My clothes were soaked with sweat, and the spot I lay on was so soaked you would think someone had poured a full bucket of water there. I already had my bath twice, but the condition was still nothing to write home about.
“Man, you need to go outside and find some air,” I advised myself.
I love every season, but summer is a bit of a problem for me because I don't like heat, it makes me restless, taking away my peace.
I went to my wardrobe and had a change of dress, I wore my armless white jersey and red shorts.
The spot that came into my mind to visit was a place full of mango trees just close to the main road.
It was almost 1:00 PM, the sun was so scorching that it was like all the rays were fired directly at me.
Before I could reached the place, my shirt was wet like it was soaked in water, I had to hasten up to get out of the sun. Panting heavily like someone chased by a lion, I finally stepped into the shade.
The air was chill and refreshing. I wiped my face with the blue handkerchief on my hand and let out a deep breath.
I was kind of late to the spot, and a couple of boys were already seated on the only log of wood there.
But lucky me, Marsh, one of my friends, was among them.
“Hello,” I greeted, exchanging a warm handshake with each of them.
“Emreal, how are you?” Marsh asked, adjusting the wood, making some space for me.
“I am fine, long time, no see. I was skeptical whether it was you or not when I saw the three of you from a distance,” I replied after sitting.
“Eya, it is me, the heat is much, we decided to come to this place to receive some fresh air,” he replied.
“That's beautiful. I came here for the same purpose,” I answered.
“Meet, Paul and Fidelis,” he introduced the two boys who were with him.
“Oh, nice to meet you,” I reacted with a big smile.
“Guys, he is Esty’s elder brother,” Marsh added.
“Seriously?” Paul asked.
“Yes,” Marsh replied.
“Boss, greetings, I have been hearing about you, but i unexpected to see someone big and strict,” Paul teased me.
“Well, I guess you have been receiving the information with a bit of exaggeration,” I fired back.
Everyone laughed. We spoke at length about life and enjoyed the natural air.
Paul is a college student, and my sister's course mate. He is from Plateau State, one of the neighboring states.
He seemed to be the kind of guy whose energy matches mine. From the way we spoke, he thinks about life almost the same way I do, and that makes me like him.
Before leaving, we exchanged phone numbers, and that was how our friendship kicked started.
I have met a couple of people in life, but Paul is exceptional. He is the kind of person who, once he lets you into his life, you become family.
Most times he comes to my place and we take long walks together, unless he was busy at school, he is always at my place.
Paul lives with one of his friends in my place due to financial constraints. One evening, the place was almost dark, around 6:30 Pm, I was bored at home, so I decided to go over to his place.
From a distance, I heard audible voices cheering and laughing. I was perplexed. The last time I checked, there was no sports field anywhere close. “Why the noise?”
I hasten up my steps, entering the compound, my friend was surrounded by children lying helpless, struggling with a bottle of Smirnoff ice that was almost exhausted.
I could recognize a few of those children; they call me “uncle” each time I visit.
“Excuse me,” I rushed and raised him up, The children laughed as he dragged and tried to resist me.
“I'll beat you, Emreal, leave, leave me alone, I…. I… I love it here,” he struggled to make sentences.
Without saying a word, I managed to take him inside and take off his shirt that was stinking with alcohol, and allowed him to sleep.
The next day, I came to the house in the in the morning. He was home with his roommate.
“Good morning, guys,” I shook them both, and sat on the plastic chair near the door.
“Emreal, thanks so much for yesterday. I traveled to the village, when I got back, I was informed that you helped Paul inside when he was drunk,” Tim, his roommate, thanked me.
“It's nothing, bro. Paul is like a brother; he would have done the same for me if he saw me in that situation,” I answered.
Tim smiled, “That's true. I will leave the two of you now. I want to go and see my girlfriend.”
Paul lay quietly on the bed and didn't say a word.
“My guy, how are you?” I asked.
He let out a deep breath and stared at me for a moment, “I am fine, Emreal.”
His face was still dull, and his eyes were still red.
“I don't know you take alcohol,” I replied after a brief moment of silence.
“Time, to time, I do but not to stupor,” he answered, his voice was barely audible.
“What happened yesterday?” I asked.
He lowered his head, almost inserting it into the pillow, and remained quiet.
“It's fine, I understand, you don't need to explain,” I replied.
“No, it's not so, I just feel ashamed. You know it's our final year in school. I went for this event with my guys, they made me drank, and gave me some to bring home. I didn't know I was going to misbehave that way.”
Hmm, I sighed. “I don't label you as a bad person, but I am not okay with you drinking to that extent. You need to see the way people were mocking and laughing at you yesterday; it was a slap in my face,” I replied.
“I am so sorry, I couldn't even step outside today, but let me tell you a little secret. Yesterday wasn't the first time; I have done that a couple of times before,” he responded.
“What? But are you okay living your life that way at this young age?” I asked.
“Emreal, I am not.”
“Then change, Paul, please stop it before it becomes a habit,” I replied.
He looked at me and smiled, “You are one of the best things that has happened to me in this place, thanks, bro.”
“You are welcome,” I answered.
He took his bath, and we went for a walk.
Our friendship blossomed, and the bond even became stronger. Paul gradually stopped taking alcohol and discarded the friends who made him indulge in the act.
I and his roommates became his only friends. Sometimes he even sleeps at my place.
It's funny how time flies; within a short period of time, Paul broke the news of his graduation to me.
He was done with school and was going back to his state. It was such heavy news, but that is life.
On the day he was leaving, he looked at me quietly and almost burst into tears, “Emreal, thanks for the memories, thanks for the impact, meeting you was God's plan.”
I smiled and hugged him, with a heavy heart, I said, “Thank you too, you have done so much in my life and I can never forget you.”
I helped him convey some of his goods to the motor park, and I waited until the car was filled. With pains in my heart, I watched as the car vanished into the long tarred road.
We still communicate with Paul on the phone, he told me he has enrolled into the fashion academy and would make time to come around when he is ready.
N.B: All Images Were Generated By Meta AI
