The day after Christian's rejection, I walked into the building feeling like my shame was on full display. I was convinced that everyone knew about my humiliation, that they could see the evidence of my reckless behavior written all over my face. The weight of my embarrassment was crushing, making it impossible for me to make eye contact with anyone.
I couldn't even bear to take the cupcakes home, fearing my mother's inquisition. Instead, I discarded them in a trash can, trying to erase the painful memory. All I wanted was to erase the incident from my mind, to pretend it never happened.
As the days passed, I began to relax, realizing that no one was snickering or sneering at me. But a week later, when I encountered Christian in the lobby, the shame resurfaced with a vengeance. Our eyes met briefly before I hastily looked away, scurrying past him like a frightened rabbit. I prayed he wouldn't speak to me, and thankfully, he didn't.
From then on, I avoided eye contact whenever I saw him. Before long, even he started walking past me without acknowledgment. And that's how it remained for months – an awkward, silent dance of avoidance.
"Hey girl, what's up?" Nana asked, her voice warm and familiar.
"Hi Nana, I'm good. How are you?" I replied, trying to sound more upbeat than I felt.
"I'm fine, it's been a week, and I haven't heard from you," Nana said, her tone tinged with concern. "I'm sorry, it's just work has been so hectic this week." I replied
"Okay, you sound tired and sad. Is everything okay?" Nana asked, her voice softening.
"Yeah, I'm fine, thanks for asking though," I replied, trying to brush off her concerns.
"You wanna hang out this weekend?" Nana asked, her tone brightening.
"Yes, sure," I accepted, hoping that spending time with Nana would help take my mind off Christian and my heartbreak.
"Okay, I'll come pick you up on Saturday night. We're having a sleepover," Nana said, her excitement palpable.
"Oh, that sounds fun. I'm so excited," I said, giggling, trying to match Nana's enthusiasm.
"Okay, bye girl, love you," Nana said, her voice filled with affection.
"Love you too, Nana. See you soon, and thanks for the offer," I replied, feeling a sense of relief wash over me.
As I hung up the phone, I couldn't bring myself to tell Nana about my one-night stand with my boss. Despite our close relationship, this secret felt different, and I wasn't ready to share it with anyone, not even my dear friend Nana.
Weekend came and Nana came to pick me up from home, as we drove to Nana's house, we chatted about our week, catching up on each other's lives. We laughed and joked, and for a moment, I forgot about my heartbreak. When we arrived at Nana's house, we settled in for a cozy night of movies, snacks, and gossip.
We spent the evening giggling and sharing stories, and I felt grateful for our friendship. As the night wore on, we decided to have a deep conversation, and I found myself opening up to Nana about my feelings. I shared with her my experience with Christian, and she listened attentively, offering words of encouragement and support.
Okay enough of that sad shit, a friend I of mine is having a pool party and we're going, Nana said after I narrated my ordeal with Christian to her.
"A pool party? Tonight? But I thought we were having a sleepover," I protested, feeling a bit disappointed. Girl I'm so tired, I need to sleep.
"Come on, don't be a party pooper," Nana said, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "We'll have fun, I promise! And I have some new bikinis I got from my last trip to Dubai. You can pick any one you like."
I couldn't resist Nana's enthusiasm, and the prospect of wearing a luxurious bikini from Dubai was tempting. I knew that Nana's family had a lot of wealth, passed down through generations, which meant she didn't have to work if she didn't want to. But she still chose to work at a law firm, which I admired.
"Okay, fine," I said, giving in. "But just for a few hours, and then I'm going to bed."
Nana grinned, already knowing she'd won me over. "That's the spirit! We'll have a blast, I promise."
As we got ready, chatting and laughing, my mind momentarily shifted away from the stress of Christian, Aderiola, and work bullies like Deborah. When we arrived at the party venue, I was taken aback by the grandeur of the house and the expansive pool. The music was thumping, and people were lost in the moment, dancing, sipping drinks, and socializing. The vibrant atmosphere was infectious, and I felt my spirits lift.
"This guy must be a big deal," I said to Nana, nodding towards the crowd. "There are so many people here."
Nana smiled knowingly. "Yeah, he's pretty popular. I've known him for a while, and he always throws parties like this."
We navigated through the crowd, exchanging greetings and catching up with friends. The excitement of the party was palpable, and I found myself getting swept up in the moment, feeling carefree and joyful.
We changed into our bikinis, and Nana went to say hello to her friend throwing the party. I sat in a secluded table, not ready to socialize with anyone. I had even declined Nana's offer to introduce me to the so-called friend. I sat nursing the cocktail I was served.
A guy who reeked of alcohol approached my table and said, "Hey, fine girl, you wanna dance?" I offered a strained smile and replied, "No thanks."
The guy persisted, "Come on, only for a few minutes." I shook my head and said, "No, please go." He wouldn't take no for an answer, "Why are you being difficult, come on, it's just a dance."
Just as I was starting to feel uncomfortable, a familiar voice came to my defense. "She said no, stop pestering her and go away." The guy scurried off, saying, "Alright, chill man, I'll go."
I looked up to see who had intervened and my heart skipped a beat. It was Christian, standing over my table, looking handsome in black shorts and a singlet. "Hey, are you okay?" he asked, his eyes piercing into mine.
I held his gaze, taking in the several layers of color in his eyes, an ombre of dark and light brown. "Hey, are you okay?" he asked again, and I realized I had been staring and didn't answer his question the first time.
"Yes, I'm fine, good evening sir, thank you for..." My words got lost in my mouth. Christian chuckled and settled into the available chair. "Susan, we are at a party, no need for all that 'sir' business. You can call me Christian."
I bit my lips and lowered my head to stare at my lap, feeling a mix of emotions. Here he was, carefree and laughing, as if he hadn't shattered my heart months back.