Deeper

I've been walking

through a world

gone blind.

-

TJ sighed as his father sorted out their luggage at the baggage claim. The bustling noise and passengers in a haste held a cryptic message yet, he didn't care to find out why.

Murtala Mohammed airport was located in Ikeja, the central of the ever bustling city of Lagos. If Lagos were to be compared to a state in the united states, it would be New York city.

But that didn't make TJ feel at home, all that went through his mind was the reality of leaving the comfort of New York city to live in Nigeria. Unbelievably Nigeria!

Words couldn't explain all he felt at the moment. All he wanted to do was turn back to the pilot and order him to fly him back to New York City or better still, teleport there.

Last few weeks at NYC were unforgettable Nightmares to him. Saying goodbye to the guys and trying to get Ruby understand that, he was returning back to NYC after a year. Yet, all she did was walk out on him, that was, after spilling her cherry vodka on his shirt.

Every incident that followed suit were all out of his control. The plan to win homecoming King, of course with Ruby, which broke Ruby's heart, get himself a new wheel after working at Cool Bean... they all came crumbling down.

He felt the urge to punch something, anything to ease off the heaviness encumbering his heart. All that he planned for years came crumbling down, just to complete his high school in Nigeria. He couldn't even imagine himself having a life in Nigeria.

Well it was already too late.

He felt hands on his shoulder and turned, only to be met with his father's overexcited grin.

Tasie for a man in his late forties was quite fit and healthy. Tall with dark chocolate skin, lively dark eyes with the perfect set of dentals a man would want to own.

TJ rolled his eyes.

"Come on bud, cheer up! You are in your father Land Naija!" Tasie looked around, taking in their surrounding environment. "I can't believe a lot has changed in just a few years."

He exclaimed, leading his son to a man smiling with open hands.

"Tasie! Tasie onye ego! The man." The smiling man hollered, bringing Tasie in for a bear hug when they met up with him.

TJ just stood, watching the old men exchange pleasantries, face in a staunch scowl.

All he wanted to do was speedup time. If he was to spend a year in the bright and sun scorching Nigeria, he better start it now.

"Good day." He greeted the bulky man who towered over him and his father when he finally noticed his presence.

The bulky man sent a cryptic stare to Tasie who cleared his throat.

"This is Africa TJ, you address an elder like one." He chastised.

TJ fought the urge to roll his eyes, but thought otherwise.

"Good day sir." He said instead, bowing slightly, a sick polite smile on his face.

The bulky man laughed immediately like nothing happened, grabbing his poor head to give it a squeeze.

"My boy. You have grown so well." Still laughing, he turned to Tasie.

"Tasie you remember when he was still crawling and how he played ball with Elo. Nna, rate umundia ji zi eto these days."

"Nna gwa gi nwannem. Lenu umu no n'ata aja yesterday." Tasie replied, while both men cracked up again.

TJ walked awkwardly along with them, while they made jokes he couldn't understand, but was sure were about him.

They reached the bulky man's car, Who TJ found out was named Jide and a lanky man immediately came out of it, prostrating in greeting immediately he saw them.

"Eze ego, I need to run back to the office. Eze here will drive you back to my house. My wife is around, the kids too. Feel at home. Ama bata soon." Said Jide, giving Tasie one last side hug and TJ, a squeeze on the head before walking away to another vehicle.

Eze took their luggage, kept them in the safety of the car's trunk before opening the car's door for them.

"That man Dad, is he the one I'll be staying with?" TJ asked after they'd settled in and had hit the busy roads.

"Yeah, he has kids your age. They are actually twins. You'll like them."

TJ scoffed. Kids his age? Like he needed playmates.

Tasie noticed his son's expression. "Look bud, Jide is like a brother to me, which makes him your uncle or more, a Father figure. We go way back to highschool and University. I thought we've had this discussion before." Tasie felt uncomfortable.

