Airport. 

~Dare Ofegu~

"I don't want you to go, yet I can't stop you."

Lara remonstrated, her right arm tucked in my left. We were brushing sides and standing in the broad gleaming hallway of the Nnamdi Azikwe International airport. 

"I can't help it too. I must go find that traitor and ask him why he had done that to me after the trust. I even told him that I was giving him the last chance and that if he betray me again, twould be the end of our friendship."

I explained, untucking my arm as I wounded it around her waist instead. She took a peek at me, I could see surprise splattered on her face. 

"You can't just expect a lion to stop being a lion because you rescued it and make it live in your house. One day, the killer instinct which defines its being would always flare up."

She looked away. I scoffed,

"Kola is no lion. He's but a hyena. A very funny creature which hardly works but always want to have a big share of what it didn't labour for."

She wrapped her arm around my waist too. Twas easy to give us out as a couple. 

"And what will you do as soon as you find him?"

She teased. I could see a gentle smile stealing the sides of her lips. 

"I haven't decided that yet. Let's wait until then. He would know that not all the cute creatures are harmless. I'm a Slow Loris!"

She chuckled as she turned to me,

"What's that?"

"They look like benign baby Ewoks and they have cute gentle eyes. But these vicious mammals are actually quite venomous—and if they feel attacked, they can (and will) mix their toxins into their saliva and fur to harm perceived predators."

She sighed as the smile spread across her face. 

"But be careful. Don't make a scene over there. Such scene that would rule you out for deportation. Though I will be glad if you are deported as well as your mom?"

I looked at her as she giggled. She's cute and adorable but as much as I tried, I'm not really drawn to her. 

"Iya Dare."

I mumbled. She came on,

"Did you tell her you're leaving today?"

I shot her a grotesque stare,

"Are you kidding me? She's my all, why would I hold back such thing from her. I could never hold back anything from her."

"Indeed."

She scorned. As soon as I got the idea,

"Okay. Maybe just some few things. And believe me, everything I do is but for her sake. If I told her that I'm going to California to cause trouble and then in essence claim back what is mine, which is becoming a sex toy to a middle-aged woman. Do you think she would hug me and say, 'Awwn, what a cute baby boy you are?'"

We both chuckled. I continued,

"I tell you. She would collapse immediately she hears that and I won't be responsible for her ... I don't want to say balderdash."

She squeezed the end of my side to the right gently and I looked at her. 

"But she didn't want to come with you and at least see you off?"

I sighed and looked away to the front. Prolly, we were the only one standing idle in the hallway,

"It's rather strange to me. And now I feel guilty and skeptical whether or not to go. I know my mom, she might become sick again on account of her worries... I'm tired. Why is everyone making things so hard for me?"

"How rude!"

The strange but familiar voice swept past me from behind. I stared at Lara at once whose stern face melted into a sheepish smile. 

"Is it what I am thinking?"

My eyes widened as Lara removed her arm and tilted my head in the direction as I graced the effort by turning,

"Iya Dare."

I let out a cry like a whining five years old and hurried to her. I flung myself on her as though she was one of the mountains in Himalaya. But to my dismay, she was able to withstand the force and held strongly unto me, crying. 

I tried so hard to cry but I simply couldn't. I don't know why. It's quite easy for others but for me...

"Oko mi, Olowo Ori mi, Omo ola, omo òlà. Ajào, Bábá mi, Eleyo..."

She did an eulogy of my traditional name, holding my face in her weak palms. The track of tears on her face were paced again by a host of another saline drops. 

"I'm sorry."

Was all I could say as she couldn't hold back her tears. She suddenly folded her watery face into a sudden smile as she smacked me on the left cheek,

"Stupid. Sorry cannot make you stay. But go, go and be fine. You have my blessings and I'll try so hard to forgive you for leaving me alone."

The smile was gobbled again by another ocean of tears. I hugged her tightly again and we remained like that for a while.

Suddenly, she raised her head and called at Lara who also already had tears on her face (I have no idea how tears are so easy for ladies),

"Join us, my wife."

MY WIFE? I thought. But couldn't keep up the pace of the thoughts for long as Lara joined and even enflamed the tongues of the tears as the both of them gave cadence and pauses to the cry as though we were mourning someone. 

After few seconds of remaining like that, a uniform man who I'm sure works in the airport interrupted,

"Is this some family reunion shit?"

His husky voice was complemented by his tough, rough and emotionless face which had several scars on it. We all turned to him. 

"What did he say?"

My mother asked in my traditional language. She doesn't understand English language. She only understands the basics like GOOD MORNING, GOOD NIGHT, MARKET WILL COME and stuff. And she does enunciate the sounds very wrongly. Especially the word, GOOD. 

I tried to tell her to ignore while Lara took it out on the fellow. But then I came on addressing the fellow precisely,

"My flight is just ten minutes away. And I've even been here just for 20 minutes, biding farewell to my loved ones. But you wouldn't know what that means, Sadist."

I looked away from him. He was going to make a scene when I taught him a quick lesson. 

After the drama, I turned to my mom,

"I'll go now, else I'll miss my flight."

She hugged me finally not willing to let go, but I stylishly fought my self free. I turned to Lara,

"Please take care of my mom. She's my world."

I said and she nodded. I nodded at her and began to walk away, pulling the baggage with me. 

Walking halfway past them, I turned back the last time and waved at them. But then I saw Lara running towards. Like you see in the movies. 

She got to knew and flung her voluptuous self into my firm but incapable arms. She hugged me tightly, squeezing her boobs on the turtleneck I was wearing. 

She let go of me suddenly and looked up at me, grabbing my face hurriedly. Her eyes looked threatening as she pulled my face closer and kissed me violently. Like when you eat a food in a rush before exam. 

I repaid the generosity, leading her tongue through the path of pleasure.  She caught her breath and let go. 

Her eyes were keen, and her stare serious. She muttered,

"I love you."

She let go immediately and hurried away. She got to my mom and held unto her, then led her through the hallway, towards the exit. Their backs to me. 

I stood there wondering what had just happened when I heard the voice over the public speaker summoning travelers. 

I sighed and gave a last stare. Luckily, she looked back and we locked gazes which didn't last but for half a second. 

I walked towards the call, doubting whether or not to really leave...