The end
I woke up in a strange surrounding. At first, everywhere seemed blank till the wares began to manifest. I could visibly see the blue curtains, the white wall, the ceiling was white too and the figure over me had white on. Too much white I thought. I closed my eyes and opened them immediately. My forehead felt sore and was terrible aching. I felt my forehead with my right palm. It was covered with a bandage. "Are you okay? " whispered the person in white standing over me. He bent over. He is a man. I looked around and it dawned on me that I was in a hospital ward. The drip hooked to my hand, the annoying scent of medication, the patients lying around like lettuce and the hospital attendants roaming about in the ward. "I think am fine. " I finally replied the man in white. Whether he was a doctor or nurse, it didn't matter. At least he isn't a mortuary attendant. I tried to sit and the man in white said. "Don't stress yourself. Stay back if you must. " "I am Dr. Shaw. " he added
A typical luxury bus gives you the freedom to adjust, stand firm, bend, or curl up while in transit. I wrapped my head inside my jacket with my face on my laps as I listen to the dramatic rythym my heartbeat propounded. On a regular day while undertaking a long journey in a luxury bus like this, I would stand firm when I got tired, stretch myself lifting my hands up, sit with my legs up facing the air conditioner above or sometimes sit on the handle of any seat I was occupying. That was how I made the previous journeys I embarked on luxury buses condusive. Today, my mood and position depicts the state of a child who has just been abandoned by her mother. I began to sob as I listened to my aching heart.Today, I was running away from home. 'My poor mother. ' I thought as I cleaned my eyes with the edge of my grey jacket which was large enough to accomdate my face and cover my sorrowful state from the prying eyes of the passengers. I took deep breaths, cleaned my eyes again
"Ella tell me something. " came his annoying voice yet again. "Why did you run away or probably on the run since we are still on transit right? " he said chuckling. I said nothing. "I am so going to bother you that I can bet you won't let me leave when we get to our destination. " he boasted and winked. "Are you kidding me? " I asked. "24 hours from now, you'll be begging to come with me. " he said confidently while extending his right hand for a betting right or rather a handshake. I shook my head, hissed and said nothing. "So tell me. Are you always this rude or is it because you are on the run miss? " he asked. "Leave me alone. " I said. "Hey! Each person on this bus has a seat next to another. Why do you think they made it so? For bonding and conversations so the long journey could get shorter and even interesting. " he said. "Well since I, your partner having to be giving you a tough time, can't you just lock up and count today an unfortunate one. " I said. "I
"I will tell you about my father not because I want some sort of sympathy or momentary companionship but because I just want to get it off my chest and moreover, we might never see the moment we finally alight this bus just like you assert " I said. "Okay Ella Moore. " said Trevor. "Tell me about Mr. Moore. " he added. I took a deep breath, heaved a sigh and began. "My father never really cared for him. Infact he doesn't. " "Why are you conclusive about that. " interrupted Trevor. "At my graduation in nursery school, he never showed up, when we did plays in high school and parents would come to watch thier kids perform, my mom was always the one there. " I said with tears welling in my eyes. "Maybe he got occupied and your programs clashed with his schedule. " said Trevor. "Hey don't look at me that way. " after he noticed the stern look I was giving him. "Okay fine. Your dad wasn't really present and it's not nice. " he said. "Not nice for an only child. " I added. "Is that why you
"My mother met with my dad in Greenland. She had gone there for her midwifery course and she took in during her final year period. " he paused then stared at me and continued. "She had to come back of course. She wanted my father to come home with her in Numan and acknowledge his child but... But... " he was stammering now. "But what? " I asked slowly. "That he wasn't ready. " replied Trevor. "Wasn't ready? " I asked again. "Yea that he needed to sort himself, he wasn't ready to father a child then. He wanted my mom to stay back with him and..... " he stopped. "She wasn't going to remain in Greenland raising a baby without her parents consent. " I replied. "Exactly. " he quickly replied. "So why are you on this bus to meet a man that wasn't even prepared to have you or is he prepared now? " I further asked. He said nothing. "Am sorry I don't mean it that way just that I feel he should be the one running to you not the other way round. " I said. "A
