Chapter five.

The road that led to the market was muddy. There were annoyingly large potholes almost everywhere and the water that filled them made the air feel stagnant. May had to clutch the end of her long basket gown so it didn't drag on the muddy floor while she walked and jumped over the shallow pits. Not to mention the sand pieces stabbing her feet and clinging to her gown.

As usual, she wore her best smile, waving at the few people who returned the greeting. The stream of smiles and waves were interrupted when a tire bumped into one of the potholes and splashed water on her.

"Mr. Man, watch how you drive your car, na." She shouted after the driver, "Can't you drive slower? You see that the road isn't flat!"

"Oh, sorry my sister," a lady behind her consoled. "Don't mind him. Since he managed to buy that ugly car, he thinks he owns the road now. Lord, imagine what he'll do if he gets his hands on a private jet." The lady shook her head in disapproval.

"God wouldn't even think of blessing such an arrogant man like him with a private jet." Another passerby quipped, "He splashed water on that lady and can't even say sorry when she complains! Who does that mango head think he is?"

May snarled, thinking of how much worse her day could get as she attempted to wipe off the stains. But she only ended up spreading it more. She shook her head and continued walking.

Meanwhile, the driver had found a parking spot. He exited his car and leaned on it, waiting for her.

"Uhm... excuse me," He tried to get her attention when she got closer. "I'm really sorry-"

She cut him off with a smile. "It's okay. Apology accepted."

He gave a nod of understanding and she walked away, but she hadn't gone far when a young, tall, dark-skinned boy bumped into her.

"Sorry," he muttered hastily before running away. May barely even had time to wonder why the collision felt intentional before she realized the three thousand naira notes her husband had given to her was missing. How did he do it?

She started chasing him, screaming for assistance from the people in front of her, but nobody made a move to help. Everyone seemed to be minding their own business instead.

Already tired, she stopped to catch her breath. Angry at her shortness of breath, she chastised herself for not being the sporty type.

In a flash, someone ran past her. Looking up, May saw the driver in hot pursuit after the thief. She decided to wait and see the outcome.

After about fifteen minutes, she caught sight of the driver running towards her with the money. People hailed him while she breathed out a sigh of relief.

"Thank you so much!" She praised him when he handed her the money. "You're a lifesaver."

"It's nothing. The boy will be dealt with later," he dismissed through heavy breaths as he lumbered back to his car. She didn't understand what he meant by 'the boy will be dealt with later' but she didn't bother to ask. Even if he had helped her, he was still a stranger and she wasn't good with new people.

"God bless you for me," she murmured before trudging away.

The main market was always a beehive of activities. Its usual combination of overwhelming noise and blistering heat ended up making her feel sick.

She entered a small stall. "Good afternoon," she greeted everyone inside.

There were four women inside. A petite black lady was the only one who took a second to respond while the others merely hummed and nodded in reply. May's eyes noticed two marks on the woman's cheek.

The nice lady was fanning herself with a folded newspaper, a small effort to fight the heat. May could tell that she was the store owner.

"What do you want to buy?"

"Em... I want to buy soup stuff." May was uncertain of how best to put it. She had never been to a public market before.

The lady looked at her three elderly friends. Together, they looked at May like she'd grown three heads.

"Madame, which one is "soup stuff"?" The petite and youngest woman of the four finally asked.

May gulped. "I meant ingredients used for cooking soup."

May wasn't expecting the elderly woman to interject. "Have you ever cooked any kind of soup before?"

"No."

The other clapped her hands. "No wonder. I can see it on your face."

How is that even possible? May wondered.

Another one, who hadn't said anything, decided to contribute. "So a grown woman like you doesn't know how to cook?"

"Are you married?"

"How does your husband cope?"

"No wonder you look like a skeleton."

The three had combined into a barrier to bombard the newcomer with questions.

"Do you have kids?"

Before May could open her mouth to speak, the shop owner beat her to it. "Leave her alone. She's here to buy something, not get interviewed." She sighed and turned to May with an apologetic smile. "I am sorry about that. What kind of soup do you want to cook? I'll help you find the ingredients."

May gave the lady a thin smile as a sign of gratitude. She ignored all the troubling questions as she began to rack her brain. She hadn't thought of the type of soup she wanted to cook before heading to the market. Now, she had turned up empty-headed.

After a minute or two of silence, a name popped into her head. She had heard a chef mention it in a live cooking show she'd watched a few days back. Thank you for saving me, she mentally kissed the chef she'd never met.

"Native soup," her voice filled with inspiration. Deep inside, she hoped she'd gotten the name right.

The lady turned, took cellophane out, and started listing the ingredients May needed to cook a native soup. "Stockfish, palm oil, fresh pepper, maggie.."

"Here," the lady handed her everything in a big, black, nylon bag. "That'll be two thousand naira."

May handed her the money without trying to start a usual barter as most customers and vendors do. Unknown to her, she was being cheated. "Thank you so much," she started to walk away but the woman stopped her.

"Don't you think you need some help on how to prepare it? I can jot down the procedures for you." she offered, feigning goodheartedness.

May shook her head. "Thanks. I'll rather google it."

As May followed the exact route she used in getting to the market, she prayed she wouldn't get mugged again. With the thought, she clenched the bag securely in one hand while the other hand locked onto the end of her gown.

"Hello flower, why don't you jump in?" May turned her head and her eyes landed on the driver from earlier. He gave her a friendly smile. For a moment, May thought the diamond earring on his left ear glittered, she blinked her eyes. Maybe she was just imagining things.

She ignored him and continued walking while he rode his Toyota Camry, slowly following her.

What did he want? If he thought rescuing her money from the thief permitted him to hit on her, he was in to get his bubbles busted.

She stopped suddenly and blurted out before she could stop herself. "I am married!"

He looked shocked for a while. Bet he wasn't expecting that since she looked so young. But her sure thinking was stopped by his laughter.

Her eyes widened in confusion. "It's not funny." she stomped her foot, getting more pissed with every passing minute. Everything about him was frustrating.

"You need to know that not every man who you cross paths with wants to screw you. Some of us just wanna be friends, y' know." He started chewing on his gum. "Well, except you start catching feelings first for me." He winked.

What a cocky man. She rolled her eyes. "Well, I just said that I'm married so I think the feelings part is-" she stopped, her lips twitching. "I am not interested in whatever friendship you're offering. So back off!"

He smiled. "Baby girl, you don't scare me. Stop playing hard to get and jump in, I just wanna give you a ride."

She ignored him and trekked onward instead.

May knew that stubborn man was still following her. Every time she looked back he was still behind her. What does he want from me? Surely he will get tired.

But he didn't. He followed her until she stopped in front of her house gate. She turned to look at him. In response, he flashed her his complete set of white teeth. She frowned.

He climbed out of his car so he would talk to her but she quickly entered her compound. Slamming the gate shut and locking it so he couldn't get inside.

May took a deep breath before entering her apartment, satisfied that she left the mystery man standing outside.