CONTINUATION. . . Coming To Lagos. . Ep 7
I walk into ‘my room’ again, thinking of what I heard. That can’t be true
It’s just two days. I was deep in thoughts when his call came in.
“Hello. .”
“Hello, Blessing. Did I wake you up from sleep?”
“Oh no. I’m still awake.”
“Did my sister tell you anything?”
“Anything like what?” I responded.
“She didn’t mention anything like. . she didn’t say anything?”
“No, she didn’t.”
“It’s fine. Go ahead and rest, I’ll be there by 6am so that you’ll leave with the first bus. Good night.”
“Wait. .”
“Anything?”
“I just wanted to say thank you.” I replied and ended the call.
It was a long night. My things were already parked as I awaited dawn. I felt like I never slept before my alarm rang at 5am. I quickly brushed and freshened up before it was 6am.
Few minutes to 6, there was a knock on my door. Samuel’s sister was at my door to inform me that Samuel was here.
“Will you like tea?”
“No, ma. It’s going to be a long journey and I wouldn’t want to be pressed to urinate often while in the bus.” I declined politely.
“Alright, dear.” She left and allowed me to finalise on everything I had packed as I walked to the sitting room to find Samuel in a round neck top and jean trousers. He had a canvas to mactch. I needed to ne comfortable when I board so I wore a blue flay gown and sandals.
“Are we good to good?” He asked.
His sister seats on a sofa beside Samuel and asks him which park he had in mind.
“I think the one at Alafia is closer and better.”
“Alright.” She says as she slips some notes into my palm.
“Oh no, ma. You shouldn’t have bothered to. . .”
“No, please. Use it to support yourself. ”
“Thank you so much, ma’am. God bless you.”
“Safe journey, my dear.”
We got to the park twenty minutes after 6. The first bus was almost filled up. We walked to the payment stand and Samuel didn’t allow me to pay. This was getting too much.
“You know you have done more than enough for me already. ”
“You actually did more than I have done. I don’t know if it’s safe to say that I’ll miss you. I don’t know why I feel drawn to this beautiful stranger.”
“Don’t make me blush in a car park, Sammy.”
“I like it when you call me Sammy, just like my sister. ”
“You have my number whereas, I’ll be gone for only a week and we’ll be communicating because of the house issue I told you about.”
“You know I have told you that you can actually stay with us.”
“And I say no. I’ll die out of too much care if I stay with your sister.”
He chuckles and helps me to the bus I’ll be travelling with.
“I’ll talk to my sister. She has a friend who is a good agent who can help us. Please take care of yourself. Call me if anything happens.” He says holding my hands.
“Don’t worry, we don’t have mile 2 in Abia.” I said as we laughed and I got into the bus. Two more passengers got in after me and our bus was ready to leave. Samuel stayed till our bus drove out of the park and I saw his figure no more.
Some part of me felt sad that I was leaving but it was only for a week and I’ll be back, to work. To live in Lagos. But who finds love in Lagos on the first day of being in Lagos?
When we cross any state, I made sure to tell him via a message on WhatsApp. Even when we got to Ore, he told me not to each too much to avoid feeling the urge to defecate. I slept off at some point due to my battery’s percentage. I got into Abia by 7:15pm. My mum was waiting for me at our gate where she welcomed me.
“Ada’m, you’re welcome.” My mother started after she had fed me with a very delicious Jollof rice. “How did the interview go?”
“Mummy, it was successful. I thank God o. I got the job and I am to resume in one week just like I told you over the phone.” I said calmly with a smile on my face.
“I’m happy my daughter. You have everything you ever wanted now. What is remaining is for you to find a very good man. A husband.”
“Haba, mummy.”
“Ehen nau. You know I heard that Lagos is filled with married men going after young girls. Biko, shine your eyes.”
“Mummy, stop nau. I’ll get married in God’s time.”
“Is it when you’re 30 years or what?” My mother fired at me. As though she remembered something, she asked. “Ehen, what of that God’s sent that took care of you when that your witchy witchy friend disappointed you?”
“Mummy, she’s not a witch please but truly what she did pained really bad. My friend, Samuel. . .”
“Ehen, Samuel abi?” She cuts me short with a curious look.
I nod and continue. “His family is so accommodating. I stayed with his sister and her daughter.”
“Have you called him since you arrived?” Mother asked.
“Oh no. I’ll do that now.”
I dialed his number and waited as it went through. He picked at the first ring.
“Hello, Sammy.” I said first.
“Hi, Blessing. Where are you now?”
“I’m at home now. I just finished eating and freshening up. I want to say a big thank. . .”
“Don’t go there again, Blessing. ” He cuts me short and before I could say something else, mother grabbed the phone from my ears and began to rain blessings on Samuel.
“Thank you so much, my son. God will bless you. The evil ones won’t see you. As you came through for my daughter, God will raise men who will always come through for you.”
He was saying Amen and finally got to reply after mother must have ended her long prayers.
“Mama, I was glad to help. You raised a beautiful and smart daughter. Please don’t tell her I said so o.”
Mother laughs as I wonder what he must have said to her.
“Mama, I don’t know how I’ll be able to get your phone number. I’ll like to talk to you about something important.”
“Hope no problem?”
“No problem, ma. But please I don’t want Blessing to find out.”
“Alright, my son. I’ll give her the phone now.” Mother hands the phone to me and leaves my room.
“Your sister called me when I was in the bus. I was surprised.”
“Do you know that Freda didn’t allow me help her with her assignment. She kept asking for aunty Blessing. Not until her mum made her understand that you had left, did she finally come to me. What did you do to my niece.”
“I didn’t do anything o.” I laughed for a while and continued. “She must have found out that I am more intelligent than you.”
“How about a contest to prove that.”
“Count me out please.” We both laughed at his statement. “How about the agent? You know the earlier the better so that I can finish up my preparation here and start planning to move.”
“Oh yes. I spoke to my sister and she asked me to find out about your budget. And the area you want.”
“I don’t really know. What do you think?”
“Houses close to Ikeja are really expensive. Would you like something around my sister’s? You can budget around 200-300 thousand naira.”
“Whatever you find, please let me know. I trust your judgement anyway. Whatever one you find within that budget, if you like it, I’ll like it too.”
“I think I’ll like if you will accept to stay with my sister really. They have enough room for you. Her husband is always traveling and I know she will love the company. Don’t think of it as a burden.”
“Thank you, Sammy but no thanks. Maybe I should rather live with you.” I said jokingly and luckily, he got the joke.
“And I’ll gladly vacate the house for you.”
I really loved his sense of humour. He made conversations look easy. Who would believe we were strangers some days back.
“I’m feeling sleepy and tired after the long journey. I’ll be going off now.”
“Have sweet dreams, aunty Ble. Dream about me o.”
“Maybe you should tell what to really dream about.” I replied.
There a little pause at the other end before he responded.
“Dream about our own little Freda and how smart she’ll be. Or dream about the beautiful life awaiting you in Lagos. Good night, dear.”
He ended the call and left me thinking. I couldn’t understand the swimming feeling I got in my stomach as I thought about his last words.
“So tell me, what did three days in Lagos do to my daughter?” My mother’s question startled me.
“Mother, have you been standing here for long?” I asked surprised.
“I don’t know of I stood for long but I know I saw you blushing so hard at whatever you two were discussing. So tell me. Is he the one?”
To be continued. . .
