It's amazing how we meet people in the least expected ways, and they become part of our lives from that meeting. It's been six years now since my relationship with Bisi started, and I can confidently say that it all started with a kind act that involved coffee.
Coffee isn't one of the popular drinks here, and its consumption became viral not long ago for many Nigerians, and despite that, a great number of the citizens do not have interest in the drink. Just in the neighborhood where I live, I can find more than 15 bars and clubs, but just one small coffee shop that has done more than enough to win people's hearts but couldn't.
Finding a beer lover randomly is 10 times easier than finding a coffee lover who isn't part of your family or a close friend, and despite the odds, I found one.
There were two eating spots at my place of work back then; one had a luxury setting even though the food was cheap and a lot of workers loved to eat, while the other place had a simple setting. I love to patronize the shop with the simple setting because there are always few customers, so it's not always rowdy. The woman cooks her food at a spot where all her customers can see what she's doing, meaning I can guarantee her hygiene, and she's a widow, so patronizing her is my simple way of helping. Finally, she helps me with hot water for my coffee whenever I just go there to drink coffee instead of eating.
Whenever I went to this shop, there was this guy who drank coffee almost all the time. He had this black portable flask in which he prepared his coffee and just drank from the little straw on the flask cap.
Initially I didn't know what he had in the flask until I sat close to one day and perceived the aroma of the coffee from him. I didn't know why exactly, but there was this big smile on my face seeing someone who seemed to love coffee too.
On a fateful day, while expressing my disappointment for not getting my regular instant coffee pack at the usual place where I do purchase from, the woman (the food vendor) asked Bisi on my behalf, and instead of telling me where to get it, he offered me two sachets.
"Thank you" were the first words I said to him, and the next time we met, I had gotten extra coffee sachets to repay his kindness, but instead of taking them from me, we enjoyed it together.
We did a little introduction over the drink; I got to know his department and discovered that he was my superior, but we were just the same age group. We had a lot of things in common, but his humility was the most attractive thing about him.
Bisi respects everyone regardless of their age and position at the company; he treats people fairly, and being introverts made us click better. We shared things, and coffee was always at the center of everything. For the very first time I drank coffee in a shop, Bisi influenced it. He vouched for their coffee, and it was one of the most beautiful moments we shared together.
He was the first person I met who drank coffee for celebration instead of alcohol. He did it when he got promoted, and the satisfaction on his face was indescribable. I left the job because it was a temporary thing for me, and still, we hung out a few times and enjoyed coffee as usual. Our friendship was a perfect interpretation of far from the eyes but close to the heart. We don't speak every day, but we had each other's interests at heart.
The second time we had coffee for celebration was when he told me about traveling out of the country in 2022. I felt so happy even though I will miss him a lot. We only communicate on the phone, and he always shared how his coffee drinking habit has increased with time because there is always coffee everywhere and he can't resist.
Our communication has reduced, but whenever we speak, it's always a lengthy one. His birthday is coming up in a few days, and I have one yearly task to make him a banner because he hosts a gospel concert on his birthday.
I am happy to have met him as a friend and coffee mate. Most importantly, I am looking forward to another day when we will have coffee together in good health and happiness.
All image are mine
