By Owie Aideyan
The Queue that Changed Everything
It was a Monday morning in Lagos—the kind of morning when everyone looks tired before the day even starts. The sun blazed, the traffic roared, and the air outside the bank was filled with the impatient sighs of customers who had been standing in line for what felt like eternity.
Tola, a young lawyer with little patience for disorganization, joined the endless queue inside the bank. Just as she began to wonder if she’d survive the wait, she tapped the man in front of her.
“Excuse me,” she said, already frowning. “Are you sure this is the right line for customer service?”
The man, tall, broad-shouldered, and annoyingly relaxed, turned to her with a sly smile.
“Yes. I’ve been here since 8 a.m. This is the right line.”
Tola raised an eyebrow. “No, this is the complaints line. Customer service is over there.”
And just like that, a full-blown argument began. He teased her for being impatient; she accused him of being stubborn. People in the queue began giggling at their banter.
Minutes later, a bank official confirmed Tola was correct. She turned triumphantly toward the man.
“I told you,” she said, almost gloating.
He chuckled and extended his hand. “Ife. And since you embarrassed me in public, you owe me lunch.”
Tola rolled her eyes but couldn’t help smiling.
The Lunch That Lasted Hours
What was supposed to be a quick lunch turned into a two-hour feast of laughter. Tola discovered that Ife was an architect who loved sketching impossible buildings just for fun. Ife, in turn, learned that Tola was a lawyer who loved courtroom drama but secretly dreamed of writing novels.
Their conversation bounced from childhood memories to future dreams. He teased her mercilessly:
“So, you argue for a living? No wonder you attacked me at the bank!”
“And you,” she shot back, “design buildings no one will ever build. You’re just an expensive doodler.”
That day marked the beginning of endless teasing, inside jokes, and late-night calls.
When Distance Became the Test
Three months into their relationship, Tola got accepted into a three-month professional course in Abuja. She was excited but worried—would distance dull the spark?
Ife refused to let it. Every night, he sent her silly WhatsApp voice notes, pretending to be “bank customers” asking for “love loans” or “refunds for missing-you-too-much.” His creativity kept her laughing through long, lonely nights.
When she confessed she missed Lagos, he replied:
“Don’t worry, the queue is still long. Your space in my heart is reserved.”
By the time she returned, their bond had grown stronger, not weaker.
The Placard That Sealed It
When Tola landed at the Lagos airport after her course, she expected Ife to pick her up quietly. Instead, she was stunned to see him standing at arrivals, holding a huge placard that read:
“Welcome back, the woman who made me queue for love!”
Passengers burst into laughter, snapping pictures and cheering. Tola covered her face in embarrassment, but her heart melted completely. In that moment, she realized she wasn’t just dating a funny man—she was with the person who made life brighter, lighter, and infinitely more joyful.
Love Worth Queuing For
Years later, when they got married, their wedding invitation carried a single cheeky line:
“Some love stories start with roses. Ours started with a bank queue.”
At the reception, Ife jokingly told the guests:
“Gentlemen, if you want true love, don’t look in clubs or on Instagram. Just stand in the wrong queue at a bank. It worked for me!”
The hall erupted with laughter. Tola shook her head, smiling, because she knew—behind the jokes and mischief was a man whose love was steady, patient, and lasting.
And so, from a heated argument in a sweaty Lagos bank queue grew a love story filled with laughter, resilience, and joy. For Tola and Ife, love was not about perfection. It was about two imperfect people who met by accident, argued over a queue, and ended up discovering that sometimes, love comes when you least expect it—especially when you’re standing in line.
Indeed, love is always worth queuing for. ❤️