"I am terribly missing my mother." I told him. "You should call her. " he said. "Never. " I screamed probably so loud that the lady in front of us had to turn around. "Well you are having issues with your mom not your dad. So you should call her. " Trevor insisted. "You don't understand. " I said to him. "Yes I don't understand why you can't place a simple phone call to your poor mother telling her how you are doing. She must be worrying to death. It's been almost six hours she hasn't heard a word from you. " he said. "I can't call her. They'll find me. I can't take chances. " I told him. "I understand you are running away from Mr. Moore but perhaps a text message will do. Text your mom informing her that you'll be fine and just need some time to cool off. " he said. "I can't. " was my reply. "So you gonna call her when you get to GreenLand? " he asked. I didn't utter a word. "The people you are going to stay with in Greenland. Aren't they relatives, or maybe
"She meant Bella not Ella. " said Trevor to the lady in front of us who was still staring at us. "You know kids.They get confused alot. " he continued. "She must have heard how they were trying to fish out one Ella Moore earlier so she.... You know? " he said trying to convince the lady while swinging his head from side to side the way he does. The lady nodded and turned around. "Hey little one. " he said addressing Jeken. "Aunty ell... I mean Bella's phone is down. The battery went dead. You can't play any game with it right now. " he told the little girl who nodded and left a little bit disappointed. I was beginning to sweat and God knows if Trevor didn't intervene, I don't know how I would have handled the situation. "May God save me from addressing you as Ella. " he whispered into my ears. "I am Bella Brown now. " I whispered back. "I hope I don't forget that. " he whispered to me again. "So you guys are whispering now. " screamed the elderly lady. "Nothin
"Hey Lilly. " he screamed and ran to meet the strange lady. "Is that you? " he asked her holding her wrist and looking at her from head to toe. "What are you doing here? " she asked him. Meanwhile, I was standing by the corner watching Trevor exchange pleasantries with this dark skinned lady called Lilly. "Meet my friend. " he told her while pulling her closer to me. "She is.. " "Bella. " I said quickly before Trevor could forget and say Ella. "Hi. " said the lady while extending her hand to me. I shook her and said "Hello. " ", This is Lilly. " began Trevor. "We were course mates at the University. " he said. I smiled halfway and nodded. "Is she your girlfriend now? " asked Lilly. "No. " I quickly replied. "So what are you guys doing around here? " Lilly further asked. "We are on a luxury bus to GreenLand. It broke down few meters behind so we are here to grab something to eat. " Trevor told Lilly. "What are you doing here? " he asked her. "I live in this com
Before we got into the taxi that was taking us to my home, we had arranged our luggage and the gifts we came with in the car trunk. My mother had asked me to inform her the moment I had arrived so she could come and pick me at the park but since we made use of an airplane, I didn't see the need to call her. The taxi driver finally pulled up in from of our house. The cruel sun was shining brightly and most of the people were indoors except for passers-by. Trevor sorted the taxi driver and he arranged our stuff beside my house gate. He left and Trevor clung to my hand. "Let's go in." he said and gave me the look that says "I'm right here." Surprisingly, the gate wasn't locked as usual so I gave it a slight push and it was wide opened. We stepped inside and the first spot that caught my attention was the right angle of the verandah, the exact place where I had landed a pestle on my father's head a week ago. I was glad when I noticed a few shoes outside the entrance, on
I slowly opened my eyes and got out of my bed. "8 am" I mumbled after checking the wall clock hanging above my bed. I had mixed feelings. In as much as I wanted to go home, I was saddened by the fact that I was going to leave Stephanie, Harrison and Anna not forgetting the domestic staff whom I was all getting accustomed too. I completely forgot that Stephanie had gifted me a mobile phone. I had taken a shower and packed my stuff in the little luggage bag I came with. Just when I was about to step out of the room, my phone rang. It was Trevor calling. I picked up the call. "Are you downstairs yet?" I asked Trevor after we greeted each other. "Yes and you need to come here soonest. Breakfast is being served." he announced. " I'll be there shortly." I said and hurried downstairs. The living room was filled up. Harrison, Stephanie, Annabel, Clara, Sam, Venitia, Joe and Trevor were all in the living room. "What are these?" I whispered to Trevor a
"So tell me. Why are you guys lying to everyone?" Anna demanded. She crossed her legs and gave me the look that says 'Start talking.' "We are lying because we have to." I told Anna and she gave me a weird stare which signalled that she had no idea of what I was talking about. "Trevor and I just met and it will seem odd for him to introduce me to everyone as his girlfriend." I tried to explain. "You guys just met? I don't get it. I thought you guys had been friends for two years." Anna pointed out. I lowered my head in shame "That's all part of the lie." "Tell me how it all began." I heaved a deep sigh. "I'll understand if you don't want to talk about it. I will not push you to reveal things you will rather keep a secret." Annabel maintained. "I don't know how it all began. I mean I can't possibly tell exactly when I began having strong emotional feelings toward him but I'll say it all began on the luxury bus." I replied. "I didn't come here because my company sent me. I eloped.
