Securing The Bag (The Lagos Hustle)

Reality Jolt

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JECINCTA

  
I was caught up with Fuoyo's story. He told me everything about himself, his life, his family, his school life and his unbelievable nonchalant attitude to his studies, then he told me about his close friend Shaq and how he got caught up in the yahoo life and about Lori Mau and how he found himself running from two colleagues who believe he had stolen their money. I was intrigued when he rounded up, explaining how Kanaku came into the picture after the boys hired him to deal with Fuoyo.

"And that was how we ran into you that night, I really didn't know what I was doing...Kananku is such a mean bastard I thought he'll kill me"

"You know the crazy thing?" I asked him, "The both of us went through changes almost the same period"

He glanced at me, and his eyes were unreadable for a second, and I felt he was holding back from asking me something. He didn't hold it in for long. "How long have you known Mr D....and did you really love him?"

It was a simple enough question but hard to answer. I had known him for almost 3 years, I had come to care about him a lot, I liked him, and had deep affection for him, but did I love him? What exactly was love anyway and how did someone know when it was love? Before I could give him an answer, the Lorry jerked and came to a abrupt stop, causing Fuoyo and I to grip the railings tightly. I heard Kanaku exchange pleasantries fluently with the Driver and hop out the passenger door.

"he speaks hausa fluently too" I  murmurred

"full of surprises, that one..." Fuoyo agreed before Jumping out the back of the Lorry. He stretched his hand to help me but I ignored and jumped down as well. They saw me as a fragile person, the weak link, someone who would slow them down and I was going to prove them wrong and show I could be just as tough as them. Even when a sharp sprain spread through my ankle, I kicked it off and refused to limp or wince.

Fuoyo smiled at me, "you know you have a serious ego problem right?"

I'd heard that a lot of times, from my parents, to teachers and classmates to Fifi and now Fuoyo.

"There's nothing wrong with having an ego and I have a healthy one" I replied him fixing the straw hat atop my head, it was bigger and kept sliding down to cover my eyes.

"suit yourself" He actually snapped his fingers and whistled and the sheep immediately hopped off the Lorry and practically into his hands
"Woah" he exclaimed, patting the sheep affectionately

Kanaku's ram was more stubborn and took a lot of pulling and tugging before it finally got subdued and stoped trying to get away from him.

"It's like Fuoyo was a shepherd in another life" he commented after finally getting the ram under his control and tugging the rope. He waved the driver off once more and turned to face us.

"The time is already almost 5, the good news is I got directions to the ranch, but the bad news is there's no hotel in this village. The closest is still in the Town we left hurriedly"

"That means we do this together like we planned originally" I chipped in.

He frowned at me in reply

"What?"

"why are you wearing your jeans under the wrapper?" he sighed tiredly

"I can't wear just a wrapper...no way" I insisted

"But it's a perfect camouflage"

"It can't be perfect...I'm backing a knapsack...Fuoyo is rolling a traveling bag behind him...it's good enough.."