MILITARY BOYFRIEND AND I
CHAPTER SEVEN
The next day was supposed to be a Saturday and I had plans of telling my father that evening. I wasn’t expecting he will give me fees for registration. It was something that would take sometime. But I had to tell him I had to go ahead and prepare for school, try get information about registration. When he came back from work that evening, I waited for him to freshen up and eat. When he was seated on the Chair, he
“Good evening. Papa”
“ Yes my daughter Good evening” he replied “ How was your day?”
“It was okay, hope yours was better?”
“Well, we thank God for life”
“Papa, I want to be going back to school tomor…”
“Ehhhhh! Did I hear you well,?” he cut me short before I could finish
“Since I wasn’t able to finish last school year. I have to go and reregister so that I can finish writing exams for the courses I missed.”
“ And tell me exactly how you plan to carry that out?”
“ Papa I wa…”
“ Am sorry Ann you’re no longer going to school until this Crisis is finished. Am no longer ready to loose any child of mine because of this war.”
“ But papa , what am I going to be doi…?”
“ You will go to mamie Isabella’s Salon and learn hair dressing. That’s what other young girls, your age are doing”
“ I have already paid first installment “ he continued
He didn’t want to listen to what I had to say anymore. All he did after saying what he said shocked me. He took his belongings and left the seating room telling everyone Good night leaving me in great shock.
The next day I was still skeptical about my father’s decision. Of course it was quite understanding that he didn’t want me any where near Christophe, but that doesn’t mean he should stop me from going to school all in the name of crisis which has absolutely no specific time to be stopped. I wasn’t going to accept that one. I will rather leave the house for him.
At a certain point in time, I agreed that there was really no hope for me here, so I decided I was going to run away to another town. From my puff business I had already kept money that could support me for a whole year. I had about 400k saved up in my cite in school. There a friend of mine who lived in the City where Christophe came from. She told me though life was expensive there, she still struggled and made money. I called her on phone we spoke and she told me a lot.
“ Hello, Maria!”
“Hello, please to whom am I talking to?”
“Ann!”
“Ann ?. you mean like Ann my best friend from secondary school??”
“ Yes Mardi! Ann, your secondary school friend. I know you be wondering where I got Your number from , but it’s a story for another day.”
“ How have you been my friend? I lost contact with you Once. The very day I arrived here my phone got snatched by thieves”
“ Oh am sorry to hear that. Well Thank God your Facebook details had your new contact. There’s something I called to fine out.”
“ Ok go on..”
Our conversation went well and since she understood me she accepted to accommodate me till I could get a place of my own.
The very next day I plan to escape that evening. I got up in the morning and went straight to the park and paid my ticket. I didn’t Park much because I didn’t want anyone to know. I took a few important things, my documents and Money included.
Though I was extremely careful, my mum still had her suspicions about me. She just felt something was off about how calm and cheerful I was to my father’s decisions. She has known me to be a fighter right from childhood and this sudden silence scared her. She had eyes on me all through. I heard her telling my sister that I was planning something which she has no idea about. My sister tried so hard to discourage her to no avail. She told her she was probably just being too worried but she won’t listen.
It was already evening I loitered around the seating room doing nothing and saying nothing waiting for my parents to get too focused on their usual series which starts at 6:45
It was about 5:30 already and the Bus leave really early to avoid being stopped at night by the Area Boys. I decided I was going to leave anyways. I went to my room took my bag and throw it outside, through the window. I went to the Seating room and told my mom I wanted to get something down the road before places get dark Which she reluctantly accepted. My father wasn’t home yet. My elder sister was there and she waited along with my mom to watch their favorite series. I went behind and picked my stuff and took to my hills. Unfortunately for me by the time I arrived the bus station, it had kicked off. I was told by a worker there that my bus based on the ticket I had had just left. He pointed to it on the highway a little father From where we were standing.
I immediately boarded a bike who followed it till we got close. He Chased until we arrived at our very first check- point where the bus slowed down. I finally got in and handed the bike rider 3k note. As if that wasn’t enough, my seat which I paid for had been occupied by this stubborn man who refused to get up from it. I alerted the “moto boy” who later came and resolved the issue. That’s how I escaped my parents. I had left them a message not to try and look for me. It was about 8:00 that I started receiving calls I didn’t pick. Due to the long distance I had to go, dozed off. My phone was on silence as a result all the calls that came in didn’t disturb anyone. When go up at 10 I noticed 20missed calls which started coming in since 8:00. Amongst which was my father, my elder sister and Mum as well as my aunties. I texted my father and said I was sorry then completely switched off my phone.
That’s how my life got better and things became even more easier for me. I had no Area boys to run from I had no one at all to be scared of when taking my decisions.
I know you probably be wondering what happened to Christophe and I. let me tell you what happened. My reason for leaving my town was to escape not only the war or my family but I also believed that it was going to make things easier for I and Christophe. I didn’t tell him I was leaving for his town. And so I decided to let fate handle the rest.
My Friend Maria had helped me a lot and so I lacked nothing. I had a job and at the same time helped her out with her business. Life got better and we moved from a small modern room to a studio.
One faithful day I went to get things for my friends business, since she wasn’t feeling well.
I went in got my things and boarded a taxi which was to take me home directly. As I stood there watching this man park my goods, I Heard a familiar voice call out from behind.
“Ann!?”
TO BE CONTINUED
