𝓛𝓲𝓶𝓲𝓽𝓼

Being with the guy you admire could bring a girl more happiness than anything else. There's no denying that Wale is the greatest boyfriend ever.
 

I'm not suggesting I regret my earlier relationships. What I mean is that they have taught me a new perspective on relationships.
 

It’s been a month since Wale and I have been dating; he’s been so caring, loving, possessive, romantic, and even jealous. Well, the possessive and jealous part should be a problem, but surprisingly, with Wale, I simply don't care.
 

I appreciate his being this way because it makes me feel less alone. He always makes me laugh; he despises my movie genre; he enjoys singing in the shower; and he greatly respects me, which is my best part.
 

I find comfort in his embrace, a haven where joy blooms freely. His presence, like a shield against life's storms, envelops me in a warm grasp that whispers protection. I discover the tune of love in the melody of shared moments, a song that reverberated deep within, echoing the lovely chant of contentment and belonging.
 

Unlike the previous guys in my life, Wale expresses his love for me at every chance; he kisses me every time we see each other, regardless of where we are; and he calls and shows up when he says he would. He always honors his promises.
 

A part of me feels that he’s just being the way he is because our relationship is still fresh. I know it is wrong to compare him with the past men in my life, but a part of me still cautions me to be careful. That’s why I haven’t told him yet about Unwana. I just hope that my carefulness won’t cause me to lose him.
 

I watch while Omoh gists about her day and Wale laughs at her jokes. It’s nice seeing both of them get along. Well, it's not so hard for Omoh. She is jovial and funny, and she 100 percent supports my relationship with Wale.
 

Wale looks at me, smiling. His enchanting smile makes my heart leap in excitement, and the remnant of his laughter lingers brightly in his eyes, twinkling and locking me fully in his gaze. I smile naturally back at him, then continue clearing out the dining table.
 

We had just finished eating lunch at my apartment. I had taken my time to prepare jellof rice, or, as we call it, party rice, with fried fish and chicken. I had Omoh come in to help immediately after I returned from the market, and naturally, I invited her to have lunch with us.
 

Omoh didn't even try to refuse. She prepared her palate and, being her usual self, brought life to the table.
 

“Thanks love.” Wale whispered in my ears as I dropped the dishes into the sink. He wraps his hands around me from behind and says, smiling down at me, “I’m the luckiest man on earth to have a woman that can cook extraordinarily well as you.”
 

I giggle; a compliment like this coming from him means so much.
 

“Thank you." Omoh, who had overheard Wale's comments, adds loudly “Maybe since you are her boyfriend, she will believe you when you say it. Whenever I compliment her like that, she doesn’t believe me.” Omoh's eyes bulged, with a smirk lining her face.
 

“That’s because you are an excellent cook, and your baking skills are exceptional.” I tell her, cleaning my hands on a dry towel, then escape Wale's masculine grip before returning to the dining room. “Most of my cooking skills I learned from you.”
 

“Aren’t I a great friend? That’s the more reason why you should believe me.” She argues “Don’t mind her, Wale; I learned cooking from Eno, especially her tribal foods; the only thing she learned from me was how to prepare my tribal food and bake.”
 

I laugh watching how seriously she speaks, defending her point. “Yeah, right," I remark.
 

“Your girlfriend is so good that she is the most favorite in her class.” Omoh praise
 

I smile at how highly she speaks of me, always. She is one of the most wonderful people I’ve known, but I dare not tell her. She gets way over her head sometimes.
 

“You school?” Wale asks, surprised.
 

Right there, I realize that in our one month of dating, I never mentioned my schooling to him. “Yes, I do. I enrolled in the GREG SCHOOL OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP, and this is my third month there.” I reply with a guilty smile, lowering my head a little.
 

"Really, what department?” He asks inquisitively.

 
“The catering department.” I tell him.
 

We all retire to the sitting room couch, and Omoh switches the channel to ZeeWorld.
 

I hear Wale rumble out a laugh, then he echoes, “Of course." He nods his head repeatedly.

 
“What?” I ask.
 

"Nothing; I’m just proud of you, and I can’t wait for you to taste my cooking; it will surprise you to see how good I am in the kitchen.” He boasts.
 

I laugh so hard, and Omoh joins in too. “Na so, abeg Omoh, come help me for inside, make I no laugh burst my belle.” I say to Omoh as we walk into the kitchen.

 
“You speak pidgin; I didn’t know? Why haven’t you spoken it to me before, or were you forming for me?"
 

