
About 25 days to graduation, all of a sudden, Tomisin started asking me some questions, Folu became nicer to me, Bukky came to talk with me, obviously something strange was happening. After one of those tiring TTG night sessions, the ultimate set-up happened, Folu dragged me to you, said something about wanting to see who was taller and off she went... That was the first night i *saw you in almost 5years of being in that small school. and from that night, all i could think off was your smile, your eyes the way you rolled them, your skinny self, the way u drifted through the air... In a short while the text messages and late phone calls began.
convocation day, i remember how i wanted to at least say hi to your mum, now i wish it happened so i wouldnt be that strange guy saying 'Ini loves you ma, and God would see you through'
The night @ the beach, i remember how inseperable we were and how i wanted you to ride with me back to the mainland...
Icecream factory, I remember gbola coming down to see tears on your face in the car and how you yelled @ her to leave you alone, i remember the conversation of how your travelling for that summer 2011 was going to be tough for me, i remember you promising to keep in touch a promise you kept so well... im sure the fone lines wld have been tired of us, i remember how u wld chat with me everytime you had internet access in italy... i remember how we would talk about how difficult parents could be... I rememebr how we talked so long paused and said at the same time 'you know me so well'
i remember how i was always to eager to pick you at the airport whenever you came into lagos... i remeber the day my dad came when you were in my house... *sigh* these memories linger vividly.. like a tape it replays in my head over and over again at nights.. how short my nights have become
i remeber the hustle to get into lagos for NYSC, i remember the day at ebuns house, i remember the day i told you... 'you are the strongest girl i ever met' I remember camp, how i had to keep clearing my text memory cos of the uncountable back and forth text...
i remember how i hurt your feelings on your birthday 'im sorry' and i remember how you totally understood me
i remember how i schemed my way to being on the team of engineers representing my company in mobil, so i could be close to you.. i remember some days when you wouldnt take the staff bus just so we could ride together to magodo... such days i was happy about the traffic cos i could spend more time with you
Now i remember the day you were to leave lagos for abuja and you came up to my office till you cab guy came, i remember the glow in you eyes, the red tint in you hair... i remember the drilling engineers giving me the look... i remember how i hugged you just before you stepped into the elevator not caring who was looking... i remember how we skyped early hours on saturday morning and you told me you were thinking of shifting your return flight till monday... 'now i wish you did that'
i remember how myself and tomisin said we wld flog you for not picking your fone on sunday when we heard about the crash...'we were too sure you werent on that flight' i remember crying like a baby before the manifest was out... i cried till i had no tears left in my eyes... i hold so dearly every voice note you sent to me.. i backed them up in many places b'cos i always want to hear your voice.
i could write a million words, heck a billion, but that wouldnt bring you back... please tell Jesus to send a host of angels to comfort your mum, your dad and your grieving friends...
INI i loved, INI i love...