Palm lines - Episode 6

Palm lines

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Erika's POV

My boss had to interrupt my discussion with Feso. It broke my heart.
I have never felt this way in a very long time about a man. I can't remember the last time I talked to a guy, much less flirt with him or make him laugh. Except Stanley of course.
It seemed surreal.
 I have never had a man look at me the way Feso did. 
Suddenly I remembered what Mrs. Reiner said about the indicators of meet my soul mate . The day would be marked by something grey. I concluded it was the man's grey jacket.
 Something embarrassing, my encounter with the Keke man and her encounter with the grey haired man. Dorcas gave me a gift earlier in the morning. 
It finally made sense.
What if today is the day i meet my soul mate and my soul mate is Feso? I thought to myself.
"Can you do it?" The proprietor asked and this brought me out of my thoughts.
I didn't even realize my boss had been conversing with me. "Sir?" "Are you serious? What are you thinking of?" "I had a lot in mind"
"You better get your head straight. How can I be speaking for so long and you were not even listening"
"I'm sorry Sir" I apologized.
"I said you'll be the one taking the praise and worship session for ten minutes or so." "Seriously?"
"I want everyone to hear your sweet voice, who else do you want me to give again?"
"Thank you Sir"

I walked over to the podium to do the duty assigned to me. Mr

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. Tolu from the music department played on my key and I flowed in worship.
Feso smiled at me, while i sang I felt shy, I just hope to God that I don't go offkey from too much excitement.
I also noticed the man with the grey hair look at me too, i had flashbacks on how I fell. 
I didn't understand why his eyes were fixed on me. I suddenly felt ashamed and uncomfortable.
The PTA meeting was a success. Complains were aired and parents were advised on what to do to help their children grow.
"The woman with the glorious voice" someone commented and I turned to see Mrs. Reiner. 
 "That's an exaggeration" I walked closer to her and she smiled.
"It's not, you sang well"
"Thanks" i answered then Mrs. Reiner held my palm then her lips curved into a smile then she giggled. 
 "I see you've met him already" she muttered and i nodded.
"Is he the one?" I asked and the grey haired man walked up to me, he had this blank look in his eyes.
"Good afternoon David" Mrs. Reiner greeted and I wondered how she managed to know him.
"I'm sorry?" He seemed utterly surprised too.
" We live in the same estate, you might not know me" Mrs. Reiner answered, "I'm sorry" he apologized.
 "I'm sorry Ma, can I get your attention?" He turned to me and i felt insulted. 
If a mature man like him could look at me and call me 'Ma' then i must really look old. 
"Haba Sir! Ma? She's not that old" Mrs. Reiner rebuked and i waved my hands acting as though i wasn't hurt by it. 
"I'm sorry Mam, I didn't mean it that way." 
"He's still saying it again" 
"I'm sorry, I meant miss" he corrected then turned to Mrs. Reiner who only laughed and winked at me.
 "I was just pulling your legs" she said tapping his chest then she laughed. 
"Have a nice day Miss Erika" she said moving back.
"You haven't even answered my question" i yelled and she walked away. 
"Argh!" I grunted.
David raised a handbag up. 
"A lady forgot this, I didn't know who to give it to, you seem like a nice person so.."
"Thanks" I said then i collected it. 
I still felt awkward around him. "I'll check the bag there might be something in there that should lead to the owner"
"Definitely" he answered looking at me then his phone rang.
 "Excuse me" he raised a finger picking up the call. 
"Hello honey" he said and i cleared my throat. Definitely his wife!
 "I'll be home after work. I have somethings to finish up at work, what happened?" He asked the caller, then he waited for response.
"What did she do?" He paused, "I'll be there as soon as I'm done" he added hanging up then he turned towards me. "I'm sorry about that"
"It's nothing, was that your wife?" I asked to clarify and confirm my suspicion.
"Yeah, I'm having daughter drama, if work doesn't kill me,  my kid will"  "Try working as a teacher" i chipped in and he laughed.
"No way, I don't think I've been blessed with the ability to teach, teachers are the real heroes." He complimented and i smiled. 
"I have the same thought too"
"Are you in anyway the teacher to SS1 B?" he asked and i shook my head.
"I teach junior students but.." i stalled and a scoff escaped my lip.
"How can you not know your daughter's teacher?" I asked obviously sounding judgemental. Then I folded my hands giving him a stern look.
"It's not what it seems"
"Do you even know your daughter's last position in school or how she's doing in school? Or if she's a miscreants or not?"
"Why does it look like you're about to bring out a cane to flog the hell out of me?" He asked and I struggled not to laugh. It looked that way though.
 I tried to keep a straight face.
"Okay, the truth is, I've been busy" he gave his excuse and I scoffed again.
"Too busy to know your daughter's teacher?"
"My job"
"That's not an excuse Sir. I'm sorry and I know I don't have the right to judge you but I want you to look at yourself closely and be the judge, if the award for best father of the year was to go to you" I paused, "Think deeply Sir, do you even deserve being called one?" I snapped leaving him alone to his thoughts.
I suddenly bumped into Feso.
 "I was actually looking for you" he said and I paused in slow motion then i smiled placing my fingers on my neck.
"The PTA meeting is over, shouldn't you be off to see your.." I cleared , "Your wife and kids" I added and he laughed.
"I'm sure I don't look that old"
"You're here for the PTA meeting right?"
"Yes because my employee, the one who just gave birth; she asked me to stand in for her. I'm not married, neither do I have kids. I'm very much single"
"Oh" i  almost sighed in relief. That response made my day!
"Can I get your contacts?" he asked and i nodded almost immediately.
 "Sure"


