Several hours later and they are now driving through the city Bentiu. And once again, Eric was astonished at the city's rapid improvement over the years. It was nothing compared to Juba, but it had better housing, a better market, better streets, and it also built a park near the market. The last time he came to Bentiu, entire houses and small buildings were flooded due to heavy rainfall over a couple of days. He remembers it vividly, the water's height exceeded his own, causing his father to give him a giant's eye view of the entire area. Little kids, just like him, were carried on their parents backs and shoulders. Their parents were trying to navigate through the new river that took over their small town, to go to their homes. Some people tried to drive through the flood with their cars, but they soon realised that was a very stupid mistake. They found themselves unable to move their vehicles and restart their engines. But looking back on it now, Eric felt a flow of nostalgia from the memories he had of that event. Despite it being catastrophic for the town and the people, he felt an addicting tension of witnessing such a surreal disaster for the first time in his life.
"This country really is improving since the last time we were here." Eric's father said, flabbergasted.
"Yeah, they built a small park. Did you see it." Eric commented.
"No, Where?"
"Right next to the market."
"Maybe we can go there early next morning and play some Football."
"At what time?" Eric asked excitedly.
"I don't know, whenever I'm done buying some things for the folks. And we can't play if the old man doesn't have a Football."
Eric's father parked right at the inn's newly built parking lot.
"Alright get your stuff, you're hungry."
"I'm starving, I didn't eat anything other than what I ate at the hotel." Eric said, rubbing his stomach.
"I'll see if Keji still sells food, if not we are gonna have to buy some snacks and chips from him for dinner."
"Alright."
Eric gathered his stuff and exited the car, closing the car door behind him. The night air immediately stung his skin. He began rubbing his exposed arms as they climbed on the small renovated stairs that bring them a few feets up to open the white doors of the inn. When they entered they were flabbergasted to find the floor to be spotless and shiny, as shiny as oil. The floor was mostly covered by a painting of South Sudan's national flower, the Hibiscus. The railing leading up to the entire floors were now adorned with a golden and red paint, and the stairs were matted with a burgundy mat with a spray of brown. Then after they stopped awwing at the significant improvements, their eyes landed on Keji, he was sitting behind a soft brown desk, with people who seemed to be his employees, Eric was once again astonished. He was still old and skinny as always, with the same thin white beard on his face. His bald head also didn't change either, though it looked a bit shiny in Eric's eyes. Behind him were 2 gray elevators, with a red wall separating them. Some large pots of plants stand beside them, giving the impression that the hotel was an actual 5 star hotel. The pots also had the Hibiscus sprouting from them.
"Keji, what's up man." His father said, holding his arms out to embrace his friend.
"Alek everythings up. Keji said, embracing Eric's father in a warm hug.
They separated.
"Yow, What happened to this city? It looks like someone rebuilt everything."
"Alek, you gave this town your blessing when you left." Eric's father chuckled at his own undeserved praise.
" It's true, some months after you left this town, the government came and sponsored everything. They said if we sign a document that we will go to war within the course of 10 years they will help us rebuild everything."
"So it's like a contract? So what happens when the contract is up and there is no war?" Eric's father asked with a troubled look on his face.
"They said we don't have to pay back anything, if there is no war."
"You sure that's a good idea Keji? Is there a way to cancel the contract if you wanted to."
"No, they said if there is a war and if anybody runs away, They are going to be labeled as war criminals and they will be sent to prison. If they catch them." He made sure to point the "If" out.
Eric's father sighed.
"Keji, you are an old man who can't even walk properly, and you signed yourself off to go to war."
Keji chuckled briefly.
"Do you think I'm a fool? They said for the elderly we don't have to grab a gun and go to war. They said we can manage food and do the medical stuff."
Keji's eyes finally descended on Eric.
"Oh, Eric. you a big boy now. I didn't even see you, I must be getting blind."
"What's up old man Keji." Eric said, waving up at him.
