Nadine rooted around in her bag, becoming increasingly frustrated, when she did not find what she was looking for.
“I’m sure I put them in here,” she muttered, agitated. The member of staff at the checkout, whose name-tag said her name was Tessa, looked impatient.
“Look, I’m really sorry but …”
“That will be thirty pounds and seventy-three pence,” Tessa said, now obviously irritated.
Nadine wished the ground would just open and swallow her. The embarrassment of standing at the head of the check-out queue, in a crowded Tesco supermarket, rifling through her bag as she searched for some seemingly non-existent ‘money off’ vouchers, and looking like she didn’t have enough money to pay for her purchases, was excruciating.
“I’ll get that for you,” a male voice said in a polished English accent, from behind her.
“No,” she said, quickly, not bothering to turn around, “even if I don’t find the vouchers, I can pay for my purchases.”
“You’d better let him pay,” said another male customer, who sounded more amused than disgruntled. “Or we could be standing here for another twenty minutes, while you search for your wallet,” another said.
Nadine ignored the veiled taunts, as she started to wonder whether she had left her wallet in her room.
“Seriously, Nadine …”
Nadine turned to look at the person who had called her name. A good-looking, dark-skinned guy smiled back at her.
“Sorry, you are …?”
“Raymond,” he replied, “Raymond Ezeh. We met at your Freshers’ Fair last month. I was at the Amnesty International stand.”
“Oh, right,” Nadine said, picking her memory.
“If you’re not ready to make a purchase anytime soon, would you step aside? Because there are other customers in the queue,” Tessa cut in, brusquely.
“Oh, I’m really sorry,” Nadine began apologetically.
“Is there a manager here?” Raymond asked, looking around, “I’d like to speak to him or her … just to let him or her know, how rude you are.” Now, he fixed his gaze on Tessa.
The transformation in Tessa’s attitude was astounding – her haughty mien immediately disappeared.
“Erm … there really is no need for that,” Nadine said, praying under her breath that this nice-looking guy wasn’t the type to get his kicks, out of creating scenes.
“I’d like to know if it’s supermarket policy, to treat paying customers like trash. It would mean so much if that kind of information came from a manager,” Raymond insisted.
Tessa looked around nervously. “No, not at all. I do apologise. We value our customers so much, and we are committed to ensuring efficient service for customers such as yourself, at all times.”
Nadine blinked. The poor girl, who was giving them her regurgitated version of a customer service spiel, looked really terrified. It was actually painful to watch. Fortunately, Raymond seemed to have had enough of the grovelling, and said nothing else. He gave a debit card to Tessa, who swiped it.
“Pin, please?”
Nadine turned away discreetly, taking an unusual interest in a nearby stand containing chocolates, as Raymond punched in the required digits. He smiled. “I can get you some of those, if you want.”
“What? Oh, no. Seriously, you’ve done enough.”
“Only trying to help.”
“I am well aware of that,” Nadine replied, with a soft smile.
She watched him pay for his own purchases – two dozen packs of Pot Noodles, and hand his debit card to Tessa again. As she returned his debit card and gave him a receipt, Tessa tore off something else from one of her machines and gave it to Raymond. He looked at it, then at her.
“Please accept these vouchers as a good faith gesture,” she said, first looking at him, then at Nadine.
Outside the supermarket, Nadine looked at Raymond. “Thank you so much, for helping me in there.”
“It was no bother,” he assured her.
She started to rummage in her bag, and extracted her wallet.
“What are you doing?” he asked her.
“Paying you back. I knew my wallet had to be somewhere in my bag. I have my debit card here, and I can use that cash-point over there.”
He shook his head.
“No, I really can’t take your money. I have to return it.”
“Well, if you insist, you can return it on our second date,” Raymond said, smiling.
“Second date?”
There was only the slightest hint of nerves, as he shifted and his carrier-bag crackled. Nadine looked at it.
“And to say thank you for agreeing to that second date, I could make you some of these,” he said, indicating the Pot Noodles.
“Really?”
“That would be on our third date, though.”
Nadine shook her head, smiling. “I … err … I have to go. Law Clinic meeting. Thanks for … erm … you know.”
“So, how about a coffee later?” he called after her, as she walked away.
“I hate coffee!” she yelled back.
“Ouch! Dinner, then? I mean, you do have to eat.”
“Yes, I do. But my mummy said not to eat with strange guys,” she hollered back, as she made her way to the bus station.
Nadine stirred and opened her eyes. It took a few moments for her eyes to get accustomed to the darkness. Even then, she felt a bit disorientated.
“Are we in my room, or yours?” she asked.
“Mine,” Raymond answered, awake but groggy.
“Right, I’m leaving,” she said, swinging first one leg, then the other out of bed.
“Why?” he asked, startled.
“Airport,” she replied simply, as she began to put on her clothes.
“I’ll take you. I told you, I would.”
“I don’t want to miss my flight. I missed it last year, so had to spend the Christmas holidays here in England.”
“Ah, the horror.”
“It wasn’t funny, then. And it’ll be even less funny, if I miss my flight this year, Ray.”
“You won’t miss your flight this time,” he promised, starting to get dressed himself, while she went to the sink to brush her teeth.
“One of my cousins is getting married, in three days.”
“Yeah, you’ve said that, a number of times. That’s why you completed your essays before the end of term deadline, and are leaving for Nigeria, tonight. A week before the term ends.”
“So, you do listen to me.”
“You’ve got a longer holiday than everyone else.”
“Don’t hate,” she chided.
“What am I supposed to do without you for three weeks?”
“I’m sure you’ll find a way to amuse yourself.”
“I’m sure I will,” he replied, mischievously.
She stopped buttoning her blouse and eyed him.
“What?” he asked.
“You’d better not cheat on me,” she warned.
“I wouldn’t dare.”
She glared at him. “I’m serious.”
“So am I. Why would I do that?”
“Why do people do anything?” she asked, resuming her buttoning.
“I don’t know. But I can tell you why I won’t,” he said, walking towards her, “I love you, Nadine.”