Vagrants

Chapter 55

I packed out of the house very early in the morning while they were still asleep. I didn't want anyone of them to know about it so as not to create a fuss. It wasn't easy dragging two big boxes and carrying an handbag but I had to do it.

Instead of standing outside their house, wondering where to go. I just kept dragging the boxes down the street with no direction. I was just wandering. I had no one else to call and there was definitely no one that would support me.

My Family actually had a house and no thanks to Damba, I'm now a wanderer looking for where to stay. Going from place to place in search of a house. He made me a vagrant and he was busy enjoying his luxurious life and planning to get married to a woman who is not me.

After I was sure that I was very far from Tayo and Folake's house, I sat down on one of the boxes, dejected. I started searching through my phonebook over and over again looking for who to call for help but there was no one.

Then words started ringing in my ears. You can call me whenever you want help.

Who was it that told me this? I closed my eyes tightly and tried to remember. Was it Folake? Hopefully not, I'd already been to her house. I tried to remember. Then my mind's eye saw myself receiving a business card. Who was this?

Instead of trying to remember, I started searching through my box. I knew I couldn't have put it in Damba's box. I half-scattered my box out on the street. I needed to find that card no matter what.

After few minutes of searching, packing the box and searching again, I finally locked up the box and sat back on it. I must have discarded the card because if the person was very important, I'd have remembered who it was that gave me and also would have definitely put the card in a very safe place.

Vehicles passed, Motorcycles passed. Everyone stared at me but I didn't care about their gaze, it's not like any one of them would help my condition.

The morning sun rose and shone brightly but I was still clueless and sitting out on the streets. Passers walked by, Few sniggers were heard, Cameras clicked and that got me very uncomfortable. I was trying very hard not to cry. People nowadays have become annoying.

When someone is in trouble, instead of them to help, they pull out their phones and start recording videos and taking pictures.

How do I get out of here? Where would I go? Why can't I even find that card?

Check Damba's box. I knew it was useless doing that because I knew I still wouldn't find the card but I did it anyway. I prayed before I started checking his box too and shortly after I found the card.

Why didn't I think to search this box? And why would I have put a card inside this box?

I flipped the card over and stared at it.

"Mrs. Bakare." I read aloud and then I remembered. It was Bimbo's mother who gave me that card. I was probably very stressed that's why I forgot about it.

I took out my phone and dialed the first number. It wasn't going through. I dialed the next number on the card. It rang but no one picked up.

Something in me wanted to call Bimbo. But what if she mocked me like the others did?

I wasn't sure about it so I left it. Her mother is a matured woman so she would understand. I tried calling her again and she picked, which got me relieved.

"H-Hello."

"Hello. Who's this?"

"Th-This is Adeola. You were a tenant at my home for..."

"Ahh! Adeola. How are you?"

"F-Fine ma."

"You're good? How's home?"

"Nothing is good." I broke down to tears.

"Adeola! What's going on?" Mrs. Bakare paused. "Okay send me your location, I'd come see you myself."

*

I waited few hours for Mrs. Bakare to arrive but she didn't. The sun was burning down against my skin and I was frustrated.

Has Mrs. Bakare forgotten about me? Did she just give me false hope?

I started having strange thoughts in my head that I broke down to tears. Like always, there were people who were ready to laugh and take pictures. I had to reach into my box and bring out a scarf that I could use to hide my face, that way my face wouldn't be visible in any of their pictures.

Why didn't I think of this before? I just hope my face doesn't appear in any newspaper or any social media platform. It would just be embarrassing.

A car rolled by and I stood up thinking it was Mrs. Bakare but it wasn't. A man wind down the window and stared at me so I covered my face properly.

"Excuse me ma." It was a driver.

"Yes?" I stood inches away from the car.

"My boss wants to talk to you."

The window of the back seat got wind down and I didn't want to look at the person. I wasn't in a good condition and I was in tears.

"Sir?" I bowed my head down with my hands clamped under my belly.

"You seem familiar." His deep voice reminded me of someone but I didn't know who and I definitely didn't want to look up at him.

"You're mistaken sir. I'm not familiar with rich people." I said.

"Your voice is also..."

I tried to deepen my voice. "I'm a pregnant woman. Most of us sound like this because we are..."

He handed me his hand-ker-chief. "Here. Wipe your face and get off the streets. It isn't good for your condition."

How did he know that I was crying?

"Th-Thank you..."

The car drove away. Just then Mrs. Mrs. Bakare's car arrived.

"Adeola!" She hugged me when she got out of the car. I also saw someone in the back seat getting out of the car. It was Bimbo.

"B-Bim..." I cried.

"Shh...Don't say anything." She hugged me. "I'm sorry this had to happen to you."

"No, it's just a result of my stupidity." I said.

They helped me put my luggage in the car.

"Thank you very much for coming to my aid."

"Don't mention it." Mrs. Bakare said.

We got in the car and she drove away while Bimbo and I sat in the backseat.

"I heard Damba is a rich man now." Bimbo said.

I nodded.

Mrs. Bakare looked through the rearview mirror. "And he couldn't even come to help you. He has a responsibility now."

"He's just evil." I hissed.

"This isn't the time for this." Bimbo sighed. "We need to find out why Damba ditched you."

"He is getting married!"

"What if your presence there can stop him?"

"And shatter the bride's heart?" I asked.

Mrs. Bakare laughed mockingly. "Like he didn't shatter your own heart."

"What should I do?"

Bimbo chuckled. "Let's get home first. Then we'll figure that out."