Your Name

“Rainy days really aren’t my thing. Argh! I hate it when my shoes get wet. The ‘squish squish’ sounds irritate the hell out of me. I just wanna get home, bathe, change into warm clothes, hide under my blanket, and watch *’Your Name’ with a cup of hot choco in hand. Is that too much to ask for right now?” Maitama whined ceaselessly.

She had boarded a bus back from ICM where she had just experienced the worst date of her life, only to have her bus break down by the road while there was heavy traffic because of the heavy rain that was falling. Like every other Nigerian in her predicament, she alighted from the bus and started trekking since her house was only 15 minutes walk from her current location.

“I’m so angry right now!” She hit her right foot on a rock and swore heavily when she saw that she had just scratched her Vans Old Skool that had cost her a lot of sacrificing and saving. She let out some more expletives then stood under the rain to take a deep breath to calm her nerves. She was already getting warm from anger even though she was completely drenched in the rain. It was while she was drinking in her surroundings, with her wet hair plastered on her head, that she saw him.

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‘Him’ was over 6ft tall, dark, and stunningly handsome in a mild way. He wasn’t the type of handsome that struck you immediately and made you turn for second glances. His was the type you noticed after intense stares and assessment.

“Okay, he’s definitely my type. Height check, physique check, complexion, check check check.” She continued to swoon over him, drinking her fill under the rain while he innocently fiddled with his umbrella that seemed to have suddenly developed a fault. She had already envisioned them together in black and white photos, wearing matching black turtlenecks with the captions ‘All Shades of Black.’ He was working on the umbrella under a shed, so she decided she could use some shade time too.

He was still innocently fiddling with his broken umbrella when she crossed three poodles of water to stand beside him. She noticed his full but finely shaped brows were knotted in a frown and had to quench the sudden urge to pat them at ease. She could already see herself smoothing them out with her delicate fingers, whispering the words “there there. It’s okay honey.”

She had been there for over ten minutes but he had not taken notice of her or if he had, he hadn’t shown any sign of letting her know it. She was beginning to get frustrated. It was unlike her to not be noticed. She was not particularly attractive, not the type to draw attention at first glance. Just like him, one had to take time to assess her features; her full but small rosy lips, smooth (save for some dark spots) slightly chubby cheeks, half brown-half gold pupils, round breast, even rounder hips, and slim waist, finished off with a nice view from behind.

You would have to look twice to catch all that but that was the problem– he had only looked once, shortly, while she was making her not so grand entrance into the shed. She had been walking like a gymnast so as to avoid soaking her vans more than it already was.

I’m gonna need this guy to have a second look at me and it has to be a long one, but how do I accomplish this without losing my dignity? I wish he would just leave that godforsaken umbrella alone and just look at me.

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Mide had noticed her. He was fumbling with his umbrella alright but those awkward penguin-like footsteps could not be ignored. He saw her walking pattern before he saw her shoes and then traced her outline all the way up to her wet hair. He knew it wasn’t her hair, it was definitely a hair extension but considering the fact that it was very curly and she had the boldness to walk under the rain with it, it was most probably one of those ‘water wave wigs’.

It has to be a wig for her to be walking under the rain with it. She knows she can easily pull it off when she gets home, but damn… she cute alright. Definitely my type. The question now is, how do I start a convo with her without looking thirsty or creepy. I don’t wanna scare her off. Think Mide, think!

They continued their internal dialogue until Maitama decided she had to speak up first because it was almost time for her mum to get back home and she would kill her if she found out she had been out under the rain. It’s now or never Tama… you can do this. You’re smart and fun. You got this.

She coughed a bit, then adjusted her weight from her left leg to her right and then back to her left. “Ummm… he-hello… m-my… I see you are having issues with your umbrella.” She slapped herself inwardly for stating the more than obvious. Of course, he’s having issues with the umbrella dumbass. Isn’t that why he has been exhibiting himself on display for over fifteen minutes now? What happened to that sexy confidence of yours? Where did all your hook up lines go? She thought to herself, then she gave herself another inward slap and coughed awkwardly.

