Alex left the house earlier this morning because of the presentation he was going to have with a sister company later that afternoon, so he had to leave very early inorder to meet up so as to prepare well with his colleagues at work, before the set time. He mentioned that he would come home late because of the work load he had to work on today.
I had breakfast with Mom today, since Alex had his so early before he left for work. Breakfast was bread, butter with scrambled eggs and beverage of course.
I felt like eating my yam with sauce, but I had to remain like the loyal daughter, especially for the fact that I had a big mission to accomplish and no one was going to stop me, not even mom.
Sitting on the dinning chair, my cup raised as I quietly sipped the tea, my thoughts diverting from one place to another. I had a plan today, so I had to think up something so fast, so that as soon as I get the chance to leave the house, I wouldn't waste any more time, but will go ahead to initiate it without much ado.
"Girl, are you alright? You seem." She stared at me for a while, then continued, "LOST! what is bothering you? You can open up to me, you know." She offered.
I shook my head in negation. "You can't help me, so there is no need asking. Thanks for your concern anyway." I answered less concerned.
"Are you sure you are okay? Maybe, I wouldn't have to go for my class again, I could."
I cut in immediately, to stop her from thinking about that. She won't spoil my plan, not now. "Mom, stop. I said I'm fine. Please go to whatever class you say you wanna go to I am not stopping you. For the meantime, I am fine and I mean it." I replied coldly.
"I know you don't want to talk to me about it, but I promise, I won't let Alex know about it if you share with me, it's just gonna be between you and me." She suggested, smiling to get my approval.
I backed down completely on time and told her that I didn't have anything to talk to her about. "Mom." I said coolly, narrowing my eyes to hers. "I don't have anything to tell you."
She didn't bother me after that, but went on to finish her food and clearing her plates. I wasn't rushing to go anywhere, so I ate my food lazily, still hatching my plans in my head.
Mother returned to the dinning room after spending some time in the kitchen. "Sonia, I've prepared lunch already, so you don't get too hungry at noon. I won't be coming home so early today."
"So, you will be coming home late, huh? I asked her, to confirm what I heard at first.
"Well yeah. Today's time table has a lot in place, so I won't beat time." She answered, smiling broadly.
I smiled back in pretence, then asked her. "When you say late, how late do you really mean? Wanting to know how I would strategize properly to make it fall in place with what I have in my head, so I don't play out of time.
"Quite late." She answered, then disappeared into the kitchen again.
That, wasn't the kind of answer I was expecting. I needed a specific time, that I can plan with. But then, I guess I would have to make do with the little information I have for the meantime. Asking her further questions might warrant that she start getting suspicious of me, which if it does happen, then I am fried.
I was eating very slowly deliberately, so I won't get bored with talks and thinking. I was hoping mom would leave the house on time, so I can go on with what I have in mind. I got bored with eating slowly, so I rushed up and finished it, then I cleared the table and took the plates and cups to the kitchen to wash them off.
Mother was in the kitchen already and I saw that she was washing already, so I kept it on the table just beside the sink, waiting for her to finish up.
"Girl, are you waiting for me to get done with what I am doing?
I didn't understand what she meant by that at first, so I replied carelessly.
"Well, yeah, obviously."
"You stubborn young lady." She scolded, "drop those things here, can't you see that I am washing already? She kept berating, murmuring to herself.
"Mom, I don't fancy the fact that you are doing all the house chores in this house." I complained, grumbling to myself.
"Are we really talking about this now? We have talked about this over and over again. We discussed this and concluded that I will do this till I am leave this house, so what are you talking about?
"This is my house for crying out loud. I don't understand when it became a crime for me to do little things in my own house! I answered with annoyance.
Mother stared at me with total displeasure without uttering any other word, she went back to washing the plates that were in the sink already. I knew arguing with her won't change anything, so I left the plates there in anger and stormed out of the kitchen.
I went to my room and after a brief thinking, I decided to have a shower while I waited for mother to get done with what she had on ground, so she can leave the house.
After bathing, I changed into a short trouser and a plain blouse. Then, I brought out a jean trouser and a t-shirt and dropped it on the bed. Took my car key and put it inside the bag I planned using to go out.
I took some cash from the drawer and put some of it inside my bag and the remaining, inside the Jean pocket. I took everything I thought I might need for the short trip and put them into my bag.
Satisfied with the little drama I just played, I went downstairs to the sitting room, so I could easily keep an eye on my mother.
Getting to the sitting room, I took the TV remote the side table where it had been lying. Selecting a channel that I can watch, I rested on the sofa and watched comfortably, not forgetting the reason I was here on the first place.
I went to the kitchen to get a bottle of water, then I noticed that mother was no longer there and she was done washing the plates. I took the water I came for and went back to the sitting room to enjoy the movie that was playing.
Some minutes after, Mom came out of her room, fully dressed. She was looking so cool and younger from her makeup. She wore a silk gown, on heels, with jewelries all over.
"Mom, woa! You look so different." I exclaimed in amazement.
She smiled broadly and couldn't help but blush. "I look beautiful right? She asked, knowing what my answer would be.
"More like, stunning, yeah. I really doubt that you are going for your lessons. You are dressed to kill? Do you have a mission? I asked sarcastically.
She laughed heartily, showing herself off. "Well, I heard we might have something extra today, so I thought I could add to it by dressing good." She answered, flaunting her gown.
I raised my legs and placed them on the sofa to have a good view of my mother. Suddenly, something strange came to my mind, that I banged the chair so loud. Luckily, the chair could absorb certain level of noise, if not it would have turned out to be a disaster.
