Sparks at First Sight

The four sisters were in their bedroom recounting events of their day.
“Chimaobi is just a guy that fell out of heaven!” Adaeze was telling them. “Today, he helped an old woman get across the road. I was in class then. When he did it, all the ladies in class started cooing. Even our female lecturer had to pause for a while just staring helplessly at him.”
“Every female in my class wants me to hook her up with him. He is so handsome and adorable. You can’t help falling for him,” Uchechi replied.
“There we go again,” Ugochi said and stood up from the bed where they were all seated.

It was only one month since the Igwe’s had moved into the house next door. The family consisted of the parents and three children – Chimaobi and his younger sisters. Ever since that move, all Ugochi heard in the evenings was one gist or the other about him.

“Please don’t spoil this sweet gist,” Ogechi chipped in knowing that Ugochi was never interested in any discussion about guys and had a way of cutting it short.
“I am tired of telling you all that these things do not lead to anything. Last night we did not have dinner because of talk about Chimaobi. This night, I won't let such happen. I’ll leave you all to continue daydreaming about him while I prepare dinner.”
“Thanks, Sis,” Uchechi replied dismissively. It was her turn to cook that evening and she would rather talk about Chimaobi than be in the kitchen.
Just before Ugochi left the room, Adaeze said, “Ugochi, you need to see this our neighbour. He is not like every other guy. Even Virgin Mary will have a crush on him.” While her sisters giggled uncontrollably, Ugochi sighed.
“I pray that your eyes will be enlightened someday,” she said then left for the kitchen.

While in the kitchen, she thought about what her sisters often said about Chimaobi. She had not met him because she had been preparing for her SSCE. All her spare time was either in church or in a library. She heard he was a regular visitor in the house and also friendly with her father. But she never got to see him. When she returned home, it was to eat and fall asleep. No time for socializing. Her sisters were always talking about guys, but never had they been consistent on one guy, more especially saying something good about him. This Chimaobi must be different, she thought. I will make out time to meet him. I’m sure with the way ladies fall for him, he can be used to bring more ladies to God.

She was a bit absentminded and did not notice that the fish she was frying was burning. By the time the smell of burnt food brought her out of her reverie, she rushed for the frying spoon to salvage the fish. The frying pan and frying spoon were so hot that when she touched them, she got scalded and accidentally hit knocked the frying pan. Everything spilled on the floor.

That was when Chimaobi Igwe walked into the kitchen.
For a moment, their eyes locked. It was as though time had frozen and the clock had stopped ticking.
It was a moment when Ugochi was speechless, breathless and her heart skipped a beat.