He wanted his son to have the best experience as an African child. His son was deprived of having a normal African childhood as a kid, due to situations he couldn't handle, now he got the perfect opportunity, he wasn't going to let it go to waste.

But TJ's reaction wasn't what he anticipated, he expected a bucket load of teen drama and rebellion, but not such cold attitude. TJ hasn't stared him in the face and neither has he engaged in a normal conversation with him ever since he dropped the bomb of returning to Nigeria.

"Dad I... You don't just expect me to really chill in a strange country with a hyperactive guardian and kids I know nothing about..." He quipped, a brow up. "I don't even know how kids in school act and how they'll treat me. And this is senior year Dad, senior year! Who gets to be the new kid senior year? I swear I'm gonna be that kid in a strange country."

"Come on. Nigeria is not strange at all, it's got everything a black child dreams of. It's your home. Where your roots lie."

TJ snorted. "Dad my home is NYC not this-" he looked out the window, to a bustling Lagos city, captivated but couldn't give in yet. "Place."

"You'll like it here trust me. Naija is fun and this is Lagos. You will never get tired TJ. Hey look," his gaze was directed outside the window. "This is where I met your mum." Tasie said, excitement and pain lurking his voice.

TJ looked out, staring at the old but strong Lagos bridge, with it's hustling habitants. Everyone seemed to be working nonstop, diligently and content.

"You miss her don't you?" TJ asked in a soft voice, still facing the bridge.

"Yeah."

His mom of Nigerian decent too had died of leukemia five years ago. She was of the past, both men had mourned her, moved on, but she was still in their hearts. TJ still remembered the story of how his parents met on the infamous Lagos bridge. It was a hilarious story, one that brought a smile to his lips.

He felt his lips twitch and saw his father smile too. Both reminiscing -- till something, someone caught his attention.

He felt his heart thud in his chest, like it were making it's way to his stomach.

The tiny figure climbed on the rails of the bridge, no one paid her any attention.

God no! Were people that ignorant here? he thought.

He wasn't about to watch someone die on his face day, in a strange ass country. Suddenly, he watched the girl turn, a can of coke in her hand.



So strange.

She stretched out her hand, fingers showing a peace sign, before a camera light flashed.

Holy Lord! Teenage girls take everything as a Joke these days.

He sighed out in relief.

"You Okay?" Tasie, who was blabbing about his homeland and all that asked.

"No biggie. I just... I don't know Dad, I feel unnerved." He voiced, rubbing his head, trying to even his breathing. He was overreacting and he knew it.

"Son, you're going to do just fine, trust me." Tasie assured, patting his back.

TJ sighed again. If doing just fine was almost having a cardiac arrest by watching teen girls strike dangerous poses just for a selfie, then he was as well as damned.

--

Glossary.

"Tasie onye ego" Tasie the wealthy/affluenced...

"Nna rate umundia ji zi eto these days" The fast rate these kids grow these days.

" nna agwa gi nwannem. Lenu umu no n'ata aja yesterday." Am telling you. Kids that eat sand are now grown.

"Eze Ego" King of money

"Ama bata soon" i'll be back soon.

#TalkNaija

16 years old Child star, teen model and daughter of Ginika Gentry, Nigerian's own sweetheart and Tv sensation, you know the name. Drumrolls please... Chimdi Gentry is on her way to victory island. Making her way to the list of African's next top model and of course the big news which is, bagging a million dollar contract with Vogue Africa.

GG on an interview with TN who proudly proclaimed beauty and brains being the family trait, congratulates her daughter, in line with her bestfriend Antni Anto who played a part in making everything possible.

Way to go girl! Though with the capable hands of Antni Anto she's soon going to be the next big thing in Africa!

Congrats Chimdi! Keep making us proud.

#WeServeLegs #NextTopModel #Gentry

__

Roll the dice

on tonight,

go and roll em Out.

--

She ran, pushing aside chairs and tables serving as hindrance. But they all put a hand in slowing her pace. She kept moving, panting heavily. The same scene kept popping in as she ran.

