Back home. He had to go back home since school was officially over. Of course, no one was being chased off, but with the sudden emptiness of the school a few days after graduation, it was obvious that they needed to leave.
Felix planned on going back home with Ada, as their parents were calling. He held no protests because he missed them, especially his mother.
Road transportation wasn't part of the options he could choose, because Psalm didn't want him to. He'd offered to book him a flight back home–business class–and when Ada heard that he'd offered to pay for her too, she excitedly agreed. Felix's opinion didn't matter, really.
The air around Felix and Psalm was a bit tense, especially after that night. Psalm was still his sweet self, trying his best to make him happy and convince him that they didn't need to break up. It was fine, Felix didn't want to break up either. Seeing Psalm sad was enough to stop a bit of his negative thoughts. Maybe during the break, he'd conclude whether they could still be together miles away from each other. In another state.
They'd parted ways at the airport, looking into each other's eyes and sharing the longest and most passionate kiss that they could while in the car, which thankfully had tinted glasses.
Felix was grateful that Ada was with him because he knew he wouldn't be able to survive the trip alone. He'd never been on a plane, and had always refused offers from Ada's family even when he'd first started schooling in the university. This was his first time he was going to be apart from Psalm too. So much to deal with.
"Don't worry. If your parents ask, I'll tell them I paid for it," Ada whispered when she saw him glancing briefly at the text message his mother just sent him, asking him what bus stop he was at.
Felix smiled gratefully. "You're really a life saver. Because I don't think mentioning a man as the person who paid is going to make much sense."
They'd probably think he was being threatened or something. Because he was never one to willingly get help from people. Especially strangers. And he'd barely known Psalm for long, so he was definitely a stranger.
Ada giggled as they were seated comfortably. "Your parents will probably think you're now into yahoo-yahoo, but they wouldn't know that you actually have a sugar boyfriend sponsoring you now."
Felix rolled his eyes. "Oh, please."
The plane took its time to lift off and Felix used the opportunity to get his headphones ready with music blasting, eyes closed and screaming inside. And of course, the sweet and warm Ada gave his hand a sympathetic squeeze.
This is going to be a long flight.
*****
And it was.
Even if it was just an hour in the air, it would still be too long.
"At least we had no turbulence," Ada said.
And he was glad that there wasn't.
They'd finally landed at Asaba International Airport and for the first time, Felix wanted to thank God for something.
"You were really panicking for no reason," Ada said when they got into a car that was taking them home.
It didn't take them long to get a good car and Felix sighed heavily in relief. Everything seemed to be going smoothly. Hopefully that's it'll be throughout.
"I think I have every right to panic because this is my first time…in case you've forgotten."
Ada laughed. "True. I need to thank Psalm for the flight again."
Her phone suddenly rang. Felix looked at her curiously as she picked it up. It was probably her parents…or his parents.
"Hello, mommy!" She said enthusiastically. "Yes, yes! We're back. I don't even know why you called because I wanted to surprise you."
Felix smiled at her scrunched up face. He knew there was going to be some celebration at the house of the Ezeigbos this weekend. And he knew he'd have to attend.
"I got on the plane with Felix. Do you want to talk to him?"
Felix's eyes widened as he raised a hand in refusal, which Ada ignored by placing her cell phone in his hand.
"Hello, ma. Good evening," he greeted.
"Felix, my boy!" A cheerful female voice said. "How are you? How's school? It's been so long! We've missed you o! Especially your mother!"
Felix winced a bit at her voice. She'd always been loud and he still wasn't used to it.
"I'm doing fine, ma. School has been good, and I missed you all, too," he responded.
"Alright, alright. I'll make sure to let your mother know of your arrival. I'm sure she'll be so excited!"
Felix couldn't bring himself to be annoyed at Ada's mother's enthusiasm. Honestly, mother and daughter were so much alike.
"Okay, thank you. See you."
"See you at home!"
He returned the phone to his all-too-eager friend who rattled off a few more words to her Mom before bading her farewell and promising her gists. With the rate at which they usually talked, Felix was surprised Ada hadn't outed him to her mother yet.
Crazy.
*****
They'd stopped right at the gate of the Ezeigbos.
Initially, Felix wanted them to go their separate ways. But Ada made a good point by mentioning how it was likely that his mom was at her place with her mom.
"Wouldn't it be nice to see her first?" She'd said.
So he agreed. It's not like he could ever outrightly turn his friend down anyway.
After a few arguments, Ada decided to let Felix pay for their transportation. It wasn't a small amount of money, but he didn't mind. It made him feel good. Psalm had given him enough to afford certain things nowadays.
"Nwa m."
Felix paused in his steps to stare at his teary-eyed mother who was walking up to him calmly and surely, with a smile on her face. She was dressed in a simple skirt and blouse, no makeup on but looking as beautiful as always. If not more beautiful.
He hadn't even reached the door of the house when she spotted him.
He happily wrapped his arms around the slender woman who was just a few inches shorter than him, while letting her engulf him in her familiar warmth. In her presence. He really missed her.
They broke up the hug after a while and after a few seconds of carefully inspecting his face, his mother proceeded to kiss him all over which took him off guard, but made him laugh out loud.
"You look healthy," she simply said when she was done.
"And so do you," he replied with a grin.
They were suddenly interrupted by screaming. Felix had momentarily forgotten that Ada came with him, or that her mother was around. And that together, they could bring down walls with their energy.
Mother and son stood side-by-side as they watched Ada and her mother dance around each other, smiles on their faces as her mother sang her praises in Igbo.
"They're so weird," his mother muttered.
Felix laughed. "I think they know that, and they don't care."
His mom hummed. "At the same time, people probably think we're weird. So I guess that's fair."
He nodded. He'd been called that a couple of times.
He brought his arms around her frame to bring her closer to himself as they continued watching the show. He'd seen Ada happy a lot of times, but around her mom… It was always different around her.
It was sweet. It was such a healthy and wonderful love that they shared, and he could see it. He really liked it and he knew that was part of the reason Ada was such a sweet person.
"Feli-Feli!"
Felix wanted to groan out in annoyance. Ada really didn't need to teach her mother that stupid nickname she gave him.
He moved away from his mother to get engulfed in another motherly hug offered by the happy, pretty and chubby woman now in front of him. Her cheeks and eyes were bright, showing her excitement. Felix knew he was light in complexion, but he also knew he couldn't compare to just how light this woman looked--almost albino. Sometimes he felt like she wasn't supposed to be touched because her skin looked so delicate and light…it was weird Ada didn't take that from her mom.
"You look so beautiful, ma," he complimented the moment their hug ended.
She giggled. "You're such a sweet boy, thank you. But your mother is the most beautiful, don't forget," she said, to which both women suddenly laughed.
They had some running joke between them that Felix never got, and never bothered questioning. As long as they were happy.
After a while, she called for them to get inside and sit for a bit before he and his mom go straight home.
Seeing his mother offer no protests, he didn't argue. He was mostly glad to see her face anyway.