Chapter 10: date 1

In a burst of excitement, Mike called our remaining buddies on a W******p group call. Thankfully, they were all online, and after the ringtone blared for a bit, they all joined.

Mike: “Bros, wassup?”

Alex: “We good, bro.”

Dave: “We chillin’, man.”

Pat: “Enjoying life over here.”

Me: “When are y’all coming back to school?”

Pat: “We here for now, but we’ll be back when tests start.”

Dave: “Yeah, man, can’t abandon these beauties over here.”

Me: “Mike has something to tell you guys.”

Mike: “Yeah, I got two pieces of good news.”

Alex: “Shock us, bro.”

Pat: “Yeah, share the news, man.”

Dave: “Hope it’s got somethin’ to do with beauties.”

Mike: “Yeah… you’re right. Nath is about to have a girlfriend. Guess who?”

Pat: “How would we know? I’ve never seen him with any girl.”

Alex: “Wait, what? Breaking news!”

Dave: “Bro, give us the details. Don’t keep us waiting.”

Me: “Relax, relax… It’s Ann.”

Total silence.

Pat: “Ann? Which Ann?”

Me: “Mike’s Ann,” I chuckled.

Mike: “Yo, she was never my Ann. We were just tryna shake off her ex.”

Me: “Yeah, I had an encounter with him, too. Beat the hell outta dude. He ran off scared.”

Alex, Dave, Pat: “Congrats, man!”

Pat: “Honestly, I’m excited for you.”

Dave: “Me too, bro. For real.”

Alex: “So you wanna date her seriously? Like, marriage-kind of courtship?”

Me: “For now, yeah. Let’s see how it goes.”

Mike: “Y’all, I was the one who called, yeah? I broke the news, but you’re all focused on him?”

Alex: “Yeah… ’cause he’s the main character?”

Pat: “What’s the second news you got for us, Mike?”

Dave: “This news had better be about you.”

Mike: “Well, yeah, it is. I played a match with Nathy, and I won.”

Alex: “Congrats, Mike. You’ve improved your skills.”

Dave: “Yeah, congrats. It’s not easy to beat Nath.”

Pat: “I don’t even think I could win against him.”

Mike: “But I did.”

Alex: “Nath, you sure you didn’t intentionally let him win?”

Me: “Okay, guys, I got somethin’ on. I gotta go.”

I didn’t want to lie, and I didn’t want to make things awkward. The best move was an escape.

I arrived at the restaurant fifteen minutes before my first date with Ann. The florist had delivered the flowers I’d ordered, and I’d asked the restaurant to bring them out with our food.

I waited, half nervous, half excited.

Twenty minutes later, she arrived.

She wore the stunning red satin strapless gown I’d bought her, her hair freshly styled, makeup simple and elegant, accessories perfectly matched. She walked in with a model’s confidence until she reached the table.

I stood up, pulled out her chair like a gentleman.

She smiled appreciatively, placed her purse beside her, then picked up the napkin and laid it across her lap.

Me: “Hey.”

Ann: “Hey.”

Me: “You look beautiful.”

Ann: “You don’t look bad either.”

Me: “I love your accessories.”

Ann: “Thanks. I love your trouser chain and G-Shock, too. They make your clothes feel like an outfit, not a uniform. Where’d you get them?”

Me: “I ordered them from Chain_world_Nigeria on I*******m. They shipped it to me just picked it up yesterday. Ever since I found their page, all my accessories come from them. What surprises me is they’re a Nigerian brand doing this well, solving all my aesthetic problems. Anyway… what would you like to order?”

Note to the management of Chain_world_Nigeria on I*******m:

I was writing this chapter when I thought of the beautiful male accessories you carry and how you bring solutions to so many fashion problems. Today, over 90% of the men you’ve sold to have found new meaning in what they wear and step out with confidence. I can’t wait for you to launch in America.