SOULMATES* written by Olaoluwa Oluwafunmilayo . (A participant of the just concluded content writing class organised by COMFLO MEDIA CONCEPT. ) SOULMATES* written by Olaoluwa Oluwafunmilayo . (A participant of the just concluded content writing class organised by COMFLO MEDIA CONCEPT. )
CHAPTER ONE
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I groaned in annoyance as the sun ray hit my face directly.
I’ve always loved the view from that side of my room, but this morning it’s pretty annoying. I forgot to draw my curtains last night.
I made a slight move to get out of bed but the pain in my head had me snuggling further into my pillows.
My head hurt so much, it felt like a bunch of soldiers were having their morning parade in my head.
Just how much did I drink last night, I wondered.
Before I ended up this worse on bed, it started with an innocent party…
The party was in full swing with music blasting from the speakers all around us, and most of my friends were here already. My best friend, Brenda dragged me up to the bar to get another drink as I was getting lost in thoughts again.
Today was a happy and sad one for me. It’s my birthday today, and it’s also the same day my mom died.
Two years ago to be exact. I’ve always blamed myself for my mom’s death.
“C’mon girl, drink up and live a little”, Brenda said as she pushed a shot of tequila into my hand.
I didn’t want to be here tonight, I just wanted to stay in my room all night and reminisce on all the good memories I had with my mom, but Brenda was having none of that.
So, she invited some of our friends over, and organized a small birthday party for me.
I told her I didn’t want a party, and she told me to see it as a send forth instead as I would be travelling to New York tomorrow. Not travelling actually, but relocating.
My dad had a promotion at work which required him to change cities as he would now be heading the branch of DEBRIS CORPS in New York.
It took a while for me to agree because relocating also means changing schools, and I was about to begin my second year in college.
Dad said he had everything sorted out, and I’ve been transferred to another college over there.
He felt the change of environment will do me good as I’ve been a shadow of myself ever since my mom passed.
“Alright, alright, just one drink”
I told Brenda as I accepted the shot from her. One shot turned into another, and another until I ended up taking seven shots of tequila, and then we hit the dance floor right after.
I just wanted to forget about everything and live in the moment.
I’m eighteen, and legal. I grabbed another drink from a waiter passing by, and downed it in one go.
I was already feeling tipsy as my dance steps were becoming a little uncoordinated but I didn’t give a care in the world.
I was going to drink my sorrows away today, and worry about my life tomorrow.
The last thing I remember was getting on one of the tables in the bar and everything was blank after that.
***** ***** ***** *****
Reality always come back to hit you hard.
Real hard
I kept tossing and turning between the sheets trying to relieve myself of the terrible hangover I had, but nothing was working.
I just laid still under the blanket when I heard a gentle knock on the door.
That must be dad, I thought but I didn’t move a muscle from my spot on the bed.
He came into my room and sat on the bed beside me.
“Good morning princess”, my dad greeted as he carefully took off my blanket.
I snuggled further into my pillow, but a gentle pat on my head had me fluttering my eyes open. My eyes met with hazel ones that were similar to mine.
“Dad” I croaked.
Gosh, was that my voice! My dad’s face showed he was disappointed that I was hung over. Way to start a day.
“I’m so sorry dad” I said sitting up
“Yesterday was just….”
I stopped talking because I couldn’t form words. It made no sense I drank to stupor to forget about Mom.
My dad just gathered me in his arm, his hold was gentle, but firm and patted my back gently, whispering sweet nothings in my ear while all the emotions I kept bottled up yesterday came crashing down on me, and I found myself grasping unto my dad’s shirt with my fists and bawling my eyes out.
“I mi…ss her so m…uch” I whispered in a broken voice as my sobs were uncontrollable now but my dad just kept on telling me it was going to be okay.
Even after two years, I couldn’t get over the fact that my mom was no longer with us. The event that led to her death….
As if my dad could read my thoughts he said “Bella, my dear, it’s not your fault… it was an event that was inevitable”.
