MY TASTE OF LOVE

Preparation were already made in top gear, Isaac a bosom friend of mine had visited when her call came in also. She told me outing was cool instead, So the plan we had made a U-turn, it's a deal! I exclaimed and Isaac smiled in meritorious surprises. We trooped off the room almost left the pressing iron unplugged as the result of the ecstasy I was already overwhelmed with. But Isaac would call back: hey! Orne get your appliance off! We left for wurukum market, a market mostly occupied by four major Nigerian tribes- Tiv- igbo-idoma and jukum----- There was a mayhem about the decision of what to prepare perse, but Isaac was smart with a decision I came back to embrace. We bought a hen after several round of bargaining with Mama Tersoo as was called by her colleagues. Initially she said a hen costed three thousand naira but I bargained until the price was beat down to two thousand five hundred. Then a young man black in complexion stepped out from behind the shade, his name was killer according to mama Tersoo; though killer wasn't his real name but because he slaughters chicken he was Nick name killer. Give the killer to kill for you she murmured. How much? I enquired. Just a hundred naira, the young man replied. Isaac stood all through pacing up and down while he was breaking groundnut and throwing the seeds into his mouth. Since the idea was engineered by him, I had expected him to take the front line. Though he was not the lover boy anyway. As a doting boyfriend and a good cook, I had wanted to prepare a very delicious chicken Peri Peri for her. The idea was to leave a memory in her heart that her guy cooked for her on her birthday before taking her out for birthday party. Isaac, I am gonna cook for my bae today, do you have a good cook better than I that can direct us on the stuff to buy to prepare this? I enquired. Yeah I think my bae Adebimpe is good at that said Isaac. Hurry up and call her my queen shall visit by one o'clock and it's already half pas twelve.Isaac deeped his hand in his trousers pocket and removed his java phone and began to press it in search of Bimpe's number, he glanced at me as he diad the number and began to talk: "Hello bae how do you do? I want to prepare chiken Peri Peri may I know some stuffs I can get for it". Just hang the call I will send it via SMS replied Adebimpe Isaac girlfriend. What is her response? I enquired immediately as he hung the call. She said she will send it via SMS replied Isaac. Oh! She should be fast there is no time, I want my bae to meet everything ready I said.amusingly. Awwwnn lover boy, I can see you are madly in love with this girl, Isaac smiled gently and said. Has she sent it? If she doesn't let us go and buy the recipes, I suggested. Is okay, agreed Isaac. Good afternoon ma, we greeted mama ngozi at the same time as if it was planned. Mnoo my children she responded. We need recipes for chicken Peri we demanded. Pim pim pim! rang Isaac Java phone.she has sent it, said Isaac. The massage read: " hello dear below are recipes for chicken Peri Peri: chicken stock, ground pepper,scent leafs and pepper soup spice". Wow your bae must be a good cook, I said softly. Sure she is, Isaac responded happily. We bought the recipes and embark on our way home. Chris my friend how did it begins? I can't believe you are falling for her. I am not interested to talk about anything now until I cook for my angel, I said slowly trying to be serious. Hahaha hahaha love don de shack my guy Isaac laughed so unease and said amusingly. Why won't I be shacked when I have seen the lover of my life? I asked jokingly. Take it easy son of Tsegba said Isaac with uncontrollable laughter. I took my face away trying to be serious but he persuaded the more to know how it began. I smiled gently and started: during my first year I was in love with front seat, and there was a day doowe my queen sat with me and I was playing mental gain in class because I was totally arrested by her beauty,then I said within myself that if only she opens her mouth and talks to me I will be grateful. Chris my guy don't kill me, said Isaac with uncontrollable laughter. Seriously I was expecting only an Angelic voice from her, then of a sudden she started talking to me I said quietly. Isaac stared at me briefly and focused the more, I sighed heavily and continued: she asked me if I had attended any other higher institution before coming to university. What was your respond? Isaac enquired. I told her I did not attend any higher institution before coming here however she said I look like someone who has attended other institutions like colleges of education. So you started crushing on her right from year one? Isaac enquired. I ignored the the question and continued: I was expecting to sit beside her the next day to no avail as where she sat was filled up. I am certain that day was a bad one for you. Isaac said Amusingly. I smiled gently and said: it was not a bad one cause I knew that there are many days ahead for I and her to sit together. He glanced at me and concentrated the more to hear the love story, I was not need to be told that the story was making his day already. I signed gently and continue: it was a blessful Friday at the twin lecture theater at the University first campus, on entering in the lecture hall I stood in front of the class to checked where I could sit comfortably as the class was already filled up, it is not my nature coming late what has made me to be late today? I questioned myself quietly and was moving to back desks in the class when I heard an angelic voice: " Chris there is a space here" I turned hastily and said intrapersonally: I can't wait to sit with you again. Then I moved to where she sat and sat with her and stammered unsual tan tan tan thank you so much with a deep look into her eyes. She did not need a soothsayer for my feeling to be interpreted, she sighed heavily and said: " Chris I would like to have conversation with you after this lectures" I heard her but I pretended not to, just to be sure I was the one she was talking to, because it is said: "one who is expecting his newly girl friend visit always hear the sound of a moving ghost" so let it not be as if she did not say anything but because of the urge I have toward her made me to hear that. She noticed I was talking intrapersonally and stared at me enquiringly: "have you heard me?" I readjusted myself with a little shock and stammered so unusual ye ye yes! I thought love stories as such exist only in movies Isaac murmured. I smiled briefly and continued: after the lectures we stormed off the lecture hall for Ecopark, Ecopark is a students unionism park for economic students beautifully dressed under a mango tree, on reaching there, I deeped my hands into my well