The Unexpected Journey

As I slowly open my eyes, a sense of discomfort and chilliness washes over me.

I glance around, noticing that most people are fast asleep. Where are we? I try to recall.

I was sitting on my jacket, so I carefully stand up, attempting to retrieve it, but it suddenly slips from my grasp and falls to the floor. Oh no!

As I bend down to pick it up, I notice a pair of hands already reaching for it - the boy from behind my seat.

He hands it to me with a warm smile, and I feel my heart race faster.

He's incredibly attractive, and I can't help but notice the way my heart skips a beat in his presence. It's a familiar feeling, one I haven't experienced since my high school crush would stand close to me.

But I don't want to think about him. I remember how he and the rest of my classmates made me feel bad about my own existence, and I would secretly cry in my room.

The few friends I had perceived me as a happy and carefree person, but they were oblivious to my inner struggles.

Am I truly weak-hearted, as they so callously labeled me?

I regret my desperation for their friendship, a desperation that led me to tolerate their exclusion, insults, and abandonment.

They would engage in conversations without including me, call me boring, and leave me to fend for myself.

Sometimes, I wish I could vanish into thin air or exact revenge on those who hurt me. But those dark thoughts are confined to my mind, a constant reminder of the pain I've endured.

Yet, I know they can never become reality, and I'm left to confront the scars of my past.

"Thanks," I say.

He nods and leans back in his seat, his arms crossed, his gaze still fixed intently on me.

The sparkle I felt earlier has vanished, replaced by a pang of sadness. Those painful memories have dampened my mood, and now I'm consumed by a lingering ache.

I turn back to my seat and put on my jacket. "Mom, where are we now?" I ask.

"Delta," she replies.

"Are we almost there?"

"Not really, it's getting late, and we haven't even reached Anambra yet."

"What's the time?"

"It's 4:34. If there isn't traffic, we'll make it early, but it will be nighttime then."

"Oh," I say, resting back in my seat.

I sigh, picking up the bag I had kept on the floor, which is filled with snacks. I decide to have the sausage rolls and chips.

After eating, I put the bag back on the floor. Minutes later, it's already 5:35 pm, and the sun is no longer visible, it's evening, and we still haven't reached our destination.

I feel the bus slowing down and finally coming to a stop. The bus driver gets out and walks around to open the door.

A woman gets off with her little daughter, which is good for them, they've arrived at their destination on time.

As the bus door boot opens, the light pours in, making the bus brighter. I could look back, but I fear I might meet his gaze.

The boot shuts close, and the bus driver returns, starting the engine. We continue our journey.

The bus driver flips on the radio, filling the air with the lively rhythms of a Yoruba song. Although it's not my go-to genre, the music is a welcome respite from the oppressive silence, and I'm grateful for the chance to escape the dullness that had settled over the bus.

I try to push aside my worries and focus on the music. The Yoruba song has a catchy beat, and I find myself tapping my foot along with the rhythm.

After hours on the road with some holdups, the sky is already dark. It's already 7:00 pm.

I tap my mom and ask, "Where are we?"

"Still in Delta," she replies. I'm not surprised, considering the bad holdups we faced. When are we going to get there? I'm starting to feel worried.

As night falls, my legs feel stiff, and I'm experiencing a strange, vibrational sensation. The bus can't possibly stop for anyone to stretch their legs, as it's already late and stopping won't help us arrive sooner.

I tap my mom, who's on the phone with my dad.

"We're still in Delta, and the holdup is terrible," she tells him.

"She's here, yes. Okay then,"

She hangs up and turns to me. "What's wrong?"

"Don't worry, I think I already know the answer to my question."

"Bus driver, please stop! I've reached my destination!" The woman next to my mom shouts.

The bus driver stops and lets her out. Are we going to spend the night on the road? I'm starting to feel scared, this has never happened before. Why now?

The bus driver gets back in, and we begin moving again.

"Ehn, hello! This ride isn't going so well my sister, and I don't understand what's going on! The fear that's taken hold of me is no small thing!" A woman's on a call, and she's really loud.

"Hold up, bad road, everything has gone wrong. Imagine, we haven't even reached Anambra yet."

I'm feeling so scared, how are we going to get there at this late hour? Why did this have to happen to us? I wish time could move slower so we could arrive earlier. Oh Lord, please hear my prayer.

