Crossing Paths; Episode one
This is not just a simple story of boy meets girl…
Lagos, Nigeria.
It was a bright Saturday afternoon. The sun seemed to be pouring a large percentage of its beams on a particular BRT passenger bus moving at a speed 0f 70km/h in the direction of Ojota. In this BRT bus, the fate of everyone on board would be decided by two passengers, Tajudeen and Moyosore, just by the mere coincidence of their proximity.
The journey was seemingly calm for everyone else, but with every mile covered towards Ojota, Taj’s heart raced ceaselessly. The sporadic pumping of blood in his vessels caused his pores to gap elaborately, letting off perspiration in volumes. But Taj’s blank expression betrayed his shaken nerves. Contrasting emotions surged through his being, involuntarily making his head tilt in the direction of Moyo, the girl sitting by his side in the two-sitter per row arrangement of the BRT.
Moyo winced inwardly as the gaze from the apparent admirer sitting to her left burned through her skin. She didn’t get a clear view of him when she had taken the seat by his side, but she knew it was a young man she was sitting close to. Of course, she was used to people staring at her as her physical endowments sold her out. At just 19, her light complexion coupled with a very pretty face, a suave frame, a firm bosom and curvy hips gave her an appeal that attracted stare. In fact, she was used to getting stares to the extent that getting no stare would be disturbing and abnormal.
But this particular gesture from the young man by her side had an eerie note to it. It was so spooky and intense that she was sure going by the way he fixated on her; he was going to eat her if they were both characters in a horror movie. She wished she hadn’t noticed him, because now, she was getting strained with discomfort. Even as she made sure not to look in his direction from the moment she caught him staring at her with the side of her eyes, her intuition registered his gaze. Ojota was still about 20 minutes away and there was nothing else she could do but absorb the discomfort until she was rid of his presence.
Taj knew he had to make his move now or never. They were just a couple of blocks away from the bus terminal, and once the traffic presently on course disperses, he would have lost his window. With his last resolve, he reached for the cellphone in his pocket with shaky hands. He had less than 30 seconds to do what he needed to, with trembling lips he mumbled some words, bracing himself up for what was to follow.
Moyo anxiously geared up for the moment they would pull over at the bus stop. She was about to shut her eyes and spread her right palm over her brows when she caught a glimpse of her ‘source of discomfort’ retrieve a cellphone from his pocket. His action made her chuckle a sarcastic gesture with mock intent. “You can’t be serious!” were the words that escaped her lips a little bit louder than she had intended. She shook her head and for the first time, turned to face the guy who had spooked her the whole while. Maybe when he sees the look on her face, he would swallow his cellphone, she decided.
Taj was rattled by the words and gesture of the girl sitting by his side. Her actions had halted his move. Confusion and tension interlocked his reasoning and froze his mind momentarily. He stared blankly at the young lady with no idea of his next play.
The sight that greeted Moyo as she beheld Taj awed her. Here was arguably the most handsome male she had ever seen. His curly dark hair, blue eyes, cute lips, clean shaven beards and slightly muscular frame, made her struggle to catch her breath for a few seconds. He was the definition of gorgeousness. And from his complexion and eye color it was obvious he was an interracial breed (half-caste). But what she could not understand was why a ‘drop dead gorgeous’ guy as the one she was beholding would be so terrified to acquaint with her.
A lost expression still smeared his face when suddenly she saw her hand move. Her left hand gently plucked the cellphone from his hands; next thing, she was entering her mobile digits into it. She couldn’t stop herself as she went ahead to register her name on his contact. Shell shocked by her own action, she handed the device back to the stunned young man...
The story continues...