EPISODE 17 

Sylvia gripped my hands and stared into my eyes. “Christian, you can start learning now, with time you will get better” she said “but what am I suppose to say to her when I approach her. I don’t have anything in mind. I can’t just walk up to her and keep staring at her face without saying anything.” I said. Sylvia took a deep breath “okay. when you walk up to her, ask her politely if you can sit beside her. If she agrees, you sit down. If she doesn’t respond, that also means you can sit. So you sit down. Obverse her mood for a while, because it’s base on that, you will know the next line of words to use. If she’s happy and ready to have a conversation with you, you can flirt with her and say some nice words that would make her feel special. But if she’s in a bad mood, then you don’t have to flirt with her. Just make it look like you are also in a bad mood. Say things that would express how sad you are. Things like ‘how can my girlfriend dump me for my bestfriend’. If she realizes you are just as sad as she is, she would be able to talk to you and even tell you her problem, because she would believe you will understand her better since you both are in a bad mood. You can asked for her number when she’s done narrating her problem to you, and she will gladly give it to you. Now go to her. This is your first task” Sylvia said.

This task is really a difficult one. I have never walked up to a lady and ask for her number. I’m sure that my mind will go blank when I get to her and I won’t have anything to say. 

“Stop listening to what that voice is telling you right now. It will only discourage you, because it doesn’t want you to make mistake. It wants you to be perfect all the time, which is not possible. If you keep waiting for when you will do things perfectly, then you will never do anything. Do want you wish to do and stop listening to that discouraging voice.” Sylvia said to me as if she was reading my mind. “Okay, I will go to her” I said “good” she responded. 

My heartbeat has increased already, when I have not even stood up from my seat. I need to do this. I won’t listen to what my mind is telling me. I stood up and walked slowly towards her. My heartbeat increased in geometric progression with every step I took towards her. Her gaze was fixed on the floor. I got to her and stood beside her. She didn’t notice my presence because she was still staring at the floor. My heart was pounding fast. My mind was telling me to turn and walk back or I will just embarrass myself, but I’m not going to listen to that voice. I don’t want to disappoint Sylvia. She had been a great help to me. I will talk to this lady and face any embarrassment. 

“Hi” I greeted she didn’t respond “can I sit?” I asked she didn’t respond. 

She didn’t even look up from the floor her gaze was fixed on. I slowly sat down, with my gaze fixed on her. since Sylvia said I should sit if she didn’t respond, I just have to sit. I waited for her to raise her head and face me, but she didn’t. She kept staring at the floor. Sylvia said I need to observe her mood before choosing my line of words, but how am I suppose to do that when she’s not even looking at me. I need to look for a way to get her attention. 

“Hello, are you with someone?” I asked.

She raised up her head to face me immediately I made that statement. The glare she shot me sent shiver down my spine. her eyes were red, which showed that she was either crying or holding back the tears from dropping. I wanted to stand up immediately and leave, because she was not in the right frame of mind to talk to anyone. But I just had to remain seated and follow Sylvia’s guideline. She kept glaring at me as if I was the cause of her problem. I was not just nervous. I was really scared. If those eyes were gun, I wouldn’t be alive by now. About four bullets would have pierced into my body. I better stand up and leave because it’s obvious that she wants to transfer her aggression to me. I turned my gaze to Sylvia, to see if she would ask me to leave her, but she only shook her head which means I should face it. I turned my gaze back to the lady beside me to see her still glaring at me. I just have to follow Sylvia guidelines. 

“Some people don’t have conscience” I said in a sad tone. “How can my girlfriend of four years dump me for my best friend” I took the glass of wine on her table and down all the content. “It’s so painful” I continued. “When I thought we would spend the rest of our life together.” I said. I took a side glance at her and realized she was listening to me with keen interest. she was no longer glaring at me. “Your girlfriend cheated on you too?” she asked I nodded in affirmation. “Why are some people so cruel” she screamed. I could see the number of eyes that stared at us when is screamed. “Did your boyfriend cheat on you?” I asked, not sure if I was supposed to ask. She looked into my eyes. I could see pain in her eyes. “Not just my boyfriend, but my fiance. Our wedding was supposed to be this weekend. I caught my fiance in bed with my bestfriend.” She said as tears flow freely from her eyes. “It’s so painful. It hurts a lot. How am I suppose to leave without him. I love him so much. Why will he hurt my feelings.” She said as more tears flow from her eyes. I was totally confused. I didn’t know if I was suppose to console her or just keep staring at her. 

She took the bottle of wine on her table and down all the content. My eyes widen in shock. that was too much for her to drink. It didn’t take long for the wine to start having effect on her. She stood from her seat and staggered to me. She gripped my cloth and stared into my eyes. “Whenever you see Gabriel, you should tell him that I can do without him. I can survive without him. I won’t remain like this forever. he will regret doing this to me.” she said, glaring at me as if I knew the Gabriel he was talking about. 

She was suffocating me already by her grip. I turned my gaze to Sylvia for her to come to my rescue, but she only smiled. I tried to free myself from her hold, but she held me tightly. how was I suppose to explain to her that I don’t know any Gabriel when she was drunk. she started saying words that I don’t understand, and all of a sudden, she slept off in my hands. I stared at her, confused of what to do next. Why did I approach her in the first place. I looked at Sylvia with pleading eyes, but she only smiled. I took her phone from her bag and went through her contact. I dialed the number she saved as sweet mum. that should be her mother. She picked and I informed her of her daughter present state. She promised to come get her in the next 30 minutes. I waited for 40 minutes before she finally came to carry her daughter. I heaved a sigh of relief and walk back to meet Sylvia. I sat down beside her and didn’t say anything to her. I was disappointed that she didn’t assist me even when I pleaded. 

“Well done. you did a great job.” she said. “That lady almost strangled me. I need to use the restroom” I said and quickly stood up. “okay” she responded. I quickly rushed to the restroom without delay. I emerged from the restroom few minutes later to see a guy standing beside Sylvia. I quickly hid in a place where I could easily eavesdrop on their conversation. “hi” the guy said to Sylvia “hi” Sylvia responded. “Are you alone?” the guy asked “no, I’m with someone” Sylvia responded “who” he asked “my boyfriend” she responded.my face curved in a smile immediately she said that.