"Everything's good Eric, don't you see what the government turned my inn into, it turned it into a palace. From an abandoned court of bentiu, to a broke down hotel, to a beautiful palace, with even a room for my guest to eat in. It's because of your father, I swear it's your father, ever since I first met him everything good has happened to me in my life.
Eric and his father both chuckled, even his employees behind the desk were chuckling.
"Ok old man." Eric said with a smile of amusement.
"How long are you and Eric going to stay here for?" He said looking up and turning to face Eric's father.
"I want to get on the road by early tomorrow morning. I want to hire someone to take us to my mom. Either that or I'll have to rent a vehicle from someone. Is adut still here, or is he at the city?"
"He is still here. He has a family now."
"Really?" Eric's father's face lit up with a surprised smile.
"Yes, you can look for him in his new garage shop, in the morning. Samaah will take you to a 2 bedroom room. And if you and Eric are hungry, I'll make her bring you some fried rice, with some chicken."
"Thanks, how much? He asked.
"Don't worry about the money everythings free for you."
"No, wait, you sure."
"Yes I am sure, after everything you have done for me Alek, you really think I would charge you." He said.
Eric's father chuckled.
"I really didn't." Before he could finish, Keji cuts him off.
"Please take these people to a good room, samaah."
A woman that looked to be nearing her 30s came up to him and his father. She was one of the employees behind the desk.
"Follow me sirs." She said in a soft polite tone, which enhanced her professional persona.
She was wearing a black elegant office skirt that passed her knees. She wore black stockings with a black female dress shoes. Her black hair weaved together to form a bun at the back of her head. As she gestured to the elevator her face had a sweet smile artistically drawn . It made Eric feel welcomed, as if he was over a relative's house. They followed her to the elevator, she pressed a button that elevated them to the 3rd floor of the hotel. As the elevator doors opened, it exposed the hallway filled with white doors, the ground was covered with the same burgundy mat from the lobby. Eric's eyes tracked it all the way up to the end of the hallway. And at the end, there was a glass window, it gave sight to nearby shops and homes. On the sides of the window stood 2 small pots of white flowers, which Eric imagined was to give the hotel a peaceful atmosphere, when exposed to the evening light.
Samaah stepped out the elevator first, offering her services as a room navigator. They followed her. As she was walking she kept rotating her head, searching for the correct number of the room she wanted to put them up for the night. Eric looked around at each door, examining it. He found that there were no stains or dirt that tarnished the paint of the door, and not even a small dent in the door too. He looked up and saw built in lights, instead of light bulbs that relied heavily on cheap exposed wires. The hotel was nothing like he remembered. Eric reminisced about the time when the floor collapsed, and left a gaping hole that exposed the lower floor. After that his father had to keep an eye on him the whole day until they left.
As his eyes went back and forth, they paused on Samaah. Eric's heart began pumping faster. He was looking at how Samaah walked, how her hips go up and down, it also didn't help that she was wearing heels and stockings. Eric looked away. Then she stopped at the 3 third door to the end of the hallway.
"Room 64, it has 2 bedrooms and a living room with a Roku TV. There are also some snacks in the coboreds. Here's the key." She said handing my father the keys.
"Please give me 25 minutes to prepare your dinner sirs, it's just that we are experiencing an abnormal amount of guests tonight, so we are a bit short staffed. I'm sorry for the inconvenience."
"No, no it's fine, and thank you." Alek said, waving an arm.
"Thank you for your understanding."
And with that she walked away. Alek fiddled with the keys for a bit before finding the correct key for the door. Inserting the key in the door lock, they both heard a click sound, prompting Alek to push the door open, revealing a decent living room. Nothing too fancy, but it was way better than before, Eric thought.
As they were transporting some of their luggages in. Eric noticed a huge TV, mounted on the wall in the living room.
"Oh there is a TV." He said, his face lit up with joy.
"We can watch a movie tonight, if you want?" His father asked.
"Let's watch the football game first, I heard that a Nigerian and Sudanese team is playing each other tonight."
"Sure. Who are you betting on?"
