WHAT'S LIFE'S WORTH?

★★★★★

Four a.m.

"Munachi? Muna? Are you still there? You'll come back home right?" I could still hear my mom's concerned voice replaying in my head. I was speechless, motionless, even. I couldn't cry. I felt like if I moved, then her words would be true. No.

KC is strong. He wouldn't dare to leave me. Not when we've not seen each other for more than a year. He's supposed to miss me, not leave me!

'Mumu(Idiot) he was in an accident. She didn't say he's dead,' Mathew said. True.

'But he's joking right? He must've faked it so I'd come back right?' I asked, mentally.

'I'm you. Why are you asking me?'

'You need a girlfriend. Fool.'

'You have time to insult me right? You won't rush back to check on him. Go on. Waste your time.'

I jumped up from my bed, and dashed into the bathroom. Lizzy stirred awake for sometime, but just ended up sleeping. I needed to ask her why she deleted my mom's call from my call log.

I came out, refreshed, and checked my phone for any update. My friends, Nene, Obia and Chidinma were keeping tabs on him, for me. Fractured ankle, few broken ribs, dislocated shoulder, sprains. The guy sure had an accident. The mumu(idiot) couldn't think of minimizing the injuries! He's getting a smack on the head once I see him.

My law assignment was due the next day. It was eighty percent of our grades, but I couldn't wait. KC can't wait either. I needed to go back. Richard? Shit!

"Hey. Rich, I'm sorry for calling so early but-"

"You called at the right time. Richard is at your service."

"Thanks, I need you to-"

"Haha, gotcha! Richard's not here right now. Leave a message." Fucker!

I called Lida and told her I was leaving. I just didn't know how. Lizzy would kill me if I touched her car again. Hmm, I won't feel guilty right? Besides she's the reason I didn't know on time!

Gabriel! He's the only one available.

"Hi," I said, dragging my box down the steps. The cold, quiet night, echoing my voice and the impact the box made. I didn't think he'd answer the call, but he did.

"Hey."

"I'm so sorry for calling early, Gabriel. I always call you at the worst possible time. I'm-"

"What's it Mona?" So cold.

"I need you Gabe. Please? I'm outside my hostel."

"What? Why are you outside by this time? It's cold, dammit!"

"I-kno-w," I stuttered.

"Mona," he groaned, "You really can't take care of yourself can you?" He mumbled. The line went dead.

I stood in front of the hostel gate, under a street light. It felt safe and warm there. But the cold of the night was worse than I expected. I couldn't feel my hands as I rubbed them to get a little warmth from it. Gabriel pulled over in his BMW.

"Hi-"

"Get in, Mona!" He came out from the car and carried my box. I was in the front seat. "Care to explain why you're carrying your box, or where the hell we're going to by this time?"

"Air- airport," I stuttered. He put the car heater to maximum, and I began to feel my hands once more.

"You're leaving?" He asked. His voice sounded sad, defeated.

"Yeah," I said firmly. "Please be quick Gabriel. Please." He stepped on the gas. My flight was by six a.m and I couldn't miss it. KC needs me.

"Tell me, Mona. What's going on?"

"KC. He was in an accident." The car seemed to be on top speed. I was grateful, but nauseous.

"What time is the flight?"

"Six."

Gabriel made a call to book an extra flight to Nigeria by six. Was he thinking of going with me?

"What's your seat number?"

"Twenty eight."

"Twenty seven or twenty nine is fine by me," he said to his phone. "Make is quick Aiden."

"You're going with me?"

"I can't leave you like this. You don't want me to be there?" His voice quivered.

"No, it's nice of you to tag along. I need the company. Thanks Gabriel."

"Gabriel huh? No Gabe, or Gabey or-"

"Shut up and drive. Gabey." He smiled. I missed this. Him.

Suddenly his smile dropped, "What of Richard? Isn't he supposed to be-"

"His phone was on voicemail. I couldn't get through."

We arrived at the airport by five thirty a.m. Gabriel carried my box to the boarding area as we dropped it off. The tickets we booked online were given to us, and by six, we were called to board the plane​.

Eight hours later, we were in Lagos. Gabriel carried my box as I went out to get a taxi. By the time, I caught a taxi, Gabriel was on my heel with my box.

"Lekki phase one, please," I told the driver as we settled in at the back.

"Madam, it's two hundred naira oo."

I checked my purse, and noticed I still had dollars. I forgot to change.

"Oga(Sir) will you take dol-"

"Two hundred is fine," Gabriel said. He brought his wallet out, with naira notes all over the place.

"When did you have time to change?"