ironed black plain trousers and removed my well ironed White handkerchief full of tecno perfume aroma and dusted where I and she were sit. She smiled happily and said amusingly: "thank you gentle man" I stared at her and touched her dimpled cheeks jokingly and said: "you are welcome pretty" then we both sat down.my ears are itching to hear what the conversation was all about, Isaac said and focused the more. I signed slightly and continued: after sitting down I looked into her eyes and said: "here we are, you said you would like us to talk" she smiled gently and enquired: why are you chasing a snail when you know very well it can not run? I am sorry if I have put you on a fast train Miss proverbs. She laughed so unease and said: " pot now call castle black, you that is a house of proverbs now calls me miss proverbs. I smiled gently and adjusted closer to her and rested my right hand on her left thigh, she teased at me then sighed heavily and enquired: " Chris can you identify a bad guy if you have seen any? There is this guy asking me out, he is so caring and gentle but I am afraid he might be one of these charlatans and nonentities hiding his real identify just to wins my heart". How could she be asking me about a guy asking her out when she knows that I am crushing on her? I asked intrapersonally, then I sighed heavily and began this way: "well, it's not easy to identify a bad guy by physical appearance as one would thinks, the best way to know a toxic guy is his way of life, that is how he treats others and the respect he has for laws of nature, below are characteristics of toxic guys -They overly prioritize theirselve: Some toxic people often feel that the whole world revolves around them, they believe they’re the hero of their own story. There’s a fine line between taking care of their needs and wellbeing, and between treating them like they’re the only ones that matter. They never see “compromising” as an option, and they never feel the need to get out of their way for someone else’s comfort. - They have a major superiority complex: They find it difficult to accept other people for who they are, and they will regularly criticize or judge others for their flaws. This usually comes from an inner belief that those around them are inferior, so they start rolling their eyes, curling their lips in disgust, or using a sarcastic tone with those around them, under the premise that they ’re better off. Their attitude with others is unstable/unpredictable: No one’s always on cloud nine, or in the best mood at all times. But when it’s the norm that you’re moody and have no problem passing this bad mood onto others, this toxicity comes in handy. You use your unpredictability to keep the other person on the back foot. You indirectly force people to walk on eggshells in fear of triggering you, because they do not know which version of you they will be dealing with next. -They give theirselve excuses for throwing tantrums: Having a temper can sometimes be a part of someone’s personality that they struggle so hard to control. But doing so, while feeling that it’s legitimate and excusable, is a whole other story. It comes to a point where one wrong move and suddenly you snap and blurt nasty remarks, feeling like its the responsibility of others to deal with your anger. This is a serious toxic trait, that should be treated as such. -They feel entitled to hurt others This is related to the point previously mentioned. This false inner feeling, that they are entitled to have/maintain harsh stances, using the most hideous of terms while speaking to others, just because you think they “deserve pain”, is only a manifestation of how toxic their mindset is. Not just that, but it is also indicative of the lengths they are willing to go to, just to spare theirselve the process of thinking their actions through. - They threaten repercussions if people don’t fall in line They ’re nice and sweet when everything is moving at their own pace, but when they start facing disagreements or maybe advice, they snap. You threaten them with undesirable actions, or serious consequences. They don’t have to be physical, but maybe using emotional coercion, like cutting ties with a friend or breaking up with a partner, so they can get people to do what you want. -They never apologize or admit wrongdoing: Everyone makes mistakes and messing things up is only human nature. But it starts turning into a toxic trait when you are unable to admit to these mistakes and mess-ups. The ability to apologize and hold yourself accountable is what separates a toxic person, from one who is not. -They take the easy road, always! There’s a communication problem with your partner, a sibling fight that needs discussing, or even a misunderstanding with one of your work colleagues, what do you do? Instead of taking the time and effort to fix things, you decide to break up with them or ignore the work/sibling issue. This is usually because you want to spare yourself the process of trying, in complete disregard to how the other person might feel about it. - They use tears to weasel your way out: That’s a less noticeable card that many play with, when getting caught into doing wrong, and they simply just want to get out of it scot free. They turn on the water works as a weapon to save their faces when they ’re on the verge of losing an argument, or, when they ’re getting to a point where they need to apologize. Instead of holding accountability, they choose the easy road. This is not healthy, but pure manipulation. That is my own way of evaluating between a bad and a good guy I concluded. Awwwn I never knew you are this intelligent, you sound so intelligently, these few points of yours just opened my eyes to be able to identify between a fake and a real guy, said her happily. But you know I hate to be flattered, I said jokingly. Seriously, I am being real, you just opened my eyes. Many thanks for the compliment is a pleasure to have a time like this with you I said excitedly. You are welcome the pleasure is mine, she replied. I am jealous of somebody's love story Isaac interrupted amusingly. I laughed so unease and continued: I had wanted to open up on that day but I was told by a second thought not to, she stood up then I asked her: " do you want to leave this soon?" Yeah, I am over the moon to have had such a wonderful time with you, I am wrecked and famished, I must be going. She replied. Would you mind if I get you something to refresh over there? Never mind I am not staying afar, I will get myself something to eat when I get home I drew closer to her with a slightest heart beat hugged her tightly and said: I am pleased to have had a time like this with you too, I wish we have a time like this again soon, goodbye and we both departed.