Chapter 12

I asked Jojo what really happened between her and Anita but she beat around and did not tell me the exact problem. Anita has been with me for the past two weeks voluntarily. She has being very helpful and we stay together every weekend or go out if we have anywhere to go. I don't have any reason to suspect Anita and I did not want to bridge my friendship with Jojo. I have other of my friends who comes around to visit. Ella comes and sometimes Rina stop by with her little daughter to say hello. I value all my friends and don't want to hold on to anybody's fault. I have already let go about Richard and how he got the information and also the ear ring. I am not depending on that again. I enjoy Anita's company and Jojo shouldn't dictate for me on who to be friendly with all because she was not in good term with Anita. I told Jojo that whenever Anita want to leave she is free to do that. Jojo said she will stop coming to my place because of Anita and I told her to do as she pleases. Ella got married and I attended her wedding but I did not catch flower during her wedding. I just sat and watch other young girls struggle with the bouquet. I later turned 29years. I did not blow the trumpet out. I don ‘t want anybody to even know that I just added another year but my parents called and few friends that knows the date of my birth also send messages and calls. Melinda my younger sister called and also my elder brother, Joe wished me a happy birthday. Jojo did not come around and I have not seen her for a month, I called her and she told me that she was busy with things. Anita bought a small cake and few other things for me. I did not go out as we sat watching a television show while chewing at the goodies she bought. At work, I was back to being active again and my performance increased unlike before, I thought I was going to die after Richard left but I'm still living and hoping for better days. I have not seen Mr Ohio for a long time and as I sat at the cafeteria one day, I saw him walk past with a female who was all over him. He smiled and wave at me and I waved back. I assumed is probably his woman and try not to think of it. I ran into him one day on my way out and greeted him kindly, he responded. 'Hi Becca, is good to see you again, I have being away on a business meeting abroad and I just return back last week. How have you being? 'I'm doing well sir and you…I hope the meeting went fine….? I said trying not to sound so tensed, even though I don't like the way we stood close to each other and I can perceive his nice cologne. 'Sure, it was great. Thanks for asking. I can see you are on your way home… I nodded with a smile and he smiled back, before telling me good bye. I replied as he watch me walked away. Jojo visited me to show me her engagement ring. She just got engaged by her lover who she calls 'sugar" i was really happy for her and congratulated her. I asked her to show me the picture of the guy but she didn't, she said someday I will get to know him. I wonder why she was hiding him. I know and have seen Anita's own fiance. Anita usually come to my place with him. Jojo is never this secretive but is her life and if she chose not to show the man's face then is alright by me. I will support every decision she takes that will make her happy. As we sat and talked, I mentioned Mr Ohio to her and even told Jojo the way he makes me hot all over whenever he is talking to me but I assumed he may be hooked with a lady because I have seen him moving with same lady who was into him twice. Jojo laughed and said I should keep away from such people, he maybe a player and irresponsible man. We talked and after sometimes she left. Two days later I was surprise to see Jojo In my office. She said she came to pay me a surprise visit. She was not wearing her engagement ring, I asked her about it and she said it was in her hand bag, she wears it when she is with her 'sugar" and whenever she feels like. I even took her to the eatery which was within the office. She kept looking round all through the time. I was forced to ask her what she was searching for. She laughed out before saying she was looking out for my handsome boss friend, that I should introduce her to him. I told her that I'm not close to the man and I haven't seen him since yesterday so I can't introduce them. She said she will wait until he comes out. Mr Ohio did not come down to the office that day. Jojo felt disappointed as we went home. Jojo visited again the following day and she was lucky to see Mr Ohio who did not give her a second look. But Jojo who was not ready to give up stayed behind, waiting for another opportunity of seeing the man. While we were having lunch, Jojo was busy talking about Mr Ohio. 'Oh mine, Becca, he is so handsome. I have never seen such a handsome and well-polished man in a long while. If truly you are my best friend, you should try and introduce us properly. Tell him that your friend want to say hello. I don't care if he is hooked or not I just want him to notice me. Please…please Becca stop being stingy… I laughed out my disappointment before saying to her. 'But you are engaged Jojo. I don't think that will be cool picking interest in another man while you are already into one. You should be looking forward to your wedding. What will you even do with Mr Ohio if he happens to pick interest in you…remember you once told me that he maybe a player and irresponsible, you said I should keep away from him but here you are looking out for him. I don't understand you Jojo. Please, respect the man you are engaged to. Is doesn't seem right doing this…don't you think? 'Becca, leave it all to me. Is my problem not yours just hook me up with the man and I don't care if he is married already or not. I like him and wish to be his friend that is all. To hell with engagement, if Mr Ohio pick interest in me I will just break off my engagement. My boyfriend thought he is the only one I have but I play a cool and smart games too. As much as I like my Sugar but settling down now is not in my agenda except if Mr Ohio ask me to marry him…it will be heaven on earth. I'm only engage not married so I'm still free to mingle as I want… As she was talking I saw Mr Ohio coming out with the same lady, I wanted to introduce him to Jojo before but seeing the lady makes me quiet. I looked at him and found out that he was staring at me as he walks down with the beautiful lady with a good shape. I swallowed hard and looked away. 'Hello Becca, how are you doing today? He greeted me. I looked up and respond to the greeting even the lady also said 'Hi" to me and Jojo. She looks friendly. Before I could say anything else, Jojo stood up and extend her hands to him in greeting. She introduce herself as my one and only friend and just stopped by to check up on me. She even mentioned that she likes the man's perfume and she totally ignored the lady standing beside Mr Ohio. The man took her hand and shake her with a smile, he said it was nice meeting her. He later looked over at me with same smile before walking away with the beautiful lady. Jojo was very happy and kissed the hand that the man shakes dramatically. I marveled at Jojo's boldness and she even said she will start visiting me more often and may even drives down to pick me from work some days just to meet Mr Ohio. I laughed at her seriousness before going back to my fruit salad. I wonder why Mr Ohio makes me feel so uncomfortable with his look and whenever we ran into each other he makes my heart beat faster than usual. I likes him but Jojo is already falling for him. I don't know what to make out of it but Jojo is the type that goes for whoever she wants until she gets it. I can't ask her to stop coming to my work place, she may feel I'm trying to stop her from her new catch who is not even interested in her. I wonder what her 'sugar" will eventually do if Jojo breaks off the engagement because of Mr Ohio whom I'm beginning to think off even as I lay on my bed.