Well, another part of me he's getting to know, and he asks with full interest, following us as we try to escape him.
 

“Form? If I hear.” Omoh remarks.
 

But to set his heart at peace, I halt at the pathway leading to my room from the living room. Then I tell him. “It’s because you don’t know how to speak it. You practically grew up abroad, and like you said, you were brought up in the most sophisticated environment. Your parents spoil you and your sister lavishly. Even though I’ve not met your sister to confirm that." I express my point, still laughing.
 

“True, but my dad is very, very strict. He is a retired Air Chief Marshal in the Nigerian Air Force. I and my younger sister may have the most sophisticated upbringing, but we dare not misbehave. You may meet my sister and confirm; how about this weekend?” He asks suddenly, with one hand catching my waist and the other brushing my hair.
 

“This weekend.” I repeat, his invitation has caught me by surprise. Am I even ready to meet his sister just yet?

 
I search his eyes, hoping to find something that can prove he is joking, but all I find is a serious and sincere gaze beaming down at me—a gaze that is very familiar.
 

Not taking his eyes from me, he adds, “Yes, she owns one of the most sophisticated restaurants in Victoria Island. She will be happy to finally meet you. What do you say?” He asks, playing with my face with kisses as a ploy to convince me to agree.
 

“Ok, Ok,” I finally give in, laughing, “I too cannot wait to see her.” I lie, even though the nervousness in the pit of my stomach finds residence in my speech.

 
“Na waoo, because say my boyfriend no dey here, abi?” Omoh says, acting jealous while ogling at us.
 

“No vex.” I smirk at her.
 

“Wow, I’ve never, in my wildest dreams, thought you girls could be this fluent in Pidgin English, compared to how fluent you both are in the proper English language.” He comments, baffle.
 

Well, I do my best when it comes to grammar. After attaining my SSCE from my village school, I never even had the luxury of advancing my education. So imagine the length I went through to speak properly.
 

“Hmm, baby, this my friend na barrack girl oo, her papa na navy. No be like you wey your papa na airforce but no sabi speak pidgin. This one born for Navytown oo.” I say, releasing myself from his firm grip.
 

“I know, but I can try to speak.” He challenges us.
 

Omoh didn’t know when she burst into laughter. “Sorry, abeg no vex.” She apologizes soon after.
 

“What? Ok, baby, say anything in pidgin; let you see how well I can reply.” He takes his requests quite seriously.

 
“Wow.” I whisper.
 

Omoh folds her arms and pays attention to the both of us.
 

“Ok, since we dey go see your sister this weekend, na wattin you think say I fit wear?” I ask awaiting his reply.
 

I watch as he struggles to put the words together: “Eh, you fit, em wear. Arggh!” He beats himself.
 

I and Omoh laughs so hard at him that he felt a little embarrassed.
 

To bribe him, I tell him with a kiss. “I love you.” Wrapping my arms around him “That’s why I’m saying this. It is easier to understand pidgin than to speak, especially for people in your category. You don’t have to speak it; I speak it well enough for both of us. And besides, it doesn’t suit your tongue; pidgin English has a certain accent, and you don’t have it.” I tease him carefully, watching his baby-like expression.
 

“At all.” Omoh concurs.
 

“Make I no go spoil your tongue before your papa come find me reach my house.” I laugh under my breath.
 

“But I wish to learn.” He whines.

 
“And you will, but not today.” I encourage him.
 

“Ok, but I will surprise you.” He says, smiling down at me.
 

“I know you will; I can't wait.” I reply.

1772 𝖜𝖔𝖗𝖉𝖘

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PIDGIN                    ENGLISH

Na so, abeg Omoh, come help me for inside, make I no laugh burst my belle ---------------------of course, please Omoh, come and help me inside let me not laugh in excess.

Na waoo, because say my boyfriend no dey here, abi?”-------Hmm, because my boyfriend isn’t around, right?

No vex-------Don’t be angry

this my friend na barrack girl
her papa na navy. No be like you wey
your papa na airforce but no sabi
speak pidgin. This one born for
navy town oo ----------------------This my friend is a barrack girl, her father is in the Navy. Unlike you that your father was in the Air force but still, you cannot speak Pidgin. She was born in Navy Town.

since we dey go see your sister this weekend na, wattin you think say I fit wear? ---------------------------- Since we are going to see your sister this weekend, what do you think I should wear?

Make I no go spoil your tongue before your papa come find me reach my house --------------------- Let me don’t change your Accent so I can avoid your father’s wrath.