The day to leave the amazing Lagos arrived and we were all happy to leave… well not all three of us just Ashezi and me, and I am sure that you have an idea why. Lota had a great time in Lagos, she partied, attended two fashion shows and a gallery opening; she went a few very romantic dates and most importantly, she didn’t get drunk and pass out on top of a roof of a hotel.
After the rooftop incident, I don’t think I left the hotel room to anywhere apart from the hotel gym… yes, I started working out and I discovered a new love for the steam room. There is something about the steam room that makes you feel very relaxed afterward.
Ashezi, left the hotel room a couple of times… one for the fashion show and the other was for the gallery opening; basically she was Lota’s date, even though Lota didn’t need her. That girl did not mind going anywhere on her own, she called it “taking myself out”. I guess break up was doing her well.
And it made me think… it made me think about a lot of things; things like if I were the one whose boyfriend turned out to be a married man, I don’t think I would be able to pick myself off my bed talk more of travel to Lagos, have the time of my life, and look amazing while doing so. Yup my friend had a certain glow to her that I had not seen in a very long time.
I wanted to ask her how she was able to not feel the pain of her break up but I convinced myself out of it; what if I ask her about Daniel and she remembers him and becomes sad all because of my curiosity? Then I will look like a bitch. But one day I will ask her.
“Awww, I’m going to miss Lagos so much” Lota said as we were being driven away from the hotel to the airport. “Me too” I replied “you that will start coming to Lagos anyhow, when you start working as a TV presenter” she said it with so much certainty that I was tempted to ask her where she got her confidence from, so that I will go there to get some; but I just kept my self-doubt to myself.
The flight was smooth and within two hours of boarding the airplane, it was as if I didn’t travel at all because I had settled into my room and gotten so comfortable with a glass of wine and music from my laptop.
In my relaxation mode, my phone rang to my surprise because I was convinced that I put it on airplane mode; I just wanted to be by myself for a bit and think about things. It was Lota calling “How far?” I assumed she forgot something and wanted to ask me about it.
“Asari, I am sad” a definite statement that took me by surprise “what happened? Did Daniel call you?” I assumed “No… I blocked him so he cannot call me. I know jare, I thought that this Lagos trip will help but it didn’t do anything. I was just sad throughout and now I’m sadder” her words propelled my body towards the edge of my bed.
“But you seemed to be having a lot of fun now?” I was confused “Asari, I was faking it. They say you should fake it until you make it and that is what I was doing… faking happiness. It’s just that I didn’t make it” wow, my respect for Lota entered a new level.
There was no way I could have thought that all the while we were in Lagos, she was suffering but she didn’t let herself down; she pushed forward and made the best of the trip. “Maybe it’s your house that is making you feel that way because of the memories you have built with Daniel there” I said looking for a way to cheer her up.
“Do you want to come and stay with me for a few days?” I found myself offer and she jumped on my offer without thinking about it. I believed she was really sad when she appeared in my house an hour later with two luggage bags… not one but two. She was not here to stay for a couple of days yo. She was here to staaaaaaaay.
