Sunlight filtered through the window, landing on the well made bed in the center of the room.
The door creaked open and Jidenna walked in, his fingers ruffling his dreads he walked straight to the bed and flung himself on it rumpling it, he buried his head into a warm and soft bed that sank accommodating his weight.
Soon after he had allowed himself to laze around a bit he was caught red-handed by his father who stood by the door his lips curled into a frown and with a stern voice he barked at Jidenna, "Young man what do you think you're doing?'
In the warmth of the bed, Jidenna groaned he had come to know that whenever his father uses these words it signifies the start of a lengthy lecture.
His father continued, "don't think that you have time, very soon it would be time to leave for the airport and you're sleeping instead of cross-checking everything.
Wishing the lecture would end he dragged himself off the bed, grumbling inwardly, 'my flight is at 8 this is just 12pm. Why can't I sleep?'
Seeing he was up, ikenna clearing his voice and spoke concerning the family heirloom,
"I heard that normally carrying any object that is flagged or looks suspicious can cause problem that's why I have prepared something for it" he added
"I'll give you as once we're About to leave the house" turning around Ikenna walked away.
'Is he gone? Yes he's gone' he dived back into bed burying himself further with a content smile gracing his features.
Around the room was a black waist length luggage, Jidenna turned his face staring at it blankly, his mind drifting to the object in it.
It was precisely the family heirloom he sighed with furrowed brows, 'i can't believe he's allowing me to carry it far away from home' it the rod was another thing Jidenna wouldn't mind but it was not it was the family heirloom. The family heirloom that has been passed down from generation to generation.
Even right now Jidenna could not gauge how old it was.
'he wants to put me in trouble' Jidenna grumbled, 'such precious thing supposed to be kept, hidden— far away from view'
He threw his face to the other side forcing the annoyingly bugging thought out of his mind
He allowed himself to experience a rare serenity, just there away from all the hustles and bustles of the world.
Away from all the stress and complaints of hardship.
Just him.
The trees swayed as if dancing to an unsung tune outside the window. The birds perched on the trees chirping cheerfully for any lonely soul willing to sit and listen.
In that silence, Jidenna's mind flashed back to every thing he had done from the moment he woke up in this world, all the strange, deadly, reckless things he had done and at the same time his mind also flashed to all the good things that had happened to him.
The help from neighbors; when he was packing away, the concerned questions, the extra dish they gave anytime he buys something.
All the things he had received, the care from his parents.
At that moment Jidenna realized something, that he had gone a long way from the confused welp he once was and now had become more stable.
The earth no longer felt like it was quaking as he walked, he no longer felt confused about the future— about his fate.
Jidenna with an eye mask, and airpods stuffed in his ears smiled because of this realization.
In that rare calmness he drifted off to sleep.
That same day, Jidenna pulled the black waist length luggage behind him and stood his parents side by side waving at him.
He paused, giving them another look, a feeling of reluctance welled up inside his heart.
For a split second, Jidenna almost dropped everything else and walked to them.
But he knew he couldn't do that and even he did decide to abandon the university acceptance letter to stay back with them.
Jidenna knew that they would not allow it.
The PA called out again to all onboarding passengers; the voice broke Jidenna's thoughts and also formed his will.
He wasn't sure of a lot of things ever since he woke up in that room, he didn't know who he was, why he woke up there, where he was but Jidenna knew one thing.
'I can't waste this opportunity, I will do well to cherish it and make the best of it,' his hand on his luggage handle clenched, his veins popping out from the force.
Tearing his eyes away he marched forward while resisting the urge to turn around to see.
To see the couple who had started out as strangers at first but have gradually become something more over the time he had stayed with them.
Sitting in his seat, looking out of the window.
Jidenna rested his head on the window, his hand reached out, touching the window and for the first time, from his heart Jidenna called out to no one, "mother, father I will miss you".
This time he called them "mother" and "father" not to blend in and avoid suspicion but because Jidenna started to really treat them as such.
His feelings weren't quite as deep but it would get there something Jidenna allowed his body to sink into the seat, and covered his eyes with the eyes mask his mother had handed to him before they left the house she said she had gotten it just for this journey
Having enough time, the journey would take approximately 12 hours before he reaches the country of Jianyu.
Still relaxing he lazily plugged in his airpods playing a song from one of the numerous playlists that he had deemed suitable for the occasion.
Bobbing his head the tune Jidenna had already decided how to pass the time.
****
Vroom
The plane made a large noise as it descended.
The air hostess calmly instructed confused passengers like him on what to do, 'everyone please calmly bring down your luggage and in an orderly and calm manner as you come down' she gave needful instructions in a curt but professional time.
Jidenna shifted uncomfortably where he stood, as it was his first time he looked at the confident gait of the other passengers that was a stark contrast to his own.
Squaring his shoulders, he grabbed the handle of his luggage and followed the crowd, while inwardly reciting all the "how-to's" articles he read in preparation for today's journey.
Stepping off from the plane a gust of fresh air hit him, washing the heat from the sun, he looked around, the sky was the same calming sky blue he had come to know and love.