The cold realization hit her. She was running in circles. Same scene, no change.

A hand caught her.

'Oh no! This cant be happening.'

She struggled to free herself from her captor's iron grip but all went to no avail. Perspiration lined her temple as they ran down in wet beads. She struggled, but it was a futile attempt, she screamed, but the sound unheard, her pleas seem to be stuck in her throat.

Helpless, she watched in horror as her captor tore her clothes to shreds, malice and pure hate visible in his gaze.

"Please let me go." She mouthed. Already drained of energy. But all she got was a hit, hot on her face. Tears fought for a free course, but nothing was shed.

"I made you! I decide what do with you! I own this!" Her captor bellowed angrily, tearing off every bit of clothing covering her body.

With both hands tied and legs spread, she fought for her freedom, but all was a total lost cause. At the moment, she felt the tip of the white candle graze her entrance.

"Now spread for me." Her captor ordered, yanking her legs and exposing her. She felt the cold brush of air before a painful penetration.

She screeched.

"Open this door!" A voice shouted.

The bang was loud.

-

Chimdi jerked to the wake of reality.

Another victory, another nightmare. Her heart thudded, making it's way to her stomach.

The bang came again and she groaned, the nightmare was enough to cause her a migraine, not this.

Perspiration lurked her temple, dripping down her eyelids. Her bedsheet was wet from them.

The bang came again. Bazooka was at it again.

"House girls wake up and get started for the day. No slacking this session!" The angry matron thundered, banging on every door in the hostel.

Chimdi could hear grunts from other rooms, due to the thin walls demarcating her room from theirs.

She looked across to see a knocked out Lara, totally unperturbed by the disturbance Bazooka was causing. Her mouth slightly open, the night's drool, dried on her chin.

Chimdi smiled, as she got up from her bed and knowing fully well that the girl wasn't waking anytime soon, unless she was shaken.

Jolting again when bazooka banged on the door one last time, she finally noticed the absence of her other roommate, Nene. Nene ever the early bird was up as usual. How she snuck out without a sound still remained a mystery to Chimdi.

Tying her towel and stepping out of her warm room, Chimdi was hit by the morning harmattan. The cold, bone freezing. She was about to skedaddle to the bathroom, just to bump into bazooka with her ever protruding melon-bosom and her signature nightie. A long skirt and an oversized t-shirt which was probably her husband's.

"Good morning ma." Chimdi greeted, trying to brush past the fat woman.

Who ever named her bazooka should be given an award.

The woman was a step away from obesity, with a head, small enough to pass for a coconut.

"Eheeh, my friend is this the time to wake up? You think this is your fancy mansion where you have maids to your beck and call?" The fat woman started her usual rant.

Chimdi murmured a greeting, trying to escape, but the woman wouldn't have it.

"Listen, Ajebutter pikin. If you cannot handle hostel life go home and stop wasting precious time. The school rule states that, you are to wake up by four to prepare. But here you are with your towel, gallivanting to the bathroom. In my days..." Chimdi was practically praying for the older woman to let her be. She tried her best to tune her out, but boy, was her voice loud enough to be heard from miles away.

"...and tell that edi abali to leave this hostel once it's six." Chimdi took that as her cue to leave when the woman walked out. All the while, praying Lara was already awake being that, she was the said 'edi Abali'

Chimdi made her way to the bathroom finally, without any interruption. The harmattan breeze forcing her teeth into a clattering contest and the dreadful part of it being that, she was going to bath a cold, no scratch that, a chilled water. Because, the queue to get hot water was longer than the Abuja-Kaduna rail track.

Why the School was tagged an Elite school, was something Chimdi found hard to fathom. Yes, it had popular teen stars and Instagram sensations, nice buildings, adequate facilities and qualified teachers. It was like every other boarding school, with it's struggles and constant nagging from the school staff.

