There was no one to talk to and no opportunity to go online to seek the opinion of a random human or notify the virtual world about my feelings by making a sad post.
It seemed to me like Aisha was involved so I didn't want to talk to her either.
My heart cried and so did I.
I yearned consolation.
"I don't know why I'm usually so hurt by my own friends—are they fake friends?" I said with my eyes shut as I folded myself on the bed.
"Lord, what do I do? Do I just tell my parents about my stolen phone and get some money from them to retrieve it? Will Oliver ever talk to me again? He probably has blocked me already." I sighed in doubt that God was there or that he was willing to listen to my issue. I turned to the book beside me which had encouraged me to pray with just its first page. It wasn't a religious book but it had encouraged me to just open up to God about my feelings.
I started to feel indifferent about the whole issue and at the same time, tedious. I reached out for an actual book that vastly talked about God—a mini Bible and I read just to keep my mind distracted. The particular Bible was colorful and it had drawn characters in it—I was motivated to check it out.
I read a chapter, then a page, then two chapters, then three pages. It was relaxing, plus it offered the perfect advice.
I read it for three hours straight.
・❥・Friday・❥・
I read more books, did more research, prayed little prayers, made more paintings, snoozed and felt okay.
There came a knock on my door at noon. I was assured of it being Remi, to that end I ignored it.
But then, the pounding on the door came in louder and persistent.
I annoyedly marched to the door, flung it open and yelled, "what?!"
"Can I come in?"
I put aside the question and he stepped in and took off his glasses.
"What do you want?"
"For you to look me in the eye and tell me if I'd ever hurt you intentionally," his tone was staid and after looking into each other's eyes for a moment, we both broke into laughter; we had just quoted the exact lines of two characters in our favorite childhood movie.
"Stop. Just stop."
He unhid his left arm from behind and released a pretty rose flower.
"Awwwn, this is 𝑠𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 cute," I almost touched it but withdrew my hand in an instant. "No, no, no, no, no. I am angry and just one pretty flower won't change... Can I touch it?"
"Sure, it's all yours."
I wanted to touch it but I revoked my hand, "I just can't comprehend why you had to do such a thing!"
"I'm sorry. There's a perfect explanation for that—I promise," he exhibited his pitiful brown eyes. I sighed and darted about the house in contemplation.
I halted and turned to him. "Well, I've learnt so much during the past few hours I was away from you. I've learned to forgive easily and offload my burdens on a Supreme Being that truly understands." I took the flower from him and caressed it.
"You spoke to God?"
"Yes. Now, don't gloat or brag or anything; I've been reading certain books all through this week that has really broadened my mindset on spiritual things. I also replaced my phone with my Bible. I read a lot from it and I loved it."
"Wow, that's amazing! P.S, I got that flower from Mrs Beatrice's garden so expect her in your dreams tonight."
We spent the Friday night at a sleepover in Aisha's place. We chatted, watched Netflix, played around and slept off. And yes, Remi slept in a different room. 𝐃𝐢𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐬𝐤? ⊙.☉
・❥・Saturday ・❥
It was Saturday! I lasted a whole week without my phone and I gained so much! It wasn't a death sentence as I imagined it would be. It was downright fantastic!
While Aisha and Remi conducted a strategy on how to obtain my device back, I was rather downbeat about the whole thing for I didn't want my old phone back but the new one Aisha promised to get for me.
"Thanks guys, for this whole challenge. I'm so glad that I was able to strive and gain so much. But now, I don't want my old phone back."
"What?! No way. That's crossing the line. You can't survive completely without a phone."
"No, silly."
I explained to them how it would be unwise to pay 70% of the original price of an iPhone thirteen to retrieve an old phone with a cracked screen when I could easily get a new one. Indirectly, I was beseeching Aisha to get me a new phone. She agreed because she was pleased with me and it was the initial plan. But Remi suggested we retrieve the phone anyway, majorly to uncover the culprit. "But we'll trick the fool and keep the money. Jacob and his friends will be of great help."
It sounded like a nice plan.╰⳻⌣⳺╯
¶•°¶•°¶•°¶•°¶•°¶•°¶•°¶•°¶•°¶•°¶•°¶•°¶•°¶•°¶•°¶•°¶•°¶
Jacob arrived at the abandoned building and parked his car in a distant area.
Remi called the jerk to inform him of our presence and he jumped down from one of the rooms in the building.
He looked just about our age but he didn't look familiar at all... And oh—he was on a black hoodie and a facemask.
Remi went to him.
He took my phone out from his pocket. *𝐆𝐚𝐬𝐩* 𝐦𝐲 𝐛𝐚𝐛𝐲! And showed it to Remi.
He had given his account number to Remi beforehand so Remi made an attempt to bamboozle him into thinking he was sending the money. Instead, he was texting Jacob.
"Hold him down!"
Remi seized Mr I-can't-afford-an-iPhone-so-I-just-snatch-it and pulled the phone out of his hand. Jacob's friends, AJ and Khalid came out of the car and Remi tossed the phone to AJ. He threw the phone into the car and I caught it in excitement.
AJ and Khalid were headed for the villain like mighty superheroes and Remi released him. The boy trembled and released his hoodie and facemask. He looked just about our age alright, but not in any way familiar.
𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐡𝐞 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐦𝐞 𝐬𝐨 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥?
𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐡𝐞?
"Why you take the phone?" AJ asked,
"I swear down, no be me. 𝑁𝑎 my guy take the phone." The boy was panic-stricken and I got even more confused.
"So who be this your friend? Where he 𝑑𝑒𝑦 like this?"
"I swear, I no know. My own just be say make I give the phone and collect the money. I no even know 𝑤𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑛 𝑑𝑒𝑦 happen like this. 𝐴𝑏𝑒𝑔." He jittered.
"Just leave the kid and let's go. I've got a football game to catch up with," Jacob said into his earbud.
Khalid rubbed his face in confusion. "You 𝑐𝑜𝑛 wear hoodie 𝑑𝑒𝑦 play boss 𝑎𝑏𝑖 ? Just tell that your stupid friend say if I catch am, I go arrest am. Now go!"
"Thank you sir!" The boy prostrated flatly and took off in fear.
Aisha and Jacob laughed in the car but I was rather bothered about the whole twist.
¶•°¶•°¶•°¶•°¶•° ¶•°¶•°¶•°¶•°¶•° ¶•°¶•°¶•°¶•°¶•°¶•°¶
I received a text by 12 midnight. It said boldly: I TOLD YOU WE'D MEET EVENTUALLY.
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