UNWANTED GUEST

"As Ohi strolled through the desolate street, it lay in ruins, with several houses still engulfed in flames. The thick smoke stung his eyes, provoking a fit of coughs and tears streaming down his cheeks. His breathing grew laboured, prompting him to swiftly depart for another street. The buildings and shops lay demolished, and in one alley, he noticed a crimson liquid trickling down. Bending to investigate, his eyes widened, a dryness settled in his throat, and he grasped his chest, struggling for breath. Beads of sweat formed as his body trembled, reminiscent of someone enduring days in a freezer. Raising his hand, he confirmed to himself, 'This is blood.'"

The sound of a child's sobbing caught Ohi's attention, and upon turning, he was astonished to find that the young boy from his dream was not alone. Accompanying him was a little girl, her clothes torn, dirty, and stained with blood. Tears streamed down their crimson-streaked faces as their gazes met. Seizing his sister's hands, the boy hastily fled, pulling the distressed girl along into the heart of the city's ruins.

"Wait!" Ohi shouted, giving chase as the children sprinted onward until they reached an ancient-looking hut. His astonishment grew as he pondered the presence of a hut within the city, especially this very one—a structure he had seen in his dreams. The conical mud house appeared weathered, its dry grass roof either incomplete or absent, riddled with numerous cracks.

As the children disappeared into the hut, Ohi's pace quickened, each step amplifying the thump of his heartbeat and intensifying the sweat trickling down his skin. Upon arriving at the hut, he hesitated at the entrance, grappling with an inexplicable reluctance. Summoning his courage, he finally stepped inside. Suddenly, sharp sounds echoed behind him—bang, bang!—causing him to whirl around, searching for the source.

.

Regaining consciousness, Ohi found himself back in his room, yet the persistent banging persisted. Still drenched in sweat and feeling drained, Beni's concerned voice pierced through the noise, accompanied by intensified door pounding. Groggily, Ohi shuffled towards the door and opened it, allowing Beni to rush in. "Are you alright?" Her tone betrayed her worry, but Ohi remained dazed. "I had a terrible dream," he blurted out, startling her.

"Did you pray?" she asked, peering into his eyes, searching for signs of distress, while gently placing the back of her hand on his forehead to check his temperature. Startled, he swatted her hand away.

"I had a nightmare, I'm not ill," Ohi clarified. "Just making sure," Beni replied with a shrug. "I'll be a good sister and take care of your laundry, make breakfast, and tidy your room." With that, she departed to start the laundry. Ohi remained astonished; he had always known Beni to be kind, but her willingness to help him with his laundry took him by surprise.

After having breakfast, Ohi commenced tidying up his room. The walls were painted blue and adorned with wallpapers featuring Star Wars, One Punch Man, and Naruto. His bed occupied the room's center, flanked by a wardrobe and study desk with a chair. His father and Asipitar had departed for Ozovehe's popular restaurant in Ilorin, while his mother had taken his grandma to the hospital; she worked there as a nurse in one of the city's finest medical facilities. Despite his chores, thoughts of his recent nightmare persisted in Ohi's mind. While engrossed in cleaning, Bisi abruptly burst in, announcing, "You've got an unwelcome visitor," in a rather brusque manner.

Ohi furrowed his brows, perplexed by the notion of an unwanted guest. He set aside the mop and proceeded to the living room. Utterly dumbfounded, he couldn't fathom why Bayo was present. Bayo sat accompanied by a stunning lady, but it wasn't her presence that astonished Ohi; rather, it was Bayo's appearance. Clad in brown pants and a cream-colored shirt, with neatly trimmed hair and the absence of his customary earrings, he exuded the aura of a refined gentleman.

"Bayo, your visit is unexpected," Ohi remarked, settling onto a nearby couch facing them. "I've come to apologize. I was a terrible friend, and I also wish to apologize to your parents," Bayo admitted, bowing his head in shame. Ohi sat there in a stunned silence, unsure of how to respond.