Mide, what the hell are you doing right now? Did you actually just allow a girl to make the first move? Guy… you don fuck up oh. How you go come tell your guys say you see babe and you allow am make the first move. No, be man you be walahi. He continued to chide himself until he felt he had done enough damage. He cleared his throat and responded to her statement about his faulty umbrella.

“Yeah… my umbrella just developed a fault. I was using it a while ago but a very strong wind carried it up and fucked it up. Oops! Sorry I used the ‘f’ word. I don’t know if you’re one of those girls that find it repulsive…” Then he thought to himself, Great. Another fuck up. Well done lord of fucks. Let’s see you get out of this one. It took her ten seconds to reply and when she did, she stammered.

“U-um it-it’s fine. Really… I just… it’s just that I was the one that asked the obvious like a retard. Umm…”

He had to take charge of the situation so he spoke up. “Okay, this is getting really awkward. I’m usually not this awkward around a girl. In fact, I’m never awkward around girls. I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable. I didn’t mean to.”

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Yes! Finally… okay. Now I will show him that I can also keep up with the vibe. I just need to be my normal cool, smart, flirty self. This should be a walk in the park for me.

Maitama turned to face him and flashed the smile she always used to get over five hundred likes on Instagram. I’m in now. No more goofing around, Tama.

Mide was lost for five seconds. He had just been blinded with the brightest smile he had ever seen. It was not an exaggeration to say that the entire shed lit up those three seconds she had smiled. He realized he was about to stammer his reply again, so he cleared his throat and started firm.

“I take it I didn’t irk you with my strong use of language since you’re blessing my eyes with the exquisite sight that is your smile.” Then as an afterthought, he added “thankfully”.

“Yeah… I’m definitely okay with it. I also use it at times when I’m very excited or angry so it’s fine.” He looked down at her shoes and she flinched in embarrassment.

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Her Old Skool was looking too old what with them getting soaked and torn in the rain. “Nice kicks babe…”

She looked up sharply Babe? The word carries so many meanings, I don’t know what to think right now. Does this mean I’m finally making progress?

She knew he had been waiting for a response for over fifteen seconds. That was more than enough time to look like a village idiot so she had to reply to him.

“Thanks, I guess… they are actually finer when they aren’t wet or torn. I legit just had the worst date of my life at *ICM a while ago.” She slapped herself thrice in my mind. Why the hell did I just tell him that?! Tama what is wrong with you today? This is so unlike you; sharing personal info with a stranger under a shed during a rainy day is not like you.

He coughed awkwardly and she wished she had teleportation powers so she could disappear from her scene of embarrassment.

After a few minutes, he surprisingly spoke.

“Worst date?… Hmmm… I’m not sure I’ve had one before, though I have had one date go terribly wrong. It went too wrong to be called a date but I guess I would call it that.” They both laughed- not the nervous or awkward type they had been laughing since they started talking to each other but robust, heartfelt laughter that came from the depth of their bowels. He looked at her and continued staring with a half-smile on his face until she couldn’t take it anymore.

“What’s with the stare and smirk? Why? You falling for me already?” She teased coyly.

“Yeah, you sly fox. I’m falling for you. Call me Jericho cos I’m falling for you, you Israelite?” Then he winked twice, causing her to double over in laughter and tears.

“Guyyyy… that’s the worst hook up line I’ve ever heard in my life! I mean, what the hell was what? Jericho and Israelite? Med oh!” She continued to mock him with her laughter. She laughed till she had to hold him as support from falling forward. Then when she was done laughing, he muttered only two words. “Mission accomplished.”

“Mission accomplished? What do you mean by that now?” She pouted, but he only smiled?

“Answer na…what mission got accomplished? What did you hope to achieve with that hookup line? Is there some other meaning I’m not reading to it?” But he only shook his head and continued smiling. After much pestering, he spoke up.

“My mission was to ensure that a queen like you never loses her smile. Making you smile after experiencing your worst date was no mean feat but as always, I have emerged victorious.” Then he flashed the most attractive smile ever to man. He had won her over alright- all 5ft 8inches of her had not only fallen but sunk under the ray of his bright smile.