I didn't reply and shortly, Anna returned with two bikinis. "Trevor is a man so he can make use of his boxers." she stated and handed a blue bikini to me. "I've never asked you for anything and this might be the only thing I'll get to ask you so please, let's swim." Anna pleaded with a smile. "Are you blackmailing me?" I asked with a smile. "Fine, I'll walk inside the pool." I agreed In a few minutes, Anna and I had changed into the bikinis. Trevor had gotten into a short and Joe as he told us, was sitting beside the pool sipping his alcohol. The pool was empty except for us. After I stepped out of the dressing room in the blue bikini Anna gave me, Trevor couldn't take his eyes off me. "Don't be caught staring." I whispered into his ears before making my way into the pool. Anna followed me and so did Trevor. Anna carefully placed a large rubber tyre around me. "This will help you float better." she said and asked me to follow her. Trevor was talking to Joe by the corner.
The door was pushed open and two nurses walked in. "Dr. Henry sent us here." the shortest said after we exchanged pleasantries. They were wearing their uniforms. "We will take care of him from now. You guys can rest." the other nurse said. "You guys can leave. I'll stay with them." Stephanie said. She wasn't going to move an inch away from her husband which was expected. "Let me know if there's any slight change." Trevor said before we stepped out of the room. We left Annabel was back in the room with Stephanie. "He will be fine." I assured Trevor after we returned to his room. "I can't believe he had been blacking out on several occasions." Trevor replied after heaving a deep sigh. He couldn't sit. "When he invited you, was he at home then or in the hospital?" I asked and pulled out a water bottle for Trevor from the refrigerator. "When we had our first video call after he contacted me through F******k, he was bedridden and I couldn't tell whether he was in a private ward or it
"Would you mind courting Annabel?" Stephanie spat. I couldn't believe my ears. Annabel was beaming with brightness. "What?" Trevor asked in disbelief. I turned away and felt my heartbeat increasing. "Are you proposing that Trevor dates Annabel? Aren't they old enough to decide for themselves?" Harrison asked and slowly lifted his head. I smiled agreeing with his reply. "From what I've seen in these twenty-four hours, they seem to like each other and we might be planning a wedding soon." Stephanie said Trevor and I exchanged glances and I tried to keep my cool. "I'm not sure whether I'm ready to date anyone at the moment." Trevor told them. "Love happens at the most unexpected places and times. " Stephanie replied. "It all starts with a spark and you have to guide that spark till it explodes into a fire." she explained. "I can't just be in a relationship base on mere assumptions." Trevor charged. "So you are saying you don't like me? " Anna asked with a smile. "Oh come on, you
As expected, we all woke up late the next morning. Trevor, Annabel and I. I woke up with memories of Trevor's assurance of his undying love for me. I sat on my bed and cleaned my eyes with the edge of my palms as I recollect every detail of his love profession the previous night. I brushed my lips with two fingers and smiled. I looked up at the wall clock above my head. It was almost 9 am. I dragged myself out of the bed and traced my way to the bathroom. In less than twenty minutes, I was dressed in blue tight team trousers over a brown shirt. "I knew we were all going to wake up late." Anna said immediately I stepped out of my room. She had stepped out and was going downstairs. "Good morning." she greeted and to my surprise, she gave me a tight hug. I smiled and for once thought differently about her, as a new friend. "Trevor must have gone downstairs or maybe he is getting ready." I said and attempted to knock on his door. Anna was beside me, wearing a comf
I slept for about three hours then I got up around 1 am to pee. Trevor was yet to come. I decided to check on him myself. I carefully went outside and tiptoed to his door. Just when I was about to knock, I heard laughter and music inside. I then noticed that his door wasn't locked. I pushed it open and went inside and my jaw dropped. "What are you doing here?" demanded Annabel. Annabel was standing on Trevor's bed, swaying her hips to the rhythm of the music emanating from her phone while he cheered and clapped for her. "I should be asking you what you are doing here?" I fired back. "Sleepover." she replied with a smile and I felt like strangling her. Her smile was irritating me. "Sleepover huh?" I turned toward Trevor whose lips had begun to tremble. "Anna came for some tutorial in her project and we began talking about music and dance..." Trevor was still speaking. "Then I decided to show off my dance skills and guess what? I wowed him." she interrupted, sounding enthusiastic
"You are single?" Anna threw the question at Trevor. He was single I wanted to reply and when I turned around, our eyes met. "Uhmmm, Yes I am." he managed to say and gave me an apologetic look. "I might as well shoot my shot." she said in a tone that I could swear sounded erotic. I looked at her in the mirror and her legs were crossed, her head was bent over Trevor's face. My heartbeat quickened. "Have some shame Annabel." Joe teased and parked the car. "Coldstone." I pointed out. The atmosphere was odd. Annabel was the first to step out followed by Joe. Trevor was about to follow them and I pulled him by the arm. "What was that all about?" I demanded still clinging to his arm. Joe and Annabel were already making their way into Coldstone. "What are you saying?" "I think Anna is flirting with you." I alleged and folded my hands across my chest. "You must be kidding." Trevor spat and walked away, leaving me standing beside the car. I hurried after him. Annabel had taken out fo