8th of June.
"Good morning dear, how was your night?" Granny said as she woke me up, it was our last day at the palace.
"Granny?" I jumped out of bed immediately I remembered the books grandpa gave me, oh where could I have possibly kept it?
"Shhhuuuh I heard there is going to be a broadcast by 8am today, her yourself together it's almost time" granny said.
"Broadcast? From where? Who does a broadcast that early in the morning?" The television was already switched on and granny eyes locked in.
"From the new formed Ofenya Kingdom, yes it is" granny answered me as I immediately sat down on hearing the news.
"But where is my book though? And how am I going to translate it? Who would do it for me?" I continued questioning granny as she stared deeply into the television like her life depended on it.
"Good morning everyone my name is Dylan from NBC, Nigeria's number one news channel and I bring you the news headlines.
Security officers scared for the lives of it's citizens as the newly founded Ofenya empire parades the former king of Ida on the street alongside his guards they were unable to escape the kingdom,
Fuel subsidy might be removed as the economy hits wall,
...." She continued on and on but all I could hear repeatedly is 'parades former king' does it mean grandpa is alive? He was captured?
"I need water" I said as I stood up to go grab some from the palace kitchen.
"What's going to happen? Are they going to behead him the way they did to mom and dad? Oh no" I began pantting as I walked to the kitchen.
"Watch it" I heard as my shoulder bumped on a palace guard.
"So sorry" I was still a bit confused as to everything going on in my life in the palace, now grandpa is alive?
"Sorry for yourself, don't know why the prince even allowed those low lives to stay here with us" The palace guard said as he continued walking together with his buddies.
"Low lives indeed" I said as I continued walking, maybe mom was right lossing to hair and getting piercings actually make me look like a regular young adult.
"Good morning, please can I have some water?" I asked the lady standing inside the kitchen as I stood outside, I don't know about Nigeria but in Ida no one is allowed in the kitchen except a kitchen staffs, for a lot of reasons.
"Here you go" she said as she handed me a jug for me to take back to the room.
'thanks" I began walking back to the room even though I was thirsty and I needed water immediately but still.
"Granny, I am bac..." I paused as adekunle was seated on the bed besides granny as they both watched the news in my absence.
"Took you long enough" Adekunle said as he brought a cup for me to pour him water.
"Yeah" I said as I took the cup from him and drank the water.
"What took you so long? I have been waiting for you for ages" Adekunle asked again.
"I wasn't feeling too well, and I accidentally bumped into a palace guard on my way" I said.
"And then? Still don't explain why you took so long dear. Anyways come and seat besides me let's watch the news together" Adekunle pulled me closer to him as we both sat down on the bed.
"The both of you, be quite" granny said as she increased the volume of the television.
"Do you want to grab dinner with me tomorrow" Adekunle whispered into my ear.
"Okay" I whispered back in shock, why is he trying to be nice to me today? Or maybe I am just misunderstanding his friendly guesture. But is this how friends talk to each other? Hands on my hips, and his head placed gently on my shoulder, asking me for dinner, is this how friends behave?
I am just overthinking things, I am sure the news of grandpa's death might have gotten me startled.
"....And thanks for watching 8am news on NBC, my name still remains Dylan." The news reporter said as the program ended.
"Thank God, he is still alive" granny made the remark.
"Yes ma" I began pushing back tears as I saw granny cleaning hers, I moved closer to her and gave her a big hug.
"I knew he would be, they can't kill him that easy" granny said.
"We should look for a way to get him out of there instantly" Adekunle suggested.
"How can we do that? Is there a way?" I asked curiously.
"Well, if there is something we can trade him for I think it would be worth it" Adekunle said.
"What was he hinting? Is there something we had to offer?" I asked him curiously.
"The spy amongst you guys, I am sure they would want him back" Adekunle suggested.
"But we don't know him yet, and isn't that risky? Won't he go and tell them the information he already knows from us?"
"It doesn't sound like a good idea, giving the enemy exactly what they need." Granny backed my saying up.
"We would worry about that later, we need your granddad unharmed and in perfect condition. Even if they know you are alive and well, they can not invade Nigeria so you are safe with is" Adekunle said.
"There are a dozen possibilities, what if they send him with a bomb? A spying device? There are a lot of possibilities" granny said, on her hand she looks heartbroken about the news and his maltreatment, on the other she wants to protect and keep me safe.
"I can't believe I am the one advising you guys to do this" Adekunle said.
"You are right, let us cling to the hope of getting back together with grandpa. Let us hold on the the little glimpse of hope we have" I said.
"Good, I would inform the chief of staff for the military right now. Let me here their opinion on this" Adekunle said as he gave a flirtatious wink before he left the room.
"What if it's a bait? What if he wants us to fall for it? I know the jukun's, they are smart and corny" granny said as she zoned out a bit.
"But what if it isn't? At least granddad would help me understand the books he gave me, he would help us understand what is actually going on. Even if it is not right, anything to save grandpa let's take it" I began talking to granny, grandpa was better with us than the enemy, and it is a disgrace to the Ida kingdom for us to be unable to dave our former king and let him face such embarrassment.
"But is that really your granddad? I know he would rather be killed than captured, is it him?"