The night was cold. I lay on my back staring at the ceiling. Nothing to do. I've been reading all day. I was bored outta my bones. I looked at my phone screen for the fifteenth time...no missed calls.. No message.
8:30..i thought looking at the time
"Why this boy never call me? "..i pondered.
He should be done with rehearsals by now.
I dialled his number..it rang..no answer.
I dialled it again. He picked up just when the call was about to stop ringing.
"baby what's up na... Thought you said you will call after your rehearsal?.. I asked. A bit pissed that I had to be the one to call him
"I just finished.. I'm walking down to the junction. I'm sorry.. I didn't have airtime to call you. I had intentions of buying at the junction. ".
My anger died out. I've never really been able to stay mad at him once he utters those magic words.. "I'm sorry ".
Desmond was a guy with an ego as big as his big head. He hardly ever apologized. So it kind of warmed my insides whenever he did.
"It's fine. It's late already... It doesn't seem like we can still meet up again "..i said hiding the hurt in my voice. Because I really wanted to get out of the house. Boredom was eating me up.
"No problem babe... We'll still see tomorrow. "
"Alright, call me when you get home "..i said trying to lighten up my mood
"I will.. "..
I knew he wouldn't. Nigga has always been forgetful.
The call ended and i went back to my wallowing boredom.
No data to come online.
I thought about going downstairs to buy.. But I had just fifty naira left with me.. And it wasn't worth the stress. Besides I hardly chatted with anyone online.
I decided to just drop my phone and sleep, when it suddenly rang.
The caller Id showed "Wahala baebee"
That's what I stored Desmond's name as. Nigga was a troublesome bully.. But he was still my baby
I smiled.. He actually remembered to call as he got home.
"Big head... U remembered to call today"..
"No oo.. I havent gotten home. I'm still at the junction. "
"So why you calling? ..i asked.. A lil bit confused.
"Uhmm... I was wondering if you could still come out.. I need help ironing some clothes and i really don't want to be alone this night "...he said nervously.
I glanced at my time.
8:57...almost nine o'clock.
It was late. But I wanted to see him too. I had this inability to say NO to Desmond. It was like he had a spell on me. I jumped at every opportunity i had to spend time with him. He was like an addiction... An addiction i could never let go of.
"Aunty... You're not saying anything o"..he said.. Drawing me out of my thoughts.
" I dunno oo... Baby it's kind of late"..i said trying to form small.
"But I'm coming sha. Let me get dressed. "..i added quickly before he decides to change his mind.
"okay... I'll wait for you at nkpolu junction,so we can walk home together..try and hurry up. Time don go".
As soon as he dropped the call.. I jumped up from my bed, Put on my joggers, a big polo and my brother's hoodie. To keep the cold at bay.
I carried my charger and Atm card.. With hopes of withdrawing some money at nkpolu junction because I had just 50naira left with me.
Getting to my street junction,everywhere was already dry. Shops where closed.
I checked my time again... 9:03
I smiled at myself.. Thinking about how i used only 5minutes to get ready..
Was i really that eager to see him??
Desmond have been my boyfriend for close to three years. We've literally become best friends..But i still don't understand why i couldn't get enough of him..I never got tired of spending time with him -even though he was an annoying pain in my butt sometimes -The love just never seemed to fade..
I stood at the junction for two minutes.. No taxi.
So when an ash camry with only one passenger parked in front of me.. I jumped in. The car didn't really look like the kind people used as taxi.. But it also wasn't well kept enough to pass as a private car.
"Where you dey go?".. The driver.. A young guy in his twenties asked.
"Nkpolu junction "
"You hold change??.. "
"Yes oo.. Abeg dey go"...i said impatiently, without looking up from the phone i was pressing.
I was trying to call Desmond but his number was busy.
I dropped the phone and observed the taxi i had boarded.
The other passenger in the front sit was also a guy. Probably in his early twenties too...He had a funny shape of head from the back view. His head reminded me of coconuts. It looked very strong.
The back seat windows where closed.. While the front windows where open.
The night was cold but i never passed a chance to feel the cool breeze on my face whenever I was in a moving vehicle.
I tried to whine down the window but it was stuck.
"Driver abeg whine down your back seat window"..i complained.
"Madam no vex the window don spoil.. E no dey whine down".
At that moment i felt something was wrong. A voice in my head kept telling me i wasn't safe.
"Drop from this vehicle"..the little voice in my head said to me.
I wanted to open my mouth and ask the driver to drop me... But the other stubborn and louder voice in my head said. "calm down.. Nothing is happening.. You're just being paranoid. "
I observed the taxi again. I noticed something odd.
The driver wasn't picking up other passengers on the road.
The faint voice said again.
"Thelma.. Drop from this vehicle "
The stubborn voice said.. "Calm down.. You are already close to nkpolu. "
I picked up my phone and called Desmond.
"Where are you "..i asked.. Relaxing my mind a little bit.
"I'm waiting for you and the junction.. Where are you "?
"I'm very close to nkpolu.. In less than a minute you will see me there".
"okay". He said and cut the call.
The minute I dropped the call and opened my mouth to say "Drop me".
The other passenger at the front jumped to the back with a knife.
I let out a little yelp.. Before his large hands covered my mouth blocking my nose too so i found it difficult to breath...
At that moment i heard that little voice in my head say in a mocking tone.. "I told you so... I told you so.. "