"The Nigerians of course, they have really good goalkeepers and their strikers are the embodiment of speedsters."
Eric's father chuckled at this.
"You sure?" He asked, staring into his eyes, trying to make his faith waver.
"Yes I am sure." Eric said adamantly.
"Alright, in that case I got the Sudanese team. So if I win, you got to give me 10 push-ups. If you win I will buy you anything you want when we go to the U.S, with no budget.
Eric hesitated for a second and then responded with silence, Staring at his father with disbelief carved on his face.
His father chuckled.
"Eric, I promise you, I will buy you as many novels and mangas as you want. As long as you don't tell the old lady."
Eric's face immediately cracked into a smile.
"Alright then, go relax for a while, and listen out for the woman."
Eric nodded while turning right to go to his room. Feeling the cold air coming from the air conditioner, he took off his pair of socks and his shirt and threw it at the door, while being relaxed by the cold air, and being seduced by the huge bed, which was enhanced by the bed's fat pillows. He collapsed on the bed drawing the cover over himself. Eric pulled out his phone from his pocket and went to text his cousin.
"You up?" Eric texted
A few moments later Jabari responded with.
"Yes."
"Any news you want to inform me about?" Eric asked out of curiosity, and frankly because he couldn't come up with anything to talk to him about really.
"Eric, you would not believe what happened to Lacy today." Jabari responded, only taking a few seconds to reply.
Eric's eyes widened.
"What, what happened?" He asked, waiting until he finished typing.
"So we were playing tag your it, right, then Lacy decided she wanted to play too. We tried to tell her no, but she complained to mum and grandma , and said something like, grandma they wont let me play with them. Swear to god, this woman shouts for us so loud the entire village heard her. And she forced us to allow her to play in the game with us. About 5 minutes into the game she slipped and fell right next to the stove, part of her forearm was burnt, plus she landed on mud. Her clothes and hair had a lot of mud on it too."
"Did she cry?"
Jabari responded by showing a photo of her balling her eyes out, as their grandma and her mother comforted her and helped her up.
"Is she alright?"
"The cry baby is fine."
"Ok then, later. Keep me up with the news."
"Alright."
Eric turned off his phone, staring at the screen, letting out a long sigh.
Few minutes later, the cold bed and the warm blanket was doing its thing on Eric. His eyelids become heavy as they slowly collapse on him. But then a knock on the front door brought life back to Eric. He sprung up, quickly putting on his shirt and rushed towards the door, opening it up to find the same woman from before holding a tray of food and drinks.
"Thank you miss."
"You're welcome." She said immediately walking away.
He closed the door and put the food on the dinner table.
"What's inside? His father asked."
Eric lifted the cover.
"Fried rice, with chicken."
"Oh." His father said, tapping on the remote violently.
"Finally." Alek said with exhaustion dripping from his voice.
Eric sat down on the couch as he navigated through the walls of TV channels until he finally found the channel of the soccer match. Almost immediately the entire room was enveloped with the noise of cheers from the crowd as a Sudanese striker scored. Alek laughed, clapping his hands.
"Bring the food over here, and let's watch the match."
Eric responded with dead silence, contrary to his mind, which was filled with chaotic screams of his frustration and pride.
They sat and ate their food with pauses and watched the match. The room was completely silent, except for the hopes and dreams of people that screamed through the speakers. Eric and Alek both steered at the screen intently, the 2 of them immersed. Eric solely watched a particular striker, as he zoomed across the field. "Go, go, Sean, go". His family yelled from the stadium. But their voices were no match for the crowd.
Sean the striker noticed his friends and classmates cheering, which led him to get a massive boost in morale.
Just about 30 meters ahead, it's almost over. He said in his mind.
