Now, We Touch

5.

Tosin was about to sleep when his phone rang. Even without looking at the screen, he knew who it was.

“Evangeline,” he said as he accepted the call.

“I’m sorry for calling this late. Were you sleeping?” she replied.

“Nah, it’s alright. What’s up?”

“I can’t sleep.”

“Why?”

“I’m nervous about the interview tomorrow. What if it goes badly?”

“And what if it goes well?”

“What if they hate me?”

“It’s a job. Their personal feelings about you do not matter, as long as they find you capable of doing your job. But if they hate you, it’s their problem. What’s to hate?”

“I don’t know, Tosin. I don’t have a million years of working experience. Who am I to think that an international NGO will want me?”

“Don’t do that.”

“Do what?”

“Don’t put yourself down. You are qualified for this job, and you should know that.”

“I’m not that qualified.”

“Well, then, you will learn on the job.”

Eline let out a humourless laugh. “You’re talking like I’ve already gotten it.”

“You will,” Tosin stated convincingly.

“You don’t know that.”

“Eline, can you just believe for the best?”

“I will try.”

“Good. Now say after me: I will ace my interview.”

“I will ace my interview,” she repeated weakly.

“I don’t like your tone. Repeat it, this time with conviction,” he said like a drill sergeant.

“Tosin, this is just silly. Whether I’ll do well or not doesn’t depend on these words of affirmation.”

“It matters that you believe in yourself.”

“I guess so.”

“I know so. Repeat it, Eline.”

“I will ace my interview,” she said again.

“Again.”

“I will ace my interview,” she repeated, stronger this time.

“Of course you will. I’ve watched you work really hard for this interview, on top of your present job and Master’s programme.”

“Am I… Superwoman?” Eline joked.

“Sure, you are. So, what should we do while we wait for sleep to come?”

“I don’t know. Count sheep?”

Tosin scoffed in disbelief. “Count sheep ke? What do you think this is? CBeebies?”

“Hey, put some respect on CBeebies’ name.”

“Abeg. Seriously, what do you want to do?”

“I don’t know. What book are you reading now?” she asked.

“Mere Christianity.”

“Huh! Interesting. Read a chapter to me.”

“It’s not fiction, though.”

“Tosin, I know that and I can comprehend non-fiction too.”

“Of course you can. I’m just saying.”

“Okay, I’ve heard. Now, read.”

Tosin shook his head as he retrieved his copy of the book and his glasses from his bedside stand.

“Are you cosy?” he asked.

“I am.”

“Okay! This chapter is called Hope. It’s one of my favourite chapters.”

“Oooo, nice. How many times have you read that book again?”

“Five times, I think. I read it every year.”

“Now that’s dedication. Love it. Go on.”

Tosin put in his earpods so he could hold the book with both hands.

“Hope. Hope is one of the theological virtues,” he started.

Eline interjected whenever she wanted to comment on something.

“If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world,” Tosin read.

“Wow, that’s a bar. C.S. Lewis is a legend,” Eline exclaimed.

“Facts!”

Sometime later, he heard her breathing become even. She had fallen asleep. He smiled and closed the book.

“Good night, Eline,” he whispered.

Then he ended the call. He was glad she had finally been able to go to bed. She needed to sleep before the online interview.

He had worked with her to put together a CV and then apply for the job. When he found the job opening online, he thought it would be a good fit for Eline. The NGO had a local office, but there was going to be a lot of travelling. That was perfect for Eline because she had always wanted to travel and see the world. Tosin prayed that she would get the job.

Would he miss her if she started travelling? Sure. And what would that mean for them if she weren’t always around? He did not know. He didn’t want to think about it too much because there wasn’t a ‘them’ to consider. They were just friends as they had always been. And that was great. They had made up for the tumultuous nine months with the past six months. It had been the best six months of hanging out like old times. But still, Tosin couldn’t help but want more. He had tried not to, but he couldn’t help himself.

Now is not the right time, he had been telling himself since that night he went to get Eline from the club. She needed time to get her life together and heal from heartbreak. Then she had done that. Next, it was her job and the Master’s. It was a lot. She had been stretched out thin and was unhappy about her job. He didn’t think it was the ideal time to talk about feelings. But he was becoming impatient and tired of acting like he didn’t have more than friendly feelings for Eline.

Things had been quite different for the past two to three months. At least, that’s what Tosin thought. There had been lingering gazes and tension, especially since they had been working closely on her job hunt.

The other night, they had been huddled over his laptop in his living room, reviewing her application. Eline was seated on the couch with the laptop, while he leaned in over her shoulder. At some point, Eline shifted back towards him. It was the slightest move, invisible to the ordinary eye. But he saw it because he had been hoping for any sign at all that she was even remotely interested in being more than friends. Maybe he had been too eager, delusional even, so he decided against overanalysing the moment. But it kept playing in his head like a broken record.

Tosin groaned as he turned off the lights. He needed to go to bed and stop with the late-night spiralling.

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Writer's Note: Hi! There's nothing to say today. See you in the comments and in the next chapter.

Until next time, beautiful one.