"I guessed the taxi would take time, so, I got a chance to change."

"Thank you," I smiled sadly.

"It'll be fine, Mona. I think KC is strong. You won't talk about someone so much if he wasn't a strong person." True.

"Oga, please, be quick," I said to the driver.

"Hmm, madam, this your oyibo (white) friend is fine oo."

"Yes," I said, hopeful that Gabe didn't understand. He didn't. He was looking outside. "That's Victoria island down there," I said, as I saw his face lit up.

"It's... Wow."

"Yeah, most people there are rich celebrities or politicians." I couldn't imagine I was talking like nothing else mattered in the world, while KC was in coma. I slumped back on the seat. Chidinma had informed me that the hospital, Mary's Care, was some blocks away from KC's home. It wasn't far.

"Driver, what's going on? Lekki isn't far from here."

"Lagos has its wahala(problem). The tax force is on the road and is causing hold-up(traffic)." Yeah, that's Nigeria for you. I totally forgot about it.

"Have patience Mona, c'mon, I still need to know the names of these places."

"... That's third Mainland Bridge," I said, munching a gala susage roll that we bought on the roadside. "You see those big houses, they're made with the finest materials in the country."

"Ligus," Gabriel tried to pronounce, while eating his susage roll too.

"It's Lagos, Gabe. Lei-gas."

"Lagos," he finally pronounced well.

"Madam, we're here oo," the driver said.

"Thank you, sir. Please can you drop us a Mary's Care? Abeg(Please) it's not far."

"Okay oo. Na because you carry Oyibo come(It's because you're with a White man.)"

"Thank you."

The driver dropped us in front of the big hospital and drove off after Gabriel fetched my box. The hospital had been a family hospital anytime we were in Lagos for the holiday.

We entered the reception and I saw a familiar face. "Nancy, you're still here?"

"Munachi, you've grown oo," she said as she stepped out to give me a hug. "You're here for Kele right?" I couldn't look up, "Ahh, I'm sorry. Third floor. Room six, eight, two."

"Thank you. Please, can I keep my box here?" I asked, motioning to Gabriel.

"Yes, I'm here nah," she said, winking at Gabriel. Jeez. The woman was in her late thirties.

Gabriel and I took the elevator to the third floor because we were too tired to take the stairs. I, on the other hand, didn't have the time. The elevator chimed and the door opened to another reception area.

"Mrs Ijeoma, it's nice to see you."

"Muna, Muna. See this big girl oo." She hugged me.

"I'm here to see Kelechi."

"You know the room? Don't worry. There's no need to sign in. I'll do that for you."

"Thank you, ma." I walked towards the rooms. The white painted walls and smell of bleach welcomed me. We walked into the hallway that led to KC's room and I saw Obia and KC's parents there.

I ran to hug them. The tears, I hadn't shed since morning begun to pour out uncontrollably.

'KC's not dead,' Mathew reminded.

'Allow me to grieve, woman!'

'I'm a man, idiot.'

"Munachi, you're finally here," KC's mom, Mrs Nmereole, said. "He doesn't want to wake up. What's wrong with him?"

"I'll go inside, ma. I'll smack him so that he'll know I'm back and he'll wake up," I said.

Obia hugged me, saying she missed me. I asked her if anyone knew the cause of the accident, but she didn't reply. Gabriel stood uncomfortably by the corner as our mini reunion took place, but I took his hand and introduced him to them as my very good friend.

I was told to enter KC's room by the doctor. I didn't want company. Just me, and him, like old times. I walked in, and I couldn't explain the sight before me.

KC was covered in bandages, his legs were raised up with bandages all over. He was placed on an oxygen supply and his electrocardiogram beeped from time to time.

I walked over to him and sat down on the chair that was placed beside him. I sat down and looked over him. His chest was the only part of his body moving which was ironic. KC never stayed at a place. He was always moving. Seeing him, motionless, gave me a pang in my chest, so I did the first thing I said I'd do.

I smacked him on the head.

Luckily, his head has no complications so it was okay to do that. I saw his finger move. "Kelechi Nmereole, if you don't wake up this instant, I'll be the one to bury you."

Silence...

"I'm giving you only five seconds to get up, unless I'll beat you. This accident won't be the cause of your death, but me." Silence..."Five, four, three, two, one," I counted. I couldn't hold it anymore, "KC, if you- don't wake-u-p," I sobbed, "I won't come back here to see you." Nothing.

I couldn't help it. He wasn't waking up. I saw someone come into the room. Gabriel. He came in when he heard me crying and sat down beside me. I put my head on his chest, hitting him in frustration, and ended up sleeping.

KC...

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