Loving Somto

Kwesi's POV:

I have always been scared of the stairs, anytime I had to move from my bedroom to my living room, I'll hold my breath and slowly go down the stairs. My childhood experience with stairs was a lot. 

My friend would always ask me, "Why get a house with a staircase when you're scared of it?" Well, I really didn't have an option. 

It was past 10pm but I was just getting ready to start my day. I would not say I am nocturnal, but my job required that I stayed up very late at night.

I made this chamomile tea but I'm sure it didn't taste as well as Somto made it for me last week. I work from my basement, basically because that's the only area where I could set up my whole workspace and still have a little space for my gaming gadgets. I could spend the whole day in my basement. 

Living in Ghana wasn't so much of a big deal for me, infact, Somto once said she'll like to return to her home country, Nigeria to start her Makeup and hair styling business fully, I had it in mind that I'll follow her back to Nigeria if she wanted to go back because I was ready to settle down and start a home. 

Not that we were in a relationship or something, but she is just the perfect lady for me. She was in the ushering department and if there's any reason why I wouldn't miss any church service, it was because of her warming smile. I wake up around 12pm or 1pm because I don't sleep till 5am, but when they announced that we'll be having church prayers by 7am, I would always show up. Most times, my head was always nodding all through. Who would sleep at home when you can come to church and pray and still see the Chief Usher with the most beautiful smile welcome you to church? I really wanted to meet her then but at the close of service, I was already by my car, and I'll see how guys hugged her and shook her hands and I will just wish I had a minute with her. 

God bless my church for the idea of pairing people for gifts on valentine's day love feast. That was how we met last year. I could still remember how soft her voice was over the phone the first day I called her. She has this warm and calm spirit. I got her really nice stuffs and she got me a table decor statue and this really nice headset I'm obsessed with. She gives me the best and most thoughtful gifts and I just love that about her.

The rest is history, we've gone out a couple of times and we talk every single day. Mostimes, I pick her up at work and drop her at her apartment. She works as the head of HR department at a popular hotel in Ghana. She goes to work just three times a week and the other days, she fixes appointments for makeup and hair styling for her clients. She's very good at what she does. She braided my hair once and I enjoyed the process more than the outcome. The outcome was excellent but I was able to spend time with her that day and it meant a lot to me.

She's very kind and we barely argue or fight. With the huge gap in our schedule, we still find time to talk, go out, make dinner and watch movies. Last Christmas, we went on a trip and that was probably the first time we had a fight. A random guy asked for her number in my presence and she introduced me as her brother. I didn't say anything at that point but when we got back to Ghana from the trip, I had to tell her how I felt. 

How would a grown 26 years old man be so close with you and you'll think I'm just being nice? That was what she said. She said I never said I loved her or what I wanted with everything I did for her. I had to tell her that day that I really love her and I even want a relationship. The timing was bad for such a sensitive issue. She was angry that I kept that from her for a long time and she even raised her voice at me for the first time. I tried to control my anger too because I was seriously annoyed. She gave me all the green light and she would never say no if I asked to go out with her or do something for her. 

I felt like a fool that day and I had to leave her apartment. She was up with the fact that I walked out on her while we were discussing something serious but I just didn't want to pour my anger over her. Took us like two weeks to get it settled. January was rough for us. We knew we were not in a relationship, but I was really interested in her. I don't know if she feels the same but she still keeps me around like before. 

We've planned this date for Valentine's day and I intend to ask her to be my babe the right way this time. I told our pastor everything and he just asked a few questions and asked me to go ahead. 

That was the first time I was praying about a woman. I really care about her and I would even marry her if she was ready tomorrow. She plans to relocate to Nigeria next year because she's through with her masters in Ghana and she talks about how she misses Nigeria all the time. There's nothing holding me back in Ghana either, tho I am a Ghanian, my parents live in Brooklyn with my younger sister. I work remotely and I have just my house, my two cars and my bank account to hold on to. And yes, my gaming gadgets too. Would be easy to take them along to Nigeria, yeah? 

I could move from one city to another and get settled in weeks, even days. I just wanted to find the right woman and build a home with her. 

For me, relationship is built on trust and commitment. Tho, I lied to Somto once, when she asked how much I had to my name, I felt like it was a weird question so I mentioned an amount that was not even close to quarter of what I had. She believed me and thought it to be normal for someone who drives a sport car, has a nice apartment, could afford three vacations and business trips in a year. I had about five times the amount I told her then, probably 10 times that amount now. I hope she never finds out because that would cause a lot, knowing that she values sincerity and honesty. She tells me everything about her and she's so truthful, her work colleagues respect her for it. She never told me why she wanted to resign and leave her job tho. She always says nice things about her job and how well they treat them and pay them, but she still says she wants to resign, go back to Nigeria, work on her business for a while, then start her PhD after she has gathered enough money. She has her whole life planned out and I love that. 

I really don't have anything to plan out over here. Just keep getting good gigs and getting money. I was only interested in art and I have attended about three auctions. I bought some artworks too, and I lied about the prices to Somto when she asked too. Oh, that's two lies. The only thing I might do later in life is to start my own company but there's probably no need, my father's companies are enough stress already. I just hope he lives longer and keep taking care of his companies. I don't have the energy to be a CEO and walk around in suits and ties, tied to meeting schedules and serious discussions. I just want a soft, sweet life and a good woman by my side. When I completed my masters last year, everyone thought I would get a job and start dressing up and showing up each day, that wasn't me. Somto even opined that I should take a PhD, that was when she didn't know me well. Now, she says it everytime that she really is surprised that I completed my masters. I just had the thirst for knowledge then, not anymore. 

I guess this date with Somto tomorrow will determine the next step I'll be taking in my life. Start a relationship with her, move to Nigeria with her or if she says no, I just yield my father's plea and move to Brooklyn to help with his companies. I don't want to spend this whole year in my basement "workplace" making money I really don't have anything to spend it on. Church-Basement-Living room. That was my whole life schedule until I met Somto. Tomorrow is really a big day for me. 

I told my dad and mum already and if this goes sideways, they know to expect their son in Brooklyn by the end of the week. I am soaked in worries and prayers. Valentine's would be more for me than a lover's day.