The bus is dark, and the driver turns on the interior lights. We're still on the road, surrounded by bushes.

"Amanda, come sit here." My mom calls me.

I move to the seat vacated by the woman who got off, holding my polythene bag tightly and ensuring my belongings are still in my pocket.

I wonder how the boy behind my former seat is doing. Does he have relatives in the bus? It doesn't seem like it, how will he find his way to his destination alone?

The bus continues, and I check the time on my phone. It's already 8:30 pm, oh Lord, my hands are shaking. I'm scared.

"Mom, where are we?" I ask.

"I think we're already in Anambra," she replies.

"Are we almost there?"

"Yes, but it's really late, and I don't think there will be vehicles going to Orlu, and even if there are, it'll be expensive."

"So what are we going to do now?"

"Just pray there's no traffic and pray we get there early."

"Oh Lord, why did this have to happen?"

After some minutes without any holdups, I check the time again. It's already 9:25 pm.

"Are we almost there yet?" I ask my mom.

"Yes, dear."

"Thank God!" I rest back in my seat, relieved.

The music suddenly goes off.

"Onitsha!" the bus driver shouts,

"People going to Onitsha, you have arrived!" He gets out of the bus and comes around to open the door. Finally!

"Let's go out, dear," my mom tells me.

Many others are heading out too, and I follow along with my mom, walking to the bus boot with my mom leading the way to grab our belongings.

Street lights illuminate the area, people mill about, and vehicles drive by, surrounded by houses and shops.

"Take it," my mom hands me my bag, taking out hers as well and the big bag we had brought.

I turn around to leave, accidentally bumping into somebody. I can't clearly see their face, but I can tell it's the boy from behind my seat.

"S-sorry, s-sorry," I apologize, feeling a bit flustered.

He's way taller than me, and his proximity sends shivers down my spine.

"Ah, dear, are you also going to Orlu?" my mom asks, right behind me, talking to the boy.

"Uhh, yeah," he responds, his voice low and gentle.

"Did your relatives come with you? Are they around?" my mom asks the boy, and I wonder why she's asking so many questions.

"I'm here by myself, they're busy," he replies.

"Where are you headed next, then?" my mom asks.

"I'll get a room somewhere for the night." he says, shouldering his bag.

"you should come with us, I know a hotel nearby, and that's where we'll be spending the night." My mom suggests.

"Eh? Really? We're not going to Grandma's house again?" I ask. I thought that's where we are going.

"The transport service would be expensive, and Orlu isn't a safe place to be at night." She says.

"Oh," I nod, understanding.

We start walking, with the boy following us from behind, his hoodie already on.

The street is relatively empty, with few vehicles and people passing by, likely due to the late hour.

We approach a spot where auto rickshaws are parked, with their owners sitting on a short fence.

"Oga ayin, inaga Orlu park?" ( Sir, are you going to orlu park?) my mom asks the men.

"Ehen, three thousand, mmadu ofu" (yes, three thousand naira per person) a chubby man responds with a croaky voice.

"Three thousand? Mbanu o, that's too much." (No, that's too much)

"Oya, Kai je, two thousand last" (Two thousand naira, my last offer) the man said.

"Mbanu, wetu aka" (No, Let's meet in the middle). My mom persists.

"Hey, do you understand what they're saying?" The boy who has been quietly following us speaks up, and I think he is talking to me.

I turn around, surprised, "Uhm, yes, I do."

"What's the deal with them?" 

"Uhm, it's just about prices, the man said it's three thousand for one person, and my mom doesn't agree."

"I don't mind, I'll cover it," He offers to my suprise.

"Huh? That's nine thousand, don't you mind?"

"No worries, I've got this!" Just as he's about to say something else, I impulsively pull him by his arm.

"Let my mom handle this, she'll succeed in reducing the price."

Feeling embarrassed, I quickly let go, "Uhm, sorry, sorry. I'm sure she'll reduce the price."

He smiles, "If you say so."

I simply smile back and turn to my mom, who is still negotiating.

"Oga, seven hundred last" (Seven hundred naira, my final offer).

Seven hundred naira?, Lol is my mom really serious?, From three thousand down to seven hundred?.

"Orlu park, oga ine je" (orlu, sir are you going?) another man asked. He is the man I sat next to in the bus, and he's standing next to us. Like where the hell did he come from?.

