Shalom

Chapter Fifteen

Shalom slid out of her parents' automobile with a happy expression plastered on her face. She had indeed felt better than yesterday before the prayer with her brother and her dad and even better after the prayer.

She went to the trunk of her father's car to get her items of luggage down. Samuel also slid out of the car as well to help her stuff. Eventually, Shalom and her mother had gone shopping yesterday after the morning chores and they got a lot of things for themselves, but especially for Shalom because she was getting ready for school.

She had smiled and appreciated her both parents for their care and whatnot. She was indeed grateful.

She was older than Samuel by 2 years. While she was at the 100 level, her brother was in SSS2.

They had engaged each other in discussion while bringing her items of luggage out of the trunk while their parents remained in the car. They had a church meeting to attend and they were getting late. The Dad had to press the horn of the car to hurry them with whatever they were doing at the back of the car.

"You guys, you need to be fast; I and your father are getting late for this important meeting," Eunice was her husband's spokesperson.

"Alright, mum. We hear you," Samuel replied and they doubled their efforts.

Soon, they were done and Shalom was left to carry them into her school hostel. She peered down the box of cloths, a few sacks of foodstuff, some number of buckets for washing, a shoe rack, a trolley, a two-and-a-half-sized mattress, a table and a chair, etc., and breathed.

"Hey, Shalom," her dad beckoned on her. This time, Samuel was now in the car seated with his phone in his hands.

"Yes, Dad," she replied and went to where her dad was.

"Have this," he stretched a wad of 1000 naira note to her.

"Thanks, Daddy," she was full of smiles when she collected it.

"For your upkeep, dear," Eunice supplied.

Shalom peered into the car. "Thanks, mummy."

"You're welcome. Please, we won't be able to get out of the car and follow you inside to see how the room looks and help you with the arrangements of your properties because we are already five minutes late for the meeting," Eunice said and glanced at her wristwatch that was strapped to her wrist.

"Okay, mummy. No problem, I will get them inside and arrange them myself," she said and tucked the substantial amount of money she had just received from her Dad into her trouser pocket.

"Alright. We love you, okay?" Frederick said and started the engine.

"I love you guys too," Shalom said and blew a kiss to them. She moved away from the living car and watched it zoom off, waving at the retreating shape till it was out of sight.

Tears stung in her eyes, threatening to fall, but she didn't allow them. That would be an embarrassment now that she was a campus girl. She couldn't allow her emotions to get the best part of her. She took a deep breath as she shoved the massive tangle of emotions that were walking back and forth in her head aside.

She turned and began to carry her bags inside the room. She hadn't even gone far in the chore when she started inhaling and exhaling deeply. She bit her lower lip and wished she could do something to the bags staring at her on the floor other than carrying them inside herself.

"Do you need help?" A masculine voice said behind her.

In surprise, she turned sharply to see the owner of the voice. There, her eyes met a handsome dude who was full of smiles and his height was above her a little bit.