"Look at you, my dearest darling, you are so lovely! You are beauty itself to me. Your passionate eyes are like gentle doves."
--Song of Songs 1:15 (TPT)

β

It had been almost two months since Godswill dropped Fola off at the junction into her street and they hadn't had more than the usual hi-and-hello greetings in church. Godswill was even beginning to feel like she was avoiding him or something close to that. But he didn't have her phone number. He could have gotten it since she would have filled in a form as a first time guest but he didn't feel comfortable getting her number through that means. Whereas it might make her even more uncomfortable with him.

He had the other option of showing up at her place of work but he felt it may be out of line. Besides, he had been a busy bee, working on new ideas and stuff for his business.

He didn't even know why her avoiding him was bothering him. He just felt they could be friends but there had been no chance to foster that relationship.

As he relaxed in his chair in his office, his thoughts skipped to Vwede. The girl was such a free-spirited person. She had called the restaurant the following week after she had come to make a complaint with Fola, and asked for him. To say he was delighted was an understatement. She had even asked that they hang out, which they had done a couple of  times after then and they kept in contact too. During that time, he had thought Fola would show up once or twice with Vwede but she hadn't. It was what had even reinforced the thought that she was avoiding him because Vwede always talked about her and how she didn't want to go out and all. So, she definitely knew that he and Vwede sometimes had dates.

Godswill flicked his wrist as if to erase the direction his thoughts were going. And about proposing to Vwede, he didn't sense God's leading in that direction and he wanted to believe he was wiser than before. So, he wasn't pursuing anything more than friendship with her. He had had time to think and pray, and she wasn't for him. Asides having the physical qualities he loved and wanted in the woman he would want to call his, he found out that they had totally different mindsets about some things he held important in life. And there was no point starting something he was so sure was doomed to fail. But she remained a close friend of his. It was a wonder how she always had one gist or the other for him.

Sighing, he stood from his chair and glanced at the calendar. His thirty-fifth birthday was in about five months. The big three five. He smiled. It had indeed been thirty-five years of God's faithfulness and he was grateful to Him.

At the same time, he didn't want to think about his age. I feel like I'm old. Jeez.

"Excuse me, Boss. Boss?" Godswill turned at the voice of one of the staff.

"Yes, Bimbo. Is everything okay out front?"

"Yes, it is. I just wanted to tell you that that Miss is around. She came to pick up her order and she asked for you."

"Which Miss?"

"The one that came to cause trou--." Bimbo paused and coughed, making Godswill snicker. "I mean, the one that came to complain some weeks back," she finished.

"Okay, I will be right out." Godswill shook his head. He was so sure that slip was a fruit of a goscussion* the staff members had had after that incident. He put his office in order and stepped out to see the Miss that came to cause trouble the last time.

As he rounded the corner into the main restaurant area, he came face to face with the Miss that has been avoiding him. And he couldn't understand the warm fuzzies that bombarded his chest and stomach.

*******

Fola had begun protesting from the very minute Vwede told her they were going to pick lunch for everyone at work. She was too tired for such an errand and she didn't want to go. Simple! But Vwede was having none of it. Apparently, the boss had decided to pay for everyone's lunch. Some had wanted a real meal, while some wanted snacks. Vwede told her she would go and pick up the food at another restaurant and she would come back to meet her at The Mouthwaterers. No matter what she said to refuse going, Vwede told her she had already volunteered the two of them.

What she didn't understand was why Vwede asked for Godswill before leaving her there.

No, she hadn't been avoiding the young man. It had been more like she hadn't wanted to be seen by him as she stealthily passed by. And she still couldn't shake the feeling that things were going to change. Besides, Vwede had been talking nonstop about the guy as if he was the one that hung the stars and invented the sand she walked on. So, she had been going out of her way to not seek him out.

Now, the said uncle was staring at her like she had just returned from a long journey that she didn't tell him about. Only she didn't know if he was happy to see her or disappointed that Vwede was nowhere in sight.

