I had a terrible day today
I had a run in with my horrible boss.
I also had an encounter with a colleague whose middle name should be saboteur because it seems to me like she was solely employed to torment me.
If she wasn’t, she was definitely sent by my village people to make my life hell because she is succeeding.
And ironically, she has everything while I have nothing, but my brains.
She is the boss’s favourite and not just in the office, if you know what I mean.
But somehow she still acts like we are in some kind of competition. I wonder why; the boss hates me but loves her, or more accurately, lusts after her, considering he has a wife.
That’s beside the point though. The point is that if there should be any form of jealousy, it should be from my end.
I just don’t get it. Usually, I’m able to ignore, but what they both did today grated.
The only thing that kept me from reacting was because I have bills to pay. My rent will definitely not understand if I lose my job.
Still, my restraint today should be studied in school.
I’m still riled up hours after it happened and I don’t think I want to go home to Jas in this mood.
Jas is my dog and she is the sweetest creature in the world. She deserves to be greeted with hugs and kisses, not murderous anger.
So here I am, on a swing, at the park a few blocks from my house, thinking about my pitiful life.
I can’t wait to leave that job. Now, if only offers were falling on my laps like I thought they would. But all I have gotten in the past months are rejection mails. At first, I didn’t seem to be mind. But now, it is hard not to take it personal. Surely, I am not that terrible of a candidate that not even one company wants to meet with me.
I am beginning to think I must be doing something wrong, except that I can’t think of anything.
I spent time on my CV and cover letter and I have the skills, experience, and not to mention the certifications to back them up.
I am getting close to depression over the situation, and days like this when my boss is extra horrible heighten my sadness.
But for this park, I may have broken down completely; that is why I am forever grateful for it.
It serves as my succour any time I get in this mood. It just has a way of soothing me. I don’t know what it is exactly about the park; maybe it is the gentle whisper of the trees to the calming breeze or the ever so welcoming sound of the rustle of the grass.
This quiet park just does something to me; it calms me. I have yet to spend an hour here and I already feel better.
In fact, I am thinking about heading home when I raise my head – from watching a cockroach getting entangled in a grass – and see him strolling leisurely on the park.
Oh my God, he is so beautiful; that’s my first thought.
Second thought is, if beauty was a person, it’d be him.
The third thought is the fact that I have never seen anyone quite as beautiful as him.
Yeah, I have no other thoughts except for how beautiful he is.
But why is he walking towards me and why am I gawking?
“You have a boyfriend,” a faint voice in my head caution.
I’m sure you can understand why it was faint. One cannot be in the presence of such a beautiful man and think about a relationship.
I know that’s the right thing to do; but right or wrong is the last thing on my mind right now.
This beautiful young man is. And that’s when it occurred to me.
He looks young… Like younger… I mean, younger than I am.
I can feel the disappointment wash over me. But maybe, he just looks it and isn’t, a part of me says. After all, we all know someone who doesn’t look their age.
He smiles at me when he sees me watching, then comes straight to me.
When he gets directly in front of me, he turns the smile up a notch. “Hi, can I take this seat?” he asks, referring to the other seat on the swing.
It’s a public park, I don’t know why he feels the need to ask me.
“Sure, it’s public after all.”
“True, but this is a set and I understand boundaries.”
Lord, have mercy, this guy is not playing fair. Not only is he this cute, he also has manners.
How is a girl supposed to remember her relationship now?
I smile but say nothing. I mean, what am I supposed to say?
Thank you?
Nothing I think of sounds cool, so I keep my mouth shut.
After sitting, he turns to me and says, “what’s your name?”
Not only do I have to endure sitting beside the most beautiful man I have ever set my eyes on who may or may not be younger than me, but now, I have to also endure small talk?
Shoot me.
I get that it’s just my name he is asking for; that shouldn’t be difficult. But I didn’t want to encourage him.
Or did I?
So I say the next best thing to me, “I’m sorry, this might sound rude, but how old are you?”
He jerks, taken aback. “Okay, that’s a weird question. Not one I had expected to answer this early, but I’m 25.”
Sigh! He is younger! I was right!
“Okay, how old do you think I am?”
Stunned, he replies, “where is this going?”
“Just humour me.”
“Your age was the last thing I was thinking about when I approached you, to be honest. I just saw a beautiful woman who looked sad and I wanted to talk to you, and maybe make a friend and you know…”
He probably expects me to fill in the gap but I am waiting for him to answer my question.
When I didn’t reply, he sighs, “Okay, if you insist. Now that I’m forced to think about it, I will say 20,21,22,23. Yeah,” he adds, nodding, “”you should be around that range.”
I chuckle. “Wow, I’m seriously flattered. But I’m not around that range at all. I’m 32.”
“What? Are you serious?” He looks me over, taking me in. “Wow, that’s amazing. I never would have guessed.”
I tried… I promise I did… I honestly tried. But I couldn’t help blushing. I need to work on my vanity.
“So, what’s your name?” he asks again when I offered nothing but a proud smile.
“Weren’t you just here for the conversation we had just now?”
“I don’t mind. It doesn’t matter, age is just a number.”
Yeah, typical. Age is always just a number until it isn’t.
“Really? Would you be saying this if I were 40?”
“Well, normally, I would, but my mum is 45, so that might be weird.”
“And if I was 50-60?”
“Now, you are just reaching but you win, there is a limit that one can go with that phrase.”
“Exactly.”
“I don’t mind, though, in your case.”
“Well, I mind. I mind very much. But even if I didn’t, it doesn’t matter, I have a boyfriend.”
Now, he keeps quiet.
“Oh, OK…” He pauses, then cocks his head. “Are you just saying that to keep me away?”
“Trust me, the age difference is enough for me, if that’s all there is to it. I don’t need to lie about a relationship to say no to a guy… Not at my age.”
He nodded slowly, “Well, that’s the only reason I’m not going to persist to know you more.”
I shrug, deciding to opt for that because I know saying more will keep him and I need him to leave.
He is a temptation I cannot afford to keep.
“Are you at least, going to tell me your name? Please?”
“My name is Sewa.”
“Wow, that’s a beautiful name. I’m Olamide.”
“That’s nice,” I respond and berate myself mentally. That’s nice? Really? Of all the things to say?
As though he can perceive my internal struggle, Olamide chuckles before standing up.
“Well, it was very nice to meet you, Sewa, even though the meeting didn’t end as I would have preferred.”
I smile to his back as he walks away. But then he stops after taking a few steps.
“By the way, you are very pretty, absolutely stunning.” Then he winks and turns to walk away.
Phew! What did I say about younger men again? I don’t think I knew what I was saying.
No, I definitely don’t mind.
Also Read: Short Story: A Better, Weirder Idea
