CONTINUATION. . .Coming To Lagos. . .Ep 3
Throughout the night, Anita, my friend never called neither did she respond to my messages on WhatsApp but early the next morning around 6:40am, I heard my phone ring.
6:40am displayed on my screen as I picked the call.
“Hello!! Hello!!!”
“Hello good morning, Anita.” I said as calmly as I could
“Ahh Thank God. Where are you, Blessing? Are you in Lagos yet?”
“Are you asking me that question, Anita? I called you severally yesterday and I even texted you on WhatsApp.”
“I’m sorry, Blessing. You won’t understand. My boyfriend just changed his mind yesterday and even seized my phone.”
“I don’t understand.” I said clearly confused about the boyfriend issue.
“I told my boyfriend that my friend will be spending some days in Lagos and needed a place to stay. He agreed to you staying with us but when you first called and I knew you had arrived, I told him and he vehemently told me that he doesn’t want anybody in his house. I showed him that you are already in Lagos and don’t know anywhere but he slapped me and locked me in one room till this morning. He just gave me my phone now.”
I was speechless for some seconds. I didn’t know what to believe anymore. She had told me she lived alone now this boyfriend story sounds like a facade.
“But Anita, what if something had happened to me yesterday, how would you have reached me. This is not fair at all. I was pained.”
“I’m really sorry, Blessing. Where are you now let me come and pick you?”
“Pick who? To stay where? With you and your boyfriend? Please don’t bother. Thank you for everything. Good bye.”
I ended the call not knowing what next to do. Samuel has helped me with a place for the night already. I can’t tell him that I needed more nights. I’ll have to call my mum to send me some money so that I can lodge in a cheap hotel till I’m done. I said these within myself as I decided to freshen up and wait Samuel arrives as promised.
By 7:10am, I heard a Knock at the door. I opened to find a little girl, about 6 years old smiling at me.
This must be the Freda, I thought.
“Good morning, aunty. Uncle Sam said I should ask if you’re ready?”
I quickly put my things together and carried it as I walked behind her into the sitting room.
“Good morning, ma. Good morning, Sam.”
“You’re looking really good this morning.” His sister compliments me as I blushed. I noticed Samuel smiled.
His sister left me and Samuel alone as Samuel could ask me questions.
“What did you really come for?”
“I got a job through a friend. We had an online interview and I was lucky to move to the next stage so I was asked to come to Lagos today for final examination and arrangements and all before I’ll start working with them.”
“So there’s every possibility of getting the job?”
“By God’s grace, yes.” I replied.
“Were you able to reach your friend? Any feedback?”
I told him all that happened this morning and he didn’t seem to believe her story too just like I first doubted.
“Hmm. So right now, you don’t have anywhere to stay till you’re done?”
I nodded and he just smiled and pats my shoulder. “I know how to talk toy sister. She still believes we are like some kind of friend friend for me to bring you over.”
“I wouldn’t want to bother her. I got some money fromy mum. I can lodge for the remaining nights.” I tried to counter his offer but he kept insisting.
“I really want to help you. Allow me, you can save that money. You’ll be needing it when you finally get this job. I know you will.”
“Thank you so much, Sam. I’m really really grateful.”
I couldn’t believe this stranger could really insist on helping me to this extent.
His niece runs out from where I assume is the kitchen and says;
“Uncle Sam’s friend, mummy says food is ready.”
We laughed and walked to the dining to have tea and bread for breakfast after which Samuel takes my little luggage back to the room and we leave for Ikeja.
He said he works for himself and can go at anytime and that he wouldn’t want his visitor to get lost in Lagos.
He seemed really nice and always made an effort to lighten the atmosphere. You can never tell that we were strangers only last night.
He made sure to tell me the name of each bustop we passed and I experienced Lagos traffic too. Luckily, I was at the office few minutes to 10. He left for work not without giving me directions on how to find my way back to Orile.
I said a little prayer and walks to the receptionist, introduced myself and what I came for as she directs me to the next office.
I walked in and met a man behind a laptop. He asks me to sit and checked his system for my application and how far I have gone. He directed me to another office whic happened to be the last office before I got my appointment letter.
I couldn’t contend my joy that I didn’t know when I called Samuel to break the news to him first.
He said we’ll celebrate when he returned from work.
I followed the directions he gave to me and got to Orile by 3pm. His sister was just returning from the government school where she teaches Literature. She welcomed and asked how everything went as I broke the goodnews to her too. She hugged me and wished me.
“When will you be returning to Lagos if you leave tomorrow?”
“According to the company, in one week I should be reporting.”
“How do you see Lagos really?” His sister asked me.
“The place is nice but there are alot of buzzing and busy activities everywhere and every time. You can barely tell the difference between night and day.” I said as she laughed in affirmation.
“Interesting.” She says. She begins to peel an orange as I insist on helping her. She passed the knife and the orange to me as I began to peel the back. “Now, tell me about you and Sam. How did you meet?”
“Maa??” I asked as the knife cut through my palm unknowingly.
To be continued. . .
#edatonrejoicestories
ยฉ Rejoice Kelechi