"Ten counts to leave your rooms! One, two..." The hostel prefect finally waking up began to count, making Chimdi chuckle whilst shaking her head. But not until Bazooka banged on her bathroom door.

"You have five counts to leave here!"

And she hadn't poured water on her shaking body.

--

TJ closed his eyes and focused on clearing his head. The harmattan air was cold enough to freeze a baby to death and he just had his bath. His body shook as he searched for his body lotion.

He was used to the cold winter nights and mornings of New york. To him, they were constant. But this harmattan was crazy.

Yesterday, it was a normal morning, now his teeth wanted to break from jamming into each other. He felt himself convulse and had it.

He emptied his toiletry bag and finally singled out the cursed lotion. Heaving a sigh, he sat on his bed.

"Kuna Dariya?" He heard someone cuss. On turning, and came face to face with a light skinned boy with a fade cut high enough to be braided. Who he guessed was his other roommate.

The boy clad in the School's uniform, a grey trouser, white shirt with a maroon blazer, glared daggers at him.

"S'up man?" TJ greeted, getting up from the bed to grab his school uniform.

"Don't tell me they added one more person after I told them not to." The boy spoke more to himself, but TJ replied anyway.

"Why don't you go ask them your self. I'm TJ though. Elo went to the bathroom." TJ said, already clad on his trousers.

"Wait." The fairer boy paused. "You are the guy Elo has been talking about?" He asked, scowl still on his face.

"The one and only." TJ could feel the boy's gaze harden.

Elo chose that moment to run in.

"Jesus, If not for Mad Max, I for no go school." The slender black boy cussed. He too was shaking violently, until he noticed additional presence.

"Jiki, guy you made it." Elo flashed his signature grin, the tall boy rolled his eyes.

"You seriously asked them to add another person here?" Jiki asked, absolute disbelief shadowing his face.

"Ogbeni, calm down." Elo said cheerfully, shining his dentals causing another eye roll from Jiki. "And please get rid of that scowl, you're scaring someone's child."

"Like I care." Jiki deadpanned before walking to his bed.

"Guys, do you realize that I'm here?" TJ who has been trying to figure out where the conversation was heading, asked.

But only got a hiss from Jiki who flipped them, before making his way to the door.

"Guy your father!" Elo cussed whilst laughing.

"Je gidan wuta! " Jiki cussed back. Shutting the door loudly.

"No way. That's definitely your place!" Elo called back.

"What's his problem though?" Asked a bemused TJ. He couldn't tell why the boy despised him at first glance.

"Man, leave him. He gets like that beginning of every session." Elo laughed, tripping on his socks.

--

Glossary

"Ajebutter pikins" rich kids

"edi abali" one who sleeps like a log of wood.(igbo)

"Kuna Dariya?" Are you kidding me?(Hausa)

"Ogbeni,"(mister)

"je gidan wuta" Go to hell(hausa)

We are the

Kings and queens

Seeking our aces out...

--

Chimdi never loved attention, but who was she to shy away from one, with a life like hers?

She placed a faux smile on her face, while the entire school staff came to congratulate her on her 'achievement'

But she'd been well groomed with the reality and true nature of humans.

They'd flaunt their faux feelings to you once you are successful. They never want to be left behind, any little chance they got at finding favours, their hands were always quick to grab.

Chimdi knew all the smiles, pats and hugs she received were all fake. Some of them had their own share of judging her. But she smiled anyway. She adjusted her blazer and pulled up her socks, as she made her way out of the staffroom.

The violent harmattan breeze hadn't calmed a bit. Nigerian weather was like that, whenever you need it, it becomes scarce.

Her black shoe was coated in dust and she bent to clean them, before retracting her hands, knowing fully well that, walking a little distance would still make them dusty.

Curse Harmattan.

She tugged again at her stockings when the breeze became more violent and kept walking.

She reached where Nene and Lara promised to wait for her, just to see additional company.

Elo was in his usual happy mood, unlike Jiki who constantly rolled his eyes at whatever the shorter guy said. She smiled when she finally reached them.

