The Externals Reloaded - Chapter Twentythree

 

Learning about the identity of the minister of education made Quinn visit the hospital to see Lily. As much as hated his father, his mind was greatly troubled. Tension lines etched across his face as his haunted eyes struggled to keep open. Every step he took carried a subtle shuffle while he sometimes took pauses and continues walking when the tension increases. Sometimes, he tried getting away from thinking about his problems by gazing at the people hurrying to get home from the office or the street food vendors striving to get their fried potatoes or akara sold by all times. Still, the peace he received was short lived.

When Quinn finally arrived, he didn't need to tell Lily before she realized something was going on, "What happened?"

Quinn hesitated before saying, "The... minister of education is my..."

"Your what?" Lily was eager to hear what he has to say.

"Fa.ther", Quinn finally let the cat out of the bag.

"Wow! That's great!" Lily couldn't think of a better response at that moment.

"How can you say that!" Quinn turned his back on her because he was upset at her response.

Lily followed Quinn upon realizing the reason he wasn't happy with the new discovery, "I didn't mean it that way, I'm sorry".

Quinn stopped, "I know..I..."

"It's okay. Everything will be alright", Lily held his hand.

"Thanks", Quinn felt relieved a bit.

"So what are you going to do about the campaign?" she asked after they had walked for a bit.

"We'll continue", Quinn was back to being the hard guy.

"You can't be serious!" Lily stopped close to a major road, near a fueling station.

"Never been more serious in my entire life!" Quinn said with gritted teeth.

"Well, I can't watch you destroy your last chance of having a good relationship with your father", Lily's response came as a shock to Quinn.

"You're joking right?" Quinn felt there was still a chance for him to get her to change her mind.

"I'm not, Quinn. How can I watch you destroy your life", her emotions were beginning to build up.

"This is not about me or the minister. It's about the hundreds of lives that have been affected by his inadequacies", Quinn tried making her see things from his point of view.

"I won't change my mind Quinn", Lily insisted even though she wasn't ready for the repacursions of not being on good terms with him.

"I really can't believe you'd say this", Quinn crossed the road without even checking if a car was passing.

"Quinn", Lily's heart raced as she saw a moving motorcycle getting close to him.

Quinn didn't get hurt by a motorcycle yet he was hurt that Lily pulled out of the campaign planning Whatsapp platform the following morning without even informing him. Still, he continued preparations towards the project by designing the graphics for the tee-shirts and going through the various contents created for the campaign. As both their friends and a strong advocate of the campaign, Jessica questioned Lily over her absurd decision but she refused to tell her why she did it or change her mind about rejoining.

Not minding the feud between them, Quinn sent Lily one of the tee-shirts two days before the campaign. After receiving it, she thought of returning it back to him and did. This annoyed Quinn so much that he confronted her yet couldn't get her to do what he wanted. On many nights, Lily cried her eyes out while Quinn only experienced sleeplessness in which he turns from one side of the bed to another when he remembers how messed up his relationship with Lily is.

"Guys, I really want to appreciate you guys for coming out here to support this vision", Quinn addressed his comrades on the day of the protest.

"Me i dey for you any time any day, unlike Lily. That girl is just a pretender! Have you finally realized?" Fatty acid responded.

Quinn ignored her statement and continued his speech, "Please, I want this to be a peaceful rally. Let's avoid any form of violence. Do you understand me?"

"Yes sir!" They responded like military officers.

"Come on, I'm not your commander", Quinn responded yet a few argued with him that he was.

"Please, can you go over the instructions again", Lily unexepectedly joined them at the backyard of Quinn's home. Her presence made his heart race.

"I told you she was going to come", Jessica bragged to Quinn and sticked her tongue at Fatty acid who was upset about her arrival. 

"Excuse me, guys. I'll be right back", Quinn took Lily to the front yard.

"Whatever it is, we can discuss later", Lily suggested because she didn't want them to keep others waiting.

"What are you doing here? I don't want you to do anything you're not comfortable with", Quinn was beginning to realize his mistake.

"Apparently, I can do anything for you", Lily's response unstartled him.

