Chapter 14: Chapter 14

2020

LAGOS,

UNILAG

The black smokes that lingered, the ringing tone that blared in his ear, and the pain was enough to jolt Collins awake.

His body were covered in dust and concretes that crashed from the neighbouring walls and roofs. As he staggered to his stance, his shiny red matriculation gown were now tattered, his ankles were sprained and several cuts spread from his forehead to other parts of his body.

His eyes darted around the now collapsed building. This was Jelili Adebisi Omotola centre, a bright hall that contained bright lights with happy people chattering for joy. An hall he was celebrating his matriculation ceremony alongside others. But everything transformed into an unprecedented disaster. An explosion raked the building. He gasped in fear as his hazy vision displayed lifeless bodies of his friends scattered across the vast building. His eyes then streamed to a hand, detached from it's body. What attracted him was the gold wristwatch, one he had bought for his mother.

"Mom!" He cried in a weakened voice as he knelt to the grounds hastily. Tears trickled down his face as he held unto the hand shakily. His eyes caught glimpse of another clothe. His father's cap.

"Dad!!" He screamed with his entirety shivering from shock.

His teary eyes scampered about for his little brother but unfortunately nobody breathed apart from him. He was the only survivor. His veins started to glow shiny tiny balls of orange, causing shock ripples through his spines. How this calamity had happened was a question for another day but what terrified him. Was his family's sudden demise and what this explosion transformed him into.

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"What happened?" He asked as his eyes awoke lazily. Revealing a concerned face of Lola standing above him.

"You just got pummelled by Ariel." She answered before relaxing to a couch. He arose carefully from the shattered glasses, glued to his back before brushing pieces that lingered.

"Also, clear this mess."

"Where's that little brat?!" He growled after realization dawned on him. She effortlessly struck him unconscious and the annoying part was that, he still couldn't describe her power. Everything just happened in a second.

"You hurt the girl's feelings but all you can think of is revenge?" Lola queried but he shrugged her off whilst building his power in preparation to teleport.

"Teleporting there isn't going to be in your favour." Lola added as if she had read through his plans thoroughly.

"She's still mad at you which is why Rita gave you the day off for things to simmer down."

He let out an heavy breath before relaxing to a couch adjacent hers. The free day he received was enough to drown his anger.

"You have to apologise to her." Lola stated after minutes of sobriety between them.

"In your dreams." He smirked.

"You hurt her, Collins." She argued.

"I was simply stating the obvious." He rolled his eyes.

"In an infuriating manner!" She protested but he scoffed. "If not for anything, you should apologize because she's our teammate."

"Teammate?" Collins briskly toned as his eyes engaged hers. For all he cared, he was only partaking in this mission for the money.

"None of us," Lola started on an overly stern note. "Wanted to be dragged into this agency so stop acting like you're the only one whose life changed drastically!"

He retained silence noticing the faint anger booming on her face.

"The earlier you learn to accept the others, the better for everyone. So please!" She raised her voice again. "Please just do the needful!"

He gulped down his saliva before heaving an heavy sigh.

"Why are you still here? Definitely it's not for me." He gazed into her eyes so she found it impossible to waver.

"I was given a day off too." She hushed. "For health reasons."

"So that leaves the two of us." He mused while building his teleportation powers within again. "Alone, in this house."

She shot him a skeptical look as if trying to decipher what he was up too. He pictured Adelade's supermarket, one of the republic's finest, in his mind.

"I know what you're thinking and don't you dare tele-" Lola warned but he cut her shut as he instantly teleported.

"Harder! Harder! Harder!" Were the pitching tone of a lady as he landed in a toilet. The other room contained two horny people passionately smashing themselves.

Collins sighed as he stepped outside loathing why some people chose to have their desires in public places like the restroom. Regardless, he pressed on with his business. Strolling across the store in search of a new virtual reality game console. The Ruins. A popular and limited edition game entailing a dystopian world just like Area X. A battle and struggle for survival.

He smiled to himself thinking about how excited Michael would be. And the euphoria that he would feel from thrashing his friend. As he laid his hand on the last console in the rack another hand battled for it.

He frowned at the feminine hand before glancing at the face. And immediately, his discomfort drowned in an ocean of love. His dark countenance morphed into a wide smile.

"Pearl Carson!" He muttered in oblivion while she beamed at him too.

"Collins!" She chirped while they removed their grip on the console. His heart skipped a beat as his name sounded sweetly to his ears. He was easily mesmerized by her beautiful sapphire eyes and her smile that formatted all his thoughts.

"You remember me?" He asked in awe, unable to delete his wide grin.

"Of course," she replied innocently. "You made quite an impression that night."

"Oh please." He rolled his eyes, secretly thankful she wasn't around to witness the shame that came after their dance. She chuckled. They both stood nervously for seconds before he made the first move. He picked the console off the rack and handed it too her. Even though it was the last in stock, he didn't bother as far it was for a beautiful lady.

