"I'm sorry I'm late," Nina said. "My mom had to drop off my brothers at school first."
"It's fine," he replied with a warm smile.
As Nina fumbled with her handbag, trying to put her phone away, he asked, "How are you?" His gaze was directed at her, but Nina was focused on her bag. She felt a flutter in her chest as she repeated the question in her mind, wondering why it seemed so unusual.
"Good morning, sir," she said with a grin, trying to compose herself. She assumed he had greeted her first because she hadn't had a chance to.
Instead of responding, he chuckled, and Nina found herself laughing along, unsure what was so funny.
"Sir, I should hurry," she said, trying to remember her priorities. "I have a piece to deliver today."
His eyes lit up with interest. "Oh, really? I'd love to hear it."
Nina's face fell as a wave of nervousness washed over her. "Thank you, sir," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm just a bit nervous about speaking in public, I guess."
Just as he was about to respond, Alia emerged from the doorway they were about to enter.
"Hey, Nina! You're just getting here?" Alia asked with a friendly tone.
She turned to the Sir and greeted, "Good morning, Sir," her smile warm and bright.
"I'll catch up with you inside; I need to make a quick call," Alia said to Nina, already hurrying off.
The exchange happened swiftly, and before Nina knew it, Alia was gone, leaving her alone with the Sir as they stepped through the doorway.
"Thank you, Sir," Nina said with a grin, "I should probably get going."
However, instead of responding, he continued to gaze at her, his eyes lingering on hers. Feeling a flutter of discomfort, Nina quickly made her way to the hall.
Alia is the only person Nina knows in this entire place. Ugh, this is really tough for her. But since it's a space where she can pursue her passions, she's gradually warming up to it.
Alia is her former schoolmate, and despite not being in the same class, they've maintained a connection. Nina isn't naturally adept at making friends with strangers, but Alia is someone she knows, and Alia knows her too.
This marks her third visit to the "Art Club". The first time was overwhelming, the second was a bit more manageable, and now, even though she's still nervous around people, she considers it progress to be back for the third time.
As they walked out, Nina's heart was still racing. Alia nudged her playfully. "You were amazing there! I loved your piece."
Nina smiled. "Thanks, Alia. I'm just really glad it's over."
Alia chuckled. "Nervous? Don't worry, that's just part of the deal. You're a natural."
Nina laughed. "I guess I've come a long way, huh?"
Alia grinned. "You have no idea. I remember how quiet you used to be in school."
Nina playfully rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah, I know. Who would've thought I'd be performing poetry in front of a crowd?"
As they stepped out to the main gate, talking and laughing, Nina's phone rang. She knew it was her mother, as she had just called her before they came out to tell her they were finished and ask if she was coming to pick her up, but her mother hadn't answered then.
Picking up the call, Nina started talking, "Momma, we're done. Are you coming to pick me up?"
The same gentleman she had met earlier that morning walked towards them. Nina continued her conversation while Alia exchanged a greeting with him.
"Are you sure you can manage?" her mother asked again. "Yes, Momma, I can do it," Nina replied. "Be careful, okay? See you," her mother said before hanging up.
Nina ended the call and turned to the gentleman with a smile.
"Hello, Sir," Nina said.
"Hello, Miss Poet," he replied with a smile.
"Oh, I'm Nina, Sir," she said, making a funny face.
Alia chuckled and mimicked her, "I'm Nina, Sir."
They all laughed, and he asked Alia her name. After she told him, he offered some kind words about Nina's performance. Nina stood there, blushing, while Alia responded on her behalf.
Just then, his phone rang, and he walked away to answer it. Nina and Alia continued walking toward the road, discussing the gentleman.
"He's one of the organizers," Alia said.
"You didn't attend the first event, that's why you don't know him. He introduced himself as Liam that day."
Nina mentioned that her mother wasn't coming to pick her up, so she was taking a cab. Alia was heading in a different direction, so they bid each other farewell and parted ways.
As Nina settled into the taxi, she couldn't help but replay their encounter in her mind.
She felt a flutter in her chest whenever she thought about Liam and how he interacted with her.
The taxi hit a pothole, jolting Nina back to reality. She smiled wryly, chiding herself for getting lost in thought.
But she couldn't shake off the feeling that she'd just experienced something different.
As Nina entered the house, she glanced at the clock - 2:05 pm. The parlor was empty, except for the TV playing softly in the background.
She headed to the dining area, calling out, "I'm home, guys!" with a laugh, knowing her mom would tease her about being dramatic.
Femi and Folu rushed to greet her, exclaiming "Welcome!" Nina dropped her bag and phone on the table, scooping up the boys and twirling them around, making them giggle.
"How was school?" she asked, setting them down.
Her mom emerged from her bedroom, where she'd been helping the boys with their homework.
"How's it?" her mom asked.
"It's great, Momma," Nina replied with a grin. "I have so much to share."
Her mom smiled knowingly.
"Let me freshen up," Nina said, heading to her room. "My stomach's growling - I'll be right back." As she left, she called out, "Did Dada ask for me? We didn't talk today..."
After getting ready, Nina joined her family for lunch and recounted her morning's events. Later, she retreated to her room for a nap, joking that it was her medicine for being around people.
As she settled into bed that evening, Nina's mind wandered back to the day's events. She had performed, and the rush of accomplishment still lingered. She felt proud of herself and couldn't wait to share the excitement with Dada and her brother Praise.
But instead of dialing their numbers, she found herself clutching her phone, a silly grin spreading across her face as she gazed up at the ceiling. "What am I doing?" she whispered to herself, surprised by her own actions.
And then it hit her - Liam. Her heart fluttered as she realized she was thinking about him.
Her mind began to replay the moments they'd shared that day, and she couldn't help but smile.
"Hello, Miss Poet," she whispered, recalling the way he'd addressed her.
Her cheeks flushed as she chided herself, "Oh, Nina, what's gotten into you?" She laughed softly, feeling a mix of amusement and embarrassment, before finally shaking off the thoughts and dialing Dada's number.
As she waited for Dada to pick up, Nina's mind drifted back to Liam. She wondered what he thought of her performance, if he'd even noticed her nervousness.
"Hey, what's up?" Dada's cheerful voice cut through her thoughts.
"Dada, I did it," Nina said, barely containing her excitement. "I performed today."
Dada squealed in delight. "That's amazing! I'm so proud of you! Tell me everything!"
Nina laughed, feeling a surge of happiness. She launched into the story of her performance, reliving the moment with Dada's support.
"I was so nervous, Dada," she confessed. "My heart was racing, and I thought I was going to mess up."
Dada chuckled on the other end of the line. "I'm sure you were amazing, Nina. You're always so hard on yourself."
Nina smiled, "Thanks, Dada. Just talking to you makes me feel better."
"Anytime, kiddo. I'm proud of you. Get some rest, okay?" Dada said, wrapping up the call.
Nina nodded, even though her dad couldn't see her. "Okay, Dada. Love you."
"Love you too, sweetie. Sleep well"
The call ended, and Nina felt a sense of calm wash over her. She snuggled into bed, feeling grateful for the reassuring conversation.
She adjusted her position, settling into a more comfortable posture, and thoughts of Liam filled her mind again. She smiled to herself, and before long, she was asleep….