The first rally was a success and some other students soon adopted it. As Quinn's advocacy for government support towards underdeveloped schools spread across various social media platforms, the whole school also became aware of the fact that JAMB had released exam centers for her candidates. The most lucky ones had their centers in their state of residence and yet lucky ones like Fatty acid were given a state where their relatives were. Also, they had parents who could sponsor their hotel bills. Lily was in between the fortunate and unfortunate ones. Benin, where her JAMB center was happened to be the birthplace of her stepmom yet her sister wouldn't allow her stay with the woman she perceived to be a witch.

"I don't understand why you should hold anything against a woman have lived with all my life", Mr. Allen was angry at his daughter for opposing the idea which according to him was in their best interest.

"Dad, I see no reason why we should fight over this. Since when did you start showing concerns over issues like this. Haven't I been the one taking care of her all these years?" Mrs. Daramola still replied her dad calmly.

"It's alright. Suit yourself", Mr. Allen wasn't someone who liked talking too much. Perhaps, he was one of those individuals who loved saying, "I told you so" when their advice is not taken and something bad happens.

"So, is there anything we need to get before traveling tomorrow?" Mrs. Daramola said to Lily who didn't answer until she repeated her question.

"No, ma", Lily returned to solving her Chemistry past questions. She was desperate to pass her JAMB exam to overcome her sister's overprotectiveness.

The minister of education was forced not to ignore Quinn's project as it was gaining more popularity and dragging his tenure in the mud. Even though his media representative had countered Quinn's claim by saying the ministry had no business funding private schools, he had defended himself that it was his responsibility to ensure every citizen haa access to quality education in whichever way. He also pointed out that giving out loans to these schools would also generate funds for the ministry. Besides, even the so called public schools needed rehabilitation. In general, the country's educational system needed to be revitalized.

Seeing that he couldn't be won over easily, the minister decided to invite him over for a private discussion. As fate would have it, he was at Benin, his state of origin at that moment and Quinn who loved to have Lily around him whenever he was going on any Nigerian adventure invited her to come with him. Mrs. Daramola agreed with the idea since it would be convenient for her sister and it wouldn't be the two of them alone since the minister sent security guards to accompany them safely to their destination.

Sorry if you expected their trip to be swift because the airport was on temporal lockdown so the Minister's assistant couldn't book flights for them. Nevertheless, they enjoyed the luxury of the limo he sent to pick them up. It didn't make them really feel the stress of traveling so they focused more on sharing their traveling experiences and playing games. Quinn had more experiences than Lily since he had gone on several trips to Disneyland with his ex, visited the Effiel tower in Paris and took a long shot of the statue of liberty in Paris but the only travelling memory Lily had was flying hand-made kites with her age-group in her hometown when she was seven.

For this cause, Quinn hoped to travel the ends of the earth with her as he wanted her to experience great traveling adventures. While they each took a nap to relax their bodies briefly, he dreamt of picnicking with her under the watch of a Californian sunshine. On the other hand, Lily had a terrible dream of Quinn leaving Nigeria and never setting his foot in the country again. Without the knowledge of their eyes, the limo soon drove them to Benin. When they got to the minister's residence and still didn't wake up, one of the bodyguards had to call their attention. Thereafter, he escorted them to the private living room where the minister was waiting to receive them with his whole family.

Prior to the time the arrival of his guests was made known to him, the minister paced his bedroom with fear and prayed fervently that nothing bad had happened to them because he knew the grave implications that would cause his career. He could have just called to know if they were safe and save himself from worrying but since the network where they were at the moment was poor, he couldn't get through to them. His ever loving wife tried to calm him down but he didn't listen to her until their maid came bearing the good news.

Seeing the country's minister of education face-to-face was a big deal for Lily regardless of the controversy surrounding the visit so she accorded him the respect he deserved. However, Quinn didn't attach any importance to seeing someone he felt wasn't at the top of his game. Seeing him immediately made Quinn have a recap of the years his mom suffered and the things he made him go through. When he could no longer stand being in the same room with him, he walked out.

"Quinn, you need to calm down", Lily followed him.

"Quinn, the minister would like you to stay over and resolve the issues you have", The minister's assistant joined them as well.

"Tell him to...go to hell for all I care...", Quinn couldn't find the right words to insult his dad and started walking towards the exit.

"Where are you going?" Lily couldn't bear to leave him alone.

"I don't care as long as I don't get to be around... here", He was determined not to stay in the minister's residence even if sleeping on the streets was his last option.

