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CHAPTER 2

Sulaimon tiptoed out of the house careful not to wake his mother or sisters. He glanced at his wrist watch. It was 2:20 A.M. He raised his head to the sky. The stars were in their millions up there shining down onto earth their brightness as he rushed down towards Tayo’s house. Getting close, Tayo stepped out carrying a backpack and another on his back. Sulaimon collected the one in his hands and they walked as fast as they could.

“I just hope the bus haven’t left us behind.” Sulaimon said.

“I don’t think so. Mr. Pam said the bus leaves the park by 3:00 A.M and this is 2:24 A.M, so I think we still have about thirty-six minutes left.” Tayo said looking at his wrist watch. “How far? Anybody woke up?” He asked Sulaimon.

“No. How about you?”

“My mum actually woke me up. I had a sumptuous meal and she packed another one for me in a food flask.” Tayo said with a beaming smile on his face.

“Wow nice. Let me get ready to fill my stomach then.” Sulaimon said rubbing his stomach.

“See you, who told you I'm going to share with you?”

“You mean, you are going to be stingy to your best friend?”

“Ok two spoons should be enough.”

“That two spoons would be equivalent to half the food then.” Sulaimon said. They both laughed.

“But Sulaimon, don’t you feel somehow? We have never left home to go on a journey alone like this before.” Tayo said.

“Hmm, I feel somehow too but, what can we do about it? All those that went there and made it do not have two heads. If they can do it, so can we.”

“Hmm you and your ‘what can we do about it?’ as if they are chasing us from home.”

“You don’t know they are chasing us?”

“See this one. Who is chasing us?”

“Poverty. Poverty is chasing us with a whip even. Maybe you don’t feel it as much as I do, but it is there. I want to go and enjoy too. Let me go to Europe and make it. After spending like ten years there and we come back home we’ll be referred to as big men and our…”

Tayo turned to his friend in surprise. “You and who is spending ten years? I am not spending any ten years there o. Once I make enough money I am coming back home to my family.”

“Mr. Family, as if you are the only one that have a family. Do you think it will be easy to make it there at once? Or you think I won’t be missing my family too?”

“I don’t know, but I am talking about myself. I know things aren’t easy for us back here but, I can’t just stay away from home for ten years. What if something happens and I’ll probably…”

“Tayo it's ok abeg, we are here.” Sulaimon interrupted as they got to the park

They walked to a bus that was already packed with people, some of them little more than boys and girls. Mr. Pam was standing outside the bus.

“Ehen Oga polo, see them here o.” Mr. Pam said to the driver who was smoking a cigarette.

“Good morning Mr. Pam” Sulaimon and Tayo greeted simultaneously.

“Good morning, hope you are both ready.”

“Yes.” Tayo replied.

“So, how far?” Mr. Pam gestured with his hand.

“But Mr. Pam, I thought we had an agreement. We told you we were going to pay you the balance after getting to Libya.”

“Erm yes that was the agreement we had but things changed. The driver said he wants the full money now.”

“But Mr. Pam how can he…”

“See young man, if you wan pay the money pay. If you no wan pay just tell us make we dey go. Morning go soon come, I no wan waste time.” Oga Polo said angrily.

“Oga Polo easy abeg. I will talk to them. Look Tayo, if you have the money just pay so that we can start moving.” Mr. Pam appealed.

“Wait o," Tayo raised his voice. "What are you both trying to…”

“Tayo it’s ok. Let’s just give them the money. We shouldn’t waste precious time arguing.” Sulaimon said.

“Here!" Tayo brought out the money and shoved it in Mr Pam's hands. "Another Four Hundred Thousand Naira. That makes our full payment Eight Hundred Thousand Naira.”

“Ehenn, now you are talking. Oya make una enter sharp sharp. Oga Polo they’ve paid complete, we are set to go.” Mr. Pam said with a chuckle, showing his brown teeth. Mahmoud and Tayo climbed onto the bus and soon, they were on their way to Libya.

Chapter 1 is up guys. I hope y'all are liking it already.

Lemme also call some readers I hope would join this thrilling ride. Fingers crossed*
@Kaymercury @Divepen1 @EkopsparoAyara @centitan @moura7 @StubbornGENIUS @Nostradamus @dimssy @Tonyspecial @oluwatosin70 @YoungBruzzy @sleekhoyeen

Kindly invite others too guys. Thanks.

CHAPTER 1

Sulaimon avoided his mother's gaze. He couldn’t look her in the eyes with the sadness written all over it. She had dropped the tray of beans she was picking and stared at him.

