PAST ME

Chapter: 1

2 years ago, pearl@ view estate Yaba Ikeja Lagos Nigeria...

In a two-bedroom apartment, a guy was lying in a comfy bed in his room. The alarm clock on the dresser close to his bed rang. The guy raises his hand to turn off the alarm. He yawns sitting up.

Spreading his two hands wide, he stretch his back and did some hand exercises....he got up from the bed, and headed for his wardrobe.

He open it and brought out a singlet(white), short revealing his perfect body. And wore a to-match exercise sneaker.

Wearing a cap and an arm trimmer with a pocket where he places his phone, he stood adjusting himself in front of the large mirror.

'Satisfied' He exits the house and starts jogging.

He jogged out of the estate down the road on a pedestrian lane. After jogging a long way and for a couple of minutes the young man stopped and started walking slowly.

Sweat trips down from his forehead down to his muscular body, his singlet was already covered in sweat and he felt his throat dry.

(Phone ringing) The young man brought out his phone, it was an unknown number. At first, he hesitates to pick up the call.

But he finally gave in and answered the call...

Smith: hello?

The voice at the other end: hey smith it's me, Steven.

A familiar voice said informally on the other end causing smith to huff in disgust.

Smith: you...(he exhales, tilts his head a little bit then continue) what is it? Steven.

Steven: turn around (Smith turns around. across the road was a black Mercedes Benz G-class.

The tinted glass went down revealing Steven who was inside the car. Smith strode across the road...he entered the car.

Steven was a chubby one with a mass of curly hair combed over fade, bringing out his oval face.

Mr. Steven was wearing a well-iron Tuxedo Grain De Poudre suit, a sunglass, a Panama hat, and an Oxford shoe to match, All in black. revealing his aura, enough to intimidate other people below his class.

Steven: seeing you all macho...(nods) I knew you have been doing good well since...(he trails off trying to remember something, turns to smith) is it 15 years now or 20 years? (he asks no one in particular)I think it's. (he furrows his brow up while he tilts his head in thought) Oh, I remember, the judge reduce your sentence(he scoffed softly, showing some sets of gape teeth.

Steven noticed smith was not giving any attention to his words he adjust himself.

Steven: sorry, am a creature of habits.

Smith: don't act so informal with me, get to the point (smith look inquiringly at Steven, then shrugged his shoulders. )

Steven: do you know you have a very bad habit of shutting people out all the time (exhale, he brought out a document and hand it over to smith, smith took it and went through it. A frown settled on his face while reading the contents of the document)

Smith: am done with all this stuff

Steven: that's the problem with you smith, well I heard. but what to do? You made us the promise at that time or have you forgotten? ( he asks not intending to receive an answer) I can brief it all to you.

There was silence for a while making the car atmosphere a bit gloomy as seriousness burned in the faces of the two men interacting..at last smith smashed the silence.

Smith: I just want to live a normal life

Steven: feel like you're living! Feel like you're living! (He uses his hand to hit the driver's seat repeatedly) you ain't dead smith. See, see,( he pointed at the contents in the document) you see this fucking shit... this fucking shit has been drifted for so many years and you're the only one, boss trust with the job. So you ain't refusing. After all, it's to get you a well-paid occupational job, and mind if I say you can go on with the job even after the mission is finalized?

( smith exhales, places his hand on his forehead...meditating. After a while he turns to Steven)

Smith: And the pay?

Steven: double,double,extra. Listen, we settle on the usual bid, 200 million Naira will be deposited into your account without issues.

Smith:( tosses the documents over to Steven ) Am not interested.

Steven:300 million

Smith: you talk too much

Steven:400 million...still no? Come on this is a lot of money with no hesitation.

Smith: let me know when you are ready ( he opens the door and intends to leave but Steve quickly held him back)

Steven: 500 million( smith stops, closes the door, and turns to Steven)

Smith: 500 million that's it (nods) we should be bidding way past the usual.

Steven: this is more than usual.

Smith: ( giggles slightly) starting from 500 million..how about we say 700 million

Steven: you're too much, it's just one simple task.

Smith: then get the task done yourself (intend to leave again)

Steven: deal!

