A Walk with my crush

First Course guys! Bon appetit!


A Walk With My Crush. (Episode 1)




By: Obidi Eunice Onyekachukwu. (Unique Eunice)

Eric was the perfect embodiment of a man. From his full black, glossy hair to his deep brown eyes; from his pointed nose to his sharp jaw that I was pretty sure could cut steel; from his tall neck to his very dark skin; from his diction and the way he slightly cocked his head when he's listening to me to his gait and very confident strides... He was everything and anything any girl could possibly want and sometimes I found myself wondering how it was possible for a guy to be so perfect.

I met him at a club, which is quite an unusual place for me to be found but found myself there because my friends from campus had convinced me to go. Initially, they had been flogging a dead horse but after I thought of how my parents weren't expected home until the end of the week and how my elder sister was way off in Law school, I decided to tag along. What made me sort of relaxed even was the fact that they said the club was legal and decent - no drugs, no disturbing dressing or scenes and most comforting, no loud music.
It turned out however that they were dead wrong. Everything was exactly the opposite when we got there and I got skittish at the entrance when Jemimah shoved our fake IDs in the bouncer's face. The girls at the entrance were clothed with dresses that left very little to the imagination and the guys had heavy gold and silver chains draping from their necks and trousers.

"Common Lydia," Bukky said rolling her eyes and having an impatient scowl plastered on her face. "Look, it's past ten, the fun is just about to start." She practically dragged me inside, the way one would when dragging a stubborn goat.
"I don't like what I'm seeing," I stated flatly when we were well and fully inside.
Once I got past the blast of loud music coming from who knew where and the near complete darkness that surrounded us, I saw every form of immorality being practiced right before our eyes. Girls grinding their hips against boys in an attempt to dance and still make out at the same time, girls straddled on the laps of guys near the bar, kissing and cuddling and so much more and if I squinted very well, in the corners of the club, I  could see couples, married or not, unashamedly having sex, fully engrossed in themselves and not minding if anybody was watching or not. I wanted to throw up.

"I'm going to get us drinks," Bukky yelled over the din of music and waltzed her way through sweaty, grinding bodies to the bar.
"Heyyyy handsome," Jemimah cooed to somebody I couldn't see the face of and he took her hand and pulled her roughly to the dance floor. I didn't know for sure, but I think my mouth was still hanging open in shock, not only about what I was seeing and hearing, but also at how "wild" my friends were behaving.
I shook my head and turned to Carol for help. Out of all my friends, she was usually the one that stood by me when she found I was uncomfortable. She shrugged her shoulders at me and gave me a sad smile before smiling at a gentleman at the bar and walking off to meet him.

I was alone. Bukky never returned with the drinks she said she went to bring and the others were not in sight. I thought of leaving. But I couldn't drive and did not have a car. Jemimah had brought us in her car and they had agreed to leave by 12:30, for my sake.
I sat down dejectedly on an empty table and shot the guys who were beginning to stare at me and lick their lips as if they had found a prey, a dirty look. Who did they think I was? A slut?

When I had sat for a torturing ten minutes, a guy that reeked of alcohol and had an ugly scar on his forehead came and placed his stupid hands on my waist, dragging me slightly before I even knew what was happening. With all the strength I had acquired from a good sleep and a satisfying lunch that afternoon, I gave him a hard slap on his irritating face. He was startled. My hands were not very soft. I smiled inwardly, but maintained the scowl on my face.
 However, in less than twenty seconds, I realised that I had caused trouble for myself. Four or five guys, twice the size of the one I had hit came and subtly surrounded me and were slowly closing in.
I glanced around and my heart skipped about three beats. They were scary looking. I looked at them with large eyes filled with fear and knew I was in deep shit. I felt so small in their midst and I wondered how I was going to get out.