"Hello," a captivating voice drew his focus. "I'm Belle," she introduced herself, extending her hand for a handshake. Rising from his seat, Ohi approached her and shook her hand. Belle's coral-black hair cascaded over her shoulders, framing her smooth, glossy skin revealed by her off-shoulder dress. Her demeanour exuded innocence and kindness, marked by a warm smile she shared with Ohi.

"Her influence transformed me," Bayo's words reverberated in Ohi's ears, causing him to turn and gaze at his friend. "She spoke to me and helped me realize that I'll never find a friend like you again. I've even joined her study group," Bayo said, wearing the most genuine smile. Ohi remained stunned, his mind grappling with disbelief. "This must be a dream," he pondered inwardly. Swiftly excusing himself, he stood up and walked toward the backyard, now transformed into a vegetable garden. "I need to call Dad," he muttered to himself.

Ozovehe remained busy, trying to ensure everything was in order for the naming ceremony of a prominent celebrity's baby. "Sir, we need to order more yams," one of his workers hurried over to inform him. His restaurant, with its spacious layout, featured tables arranged to resemble a flower, adorned with blue and white materials and fresh flowers replaced daily. Cutlery was meticulously aligned horizontally, and a receptionist checked for table reservations before patrons entered.

As he conversed with the worker, a young female staff member approached and handed him his phone. "Sir, is this your son's?" she inquired. He facepalmed himself, realising he had carelessly left his phone behind without even noticing.

Answering the call, Ohi's father's voice sounded impatient, "This better be important." "Bayo's here," Ohi quickly informed, pacing restlessly. His father couldn't conceal his displeasure, cautioning, "If he's there to cause trouble, tell him to leave." "Actually, he seems different. He apologized to me and wants to apologize to you too," Ohi explained, leaving Ozovehe beyond surprised. "Are you certain he's not up to something?" his father asked, making his way to his office due to the noise. "I'm not sure, but he's with a girl our age, and she looks quite striking," Ohi added. His father's expression turned puzzled. "Keep an eye on them. If he acts out, throw them out," his father instructed firmly. "Yes, boss. Your son won't let you down," Ohi assured.

Engaged in hours of studying in Ohi's room, his mother served them meals and commended their dedication, though she struggled to conceal her astonishment. "It's 5:00 PM, I need to head out," the girl's angelic voice interrupted their studying. Raising their heads from the books, they acknowledged her statement. "I should also head home," Bayo announced, stretching his body. Handing Ohi some questionnaires, Bayo prepared to leave. Ohi escorted them to the door and waved goodbye as he closed it behind them.

As Ohi entered, his mother and sisters eagerly awaited an explanation. "Honestly, I'm as clueless as you are," he admitted, met with incredulous stares. "Are you being serious?" his mother inquired, her eyebrow arched in suspicion. He sighed deeply. "Absolutely."

"The young lady is absolutely stunning," Beni remarked before heading to her room, and Bisi followed suit, leaving Ohi to ponder the situation alone.

"Where's Grandma? I haven't seen her all day," Ohi expressed his concern, intending to share his dream with her. His mother wore a sombre expression. "I'm not sure. She seemed really troubled, like something was bothering her, but no matter how many times I asked, she wouldn't say. Please, don't disturb her today, okay?" She hugged Ohi tightly. "Let's wait for your Dad and Asipitar," she suggested, heading to the kitchen. Ohi decided to retreat to his room. Passing by his grandma's door, he paused for a moment before continuing to his own room.

In the dining room, conversations buzzed about the transformed Bayo, yet their grandmother appeared lost in deep contemplation. "Dad, can I join the study group?" Ohi inquired. "After observing him for a week, he seems fine, so yes, you can join," their father responded. "Where is it located?" Eniola questioned while setting the table; their father took charge of breakfast preparation, prompting everyone's anticipation. Ohi scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "Um, I didn't ask," he admitted softly, as the delightful aroma of fried eggs wafted in, stirring their appetites. With the children and father indulging in slices of bread and eggs alongside their tea, Eniola served Ewatomi, who seemed preoccupied and unaware of the ongoing conversation.