"Here,"

"No, you take it!" She wriggled her head in denial.

"I insist." He pressured.

"It's fine, Collins. You can have it." She argued again. He smiled, noticing the lust for the console rage in her eyes.

"Fine then, I'm buying this as a gift for you." He collected her hand and placed the console carefully. She hesitated but he succumbed not. "You won't reject my gift, will you?"

"I feel guilty. You'll probably be needing it more." She toned with heavy dose of concern.

"And I'll be heartbroken if you refuse my gift." He pleaded.

"Thank you." She shot him a renewed smile that brightened her face again. It only took grace from getting enchanted all over again.

"Is that all you'll be getting from this place?" He asked in a gentle mannerism. She turned to her cart, already stock loaded before returning her gaze to him. Nodding like an obedient child.

"Alright then, the counter then." He offered to push her cart while she followed in silence.

"Honestly, I'm surprised you play virtual games." He remarked while the counter lady addressed her goods. "That too, something this action filled."

"Is it weird?" She questioned in a jovial manner.

"Actually, it's cool!" He chattered with a bright grin. "Playing something like this and not the occasional big teddy thingy, dolls and all those girlish stuffs. I'm impressed!" He nodded in assertion to his words. "Forgive me if I'm being stereotypical." He briskly added while she chuckled.

"No offense taken."

"This would be three hundred thousand Pillings, miss Pearl." The counter lady interjected. Collins could clearly see the excitement, imprinted on the Counter lady as she gazed the celebrity. He briskly pulled out his card, handing it over to the lady.

"Oh no! You've already done so much for me. Let me pay, it's my stuffs after all." Pearl sharply interrupted but he remained unmoved regardless.

"And I'm a gentleman after all." He replied while he held onto her arms. "Please, it's nothing." He added softly while she relatively calmed with hints of hesitation.

The counter lady swiped his card and carefully returned his card.

"Thank you for your patronage." The lady beamed while he nodded. Pushing Pearl's cart carefully through the exit door.

"Thank you so much, Collins." She whispered sincerely beside him. He grinned as he arrived her vehicle heavily guarded by bodyguards.

"It's nothing, trust me."

"I guess this is goodbye then." She answered in a not so affirmative tone. He nodded before touring out of her presence.

"Wait!" She pitched while he turned towards her. "Where's you vehicle?"

His eyes exclaimed instantly, mentally thinking of the perfect lie to roll out.

"Actually, it broke down a few miles away from here so I'm gonna have to board a taxi." He muttered lucidly hoping she would buy it.

"In that case, why don't I give you a lift?" She offered with a discrete smile. He quickly swallowed his saliva with his heart racing like sport cars.

"Thank you but-"

"I insist, Collins." She pressured and after several faked hesitation he landed in her vehicle. Seated beside her at the back while her chauffer drove.

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"So, what are you doing in this continent?" He asked while she gleamed a smile.

"Shooting for a movie. How about you?" She returned. "I thought you were vying for your senatorial district."

"Ah yes!" He chuckled nervously, recalling how he had lied to her at the party. "It turns out that I don't have much support from my party leaders after all."

"That must have hurt." She responded with heavy dose of sincerity. He nodded slowly.

"Disappointed too. Which is why I travelled here. Have some chill time with old friends, you know." He paused, secretly lusting after her lips that shone a dazzling rosy red. "How about your indirect boyfriend, is he doing well in the coming elections?"

She laughed before gazing at him again.

"His campaign is doing great thanks to his Father and other prominent people of his party."

"You see, I told you he'd make a promising politician."

"But not a promising boyfriend." She pointed out too but the car came to a solemn halt in front of his house.

"Thank you for the lift." He chattered as they both stepped outside into the sandy grounds.

"It's nothing." She wriggled her head before turning in direction of his house. "I presume those are your friends?" She grinned. He turned in the same direction, frowning at The Trainer and Lola standing amazed by the door.

"Yep!" He affirmed with an hidden sigh. "So I was thinking," he faced her with a renewed smile. "perhaps, if you're still around by Friday. We should hang out?"

Her eyes lit with excitement instantly.

"Totally!" She pitched. "To be honest, this is my first time around here so perhaps you can show me more." She whispered as she sauntered closer, slipping a card into his pocket.

"Call me."

He grinned sheepishly like one who was enchanted as he froze.

"Bye." She waved before mounting into her vehicle. He waved too, still unable to delete his sheepish grin.

"Oh my god that is Pearl Carson?!" Lola screeched as he approached them.

"Yep!" He smirked, glancing at their awestruck faces. "And we'll be going on a date. Now the question is what are you two doing together?"

"None of your business, there's something urgent needed to be discussed." The Trainer sternly noted.

"What?" Collins queried as he glanced between their worrisome faces.