Writers 
🎉🎉🎉 I had finally completed my university education and finished my national service. But by then, I could no longer keep my relationship with Adrian a secret. My friends had known about us, and Mama had insisted that I introduce him to her properly.
Meanwhile, I had secured a job at a well renowned organization. Adrian had wanted to help me through the employment process. He even offered me a position in his own company, but I refused. I wanted to achieve something on my own and have a little breathing space.
Adrian had become increasingly obsessed with me. He wanted to do everything for me and seemed incapable of staying away from me for too long. As much as I loved being cared for, I didn't want to become entirely dependent on him. I wanted to prove to myself that I could stand on my own.
One afternoon, I returned from work and went straight to Mama's room to check on her, but she wasn't there. Perhaps she had already gone back to her textile shop. I prepared something to eat, sat on my favourite couch in the sitting room, and later retreated to my bedroom to rest.
Just as I was settling down, my phone vibrated.
It was Adrian.
Adrian: “Amara, my love, I’ve been trapped in this very important meeting for the past two hours, and I honestly have no idea when it will end. Can you do something for me?”
I smiled at the message.
Me: “That depends. What exactly are you about to ask me?”
Adrian: “Can you please get some groceries from the market for me? I’ll send you the list.
Me: “So you interrupted your very important meeting just to send me shopping?”
Adrian: “Of course. Who else would I trust with my groceries?”
Me: “Your secretary?”
Adrian: “Absolutely not.”
Me: “Your assistant?”
Adrian: “Definitely not.”
Me: “Then who?”
Adrian: “My beautiful, stubborn, troublesome girlfriend.”
Me: “Girlfriend? Since when did I become your girlfriend?”
Adrian: “Since you started stealing my heart every time you look at me.”
Me: “You’re supposed to be in a meeting.”
Adrian: “I am.”
Me: “Then pay attention.”
Adrian: “I am paying attention. Just not to the meeting.”
Me: “Adrian…”
Adrian: “Fine. I’ll behave.”
A few seconds later, another message appeared.
Adrian: “Oh, and one more thing.”
Me: “What?”
Adrian: “Please cook something delicious for dinner. I’ll be exhausted when I get home.”
Me: “No problem. I’ll get everything you need, but there’s one little clause.”
Adrian: “What clause?”
Me: “I won’t be able to cook dinner.”
Adrian: “Why? 😞”
Me: “Mama will frown if I spend another night outside our home.”
Adrian: “Then I’ll come to your house.”
Me: “Absolutely not.”
Adrian: “Why not?”
Me: “Because you nearly got caught the last time you tried sneaking into my room!”
Adrian: “Nearly.”
Me: “Adrian!”
Adrian: “What? She didn’t catch me.”
Me: “That was pure luck! You deliberately kept Mama busy with conversations until it was too late for you to leave. Then you had no choice but to sleep on the couch.”
Adrian: “And I slept very peacefully.”
Me: “You were terrified.”
Adrian: “I was only pretending to be afraid.”
Me: “Liar.”
Adrian: “Fine. Maybe I was a little afraid.”
Me: “A little?”
Adrian: “Okay, very afraid.”
Me: “You’re impossible.”
Adrian: “And yet you love me.”
I paused for a moment before typing.
Me: “Unfortunately.”
Adrian: “Unfortunately?”
Me: “Yes.”
Adrian: “Say it properly.”
Me: “No.”
Adrian: “Amara.”
Me: “What?”
Adrian: “Tell me you love me.”
Me: “You’re in a meeting.”
Adrian: “Worth it.”
Me: “You are ridiculous.”
Adrian: “And you’re avoiding the confession.”
I smiled at my phone.
Me: “Fine. I love you.”
Adrian: “Again.”
Me: “No.”
Adrian: “Please?”
Me: “I love you, Adrian.”
Adrian: “There. Now I can survive this meeting.”
Me: “I thought the meeting was important.”
Adrian: “It is.”
Me: “Then go and pay attention.”
Adrian: “I will. But I’ll be thinking about you.”
Me: “And the groceries?”
Adrian: “You’re ruining the romantic moment.”
Me: “The groceries, Adrian.”
Adrian: “Yes, ma’am.”
Me: “Send the list now. Otherwise, I’ll change my mind and refuse to go to the market. Then hunger can deal with you.”
Adrian: “That’s actually the perfect excuse for me to come to your house.”
Me: “For what?"
Adrian: “To rescue myself from starvation.”
Me: “You are not okay.”
Adrian: “I’m crazy about you, baby.”
Me: “You know what? Bye-bye. Attend to your meeting, and don’t bother sending the list because I’m not going to the market anymore.”
He responded with a laughing emoji.
Me: “You think I’m joking?”
Adrian: “I know you are.”
Me: “You’ve got exactly five seconds to send that list, or I’m staying right here.”
Adrian: “And I’ve got exactly five hours to get to your place and put you in my arms.”
Me: “ADRIAN!”
Adrian: “What? I miss you.”
Me: “You saw me yesterday.”
Adrian: “That was yesterday. Today is a completely different day."
Me: “You’re hopeless.”
Adrian: “Hopelessly in love with you.”
Me: “Send. The. List.”
Adrian: “Yes, my love.”
Me: “And behave yourself in that meeting.”
Adrian: “I’ll try.”
Me: “Try harder.”
Adrian: “Only if you promise me something.”
Me: “What?”
Adrian: “When I finally get to your house tonight, give me a proper hug.”
Me: “If Mama is around, you’re getting nothing.”
Adrian: “Then I’ll have to behave until she goes to bed.”
Me: “And you better not try sneaking into my room again.”
Adrian: “I make no promises.”
Me: “ADRIAN!”
Adrian: “Okay, okay! I’ll behave.”
A few minutes later, his shopping list finally arrived, followed almost immediately by another message.
Adrian: “And Amara?”
Me: “Yes?”
Adrian: “Don’t forget the chocolate.”
Me: “Why?”
Adrian: “Because my favorite thing in the
world is coming home to you.”
I shook my head, smiling helplessly at my phone.
Me: “Go back to your meeting, Romeo.”
Adrian: “Anything for you, Juliet.”
I laughed softly before putting my phone away.
I got dressed, picked up my handbag, and headed to the market, still smiling at the thought of seeing him later.
