Chapter Thirty Seven

                                    

                                          
First a happy new year to all of you! So glad we made it to 2021! ❤️
                          
***
                          
"Here," mum pushed her FCMB Debit card to me or more like the house card. Everyone uses it when we need to get something for the house or for ourselves but we say it's for the house.
                          
Taking the very long list from the kitchen island together with the card I said a quick, 'I'll soon be back' to my family before walking out of the house.
                          
Unlocking my car, I got in and started the car, horning so the gate keeper could open up before I get to the gate.
                          
Since I was the 'less busy' one everyone in the house decided it was a really nice thing if I went shopping for the house which I must tell you is going to be a long process.
                          
Everyone had needs for their rooms or just for themselves so everyone dropped their lists and I was to do the shopping.
                          
The cloud outside was getting darker as I drove so I wound up my glasses and started up the air conditioning.
                          
The mall is normally supposed to be a ten minutes drive but there seems to be some kind of terrible hold up so I sat in my car for a good extra thirty minutes before we moved.
                          
When I finally got to my destination and parked the car, Funke started calling me so I connected my phone to my airpods and got down from the car.
                          
"Hey," I made sure the car was locked before walking towards the entrance.
                          
"Hey, are you and Andrew going for NYSC this year or it's going to be next year?" Adrian's voice came through instead.
                          
"I'm not sure, I'll ask my mum. Let me call you back." I hung up and proceeded to call my mum.
                          
She picked on the third ring, "any problems?"
                          
"No. I wanted to ask if you and dad decided on if I'm going for NYSC this year?" I asked.
                          
"Yes, you're going, it's best you get it done with once and for all now."She answered and I sighed in relief.
                          
"Okay mum, talk to you later." I hung up and called Funke back.
                          
"Yeah, I'm going." I answered.
                          
"So when are you going to register? It starts today," Funke spoke now.
                          
"Hmm, I'm shopping now so when I'm done I'll just come over and we'll get it done." It's best to get it done on the first day and now that we have it in our minds.
                          
"Okay, make sure to bring Andrew along," she said and I could hear the tapping of keys in the background.
                          
"You know we're not technically speaking to each other," I groaned.
                          
"Just do it. See you later, bye!" She hung up.
                          
Groaning once again I sent a text to my mum telling her my plans before playing some music and tucking my phone into my jeans pocket heading to the main ShopRite hall.
                          
Thankful that ShopRite had everything I was looking for so I wouldn't have to rush between stores carrying shopping bags, I took a cart and began to roll it as I shopped, adding whatever I needed inside the cart as I went.
                          
When I got to the toiletries isle I froze in my tracks when I saw Andrew in front of me. He noticed me and stopped too. I wanted to just turn around and walk away but I needed most of the things on this isle.
                          
Taking in a huge breath I continued my shopping trying to ignore his presence that was slowly getting closer as I walked and shopped.
                          
When we got side by side I could feel his strong gaze on me more. 
                          
"Excuse me," I said hoping he'd get out of the way so I'd get an item that he was standing in front of.
                          
He moved, rendering me access. Tossing the item into my cart I was about to push past him but his hand on my arm stopped me.
                          
"Victoria," he spoke.
                          
It had been a week since I had seen him or heard from him even. A week of not hearing his voice and his presence completely away from me.
                          
"Andrew, nice to see you again," I trued to keep it cool not wanting to break down in a public place.
                          
"I've missed you," he said.
                          
I slowly looked up at him, big mistake. His grey eyes sucked me in and I couldn't look away now.
                          
God how I missed staring into his eyes.
                          
I pulled my lips to a tight smile, "you're going for NYSC right?"
                          
He looked confused for a second before nodding.
                          
"Well I'm going to register with Funke and Adrian after shopping, you should come too." I was very aware of his hand that was still on mine.
                          
"Okay," he nodded. 
                          
Pulling my hand from his grip I continued shopping and him being Andrew he followed me.
                          
"What are you doing?" I stopped to look at him.
                          
"Shopping, same as you," he pointed to his halfway full cart.
                          
I couldn't do anything but nod and watch him follow me allover. The tension between us could be felt from a distance.
                          
Like he said he was shopping and I was aware of his every move. Sometimes we'd both reach over for the same item and we'd both pull away akwardly.
                          
"Finally," I said when I threw in the last item on the list in the cart, pushing it to the check out point.
                          
I heard him chuckle behind me and I turned around slightly to see him smiling softly at me. I returned the gesture, my heart beating faster.
                          
I watched him throw an item into his cart, "and done."
                          
"I saw your letter," I gathered the courage to say watching his reaction.
                          
"Oh, that was the point," he joked chuckling softly to himself.
                          
The side of my mouth turned a little. "I need time Andrew."
                          
His eyes widened at my words and he nodded. "Take all the time you need."
                          
We both walked to the check out point, going to separate stations. We finished paying at the same time and walked out still pushing out carts now filled with packaged goods.
                          
We parked not too far from each other so when we were done offloading our contents into our cars I told him we were going to Funke's house so we got into our cars and drove out.
                          
When we got to Funke's house Andrew let me walk ahead of him into the house, being a gentleman.
                          
"Hey guys," I said when I spotted them sitting on the dining table, their laptops in front of them.
                          
They looked up at us and ushered us seats by the table. Ayanda, Funke's house keeper helped us with snacks as we registered together.
                          
When we were done with the registration process Funke called me to the side.
                          
"What's going to happen now?" She asked, her face serious.
                          
"I don't know Funke. But what I do know is that I need time, time for myself, time to realize what I want. Maybe if we get posted separately, I would have enough space to clear my head." I told her as it was in my head.
                          
She pulled her lips to a thin line. "Whatever works for you."
                          
"Thanks Funke, for being there,"I hugged her and she hugged me back.
                          
We stayed a little longer before we all went to our various houses. 
                          
***
                          
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Happy new year once again!