“But chale, upon lie biaa, this lockdown has given me the chance to sleep papa! Heeerrrhhh!!”

Abrefa laughed out loud at Joey’s statement over the phone as he leaned back in the car’s passenger seat. “I can imagine. You know it’ll get boring with time, though, right? The resting start dey taya me already for here.”

“Oh, that one di33, I know. But chale, I really no dey take this by force break for granted ooo. I just for deal with this fear e dey fit creep up every now and then, coz chale, this corona thing eh…”

“Honestly, Joey, honestly! The fear be too much. If my head start dey pain me small p3, then I start dey freak out. And especially my parents… chale, them grow, so small cough, then my heart all.”

“Hmmm, chale. Make we just hold on to faith. E no be easy, but God go come through for we.”

“Yeah, yeah, definitely.”

“So what you dey do this gb3k3?”

“Chale, ECG take my light ooo. So I come sit the car inside small. The old folks dey sit the balcony top. I go join them in a couple of minutes.”

“Cool, cool. Alright, chale, good to hear from you. Good to know you’re back in town, too. So chale, when this lockdown clear up aa, we for link up.”

“Most definitely. Most definitely.”

“Alright, chale. Later.”

“Alright, bye.”

As Abrefa ended the call, he sighed as he scrolled through the call list. One more call to make before he exited the car and joined the parents.

A call to that lady called Mezi.

A couple of months had passed since the whole Angel fiesta. He had not cut ties with her totally, but they rarely ever conversed with each other. Much to his pleasure, she hadn’t pulled a Joelah on him and acted like she was entitled to his attention; it was clear she truly had no interest in going further with him. And that was okay.

He had done the necessary and moved on.

Focusing on his job at Elmina and making conscious efforts at self-improvement had become his major aims in life, and so far so good. From taking time out three times a week to exercise to reading more books, he was feeling so much better as a person. Moving to Elmina was a bigger blessing than he would have imagined; getting over all that love jazz was actually a lot easier in a new atmosphere, with new people and new aims and ambitions.

So he was fully enjoying his ‘me time’, keeping an impressive work ethic in his office and being satisfied with himself.

Then there was this cocktail that he and his colleagues were invited to at Coconut Grove one Friday evening in late February by the chairman of the board of directors. And it was an awesome evening. Drinks, finger foods, good music… everything you’d expect on a fun evening.

As he conversed with his colleagues and enjoyed the music, busting a move or two every now and then, he noticed this light-skinned beauty in the corner of the room, also deep in conversation with others.

After that last failed relationship attempt, he had totally sworn off love and the like, and he had no interest in bending that rule for any girl, no matter how cute she was. But with this lady, there was something about her…

It literally felt like his heart would never be at peace if he left Coconut Grove without speaking to her. So he gave in to that intense inkling and approached her.

Mezi Gadzekpo was the name. a friend of the company secretary, she had decided to tag along for the event. She worked with one of the banks.

They chatted for about ten minutes before it was time for him and his people to leave. Those ten minutes were about enough to spark something new in his life.

A new crush.

For the next couple of days, they stayed in touch with each other and had one date. All was going well until the worldwide outbreak of the coronavirus hit Ghana. With news of an impending lockdown, any further time spent together would have to wait, as Abrefa had to return to Accra.

On the morning of his return, however, he decided to let Mezi know how fond he was of her.

Her response? ‘Let’s see how things go.’

There was something about the way she said it that gave him this feeling of hope he had never felt before. Was this gonna be something new?

Of course, those voices of yesteryears warned him and reminded him of all those past disappointments, telling him to tread cautiously. But somehow, there was this hope that someway somehow, this Mezi chic would be the one.

And as he dialled her number, he knew that evening would be the evening he’d get an answer.

“Good evening, Mezi!”

“Good evening, Abrefa. What’s up?”

“Hmm, chale. Just been another day of dryness ooo. I said I like my bed, but chale, I’m tired now! Ebei! If it’s not YouTube, eating or walking aimlessly around the house, it’s sleeping. Chale!”

Mezi laughed. “Really? So no series or something?”

“Nahhh. I was trying out 30 Rock at some point, but I dunno… the thing no dey catch me the way I expected it to.”

“30 Rock? Which one too is that?”

“Oh, some comedy series bi with Tina Fey. Honestly, I only downloaded it because Tina Fey dey bee me pass.”

“Ei, saa? So was it worth it?”

Abrefa laughed. “Nahh, not in the least. I’m struggling. Maybe I’ll try later.”

“Oh well, that’s up to you. As for me, I’m almost done with season 2 of The Americans.”

“Sweet! I knew you’d enjoy it.”

“Oh yeah, I am. I really am… so what’s up for the rest of the evening?”

Abrefa sighed. “Well, ECG has decided to misbehave as usual. So I’m collecting AC in the car for a few minutes before I join my people on the verandah.”

“Ohhh, chale. I’m sure your lights will come on soon enough. Na this lockdown and light off di33, terrible combination.”

“Honestly, chale.”

There was a moment of silence that followed.

Then Mezi spoke up. “Um, Abrefa?”

His heart rate suddenly tripling by the second, Abrefa responded. “Yeah?”

She hesitated for a while, then continued.

“So… about what we spoke of before you left… my answer is yes. I will be your girlfriend.”

Stunned silence from Abrefa. He could not believe his ears?

She just said yes to me? SHE ACTUALLY JUST ACCEPTED MY PROPOSAL???!!!

“Oh. Uh… wow. So, uh… uh, this means…”

He was pretty speechless at that moment.

Mezi laughed softly. “Yes, this means you’re not single anymore.”

Abrefa shut his eyes and placed his hands on his chest. Goodness, the joy flowing through his veins!

“This… this is beautiful to know. Umm… I… I guess I need to get myself together, na the way I’m speechless right now…”

“Hehehe, sure. You need to go join your old folks, anyways. Call me before you sleep, okay?”

“Okay.”

“Good. Bye, Abrefa.”

As the call ended, Abrefa sat back, shaking his head.

It had finally happened. For the first time in his life, he had found a woman he not only liked but who liked him back. A woman who wanted to be in a relationship with him.

That inkling of hope had not taken a hold of him for nothing. All those voices constantly telling him he’d never be loved could now be zipped and muted. He had found the one for him.

He had finally found love.

Our boy has finally got himself a girlfriend!!