Chapter 4: Jane's moment with Michael

The next day, both ladies dressed up to go out. Angela was to go for her seminar while Jane was to go to retrieve her lost phone line.

What time are you likely to be through from work? Jane asked

Say around 4pm” Angela replied

Jane then suggested that meet up and have lunch together but Angela made her know that she had a lunch date with her friend but Jane can come to the neighborhood to have a great view, spend time and just walk around. Both of them can then meet up after the lunch and come home together.

Jane refused stating she can't go to that neighborhod again after what she experienced. She decided that she would wait at home for Angela to return.

"How long will you run away from that neighborhood, just keep your purse very tight to you. It's better you learn it. Don't worry, I will meet you up early and you won't be alone" Angela said encouraging Jane.

Jane, already in the mood to go out and feeling bored at home, decided to take a risk and listen to her sister's suggestions

“okay then, I will go and see if I can get some dresses from the boutique. I will stay around the neighbourhood and wait till you are through with your friend. Please don't stay long. I just dont want to stay indoor” Jane said

Both sisters agreed and they departed with a hug to their various locations.

When it was time, Jane got to the neighbourhood on her sister’s description. She wasn’t used to that neighbourhood despite it was in the same Port Harcourt where she was living the areas was quite remote and local. She decided to walk around to see how the neighbourhood looks like. It looked similar to the neighbourhood Michael lived.

As she walked along the street, she had a stopover to purchase recharge card in a shop. Standing in the same shop was a young man, cute and had a car. He too wanted to buy a card.

“Hi pretty” he called her

“Hello” Jane responded, now facing the card seller “can I get 1000 naira mtn card?” she asked.

“Yes ma I have” the card seller replied. After searching for it she gave it to Jane “here is it ma” she handed the card over to Jane.

Jane collected the card and while recharging it on her phone, the young admirer walked up to her

“Can I get to know you, I'm Steven and you are..?” waiting to get a response from Jane.

“Sorry I don’t speak to strangers” Jane replied and walked away.

Steven ran after her and said;

“I know I am a stranger but if you allow me get to know you better, I will no longer be a stranger.”

“I’m sorry but I cant.” Jane replied.

Steven walked back to his car and drove pass Jane giving her a distant kiss through the car window. Jane smiled. In a little distance, Jane saw a Mr Biggs Eatery. She thought within herself that it's been a long while since she took ice cream,So she walked in to buy one ice cream

“Hello please I need a medium size ice cream,” as she was about paying, a young man close to her said

“Don’t worry young lady, let me settle your bill”

“Never mind, I have my money, let me pay” Jane replied.

“I insist, please let me” the young man insisted

Jane had no choice than to accept.

She thanked him politely and say on a chair. the young man who had a tray containing food and a drink with him sat on one of the chairs close to Jane to engage her in discussion.

“You are a total beauty,” he said to her “can you pls give me your number?”

“Thanks for the compliment and no, I don’t give out my number.” Jane replied

The young man sighted the phone Jane was holding, it was iPhone 12 pro, a very expensive phone worth over half a million.

“Your aristos must be paying you well for your services to be able to afford this hot phone, abi did they buy it for you?” the young man asked Jane

“Do you know you are insulting me” Jane asked

“No ooo just praising you that you are a big girl and you must be very expensive” the young man said smiling

Jane was furious and asked “Why do you think a lady can’t purchase this phone for herself?”

The youngan explained that it's actually possible for ladies to purchase expensive phones by them selves but those ladies are like celebrities and children of rich folks like Otedola but certainly won’t be in this neighbourhood and dressed casual the way Jane was dressed. He claimed he saw Jane when she came in and could see she had no car. He said with all assurance that it's true Jane is extremely gorgeous and he is sure that her beauty is her strong weapon to woo rich Aristos

“Everyone is entitled to his opinion.” She said that and got up to take her leave.

“It’s not up to that now, why are you leaving? I can pay too o. let’s talk naa. How much is your cost per night?” He said that following Jane as she was leaving the eatery. Jane was embarrassed the way others were staring at her in the eatery listening to what the young boy was saying.

As she was walking back to the bus stop, a car was horning and following her, Jane who was already in a very bad mood shouted at the car owner

“What is it? Why are you horning? What do you want from me?” she was frustrated.

“It’s me, please wait, stop shouting” Michael responded.

He immediately packed the car and walked straight to Jane who was already in tears, he held her and said;

“It’s okay, stop crying. I don’t know what the matter is but we can discuss it in the car. Enter into the car and let me take you home.” Michael said holding Jane and taking her into the car.

Jane didn’t object, she got into the car, she immediately called her sister on the phone and told her their outing has been cancelled and that she was on her way home. Details will be explained to her later at home. While in the car, Michael asked about how far she has gone to retrieve her lost document and she explained to Michael

Michael dropped Jane off and Jane asked him to come in a have a drink just to show her appreciation. Michael rejected and promised to call her from time to time since her line has been reactivated. He left.

Jane felt bad. She understood that Michael was angry concerning her reception towards him last time and that was why he rejected the offer to come in. As a lady that needed to preserve her pride, she walked quietly into her apartment.

Michael was glad that Jane was beginning to feel comfortable around him. He returned home happy.