Undefined Destination - Episode 1

 

She sat down in front of her parents, the world seemed to be spinning in front of her, she wiped her sweaty palms on her wrapper trying to concentrate on what she was hearing, but her mother’s voice seemed to be coming from afar. Her thoughts travel effortlessly to the events that unfolded in the past weeks. She shivered as she remembered the panic attack . A tear was fighting to drop from her eyes but she couldn’t cry, at least not now. “Jessica can you hear me?” her mom asked angrily. Before she could murmur an answer, she felt a hand hit her face. She jerked back to reality. “So it has reached this level; you must keep me quiet?” her mom said placing her hands on her chest. “She’s definitely possessed” her father said letting out a loud hiss. “You are coming with us to the prophet tomorrow whether you like it or not, you can’t disgrace us, if you choose to be a tool for my enemies you will not succeed”. “I’m not going anywhere” she said; she couldn’t believe it came from her, but she was not going to give in; “my life is not yours, I’m not a toy to be manipulated by you, I’m not going anywhere!” She said defiantly. Her mother ran out of the bedroom as though she saw a ghost, she didn’t even bother to listen to what her mom was narrating to her father later that night, she went to her room sobbing silently until she was embraced by the consoling hands of sleep.
Jessica woke up to something singing loudly beside her bed, she hissed at the thought of events of the previous night, it was then she realized that it was her phone ringing

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. It was her boyfriend, Lawrence. He was complaining that he had not seen her for a while now and that he was missing her so much. She smiled and started saying that she’ll come over the next day and that he should wait at the side of EDEN’s shopping mall so   they’ll iron things out. He laughed at the other end of the line telling her that he is used to waiting in vain and the relationship is really taking a down toll as a result of her nonchalance. She was about to tell him that she’s sorry about everything and things were beyond her control right now when she heard footsteps coming towards the direction of her door. It must be her mother; she quickly ended the call and silenced her phone. She feigned sleep and waited for her door to open. “Jessica you have gotten admission to the university”, she said shaking her, so we will be going to the market tomorrow to get your stuff because the school clearance will start in two weeks time. She feigned a smile and said ok. She was expecting her mom to talk about the prophet, but she never mentioned anything of the sort. She was equally expecting a reaction about her lashing out the previous night but nothing, she heaved a sigh of relieve as her mother left the room inviting her to come to the dining room to eat breakfast. Just as she left, she checked her phone and discovered three missed calls and a message. It was Lawrence inviting her to a friend’s party which was to take place the following week. She thought of Lawrence and her secondary school days, how she met him during their literary club week. He came from their school’s all boys out of town. He acted a play and took the lead role; she admired his dexterity and energy. She heard some girls giggling as he was talking to them after the play, she turned to look, he wasn’t even smiling but they seemed fully satisfied by his presence around them. She sat down watching the performance of the most beautiful girl in their school-Zara. She was lost in admiration of Zara when she felt someone sit beside her, it was the lead artiste in the just concluded play, he introduced himself as Lawrence and told her that he was bored and really needed company. He asked her why she didn’t perform but she shook her head smiling, “I only write, I don’t do stage performance” she replied him. “Fine, so what should I call my shy princess?”  ‘Jessica’ she replied trying so hard not to blush, she was now wishing she had a mirror to ensure her looks were ok. He told her all about his school and the places he’s visited. She looked at him, shaking her head and saying yes and no to his numerous questions. He finally excused himself and when she turned, she saw Zara staring at her. She wondered why she looked at her that way; there was something about the way she looked at her. The event eventually came to an end and she was about going when she heard Lawrence’s voice from behind her-he was calling her name. “Leaving without even a goodbye?” she smiled not knowing what exactly to say, she wanted to say sorry but he cut into her thoughts and invited her for his birthday party. She hastily agreed and hurried away, she didn’t know exactly why she did that but it was the right thing to do she thought.
The day of the birthday party was finally here, she had received a letter from Lawrence about the party. She knew her parents would definitely not allow her to go for a teenager’s party but she was determined to go and have fun, at least for once, she had since thought of an escape plan and was determined to carry it out. She told her mom that she was going for an extra lesson in their school organized by her chemistry teacher. Her mom warned her strictly that she should come back on or before six pm, she agreed happily trying not to reveal any emotion in her facial expression. She walked out of the gate and started running feeling nostalgic, it was the first time she was going to a party and she didn't really know what to expect but then she was also going to be a normal teenager today and not the restricted little girl she was. She couldn't understand why her parents wouldn't let her be free for once. She took the paper in which she had written the address and gave it to the cab driver who had alighted before her, she was so nervous and stammered while she talked imagining she would see her mother coming to see her entering a cab to a different direction. The cab sped off and stopped at the Balogun's house. It was a big spacious compound with a 2014 Lexus 350 parked at the parking lot. She was astonished at the magnificence of the house. She was about to knock on the door when Lawrence came out of the house. "Jessica" he said excitedly, beckoning her to come and join the buzz.