"Oya, ofu mmadu abiago, buru anyi notu two thousand eight hundred" (Let's go, one more person has joined, take all of us for two thousand eight hundred) my mom tells the rickshaw driver.

"Mbanu na, abi ima otu country di?" (No, or don't you know how the country is?) The man asked.

"Amam, or reason why mm di ekwe" (I know, that's why I do not agree with the price you called) my mother responded.

"Egole ko poro?" (How much did he call?). The other man asked.

My mom laughs, "Osi three thousand mmadu ofu" ( he said three thousand naira per person).

"Oga ayin o di too much, wetuo aka jor!" (Sir, that's too much, let's meet in the middle). The man exclaimed.

"Oyanu oyanu, Kai ga. I don't want to be a wicked man. Banie, kai puo, oge na ga" (Let's go, let's go. I don't want to be a wicked man. Get in, let's go, time is going).

The man climbs into the auto rickshaw, followed by his companion, who sits beside him.

My mom enters next, stowing our large bag and her own in the cargo area, while I sit down beside her, handing her my school bag and clutching the polythene bag.

The boy slides in close to me, his proximity sending my heart racing.

What is this strange sensation? He seems entirely at ease, his bag on his lap and earbuds in place, ready to immerse himself in music.

I fidget with my fingers, feeling uncertain, my gaze fixed on the dark night outside, where few vehicles pass by.

The boy who was once behind my seat is now inches away, making me acutely aware of his presence.

My mom is engrossed in her phone, and I hesitate to use mine, feeling too shy to do so in such close proximity to this stranger. I'm at a loss for what to do, my mind blank.

Suddenly, I feel something entering my ear hole, it's him! He's placing an earpod in my ear.

"Uhh..." I don't know what to say.

I turn to face him, and our faces are not far apart from each other.

"Listen to this with me," he says, holding my face in his hand to adjust the earpod properly.

What if my mom sees? I feel butterflies in my belly, he's so close! God, please don't let my mom see. I'm only 17, what would she think if she finds me in this situation?

My grip on the polythene bag tightens, and I couldn't look him in the eye.

He releases my face and taps on his phone screen until I hear music playing in my ear. I turn to face the front, feeling really nervous. He held me, I could literally scream!!

The song is nice, I've never heard it before in my life, but I think it's nice.

Still, I can't get over the feeling in my stomach. Is he usually this nice to people he doesn't know?.

Well I'm still finding it difficult to maintain my composure, I can't even look to my right because it would seem like I'm stealing a glance of him. Like how long is this ride going to last?, Because I can't take much of this!

Minutes passed, and the auto rickshaw seems to be slowing down. Are we there yet?. That would be the question I would be asking my mom if it were just me and her, but that isn't the case here, they're people in the rickshaw, especially the one next to me!!.

The auto rickshaw finally stops moving, are we really there yet?.

"Let's go," my mom informs me, already stepping out.

Hurray, we are!

I trail behind my mom, collecting my bag from her, as she climbs back into the rickshaw to retrieve her own bag and the large bag she had stowed in the cargo area.

She pays the driver, and he speeds away, leaving us standing on the roadside with the boy and the man.

I'm still wearing the boy's earpod, and I'm unsure how to return it.

We're surrounded by passing vehicles, but the area is eerily deserted, with only grand buildings lining the road ahead, their interiors bustling with people, music, and lights.

"Or eba ka unu ga no nabania?" (Is this where you guys are gonna stay for the night?) The man asked my mom.

"Yes o, Ai wer option?" (Yes, do we have an option?" My mom responds.

"Ehn kam soro nnu," (well then, let me come along with you people)

I'm still wearing the earpod, unsure how to return it to him. Does he even want it back? Maybe he's moved on and doesn't need it anymore. Or perhaps he's simply forgotten that he lent it to me in the first place.

I glance at him, hoping to catch his eye and resolve this awkward situation, but he seems oblivious to my predicament.

"Let's go," my mom says, pulling my gaze to her.

"Oh, O-okay," I follow her as she begins walking, carrying my bag.

We cross the road and approach one of the buildings, my mom and I walking side by side, with the man and boy trailing closely behind.

Suddenly, a deafening sound shatters the night air.

"Bang!"

I flinch, my heart racing wildly, my mind racing with panic. What was that?