I yawn as I am now slumbering in my seat. I have jerked the seat so that I can rest my back. I take the jacket hung on the driver's seat and cover my chilling body. I have been in the car for hours now. My battery is running low and it is worse that Musa is not giving me an update.
I wish I was formally introduced to the family, at times like this, I would walk Into Hope and Grace, sit beside them so that I also know the reason why Shudu is admitted. I wonder what has made him sick... He looked okay when I saw him last week. I guess looks are deceiving. I yawn again and slowly close my eyes while clinging tight to the jacket, hoping for it to keep me warm while I wait for Musa to come back.
*
I glance at the time on the phone. It's late. It clicks on my mind that I left someone in the car. She didn't text, I am thinking she is trying to be considerate, maybe also she is worrying about what might have caused her brother to be admitted urgently this evening. I sigh.
My brother glances at me with reprimanding eyes. I shrug at him and avert my gaze to the man walking out of the room which Shudu is in. Our parents immediately are on their feet and walk towards the doctor. I see their lips moving with inaudible sounds. I can see that there's a sigh of relief but their faces are still looking gloomy.
"Who's the girl in the car? Is it why you seem restless?" My brother, Kamokgelo, whispers next to my shoulder. I gawk at him with disbelief.
"Really?" I shake my head and glance away.
"What? I am very observant. Plus I saw her reflection when I went out for a smoke outside. This situation is stressful. Do you have an idea that he was..." He pauses to recollect his words, "suicidal?" His voice was very soft and in a whisper.
"Huh?" I glance at him dumbfounded by his words. "He is? I don't know".
" Aren't you guys close? So you always didn't see it coming huh?" He challenges my gaze, he's trying to get to me.
"Yes," I shift my gaze and glance at the gloomy faces walking towards us.
"When will I meet her? I heard you are head over heels in love with her. I foresee another heartbreak, you are not good at picking them brother " His voice is real and he shifts his gaze to our parents with an empathic face.
"And you are?" I scoff at him.
I glance at him in bafflement, I don't understand him and why he is my mom's favourite. Probably because he is the first. Besides that reasoning, I don't understand why he is the favourite child in the house.
"How is he?" He asks.
Auntie rests her heavy body on the bench. You could see she was torn. Shudu is her love child, so she loves him beyond anything and this sometimes causes a rift amongst her children, because she does not hide her excessive affection and favouritism towards Shudu. She says that Shudu is the spitting image of his father. But I think there's more to that. Because Shudu's sister looks like his father too.
"He is recovering...We got lucky" Dad finally update us after a stretch of silence.
"Is he sick?" I blurt it out.
"Uh..uhm...yes, he is" Dad hesitantly utter the words.
"With?" I ask searching for answers, he is hiding something.
"We will know when he wakes up. I think tomorrow, that is when the Doctor can give conclusive results" He clears his throat and lead my mother to the bench. I narrowed my gaze as they walk. I arise to my feet.
"I guess I will leave then...I will see you tomorrow" I gaze at them intensely waiting for them to give me a different statement, but they just kept their silence and give me a nod to acknowledge what I said. I walk away with my head down. Why do parents have to hide everything?
As I walk on the pavement, I hear steps falling behind me. I turn my head and see my brother walking behind me at a fast pace, trying to catch up with me. I increase my strides, I don't want him to catch up with me.
"Stop running..." I hear his voice echo in a fair distance.
"I don't want to drive you home" I raise my voice so he can hear me with my head fastened forward where the car has been parked.
He jogs behind me and catches me as I try to open the door of the car.
*
In my slumber, I hear the click of the door handle of the car. I jerk myself from the slumber I was in. I hear voices hissing next to the car. My heart starts beating like crazy. Are these hijackers? I am not ready to be kidnapped and sold as a sex slave or to suffer a gruesome murder. My mother can not suffer such grief, she is expecting. Lord, I want to live, not today.
"Come on let me see her"
I hold on tight to my phone and grab the car handle. I hear thumps on the window. Oh, this is terrifying, they are aware that there's someone. I open my door. With one step on the ground, I ready myself.
*
The door opens and I hear someone running away.
"What the hell!" Kamo exclaims in surprise.
I lazily glance at her as I watch her try to run away for her life. I shake my head.
"She thinks we are hijackers" I stand lazily watching her run away. It is dark and she seems not to care about that. It is not safe for her to wonder like that.
I get inside the car and immediately drive off so I can catch up with her before any of these low life thieves attempt to touch her. Kamo hops in on the passenger's seat. I glare at him with a cold gaze.
"It's your fault and please move your butt from that seat" I drive the car away at a high speed.
She's crazy.
My brother chuckles at my anxious and troubled look.
"There she is, please stop stressing" He tries to calm me while holding back his laughs. I give a danger gaze.
" It's your fault"
*
I am still running and gasping for air. I slow my running. I am three houses away from my residence. But it's too dark and cold, fear is starting to creep in. I see few intoxicated people walking and singing loudly. Whew! students, I am relieved. I start walking faster, gasping for air and breathing heavily.
"Deya!"
I turn my head ready to run. The voice is familiar but I barely can see the face because of the darkness.
"Deya! stop running, it's me, Musa"
I stop walking, allowing the car to catch up with me. He abruptly stops the car.
"I am sorry I scared. Get in at the back" His voice is full of worry.
My heart sunk realising that I caused him to worry when already there's Shudu who he should worry about. I head for the passenger's seat and my eyes met a figure sitting on it with a wide grin. I slam the door and awkwardly walk to the back doors. I open the door and bury my shame at the back. I'm embarrassed right now.
The car drives off.
What a freakin day. Have I become paranoid, thinking my love is a hijacker. I feel more embarrassed when I recall what just happened.