C2 🌈

"Deja did you pack the mosquito repellent I told you about earlier?" Mom asked me as we packed my bags.

I shook my head.

"Why? Please go get it, do you want to have malaria the first week you get there?" I could see worry written all over her face.

I sighed, "Mom don't worry I won't forget it."

"What of the mini rechargeable fan?" My mom asked again.

"Mom I don't see the need for all these really." I replied getting a little fustrasted.

She abandoned what she was doing and faced me with her arms folded over her chest,"Didn't you hear what your dad said? They don't have constant power supply."

I smiled,"It can't be that bad mummy, calm down."

"It is that bad. He said they can go weeks without power supply. If that happens how will you sleep at night? The heat is too much this summer what if you get rashes?"

"Fine I'll go with it." I gave in. I walked sluggishly to where my extension was, unplugged the fan, my newly acquired power bank and my 12pro max. I unplugged the extension too. I kept them into my small duffel bag and zipped it close.

"Deja please be careful. Don't be careless with things, especially your phone."

"Mummy –"

"Take this small phone, it has a new sim just in case." My mom interrupted placing the small button phone in my hand.

I shook my head not knowing what to say again, I opened the zip of my box and kept the phone in it. I released a deep breath as I zipped it shut. I carried the big box and my duffel bag while my mom helped with the remaining two boxes. Yeah two extra boxes. It was her idea to pack so many stuff, both what I needed and what I didn't need.

"Deja are you guys not ready? It almost twelve, I don't want to enter the house late."

I turned to face my dad, "I'm coming I'm coming."

After I was sure everything was in the car's booth, I turned to my family and I couldn't help but laugh. They all looked like I was leaving for college or somewhere far. "Why the long faces?"

I hugged my brothers, my mom and then my dad. The look on his face was the worst," Deja it's not too late for me to call your aunt and tell her our plans changed."

I shook my head,"Dad no, stop worrying I'll be fine. I can't wait to see my cousins."

"Okay then. Hope you didn't forget anything important?"

"No sir."

"Alright let's go."

I quickly hugged my mom again and my brothers," Three months is not too long. Soon I'll be home with you guys."

"Take care of yourself baby, call me everyday."

I got into the car with my dad and we drove off. The ride to Ajengule was long. As soon as we got to the mainland, the traffic jam took us hours to drive through. I was chatting with my best friends at first but I later got bored and closed my eyes for a short nap. The numerous potholes we entered jerked me up from my sleep.

I looked out the window through the tinted glass and I was shocked. I was seeing a real ghetto area for the first time ever. The movies I had seen about the ghetto area did Justice to it though. The houses were old and unkept. The roads were very bad that some of the people passing had to dip their legs into the dirty water to pass some certain areas. The pace of my heartbeat increased and I was tempted to tell my dad to turn the car around and take us back home but I didn't. This was something I needed to experience.

"Daddy where are we?"

He turned to look at me for a second before turning to the road again,"Oh you're awake. This is the road that leads to boundary market. Don't worry we're close to your aunt's house."

I was silent for a while again as I observed my environment. I couldn't help but admire the hardworking women and men I saw selling. I wish I could just buy everything they were selling so they could go home and relax even if it was for a day. "Was this where you grew up?"

"Yes." My dad nodded. "This was where I grew up. I lived in this hood for almost twenty years of my life before my uncle in the UK helped me relocate there."

"What was your favourite part of your childhood or teenage hood?"

I looked at my dad and caught a smile on his lips. "I'd say playing football on this field every evening." He pointed to a school which had a large field and no fence. "Also the part where my sister and I helped our mom with her business every night."

"Which business was that?"

"She fried yam right in front of our house."

"Those are the favourite part of your childhood? But you said you suffered." I said with my brows furrowed.

"Of course I did. Do you think growing up here was easy? It was hell and that's why I promised myself my children were never going to experience anything close to what I did. And that's why I don't understand why you want to stay here."

"Daddy, you worry too much. I'm just going to be here for some weeks. It's not that bad."

My dad sighed," Well it's much better than it was many years ago. This area was very dangerous with criminals everywhere. It's really calm now."

He pulled up in front of an old fashioned bungalow that had a really short fence which wasn't up to six feet. The purple paint was faded and some part were even peeling.

"Are we here?"

"Yes, come down and help me get your things down from the truck." My dad replied.

I obeyed. As I was dropping the last bag, my aunt came out of the front door with a big smile. She gave me a hug and I akwardly returned it. "Deja see how big you are. We're even the same height.

I only gave an awkward smile in response. I couldn't bring myself to say anything to her. She and my dad engaged in a conversation but I could hardly hear what they were talking about. My focus was on the house. It wasn't that bad, if only it was repainted and the windows and doors changed it was a bit okay.

"Let's go inside." My aunt said. I waited a few seconds for her to get in front of me so she could lead the way. She opened the door net and curtain for my dad and I to walk in with the bags before she closed the door.

