BEYOND HIS CALLING

CHAPTER 5

 

     
      Days blended together and Alabi and folashade's meetings became a routine.


       'thank you for lending me this book'Folashade said,her eyes sparkling'you have excellent taste in books'.
  Alabi smiled 'i'm glad you enjoyed it.I've read countless stories but that one resonates with me'
         'you have read millions of books haven't you?
  He chuckled.'not millions,but enough to fill a library'....His expressiom turned serious
  'i have been wanting to ask,who's that man who always come for you?He looks....intimidating'
  Folashade's smile faltered.'He's.....a family associate'.
  His curiosity deepened,'what is his role?'
    'well...he ensures my safety'
  'Hmm,that's nice,i was just curious,he is always giving me a look'
          Her gaze drifted away,but suddenly,she turned to him with determination etched on her face.
  'Alabi,i must confess...i have been asking if you're from this village because you do not recognize me'
     'recognize you?' He said ,confused.

     'I am the king's daughter'

    Folashade....a princess?
  Alabi thought to himself cause she was nothing like what he had read in his book.
  Alabi fell into realization and quickliy looked around,he was really the only person who didn't know...he noticed how people
avoided their rock and how they would greet only her as they passed.
     How could he not have noticed?
     was he so absorbed in his own world that reality passed him by?

'you're not going to say anything?' she snapped him back into reality

  'I didn't realize...I'm sorry'
'You're sorry? Aren't you supposed to be angry..for keeping my identity a secret'
  'I'm not' he replied
  'Well,you should know Alabi I did it because i thought if you knew you might not treat me the same,i have always yearned to be
treated normal,people's deference has become suffocating,reminding me constantly of who i am,but you,you treat me with genuine
kindness,unaware of my background...i really do not want that to change'
  'I will not treat you differently....i promise'
   'thank you,now it's your turn'
'my turn?' he asked.
  'Yes,what makes Alabi Alabi,i'm dying to know'
His smiled hinted at hidded depth 'my story is....complicated,so it's not that easy'
'try me. I have come to this stream for years,never seen you'
    As he closed his eyes he felt the defenses he had built around himself begin to crumble. He was uncertain of how she would react
but he was also dying to feel a sense of liberation. He opened his eyes and immediately they were locked with hers,letting the
vulnerability wash over him.



           Folashade's attention was rapt as Alabi started talking.
   'I was born....different.My father's fear and doubts locked me away for years.I'm not even supposed to be here right now'
     Folashade let out a laughter,then said
'Born different?'she teased,'like you can bring people back from the dead or something?'she chuckled,expecting him to react to her
joke.
   She gazed into his serious face,her laughter faltered and immediately replaced with the confusion etched on her face.
The air thickened and her grin dissolved,she searched his eyes seeking any hint of humour ,but all she saw was sincerity.The
realization his her like a ton of bricks
'oh my God,are you serious?' she whispered,with her voice laced with shock.
     'not exactly' he said as he reached out to grab a dead flower.
  As his fingers touched  the petals,the flower begar to stir as it bursted with colours and it's petals unfolded
   Folashade gasped 'What?How?!Oh my God'
   'Relax Fola,this is who i am.Born with the power to nurture life'
   'I can't believe this' she said as her eyes widened
    'Are you afraid?' he asked
  'I wont lie to you Alabi,yes....I mean look at what you just did...it's..'she trailed off,her eyes wide with wonder.
     Alabi's expression softened
'i would never hurt you'
    Her gaze drifted away 'This is hard to take in'
   'you asked.But i understand if you need time...'
   'No no,it's fine...i think'.
  Her eyes snapped back to his.
'okay,good'he said,his composure regained 'But i need you help'
'my help?' Her eye brow rose.
   'I mean,you are the princess, you could just....'
  'Hold on' she interrupted 'You have to be kidding me,you're supposed to be different,i just told you this and you're already asking
for favours?' Her voice laced with disappointment.
   'No,hear me out,it's not like that'
  'well that's exactly how it sounds' she said in a sharp tone.
  'Fola listen to me,i would never exploit you,okay? I have been trapped in my house all these years,with no one to turn to.No friends,
no one to share my thoughts with.It has been a suffocating isolation,always feeling invisible and unheard.But one day i summoned enough
courage to let myself be seen,and i met you and for the first time in my life,i feel seen and understood.I would never throw that away.
All i am asking for is one more thing' He locked eyes with her 'please'
   she nodded.
  'Thank you,i know you have access to the vilage's preist.You can just help me ask him a few questions,that's all'
  'okay' she agreed.
   As soon as the words left her lips,Alabi's face lit up with excitement.He leaned in wrapping his arm around her in a warm hug.
'thank you!'He exclaimed with his voice filled with gratitude.
    Her arms hesitated for a moment before returning the hug,a gentle smile spreading across her face.