Chapter 2 Traffic Talk and Jellof Stains

Rain drummed on the bus shelter roof like stubborn fingers tapping impatience into the air. Ada shifted from foot to foot, her wet hair dripping onto her handbag. She'd planned to run for a keke, but now puddles sprawled like small lakes on the road, and no keke seemed ready to risk them.

She opened WhatsApp, thumb hovering over Tolu's contact. They had chatted a bit since that first danfo ride-small jokes, two good morning messages, and a meme about Lagos traffic that he'd sent. She liked that he made her laugh, even from a distance. Ada wasn't the type to admit excitement, but every buzz of her phone made her chest flutter, annoyingly so.

As she typed, "This rain wan drown us today o," a horn blared behind her. She turned and saw Tolu in a silver Corolla, window partly wound down. He looked as surprised as she did.

"Need a lift?" he called, voice muffled by the rain.

Ada hesitated, water dripping down her neck. Then she grinned, "Yes, please!" and jogged over, splashing through a puddle so deep it nearly swallowed her flats.

She slid into the car, soaked but smiling. The car smelled of soft cologne and faintly of amala. "Hi," she said, shivering slightly.

"Hi," Tolu echoed, one hand on the steering, the other rubbing the back of his neck nervously. "I was just passing by, saw you there. Lucky, abi?"

"Very lucky," she agreed, seatbelt clicking into place.

---

The drive crawled forward, Lagos traffic refusing to let anyone rush. Wipers squeaked rhythmically across the windshield, and outside, danfos still packed commuters in tight. Inside, silence settled briefly between them.

"You look cold," Tolu said finally.

"I'm fine," Ada lied, hugging her handbag to keep warm.

Tolu reached into the backseat, pulling out a small, slightly frayed hoodie. "It's clean, promise."

Ada laughed, accepting it. "Thanks. You saved me twice now-first the danfo, now the rain."

"Maybe I'm secretly your superhero," he teased, glancing at her with a quick grin before focusing back on the road.

She pulled the hoodie over her head; it smelled faintly of detergent and something warm, familiar. It was too big for her, the sleeves hanging over her hands, but she liked it. "My hero who still hasn't told me his favorite food," she teased back.

"Ah, you want to know my secrets already?" he laughed. "Okay... amala and ewedu. Ultimate comfort food."

Ada wrinkled her nose playfully. "I knew it! You look like someone that can fight over amala."

"I plead guilty," he chuckled. "Yours?"

"Jollof rice. Proper party jollof, the smoky kind. Anything less is betrayal."

They traded food opinions, laughing at each other's dramatic defenses of favorite meals. Outside, rain still poured, but the car felt warm with their teasing and shared confessions.

---

At a stubborn red light near Ojuelegba, Tolu turned to her, suddenly quieter. "Can I ask something weird?"

"Go ahead," she replied, curious.

"What's your happiest memory?"

Ada blinked, not expecting that. She looked away, watching raindrops slide down the glass. "Um... maybe the time my dad took me to Bar Beach when I was little. Just me and him, no siblings, no noise. He bought me ice cream, and we sat watching the waves. I thought the world was perfect then."

"That's sweet," Tolu murmured.

"Your turn," she nudged.

He hesitated, then smiled softly. "Probably when my younger sister won a dance competition. She'd practiced for weeks, almost gave up. When they called her name, she burst into tears, and I was so proud... still am."

Ada studied his face, the gentle way his eyes softened at the memory. She liked this side of him-quietly caring, not trying too hard.

---

The rain slowed by the time they reached Surulere. "Where to?" Tolu asked.

"Freedom Park," she said. "I'm meeting a friend. You don't have to-"

"I don't mind," he interrupted, turning the wheel.

At Freedom Park, Ada hesitated before getting out. "Thanks for the ride... and the hoodie," she said.

"Keep it," Tolu offered. "For next rain."

She smiled, heart beating faster than she'd admit. "See you soon?"

"Definitely," he replied, voice low.

She shut the door and watched him drive off, the taillights fading into Lagos evening. She felt oddly lighter, her day warmer despite the rain.

---

Later that night, back home in her small flat, Ada held the hoodie against her chest. She scolded herself for being so soft, so quick to smile at a near-stranger. But the smile refused to leave.

She typed him a message: "Got home safe. Thanks again, superhero."

Seconds later, three dots appeared: "Anytime, Jollof Queen."

She laughed out loud, pillow pressed to her face to muffle the sound. Lagos had given her stress, sweat, and traffic-but somehow, it had given her Tolu too.

---

The Next Weekend: Lagos Mall Adventures

Saturday morning was humid, clouds hanging low as if Lagos itself hadn't decided whether to rain or shine. Ada had agreed-somewhat impulsively-to meet Tolu at the Ikeja City Mall. He'd texted her, "I owe you proper jollof. Let me redeem my name."

She arrived early, instantly regretting it when she caught herself glancing at every passerby, searching for him. Relax, she told herself, na small lunch, not wedding proposal.

Tolu appeared from behind a pillar, camera bag slung across his chest. "Hope I'm not late," he said.

"You're not," Ada replied, relieved.

They found a spot in a small restaurant upstairs, close enough to the window to watch the crowd below. Ada teased him for picking a place called "Chop Life Bistro."

"It sounded cheerful," he defended, grinning.

---

While waiting for their order, Tolu took out his camera. "Mind if I take a photo?" he asked.

Ada instinctively covered her face. "Nooo! I hate photos."

"Just one," he coaxed, "before your jollof arrives to distract you."

She lowered her hands, rolling her eyes. "Fine."

The shutter clicked. "See?" he said, showing her the screen. It wasn't posed; she was mid-laugh, head tilted back, eyes almost closed.

"I look ridiculous," she muttered.

"You look real," he corrected softly.

Ada felt heat rise to her cheeks, quickly hiding behind her glass of water.

---

Their meals arrived-Ada's smoky jollof and grilled chicken, Tolu's amala and ewedu. They teased each other's choices, shared forkfuls, and spilled rice grains that ended up on Ada's lap.

Tolu wiped the rice off her skirt, apologizing between laughs. "You really can't eat jollof neatly, can you?"

"And you're not supposed to help," she protested, but the warmth in his eyes made her smile.

---

As they left, Ada spotted a little stand selling phone cases. "Wait," she said, rushing over.

She picked a navy-blue case, decorated with tiny gold stars. Tolu teased, "Astrology fan?"

"No," she shot back, "but stars remind me that Lagos stress isn't everything."

"Nice," he said, nodding.

Ada surprised herself by buying him a keychain-tiny yellow danfo bus. "For luck," she explained.

"Thank you," Tolu replied, voice soft, turning the small plastic bus over in his hand.

They walked out of the mall, side by side, neither saying goodbye just yet.

---

Evening Conversations

That night, Ada curled up on her couch, hoodie still over her shoulders, phone glowing softly.

Ada: "Did you get home okay?"

Tolu: "Yes. The danfo bus is already on my keys."

Ada: "Good. It suits you."

Tolu: "And your jollof skills suit you."

Ada: "You didn't even taste my cooking!"

Tolu: "Yet. When do I get an invite?"

She paused, heart skittering. Do I dare?

Ada: "Maybe next weekend. But you'll bring dessert."

Tolu: "Deal."

She dropped the phone on her chest, staring at the ceiling, smile refusing to fade. She could already picture him in her small kitchen, teasing her about burnt rice.