Mrs. Bakare drove myself and her husband to the airport. She kept looking at me through the rearview mirror as I played with my fingers in the back seat.
"You're still nervous, right?" She asked.
I nodded. "Yes ma."
"Why? We've spoken about this already." Mr. Bakare asked.
"We're heading to Abuja and that's where all this started." I gestured to my belly.
"So?" Mrs. Bakare asked.
"Just going to the airport reminds me of the time I was there with Damba so I'm scared."
"You're just going for a conference and you'd be too busy to be reminded of him." Mr. Bakare turned to look at me. "You're going to be fine and before you know it, we're out of Abuja."
"Don't be scared jare." Mrs. Bakare chuckled. "Maybe God wants you to go there so you could reminisce the time you spent there and get over him."
"And besides, you don't need to be scared." Mr. Bakare shook his head. "It's not like you're going there to meet him."
"I'm fine now." I sighed. "I'll reminisce the old days and forget him."
I hissed. "Besides, it's all because of him that I lost my sister."
"How is that?" Mr. Bakare asked.
"I would have been with my sister to tell her to stay at home but because Damba impregnated me, I couldn't do that." I was pissed, thinking about the images of Abisola's body displayed on the T.V screen.
"Think whatever you want. You'd be sure to change that mindset later." Mrs. Bakare sighed. "We're here."
*
Mr. Bakare had booked our flight before hand so we just checked in. We waited for a while as we were a little early.
"Don't be scared, okay?" Mr. Bakare squeezed my hand a little. "You'd be fine."
I nodded. "Thank you sir."
"Anytime."
Dear passengers, Flight 075 to Abuja is about to commence. Please....
"That's our flight." We picked up our bags.
*
Dear passengers, please fasten your seatbelts...
"Will that be comfortable for you?" Mr. Bakare asked as I struggled with the belt.
"I don't know." I shrugged.
"Excuse me." He called one of the hostesses. "Could you please loosen her belt?"
"Sure." The woman assisted me with it.
"Thank you." I smiled.
"If you need anything, just tap on that bell up there and one of us will attend to you." She offered.
"Yes, thank you." I bowed my head slightly.
She smiled and left.
Preparing for take-off. Preparing for take-off...
*
Mr. Bakare and I lodged into different hotel rooms. He told me to call him if I needed anything and that I should make sure I eat.
I nodded and went in for a shower, afterwards I slept off. I woke up once it was time for dinner and I ordered some food and watched T.V. I was glad we didn't lodge into the same hotel as the one Damba took me to or else I'd have been thinking about him by now.
I knew I wouldn't miss him because I already lost my sister and there was nothing more to it. I hated him now and if I get to see him which I hope not, I'll give him a piece of my mind.
*
Mr. Bakare and I took a cab to the conference venue the next morning. Surprisingly, I had slept well the night before. I wasn't scared now and I knew I was going to meet my work colleagues here so I'll just chitchat with them and even forget that I'm in Abuja.
"You're good, right?" Mr. Bakare asked.
"Yes, I feel refreshed." I grinned. "I'm going to meet my work colleagues here and possibly my employers."
Mr. Bakare laughed. "Don't take what Bimbo said too seriously. You're not meeting employers here. You'd probably just find out about companies then you can connect with them online."
"Really?" I laughed. "So I came here for nothing?"
"No." He shook his head. "You're going to have fun knowing a lot of companies and businesses."
"Okay then." I clutched my bag. "Let's go and meet these business owners."
"Go in." He smiled. "I have to make a call and I'll join you."
"Okay." I walked in.
It was a beautiful place, decorated beautifully and with chromatic lighting. I was awed and kept staring as I walked.
I saw a register where everyone had to put in their names.
"Why is there no pen here?" I asked no one in particular. People were fond of taking pens subconsciously and putting them in their bags.
I started rummaging my bag. "How come I didn't bring a pen?"
There was no one to ask. "I'll wait for Mr. Bakare so I could get a pen."
"You could use mine." That voice sounded familiar but I didn't care at the moment, they'd already started the conference and I needed to be inside on time or my work colleagues would give my reserved seat to someone else.
"Thank you." I took the pen. Our hands brushed past each other and I reached for the register when something occurred to me. That hand seemed familiar. In fact, it was. I knew that hand!
I looked up and my eyes met with the one who made my life a misery. The man whom I used to love. The one I dreaded the most. Damba.
I rubbed my eyes to be sure it was him. And it really was. Looking into the eyes of the man I thought I hated and convinced myself to hate, my heart started pounding hard against my chest. Damba was back!
To be continued...
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Vagrants
General FictionAdeola Taiwo, A NYSC corper found and fell in love with Damba- a total stranger during their NYSC service. Even though she didn't know as much as his real name, she decided to take him home and allowed him to take her to his home town in Abuja even...