I felt the brokenness in his voice as he said that, and it just made me cry harder.
After an hour of continuous crying, I managed to stop the waterworks. I got freshened up and pack up my stuffs left to be packed.
My room was empty by now except for my bed and a few furniture’s. I had spent the past week packing, and our stuffs had been moved already.
I stepped outside the house and found my dad waiting for me. I walked over to him, dropped the bag I had with me and jumped into his arms.
He held me tight for a few minutes, after which he got my bag and placed it in the trunk.
I turned around to take a long last look at my childhood home. It held so many good memories, most especially memories of my mom.
Just thinking about them brought tears to my eyes again but I immediately brushed them off with the back of my hand.
I walked back to the car, got in and buckled myself. Dad said he wasn’t going to sell the house so he’ll have our housekeeper Mama Marie come clean from time to time.
I was glad he did that.
I took a final glance at the house and whispered
“Goodbye mom” as she was buried right behind the house. Even though her body was buried there, she was always on my mind.
My dad put the car in ignition, and slowly drove out of our compound as we made our way to the airport.
========
The airport was buzzing with people as it was a Saturday morning, and it seems like it’s a good day to travel as the weather was favorable.
Our flight was in thirty minutes.
Dad told me to go take a seat in the waiting lounge so he could go about how he would get his car transported.
Not later than a minute that I took my seat, I heard someone shout my name “Bel!”, only one person called me that.
I turned around to follow the voice I heard, one distinct voice I would recognize anywhere as I came face to face with my best friend, Brenda.
I’ve been friends with Brenda since 8th grade. Her blue eyes were what got me drawn to her. I was mesmerized, and got lost in them the first day I saw her. We’ve been friends ever since even till college. Though we’ve had our bad days, our friendship always pulled through.
Brenda was like the sister I never had, and I had so much to thank her for.
She practically moved in with me after my mom passed. Her parents were also very supportive of our friendship.
I immediately rushed to her and gathered her in my arms for a long lasting hug, she returned the favor with as much vigor as I did.
I caressed her midnight black hair that cascaded down her back to her waist as I hugged her before I released her from the hug.
I stared into her mesmerizing blues that got me drawn to her as she stared at my hazel ones. It was as if we were both communicating with our eyes, but our little moment was disrupted when some of my friends from college that were at the party last night came over to join our little group hug.
After exchanging pleasantries and promises to always call each other, Nina, Pat, Ben, Tim, and Prisca left the airport, leaving my best friend and I alone once again.
I dragged her to the seat I was previously occupying as I still had twelve minutes before my flight takes off and my dad was still nowhere in sight.
“Bren, I can’t believe this is finally happening” I told her while clasping her hands tightly in mine
“I know Bel; it was going to happen sooner than later. Your dad had put off this trip for way too long” she said her voice clouding with emotions.
She was right though. My dad was offered this promotion six month ago, and he’s been trying to convince me since then.
“You’re right though….it’s just….” She cut me off by wrapping her hands around me again.
“I’m really going to miss you, Bel” she whispered softly in my ear
“Me too” I told her as I hugged her tighter
Just as I was releasing Brenda from the hug, I saw my dad come into my line of view. We stood up and approached him.
“Hey Brenda, how are you? I see you came to see your friend off” my da smiled softly at Brenda
“Yes, Mr. Briggs, I’m going to miss her so much” she said still not letting go of my hand that she was holding.
Just as my dad was about to speak again, our attention was drawn to the speaker where an announcement was being made that our flight was about to take off, and all passengers should be on board.
I hugged my best friend again, and we promised each other to keep in touch and visit while we were on break.
I sent my regards to her parents, and siblings as I watched her leave the airport until she was out of my sight.
I turned to my dad and we both went to get checked in. We were on board in a few minutes. The pilot passed across the necessary information for us to take note of, and we were soon, on our way to New York city.
Goodbye, California.
“His meeting can wait till when I am done with him but this hour is the best time to see him.” She said confidently
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