*”Daisuki…” It was out before she knew it. She was just about to cover her face in shame and pray to her God that he didn’t know what the phrase meant when he replied, *”aishiteru“. She was too shocked to say anything at first. She simply hugged him and kept laughing uncontrollably, then when he felt her laugh was beginning to sound hysterical, he spoke up.

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“What’s so funny? I know you know what I meant cos you said ‘daisuki’. Why then are you laughing this way? Don’t you understand the weight of my words? Or am I simply a joke to you?!” It was only after hearing the last line that she stopped laughing.

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“*Go-gomenasai… I didn’t mean to make a joke of your confession like that. It’s just that I’ve always fantasized the day I’ll be on a date with a cute, tall, dark, and handsome *otaku under the rain. I never thought the day would actually come though. I’m honestly really sorry about…”

He pulled her closer, “You talk too much” and then he kissed her. He started off slow but very intentional, keeping in mind that they were still out in public, but five minutes into the kiss he had already forgotten they were out in a kiosk by the road.

They both got down to their knees and started playing. He played her like he was a maestro at a concert and she, the willing tyro, followed his expert music and sang along to his rhythm. It was music unlike any she had ever heard. Soprano notes were hit on a steady like she actually belonged to the part. Hell, she didn’t even sing, to begin with. How is he doing it? I know I have zero experience in these things even though I’m 21 and have the body of a 25-year-old but I’m very sure anyone he performed this music to would pitch just as well as I did.

It was 7:30 pm when they were done with their concert and they were both sweating, proud of the masterpiece they had created together. He looked at her and smiled, she returned the gesture then he stood up, stretched out his hand towards her, and pulled her to him. He grabbed her by the waist and held her down with his firm grip. He was about to kiss her again when she chided him. “You told me you love me when you don’t even know my name. I don’t know yours either” she pouted.

“Look, I like you so I know we’ll still have all the time in the world to get to know each other, bond, and create music together. With that said, it’s high time I start heading home.”

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When they came out of the shed, it had stopped raining but the sky was still overcast. They started walking in the direction of her house as it was surprisingly the same direction as his. They got to her bus-stop which was where they would have to part ways. He was just about to say goodbye when she remembered she didn’t know his name or phone number.

“Hey… you’re just gonna leave like that? No digits, no name?”

He laughed. “I didn’t know girls asked for names and digits. Guess you’re different. Well, my name is…”

“Ayomide! Ayomide is that really you??! I can’t believe what my eyes are seeing….” Maitama turned to look at the lousy person making a ton of noise at the bus stop but turned back after losing interest in the person only to see that her lover had disappeared. She looked around frantically, looking for his black fitting t-shirt and blue jeans but she couldn’t find him anywhere. She turned back to her lousy intruder.

“…I said it! That was Mide!”

Confused, Maitama asked, “Who was Mide?”

“Mide is the young man you were just talking with. He died two years ago in Kwara state while he was serving.”

“He what?? Died? How? But I’ve been talking to him. In fact we…” She blushed visibly, “…we did a lot of things together. You can’t tell me that was a ghost.”

The lousy stranger only shook her head and said, “Ever heard of the Yoruba word *‘Akudaya’? Mide was apparently one.”

Maitama blinked thrice in confusion. “You mean to tell me that the guy I just spent my last three hours with is not real? He’s a ghost? He’s dead??”

The stranger turned her nose upward to the left. “Yes, he is”. Then she bowed her head low as if to pay homage to the dead. “So you mean that guy right beside me has been dead all along? I have spent the last three hours of my day with a living wraith? How is that possible?! Then she remembered how he doggedly refused to tell her about his past, avoided saying his name and etc.

“He played me alright. I can’t believe I made out with a dead guy. I…I’m…” Everything went dark for her.

• ‘Your name’– a romantic Japanese animation movie.
• ICM– Ikeja City Mall in Lagos, Nigeria.
• Daisuki – “I like you” in Japanese.
• Aishiteru– “I love you” in Japanese.
• Otaku– a Japanese term for people with consuming interests, particularly in anime and manga.
• Akudaya– a Yoruba term to refer to a supernatural entity reputed to live on as an incarnate being in a place after being concurrently affirmed as a dead person in another place.