The Key

Kelechi leaned against the iron gate, glaring at the lock like it owed him money. He was tired, he just had a long day and needed a good rest. He took his jacket off to reveal his damp shirt, then he walked back to his car and placed it on the passenger's seat. The Lagos sun was friendly at all that day. Now to worsen his current predicament, he could already feel the mosquitoes circling. He groaned.

“Of course,” he muttered while searching his bags for the fifth tim, “Such a perfect punishment for forgetting the keys.”

Chukwu, a young neighbor who sells coconut water, passed by his car to see him seated inside like he had lost hope. “Oga Kelechi, is everything okay? Who you dey wait for? (Who are you waiting for?)”

He smiled with shame “My wife,” Kelechi said, voice tight. “She has the keys.”

The boy tilted his head confused, he had seen Mr Kelechi drive in severally on his own after opening the gate with his keys. “You no get keys? (Don't you have the keys?)”

“I have keys,” Kelechi snapped. “I just left them at work."

"Drive yo bring am na? "Drive back and get them)" the young boy said adjusting his wares on his head

"Chukwu, let me be. It's a two hour drive.” Kelechi replied, getting irritated now with Chukwu's series of questions.

The boy laughed. "Sorry oh." he said before walking off.

Kelechi sat in his car, defeated as he watched him go. He felt a mix of shame and annoyance. He got up and paced a little, muttering to himself, checking his phone every thirty seconds. No message from Ada after he had texted her hours earlier. Not even a “I’m coming” text.

He was about to break the padlock on the gate when he heard the rumble of Ada’s car, he straightened, pretending not to be stressed. He wanted to look like he had it all under control, but also, secretly, was happy she was home to save him.

Ada pulled up beside him and rolled down her window, eyebrows raised.

“Someone looks like he just lost a war,” she said, smiling.

“Yeah, yeah ,” he said, giving up his pretense. “I just lost a war with… myself and maybe.... the gate.”

Ada laughed heartily as Ashe stepped out of her car and proceeded to unlock her door. “You’re dramatic and predictable.”

Kelechi shifted uncomfortably, hands in his pockets. “It was just a mistake.”

Ada turned and looked at him. She remembered asking him to always put his keys in his bag every morning but he preferred juggling them in his hands to work everyday. She wanted to say “I told you so.” But she didn't. Not even to tease him. Not yet. She could see how tired he was and knew exactly that it would be the wrong thing to say. She just leaned against her car, quiet, letting him stew.

He noticed her watching him, quiet and patient, and felt a strange warmth. Not blame. Not frustration. Just… care. He smiled like a man that won in life.

“You’re smiling,” she said, hands folded to her chest.

“I… am?” he said walking closer to her

“You know you should be embarrassed, right?” she drew him into her embrace

“I am,” he admitted, scratching the back of his neck. “But… It's just that I like it that you’re not making fun of me.”

She shrugged, still grinning, her hands locked behind his neck. “Well why add to your stress when you’ve already done enough of that yourself.”

He laughed, letting her go. He felt his tension ease. “You’re too nice to me." He said walking back to his car.

“Or maybe I’m being strategic, you know, like your superhero. " she said with pride unlocking her own car door. “I wait for you to feel foolish first. Then I swoop in like your knight in shining armor to save you.”

Kelechi tilted his head. “My God! I just handed you every bragging rights.” He laughed and got into his car.

“Every.” She paused, realizing she hadn't pushed the gate open. She walked back and pushed the gate slowly and held onto it until he drove inside. She threw him her car keys.

“Why not help your hero drive in her car.”

He smiled proudly. "I'm at your service ma'am."

The kept bantering until their cars were all inside the compound,

Kelechi waited for Ada at the entrance of the house while she shut the gate. He watched as she walked up to him, her makeup almost worn out but that didn't stop her from being the beautiful woman he knew. “Next time, maybe just tie my keys to my wrist.”

“No,” she said, teasingly. “I like seeing you suffer a little.”

“Little? Do you know that I almost cried in front of that coconut water boy.” he stretched out his hands to hold her.

"Chukwu?" Ada asked, reaching for his hands.

He nodded.

She laughed, and he joined her.

They got to the door and she keyed the door. With a gentle push, their door flew open to reveal their cozy apartment.

But instead of stepping in, Ada turned to him and said. "Now I know why you're really grateful that I saved you." She joked.

"Not just that. I'm also grateful for the things you didn't say." He replied.

"Like, I told you so?" She asked with a wink.

Kelechi didn't understand fully at first until they were inside the house. Then he laughed, "You just said it now."

He shut the door.