Free

Aisha

Weeks pass by.

Seeing Salam at work is awkward.

He has been giving me space but I see the looks on his face whenever he thinks I am not looking. The pain in his eyes and I am the cause of it. I don't know how to make things right and I think it is for the best. He is leaving me alone which just means he might have given up on me. I am glad because now I don't have to push and fight for anything at the moment.

"The rumor is not a rumor,'' Ada drags one of our colleagues' chairs and pulls it over to my desk. I look up from my computer and raise a brow.

"What rumor?''

She rolls her eyes "The retreat… is really happening.'' She squeals quietly. This is her attempt at being quiet but she is too loud because Cynthia looks up from her computer at us with a smile on her face.

"I can't actually believe that they are spending money on us this time. do you know what this actually means?'' she asks us.

I don't even think I am interested in this retreat. I don't want to go anywhere with Salam. Right now, avoiding has been the best thing. He is totally ruining my excitement.

"This is actually a vacation,'' Ada screams excitedly. I don't think this is a vacation. I mean, we are going to be stuck with our colleagues all through. anything that involves my coworkers doesn't classify as a vacation but I do understand what Ada and Cynthia mean. I haven't been out of the country in a long time. the last time I traveled was to Dubai, with my cousins from my father's side. It was the most fun I have had in all my life and I have been saving up for another one. With the amount for tickets, vacationing had been put on pause.

"You don't seem excited,'' Ada points out. I sigh loudly as I minimize the work I am doing on my computer.

"I don't know, I guess I don't want to get my hopes up because I know how this place is. There always find a way of sucking out the fun in the little things."

She laughs "Just imagine it. me and you, we will find a way to make it fun." Her eyes are wide. I know what this means to her. Ada's last born is just two. She hasn't had any time to herself since she was born. I completely understand why she is so excited about this and she is actually right. She is going to be there and she is my best friend. I guess we could still have fun.

A week passes by and the information of the work retreat spreads and becomes a reality. I still haven't figured out how I feel about the trip. I haven't ever really had the privilege of traveling. I have only ever left Nigeria once and that was a trip to Dubai with my cousins. This will be a good opportunity to have the adventure that I have been hoping for. I don't know if South Korea is the country for that. I don't even know much about South Korea apart from the shows. You know, the ones they call K-DRAMA. I haven't really watched a lot but I did stumble on my sister watching one once. All I took from it was how good-looking the men were. I don't plan on even attempting to fall in love with this trip. There is no way I want to take that risk and end up disappointing my parents. Baba will never approve of me bringing a foreigner to this house. I might as well just be ready to be disowned. He is too much of a traditional man.

I shake my head as I pack the last of my boxes. The trip is in a day and I haven't even convinced them to let me go. I know this is a work thing and that should be enough convincing but they treat me like a child.

"You have been packing for hours,'' Hussaina walks into the room with an eye-roll. "Oh how I wish I could come with you,'' she exclaims as she jumps on my bed and scatters the clothes on it.

"It is a work trip, do you think I am going there to have fun?'' I ask her because to her, this is a vacation but to me, it seems like pure torture. The fact that I don't even like being around the people I am going with just makes this even worse.

But still, you are going to a new country and you are going to explore and meet new people. you haven't even done that in your own country,'' she points out as she jumps off my bed and walks over to my closet.

"How do you feel about this dress? you should take this dress with you.'' she points out, walking back to me.

I look at the dress and shake my head immediately. Our parents are very strict, one of the reasons why I have never even worn the dress before. It is short and very exposing. If they see me in this dress, they might just disown me.

"This is an opportunity to be free, you bought this dress because it looks good on you, you should take it with you."

he points out.

I sigh loudly and look at the dress. I know she is right. I might as well just take it.

I have never worn it outside my house and it is a shame that I have to leave it here when I leave the country.

"Good, now go finish packing. you have to be at the airport in three hours."

I look at my watch and nod. I have to get going. I have to get through this trip and then I will be free to explore the world as I want. This is going to be an adventure for me, one that I cannot wait for.

I am so excited.