For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, says the Lord.--Isaiah 55:8 (AMPC)

"I love you," he said. 

Her eyes widened into saucers before a smile overtook her features. She moved towards him and wrapped her arms around him in a hug. 

"I love you too," she whispered with her eyes closed. 

They stared into each other's eyes as they slowly leaned towards each other and were about to seal it with a kiss when Tye Tribette's voice rang out I've Got My Mind Stayed On You. 

Chimamanda jerked out of the trance the K-drama had thrown her into and almost flung her phone across the room. She frowned at her phone with disgust before tapping on the ACCEPT icon. 

"Why was it when Hee Chul and Ji Won wanted to kiss that you called me ehn, Seyi?" 

"Hee Chul and Ji Won can wait," her friend answered. "What are your plans for Christmas? Are you coming for the church picnic?" 

"I can't o. I already promised mum that I will come home for the holidays and I can't withdraw it now. Else, she will have my head."

"Okay o. I will see you tomorrow at work."

Chimamanda couldn't believe her ears. "You will see me at work tomorrow? That's all you called to say?" 

"Uh, yes."

She gasped in horror. "That's why you interrupted my Hee Chul and Ji Wọn moment?" 

Her friend sighed. "I admire your penchant for the dramatic, my friend. Talk to you tomorrow. I love you."

And that ended the call. Eissssh! 

It was like the whole of the heavens didn't want her watching the kiss scene because her alarm for evening prayers rang and she couldn't resist the nudging to pray. 

Eisss—. She looked up and cleared her throat. Thank You, Lord. 

********

You are now thirty-five, Amanda! And you have never brought any man home, not even a male friend. All your elder and younger sisters are all married. I'm beginning to think that all that's left is to enroll you in a convent. 

Chimamanda Eze's mind replayed the conversation with her mum in her mind over and over again. 

Now, I know why I couldn't resist the urge to pray. I needed to gather strength to deal with this. 

She could never understand what she had done to warrant those words from her mum, save for the fact that she wasn't married and hadn't been in a relationship for the longest time.  Now, she was already thirty and everyday, a tick-tock sound kept playing somewhere around her and it was definitely not her wrist watch or wall clock.

It wasn't like she didn't know or understand what her mum was saying but her mum never considered her feelings when she spoke. She always said it like she had made a choice to stay single. It wasn't easy for her too, to see all her friends within her circle married and doing well with children of their own. A section of her wardrobe was filled to overflowing with various colours of aso ebi and gele. If she wanted, she could start up an online thrift store with the clothes. 

Amanda, like everyone liked to call her, didn't understand why her case was so different! She knew God had a plan but why was the plan taking so long to come into fruition? 

She sighed as she stared into space again. But a knock on her desk brought her back to the present. 

"Hey, Seyi. What's up?"

"I should be asking you that." Her friend said, raising her brows. "Are you still angry about me interrupting your Hercules and Juwon moment yesterday?" 

Amanda frowned. What is this one talking about? 

Seyi Makinde was her best friend and she really had a way of making her feel better. They both worked at one of the best law firms in the city of Ibadan. They had met while job hunting and had been joined at the hip since then. Whenever there was an interview advert, they always called each other to occupy any of the available positions. However, Amanda had gotten a job before her friend and Seyi had been so excited for her to the extent that she thought she was faking it. She just couldn't believe that such pure people existed. 

Unlike many of the people Amanda had met in her lifetime, Seyi was down-to-earth and very sincere. And it showed when Seyi accepted the offer to work in the same firm but in a lesser role to hers, a secretary role. 

Amanda had been surprised because she never thought she'd agree to it. And the weirdest thing was that Seyi knew when to be her friend and when to be a secretary. Most times, Amanda blurred the lines but Seyi always handled it perfectly. 

"I'm fine, Seyi." She smiled. "But you really didn't have to interrupt me yesterday."

"Sorry o. Still, even a blind man can see that you're not fine. And I have perfectly working eyes as you can see," Seyi responded. "Unlike you..."

"Unlike me?"

Seyi just dramatically picked up her phone and held it at armslength while comically squinting her eyes, scrunching up her nose and making her lips take different weird shapes. 

"I mistakenly stepped on my pair of glasses when they fell from my hands this morning. And I don't look like that while reading without them," Amanda gushed. 

"Ah, well. Whatever makes you sleep well at night, boss."

Amanda snorted. 

"So, will you tell me what's up now?"

She sighed. "It's nothing much. Just my mum being the same and saying the same thing. I'm tired of listening to the same tirade every single time she calls or texts me."

At this point, Seyi was already seated on a chair across from her. 

"Don't let it get to you. God makes all things beautiful in their time."

"I know that but I can't seem to get my mum's words out of my head. And not only that. My wardrobe is filled with various colours of native attires that I don't think I need to buy for Chika's wedding."

"You have mustard yellow lace and coffee brown gele?" Seyi asked incredulously. 

"As far off as that sounds, I have both." 

Amanda watched as her friend and secretary burst into laughter. 

"I don't know why you are laughing now o."

"Okay. I'm sorry. But like I said, keep trusting in God. All things are working together for your good."

"Okay o. If you say so."

"I know so."

In a moment, the mood changed. "So, about the Fatoye versus Nwakugo case, Oga said you should take it and..."

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

Amanda had just gotten home to rest but the words she had heard over the years didn't rest as they came alive again. As she dropped her shoe bag in the corner of the entryway into her room, she plopped on her bed and stared at the overhead fluorescent light till it threatened to gorge her eyes out. 

My life is more than having a man, isn't it? 

Then, why did society and tradition make it seem like a woman was worthless if she wasn't married? With all the degrees she had managed to bag, she was self-sufficient and fine being alone but the whispers around the office, and the gossip she heard when she went home were enough for her to lose her mind. 

It was the major reason she hadn't bothered to go home for Christmas the previous year. However, she was in a dilemma now as she promised to be home this year. In fact, she had less than two weeks to the holiday. 

How will I cope? 

It's just roughly six days. 

Six days is more than enough for me to lose my mind. 

What if I don't go home alone? What if I go with somebody? A pretend boyfriend? 

No, that's crazy. 

It's not such a bad idea. 

The more she thought about it, the more the idea seemed plausible rather than ridiculous. Question now was where would she find a pretend boyfriend in less than two weeks. 

Hananim, what do you think? 

Stay calm for I am with you. 

You are with me? That is weird. I'm not so sure about that. 

I am with you. 

On this crazy idea of mine? Ah! That's strange. Very strange. Not doing it! 

I am with you. 

I must be hearing a stranger's voice. 

Amanda shook her head and rose from her bed abruptly, as she began to bind and lose every strange voice speaking to her. 

I know you have a good plan for me but this can't be it. 

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

Later that evening, Amanda drove down to the mall nearest to her house since she needed some toiletries. As she alighted from her car and turned to shut the door, she rammed straight into another person. 

She felt large hands hold her steady by the shoulders and as soon as she found her footing, the hands left her. 

"I'm so sorry about that. Are you good?" 

Hmmm. Such a lovely voice. 

As she turned, she answered, "Yes, I'm okay. It was my bad too."

They both stood with a small smile playing around their lips before they heard a throat clear. They both turned in the direction of the sound and Amanda knew for sure she was blushing. 

"Uhm, alright. Take care of yourself."

"Take care too," she mumbled. 

She turned to stop herself from gazing at the guy as he walked away. She didn't want to seem like a stalker. 

She stared at her image through her car window and straightened her gown, as she tried to force a semblance of seriousness. "Let's get our groceries and go home."

But she couldn't stop the smile that came on her lips. So, she squealed and turned towards the entrance.