Chapter 4 : mystery man II
Moji cut in before Sewa could continue, throwing her hands up dramatically. "Wait, wait, wait—hold on. You said he was a mystery man, but from everything you just told me, there's no mystery at all. He seems sweet, funny, and kinda cute."
Sewa rolled her eyes, shifting in her chair. "I'm getting to the point, chill."
Moji smirked. "Okay, okay," she said, her voice muffled as she popped something into her mouth.
Sewa turned her gaze downward, her brows furrowing as she finally noticed Moji happily munching on a bag of popcorn. Giving her a questioning look, she crossed her arms.
Moji, not even pretending to feel guilty, chewed a little slower before sighing dramatically. Without a word, she reached into her bag, pulled out another pack of popcorn, and tossed it to Sewa.
Shaking her head, Sewa opened it, joining her best friend in munching. The warm, buttery taste somehow made the moment even more comfortable.
"So?" Moji said, grinning. "What happened next?"
Sewa smirked, tossing a piece of popcorn into her mouth before continuing.
Sewa groaned softly as she blinked against the soft morning light streaming through her curtains. A dull, minor headache throbbed at the back of her head, a small reminder of just how much she had indulged the night before. She stretched, letting out a satisfied sigh, and sank back into her pillows.
Then, a slow smile crept onto her lips as her mind wandered to him. Tobi.
She wasn't the type to text first. A woman of class and self-respect did not appear too eager. If he was truly interested, he would reach out.
With that in mind, she picked up her phone and unlocked it, only to find a message waiting for her.
Tobi: Hi, just checking in on you. Hope you got home safe.
Her smile widened involuntarily. He was sweet. Deciding not to wait too long, she replied:
Sewa: Hey, good morning. Yeah, I got home safe. Thanks for checking in.
His response came almost immediately.
Tobi: Good. I would've called, but I didn't want to seem overbearing.
Sewa: Oh? So you were thinking about me even after we left?
Tobi: Guilty as charged.
Sewa chuckled, shaking her head.
Sewa: Well, I appreciate it. How about you? Got home safe too?
Tobi: Yep. Though I'll admit, the night felt a little short.
Sewa: Oh? And why is that?
Tobi: Because I enjoyed talking to you. Wish we had more time.
She bit her lip, a warmth spreading in her chest. He was smooth, but in a way that felt genuine.
Sewa: You know, the good thing about time is that there's always more of it.
Tobi: Is that your way of saying you'd like to see me again?
Sewa: That depends. Are you asking?
Tobi: I am.
Sewa: Then, maybe I'd say yes.
Tobi: Just maybe?
Sewa: Fine. Yes.
Tobi: Great. How about dinner tonight?
She hesitated for only a second before typing back:
Sewa: Sounds good. Pick me up at seven?
Tobi: I'll be there.
Sewa placed her phone down, her heart doing a little flip. She closed her eyes, letting herself enjoy the quiet excitement buzzing in her chest.
Maybe—just maybe—this was the start of something interesting.
Sewa went about her day as usual, keeping herself busy with little tasks around the house. She wasn't the type to sit around and overthink things—especially not a date. If she thought about it too much, she might start overanalyzing every detail, and that was not her style.
She grabbed her phone and opened her chat with Moji. She knew her best friend would kill her if she didn't at least mention what was happening, but she wasn't about to give her all the details just yet.
Sewa: Hey, I have plans tonight.
It didn't take long for Moji to respond.
Moji: With WHO??
Sewa smirked, typing back:
Sewa: Relax, I'll tell you everything on Monday.
A few seconds passed before Moji sent another message.
Moji: You're such a tease. Fine. But if it's that mystery guy, I want ALL the details.
Sewa: Patience, woman.
With that settled, she turned her attention back to her day.
At some point in the afternoon, she sent Tobi her address with a simple:
Sewa: See you at seven.
His reply came quickly.
Tobi: Looking forward to it.
She placed her phone down, exhaling softly. The day dragged on as she did random things—cleaning, reading, watching a show she wasn't fully paying attention to. It was a rare Saturday where she didn't have much to do, but somehow, knowing she had plans in the evening made her more restless than usual.
By the time late afternoon rolled around, she knew it was time to start getting ready. And as much as she hated to admit it… she was actually excited.
Moji, ever the impatient listener, suddenly cut in with her mouth full of popcorn. "If your Saturday went to waste, how did you prepare for the presentation?" she mumbled through a crunch.
Sewa shot her a look of mild disgust. "Could you at least chew before talking?"
Moji just grinned, shoving another handful into her mouth. "Answer the question first."
Sewa sighed, leaning back in her chair. "I had already finished preparing days ago. I just went over my notes a few times to make sure I was sharp and ready to go."
Moji nodded in understanding, then waved her hand dramatically. "Alright, alright, continue. Back to the good part."
Sewa shook her head with a small smile before diving back into her story.
At exactly seven, the sound of a car pulling up outside made Sewa glance at the time. Right on time.
She took one last look at herself in the mirror, smoothing the fabric of her dress before grabbing her purse. As she stepped outside, she found Tobi leaning against his car, dressed in a crisp button-down with the sleeves casually rolled up. He smiled as she approached.
"Punctual. I like that," she teased as she reached him.
"Of course. You think I'd be late for our first real date?" he shot back playfully, opening the door for her.
She slid in with a small smile, appreciating the gesture. As he got into the driver's seat, she asked, "So, where are we going?"
"It's a surprise. Just relax and enjoy the ride," he said, starting the engine.
The drive was smooth, filled with easy conversation. Tobi had a way of making her laugh without even trying too hard. By the time they arrived at the restaurant—a cozy spot near the beach—she was already feeling comfortable.
The evening went by in a blur of good food, shared stories, and effortless chemistry. The restaurant's soft lighting made everything feel even more intimate, and for the first time in a while, Sewa let herself fully enjoy the moment without overthinking it.
After dinner, they walked along the beach, the waves lapping gently at the shore as a cool breeze rolled in. The sky was clear, dotted with stars, and they sat on the sand, just talking.
"You know," Tobi said, gazing up at the sky, "I always thought about leaving the city for somewhere quieter, but nights like this remind me why I love it here."
"You don't strike me as the type to leave Lagos behind," Sewa mused.
"Maybe not. But sometimes, I think about it. What about you? Ever thought of moving?"
"I think Lagos is part of me," she admitted. "As much as the chaos can be a lot, I can't imagine living anywhere else."
Tobi nodded. "That makes sense."
Silence stretched between them, but it wasn't uncomfortable. When Sewa turned to look at him, he was already watching her.
"What?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Nothing," he said with a smile. "I just—"
Before he could finish, he leaned in, and Sewa found herself meeting him halfway. The kiss was soft, unhurried, and surprisingly sweet. When they pulled away, Tobi exhaled, looking slightly amused.
"That okay?" he asked.
Sewa laughed. "Not bad, Mr. Punctual."
He grinned, standing up and offering her his hand. "Come on, let's get you home before I mess up my perfect record."
—
Back in the present, Moji suddenly cut in. "That sounds like the perfect date!"
Sewa rolled her eyes. "That's what I thought. But I haven't heard from him since."
Moji's excited expression faltered. "Wait, what?"
"I even messaged him once yesterday evening," Sewa admitted, crossing her arms. "Nothing. Not even a 'busy' excuse."
Moji gasped dramatically. "Maybe he died?"
Sewa shot her a flat look, making Moji snort.
"I'm just saying!" Moji giggled.
Sewa exhaled, shaking her head. "It was casual anyway."
Moji wasn't convinced, but she let it go… for now.