Chapter 8: Chapter 8

SEVEN- STRANGER

I walked out to the sitting room to meet Uju lying on the couch. I already made up my mind not to ask her any questions about her today.afterall, dem no send me work  i  took a quick glance at her, she was busy typing away something on her phone .she didn't even look at me. That's okay

I walked into the kitchen,opening the pot to see if there was any left over in the kitchen.unfortunately there was none.I groaned loudly as I walked back to the sitting room.Uju had raised up her face to meet mine

" I remained food for you.it's in a plate which I covered and kept in the dining " she said. Speaking like she didn't just yell at me inside

" Thanks.I'm not hungry " I replied. She gave me a skeptical look before shrugging

" anytime you're hungry you should eat "

I ignored her, bringing out my phone to log into wattpad. I was going to read 'Curing his love allergy ' by one of my favorite authors when I heard Uju speak again

" Mimi " she only called me that when she wanted me to help her and something

" Meera.I don't know how many times I call you Juju.if I even tried it before " I snarl and she chuckles

" I'll just break your bones if you call me that "

" hmm "I return back to reading the wattpad story

" help me and buy something from HD supermarket " she spoke up and I shot her a look

" I can't " I simply reply.a small frown formes on her forehead as she asks

" why can't you ?"

" cause I'm tired. I've had a long day today "

" help me na..it's not far " she whines making me grunt

" so now you want me to help you?"

She says nothing instead she's busy given me the puppy look

" are you vexing for me?" She finally asks when she realizes her tactics aren't going anywhere

" no..it's just that I'm trying to avoid annoying some people " I say and she laughs

" oya.sorry nau..I over reacted I'm sorry.it's just that my director has been going through some tough times and he took it out on me " she explained and I nodded trying to understand

" how did you know he was going through tough times?"

" he once told me"

" are you that close to him ?" I ask and this time she raises her eyebrows at me

" shey this one na is job interview? Why are being so inquisitive? " she asks and I shrugged

" sorry o."

" are you helping me na ?"

" stop saying help like your handicapped " I retort and she smirks

" whaeva.the money is in my bag.just buy what is written on the list beside the money " she says and I shook my head

"Why didn't you buy this since?"

"I wasn't with money.." I was going to open my mouth again when she beat me to it

"...don't ask why I can't go now.I'm simply not feeling too good " she says and I roll my eyes at her

" thank you" she called out.blowing me a kiss.

******

The road to my house was what you could call an avenue. Taxi's and tricycles didn't ply the road that much except it was an uber or someone took a drop .though the road wasn't that lonely but it was a bit creepy to be surrounded by trees and less souls during the night. Thankfully this wasn't night.this was midday

I plugged in my headphones which I took earlier before leaving the house, tuning into weekend's music blinding lights

I wore only my sky blue joggers and a black plain t-shirt.leaving my braids to fall by my side with a Dunlop fancy slippers. I was nodding my head to the beat of the song as I walked.

_i look around and sin city's cold and empty.

No one's around to judge me

I can't see clearly when you're gone_

I was singing out .though I wasn't loud since I knew that my headphones could be tricky.

_i said ooh I'm blinded by the lights...

I felt someone tap me.making me jerk up startled

" oh my gosh!! "I exclaimed in fright as I pull down my headphones to hang on my neck. Only to be met by a totally unknown man who was looking at me in amusement

I frowned immediately I saw him " no need to be scared " he said with a lace  of amusement in his tone making me sneer inwardly.and then put up a show smile at him

" good evening " I said to continue walking away when I heard him call

" you have a nice voice " I stopped walking.letting my mind wander to whom this person might be.nevertheless I answered even tho I had no clue yet

" thank you " I continued walking when he called again

" sorry.can I speak to you?" I groan inwardly. Rolling my eyes over and over again as I turned to look at him in displeasure

" Mr.not now.I'm going somewhere really important " I said trying to dismiss him

" it's just a question?"

I paused. Contemplating if I should listen or if I should just walk away.I took a second to assess his looks and he didn't even dress sensibly.

He wore a ragged jean trousers over a pair of oversized t-shirt and a worn out bathroom slippers

Should I walk away or should I listen to him

What if ...Mannn. many there are many kidnappers these days ooh

What if he's one.or what if he's even one Destiny snatcher?

Okay what if he's actually responsible? Responsible fire..

You know you can't just judge people anyhow

What to  do what to dooo????

Okay that was me having an inner battle with my subconscious to either be listening or be rude.I huff out loud

" I'm sorry if I make you quite uncomfortable.if you don't want to talk no problem. " he said like all was cool.

Maybe all was actually cool.

I gave him a tight smile and made to walk away as fast as possible. And man.God knows I was already half a mile past my walk when I stopped back to actually call the strange man.

" hello" I called. Turns out that he wasn't that far away from where I stood.I waved at him in a gesture that said I'm cool with talking to him.

He walked closer to where i was and smiled at me.I reciprocated with a lazy smile

" two minutes " I say.and he shrugged

"That's okay as long as I get to talk to you "

" a minute more " I replied rolling my eyes.I wasn't ready for a chit chat.not when I had no idea of who i was talking to.

" do you live around here?"

" yes " I answered a bit confused as to why he asked

Was it not you that gave him permission to speak to you.my subconscious mocked and I rolled my eyes at it inwardly

" do you know any Mrs Okoye ? "He asked and i shrug

" No.."

"Mrs Okoye Anna " he asks again.curiosity written all over his face as I creased my eyebrows

" No..I don't " his expression fell abit as though he looked sad.I felt abit of sympathy at his disappointment

" Is she someone related to you? " I ask probing futher.he sighed

" she's my wife.." he said. He wasn't willing to go any further and me I wasn't willing to listen not until he said that I looked like his children

" Excuse me what?  "I asked with a frown and he just smiled

" I mean I had only two kids..I just thought you looked like my wife that was why I asked you first. " he explained and I heaved a sigh.

" ooh.okay " I replied

" my name is Fred.incase you see me around anytime " he added and I nod.who told him I would be seeing him around again .

" okay.mr.I need to get going " I say giving him a small smile

" bye.." he says and I continued my walk.

Phew .that was easier than I thought.well, happy finding with his wife and kids.

N.b I was lucky today.thankfully mr.Fred wasn't a bad Person but next time I would make sure to move around with my pepper spray.incase tho.

I laughed at my thoughts but I had agreed to with it.