SONDER

CHAPTER THREE

HIM

His threat stirred a feeling in Theo.

Cyril could see how Theo breathes heavily,eyes always roaming about the plane but never on him.

That's fear and unease.

Cyril had gotten his answer a while back that they are not in any way going to Miami but where Theo's destination is, Cyril has no idea.

But Cyril trusts his cousin well enough to keep him safe.

Being who he is ,he trusts no one with his life but with Theo,it is different.

Apart from being the same age, they are cousins, blood ,even in wealth, they are one and the same.

What made Cyril better than his cousin is Cyril's refined intimidating personality.

Above all, Theo has been there for his cousin these past years and the recent damage to Cyril's knees made Theo even more careful and watchful with his cousin.

He sighed and caught Theo's attention.

Theo looked at his resting body slumped on the reclined chair.

The plane ride is unbelievably very comfortable or maybe his body is getting used to it.

It has been a non stop week of flight anyways. Flying from one country to the next,checking with hospitals but none of them is giving a positive report and Cyril can't keep doing his tasking job holding crutches

Tiredness is already telling on him with his body empty of energy and motivation.

"Tired?" He smiled wearily .

Ignoring him,Cyril spoke,

"Wake me up when we get to Miami." He replied on the verge of falling into that comfortable dark bliss.

........

When he felt a hand squeeze his shoulder,he forced my eyes open to see Theo.

Theo was talking to him,but his brain is still foggy from deep sleep.

He sat up and tried to observe his environment . Theo is helping Cyril up when he realizes what Theo was saying.

They have landed!

Finally.

Cyril mustered his strength and pushed himself off the chair.

With the help of his Crutches and Theo,walking became a bit easy.

Not better but easy.

With the exit door open,his eyes tried to adjust to the brightness of the sun.

And hotness.

Walking out of the plane was a hell of a big job but....

this feels off

Something is not right

He paused on the steps as he looked all around him

They are in an airport but,

Wait a minute...

This is not....

Oh f**k it

"Where the f**k am I " Cyril's voice thundered in the plane and even the few people close by were surprised by the echoing of his voice.

God damnit

Of course Cyril wasn't expecting Miami,but this is not England ,Greece nor Italy,so his shocked state is understandable.

Unknown to him, there is more surprise in store.

This place is unfamiliar and he travel a lot.

Apart from the bright red Toyota Muscle car that just stopped so close by,there are only three security guards and a couple of stewardess at the plane hanger.

Another surprise he got was the absence of security personnel.

With the surprised state,he successfully made it down the stairs.

"Explain damnit" he screamed again at the already quiet Theo.

"We are in Nigeria"

What the hell

A simple sentence but Cyril hated how fast it made sense to him.

He was beyond surprised.

Surprise is an understatement.

He didn't move any further and rejected Theo's help with a wave of my hand.

In the red Toyota parked not too far from them are two people walking towards them.

They are blacks so, obviously they are Nigerians.

A tall guy and an average height girl beside him.

Cyril took note of them and watched as Theo went to meet them.

They exchanged few words and Theo looked back and pointed at Cyril.

This didn't sit well with him.

A minute later, they all walked towards the plane,stopping in front of the young man with crutches.

His leg is already in another level of pain right now.

He can't take the standing position much longer.

"They will take us home" Theo said to his cousin. The blacks observed him with curious eyes but he spoke up to distract them when he saw pity in the girls eyes.

it is only just a badly dislocated joint,nothing serious.

"Home is Italy and not here. So,put me back in the plane and get out of my sight" it was really harsh especially when the black girl flinched at his booming voice.

And besides,his home is not here!

In Italian,Theo spoke to his cousin.

"You will do as you are told or else...

Don't you want to be treated?" Cyril was taken back by Theo's certainty. He is so sure that this plan of his will work.

Or mama puts him up to this?

" I am tired of your stubbornness. so you are going to come with us. " to say Cyril didn't enjoy Theo trying to order him would be a big understatement. it is driving him insane as it is.

"N O" Cyril rejected and smirked.

If not for his pissed off mood, Cyril would have given Theo a sound applause for an upgrade in his intimidating appearance.

Cyril is currently helpless, a man with crutches under his arms and wobbly knees.

But theo forgets who he am.

Cyril is the Boss.

The two blacks watched them in silence.

He has a lot to say to Theo that would make him jump into the plane and get them the hell out of this country but he couldn't.

Not because of lack of words to say,but because he found himself nearing the floor inch by inch.

Weakness.

Tiredness.

His knee is giving out.

He is falling.

The black girl saw it too and pointed to him just in time .

A second late,he would have hit himself hard on the floor. But the black guy and Theo got to him in time.

So embarrassing

" We are staying"Theo reprimanded with finality.

He could do nothing as he can't even feel his own legs.

He would need extreme rest.

The drive from the private plane hanger to the house must have taken at least an hour but he felt it was less than five minutes.

He wasn't ready to meet them at all.

Theo and the two blacks were talking,getting to know each other but his nerves are wrecking him.

The car stopped in front of a big gate but Cyril prayed it doesn't open anytime soon

what the hell is wrong with me

What has come over you Cyril?

He seriously can't deal with this right now.

But faith has other plans because time didn't hold back a second for his sake.

The gates opened electronically and the black guy drove in. He was thankful for how dark it was becoming.

With all these prayers, is this how religious he has become?

The sun has already left its post in the sky for a dull full moon.

The last time he saw his parents years ago when they decided that chasing their dreams was more important than taking care of a teenager

To be fair they did ask him to join them and he blatantly declined.

Cyril sighed

this is a day he is really not hoping to draw close. But here they are almost eight years later.

He could make out two figures walking towards the car.

He also knows that they are his Pa and Ma but he wished it wasn't.

It is going to be a shitty reunion

As the car comes to a stop, Theo walked out to meet them.

They hugged happily and exchanged pleasantries loudly.

He watched as his mum's eyes roam all over the car looking for him.

She hasn't aged a bit.

He noticed immediately his mum's eyes landed on him.

why do I feel nervous all of a sudden

His dad came forward and opened the door for him.

"Hey" If his voice sounded strong,he wouldn't know, but it does feel really awkward right now.

Oh dear Lord.