Dinner begets emotions [Epiosde 12]

‘I’ve already told you you look amazing, right? Just in case I haven’t, I must tell you. You look very very beautiful.’ Adeniyi said this as he placed a hand lightly on my back and guided me to our table in a little corner of the restaurant.

I smiled and looked back at him as we walked, ‘You’ve said it about five times now and I know you’re very aware of how many times you’ve complimented me. But please, by all means, don’t stop.’

He chuckled and rubbed my back before removing his hand to pull out my chair. I acknowledged this chivalry with a smile and sat down. I had done as he instructed and worn a dress. But it was a maxi dress. When he saw the length of the dress, he had tutted and shaken his head at me with a wry smile.

Amara 1; Adeniyi 0.

The waiter came round and took our orders then left. I opened my mouth to ask something then shut it as Adeniyi moved from his position opposite me to sit right next to me. I arched an eyebrow in question and he narrowed his eyes at me before saying, ‘I need to be next to you.’

Sure…and to touch me too, I added to myself with a hidden smirk.

Soon we were eating and talking about everything apart from our personal lives. He did not want to know if I had a boyfriend (I didn’t) and I did not want to know anything about the wife that he obviously had. Soon, it was time for us to order dessert and I began perusing the menu. He raised his eyebrows at me.

‘Wow. You pack in quite a lot for such a slim lady.’

‘There’s a hidden compliment in there somewhere, but I’m too peckish to care.’ I replied with a straight face, my eyes still on the menu. But inside, I fumed a bit. Was he telling me I ate too much? Was he complaining? I began calculating how much the food had cost in my head so that I could pay for my bit then uber home.

‘I see I have offended you.’ He said this after a few minutes of silence.

I looked up at him then crossed my arms, ‘What makes you say that?’

‘I can tell. Your shoulders are tense. Your whole body is tense. I was merely admiring the fact that you can eat as much as you want and still have a great figure. And also, the fact that you eat. Not many women do, I assure you. They are all concerned with their weight.’

I uncrossed my arms mollified, ‘I see. Well then, that’s just the way it is, I suppose. Thanks for the compliment about my figure but I can’t thank you for pointing out that I eat a lot. Women have been made to feel as if they should apologise or appreciate the fact that they eat or don’t eat. I find it quite irritating.’

‘Ahhh. A feminist.’

‘Don’t.’ I said sharply. He immediately raised up his hands in mock capitulation.

‘Forgive me. I was joking. Let’s just change the topic. I see that things are going a bit sour here.’

I battled within myself on just getting up and walking away. I hated how people, men in particular bandied the word ‘Feminist’ like it was an insult. Then I realised I could not hold myself.

‘Actually, I won’t be having any pudding. Can we get the bill please?’ I asked this as I rummaged through my purse for my bank card.

‘Are you serious? Are you really going to get upset over something that started off as a compliment?’ He sounded genuinely confused.

I ignored him and kept on looking till I brought out my card. I looked up and around for the waiter, ready to wave him over.

‘Stop it. You’re acting like a child.’ He said sharply.

‘Excuse you!?’ I looked at him with wide eyes. ‘You know what…I can’t even.’ I made to stand up and he placed a hand on my arm to stop me. ‘Don’t leave like this. Please.’

I looked at him, then sat down slowly.

‘Is there something else wrong?’ He asked this gently. Carefully, like I was a skittish colt.

I stared at him for a second. I wasn’t sure. I knew deep down that I was overreacting but I think everything just hit me at that point. I was fine with fucking men, married or otherwise but I didn’t do the whole date thing. With him, it was dangerous for me emotionally. He was battering down the walls I had erected and I knew I was the one that would get hurt.

I smiled, fighting the tears that suddenly threatened. ‘I’m sorry. I should be the one apologising and I am sorry. I just…I think I’m PMSing.’ This was a cop-out excuse but it was the best I could come up with.

‘Oh darling.’ He said, then waved the waiter over to ask for the bill. ‘We’ll stop at a pharmacy to get you painkillers and I think we need to get some chocolatey pudding for you. And a bottle of wine.’

I looked at him in surprise. Then I lowered my eyes. Fuck, he was good.

He mistook my expression for shock that he knew all of this and blurted out without thinking, ‘That’s what makes my wife happy everytime she’s in your mood.’

Silence.

I blinked once. Twice. Then looked up at him with an Oscar-winning smile. ‘Well, she clearly taught you well.’

He sighed in obvious relief.

Soon, we were parked in front of my gate. He turned to me and murmured, ‘I had a lovely time with you. And, believe it or not, I wouldn’t change a thing. Except the fact that I wanted to pleasure you at the dinner table, but this can always be done some other time.’

I laughed and leaned forward to kiss him gently. ‘Thank you very much, Adeniyi.’ I opened the door and stepped out before turning to look at him. ‘Please drive safely.’

He blew me a kiss and waited till I walked into the compound before driving off.

I felt the tears I had been holding slide down my cheeks.

No. This wouldn’t do.

I brought out my phone and dialed a number.

‘Chike. Hi…are you busy? Great…it’s that time again…. yes, hahahha…. can you come over in fifteen minutes? Great. Yeah, bring some condoms. I’ve run out.’

With that, I cut the phone, took in a deep breath as I dashed the tears from my eyes angrily, then went into my flat.

I had never done emotions and I did not intend to start now.