"Hey," he greeted first, like one out of breathe. "How have you been?"

"Hi. Been good." She gestured towards him. "And you?"

"Good good. It's so good to see you. I only see you when you're walking into church or leaving."

She gave him a small smile. She really had nothing to say.

He looked around as if searching for someone.

"She quickly stepped out. She'll be back soon. You can go in, I'm sure she would call you again when she's back."

Fola watched as Godswill stared at her with a look she couldn't be bothered to decipher. She just wanted to hear that her order was ready so she could leave as soon as Vwede arrived.

*******

The warm fuzzies had dissipated for the past minute he was talking with Fola. Her disposition told him the truth as he looked at her: she had been avoiding him. He could see that she was already shifting in her seat and doing everything from swiping up and down on her phone screen, to adjusting the table, to shutting her eyes, to avoid talking to him.

Is she shy or does she just not want to talk to me?

"Are you chasing me away?" He asked in response to her previous statement.

He watched as her eyes expanded into an almost-circle and her mouth opened to repudiate his claim.

"I'm just joking. I couldn't resist teasing you," he said to stop her.

She visibly relaxed a bit and he was glad. He didn't know what kept putting her on edge around him. And he wanted, with all his might, to find out what it was. He felt she was a fun person, just not around him. Even Vwede reiterated her jokes to him and he always laughed, no matter that they were said in reported speech.

"Is your order almost ready?" Godswill asked as looked towards the staff area.

"I guess."

"Okay. So, can we hang some time?"

The look she gave him made him want to turn into a rabbit so that he could burrow into the ground and escape the awkwardness that had blanketed the atmosphere around them. But he was human and he didn't have shapeshifter abilities, so he remained strong despite the typhoon he was sure only him could feel.

He thought he heard her say "are we clothes?" but when he raised his brows, she gave him a blank look.

"With Vwede, of course. And maybe a friend of mine," he added.

"Can I think about it?" She asked.

"What are we thinking about?" They heard a voice that surely belonged to Vwede ask.

They both turned in Vwede's direction and she gave them a wide smile. She gave Godswill an exuberant hug before turning to Fola.

"How far? What are you thinking about?"

A number was called out.

"That's us," Fola spoke and left to pick up the order.

Godswill released a breathe he didn't know he had been holding. While Vwede stared strangely at him.

"What was that all about?"

"I asked her to hang out with me and I felt the cold breeze of the Artic region blow against me."

"Guy, you are gameless," Vwede snickered.

"Well, I agree. I roped you and my friend in. She said she would think about it."

"Don't worry. I got you. Here she comes."

Godswill watched as Vwede stretched out her hand to help Fola with some of the packs. "So, I asked Godswill to come out with us to that relaxation spot I told you about. We have to fix the date and time so he can tell his friend."

"Ehn ehn," was all Fola replied with.

Vwede gave him a sly smile. "We will get back to you about the logistics. But just know you're cooking."

"That's fine by me," he replied. "So, see you guys around."

"Yeah. Bye, Wills," Vwede greeted. She hugged him again before she stepped out.

"Bye, Fola."

"Yeah. Bye, Bro Godswill."

He didn't miss the look of mischief plus savagery she sent him and it took all in him to not burst into laughter there and then.

Only this young lady can make one feel like becoming a shapeshifter one minute and have them laugh at a joke the next.

He shook his head as he walked them out. And that last look on her face stayed with him all week till Vwede's call about their outing.

*******

It was a few days after the girls' visit to his restaurant that Vwede called him to tell him about their outing. They were to go out the following weekend. Godswill was full of excitement and he definitely didn't hide it.

"Is it your proposal you're preparing for?" Tunde asked.

Godswill only raised his brows in question.

"Because I don't understand all these you are doing." He pointed at the pen and notebook in Godswill's hands.

