Chapter 1: The Problem

“Funny thing is how we met. And then the way we connected. If anybody had told me I’d be in a relationship soon, I’d have dou – are you even listening to me?”

Seven watched his younger sister, Angel, frustratingly, as she snores lightly. She sat across him in their living room, as the mid-afternoon rays sneaked through the curtains, highlighting part of Seven’s face.

Angel arched her head sideways until her auburn braids fell, almost covering her entire face. Seven's voice had dragged her out of her light nap. “Oh, you were telling that story again?” She groaned.

“Unbelievable!” Seven dramatically threw both hands in the air. “Imagine, I was demonstrating and using all my theatrical mannerisms to give more details to my true life story just so you could enjoy it, and here you are; sleeping while I perform for the spirits! That's disrespectful!”

“But you've sha told this story to me a hundred times. It already feels like it happened to me.” Angel shrugged, braids resting on shoulders. She wore a pink Hello Kitty blouse, Blue Jeans, and her indoor Crocs.

“Ehn! I didn’t tell it this way.”

“Yeah yeah yeah. You've told me the same story in different ways,” She made air quotes, “So please let’s not do this; I'm bored.” Her eyes showed it. Even her voice. Seven watched his sister yawn carelessly, hands stretched to the back, her chests puffed, warping the inscription on her blouse.

He scoffed, “Fine.” And rested his back on the couch. “Here I am trying to have a conversation with my little sister and she is not giving me attention. It’s alright. I don't blame you, I blame myself.”

This amused Angel, so she chuckled.

“Sev, the reason why you're even here trying to get chummy with me is that your phone is dead. The you that I know? At this time? If there was light you'd be in your room talking to Jane till—”

“It's Janet.” Seven corrected. Silly girl. Such a blabbermouth.

“Yeah, Janet. Sorry.” She watched her elder brother as he sulked. He was genuinely bored. “Uhm, Sev?”

“Yeah?”

“I think you need to get some friends.”

The air changed. “Are you mad? What's that supposed to mean?”

Angel started to protest. “No, that's not what I meant; I think you need friends closer to you; friends closer to home. Times like this when your phone is not available, you could go to their houses and have real conversations.”

Real conversations?!

“Angel.”

She was silent.

“Wherever the hell this is coming from has got to go back. I came downstairs to talk to you and not for you to insult me. I will not take that.”

“I'm sorry bro. It is just that sometimes it is as if she is your only company. What happens when...?” Angel trailed off. She was saying too much.

“What if what happens? Come on Aunty Talkative, finish your statement.”

He knew where this was going. Seven has had similar conversations with his few friends about this.

The talk about his internet lover with whom he was fond of, but he has never met. They have been together for over seven months.

Everyone was so skeptical whenever he relayed his romantic life with a fairly beautiful virtual girlfriend. And there was a reason why.

Seven knew that reason.

Being a Computer Science major in the University of Benin with no active social life in this day and age paints the picture of a young man that spends most of his time playing online games, trolling strangers online with his spare time, and telling anyone unlucky to listen how politically correct he was.

And no girl would want to have anything romantic to do with a boy who is passionate about how aliens have taken over the minds of the world leaders and leading a world of synchronized zombies into mass destruction.

So, Seven was very much involuntarily unavailable.

That was until the day his world collided with hers.

People were arguing on one of Seven’s F******k friend’s controversial posts. Talking about the usefulness of the notches on the recently released smartphones. Seven was on the opposing side. He believed the notches psychologically brought the smartphone users more discomfort than comfort, stripping the fact that it gives the smartphones more depth in aesthetics. However, it was less when it comes to watching movies and a notch has demanded a small yet significant ratio of your screen.

She had dropped an interesting sticker under his comment. Seven noticed it instantly. He also noticed her profile picture. A selfie of a light-skinned young woman with brown eyes, he liked the face he was seeing. She dropped more stickers on the rest of his comments because Seven gave solid facts based on his belief that the target was to improve the smartphone, ensuring that it enhances the user's experience and not limit it

Seven slid into her inbox quickly. Instant introduction. The girl was quick in response too. The friendship kicked off. Within weeks, they became inseparable. Attached. From random talks to deep conversations. Their similar interests were something of an art. Seven was in love. She told him she was too. Why not make it official?

The world felt it.

With the new development, he changed drastically.

His F******k went from sadist memes to romantic poetry. His view of life changed; his GPA jumped the next semester and he became brighter by the hour. Everyone loved the new Seven; his mother was okay with a girlfriend in her socially awkward son's life. On the other hand, his father was so skeptical about the nature of their relationship, but he did well to respect the source of his son's happiness. Sometimes he asked Seven why she never visited.

“She's in Ghana, dad.” He would say. “And won’t be visiting anytime soon. Until she's done with school.”

“And when might that be?” His father had attacked.

“She's in her third year studying ICT. So, in two years.”

“Be very careful, Sev.”

Angel's worries reflected his father’s. Both were very skeptical about the entire relationship but they knew enough to never interfere when someone is in love.

“Like you said in one of your F******k posts: ‘we have no idea what the future holds,’ and that's all I can say. What do I know about adult stuff anyways?” Hearing Angel say those words made Seven's lips curve into a smile.

“Plus I don't want you to slap me. I like my cute face like this.”

“You already talk like a senior sister, you fool.”

“That's because sense is not in age.”

“You must be moving mad!” Seven slapped her back playfully.