Sewa was excited.

In fact, she has been excited this past week. Ever since the day with Niyi, it was like she took a rejuvenating drink and has been a busy bee since then. Everything she did, she did with an infectious grin. Her cheeks hurt, her arms and back ached but this week was a good one.

She slouched in her chair and contemplated texting him to hang out. Would it be weird of her? Why should she hang out with him when she could ask Funmi for company?

But she wanted to know and see if he wanted her company as much as she wanted his.

She splayed on the couch, legs and arms akimbo, glancing at her phone every now and then. Her stomach grumbled for food. When she reluctantly stood up to put some snacks in her, her phone vibrated with an incoming call.

Shoulders sagging from disappointment, Sewa answered the call. "Ma?"

"Ma? No greetings?"

"Sorry. Good evening, ma. Why are you calling at this time of the night?"

"What do you mean by that? It's only nine. Anyway, make time next weekend. I got you a date."

"No," Sewa whined. "I don't want."

"Do you want me dead?" Her mother wailed in Yoruba.

"What has my love life got to do with whether you live or die?"

"It does! You being single is giving me a massive headache. My head feels it's going to come apart every single day I remember that you are still single."

"But mummy, I don't want any man."

"I am not growing younger, neither are you. I want to see my grandchildren and carry them, play with them."

In that moment, Sewa wished she had never answered her mother's call. Most than before, her mother had grown insistent on having a romantic partner. She did not know what encouraged it and she was afraid to especially when she kept reminding Sewa that she was the only child of her parents.

"If it's grandkids you want, I'm sure there's a sperm donor out there willing to grace my ovaries some."

"Dead that thought, young lady," her mother threatened with a sharp snarl that had Sewa straighten up. "Immediately."

"Yes, ma."

"No sperm donor. Okay?"

"Okay."

She listened to her mother's heavy sigh and felt a tinge of guilt. Sewa clenched her free hand and breathed in deeply as she listened.

"Look, Sewa, I want the best for you. The greatest the world has for you, including romance. I want you to have someone who would stand by your side, come rain or shine. You are not keeping an eye out for that. Believe me when I say that you wouldn't regret taking your chances now than later. You don't want to end up like your Aunt Mariam."

Sewa felt a chuckle light up her face. It was still a running joke with a lace of sympathy regarding her father's sister. To be honest, that woman had a loose tongue despite being tremendously attractive. She seemed innocent at first look but once you engage in a conversation with her, you want to run away. Because of this, her aunt married later to a lovely man who adored her regardless. She was some sort of 'moral lesson' to the rest of the family on how to be ladylike. 

Sewa had her own reservations concerning the matter. One would find the one who was meant to be at their own time and pace. No one runs with the same shoes on. The chances of finding one who matches your shoes are even lesser so it might be best to wait than rush it. Although, a romance like something out of a fairytale was appealing. Someone to steal her attention unexpectedly...

She smiled a secret smile and bit her lower lip, drifting off to an imaginary world full of romance...

"Sewa? Are you listening to me?"

"Ma? Yes ma."

"Good. I will send you the address. You better be there to meet the guy."

Sewa stared at her device in disbelief. What had she gotten herself into? Rubbing her face, she released a loud groan and laid on her stomach. What a disaster. Hopefully, this guy might turn out to be a polite idiot.

Stretching her arms high above her head, she yawned. She has to get something in her belly before she sleeps.

**

Funmi took a bite out of her grilled steak and moaned at the delightful taste.

"I swear to God, you get better every day."

"Thank you," Sewa preened, cutting a slice for herself.

"Have you heard from Elijah?"

"No. Why?"

"Strange." Funmi shrugged and asked, "Are you two in a fight? Anyway, I overheard a talk about him returning back abroad. He's been avoiding my calls."

"Strange, indeed."

It was no intention of Sewa's to make things awkward between her and the closest friend she's ever had. But it was hard to see or think about him without feeling bad. She should have reached out to him regardless. She sighed, staring at her phone lying listlessly on the table. How could he make her worry like this?

"You won't believe what happened yesterday," Funmi excitedly said.

"What?"

"While I was on my way home to watch Avengers: Endgame all over again, I met my ex."

"Which one? Jeremiah? Perry? Kareem?"

"No. Reuben."

"Okay." Sewa tried to recall the image of this 'Reuben' from her memory box but came up with a scratchy vision of a guy that sounded a lot like Darth Vader. "And what happened?" She asked.

"He got married! I saw him with his pretty lady. She was very pregnant."

"That could have been you."

"Nope. I'm happy he's found the one for him. I don't think we would have worked. His excessive use of puns was a headache."

"Heh."

Funmi took a sip of water from her glass. "Sometimes, I feel like we are drifting away from the world. Everyone we know is married. I don't want to be bothered by it but the way my mother keeps reminding me every second makes me want to jump Third Mainland Bridge."

"I can relate. Mine set me up for a blind date this weekend."

"What ? No way! Who does that these days? Is that even a thing anymore?"

Sewa opened her mouth to express her agreement with her friend's shock when she noticed Niyi walking up to their table. She sat up straight, continuing to watch him approach. There was that calm after a beach wave drifting in her chest as his pleased smile grew wider.

"Hey, handsome," Funmi cheered as Niyi took his place in the empty seat at the table.

"What's up?"

"I didn't know you were coming," she said, looking from Funmi to him, rather shyly.

"Funmi invited me."

"I was betting on you not coming. He was my Plan B," her friend deadpanned.

"Your plan B? Seriously."

"Yes, seriously." Funmi signalled for a waiter with the wave of her hand.

Niyi chuckled and helped himself to some of Funmi's wine. "Okay. So, what were you talking about so seriously before I arrived?"

"Sewa is going on a blind date."

Sewa could have sworn his carefree smile slipped a little when his gaze fell on her and asked, "A what?"