Immediately Maverick boarded the night bus going to his hometown, different thoughts crossed his mind. Returning home after five years was supposed to make him happy but it was the other way around. Initially, he didn't think it was necessary because of how bad the relationship between him and his father had gotten but he needed somewhere to stay pending the time he would get a job and move out of his father's place completely.
All through his time at the university, Maverick only called home to request money and his father's well-being had nothing on him. Mr. Nickolas, his father had tried several times to put an end to the hate Maverick had towards him but all his efforts were futile. He eventually gave up on trying to resolve the conflict between them but didn't stop taking Maverick's responsibilities.
"If things work out well, I should be out of that old man's house in eight months. I just have to work very hard," Maverick concluded in his mind immediately after the bus got on the road.
His eyes were fixed on the road and the sight of a woman holding hands with a boy on the road reminded him of his mother. Maverick let out a smile while thinking about the good days but the smile disappeared immediately after he thought about her death.
"That old man could have saved her but he choose not and as if he was expecting her to die, he married another woman not long after my mother died," Maverick muttered again and he was really pissed.
The vehicle had travelled for about two hours and they were in the middle of nowhere when the bus suddenly stopped moving.
"Driver, what's going on?" The passengers started screaming because it was dark and they could be in danger.
"I don't know, please be patient while I check," The driver responded.
"What do you mean patient? Look at where we are, you guys just collect bus fare and do not maintain your vehicles," Maverick screamed at the driver. He was frustrated about returning home already and it was understandable why he got mad at the driver.
The driver alighted from the bus and went to check the engine, he returned a few minutes later with sad news.
"Please everyone, I think the engine is faulty. We have to wait for another bus and if none show up, we will look for a mechanic in the morning,"
There was chaos in the bus after he broke the news and the passengers started alighting from the bus to see what they could do but there was nothing they could do about it.
"Please, it's not safe here. Let's stick together and be watchful because of these boys that rob travellers," One of the passengers advised and they heeded his warning.
Maverick was frustrated and wished there was another way he could continue with his journey that night but he had to wait just like other travellers. About an hour after the vehicle broke down, Maverick needed to pee so he got out of the bus and told other passengers that he was going to pee in the bush.
Image was captured by me
He was peeing when a glowing insect perched on his dress and before Maverick could chase it away, the insect had bitten him.
He felt the bite, it was sharp but he didn't feel any pain after. Maverick raised his dress to check the spot where he was bitten and the spot didn't stop glowing seconds after the insect vanished.
He felt uneasy and rushed back to the bus to show the other passengers the glowing wound. Immediately after he stepped on the bus, Maverick transformed into a tiny man that no one could see him, he tried getting the other passengers attention but they didn't see him and almost crushed him where he stood.
He was the size of an insect but his mind and reasoning ability was intact.
"What could be happening to me," Maverick thought as he looked back and forth while avoiding being crushed.
"Hello son," A voice said to Maverick and it was that of his mother.
"Mom, is that you?" He asked while staring at the buzzing insect in front of him
"Yes, son. This would be over soon, the insect that bite you is magical and you need to meet someone who loves you wholeheartedly before you can become a normal human again," She replied to him.
"But you are here, you love me wholeheartedly?" He asked.
"I am here but can't be of help to you. I am just a spirit but I can guide you until you find someone who loves you wholeheartedly," she replied.
Maverick thought about his girlfriend and his mother helped him to reach where she was. He waited around her hoping for him to transform back but it didn't happen.
"She loves me," Maverick stuttered.
"Yes, she does but not wholeheartedly," she replied. Maverick felt broken because he thought his girlfriend was the only one who loved him wholeheartedly.
"I might remain an insect forever," Maverick said to his mother.
"No, that can't be. What of your father? He always loved you," She replied.
"No, he doesn't. He left you to die and I won't forgive him forever," He replied.
"My chances of surviving the illness were zero, your father had sold everything and was about to sell the house we were living but I didn't agree to that. He is a great man and even remarried because of you, he didn't want you to be alone," She replied.
"That can't be true," He replied.
"You have a chance to find out the truth. If your father helps you transform back, you will know the truth," She replied.
Maverick requested that his mother help him to his father's place and she did. Upon arriving there, Maverick walked with his tiny legs to his father's bedside.
He was there for a few seconds before transforming back into a normal human. Maverick didn't believe that his dad truly loved him and tears poured from his eyes.
Mr. Nickolas who was asleep woke up a few seconds after Maverick transformed and was surprised to see his son.
"Maverick!" Mr. Nickolas called and immediately Maverick answered, he woke up from a long sleep. He was surprised to see himself on the bus, he looked around and asked where they were because the sun was gradually rising.
"We are almost in Lagos," the passengers sitting next to him replied.
Maverick was pondering about the dream and suddenly the glowing insect he saw flew past him.
"What's happening?" Maverick thought and he heard his mother's voice.
"Everything you saw was the truth about your father, he won't be here forever so love him while you can," The voice said to Maverick.
Maverick burst into tears not minding he was on a bus, he amended his relationship with his father and they lived happily together.