Strong Emotions - Episode 14

 

   I couldn't sleep throughout the night, the thought of travelling to Canada made me so happy, I felt like a young girl who her parents promised to take to Santa Cruz, I could remember how happy George was, when I informed that I was coming to Canada to study, he had agreed to pick me up when I get to  Toronto airport. I got out of bed early to spruce myself up, mum had bought a special dress for me to wear on this  special day,it was a white and blue sheath dress with a black stilettos and black purse to go with.

       I had gone to the salon the previous day to make my hair in a braid . Mum and I had packed and prepared my luggage, we made sure everything were intact, we had a very nice breakfast which mum prepared. I hugged my mum when she walked down the stairs in a floral gown, she looked sad, she couldn't bear the fact that I would be going away so soon. I had promised to visit my dad in the hospital before leaving for the airport, Mr Lanre would drive mum and I first to the hospital and then to the airport. The hoot of his car announced his arrival, I moved towards mum and gave her a warm embrace.
         

       "I love you mum and I'm sure gonna miss you". I whispered into her ears

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. She blushed and wiped the drops of tears falling down her beautiful eyes. 
     

       "It shall be well with you my baby, may you succeed and Excel in all your endeavours and always remember that your parents care so much about you." She said and I nodded. We all looked towards Mr Lanre who had been standing beside the door for God knows when. He smiled and walked towards us.
     

        "I thought of waiting for a while so as not to disturb the mood I met you too. It's time to go Enny". He said with courtesy.
       

        We arrived the hospital after 20mins drive, dad was already asleep and the doctor warned us not to wake him up from his sleep. I looked at him from afar, he looked so innocent and fragile. Is this how  sickness can reshape one? I felt  the urge to  postpone my travel plan and stay with him all night. I know I had never been a better daughter to him but I want him to realise how determined I was now and the burning thirst and desire I have for success. Mum understood how I felt, she knew what my thought was and so she calmed me down and walked me towards the car. Mr Lanre assured me that he will be alright and that he will surely give me update on his health. We drove to the airport in silence, I couldn't help but stare at the car mirror, I looked different in my new hairdo, it's been long I had looked this beautiful, the pregnancy I had then coupled with depression made me looked unkempt and I never made any attempt to look nice. Suddenly my heart skipped when I remembered Alfred, how he came to the hospital to accuse me of murder. I hope he would learn to forget his dead lizard because I can't call that thing a baby, after all Lola will give him the happiness he deserves, she even have the nerves to call me yesterday and announced that she wants me to be her bridesmaid and that she would come to give me an invitation letter soon. What effrontery! I was taken out of my reverie when mum tapped me on my arms to announce our arrival at the airport. I hugged my mum once more and this time it seemed it would last forever, I never wanted to let go, I hugged Mr Lanre and thanked him for his unrelenting effort and love he had for me and my family. The british airways was scheduled to pickoff at 9:10am and luckily we arrived there at exactly 9:00am. There is no direct flight from Lagos to Canada except we take flight  through European cities or other international routes like Turkey, Ethiopia, Egypt, UAE e.t.c but I have decided to take flight from Lagos to Addis Ababa and then from Addis Ababa to Toronto.
When it was time to board the plane, I sat beside a guy who I wouldn't judge much to look cute because he wore a black sunglasses although his physical appearance was appealing, he was light in complexion and looked very fresh, his hair smelled nice, he had a pointed nose, he had a soft pink lips which I stupidly imagined to kiss him. He must be from another country and not from Nigeria.He kept staring at the newspapers and I wondered whether he was actually reading it. He saw how I found it difficult to buckle my seat belt and he helped me with it, what a nice caring man! I thought. 
     

       It took four hours to get to Addis Ababa, and then a stretch of 15 to 16 hours from Adidis Ababa to Toronto with a refuelling period of one hour at Dublin in Ireland. We remained seated in the plane during the refuelling period, I took the opportunity to start a dialogue with my new handsome stranger who  I thought appeared a little hostile.
       

       "Is this your first time travelling by air?." I asked with a smile although I knew that the question I asked was a stupid one. He smiled and removed his sunglasses and Oh my! He so handsome to the extent that I opened my mouth wide and he smiled and touched my lips to close it. He looked like an halfcast, his dimple reminded me of George.
         

     "No, I came to pay a visit to my friends in Nigeria, but I guess this is your first time right?."
         

         "Yeah..." I replied shyly.
           

         "That's nice, atleast after this you will be a novice no more, can I know more about you Angel?." He asked. I blushed at the word 'Angel', I knew he was trying to flirt with me, but I started it in the first place anyways.
       

        "No, introduce yourself first". I insisted.
         

      "Okay, if you insist. My name Antonio, I'm an halfcast, my mum is a Nigerian while my dad is a Canadian, I live in Addison street Oshawa with my parents, I'm single and definitely searching and I'm a lecturer at Durham college of Applied Arts and technology located in Ontario, the college has branches in Witby and Oshawa." He said proudly. I was shocked when he claimed he is a lecturer in Durham college but thank goodness, I was given an admission to the one at Oshawa. He looked at me waiting for my own introduction.
     

      " I'm traveling to Canada to study business administration at Durham university at Oshawa. I'm a Nigerian." I replied.
       

       "Oh that's good, then I think I will need your contact." I was happy brought up that idea and we exchanged contacts.
     

       It took 7hours from Adidis Ababa to Dublin and then about 8 hours from Dublin to Toronto. George ran towards me with joy at the airport when our plane landed and carried with up like a child, he dropped me down and squeeze his eyebrows when he saw Antonio standing me and beaming with smiles.
       

        "Who is this Enny?".
     

         "Oh! This is Antonio ,we met in the plane, Antonio meet George my...."
       

      "Her boyfriend." He chipped in quickly and shook Antonio's hand. I stared at him with surprise, I didn't have any choice but to play along too but Antonio sensed that something was wrong but he wished us good luck and walked away while George crossed his arm around my shoulder towards the awaiting cab.