"How about I get you a drink, sweetheart?" One of them said. His eyes shone with lust.
"Or we show you what we can do?" Another one said. He didn't try to hide the darkness in his voice.
I was shivering even in the heat. What did he mean "show you what we can do?"
"Baby," the one I had slapped smiled coyly raising his hand to touch my hair."is this your first time here?"
I gulped. What exactly did these guys have in mind?.
Trying desperately to remain calm, I decided to exhibit my acting skills.
With a big smile plastered on my face, I shot the guy I had slapped a smirk that was half apologetic and half seductive. Then, I flipped my hair with my hand and looked him straight in the eye.
"This, is not my first time." I lied. "I've come here a countless number of times. I wonder why I didn't notice you."
I guessed I was doing a good job because their eyes popped open in surprise and the lust in their eyes burned with a scary intensity.
"How about we have some fun," I drawled in a seductive voice. "Over there." I pointed to the toilets on the other end of the club.
They practically drooled. Then they began doing what I wanted them to do.
"Yeah, let's." One who hadn't spoken up before said bobbing his head, eagerly.
"I'm sorry to break your heart kiddo, but she was talking to me. A bigger man retorted, standing tall so that a few were intimidated.
"No. She was talking to me, idiot."
"Who did you just call an idiot?"
"Isn't that what you are? Always trying to take what doesn"t belong to you."
"Yeah. Let us have a turn with the chick."
"Have you all forgotten who I am? You want me to show you? He was brandishing his fists.
I took that as my cue to leave. Secretely and quite smoothly, I blended with the crowd and found my way to the exit. With my heart beating fast and hard against my chest, I half ran to the exit and got out.
A gust of fresh air greeted me and I forgot I had just been in a suffocating club filled with sweaty people. I inhaled deeply and looked left and right. I needed to think fast and get myself out of there.
"Hey," I heard a masculine voice behind me and my heart stopped. I thought they had found me.
"Where are you going?" I turned around to see a well groomed young man looking quizzically at me. He had a small smile on his face and was leaning slightly on a wall with his legs crossed. He looked out of place in a club.
"None of your business," I hissed and turned to the road again. This man didn't look dangerous but I couldn't trust anyone.
"Smart." He said putting his phone in his back pocket. "What you did back there was pretty smart."
I passed him a suspicious look. Had he seen me?
"If you want to remain alive, you would get yourself out of here as fast as possible. Those guys have started looking for you."
"Wha-?"
He sighed deeply. "Common, I'll give you a ride."
I frowned. How very creepy and suspicious. Why would he want to give me a ride except he didn"t have alterior motives.
"No thanks," I said backing away. "I'll find my way."
"I"m only trying to help." He said a little surprised. "I was about leaving when I saw your little drama with them. Thought I'll wait for you here and help."
I looked him over. He had a certain calm, almost too confident. He wore a long sleeved shirt with white and navy blue stripes on a blue jeans trousers. He looked okay.
"Look, you don't have to come. Just thought I could help that's all."
"Where is she?" I heard an angry voice call from somewhere. "The idiot fooled us."
Panic rose in my chest. He looked at me concerned and subtly raised a brow as if to ask. "Are you sure you can handle this?"
"Let's go" I said hurriedly.
"Follow me," He said and broke into a sprint. I followed trying to keep up with his pace.
His car was the latest version of a Toyota Corolla. It was sleek black and looked very new.
"Hop in" There was an urgency in his voice.
Immediately I did, I saw the five angry guys from earlier break out from the exit of the club. They looked left and right and at his car.
"They've found me." I said impatiently.
"Calm down." He replied, turning on the ignition. " What did you say your name was again?"
I stared at him incredulously. "Seriously? Now?"
He chuckled and the car sped forward.
Outside, the guys had disappeared and I felt releived. I sighed deeply and smiled.
"What are you smiling at?" He asked furrowing his brows.
"I think they've gone."
"Who?"
I looked at him, dumbstruck. Was this guy dumb?
"The guys who were pursuing me."
He looked serious, his concentration on the road. Occasionally, his eyes darted to his side mirror. He was speeding.
"They're behind us."
I looked at the mirror and my heart sank. Sure enough, those guys were speeding after us and driving like maniacs. It didn't help that the road was relatively free and we were like the only two cars on that long road.
"Ah!" I cried. "What are we going to do?"
He looked at the mirror again and said. "You're going to hold on tight."
