7

Tell me what

you gon' do to me.

Confrontation ain't

nothin' new to me.

--

Chimdi's thumb hovered over the green dial button on her phone. Nene's name with infinity love emoticons came staring back at her.

She hated when they fought. Always rare and disastrous. But this time, she was certain she wasn't at fault.

Hell, they took sides with a boy they hardly knew and even called her a bitch literally.

She stared at her phone, her hands itching to click on the dial button. It felt like forever since she last spoke to them, when she just had a face off with them minutes ago.

But, they should be calling me too.

And they are not. Her subconscience mocked.

She wasn't the only one at fault.

She huffed, connecting her phone to her air pod instead, before bringing out her literature textbook.

Literature was a subject she'd gladly pay attention to, even in her dreams.

Giving detailed accounts on a character's role and laying out themes, brought out the literature goddess in her.

But at the moment, what she couldn't fathom was why she couldn't get herself to answer the question which felt so easy back in the room before the quarrel.

She looked at the question again, trying to work magic on them.

Does Bigger Thomas deserve a death sentence? Answer with reference to the bible.

She stared back at the question, becoming confused by the minute.

The argument really messed with her brain.

Or the bitter truth that you are wrong?

Her sub conscience nagged, earning a frustrated growl from her.

She closed the voluminous text book, setting it down with a huff, before increasing the volume of her song.

Getting lost in the strange lyrics. She never knew the song even existed in her playlist

Skin covered in ego

Get talking, like ya involved

Like a rebound

No control, no off switch...

She felt her self slipping in, not minding that the assignment was due on Monday, which was the next day.

--

"Jesus Christ! What kind of weather from hell is this!" TJ cursed, searching for a nice shade. Any where to rest before continuing his trek back to the male hostel.

He had never trekked that long in his whole 17 years of existence. For all the long distant walk he'd missed out, he'd made up for then in span of two weeks in Nigeria.

He chuckled to himself, realizing that he loved every bit of the experience. Everything felt new, the feeling and adrenaline rush that came with future expectations. He embraced every one of them.

Nigeria wasn't that bad, at least not yet for a while. The only problem he faced was a female. One who looked fragile.

How could one tiny looking being make him uncomfortable. If not scared.

Trying to wrap his mind around his present situation, he didn't hear his cellphone ring, till the familiar sound of his ringing tone brought him out of his reverie at the second ring.

Without looking at the caller ID, he answered the call. Expecting Elo's signature greetings.

Instead he got a; "Finally Baby T! Took you forever huh! " The familiar voice greeted.

There was only one person with that voice and who addressed him by the dreaded endearment.

He checked the caller ID.

"Ruby? How did you get my number? " Came his shocked reply.

"I am fine Baby T and thanks for asking." She snorted.

TJ knew she was rolling her eyes at the moment.

"It's really you?" He didn't know how to handle the damned call.

They separated on a bad note. With her spilling her drink on his shirt. A loud enough message that she wasn't happy with him. But the call, he wasn't prepared for.

"Of course, who else calls you by the infamous nickname?"

He snorted, knowing better than to challenge her.

"How have you been? Anything new?"

He heard her scoff, and shuffling in the background, trying to make herself comfortable. He smiled. Somethings can never change, she always got comfortable whenever it came to calls. It was an adorable habit.

"Been here, mopping around with the girls. Speaking of girls... Any hot girls in Nigeria?"

Was that a trap?

"Take a wild guess Ruby."

"Ooooh, I knew it. They slay the shit out of the gram! And boy are they endowed." TJ laughed, remembering one person he knew perfectly wasn't endowed.

At least not yet.

"You've not answered me Ruby, how did you get my number?"

So far as he was concerned, the only people who had his new number were his father, Elo and the clique.

"Silly, Papa T gave me your new number."

There was silence for a second.

"You didn't tell him we broke up did you?" She asked quietly, TJ sought out a bench under a mango tree, grateful for finding shade, he sighed.

"I didn't get a chance to." Came his brief response.

"How is Nigeria T, you never answered my previous question." She was quick to stir the conversation to another direction.

And TJ was grateful, he wasn't in the mood to go down memory lane.

"It's been Okay I guess." He craved to pour everything out to her, but they've left that stage a long time ago.

