My Instagram Love

Episode 62

She had given me a cool smile and a warm touch on my left hand before she answered: “Ken, you know I do. I truly do like you, but I’m not so sure if I love you yet. I mean, I know we’ve come quite far and all, but I’m still cautious of this thing called love. I don’t want to be jilted by any man ever again. I’m scared. I’m afraid of heartbreaks, Ken. I hope you understand what I mean?”

“I do.” I had said in response and tentatively clutched her soft hands in mine, afraid she might pull them back, but she never did so. “One thing I want you to know is that I’m not in a hurry at all. If it’s time you need to heal, then it’s fine – I can wait. I’m willing to help you in the best possible way I can. We can fight through this, Coco. What do you say we join forces—unite, fight each other’s inner battles and see where this entire thing leads us, angel?”
I could remember how she was silent for quite a long while. For a moment, I had thought she wanted to give me a negative answer in the most polite method she could possibly think of so that I wouldn’t feel hurt to the max, but the following statement she made that day was like refined butter that had been spread on a fresh slice of bread to my ears, and it gave life to my soul the same way fertilizer gives life to a farm and its crops.

She had said: “In that case, I’m afraid I’m down for it. Let’s keep this beautiful thing going and ensure that we enjoy it while it lasts, Apple.”

“It’ll last.” I had assured her after kissing the back of her hand like foreigners do in the movies. “Trust me, it will.”

Reflecting back on this exact memory was all shades of amusing to me. Who would’ve ever thought that a cab driver of all people could win a pretty woman’s heart especially in this part of the world where greed thrives? Who would’ve thought that a decent woman with an unentitled mentality even exists in the first place? Left to me, I could choose Lola a thousand times over a lot of other ladies out there if necessary. I surely didn’t have much to begin with, but at least I was comfortable and striving to do better in my lane. The perfect description of a certified Jack-of-all-trades would be me: a good driver, a part-time graphic designer, a boutique owner, a photographer, an engineer and a prolific writer. Years of experience had shaped me into a hustler and a workaholic. I used to specialize in freelance painting for various top notch companies before I lost interest in that particular field. It was taking its toll on my health, so I had to quit for reasons best known to me.

I could also remember telling Lola the whole truth about who I am during one of our video calls and she looked and sounded impressed with everything I said. That day in particular, I took my time to study her facial expressions, her speech and the tone of her voice so that I could see if she would falter and stutter because I didn’t meet up to her expectation, but not once did she ever fumble or frown. With that, I was able to draw a legit conclusion that she wasn’t after my hard-earned money, nor was I after her ‘perfect’ body. What we thought about each other, shared between each other, and felt for one another was more than what the natural eyes of any human being could see. I could vouch for her any day, any time. She brings out the best in me. To me, she’s one in a billion; a rare gem, a priceless jewel, a precious needle in a haystack. In all honesty, she means and will always mean everything to me. EVERYTHING ENTIRELY with no exception. NONE at all.