He summoned all the remaining energy from his lungs, all the way to his quads, letting out a burst of speed, leaving behind his opponent who was guarding him. He dribbled his way past the defenders with insane speed, in that moment his ego took full control over him. He felt like a soldier rushing past enemy defenses, defeating soldiers one by one as their comrades watched from afar, with a look of defeat plastered on their sweaty faces. Sean made his way to his final enemy, his enemy's face showed signs of fear and determination, determination of not just bringing praise and glory to his team, but determination not to be defeated and let his comrades down, for he knew all hope of surviving and fighting another day lies in his ability as a defender.
Sean, a berserker striker at this point, his ego has reached to the heavenly levels.
His body, heated and charged with his comrades' hopes and cheers. He could feel his body pumping with adrenaline, his arms and legs covered with pulsing veins that had intimidated his past opponents, who had all been defeated by him.
Sean rushed over to the defender with speed, which got him in panic mode. The defender was wondering how to stop this wild opponent of his, who is out for blood.
Sean, noticing his opponent in a temporary paralysis, decided to play mind games. He faked shots and went to the right flank of the battlefield. The defender and goalkeeper confused his mind games with fear and uncertainty. Both began to slightly relax their muscles, just a little bit. The other defenders were all rushing towards him, hoping to stop him from taking the fatal shot. Sean took a quick glance at the timer, 7 seconds left, he had to end it, or it would be a tie. He looked at the goalkeeper and defender and analyzed their body position and facial expressions. They both seem to be confident that they are all going to be saved. But they must have all forgotten what type of player he is. He is a striker, a striker that destroys dreams and hopes, he is a weapon, he is death itself. He suddenly halted, and ran back to the left flank, the defender and goalkeeper faces were both painted in shock and fear.
Sean, with his weapon gliding on the grass, was closing the distance with the heart of his opponents. In shock and fear the goalkeeper and defender reaction time was delayed for about a second but that was all Sean really needed.
Seeing victory in his sight Sean kicked the ball, the impact with his feet and the ball sounded like a sonic boom, a fighter jet would make.
"No."
"Yes." Eric and Alek both yelled out at the same time.
It took half of a second to collide with the left corner of the goal. As soon as it did, the audience watching the absolutely magnificent battle went wild with screaming and cheering.
He looked at the clock and realized he scored just before the timer showed all zero. His teammates rushed towards him, with their screams of victory, they all surrounded him, screaming their heads off, losing themselves in the satisfying taste of victory. He looked over at the enemy team's faces, swept dripped down from their faces, and on their faces showed disappointment and defeat. A smirk appeared on his face, a devilish one, a smile full of arrogance, superiority, and pride. Sean looked over to his side of the great coliseum, where his faction is. There he finds his 2 step siblings, they are seated all the way at the top, screaming, as if he has done something monumental. He lowered his gaze and a smirk of once was a smirk of power and dominance was now replaced by nothing but happiness and pride.
Eric laughed with joy.
"Dad, remember your promise." Eric said, smiling mockingly.
"How." His father said shocked.
"I told you Nigeria has some of Africa's best strikers."
"It looks like i'm gonna have to start watching football more." Alek said.
Eric began walking towards his room, but Alek stopped him.
"Wait, you don't want to watch the movie again."
"No, I'm tired."
"Alright then, make sure to wake up by 8 tomorrow, I'm planning on getting something arranged so we can leave early."
"Alright." Eric said walking in his room.
He closed the door and laid on his bed, covering himself feet to neck with a blanket. As he was dozing off he remembered the dream he had when he fell asleep in the car. The dream about the ruined city and the albino girl. But could he really call it a dream though. If anything it's more like a very strange nightmare than a dream. He thought. As he tried to recall the faces in his dream, they all manifested blurry, same for the surroundings. He couldn't tell where the dream was because of the unrecognisable state of the city, but he did know he was significantly older, maybe twice his current age. He tried to dig deeper and remember what he was feeling inside his dream. But he couldn't recall, it didn't matter how many times he replayed his memory on repeat, he still couldn't manifest himself, from that other world. To Eric, that was all the proof he needed to come to the conclusion that maybe his dream was really just a dream. His eye lids grew weaker until they collapsed. As he was sleeping he smiled, relieved.