"Wha-?" Before I could finish my statement, the car jerked forward and sped like crazy. He took sharp turns and didn't take his eyes off the road as he drove at a speed above 90.
"Slow down, na" I screamed hanging on for dear life.
"Just hang in there."He said to me as he took another sharp turn.
I looked in the mirror. Those guys were right behind us.
"Faster!" I yelled. "Those guys must not catch me."
He laughed good-humouredly and began driving at 100.
After twenty minutes of him driving like crazy and me screaming my throat sore, he pulled up to a bush and turned off the headlights.
"Where are we?" I asked trying to get my breathing to normal.
"We lost them" He replied turning off the engine.
"You're a crazy driver." I said looking at his face. He was very good looking now that I saw him up close.
He smirked. "Is that a compliment?"
"No" I said flatly and looked out the window. The bush was tall and crickets chirped very loudly in the dark.
"So," he continued. "You want to tell me what you were doing at a club? You look underaged."
I turned to him and gave him an icy stare.
"Just because you saved me doesn't mean I should tell you my life history."
"I didn't ask for your life history. I just want to make sure the girl I saved isn't a run away criminal."
Heat rose to my cheeks. I was both angered and embarrassed.
"Excuse me?" I said, shooting him daggers with my eyes. Oh, if only looks could kill...
 He breathed deeply. "I'm sorry" He said and looked out his window.
I looked out of mine and there was silence for a good thirty minutes.
"I should get you home." He finally said, placing his hand on the key. "Where do you live?"
"I can find my way from here," I said defiantly, still flushed about the whole run-away criminal thing. I folded my hands on my chest.
He squinted at me. "You are proud." He stated flatly. His hand left the ignition and he rested his head on the back of the chair. "Either that or you don't trust me."
I looked over at him. He was looking at me from the corner of his eyes. I found that intriguing.
"Look," I started, feeling guilty. "I don't mean to be proud. I just don't want you to think...
"That you're a cheap girl?" He finished for me and surprised me the second time.
I opened my mouth and closed it. He made me feel very self-conscious.
"What gave you the impression that that's what I was thinking?" He asked looking at me.
Wait. Why was I feeling shy. Me? Lydia Olawale. Feeling shy? What happened?
When I looked at his eyes, I knew what happened. Over the years, I had noticed that I tended to melt under the stare of a very good looking guy. And now I understood how very vulnerable I was. Alone in a car at 11:30p.m with a guy I had just met. Anything could happen.
"Please, can you take me home now?" I asked, half expecting him to laugh at my melt down.
"Sure." He said plainly and started the car. "Where do you live?"
"House 203, Akinola Street, Adeniyi Jones, Ikeja." I replied still feeling uneasy.
He paused and looked at me. "Wait! Are you the Pastor's daughter that just moved in there?"
"Y-es" I answered, lost.
He stared at me wide-eyed. I stared back for three seconds then looked away. He was too handsome.
Then a smile parted his lips. "You live across the street from me."
"Really?" I asked. I had not really gotten to meet my neighbours since we moved in three days ago.
"Yeah. That's very cool, you know." He said and resumed driving out of the bush.
I found myself blushing terribly that he thought it was cool that I lived across from him.
The roads were very free and he drove like a gentleman this time. I still felt uncomfortable looking at him and I contented myself with looking outside, allowing the gentle breeze blow my flushed face.
"You seem very...calm" He said, unsure of what to say or how to say it.
"I...I there's nothing to talk about." I said not taking my eyes off the stars outside.
"You haven't told me your name." He said, his hands on the staring wheel, his eyes on me.
"Neither have you." I shot back.
He cocked his head and looked puzzled. His dark brown eyes peered at me.
"I- mean, you haven't told me yours either." I said quietly, feeling his intense gaze.
"I"m Eric." He stated simply and looked at me.
"Lydia." I said.
" Nice to meet you Lydia"
"Tt-hanks." I could not stop wondering why he had that effect on me.
Five minutes later, Eric pulled up at my house and looked at me. He had a nice smile plastered on his face. "Here we are, Lydia."
I loved the way he pronounced my name. Not like some people who added unnecessary accents and made the name sound local.
I undid my seatbelt and got out of his car.
"Thank you, Eric." I said glad that I was home.
"Do you have any siblings?" He asked.
"Yes, why?"
"Just asking. I saw a girl at school that looks very much like you."
"Oh," was all I could say.
"Alright, bye" He said turning on the ignition.
"By-ee" I replied, watching him turn.
"And don't get yourself in any more trouble,"
I blushed. I sure would not.
"Even if you do. I live across from you. I'll be glad to help."
My knees buckled.
"See you around." He said and drove off.