“Sule,” she said, with a voice that sounded like it was going to break into tears any moment. “I know we are poor and struggling to feed ourselves, and I will support anything that will make our lives better. But you know what I will not do? Is to let my first and only son go kill himself, all in the name of looking for greener pastures. I will not do that. I will not let that happen!" She stiffened a tear. "I lost your father years ago, I will not lose you too now.”

Sulaimon sighed and raised his head to finally look at his mother. “Maami, I know this is very hard for you, but there is nothing left for me in this country. Since father died I’ve had to drop out of school to work and support you and my sisters but things are not going according to plan or getting any better. I need to go out there and make it so that I can support you.”

"At least you have a small job and we are able to feed ourselves and are healthy. That is enough for me Sulaimon. We should thank God. Besides, why risk your life when you can make a clean paper and travel? Don’t you hear stories of people that have drowned in the sea trying to cross over to Europe in search of a better life?”

Sulaimon groaned. “Maami it’s not that easy jor. How much do I have to save and how long do I have to wait for the so-called clean ones? It's just too much. This one is faster." Sulaimon held his mother's hand and looked her in the eyes. "Maami, we’ve got everything planned out well. There is nothing to be afraid of. And besides Tayo is going with me, everything will be fine.”

His mother peeled her hand away. “No! Sulaimon, I said no! I don’t want to hear anything about this again. I will not sit down and watch as my son go and kill himself. You hear me?”

Sulaimon looked at her for a moment. How couldn't she understand that he was doing it for her? For the family? He was tired of the whole thing. There was no hope for him here, not anymore. And no, no one was going to stop him from achieving his dreams elsewhere. Not even his mother.

He sighed and shrugged. “It's alright maami, I understand. I won’t bring up this issue again.”

Sulaimon stood up, a mixed feeling of guilt and relief churning his gut. He wasn’t asking for her approval in the first place. He had made up his mind and only wanted to let her know about the journey to ease her mind when she couldn't find him.

“Erm, ehen Mr man. Where are you going?” She called, looking at him with a suspicious gleam.

Sulaimon almost burst out laughing. You think you'll know when I leave? He thought. “I'm just going to Tayo’s house. I will be right back.” He replied.

“Better don’t play with me. I will be waiting for you in this house.”

“I am not running away maami.” Sulaimon said and stepped out of the house.

Tayo was already sitting on a stone waiting for his friend. “What was that about?" He asked.

“Shush, lower your voice.” Sulaimon placed his index finger across his lips. “I was coming to your place. What are you doing sitting here, shouldn’t you be preparing for the journey?"

“I'm done with my packing. You told your mother? I heard her voice.”

Sulaimon sat beside Tayo. “Yes, I did. But as expected she is against it.”

Tayo shook his head. “My mum was understanding but my father, all hell would be let loose if I tell him. My mother said that I shouldn't worry that she was going to tell him after I had left.”

“Mine wasn’t at all. All that she could imagine was that I was going to kill myself. That I was going to leave them like my father. I don’t know why they can’t see the positive side of this. And when we finally succeed and start bringing back home goodies they forget that they once stopped us from going. Look at Chisom’s mother, when he started sending back money she was spreading the news forgetting that she once threatened hell when he was going.”

“That’s true, but you should understand your mother’s worry though. You are the first child and only son.”

“That is more reason why I should go and better my life in Europe. This country has got nothing to offer me, we hustle every day and there is nothing to show for it. My mates are riding Range Rovers, Mercedes Benz and other flashy cars while I jump on bus every day. For how long will I keep waiting for my turn?”

“Abegi," Tayo jokingly nudged his friend's shoulder. "you that I know would have waited for as long as it took. You're too scared to take risks. All this ginger you have now is because of me. You are just lucky I am going with you and for the connection Mr. Pam has with one of the smugglers to take us across at a very cheap rate.”

“Ok Mr. connect, I know I had to persuade you to help me. Let’s not discourage each other now.” Sulaimon said.

"Lets see how it goes though. I hope we're lucky this time around."

"I hope so too."

Hello fam. So I've been away for a while after the frustration of not being able to complete my Thriller 'MILLION DOLLAR DAY' on this platform, probably due to breaking a rule I still don't know about till date. (Those interested in knowing what happened to the young lad who found millions of dollars mysteriously in his bank account, can go on okadabooks and search for the book. It's there, complete!)

But I'm here again today with another one titled 'JAPA GONE BAD'. Hopefully, I don't get restricted from completing another story again.

SYNOPSIS of JAPA GONE BAD: After leaving his home country to embark on a torturous journey across the desert in search of greener pastures in Europe, Sulaimon's life takes a dangerous turn when he ends up in war-torn Syria instead.

Let's get to it!

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