A Missed Date Opportunity

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 I did not know that she was my classmate until we got to 300 level in University of Lagos. Mehn! When you talk about "beauty and brain," Faderera embodied the phrase to the letter.

I began to have feelings after hearing her speak several times in class. I checked within myself if they were fleeting or real. It seemed like the latter. I bided my time. Unlike her, I was unpopular in class, so I needed to strategize how to make myself known to her.

Strangely, I began to see her everywhere - restaurant - library - cafe - etc. My tongue felt tied most times when I was around her. 

One day, while buying my toiletries in Cedars - a kiosk in school - she also came in to get something.

"Hi," she said to me.

I must have blushed. I managed to say "hi" in return. I later realized that "hello" was the right response. I consoled myself that at least a little introduction had started.

Could the feeling be mutual? I mused one day.

Before I could step up my game, I realized that whenever she asked questions in class or discussed with her friends, I did not understand most of the English words she used. It was from her I first heard the words, "Camaraderie," "Quintessential," "Serendipity," and other words I thought she confabulated until I saw them in the dictionary.

I just told myself that I would make a mess of any attempt to befriend her. Even if I was lucky to have a private moment to discuss with her, it would at best be a monologue - she doing the talking - while I would not be able to express my intentions due to my poor mastery of English.


I gave up and decided to buy Webster's English Dictionary instead. Hopefully, my grammar would have improved should I have such feelings for another lady in the future...

#SundayNightMusing

#Fiction

#Storytelling

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