“Oh, Coleman can ask us that because he’s married.” I smirk before joining Gary in laughing.
“Boys, you have to find yourself a woman too. I can’t tell you how exciting it is to have a woman to call yours,” Coleman plugs in like some kind of love therapist.
“Oh, please, don’t tell us.” I walk to Gary’s table with the cup of coffee and a donut.
“Thanks, man.” He taps my shoulder sharply.
“Look, you will stop having donut and coffee for breakfast when you find yourself a wife, Gary,” Coleman teases him before taking a bite from his donut.
“Oh, please, I don’t have this for breakfast because I can’t make myself breakfast. I just love Dom’s donut and coffee, that’s all.”
“Who doesn’t?” Coleman sticks his thumbs up at me. “But, Dominic, you shouldn’t be single, I mean, a lot of ladies come here, yeah?” he raises his eyebrows.
“Well, how do I explain it?” I shrug.
“And he’s a big flirt. I can’t believe he’s single. Dom, are you single?” Gary turns to face me as he sips his coffee.
“Dead single; loneliness knows me by name,” I reply, and they both burst into laughter.
I’m not even joking. As much as I hate this single life, I don’t see me leaving it anytime soon. I’m searching for that love they say everyone is entitled to have, that companion. But the only companion I have right now is loneliness.
“How about the lady I saw you with yesterday?” Gary further questions me.
“She is a married woman,” I shake my head from left to right.
“Ouch!” Coleman places his hand on his chest, feigning pain. Gary’s face looks like he’s trying to hide the laughter that’s already visible on his face.
I can’t believe I call these men ‘friends’, they are dickheads. I hope to find my woman and that comfort my soul desperately craves soon.
“Excuse me, is this the café that has a good network connection?”
We turn our heads towards the entrance when an angelic feminine voice breaks the silence. My jaw gapes open; I’ve seen ladies, but this woman who just walked in is beyond beautiful. I let my eyes roam across her body, her fashion sense, and that beautiful voice. No, this is a beauty that I will never be able to forget – damn attractive.
“Hellooo, am I in the wrong place?” she questions again, waving her left hand.
I shake my head from left to right as I remind my mouth of its use.
“No, yeah, you are in the right place. Please come inside and pick a seat,” I gesture towards the chairs.
“Oh, thanks.”
I watch her as she walks inside the café, her ass effortlessly swinging from left to right.
“No,” I whisper to myself, tapping my chest in an attempt to keep my heart in place. There’s no way she’s single.
Two
Rose
The late twenties – a life stage where a lot is expected of you; I tell you it’s the scariest and most difficult life phase. Your parents want you to be married, you want to make money. It’s compulsory to be happy. And your head is filled with a lot of lines from inspirational books about how you should work hard so you won’t have to keep toiling and struggling at the age of sixty. It’s crazy, especially for someone like me who does not even know what to do with her life.
I graduated three years ago, and the only thing I have done with my life is nothing. I studied home management, and according to my parents, I should have studied pharmacy or something more lucrative. I’ve worked for a few people, but I keep quitting. I don’t know what it is; it just feels like I’m not doing what I want. So, what do I want? I have absolutely no idea. Maybe I do, but it’s not feasible. If it is, I don’t know how to start. Everything is just crazy, and my mom is not making it any better. She nags me all the time about how my age mates are happily married and settled. But I’m twenty-eight, and I don’t have a fiancé, a job, just dreamsat twenty-eight.
“So, what conclusion did you come to? Are you willing to give it a try or not?” my mom asks me, arms akimbo.
“Mom, I don’t know. It sounds great, but the stress and that place look like it will be so much work,” I groan.
“Rose, what exactly do you want? Your laziness is not going to get you anywhere positive in life. What is wrong with you? What is life without risk?” She glares at me.
