Chapter 28: Hidden Faces
The school yard hummed with the usual afternoon energy—students chatting in groups, rushing to their next classes, and winding down from a long day. Chibuikem walked with a couple of his friends, laughing at something one of them had said. He hadn't noticed the man watching him from the corner of the street, his eyes fixed on the boy with a quiet, intense focus.
Somto stood behind a small stall, the sign reading "Cold Drinks and Snacks" hastily written on a piece of cardboard. The old cap pulled low over his face, his worn jacket and shoes made him blend into the crowd of vendors. He wasn't trying to stand out. Today, he was just another face in the sea of people. Another nobody.
Chibuikem passed the stall without giving it much attention, but as he and his friends came close, his gaze flicked toward the drinks. His friends noticed too, one of them nudging him.
"Hey, I'm thirsty," his friend said, pulling out some change. "Let's grab some water."
Chibuikem nodded, digging into his pocket for a few coins. He approached the stall, curious but nonchalant, as Somto looked up just in time to meet his gaze.
"Good afternoon," Somto greeted, his voice quiet but steady, the years of pain and regret masked behind a simple smile.
"Hi," Chibuikem replied, holding up the money. "How much for a bottle of water?"
"Fifty naira," Somto answered, his eyes not leaving the boy's face. He didn't know how to describe the feeling—the strange pull that he couldn't ignore. This was his son. His blood.
Chibuikem handed over the money, taking the bottle of water. He twisted the cap off and took a long drink, glancing around at the other students milling about.
"Thanks," Chibuikem said with a quick nod, his attention already shifting to his friends, ready to move on. But there was something about Somto's presence that lingered, a curiosity in the back of his mind.
"See you around," Chibuikem added, turning to leave.
Somto stayed silent for a moment, watching him walk away. His chest tightened with the knowledge that he couldn't reveal himself. Not yet. The truth had to wait.
Over the next few days, Somto continued to visit the school area, setting up his stall and keeping an eye on Chibuikem from a distance. Each time the boy passed by, he tried to act as if nothing was out of the ordinary, as though he were simply a vendor selling his goods. But deep down, his heart raced each time they crossed paths, wondering how much longer he could keep the truth hidden.
Then, on the fourth day, Chibuikem came by again. This time, he was with a smaller group of friends, chatting about a recent football game. As they neared the stall, one of his friends stopped to buy a drink, and Chibuikem slowed to a halt, looking at the array of snacks and drinks.
Somto gave a small nod of acknowledgment. "Anything else you want?" he asked, his voice gentle.
Chibuikem shook his head. "Just the water today. Thanks."
Somto handed him another bottle, the briefest of exchanges passing between them. There was no deep conversation, no attempt to make Chibuikem linger longer. Just a simple, fleeting interaction.
As Chibuikem moved to rejoin his friends, he glanced over his shoulder at the man behind the stall. Something about him felt oddly familiar, but Chibuikem couldn't place it. He had seen countless faces like Somto's in the market, on the streets, in the corners of his life. But there was something about the way the man looked at him. Something that felt... too careful.
Shaking the thought from his head, Chibuikem shrugged and followed his friends down the street. Somto watched them leave, the ache in his chest growing stronger. He had to be patient. Every day, he came closer, but the time wasn't right to reveal himself. Not yet.
And so, for the next several days, he repeated the cycle. Setting up his stall. Watching Chibuikem pass by. Staying hidden in plain sight.
Somto knew that eventually, he would have to come forward. But he also knew that when the time came, he would not be the man he had once been. He would have to be someone else. Someone Chibuikem could trust.
For now, he would wait.