Unknown to Mrs. Daramola, Mr. Allen had secretly kept a record of his wife's address and phone number within Lily's note in case she needs help with navigating the unfamiliar city. So when Quinn refused to sleep at the minister's residence, she called to ask for her help with accommodation. To further show of his disdain for his dad, Quinn didn't allow his chaffeur drop them at their new location. He preferred trekking to their new location since they couldn't get any cab at that time of the night. As they got there, Lily's stepmom gave them water to wash their feet which was now soaked with mud and offered them a bowl of foofoo with egusi soup for dinner.

Mrs. Allen also woke up before everyone else in the hut to ensure Lily got to her exam center on time. Still, it was hard for her to wake her stepdaughter whom she pitied for travelling a distance she had never gone in her life for an exam and was tempted to let a rest a little more. However, she had to restrain herself from doing that because people would have said she intentionally led her stepdaughter to failure. After she succeeded in waking her early, she also prepared a nutritious meal to fortify her for the task ahead but Lily refused to take anything. The only challenge that also truncated her efforts was getting a bus that would convey her to the exam center. In the long run, Quinn had to carry her there on a bicycle and waited till she finished.

"How was your exam",Quinn followed the normal protocol when Lily got out of her exam hall.

"It was alright", She sighed. "I can't believe I just finished writing jamb just like that!"

"Should I expect a perfect score from you then?" He inquired because he believed in her ability.

"Unfortunately, I wasn't made perfect", Lily replied humbly.

"If you get a perfect score, I'm gonna take you back to the United States with me", His words attracted the attention of other people walking alongside them. The girls among them soon started eyeing Lily jealously.

"Are you serious right now", Lily gasped for breath.

"Oh my God! So you seriously felt for it", Quinn roared with laughter.

"How could you make that kind of expensive joke", Lily wore a mournful look.

"I'm sorry but why are you Nigerians so crazy about travelling abroad when you have the coolest place ever", He wondered aloud.

"You're only saying that because you've lived there your whole life!" Lily defended herself and others who shared her kind of ideology.

"That's exactly why you should believe me when I tell you we can make this country better", He provided more proof for his claim. "Besides, how did you expect me to get the money for your flight when I'm not a Yahoo boy".

"Well, that's not so suprising to hear from a minister's son", Lily said before remembering the implication of her words.

"He wasn't my dad when he got his appointment. If that doesn't bother you, I'm simply the only son of a native psychologist", He corrected her and returned to his usual mood."It's shameful how the best I could do is bring you here with a bike! I'm so sorry about that".

"Come on.. the most important thing is you being here", Lily's words led to an exchange of iconic stares between them, which almost lasted a lifetime!

In his office, the minister assumed the pacing role he had abandoned for hours as he thought of the relationship between him and his son; the baby version of Quinn was inseperable from him. He cried less when he was around and preferred being fed by him. He took lots of naps on his shoulder until his learning days began, until he got exposed to the outside world. He preferred his folktores to his mom's bedtime stories until the need to mingle with other kids of his age. As the minister thought deeper about the circumstances surrounding his son's change of attitude towards him, his wife came in without prior notice.

"My Lord, are you going to keep being being this way? Remember the reason why we came here in the first place is to enjoy ourselves", She complained bitterly.

"And who says I'm not enjoying myself", He poured some Scotch in his special glasscup and took a gulp.

"Objection, my lord. In section..", she attempted to quote the law.

"Please, Laide. I'm really not in the mood for that now", He rubbed his forehead with the tip of his fingers.

"You know I don't like seeing you this way", She sat on his lap. "Name anything you want and I'll surely make sure it happens".

"You transforming a grown man with beard buds into an infant with a smooth jaw will be pretty interesting", He sighed.

The Oba Palace was of the places Mrs. Allen took the kids so they would get to explore Edo's rich ancestral objects. Morealso, she had many information to share with them about it. Having stayed with her for a few days and enjoyed her company, Quinn began to feel sorry towards Lily for not making good use of the opportunity she had with her. As far as Quinn was concerned, Mrs. Allen met the criteria of a good mother. Funnily enough, she also felt he was wasting a golden opportunity by not opening his heart to his dad once more. As much as they pitied each other, none was willing to make the first move and influence the other. Then again, the trip became chaotic as Quinn came in contact with his dad who also came to pay homage to the king and introduced him as his son.