An unwanted Admirer

I was sitting on a crowded bus with my mum this morning, trying to ignore the commotion around me. But then, a gentle tap on my shoulder broke my concentration. I turned to see a charming smile.
"Hi, mind if I sit here?" he asked, pointing towards the empty seat beside me. I shrugged, not wanting to be rude, and he sat down. His leg brushed against mine, making me feel uneasy.

We exchanged pleasantries, but I couldn't muster up much enthusiasm, I was already tired even before the bus took off. He introduced himself as James and kept talking, asking questions and sharing stories, I wasn't even interested😩 but, I nodded and faked a smile, trying to be polite, but my mind began to wander.
My mum noticed my discomfort and turned around, raising an eyebrow. As we approached my stop, he asked for my number, his eyes locked into mine. I hesitated, unsure of how to let him down easy, without others noticing. That's when my mum intervened, saving me from an awkward situation.

"Thank you, young man, but my daughter isn't interested," she said firmly but kindly. I felt bad for him, especially her manner of approach towards him. He looked taken aback, but he nodded and stood up, letting me exit the bus.

As we stepped off, my mum turned to me and whispered,(in Yoruba) "you don't have to be polite to someone who makes you uncomfortable." I nodded in agreement, feeling a mix of relief and gratitude for her protective instincts.