This was gonna be my last in College because I was gonna be graduating the next year, my grades were good and the team was great I had been playing almost full time lately. The only thing I had been not so good at was telling Zinnia how I really liked her. I was afraid of rejection, she had said No to many boys and I didn't want to be one of them. We were friends and we were done that way, Collins always pushed me to say it and even told her one day that I had a crush on her but I made it look like a joke cause I wasn't courageous enough, or maybe I should say I was traumatized by my mum and dad's experience and didn't want to be alike them. We had hung out together most of the time and I had been her bestie as a make but u never for once brought up the topic of dating and stuff. She was gonna stay back Ottawa and I was for sure gonna move back to Granville. It was not just the distance though it was the fear of commitment and what would follow after. Collins had found his soul mate with one of Zinnia's friends, Harriet, she was also very beautiful. She had an enticing figure and a lovely figure. Collins had been with her since their first year. It was kinda funny I was still a virgin in College. Collins had teases me that I was gonna die that way.
We were about to depart school, Zinnia and Harriet with the others were waiting for cabs while we had to take a flight back to Granville. I was happy because I really wanted to see my mum and talk to her about a lot. I was standing with Zinnia at the airport, she had offered to see us off with Harriet. I only thought she had come because of her friend. She held my had and we stood there saying nothing, I was soo uncomfortable standing this close to her for a long time, she saw it as Normal though, I was her bestie and she shared a lot with me amongst which was that she wasn't going to date anyone in College, I was heartbroken at first but then I say that as a reason to hold back my feelings even though Collins always said u should tell her still.
" So... What's so important that you guys wanna do for Christmas in Granville?" She asked with a small frown
" I'm gonna kick ass there too" I said, it was a slang we used for winning when we win the championship and she laughed out loud. Her laugh was a little bit goofy but I still admired when she laughed though, there was a part of me that found gratification just making her laugh.
" What about you what are you gonna do without me ??.... It better not be fun cause I'm gonna stay back yunno " I said jokingly
" We are going for vacation in United Kingdom. Dad's gonna take us there for Christmas." She said with a little chuckle.
" So you and your mandem gonna be a roadman this break innit" I said mimicking Central Cee. He was my favourite artist and she promised she was gonna get me a shirt with his autograph in it. I never doubted her for a second but the the time was over and we had to go.
" Bye I said as I stood up.. I'm gonna miss you" that wasn't a lie though I meant it.
" I'm not dead" she said laughing" come back safe let's graduate" she said as she gave me a hug and surprisingly a peck. I was like " Oh my DAYS!!" In my thought though I didn't want to look like I was surprised by what she did.
Collins and I left them and we went into the plane. Flying with someone you knew was much more easier than alone at least you guys could chat a bit and while away time. The flight was for an hour and a few minutes. We used same taxi but I had to drop before Collins. I had to be dropped at house number 7 while Collins lived at Number 23. It wasn't that much a distance since it was just some blocks away. I could walk to his house in just about 5 minutes.
Mum was already Home to receive me. Winter had come in heavily already, it was just 3 days to Christmas, it was already snowing and the cold was close to extreme, the temperature was very low. Grandma wasn't gonna be spending Christmas with us it was only I and mum. I thought of it as an opportunity to connect with mum even though she'd scold me most of the time, she never wanted me to behave less than what she thought me, but there was something different about mum this time, she was so chill about everything and didn't even scold much even when I told her I failed one of my courses. I never failed with a F, mum always said I should have high standards so I said I failed anytime I got a C. It was not like I was a perfect kid I got many things wrong, I always stayed out late at night, I was extravagant, I was stubborn and mum would always scold me about that. I was not perfect mum only knew how to control me, she was my mum after all. She was so chill and cold these days , she didn't say much and I did her chores silently, what I did was cook only.
It was a day before Christmas when the home phone rang. Mum was upstairs so I went to pick the call. It was a man with a deep, husky voice and he sounded so friendly.
" Hello, how are you" said the voice over the phone
" Hello, please who so you want to speak to Sir" I said politely but with a little sting
" I want to speak to Norbert Nelson and Roseline Nelson, is this their home line?" I quickly placed the phone on hold and got mum to take hers from upstairs. I was not intending to eavesdrop but I just listened to their conversation. It was my father calling, he was asking mum stuff about me and mum was answering like she had been talking to him all this while. I almost felt hurt like she was keeping me from him when she said " So you think you can just sneak your way into our lives after all these years with three phone calls?" I could feel the pain in mum's voice.
" Please I would like to see both of you sometime" he said still calm and cold. The conversation we t in for about another five minutes and mum finally gave him our address.
I was shocked at same time saddened why all these were happening at Christmas. This was a time for me to be happy and I was gonna go through one of the toughest moments of my life now?... I couldn't come over it.
We were at dinner that even and then mum brought up the topic that my father was gonna be coming over tomorrow.
" I don't want to see him tomorrow " I said as she had said it coldly.
" Nobby, I know you can handle this and I trust you can" she said leaning towards the table" you'll show him that you are worth the risk and I never made a mistake to give birth to you" she was almost crying when I handed her a napkin.
" You don't need to cry mum, I know how you feel but it will be better mom. I promise I'll make you proud of me no matter how hard it is" u said to console her.
" I know you would, and that why we have to see him tomorrow"
" Yes mum, I understand and I would be at my best tomorrow " I said even though I was not so sure if that. Moments like this made me mad at my father and want to ask him alot of questions why he left us, why he wanted mum to kill me, why was always on my mind ...and finally he was gonna be here on my last Christmas at College.
It was gonna be a very memorable last Christmas as a student though. I was curious even though I would say rage had filled most of my heart. I did not want to see him and I did want to see him. I was confused but I just had to be patient since all my answers were waiting for me the next day.