Across The Continent

Chapter 3

"What!?" I ask looking between him and my mum a little confused.

"Come sit with me" my mum says.

"What's going on mum?" I ask now sitting beside her.

"Michael here has been generous enough to offer to sponsor your education in college in Houston"
she says with much enthusiasm.

"Oh!" I say a little shocked. Both of their eyes are on me gauging my reaction while I try to say something but end up opening my mouth and closing em again.

"What do you think?" Michael says

"Hmm thanks?" I finally say or should I say ask.

"You don't look too happy" Michael says with an eyebrow raised in disbelief.

"I'm sorry but I'm not sure I want to leave the country, if you want to sponsor my education in college, do that HERE, I mean everything I know and love is HERE. Have been working hard to get an admission into one of the best universities HERE.
I can't just leave it all behind and start from scratch all the way across the continent. Have you seen me!? I'll stick out like a sore thumb." I say my voice raising more than I'd intended.

"Michael please give me a moment to talk to my daughter" my mother says with a frown.

"Sure" he says looking a little unsure before exiting.

"What is wrong with you?" My mum asks angrily.

"What do you mean? You really want me to go to the other side of the world, why can't he just sponsor me here if he's feeling so generous" I say angrily.
All my happy feelings of seeing Michael earlier turning into rage. Pecks of having a short temper.

" You don't have a say in this, you will agree to his offer with a smile unless you want me to call your father" she ask threateningly.

Blackmail, my mum knows the only person I fear and will ever listen to is my dad but how does he know about this so soon?
Of course she uses him against me, I'm 18 and the man still scares the shit out of me

" How does my dad know already? "

" I called him immediately Michael proposed the offer and he agreed instantly"

"So you are just going to send me off so far, aren't you scared something bad might happen to me"?

"You won't always be with us, we would have had to let you go anyway. This is a miracle Oyin, your father has been thinking of ways to get funds for your college and now you'll go to college abroad, you should be happy" she says smiling

But I know better they are just happy to get rid of me. One less problem.

"Fine, I'll go" I sigh feeling defeated and knowing I don't have a choice either way.

"Good, now go call Michael in and let's discuss your travel plans" she says grinning ear to ear.

End of flashback

I wipe away my tears while I quickly make a call to Femi. Thinking of him instantly makes a lump in a throat and I bite my lips and bounce a little trying to stop another flow of tears.
After I'm able to control myself I take my phone and decide to video chat him and he picks up instantly, his handsome face coming into view and then I couldn't hold it in anymore, the waterworks come bursting out.

" Oyin please don't cry" he pleads seeing my state.
"You know I can't stand it when you have tears in your eyes, just give me one of those billion naira smiles of yours and I'll give my life for you" he says trying to cheer me up

" I'm so sorry, I just can't help it, I know we promised to always be there for each other no matter what but I just can't help, I'll be gone for years Femi not months. I love you and I don't want to loose what we have" I respond trying to stop the waterworks streaming down the my face

"You'll never loose me, I don't care how long you're gone, I will wait for you, I promise" he says firmly and my heart bursts with love.

"Oyin get down here, we're leaving now. We don't have much time." My mum shouts again

"I have to go my love. I love you so so much, I'll try to contact you immediately I get there. Take care never forget, I love you." I say hurriedly as I quickly end the call and rush out with my luggage.

I say goodbye to my friends and neighbors who know about my departure and pull my three siblings into a fierce hug and advice them on loving one another.

I go out of the house with my parents and Michael who has been around for the past six months helping me with my admission into the University of Texas in Houston and the travel procedures. I still hold a grudge against him for my predicament but I try to be civil and talk to him only when necessary even though he has tried to talk to me countless times but I always ignore him.

We get into the uber we called and drove off to the airport . I sigh deeply looking out the window to my city for probably what will be the last in years. With tears brimming in my eyes, I whisper to myself , "here goes nothing".