"Mother, are you.." I paused, not knowing how to put out the question.
She looked at me waiting for me to spill it out. She used her face to signal to me not to keep her in suspense. Well, I had to find courage somehow to ask my question.
"I just want to know.. are you in anyway, going on a date with a guy? Maybe you are seeing someone? I asked, throwing my mother off balance.
Mother burst out in laughter. "Sonia girl, are you really kidding me? Oh no! I am not in any affair alright. Don't worry, if that happens, you will be the first to know." She replied.
"Oh, so sorry about that. I just had to be sure. It came to my mind and I thought it was okay if I asked." I said, with so much embarrassment creeping on me.
"That's fine, I understand."
"So, how will you be going? You wouldn't want to ruin the spice of this dress by taking a public bus, will you?
"Ah, nah! I booked a ride already." She answered giving off this unbelievable expression. Then she exclaimed, Ohh! he is calling, the taxi I booked." She picked her phone and answered. "Hey hello. Oh yeah, outside already? Okay. Well, yeah, I will be out in a jiffy."
After she ended the call, she smiled and said to me. "Baby girl, I will be back soon. Don't forget you have lunch in the kitchen, incase you get hungry." She answered walking briskly to the exit.
"I can take care of myself, you shouldn't bother so much about that."
"Whatever you say. Just take care of yourself." She said loudly as she walked away.
I went to the window and opened the cotton to watch her as she left the compound. As soon I heard the car screech and drive away, I put off the TV and went off, to my room.
I opened the door to my room and banged it hard as I ran to the bed to get my clothes. In few seconds, the clothes on me were all off and I changed into the ones I had brought out earlier.
After a while, I was done dressing up. I applied a little brown powder on my face with pink lipsticks. I tried drawing an arc on my eye brow, but then I felt it was unnecessary, so I tossed it back on my cosmetic kit. I removed my hair net and made my hair fall on my shoulder.
I grabbed my handbag and put on a soft sandal, then I looked around to be sure that I wasn't forgetting anything important. I grabbed the keys to the house that was on my dressing table.
I left my room room, closing the door behind me as I hurriedly walked downstairs. I locked the door after I left the house and put the keys inside my bag.
I unlocked my car and got in. Turned on the engine and allowed it for a while, before I drove out of the compound.
As I left my compound, I saw a guy running after my car and waving at me to stop. Who was this person? I wondered. He didn't look familiar to me, so I thought of driving off so fast, but on the other hand following my instincts I had to stop the car and I waited for him to meet up with me.
As he came closer, through the side mirror, I saw him clearly and I recognized the guy as the same one who had stopped I and Jessica some weeks back when we were driving out of the compound, just as I am now.
He walked up to me, panting lightly. He was breathing heavily and had to catch his breathe before he finally talked. "Hey, I am so sorry to bother you. I have been trying to get to you and your sister but, I haven't seen you two in a while." He said.
Saying my sister, I knew exactly who he was referring to, that was no other person that Jessica. "Okay. How may I help you? I asked him, wondering why he stopped me first of all.
"Well, I am sorry if you think I'm invading your privacy. I just want to know or should I say find out, if you have found your kids? I haven't been so comfortable since I got to know that they were missing, when you came to the house that day." He answered.
"But, I don't know you nor anything about you." I said to him, feeling a bit uncomfortable talking with him
"Yeah, I know. But, I am willing to help you find your children." He replied, sounding desperate.
"How do you know I haven't found my children yet? I didn't tell you anything." I asked him, wide eyed, staring at him like he was a ghost is anything close to that.
"Your answer gave you out. It was easy to spot that, so I guessed immediately that it was the answer." He replied without frantic efforts.
I looked at him for a while, then I asked. "What do you want from me exactly? I asked, not really convinced about what he said.
"I want to help you. That's all I am asking, let me help you find your children." He replied, this time, calmer.
I was confused, he can't be asking for this, if something wasn't involved. "Erm, why if I may ask? What reason do you have? I asked, a bit irritated by his willingness to help me just like that, though anticipating a good response from him.
"Well, it's a very long story. I'm not sure you have the time to hear that, as you are on your way to somewhere." He answered, staring at the ground. Which was a little bit weird.
"Perhaps you have to find a way to cut that short, maybe by then I will have the time to listen to what you have to say." I answered coldly, not wanting to hear anything from him any longer.
I started the car immediately, ready to leave him at that spot and continue with what I have to do, which was more important than what he was saying. He stopped me from leaving, requesting for my contact.
"Can I get your contact atleast, perhaps we could chat and then I could send what you want to know."
"I don't think that's necessary." Please, go out of my way, I have somewhere important I have to go now."
"I know you do, but please let me get your contact, then I would stop disturbing you, especially on the road." He pleaded with me.
I couldn't say no to that, so I gave him my contact and he called it right there.
"So, what do I save it as? He asked, looking at his phone screen.
"I am Sonia, Sonia Tinket. What about you? What's yours? I asked.
"I'm George by name. Thanks for sparing out time to talk with me, I really do appreciate it." He appreciated.
"Tell that to the situation, I will see you later." I said to him and drove off speedily, to beat up time that I have lost already.
"Now, first place to go, Frank's house."
It was just some distance from our house. About twenty minutes drive, so that won't give me a lot of trouble. I said to myself, as I kept driving constantly checking my time, just to be in the right track. Because, it won't be so funny if I get home after my mother or my husband, that would be a total disaster.