THIS OPPORTUNIST SAYS HELLO!

So I've had a long day sitting at a desk and crouched over my laptop in a rented workspace. I'm a freelance writer and I have a client's job to deliver with hardly any time on my side. 

(I don't have any picture from today, but trust me, I look something like this every day. Casually dressed because I don't make enough money to slay like I work for the New York Times.😅)

At past 7, I reluctantly shut down my laptop and left the office for home. Remembering that my granny had asked me for some cash and I didn't have up to that amount on me, I stopped by an ATM gallery to make a withdrawal. I shifted my weight from one foot to the other from time to time, struggling under the weight of my backpack, and when I caught a figure approaching the queue from a corner of my eye, I looked up and beheld one of the finest middle-aged men I've ever seen in a long time. 

I couldn't help but steal a few more glances and although it all happened so quickly, I guess I wasn't subtle enough, because he took up the opportunity and tried to ask me out. 

I laughed shyly even as I turned him down. My friendliness was a gift to him for being so handsome. I probably would've snapped at him if he weren't; all the energy I had left was for dragging myself home, not for chit-chats with random men. He left the ATM queue without waiting to make his transaction, and the vain part of me hoped he did that so he could wait in his car for me.

Was I hoping to make his acquaintance? No. I was just seeking another chance to turn a fine middle-aged (likely married) man down all over again—but that never happened. 

I walked past his car as I left the ATM but he did not try to talk to me. 

Hehe. Nice one, Mr Handsome. 

I walked down a little further and hailed a commercial motorbike. Transport fare from that part of town to my estate was usually N100. On rainy days, at nights, and during fuel scarcity, the fee climbs. Well, there have been rumours of a fuel price hike being in the offing and it was nighttime already, so it did not surprise me when the bike man asked me to pay N200. But I was unwilling to spend anything above N150, so I initiated a friendly bargain. The man, who spoke with a Hausa intonation, said he would agree to accept N150 only if he would drop me off at the junction of my estate.

"Ah, oga, but night don reach and streetlights no dey for that side of the estate o. You know say I be woman, I no go fit waka alone for night."

Wow, Damola! 

(I could have given this cute puppy a run for its money with the puppy face I put on.☻😜)

I never knew the day would come when I'd take advantage of my vulnerability as a woman to court someone's favour. Plus, whoever said it was safe for a man to walk down dark streets unaccompanied? I'm not sure the bike man had any time to consider this line of argument, though, because as it was, he was already sagging under the weight of the burden I heaped on his conscience. 

How could he turn this vulnerable petite young lady down? Just how?

In no time I was straddling the bike, one hand gripping my low-budget Samsung phone, the other holding down my wig, and hanging on for dear life as he sped down the terrible road to drop me off at my destination. 

Sweet, sweet vulnerability! 😋