Chibuike had already seen her coming. He stood still, watching her. Before he could even speak, Azuka raised her voice, warning him never to touch her again with his filthy, dirty, poverty-stricken hands.
The site became quiet. All the workers turned to look. Azuka pointed at him. People at the site looked shocked. Some whispered to each other, “Does she even know who he is?”
Chibuike stayed calm. He did not shout back.
“I’m sorry,” he said calmly. “That day was a mistake. I only wanted to ask where I could find what I wanted to buy.”
But Azuka cut him off immediately.
“I don’t care what you wanted to ask. Do not ever touch me again.”
Her voice was loud. Muna had now run across the road.
“Azuka, stop!” she called out.
Muna reached them and stood beside her.
“Why are you talking to him like this?” Muna asked. “He did nothing to you.”
But Azuka ignored her. She gave Chibuike one last hard look. Then she turned around and walked away like nothing had happened. Silence stayed behind her.
Muna stood there feeling embarrassed. She looked at Chibuike.
“I am so sorry,” she said quickly. “I am really sorry, sir. She is my roommate. I don’t even know what is wrong with her.”
Chibuike looked at her calmly.
“It is fine,” he said.
Then he asked, “What is your name?”
“Muna,” she replied.
He gave a small smile.
“I am Chibuike,” he said. “Unlike your friend, you seem very nice.”
Muna felt shy. “Thank you, sir,” she said softly.
Then she turned and walked away. Back at the site, all the workers were still watching Chibuike. No one had gone back to work yet, but Chibuike looked around calmly.
“Go back to work, everyone,” he said.
One by one, the workers slowly returned to what they were doing.
As days went by, something small started happening. Most times in the evening, when work was over, Chibuike would see Muna and Azuka crossing the road and heading home. Sometimes when he was close to the roadside, Muna would greet him politely.
“Good evening, sir.”
Chibuike would reply kindly every time.
“Good evening, Muna.”
Sometimes he even greeted Azuka.
“Good evening.”
But Azuka never replied. She would look away and walk faster like she was trying to escape him, like she did not want anything to do with a poor construction worker, as she believed he was. Chibuike never reacted. He just stayed calm and observed her.
One evening, Azuka had left work early. Muna was the only one still around after closing. She walked out of the supermarket and started heading home alone. On the road, she saw Chibuike standing not far away. He looked different that night, cleaner. He had changed his clothes after work.
“Muna,” he called gently.
She smiled. “Good evening, sir.”
“Good evening,” he replied.
They stood for a short moment. Then Chibuike asked, “Your friend Azuka, where is she?”
Muna adjusted her bag.
“She left earlier after asking permission from the supermarket manager before closing time.”
Chibuike nodded slowly. There was a short silence. Then he spoke again.
“Can I walk you home?”
Muna looked at him for a moment. Before she could answer, he added, “There is a small food shop close by. I was going there to eat. If you don’t mind, I can buy you dinner too. Then walk you home after.”
Muna hesitated a little. Then she agreed.
“Okay, I don’t mind.”
They started walking together. The food shop was an open-air place by the roadside. Simple chairs, simple tables, nothing fancy. They sat down and ordered food. While they waited, there was a short silence.
Then Chibuike spoke. “How was work today?”
“It was fine,” Muna replied.
After that, the conversation became easier. They talked more as they ate. At one point, Chibuike became quiet for a moment. Then he spoke again.
“Muna, I have to be honest with you.”
She looked at him.
“I was actually interested in your friend, Azuka.”
Muna paused a little. Chibuike continued.
“But after what happened, I don’t think I can anymore. Her character is too harsh.”
Muna looked at him and gave a small polite smile.
“Azuka can be a handful sometimes,” she said.
Chibuike raised an eyebrow.
“Yes,” Muna continued. “Even back in school.”
He looked curious. “You two went to school together?”
Muna nodded. “Yes, we were coursemates in university.”
She took a small bite of her food before continuing.
“After we graduated, I came to Enugu to look for work. I didn’t get the job I wanted, so I accepted the one I found. That was how I started working at the supermarket.”
She paused again.
“Later, Azuka came to stay with me. She needed a place, so I helped her.”
Chibuike listened quietly. Muna added, “She is not always bad. Sometimes she can be sweet, but she changes when it comes to pride.”
Chibuike looked at her for a moment.
“You are a very kind person,” he said calmly.
Muna smiled a little. “Thank you.”
They finished eating soon after. Chibuike stood up.
“I will walk you home like I said.”
“Thank you,” Muna replied.
They walked together through the quiet road. When they reached her house, Muna stopped.
“Thank you for the food and for walking me home,” she said.
“Don’t mention,” Chibuike replied with a calm smile.
He turned and walked away. Muna entered the house. Inside, Azuka was already there. She heard the door open and also heard Muna’s voice talking to someone at the door. Azuka turned her head.
“Who did you come back with?” she asked.
Muna paused. Then she answered, “The same construction worker you embarrassed that day.”
Azuka’s face changed a little. She let out a small hiss and turned away.
Muna continued, “He even said he liked you, but not anymore.”
Azuka turned back fast. “What?”
Muna looked at her calmly. “He said your character put him off.”
Azuka’s eyes opened wider.
“God forbid,” she said sharply. “Me with a construction worker? Never.”
Muna stayed quiet for a moment. Then she spoke softly.
“He is still a human being. He works hard. He takes care of himself. He’s responsible.”
She stepped closer.
“Don’t let pride push away good people from your life.”
Azuka folded her arms.
“If he is not wealthy, he is not worthy.”
The room became quiet. Muna did not argue again. But deep inside that silence, something was starting to shift. Even if Azuka did not see it yet.
A few days later, during lunch break, Muna carried a nylon bag and went to the construction site. The sun was high as usual, and workers were busy around the building. Muna stopped at the entrance and looked around. She was looking for Chibuike, but she could not see him anywhere. She walked to one of the workers.
“Excuse me,” she said politely. “Where is Chibuike?”
The man pointed inside the site.
“He is on the other side of the building. I will call him for you.”
“Thank you,” Muna replied.
The man walked off and called him. A short time later, Chibuike came walking over. He looked a little surprised when he saw Muna standing there.
“Muna,” he said.
Muna smiled and held out the nylon bag.
“I brought this for you.”
Chibuike looked confused. “For me?”
“Yes,” Muna said softly. “It is just food. I wanted to say thank you.”
Chibuike looked at her for a moment.
“You did not have to do this,” he said.
Muna quickly replied, “It is nothing. Please don’t reject it.”
Chibuike gave a small smile.
“Thank you. I really appreciate this.”
He collected the bag calmly.
“Take care,” Muna said.
“You too,” he replied.
Muna turned and walked back out of the site. From a distance, someone was watching. It was Azuka. She stood inside the supermarket near the glass door looking straight at them. Her face changed as she watched Muna and Chibuike talking. When Muna came back into the supermarket, Azuka met her immediately.
