Protected - Episode 2

 

"They said what?!"

I shush kelechi as she shouts in outrage.

"They want to sell you, how wicked can this people be?"

Kelechi is aware of what I go through at home.

It's about 2 hours after we get to the market, I have sold most of my bananas,  I just told kelechi what I heard and she is not happy.

"Kele, what do I do?"

"You can't go back there,that's for sure".

I nod but ask 

"Where do I go? I don't have any relative that I know of "

She nods, she is quiet for a while, I sell groundnut to a boy that approaches me, the market is busy and crowded but I feel like am alone.

"Ha!, Have got it!"

I turn to kelechi as she exclaims.

"What have you got?"

"You are going to run away"

"I have already decided that"

"You will go to Lagos, the city is big, you can hide better there"

"Kelechi, lagos? who do I know that lives in lagsos, I don't even have enough money"

"Magic, you have about 14 thousand with you don't you?"

I nod, I don't go anywhere without my money stash.

"And also the money from these bananas cost about 6 thousand, you will take that also, I mean, they deserve it".

I nod, she countinues .

"I will give you my 10 thousand for my bread, you will go to Lagos, I will give you the phone number of one of my boyfriend, you will stay with him untill you can rent your own house"

I shake my head no,

"Kele, your father will kill you, what will you say happen to the money"

"Oh don't worry, I will tell him that some of the customers have not yet paid, in a week time I should be able to replace the money"

I nod,.  "But how sure are we that your boyfriend will be at the address?"

"He will, I was supposed to go see him next month remember?, You can stay with him for a while, you will get settled and you will move out, simple".

Kelechi is making this sound so easy but I know it's not, and besides, what other option do i have?

She squeezes some naira note into my hands, I don't look at it but I know it's a lot of money ..

"In fact, take my purse, put the money inside, be careful, I hear they use to steal in Lagos."

How am I going to repay this girl?

"Kele..."

"Ehn ehn, none of that, let me just find a piece t paper so I can write down Andrew's address"

Andrew must be the boy Friend, I nod, she leaves for a while and come back with a piece of paper and a phone.

"What's that?". I ask her?

"Have you never seen a phone in your life?, Bernard over there gave it to me, I want you to have it".

I feel tears rush to my eyes.

"Kele..".

"Ehn ehn, don't thank me yet, this is andrews address, I will give him a call and tell him to expect you, you have to leave now".

I sigh

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/protected

. "kele, do you think this is wise?".

"Yes I do, now stand, let's find some bend down select clothes for you to buy"

"What are you going to tell my aunty"

"Am going to spit on her and scratch out her eyes if she so much as look at me wrong"

I trust kelechi, she can do that.

                      ********

We get to the bus station and it's almost noon, I have a Ghana must go full of clothes we bought at some cheap rate, it on top my head, kelechi has gone to pay for my ticket.

I wait around, she arrives .

"Here, this is your ticket, don't loose it, when you get to Lagos call me, I programmed my number into your phone, "

I nod, feeling overwhelmed.

"Make sure you call me, eat good food, work, find a place to learn your fashion designing, ok?"

I nod again.

"Kele...."

"No don't thank me yet magic, Don't, I know you will be a great woman, all am asking is that you don't forget me, ok?"

"Never, kelechi, never"

She nods and give me a tight hug, she let's me go

"Here, some bananas and bread incase you get hungry on the bus"

I laugh, just like kele to actually think of that.

"I love you kelechi".

"Abeg,oyibo film Don spoil you, but I love you too Emilia".

Ha!, She said my name correct this time.

The bus driver starts calling passengers on to the bus, I turn and climb in, I sit at a window seat and o see kelechi looking at me, I wave, she waves back, she looks to be holding back tears, I can't hold mine, a tear falls.

The bus starts moving, I keep on staring at her untill the bus pulls away and she becomes a speck, I noticed that not once did she move away.

Thank you God, for good friends.

I turn forward in the 18 sitter bus, clutching the purse kele gave to me.

Lagos here I come.