Next thing Eric knew, he and his father was on a elevator with their luggages, going up to the 56th floor.
"Will aunty be there". Eric asked.
"Yes, she and your cousins will be there."
"Oh".
He didn't know much about his aunt, except she ran away from home to Juba and ended up marrying a rich man that ended up giving her 2 twins, his cousins. Why she ran away? That Eric doesn't know.
Few minutes later, Eric and his father were now in their slightly luxurious hotel rooms, with a balcony, a colour full Island that looks like it's made entirely of gems, a fire place, and even a gaming room. But his father didn't take anytime to appreciate the hotel room's fine qualities. Instead he went to his own room and plopped down on his bed, instantly getting knocked out by the enormous bed, which Eric can only imagine to be soft and cold, in a good relaxing way of course. Eric was exauhsted from his long travel from ghana, he wondered how were the maids and Mr. Deng doing. Before he could think any further he noticed there was a bed in the gaming room, not a enormouse bed, but it will do quite fine for him. And plus, he overheard the lady down stairs telling his father that there is vanilla ice cream with cones, popcorn, and some sodas in the refrigerator. This painted a wide grin unto his face. Eric turned off the lights and carefully closed the door to avoid waking his father, almost immediately he took his shirt off and threw it to the bed in the gaming room. He then hurried to the refrigerator and shared out a huge clump of Ice scream in a bole, and a pair of sodas for each pants pocket. But he isn't done yet, tonight is his night. He poured out a sea worth of popcorn into a vast deep bole that rivals the depth of the Mariana trench, and rivals the great plains. He put it into the microwave and began to wait for it to start popping. Then suddenly his phone vibrated. It was a message from Jabari, his cousin. It read, you got the stuff. Eric smiled and replied yes give me a minute. Before the Microwave could let out it's loud beeping noise he opened it quickly. Eric took out the butter from the cupboard and squeezed it unto the popcorn, giving it the popcorny smell that gets his taste buds ready everytime. He balanced the Ice cream and popcorn in both hands and went to his small but comfortable disney land for the night. But before he left for his heaven he pulled out a spoon out of the drawer for his ice cream and continued on. He rest his feast on the furniture beside the bed, and jumped on it. Eric felt the sting of the sweet cold of the bed, he felt washing away his fatigue from his long journey from Ghana. He pulled out his phone and texted Jabari.
"What's up, been a while. You finally got a new phone."
"Eric, dont bring up what happened." Jabari texted, almost immediately.
"Sure. How is Lacy." Eric texted.
"She is doing fine. Anyway, you sure you got everything."
"Yes I got all the Mangas and Light novels you asked me to get. By the way how did it take you 2 years for your parents to buy you a new phone. That's crazy."
"Eric I swear to god. I nagged them everyday last year to give me a new phone, they wouldn't even buy it for my birthday or Christmas gift. Then I gave up. Then 2 months ago they said if I manage to get a 80 on all my test they will buy me a new phone. And I got 80s. By paying my classmates to copy off of them of course.
Seeing the message Eric let out a laugh. Then suddenly the message disappeared.
"Why did you delete the message."
"Have to make sure there is no evidence. You should know more than anybody else that I dont have the best of luck. If I leave even a trail you know imma get caught."
"Yes just like last time. I'm not gonna lie, i'm so glad i'm not you."
"Of course you would'nt want to be me."
"Wait, are you at the village already."
"Yes, I had to sneak my phone out of the bucket. Whatever you do dont get caught with my stash. Hide it inside your luggage instead of your book bag."
"Will do. Alright see you tomorrow cousin. Remember to delete this chat too."
"Shit, I would have forgot. Alright later."
And in less than 15 seconds the entire chat was deleted. Eric not wasting anytime, quickly plugged in the PS5 and got it ready. He inserted Mortal Kombat into it. And with out a care in the world he dove unto the bed and turned on the TV with the controller already in hand. The entire night he played games while he devoured his snacks. He did all this until it was 3:48 A.M until he decides to erase all evidence of his party. Quickly, but quietly, he sneaked out of his room, like a rat hiding from human eyes. Until he eventually arrived at the sink to wash the bowls of snacks he had. Not wanting to be exposed as long as he need to. He quickly ran to his room and went to sleep.
Few hours later.
"Eric wake up. We need to be on the road. His father said, knocking on the door, just hard enough for Eric's eyes to fly open.
He rubbed his eyes and got up and fix himself some cereal. Then he went to the bathroom and scrubbed himself like a mad person, and quickly got himself and his stuff ready for the second phase of his trip. He met his father down stears at the hotels lobby. The same place his father yelled to meet him while he was showering.
"You ready to go? You have everything?" His father asked.
"Yup, I have my phones, books, clothes, toothbrush, shoes. Yeah, I have everything. He said while feeling his pockets and luggages to make sure he wasn't abandoning nothing.
"Alright then, let's go."
As Eric was walking out of the Hotel's grand doors, something caught his eye, Or rather someone caught his eye. It was a girl, Eric made a guess that she was in between the ages of 12 to 14. She was tall, taller than he was. Her legs were slender with Jeans that were practically glued on to her legs. Making it appear as if her legs and her Jeans were one. She wore a pink over sized sweat shirt, with one side hanging down her upper arm, exposing her frail looking collar bone. Her hair was densely packed, and was formed into a ponytail. But rather than hanging down, like other hair types it stuck up, with multiple ends pointed out. And to finish it off it was sprayed with a hint of brown. She was standing in front of the receptionists desk, staring down at her phone in her hand that was glued with long pink tips, along with her family of 4, her Mom, Dad, and 2 little people he assumes are her little sisters. Judging by how they dressed, they were dressed, Eric thought they must be foreigners. He could tell by the way they dressed, and looked, and the way they carried themselves. As if they lived in a place that offer many privileges and futures. The way they carried themselves they must have never walked their streets before and had to clench their noses because of a unbearable smell that floated throughout the air. Eric thought as the automatic doors slide open. During his walk to the parking lot he was in his own world. I can actually pull some girls, they must have never walked their streets before and had to clench their noses because of a unbearable smell that floated throught the air. Bars. I can actually come up with a sick romance pick up line. He say bars, even though he doesn't really understands what that word even means. He smirked, at the thought of how much of a genius he considers himself to be.
The veil of clouds exposed the shining bright sun, its presents lit up Eric's face, with it's blessing, prompting him to squint his eyes.
"Did you use the bathroom. We wont be stoping for a while." His father said, turning his head to look at him.
"Yeah, I did. Wont be needing those plastic bottles again".
Eric's father chuckled as he unlocked the car, and they both got in. He started the engine, hearing it's roar.
"Alright son we have about 13 hours drive to bentiu then another 30 hours to where the old lady is."
Eric sighed and moaned.
"Alright let's get going."
And with that his father drove off, starting their long Journey to their family.