because of the hot weather that particular day but the air conditioner was humming right behind me. I just couldn't place my head on why I was so stressed and sweating. If I wasn't at work I would have soaked myself in a bathtub filled with cold water.
But then again, there was cute Kunle, my colleague stealing glances at me at intervals from the other side of his cubicle. I guess he thought I couldn't see his eyes on me. And I made sure not to give a clue that I could notice him staring. I was enjoying it, every bit of it.
Kunle was a fine gentleman, the kind that makes every girl drool. He had cat eyes and dimples that complimented his smile. A real definition of a fine bobo guy.
You could see it in the eyes of our female clients while he attends to them. From the way they adjusted their clothes to the crazy biting of lips and squinting eyes at times. And he made sure to tell them off politely, letting them know that flirting was against his rules and our work ethics. I so much admired him for that.
And oh, I wouldn't lie to you. I was also crushing on him so badly.
And that week it felt like all my green lights were paying off as he kept dropping tiny hints and slipping in compliments.
"You needed to see me blush when he called me pretty lady today" I confided in Mimi, my colleague and buddy at the office at lunch.
"Be careful. That guy looks like a player." Mimi had advised me instead.
"Player? Mimi, you need to see him telling his clients flirting around him off. He's not like that" I vouched for my crush blindly.
"Hmm, I'm telling you Kunle is not who you think he is. He might be telling the girls off maybe to entice you to think he's a nice guy. But he's not that innocent as he looks"
"Okay, ma'am, I've heard you", I replied, trying to end the conversation. I didn't want it to seem like I was losing my focus over a guy. But I wouldn't lie, I was almost on that path.
After lunch, I got back to my cubicle, prepared for the second half of the day, when Kunle slipped a pack of chips to me from the back.
"Thank you" I blushed at his kindness.
"You're welcome" he replied but remained there.
I looked at him wondering what else he was waiting for. "I'll eat it later," I said, raising the chips.
“Oh, no, not that. I.. I was meaning to ask if you'd like to go out with me after work?” he’d asked, leaning over my cubicle with that charming grin.
I tried my best to hide my excitement. As a girl, I wasn't supposed to look cheap. "Uhm, Yes", I blurted out loud without even thinking.
"Okay, so see you at the lobby by 6 pm", he replied, then he walked over to his seat.
I nodded. My heart was beating with excitement.
By the time we were done with work. I decided to make a quick rush to the restroom and retouch my makeup which has been destroyed by sweat. A lady needs to look her best all the time, especially on a date as important as this, I thought.
I got to the restroom, found a cubicle, entered and pulled out my makeup kit from my bag. Then I proceeded to add some slight touches to my face when I heard the low voices of a man and woman arguing in one of the closed restroom cubicles.
What is a man doing in the ladies restroom? I asked myself
I tried to be calm as the argument was gradually escalating. Trying so hard to decipher what they were arguing about.
"You think I won't find out?" I heard the female voice say. It was a familiar voice. It was the newly wedded Mrs Ayo, our new manager. I knew Mrs Ayo to be the one with a high-pitched voice.
"Calm down, Mama", the male voice blurted out. It sounded like Kunles's voice. I knew it was his voice at first but I didn't want to believe it until he said my name "I'm telling you nothing is going on between Zerah and I"
"But you asked her out?"
"Just on a harmless colleague outing"
I was beginning to shiver, my heart was pounding. Was Mimi's prophecy beginning to actualize? Am I going to lose my job for going against company policy, which states that 'No intimate relationship between colleagues"? But their next word proved me wrong. There was more to it than the outing.
"You know the rules, Kunle; if you want to keep seeing me, then avoid other girls. Especially the ones in this office. Especially Zerah or you'll lose your job, same with her. You know what I'm capable of. You belong to me and only me alone" she warned.
I felt my heart jump out of my chest. I held my mouth and tried not to shout. I didn't want any of them to Know I was there and was even eavesdropping on their conversations. I blamed myself for not listening to Mimi, she was right all along. Kunle had a skeleton in his cupboard and it was his affair with Mrs Ayo.
I heard the door open and she walked out of the restroom, Leaving Kunle. He stayed a few seconds and left too.
I waited a few minutes, trying to take in all that had just happened. I had a rethink immediately. I wasn't going to lose my job over some crush. After finding my composure I grabbed my bag, pulled out the bag of chips Kunle had given me earlier and trashed it. Then I left the restroom. My knees were weak, my excitement gone. I was sweating again.
I got to the lobby to meet Kunle waiting for me. I gave a fake smile and walked past him. He pulled me back and asked.
"Hey, where are you off to in a hurry?"
"Home, Kunle", I replied, avoiding his gaze. I was scared his cute smile might hypnotize me.
"Home? How about our dinner?" He asked surprised.
"I'm not interested anymore. I'm tired, Kunle; I need to go and rest," I replied, staring at the door that led outside and heading towards it.
"Okay, maybe some other time?" He called out.
"There's no other time," I replied without looking back.
I kept my distance from Kunle and I also kept what I saw and heard to myself and made sure not to tell anyone, not even Mimi. I was being careful, I didn't want to be the bearer of the news about Kunle and Mrs Ayo. If it was to be finally exposed I didn't want it to be from me.