I resolved the issue with the bag before going back home. I haven't been so happy the way in a very long time. I was blushing uncontrollably.
 I noticed Dorcas stare at me during dinner. She stared intently at me, so much that I felt uncomfortable.
"Okay! You better start speaking before I force you to. What happened?" She asked, "Like how?" She asked.
"What do you mean by like how? You know what I mean, you've been blushing since you came in"
"Wait, I thought I was the only one who noticed it" Kechi said and I smiled.
 "It's nothing really" she answered.
"Did any of the parents give you a big bonus?" Kechi asked and Dorcas laughed.
 "This is better than bonuses. Bonus doesn't make you blush, only a guy can do that" Dorcas guessed right  and I coughed. I picked up a glass cup filled with water on the table then i drank from it.
"Sorry" she apologized.
"Just let us know now" She insisted, she was already in suspense. "Okay fine I'll let you girls know" 
"Weeks ago, I met a woman who reads palm"
"Seriously?" Dorcas asked, her face contorted in a grimace. Kechi gave a ghoulish reaction to it too.
"E don reach that level?" She asked and I shook my head. 
"It wasn't intentional, she's a mother to one of my students. She touched my hands and then told me I would meet my soul mate very soon"
"So?" Kechi asked, "You're putting me in suspense na!" She added.
"She said the day would be marked by something grey, something embarrassing and gifts" i explained. "I had series of ugly events that happened" 
"What ugly event?" Kechi asked, she was lost.
"My skirt got torn by Keke, I fell down and my wig came off. One of the parents actually saw me, raised me up and gave me my wig"
Kechi busted into laughter. 
"Mehn that's messed up"
"But something good came out sha. I met Feso, he wore a grey suit and remember you got me a gift earlier in the morning. I just pieced the whole thing together. He has to be the most handsome man I've ever met"
"A single dad?"
"No, he's only there to help someone out. He's not even married"
"That's what they all say until you find out he's married with three kids" Kechi hissed getting all sentimental. Probably one of her bad relationship experience.
 "All I'm saying is that guys are unpredictable. This guy might be lying"
"Maybe, maybe not but he looks like a nice guy and gosh! For the first time in forever I felt like he could be the one. You know that feeling nah" I paused then my phone rang. 
I glanced at it, and I noticed it was Feso. I smiled raising up the phone. "It's him" I whispered then picked up the call rising from the chair.
"Put it on loud speaker" Kechi shouted and I glared at her.
"Hello Feso"
"Hey" he answered from the other end.  "How are you?" I asked leaning on the wall, it was almost as though I would enter into the wall. 
"I'm fine, I was about to sleep. I couldn't help thinking about you" "Seriously?" I asked, "Am I supposed to believe that?" I added and he laughed.
"That sounded cheesy right?" He asked and I nodded giggling.
 "Kind of"
"I'm sorry but I wasn't joking. I've been thinking of you, somehow you've managed to catch my attention"
 "Seriously?" 
"Yes seriously Erika. Do you believe in fate?" He asked and i hesitated, I wasn't sure what response to give to him. Of course I do!
"Uh...i... I" i stammered, "I don't know"
"Are you free tomorrow evening?"
"Nope, choir rehearsals."
"I was thinking we could go on a date"
"Are you asking me out?" I asked. 
Dorcas and Kechi rushed towards me.
I guess my response stirred up they're interest. 
 "Is he asking you out?" Dorcas mouthed, i raised my finger up. I wasn't in a good position to speak to them yet.
"Maybe i am or maybe I want to get to know you" he answered and I closed my eyes in regrets.
"I still have rehearsals, I'm a chorister and I take God's work seriously"
"How about other evening next week?"
"I'm a teacher, I have to prepare lesson notes"
"Oh please just stop giving excuses!" Kechi grabbed the phone. 
"Don't worry she'll be there tomorrow evening. I'll force her if I have to" she answered and i got my phone back. 
"Ignore her"
"Erika!" Kechi sounded as though she was warning me.
 "I'll fix a day next week," i answered, "Promise?"he asked and I chuckled. 
"I promise"
"Next week then" Feso answered and I nodded.
"Goodnight" he chipped in and I hung up then i turned towards Kechi.
"I thought you said didn't trust him"
"Yes but you shouldn't stop you from getting to know him" Kechi answered and i folded my hands. "Find out where he works, whether he has a job or not or whether he's married or not"
"I can't just miss rehearsals again nah"
"I'm not telling you not to do God's work oh but... Sister, be smart"
"Okay, I'll schedule an evening with him."  I bit my lip placing the phone on my chest.
"It's just a day and you already like him, seriously Erika" Dorcas retorted, it seemed like chastening remark.  "Erika I think it's important to first gather information about this guy first before you fall deeper" she advised and I agreed.