The living room was kind of big but it wasn't spacious. The couch were big that they almost covered everywhere. They was a center table in the middle with a vase of fake flowers and crayons on it. The TV was about 32 inches but it wasn't a flat screen. It was those TVs that had a big back, 'pregnant TV' like it was know as. It was placed on a high TV stand with a Startimes Decoder on the next step.

The ground was covered with cream coloured rubber tiles but it had a nice design. The wall was painted cream colour too and the curtains were cream and brown. A large portrait of the family was on one side of the wall. They looked really happy and I couldn't help but smile.

"Deja sit down na, please feel comfortable o this is your house."

I quickly sat down on the three seater couch closest to the door. I didn't even realize my aunt had moved all my lugages into the room.

"What of Amaka and co?" My dad asked trying to start a conversation to break the awkward silence.

"David and Amaka went to a friend's birthday party at the back street and Andrew is asleep inside the room." My aunt replied.

"Okay." My dad stood up," I'll be on my way now. I still have some things to do at work."

"Okay na, I'll call you later."

"Before the end of this week I'll send you some money for provison." He said to aunty Bridget who shook her head.

"We are fine."

My dad shrugged. "If you insist."

"Let me see you off." I said getting up too.

We walked to his car and once again I was tempted to go home with my dad. I didn't know if I could do this.

"I sent you 100k for this month."

"For what?" I asked in surprise.

"It's your allowance. Also I don't want you to lack anything. I want you to be comfortable, if you don't like what they are eating, go to an eartry. Incase you need more cloths too."

I hugged my dad,"Thank you but I doubt I will spend almost all the money."

"I know. Just in case."

I hugged my dad again,"I'll miss you."

"Me too. Deja please don't go anywhere. If you must,go with your cousins. Try to make friends too, but be careful so you don't make bad friends."

I nodded.

"And finally try to have fun okay? Call me In case there is a problem."

"Okay I will." I replied.

"Bye."

I watched my dad drive off and I felt sad. I wasn't going to see him for three months. My family were the only people I felt really free around.

I walked into the house and my aunt was no longer in the living room. I locked the net as I saw her did few moments ago and I was about to sit down when I heard her voice.

"Deja is that you? Come inside na."

I followed her voice and entered the room. It wasn't much but it was very neat. I sat down on the plastic chair opposite her. I could see Andrew her last born on the bed behind her. He was in a deep sleep. The room was so loaded with bags and other things that there was barely space to movie around.

"Deja you brought so many things o."

"It was my mom that packed for me."

"Oh okay. I've kept your bags in the wardrobe."

"Okay ma."

"I know my house is not big. It's not like what you're used to to but I'm sure it's not that bad."

I shook my head again unable to find my voice.

"Feel free you hear? I don't bite. You can go back to the parlour. "

"Okay ma. I grabbed my phone and airpod from my bag then I went back to the parlour.

I sat down on the chair and I was so tempted to lie down but I didn't want it to seem I was always making myself comfortable so fast. I read through my Facebook feed untill I got a call from Simi.

"What's up baby girl?"

"I'm good, have you gotten to your cousin's house?"

"Yes not quite long. Girl I'm kind of wishing I stayed home."

I could hear her laugh at the background,"What? You don't want adventure again?"

"Simi stop jare."

" Sorry. You just got there though, I'm sure with time you'll love it there. I gotta run, I'll call you later. Love you."

"Love you too. Take care."

As I ended the call, there was a knock on the door. I was about going to call Aunty Bridget when I heard, "Mummy open door na."

It was Amaka.

I quickly opened the door and stepped aside for her to enter. As she did, David followed behind.

David noticed me first, "Ahan Deja you're here. Thought you'll be coming later."

"I thought she wouldn't even come at all." Amaka whispered but it was loud enough that I heard.

"I just got here recently." I said to David, pretending not to hear what Amaka said.

She ignored me completely and entered the room.

David sat down on the couch, removing his shoe laces,"Sorry about Amaka's behavior. She's an abaya." He said the last word in a whisper and I laughed loudly.

"It's fine." I said.

"Wow isn't that iPhone 11 pro max?" David asked pointing to my phone on the table.

"12 pro max." I said proudly. It was barely a month old.

"Wow."

"Yeah."

"Excuse me let me go and drop this shoe in the room."

"Okay."

As soon as he left, I stood up, tiptoed to the door to eavesdrop caused I had a feeling Amaka was talking about me.

"Mummy why did you agree for her to come her?" She said angrily.

"Amaka behave yourself. What is your problem? See how you talked to her just now." David chirped in.

I could hear the wardrobe door Creek and laughter followed," See, you see. See how much cloths she brought just for few months holiday. They are even more than my whole cloths. Show off."

"If you don't shit your dirty mouth now, I will give you slap." My aunt half screamed. "Idiot."

I walked back to the chair and I was on the verge of tears. Hearing Amaka talk that way about me really made me sad. She didn't like me at all. I didn't think I could live with her. I decided to call my dad, to tell him to come pick me up.