Camouflage 1

I'm big on titles...Especially kuwda titles as these gets my writing juices flowing and gives me a sense of how I want the composition to flow. So perched cross-legged on the edge of my big bouncy bed with my laptop firmly placed on the hollow created by my pins crossed as I begin to type this very draft for kuwda, I turned the laptop on as I'd just gotten a title for this post which is "camouflage" ,the inspiration coming from listening to the hit song with the same title by brandy which in relation to this post couldn't be more apt  spurring me to grab my laptop and start typing away. So why camouflage?

In recent times, my family...mostly my aunties and subtly, my Mom and brothers have been dropping hints right, left and center literally on why I haven't gotten back to dating, they haven't seen me with a girl in so long and wonder what was going on and my response has always been, "when the time is right, love and romance would happen."

 In my defence however, between me and you, finding a girl to date isn't exactly the problem, the issue is making it last...making it work. Once the honeymoon period is over, and reality begins to set in, that's when they realise am quite effeminate afterall and it's generating questions from people who are insinuating how quite "unconventional" (whatever that means) our relationship is and more often than not, these bugs ultimately affects the girls.

The stereotype has always been that if you are effeminate in anyway, then that means you are queer but people fail to understand that it is just what it is, a stereotype, that there are all forms and types of gays from the closeted and the downlows to gay people in football,macho gays, I can go on and on and sadly, the only ones who are most popular are the flaming queens thereby making life a little difficult for effeminate guys who aren't bent. 

Thankfully, bruce jenner in a way helped quell such thoughts when he turned to a woman and we are all acquiesced with his story of how he hid his effeminate gestures and went on to have kids from three different women, bla bla bla. Although I must admit my own part in all these, as sometimes, it's just me not being confident enough to ask girls for a relationship for fear of being put in the spotlight of society asking questions...Am sure you are  like "what do I care what people say or think?", It's not that simple, Whew! Even typing this, I feel overwhelmed, I don't know how to put all these into words but maybe camouflage would help give some perspective.  

It was the day before Mom's birthday, Hamz called us all brothers to generate ideas on what best to present Mom on her birthday as we were low on cash and previous birthdays has seen us given gifts, take her to day spas to get pampered, amongst other things hence the need to come up with something creative yet requiring little or no financial commitment. Karl had suggested we make homemade birthday cards and place all around the house which we all turned down as childish while I proffered sweet handwritten notes on how amazing Mom has been to be pasted on her door before she wakes up as Hamz and QT also brought up suggestions and after much deliberation, my idea was adopted but me being the ever cunning me, I thought I needed to outdo my brothers a little by atleast getting her a little something in addition to the handwritten note so I got dressed up  to go to the mall in my beige checkered top over tartan trousers and loafers and get her a little inexpensive gift. 

The taxi ride to the mall was quite exhausting due to the hot sun making the air so hot and unbearable, I kept fanning myself with a jotter I found in the car which didn't do much as the air was equally hot but was grateful and relieved the moment I stepped into the sweet smelling and cool ambiance of the halls of the sprawling mall, I took in the beautiful sights of the expensive wares, jewelry, furniture et al on display making me lust at having them but shook myself back to reality of the possibility of that not happening that moment whilst trudging on towards shoprite. I traipsed around different sections within shoprite looking for a gift whose price matches my budget when I saw the backview of a petite young girl eating a tart of ice-cream whom my guts tell me would be quite stunning,

 "Hello miss" 

I leaned forward and whispered as she swiftly turned around and I was right, I thought she looked adorable in her short halle berry-style weave, her white no-sleeve sheer top fully showcasing her underlying black bra which contrasted beautifully against her fair skin with plunging neckline showing off just a hint of cleavage and a nice figure that suits her petite frame perfectly, I continued,

 " Sorry for distracting you, I just want your opinion as a woman on which of these two cans of body spray a  woman would love"

 Her brow furrowed into a bedazzled look which then slowly melted into a smile before uttering a soft moan, perhaps finding me and my statement quite sweet, she nodded and collected both cans, read their labels and perceived their smells to ascertain which note would flatter a woman before handing me the lavender smelling can of spray saying the other one smelled like sweat which got us both laughing as I thanked her for being a life saver before she asked if I was getting it for my girlfriend, I shook my head, saying it's for my Mom, she laughed, asking why I would buy her a body spray rather than a bottle of cologne,  blushing, I told her I was low on cash and she nodded understandably, she offered if it was okay for us to have a quick chat over drinks at the food court opposite shoprite, quickly offering to pay as she understood I was quite broke

 "Am just quite taken with your sweet attitude and respect for your momma, I haven't
seen a young guy exude that quality in a while and would like to know  a bit more about you. Also, your manner of approach was quite like the movies....you didn't spew the oft-repeated "excuse me sister" 

I cracked at that while she smiled, her cone of ice-cream in one hand as she led the way to the food court.  We got served smoothies and some meat pie which smelt delicious but didn't want to dig in before she starts as that would make me look like a hungry wolf so I chose to be quite content with taking in the aroma while we chatted. I got to learn her name is Ariana, an undergraduate and lives in maitama, a high brow area of abuja, an only daughter amongst four brothers and obviously quite pampered, has few friends and came to the mall to watch a movie which she missed and thought to get some ice-cream to eat before going home when we met. We talked about our lives, our passions, likes and dislikes and found out we had similar taste in several things amongst which is our adventurous taste buds for new recipes, etc.

By the end of our long conversation which was spliced with a  generous dose of giggles, we both realised there was more than a spark of chemistry between us...I was trying to fight the emotions that I feel but couldn't help feeling a chemical soup of hormones raging through me but who cares...I was ecstatic and letting myself get carried away...Magic was happening...Am falling in love! 

OH MY GOD! 

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