Smith: brief me.

Steven: you will be going undercover as an archeologist for two years...there's an excavation site placed on hold in the 90s. With firm confirmation, they will be reopening the 'investigation' on the site. Read the contents properly it will guide you. 350 million nairas will be deposited into your account for the start and the balance will be when the mission is done. Don't screw things up and we'll give you all the necessary feedback. All your crime files have been erased from the list of criminals' terror census..so it's a new start.

Smith: new start? Well, you're about to get it ruined again. (he got down from the car, he turned to leave but stop and turn to Steven) I didn't go to a prominent university like you but at least am not bad at English. Besides its " resume research" not " reopening investigation "it's not some case you're digging in. ( he sneered in dismay)

Steven: what, Am I that bad? (smith chuckles looking at Steven's face All red in embarrassment )you!

Smith: sorry am a creature of habit. ( he jogs away)

Steven: Does he have to make me feel embarrassed all the time we meet? " Am a creature of habit" (mickmick smith voice) that's my word! (He shouted disgusted)

'My Name is smith Charles, am a single hot-headed guy. I grew up without a family. Being alone all my life makes me feel like am not living..like a living corpse. '

'To survive and feel like am living I engage myself in illegal fun activities. Like being a night courier, drug smuggler, stuntman and there was a time I team up with terrorists terrorizing places but that didn't end well. We were caught in the act and I was the only survivor.'

'I went to jail and there was Steven who conned his way through the judgments and reduce the charges to 15 years of hard labor. In exchange, I made a promise to help them out one more time on any mission after being out, but it wasn't for free. I get paid for every damn mission.'

'It's been 15 years now since I came out of jail all I do is eat, sleep, and out all day. There's no need to work 'cause I've made a lot of money. (smith got home, took his shower, and prepare breakfast. After eating he went out to the basketball court)the government confiscates all of my property but not exactly all. I knew a day like that was so near so I sold a few of my properties and got all the Money transfer into a secret bank account in Singapore.'

It was difficult to find the hidden account so the government just confiscate what they had in hand. All this went smoothly with the help of Steven that nut job!

( After playing basketball alone on the court for a while, Smith took a break. The rain started drizzling, exhausted smith sat down on the floor catching his breath. Momentarily the drizzling rain became a heavy downpour, lying down spreading his arm and legs widely.)

The only thing I wish for is to feel like a living, you see I don't have a normal life like everyone else. No friends, no loved ones, and no family.

Back then, I try to entertain myself using force and got involved in illegal activities I thought would last the fun, but guess what? It didn't cause the fun breaks off when you're back to being alone.

(After the heavy downpour, the rain stopped and the sun took its position up in the sky. Smith stood up took his bag and left.

He walks into a restaurant and orders two bottles of beer along with NGWO a traditional pepper soup. He eats slowly just then his phone beep. It was an email message. He checks it out.

Smith:( read the message out loud to himself) all preparations are done, so get ready by tomorrow a car will pick you up and also I'll send you the lists of information later, read them and get schooled. We'll be watching from near. (with gritted teeth) "educated" not "schooled...' he corrected'

Life is monotonous maybe it is for me only, not everyone since the saying goes everyone is born unique. ( he stood up paid the bills and left for home. He refreshed up rested for 1hr then went through the documents.

The following day...

Smith snores, and the alarm rings at 6 am. He turn off the alarm stood up and stretch his back. He got ready for a workout and left for jogging. After that, he came back refreshed, made breakfast, ate up, and got ready to leave.

A car drove into his compound to pick him up. A few minutes later they arrived at the archeology company. Smith came down from his car which stop at the entrance of the archeology organization. He moves slowly into the company. Just then a young lady in a suit walked up to him.

Young lady: are you smith Charles?

Smith: affirmative I am

Young lady: follow me

( she took him to a department using the elevator. On getting there the people who were operating in the department got convened by the manager)

.....staring at new faces I know I just made a turn in my life. A phase 2 of the problem...I keep having this feeling that things are gonna stir up nicely in here. Am not the social type so that's gonna be a major problem. So am gonna have to work that out first.