My Friendly Enemy Chp VIII

Chapter Eight: Goodbye... For Now Life has a way of changing when you least expect it.Just few weeks after Barrister Adekunle's visit, our once peaceful home became unusually busy. Men in suits came in and out almost every day. They brought files, legal documents, and maps of properties I was too young to understand.Whenever they spoke with my adopted mother, I heard words like court approval, guardianship, estate management, property valuation, and Abuja.At first, I paid little attention.I only cared about one thing.Whether Andrew would come outside to play.One evening, after the lawyers had left, my adopted mother called me into the sitting room.She sat quietly for a few moments before patting the seat beside her."Clement, come and sit."I climbed onto the sofa.She held both of my hands."My son..."Her voice was unusually soft."We're moving."I blinked."Moving where?""To Abuja."I stared at her, waiting for her to laugh and tell me she was joking.She didn't."Why?""The lawyers have advised that it will be easier for me to manage your inheritance from there. Many of the government offices handling the legal process are in Abuja, and they also want us to stay somewhere safer while everything is being finalized."I felt my chest tighten."What about Andrew?"She lowered her eyes."We'll have to leave him here.""No!"The word escaped my mouth before I could stop it."I don't want to go."She gently pulled me into her arms."I know this is difficult.""I don't want another house.""I know.""I don't want the money.""I know.""I want to stay here,please mum.""Am sorry it has to be like this.""I just want my friend."Tears rolled freely down my cheeks.For the first time since my parents died, I felt as though someone was taking another family away from me.That evening, I ran straight to Andrew's house.He was sitting under the mango tree in front of his compound.The moment he saw my face, he knew something was wrong."What happened?"I couldn't speak.I simply hugged him and began to cry."Clement?""We're... we're leaving."His smile disappeared."Leaving?""To Abuja."The words seemed to drain the colour from his face."For how long?""I don't know."He stared at me, hoping I would say it was a joke.When he realised I wasn't joking, tears welled up in his eyes."No..."I nodded sadly."My mum says we have to go."For a long time, neither of us spoke.We simply sat beneath the mango tree where we had spent countless afternoons playing, laughing, and dreaming about the future.Now it felt as though that future had been stolen from us.Andrew suddenly stood up."No."I looked at him."We made a promise."I slowly nodded.He stretched out his little finger.I smiled through my tears and hooked mine around it."Say it again," he whispered.I took a deep breath."Even if circumstances throw us apart..."Andrew continued,"...we will find each other.""No matter how far away you are...""I'll come looking for you.""And if it takes years...""I'll still wait."We both smiled, even though our faces were wet with tears.Then Andrew disappeared into his room.A few moments later, he returned holding a small blue toy car.It was his favourite toy.The one he never allowed anyone else to touch.He placed it in my hands."I want you to keep it."I shook my head."It's your favourite.""I know.""I can't take it.""You have to."He smiled weakly."So you'll remember me every day."Unable to stop myself, I hugged him again."I'll never forget you.""I won't forget you either."Our mothers watched us from a distance.Mrs. Ikebukwu wiped tears from her eyes.My adopted mother stood silently beside her."I've never seen two children love each other this much," Mrs. Ikebukwu said quietly.My mother forced a smile."Neither have I.""But they'll meet again."My adopted mother looked at the two boys embracing beneath the mango tree."I pray that when that day comes..."She paused, her heart suddenly becoming heavy."...they're still the same children they are today."She didn't know why those words escaped her lips.Perhaps it was a mother's intuition.Or perhaps...God was preparing her heart for a future she couldn't yet see.Three days later, as our car pulled away from the compound, I rolled down the window.Andrew ran after the vehicle for as long as his little legs could carry him."CLEMENT!" he shouted."I'LL FIND YOU!" I cried back."I PROMISE!""I PROMISE TOO!"Eventually, the distance between us grew wider.His figure became smaller...Until he was nothing more than a tiny silhouette standing in the middle of the dusty road, waving with all his strength.That was the last time I saw Andrew Ikebukwu.For many years, I believed our next meeting would be the happiest day of my life.I had no idea... It would become the day my nightmare truly began.

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