"Of course not. I'm just penning some ideas for the outing now, so it won't be boring. And I want to beta test the latest batch of cookie ideas I have."

"I see. Is that why you have been jumping from one end of the room to another since that Vwede lady called?"

"Hmmmm."

"Or is it because that fine aunty is coming too?"

At that, Godswill raised his head and launched a throw pillow at him, which he dodged.

"I'm just asking innocent questions here."

"And you think that look you have on your face right now is innocent, mmm? E pèlé (Sorry), Mr. Innocent."

"Ah ah! Small small now, bro. I'm just being my curious self. Sha call me when dinner is ready. I have helped you put out all the things you need. I even boiled water for the spaghetti. Won't you clap for me?"

Godswill looked at his friend, shook his head and continued what he was doing. "I thought you had a supernatural nose. Smell out the readiness of the food by yourself, Smellman."

"My God will fight for me," Tunde muttered as he sluggishly walked to his room.

*******

"So what do you think about Godswill?" Vwede asked.

They were both on lunch break at work and Vwede had come to her cubicle to eat with her. Fola had no idea why her colleague-turned-friend was asking her that. Besides, she thought she liked him. So, why was she asking her.

She cleared her throat. "Well, I think he is nice."

"Is that all?"

Fola gave her a quizzical look. "What more was I supposed to say?"

"You were meant to talk about if you like him or if he's handsome and so on, you know. Stuff like that."

Fola didn't know where this was coming from, so she asked Vwede. "Why are you asking me that? Or why do you want to know what I think?"

"I just want to know na. You guys seem like a good fit."

"You guys? Who's you guys?"

Vwede looked like she was done with her. She moved forward to touch her forehead from where she was perched. "Are you feeling okay?"

Fola gently pushed her hands away. "Yes, I am."

"Are you sure? Or is it just the English language that is a challenge now?"

Fola scoffed. "I just want to understand what you're asking me."

Vwede sighed and sat properly on the chair. "I mean you and Godswill seem like a good fit. So, I want to know what you think about him."

"I thought you liked him and something was brewing between you two."

"Are we coffee?" Vwede returned, with laughter evident in her tone to which Fola just rolled her eyes.

"Okay. Nothing is going on between us. I thought something would start too but I know we are better as friends. And from our discussions, I think you both have a lot of similarities."

"And you're trying to play matchmaker now?" She asked with raised brows.

Vwede looked like someone caught with her hand in the pot of beef stew. "Erm, well. Not particularly. I'm just asking."

"Hmmmm. I hear you. I just think he is a nice guy. I don't know him well enough to say anything else."

"Okay o. I'm going to my desk now. We will talk later. Hope you didn't forget about our outing sha?"

"I didn't."

"Okay. Later."

Fola shook her head as Vwede strutted away from her cubicle towards her desk. Like she had discovered in the past few weeks, as much as Vwede could be loud-mouthed and in everyone's business, she was also a loyal friend. It had been a while she had a friend who was always looking out for her, whether she wanted it or not. And it seemed her dear friend had found her next project in setting her up with Godswill. Fola wasn't sure how she felt about that.

Apart from the fact that she had been taking special care in not running into him, as she was inclined to put it because saying she was avoiding him made it sound disrespectful, due to Vwede's closeness with him. She had also been running due to her own reasons. It just seemed like too much trouble to her.

On the other hand, she had been the one shouting 'God when?' like God had done something wrong to her.

Maybe if you just talked to Me, this would be settled ehn.

I know I should.

Why don't you then?

I don't know. Maybe I'm scared of what You'll say.

Ask and you shall receive, daughter.

Fola sighed again before she shook her head as if to shake herself out of the funk she could feel herself slowly begin to fall into. I will.

She cleaned her hands and picked up the files waiting to be read.

**********************************

*goscussion-- New word constructed by me😜😂. It means a combination of a gossip and a discussion.

Clap for me.😁😁