Chronicles Of A Runs Girl - S01 E33

Story 2 years ago

Chronicles Of A Runs Girl - S01 E33

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 33

I didn’t. I knew him and that was all. I’d met quite a few of his friends but we were not friends and I didn’t have their numbers. There was no one I could call. If the worst had happened, the night at Radisson Blu would mark the abrupt end of knowing him. There would be no attending a wake keeping, crying at the funeral, grieving with his family. It would all have ended just like that, and he would have left my life, just like that.

I broke down.

My phone was with Kike. It rang and she answered it. She waved for us all to be quiet. I pleaded with my teary eyes for her to tell me if it was him.

“No, this is not Amaka…. Kike… Yes, Amaka’s friend. Yes, I know him.”

She stayed on the phone, answering question after question then she finally managed to get one in.

“What is happening?” She asked whoever was on the phone. “Did he have an accident?”

I gripped the arms of the two girls by my sides as I waited for the answer. I studied Kike’s face so I’d know the minute she knew.

Kike took a deep breath, closed her eyes then she started telling the person on the phone about the evening at Radisson Blu.

I couldn’t take it any longer. I reached out and grabbed the phone from her.

“Where is Johnny?” I screamed into the phone.

“Who is this?” It was a female voice this time.

“This is Amaka. Where is Johnny? What happened to him?”

“Please, calm down. I was just explaining to your friend.”

I noticed that the girls had gathered round Kike and she was whispering something to them. My fear was confirmed; he was dead. Johnny was dead.

“Where is he?” I asked. I meant which mortuary.

“He’s ok.”

“If he’s ok, then let me talk to him.”

“You want to talk to him?”

“Yes!”

“Please, madam, just calm down so I can explain.”

“Explain? What do you want to explain? Who are you? Where is Johnny?”

“Madam, if you want to see your friend you have to come and meet us.”

“Where?”

“That is what I was just explaining to your friend. When last did you see Mr Johnny?”

“When last I say Johnny? What does that have to do with anything?”

The lady paused. I heard muffled voices in the background and I could tell she was taking instructions.

“Madam, we can only allow close friends and family of Mr Johnny to see him now, which is why I’m asking when last you saw him. Are you his girlfriend?”

“Yes! Can I come and see him now?”

She took another pause then she came back on the phone.

“Madam, where are you now?”

“Ikoyi.”

“Ok. Do you know Wilmot Point in VI?”

“No.”

“Navy Dockyard, after NTA.”

“Yes.”

“Can you come there now?”

“Is Johnny there?”

“Yes, Mr Johnny is in the Navy Clinic there. Come and meet us now.”

“Is he ok?”

“Please madam, when you come.”

The worst had happened. My Johnny was gone, and it was my fault.

All the girls wanted to follow me there but when the Red Cab arrived Mama had the good sense to suggest that only two of us should go. Naturally she wanted to come but Kike played the cousin card and got into the cab with me.

I’ve never experienced that state of mind before. As I sat in that cab my mind was empty and full at the same time. I kept seeing Johnny’s face and hearing his voice as he called me, Omoge, but I was on auto drive – my thoughts weren’t mine.

My phone rang and I handed it to Kike without even checking who it was.

It was Mama, and from the conversation they were having it seemed as if Mama was still beefing over not being the one to follow me. I got mad. I took the phone from Kike, ready to give it to her.

“Amaka, me I don’t think you should go there o,” she said.

I wanted to abuse her or say something harsh but I didn’t have the words.

“Amaka, this whole thing doesn’t make sense to me. Maybe we should wait first.”

“Wait for what?”

I didn’t wait for her to respond. I ended the call and tossed the phone aside.

“Where do you say we are going?” the cab man asked.

Kike answered him: “Navy Dock yard, Ahmadu Bello.”

“I will drop you close. They don’t use to allow coloured cab to enter there.”

“It’s ok.”

Mama sent a message and against myself I read it: