GOLDEN CHANCE
Could
it be that she didn’t notice him, or was it pretence? He had sat patiently all
alone in the virtually empty bar on a Saturday awaiting her arrival, only for
her to eventually walked in and never even bothered to take a glance at his
presence let alone tendering a casual salutation as courtesy demanded.
Dan
who resided in the city of Asaba, Delta State, was a secret admirer. He had
observed her with keen interest for three weeks now, although the lady in
question was yet to take note of his existence. The bar popularly known as
Dragon-Top, in which he was seated, had remained his usual joint whenever it
called for relaxation since three years back he relocated to the city.
She came into the picture barely about
twenty-one days back when both of them coincidentally arrived at Dragon-Top at
the same time. On that fateful day, she was gorgeously clad in a red-carpet
dress as if it was her birthday and needed to rock the day in a bar. Though she
didn’t notice him as he stepped in alongside her, he did notice her magnificent
look and countenance. Surprisingly, it seemed she came to catch fun all alone
as throughout almost an hour she relaxed in there with just a bottle of Smirnoff,
no one was by her side. Such rare display kept Dan in a deep thoughtful mood
all-through the day even after her gracious departure.
The following Saturday evening being
exactly a week after the first encounter, Dan equally caught the sight of same
lady dressed in different charming attire. On that day, she was also seated all
alone throughout her stay at the outlet. Smirnoff was as well her company on
this very day; but this time, she took two bottles contrary to the first outing
when she managed to consume just one.
Since it appeared her patronage was on a
Saturday-Saturday basis, Dan thought it wise to always make out time to be
present at Dragon-Top every Saturday, precisely during the evening time, even
amid tight schedules. On the third Saturday being two weeks after the first
encounter, she also came along as expected and in another elegant wear. On this
day, he decided to lose his patience and walk up to her for a chat but later
jettisoned his idea, reason best known to him, or perhaps owing to lack of
courage.
Maybe all those while, she never acknowledged
that one particular young man had been admiring every bit of her. Or, did she
know and decided to play along? Only the gods could tender the apt answer to
the question. Well, whatever the case could be, time would surely tell as
usual.
Today,
being the fourth Saturday, the 36-year-old Dan was at the moment the only guest
in the ‘almighty’ and ever bubbling Dragon-Top. It was about 4:30 pm; some
minutes earlier than the previous outings. He was advertently more punctual,
probably to enable him properly strategize on how best to approach that seeming
unique bird that had been perching on a dwarf tree situated very close to his
abode. About twenty minutes after his arrival, there she came clad in her usual
way and thereof requested for her normal drink; she wanted it very cold this
time.
It’s noteworthy that as she walked into
the bar, Dan’s gaze was firmly fixed on her but she never cared to even wave at
him nor showcase any element of reciprocation; rather, she hurriedly looked
elsewhere on observing the rare stare and acted as if the dude didn’t worth her
attention.
“Was
it a pretence?” Dan thought as she passed by, ignoring him. “Or could it be she
was outside minded.” He added just to console himself.
She was seated adjacent to him but
about ten metres away. Dragon-Top was large enough to accommodate over three
hundred individuals while seated. Excluding the attendants, only both of them
were found at the bar at the time, thus she had no reason to say that she could
not see Dan as well as how good he equally dressed. As she sipped her drink
with a white straw, she intermittently glanced at him in style. The pink gown coupled
with silver-coated sandals she wore looked like what was specially designed for
a palace princess. From all indications, she couldn’t be more than 28.
On his part, Dan who put on black
jeans trousers, red-check shirt, black baseball cap and a pair of red trainers
spotted with white, was occupied with a bottle of stout beer. He was also
staring at her at intervals though stylishly. “Hello pretty!” he eventually
broke the silence as he eventually walked to where she sat.
It seemed she didn’t see him leave his
initial position let alone move towards her point as she was seemingly startled
on hearing the salutation. “Hi.” She managed to reply, waving her right hand.
“Did I frighten you?” he verified,
still standing.
“I didn’t know when you got here.” She
responded.
“Oh,” he said. “So sorry about that.”
“No problem.” she uttered. “So..?” she
supplemented, trying to ascertain his mission.
“Please, can I sit with you?”
“Suit yourself.”
“Thanks.” He tendered as he sat opposite her on one of the three empty
chairs at the table.
“You are welcome.”
“I am Dan.” He disclosed in a jiffy.
“Are you through with your drink?” she
enquired, pointing at his table, ignoring the introductory note.
“Oh, yes.” he replied. “Thanks.”
“Well, I am Jessy.”
“It is my pleasure to meet you,
Jessy.”
“How?’ she queried. “Did you know me
before now?”
“I have known you for over three weeks
now.”
“Three weeks..?”
“Yes.”
“How?” quoth Jessy. “Where?”
“Right here in dragon top.”
“Really..?”
“Yea.”
“So, you have been spying me all along?”
“Spy..?” he said. “On the contrary, I
have been observing you.”
“Observing me?” she echoed, placing
her left hand on her chest. “Interesting.”
“This is the fourth time you would be
here within this month,” quoth the lover boy. “Am I right?”
“Hmm…,” she muttered. “This is getting
more interesting.”
“You can say that again.”
“So, how may I help you?” she said
frankly.
“It is obvious.” responded Dan. “Or,
isn’t it?”
She smiled, calmly folded her arms,
and never uttered a word.
To be continued, please.
FDN Nwaozor
Executive
Director, Docfred Resource Hub - Owerri_________________________________
Twitter: @mediambassador
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