Vagrants

Chapter 3

After receiving a call from my twin sister who was outside the camp gate with my mum, I took to my heels, veering towards the arms I yearned for. My mother's. I kept on running and something made me slow down. I saw him again. Damba. His words to me came flushing through my mind as my heart thumped. No, because I like you.

"H-Hi." I said through gritted teeth as I walked past him and his friends.

"Damba! Eeh!" His friends were hailing him.

"Wait." His voice was more than enough to stop me.

"Hmm?" I turned to face him.

"Can we talk for a while?" He asked.

"I...Yes, sure." My phone buzzed and I remembered. "N-No, I have to be somewhere."

I took to my heels again and I heard him shout. "Can I at least have your number?"

"Later!"

I continued running till I finally reached the gate and was surprised by whom I met.

Not only was my mother and sister there, but Uncle Jide and Aunt Kemi were also standing, grinning at me.

"H-Hello." I hugged everyone, still quite shook from running into Damba.

"My baby." My mother said in yoruba as she embraced me in another hug whilst tears dropped from her eyes and onto my shoulder.

"Mommy!" I laughed. "I wasn't imprisoned, now."

Abisola-my twin sister chuckled. "If you know how mommy has been constantly calling and asking for when I'd be free so we'd come see you."

"Mommy. I'd soon come home. Don't miss me too much." I smiled.

"So you're saying you didn't miss me?" Mother asked.

"Ah-Ahn. I did oo. I missed all of you."

"Including me?" Aunty Kemi asked.

"Yes." I nodded.

"Let's go and sit in the car because I know you people will stand here and talk all through." Uncle Jide shook his head. "Ese ti n ro mi." My legs are aching.

We all went to sit in the car and Mother asked a shocking question.

"Sho de ti ni boyfriend?" Do you now have a boyfriend?

Abisola laughed. "This one? Boyfriend?"

"Don't worry. I trust Adeola won't let me down." Mother sighed. "Adeola mi, you know you've graduated and will soon be done with NYSC. Look for someone that you will call your own after the program."

"This one? She didn't even eye any guy throughout her university level. She could just end up single." Abisola shook her head.

"Don't worry." I assured. "I'll find the right one for me soon."

"Shy, shy girl. Better man up and pick any guy of your choice. Won po repete." They're plenty. Aunty Kemi said.

"Sho n gbo? Jo oko mi, mu oko wa sile fun wa." Did you hear? Please my child, bring a man home to us. My mother pleaded.

I nodded.

"Ehnehn." Aunty Kemi changed the topic. "Bisola, where is the food we brought for her?"

Bisola reached under the Passenger's seat where Aunty Kemi was seated and brought out a cooler. She handed it over to me and I thanked them.

I opened it and behold my favorite food, Yam and spiced egg. Abisola handed me a fork but I rejected it. I always like eating with my hand because I believe the food is always sweeter.

"Omo abule." Village girl. Uncle Jide laughed.

"Is this how you eat in camp?" Mother asked.

"You want them to laugh at me?"

"It is better you don't. Because if you eat like this outside, all good guys will run." Aunty Kemi laughed.

"Who prepared this food?" I licked my fingers.

"Your mother. Have you forgotten how she cooks?" Aunty Kemi asked.

"Ahh! No. How will I forget? This is the most delicious thing I've eaten in a while." I grinned.

Abisola gave me sachet water and I used it to rinse my hand. "Thank you."

I drank the remaining water and belched.

"Ahh! Adeola. Is this how you do?" Mother asked.

"How?"

"The way you belched just now. Is this how you behave? Can't you behave like a princess like your sister?"

"So Abisola is a princess?"

"Mommy. You know Adeola is a shy girl. She won't even let her cutleries and plates click in public let alone belching. So be rest assured." Abisola smiled.

"Thank you for the food maami." My mother. "And thank you all for coming too."

"Are we not family? Why should you be thanking us?" Uncle Jide asked.

"It is good as we even came. See your body, you're already very slim. Don't they feed you?" Aunty Kemi commented.

"They kuku feed all of them. Most of my corper friends are fat, she's the one that doesn't want to eat." Abisola said.

"Whatever you do. You must not finish camping without finding any boy or else..." Mother warned.

"Don't worry, mommy. I'll do my best to make you happy." I smiled.

"O se oko mi." Thank you my child.

We chatted for a while and spoke about lots of things. My family isn't boring. Ever since my Dad passed when I was 7, Uncle Jide – my mother's younger brother and Aunty Kemi have always been there for us, sheltering us, providing for us and ensuring we were happy. They find one thing or the other to say to lighten up every mood. We laughed and teased eachother so much that a drop of tear formed in the corner of our eyes. I love my family so much that I can't live without them.

"Oya, let us start going." Mother said in yoruba. "It is getting late and we need to make it to Lagos in time."

"Alright," I got out of the car. "Safe journey. Thank you for coming."

I watched them drive away as I walked back in.