Philly pulled over and horned for Kamsi who deliberately refused to stop. Kamsi had an unwritten rule “Never stop to talk to a guy just because he has a car, if he is responsible, he will swallow his pride, get down from the car and ask for permission to talk to you, that’s the proper thing.” It was one of her many ways of showing she was neither desperate nor cheap. So she continued walking.
She was already tired of all the random guys who had swollen heads because they managed to buy a car and now feel they can get any girl they wanted just because they can wind down and asked her to hop in. Somehow, she was bent on proving them wrong.
Philly kept on horning and Kamsi kept on walking. So he came down from the car and hastened towards her.
“Hey, Kamsi. I knew you wouldn’t stop. How have you been?”
“Philadelphia, so it’s you! Good evening to you too.”
“Please pardon my manners, Good evening baby girl.”
“Who is a baby here? I am a full grown adult.”
“Must we always fight? Miss Principled.”
“Must you always stalk me? Mr stalker.” Kamsi retorted
“I am not stalking you, I was just on my way to go and pick my mum from work and I saw you so I stopped to say hi.”
Kamsi was tempted to ask if the car was Phillys’. She remembered her fantasy and imagined that it was happening for real. She dismissed the thought.
“I am really sorry I haven’t contacted you as promised. I lost my phone that evening on my way home.” Philly said.
“Really? What happened?” Kamsi asked, visibly concerned.
“My dear, I was robbed by three street boys. They parted with my phone and some money.”
“Oh my God! Did you try to raise an alarm? Hope you weren’t hurt?” Kamsi asked.
“No. Not at all. Though they had a pen knife and a gun I am sure was empty, they just took my wallet and my phone and ran away. I guess all they wanted was the money.”
“So sorry. Have you reported to the police?”
“Hahaha, Police? In this country? So that I will spend the little money I have left in settling them and still not get my phone back. I will rather use that money to get a new phone and preserve my peace of mind.” Philly said jokingly.
“Hmmm. That means we are not safe in this country at all.”
“My dear, safety is of the Lord.”
The way Philly kept using endearing appellations for Kamsi got her worried and suspicious at the same time. As much as she knew he was only being nice, she was getting uncomfortable and she tried so hard not to read any meaning into it. She wanted to change the topic but didn’t want it to be too obvious.
“You didn’t tell me you were a Pastor.”
“Well, let’s wait and see. If God calls me into the ministry, I wouldn’t say no.”
This one has a Pastoral tendency. No way! Kamsi thought.
This was a big problem for Kamsi. She had already made up her mind she would never get married to a Pastor. They were too spiritual and unromantic for her liking.
It was a non negotiable deal. She quickly remembered Chiagozie, her colleague who was married to a Pastor. He was the coldest and meanest person she has ever seen. She had never seen him smile, he always carried his shoulders like the weight of the whole world was on him.
The day she tried to ask Chiagozie why her husband was always sad, she covered it up and said ministry work wasn’t easy.
Kamsi always yabbed Agozie that her husband never brought her lunch at work or showed her affection publicly, and to cap it all he didn’t get Valentine gift for her last week. In fact on Valentine’s Day Agozie told them in the office that she left the house that morning without her husband realising it was Valentine’s Day even when she wore a red dress. They had laughed about it but Kamsi didn’t find it funny.
Kamsi concluded that all the things she wanted in a husband would never be found in a Pastor. She still couldn’t understand how Chiagozie, a helpless romantic would agree to marry Pastor Elijah. She concluded he must have used his anointing to intimidate and cajole her into the marriage. He most likely would have told her that God told him to marry her. Nobody would ever do that to her. Never!
She instantly made up her mind to distance herself from Philly. Thank God she saw his pastoral tendencies on time and thankfully, he had lost her number.
As though he read her thoughts. Philly asked.
“So, can I have your contact again?”
“Did I give you my contact before? You better go and get it how you got it the other time.” Kamsi mocked.
“I knew you would say that. But please I beseech you to do me the honour of giving me your contact.”
“When you are done speaking all those your King James English, you will go and look for it and I promise you, you won’t find it this time. I have to be on my way now. Sorry about your phone.” Kamsi turned to leave.
Philly grabbed her hand.
“Wait, Kamsiyochukwu.” The way he called her name in full sent cold shivers down her spine and for a couple of milliseconds, she didn’t understand how this made her feel. “I am not asking you out”, Philly continued “I am only trying to give you a ride.”
Kamsi couldn’t believe what just happened. She wanted to dish out her default “No, thanks” response but she remembered Dorcas’ words. “Loosen up a bit, Philly doesn’t bite.”
“Don’t worry, if you don’t want to, it’s fine.” Philly said. “Besides it’s my mom’s car, I am not trying to impress you.”
He was being frank- that was one trait a lot of guys didn’t have. Kamsi thought.
“Well, my place is not far from here. Kamsi managed to say. “So I will just walk. I like walking because I like to think while walking.”
“Her Royal Majesty Kamsiyochukwu! Always wanting to have her way.” Philly said while casting a long look at Kamsi as though he wanted to see into her soul.
“Thank you.” Kamsi said shyly, trying to pretend she wasn’t thrilled.
“But I insist. Pleaseee!”
“Okay, you win.”
Kamsi hopped in.
* * *
The coming week had a lot to unfold for Kamsi. Most importantly she had a job interview at an NGO she had applied to. It was her dream job and she was very optimistic she would get it. Philly helped her with current affairs and insisted she went on the internet to read about the NGO.
Kamsi read everything she could lay her hands on, asked a lot of questions and was very prepared. Only one thing bothered her, she didn’t have any experience working in an NGO and one of the top criteria was ‘three years experience working in a related NGO’.
She rang Dorcas to tell her.
“Related ko, unrelated ni. That’s what they all of them are saying. As if you will bring the experience from my mother’s womb.” Dorcas said.
They both laughed.
She needed the job and she was going to get it no matter what it takes.