Feso didn't stop calling to check up on me. I finally fixed a date for the date the following week; with Vera's intervention .  
Kechi personally handpicked a black gown. I wasn't too sure about wearing it since it brought out my curves, leaving nothing to the imagination.
"Won't this make me look too..." I paused looking into the mirror once more.
"I hope you wore something sexy underneath" Vera asked and I scoffed. "It's not like I'm planning to have sex with him"  I argued.
"You never can tell" Vera winked at me.
"You guys are corrupt and crazy. I'm not having s*x on my first date" I argued lifting my hand bag. "Hmmmn" Vera answered.
Of course she was talking about the stranger. "I still want to be on my celibacy goal" I answered.
"Whatever you say" Kechi answered and the girls laughed.


I located the restaurant, it took time to. The waitress directed me to where Feso was seated. "Good evening" he rose up smiling at me. 
My breath seized instantly.
"Good evening" I sigh then he pulled out a seat for me like a perfect gentleman.
I sat down gracefully like a queen. "You look dashing" he complimented, "Thank you" I answered smiling uncontrollably.
"What would you love to eat?" He asked and I looked into the restaurant's menu. "I'll take the jollof rice and chicken menu"
Feso chose the same thing.
Things turned bad the moment the waitress brought the food to the table.

Read " Hotel Palava " by the same author ( Essien Eno )

. The smell of garlic filled the whole room. 
My belly made funny noises.
"Are you okay?" Feso asked, "You look worried"
"Garlic" I blurted out, "You don't like garlic?" He asked and I shook my head. "I do, I use it in cooking" I answered and he stared in disbelief.
Of course I love garlic, I didn't know why I hated this particular smell.
It definitely had to be my periods! I was expecting it soon anyways. 
"I don't understand why.." I paused about to vomit then I covered my mouth. I needed to find the nearest toilet so I rushed out. 
With the help of one personnel I was able to find the toilet. I vomited in it and I felt embarrassed after it. 
How was I supposed to go back in there and face him. I walked back to my seat and then I apologized  for what had just happened.
I felt my belly churn again.
"If you don't want the food we can change it"
"No" I refused. 
"It's fine. It's probably my pre-period symptoms messing up with my smell" I blurted out.
I had no idea why I said that. 
"I feel horrible" I covered my face in shame with my left palm  and he placed his hands above my right palm.
"It's okay Erika, it's fine"
"I'm ruining the date already with my nerves" 
"I'm nervous too" he revealed and I gawked in disbelief. He didn't seem the least bit anxious as I was. "I feel like I'm in a board meeting and I'm about to give a pitch to a group of investors and convince them that I'm the right man for the job. The only difference is that I don't get scared with when I give a pitch. With you, I'm scared that I'll screw up." He confessed and I smiled.
That was very sweet.
"And you're not embarrassed by me?" I asked and he shook his head. "You're doing great" he answered and we started eating. 
I didn't even swallowed the third spoon of rice when I puked on the table.

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