"You guess ?TJ you should be happy. You got what most Africans over here crave." She said quietly, If TJ wasn't in a quiet place would gave missed.

"I spoke to Papa T, I think he is really scared you know," She was silent for seconds.

"All he thinks about is how you detest Nigeria and how he feels you probably hate him, you're making your old man have regrets and that's unfair." She scolded, causing him to roll his eyes.

"You know, when Nana was still alive, she told us cool stories about Africa, she longed to belong there. Not just for vacations and tours, but to be a part of them. And growing up too TJ, I felt same way. I mean, I know I've got African blood in my DNA, I really want to belong there, have a place to really call home. Feel like royalty. Because hell, telling peeps outta here that I'm from ChiTown makes me feel like a fake ass."

"You have all that and more TJ, all that most black kids crave. Why not give it a chance. With an open heart. Like Nana said, being in Africa takes you home."

TJ was speechless for minutes. Ruby, wasn't one to have her way with words and there she was, feeding him soul piercing words.

"Hello, you still there. Look asshole! If you hang up on me..." That was definitely the Ruby he knew.

"Wow, that was deep." He finally spoke, clearing his throat.

"Embrace everything, feelings whatsoever with open arms and heart T."

"Yes ma." A soft smile played on his lips.

"Now, that's settled. How's your morning. I woke early to give you this pep talk. You ruined my perfect Sunday ritual asshole."

"Woah, it's noon here."

"Oh, totally forgot. Papa T said Nigeria is five hours ahead."

"Yup. Now don't be a drama queen Babe and tell me what you've really been up to..."

"...hello! Damnit hello!! You there. Shit this couuntry sucks!" He cussed.

The poor reception was irking him.

TJ let out an animalistic groan. When things seemed to be getting better, something must always come up to disrupt.

He sighed, staring at his cell phone and thinking about all Ruby had dished out.

Too deep.

His sub conscience added.

And he couldn't agree less. It was deep. Totally deep.

He imagined Ruby in all her slender petite glory, her wild brown curls silently battling with the wind while she'll try to put them in place. Her beautiful caramel skin, favoured by the sun, making her glow so surreal, with plump red lips spitting out soul piercing words.

He couldn't deny one thing. He missed her- he missed them and all thanks to coming to Nigeria.

Some things in his life fell out of place all because of a damned country.

Sighing again and remembering Ruby's words. He had to make the best out of his stay in Nigeria. Embrace everything, whether good or bad.

Ruby was right. Hell she was always right.

Pocketing his cell phone and getting ready to continue his trek back to the boys hostel, someone caught his eyes.

A tiny figure sitting, with legs crossed Indian style, wrapped in a black Pacesetters hoodie and staring out of space.

It took him a good five minutes to know the said Someone was Chimdi.

He took the moment to take in her features. Aside staring at him like she wished him nothing but a slow, painful death, when she wasn't being snarky, she looked like a harmless creature.

More like an Angel.

He watched her lips trying to move in sync with whatever she was listening to and failing, earning a pout from her.

He had to admit that she looked cute or even adorable.

Her hand reached out touch her kinky hair, twirling them in her fingers absentmindedly.

The act alone was enough to get him staring. The scene so captivating.

Who could have thought that he'd catch a glimpse of her vulnerable side, talk more of having a full show. And he wished, she'd stay that way.

What is wrong with you? His subconscious chided.

As if reading his mind, Chimdi's head snapped up and catching him staring at her.

Her face morphed into a confused frown before blossoming into a scowl.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Her voice was cold.

And...we are back.

TJ observed her, a smile tugging at his lips. She wasn't that bad an actress.

"Stop smiling!" She growled, still scowling.

"The last time I checked, you didn't own this shade." The words rolled off his lips as he took her reaction in.

She freed her legs, planting them down. She started to pack her unused books into her backpack.

"Where are you going?"

"I'm leaving. Since you don't know what personal space is!" She snapped, groaning in frustration as the zipper got stuck, earning a hearty laugh from TJ.

"You can leave. Fine by me." TJ shrugged innocently, while she glared fire and brimstone at him.

"Urrrgh! You're so annoying!" Swinging her bag over her shoulder, she stormed off.

And leaving an amused TJ behind.

TJ laughed hard when she nearly tripped on a stray branch.

For once, he felt like everything was falling into place again.

Nigeria wasn't so bad after all.

--