That was when she noticed a new face, the boy was dark skinned yet, his skin was clearer than theirs and his hair, a mop of thick black curls, cut low enough to look clean.

She felt his eyes on her as she gave in to Jiki's embrace.

To outsiders, Jiki was the overprotective boyfriend who wouldn't let the other boys get to chimdi. While in reality, he filled in the big brother role, shielding out the hormone crazed boys.

"Oshey Modella." Elo sang out, clearing an imaginary road for her.

She played along, sashaying to where he stood.

"Drumrolls please, Elo you're such a fool!"

The shorter boy rolled his eyes before enveloping her in a hug.

He sniffed her hair. "You are still using that Sheabutter nonsense." His nose scrunched in detest for the hair cream.

"Brand influencer duties." She sassed back.

The boy rolled his eyes, using his fingers to play with the curly ringlets of her luxuriant fro. "Still, that doesn't mean you should use it."

She glared at the shorter boy. "You should keep your opinions to yourself El. You don't know shit about hair maintenance."

Meanwhile, TJ felt out of place in the midst of people who were totally not in anyway familiar. He had to admit that though his father had told him of his non-existent friendship with Elo, the shorter boy still was a stranger in a sense. However, amidst the mini chaos going on at that moment, he felt he knew the skinny girl from someplace. He just couldn't figure out the exact place.

"Dee, did you grow taller?" Jiki teased Chimdi who was done arguing with Elo, hovering his hand an inch above her head.

Truly her short plaid skirt and long skinny legs made her look taller.

"Of course, I'd do anything to be same height with some people." She replied, not looking at anyone.

"Awwwn, for me?" Elo crooned, draping his hands around Nene. "Or did you meet someone we aren't aware of yet."

Nene rolled her eyes, swatting off his hands.

"Awon brostitute! Get your smelly hand off me!" Nene scolded, glaring daggers at him.

They cracked up in a fit of laughter when Elo went ahead to sniff his arm.

Elo and Nene were the comic relief of the little clique. A day would never go by without a fight.

"C'mon Nens, you know this hottie here never smells." He spread this arms to envelope her in a hug. "Come and give Daddy a hug sweetie pie. I know you missed me."

"Jesus ewww! I swear El, if you come near me-" before the threat words could make a successful get away out of her mouth, Elo had already wrapped her in his arms.

She made gagging sounds, giving him the impression that she was about to throw up.

"Awwn. Cutie, cutie!" Elo cooed when he released Nene, dragging her chubby cheeks. "I'm sure you consumed every meal in your mum's kitchen. I mean, look at these chubby cuties."

"What the hell El! Even your palms are fucking disgusting!" She pushed him off, wiping furiously at her cheeks. "What the hell are they? Wet towels? Eww!"

"They're called sweat glands babe." Elo replied, wiping his palms on his trouser. "You know everyone is born differently I discovered it this summer-"

Jiki groaned, palming his face in embarrassment. "Dude c'mon! That's the lamest gist ever."

"What?" The shorter boy asked, rocking on his heels. "What's so lame about my major sweat glands being my palms and feet? And this doctor on Twitter was like; sweat leaving through another-"

"Jesus El shut up! You're triggering my gag reflex right now!" Lara groaned, covering her ears.

"C'mon Larabear. We learn every day."

"Yeah, but nobody signed up for lessons over eww- sweat glands!"

The Clique clicked so well.

With Jiki exhibiting his mean aura, when behind the light skinned, tall swim captain. Laid a golden boy with a heart, twice as big as the universe and a smile, bright enough to brighten the dark nights. And this, he only showed to the people in his circle and on set, doing what he loved.

Elo went all out and once he was sighted, one can tell what he was capable of. The average height, black boy with dreadlocks, Dr Addy never stopped frowning at, had a bubbly personality that could rub off on anybody. Except one would totally scram when they meet an angry Elo.

