Thorns and Roses

5

Sameera adjusted her scarf and pulled down her headphones. She's been in the airport for some time now. How she hates been there.
She used most of the time reading the after series by Anna Todd, her favorite author.

Going back home to some is the most exciting thing, especially if the person have been away for long. She's been away for more than five months now but there's not a single hint of excitement in her. With Eid approaching, her mother insisted she comes back.

She looks forward to nothing: at least that's what she claims. Her room is the part of the house she cherishes the most then the horses stable then the ever quiet library. Nothing apart from that.

She looks up to the announcement being made. It's time for her flight. She picked up her suite case and a tote where she packed most of her books and the littlest things she needed. She is heading 'home' after all. She need not to pack a lot.

With a neutral emotion, Sameera walked towards the plane.

She sat by the window, admiring the beauty of her surrounding. She quickly texted her sister that's supposed to pick her up. Her flight is to Abuja, then she will travel to Yola by road.
She stared intently at a woman trying to calm her baby down from a distance. Babies are cute, she thought, but not when the cry this much.
Her attention moved to the security officer holding on to his phone like he just received a bad news. Her brain registered it's either an overwhelming news or a bad news because his facial expression said it all. What a world, she registered staring up, now the birds find their way into her head. Free and wild; just how she always aspired to be.

"You might want to fasten your belt." A voice brought her out of her thoughts. She looked down at the belt muttering a thank you without looking at the person.

"I know your face." The voice said making her look up.
Shock, Fear and the urge to run out of the plane enveloped her. She shifted uncomfortably on the seat. Her lips curved up into a fake smile revealing her braced teeth.

"Hiii" she said back utterly confused on what to do.

She watched him zip open a bag he is holding revealing a book out.

"This is yours right?" He handed it over to her. Hesitant at first, she reached out for her book holding it to her chest.

"Right...thank you soo much." She said. To some, she is thanking him for returning her book but to her, she is thanking him for not yelling at her or causing a scene.

"You are welcome. That shirt cost more than a hundred dollars."

Her eyes widen at him, the forced smile slowly fading.

"Cash or transfer?" He asked. She could see that he is trying so hard not to laugh but she can't conclude on that, 'people have different personalities.'

Her eyes blinked. Twice then she opened her mouth to talk but nothing came.

Unable to hold down his laughter, he burst into fists of it, throwing his head backwards with his eyes closed.

She took a few seconds to analyze him. His dark features, side burn and a perfectly seated mustache that's not too much.

"I was just joking, don't mind me." He said smiling.

With that, they started conversing, her answering a few questions he asked and then discussing about books, her favorites, his also. Books that made her cry her eyes out and how books are her escape from reality.

Hours later, an announcement was made. They have finally arrived in Nigeria. She exhaled releasing a yawn.

"You sure look exhausted." He whispered as they descend down the plane.