Lara was the introvert with the charm of an extrovert which concealed the soft spoken lowkey nerd, whose nose was always stuck to a good read. And Nene, who just like Elo came all out, was the brain of the clique and Elo's nemesis. The ebony beauty who was all brains and curves used her tongue and brain as a weapon of mass destruction.

Chimdi to all was the vibrant teen star, who out shone her friends. With will, made from the strongest materials. She was a closed book, people painted her in a different light. But she had the universe on her shoulder and the sun for a crown, with a thousand pleas on the tip of her tongue.

Chimdi still felt the new guy's eyes on her. She turned and he looked away.

"Guys, Oh I forgot. This na my gee, he just came in from the states. No jokes here though." Elo introduced TJ who shyly smiled, all eyes were on him. Including Jiki's judgemental ones.

"You people need to hear him speak." Abike butted in from nowhere, making her twin brother groan.

Abike, Elo's twin who always claimed to be older, just because she was taller and Chimdi's frenemy wasn't really part of the clique. She butted in whenever pleased her, said whatever she thought and stuck by her own rules.

The twin never tried to conceal her true feelings towards Chimdi. And the clique couldn't put a ring to it.

"Do you have to do that every fucking time!" Elo groaned.

"Do what?" Abike asked as she went on to lean on TJ.

TJ knew she had a crush on him, from the moment her mother mentioned how they played with tiny sunflowers and turning them into crowns, which TJ gifted her when they were kids.

Though none of them could recollect, Abike clung to that.

"What happened to his accent?" Nene spoke up for the confused clique.

"Mind blowing." The twin giggled, earning a grunt from her brother.

This made them look at TJ, waiting for him to speak up. This action made the boy uncomfortable.

"Y'all really expect me to speak?" TJ asked, clamping his mouth shut when he realized he actually talked, earning a crack up from the clique.

"Dude, that was epic." Nene hiccupped, cupping her tummy and unaware she was leaning on Elo.

"Hmmn. But nothing I say is epic baa? " Elo asked, feigning a broken heart, earning a hiss from Nene, who retracted her hands immediately like it was never there.

"I don't know, you guys talk so normal It's beautiful." TJ confessed.

In the African movies he'd seen, Africans spoke in a particular way that was stereotyped. What he got back in Nigeria was a different thing all together, starting from the woman who sat beside him on the airplane.

"No way, the way you speak is cool too. You know, like those... what do they call it again," Lara tried to put a name to it.

"Afro Americans?" Nene supplied.

"Yeah, exactly. When I heard you speak, I thought 'dear Martin." Lara giggled. "It's fun listening to someone speak ebonics in the flesh."

Nene made a face, her brows making a connection with her hair line. "Who the hell is Martin?"

Groaning at everyone's confused face, Lara rolled her eyes. "Sometimes I wonder how I'm friends with y'all."

"Same here," Chimdi waved, wiggling her fingers at the annoyed girl. "You're such a dork."

The clique bursted out fit which had Lara letting lose the grin she'd been hiding.

The bell rang for lessons to commence. And with a groan, they all dispersed to their various classrooms.

--

"Get ready to explore cinematography SS3. I am Corp Morris Ofose." An overly cheerful man in his mid twenties addressed the class.

The students interests were piqued immediately. Mostly because he was a youth Corp and Cinematography wasn't a course practiced in the lower academic section in Nigeria.

TJ looked around to see different shades of excited faces. Looking like they just got served five star meals.

He sighed.

Been there, done that.

"I need a comprehensive list of the class." The young corp requested, rocking on his heels.

No answer.

"Class captain?" A brow raised.

"We have none sir." Came the loud voice of 45 eager students.

--

GLOSSARY

Oshey modella - relating to a model

Awon brostitute - A man whore

Jhare - exclamation used defensively esp at the end of a sentence.

You don blow -You are now fat /Chubby

En get why - "There is a reason

This na my gee - This is my friend (esp used for males)

Kwo - Also used at the end of sentences to lay emphasis.