The sunsets at the eastern part of Hispaniola Island, illuminating its gradual disappearance by its red hue presence across the ocean and the clouds, making the view beautiful to the tourists. The resort had been created for a romantic purpose. Most tourists on the resort were newly weds and individuals whom wanted to ignite the romantic feeling but beyond the facade, there were other activities on going.
Upon arrival at the airport, Tade and Lola were delayed by the immigration authorities. The immigration authorities assumed their arrival was that of trading hard drugs. They were taken through several examinations which seemed out-of-place to Tade and Lola . Eventually, they were termed clean of all illegal acts. Little did they know the delay was a sign of the things to come. Arriving at the resort they had booked for, they leaped for joy seeing the beautiful ambiance. They had cooked up things in their minds and it was time to experience what had been lying in their minds as fantasies. While trying to gain access to the apartment they had booked, they came across a man whom assisted in gaining access into the apartment. He seemed nice and kind as he offered to be of help anytime they were in need of it. The couple settled in after he had left. Finally, they could have their moment and relish in their fantasies.
The next day, they decide to hit the beach. ‘Hola!’ came the call, they turned and realized it was the man of the previous night whom helped them in gaining access into their apartment. Buenas tardes(good afternoon) he said, when he got closer to them. They replied Buenas tardes, having gotten themselves conversant with spanish greetings. Tade immediately adds ‘English no Spanish’ in a vernacular way, implying i speak english and not spanish. As he and Lola had encountered a tough time relating with him the previous night all they kept doing at his statements was to smile, shake hands and nod. ‘Aye!’ he replies with a grin and adds ‘newly weds?’ And they all laughed realizing that he knew they were english speaking people and only wanted to tease them. He introduced himself as Rodriguez and tells them the resort has been his home for about five years. He takes them around and immediately forms a bond with them. Tade and Lola felt he would be of great company during their two weeks stay on the island.
After few days living on the island, they had gotten familiar with the lifestyle, cuisines, culture of the Dominicans. They had wanted their honeymoon to be an avenue for exploring life outside Africa. They both loved the Caribbean region especially, being linked to the lifestyle of Yoruba culture. It intrigued them and they felt there was no better opportunity to explore other than their honeymoon, due to the nature of Tade’s work in which Lola was to join. They had planned their lives dotting all the i’s and crossing the t’s in the planning. Rodriguez accompanies Tade and Lola to a popular restaurant around the resort so Lola could have a taste of her favourite domingo desert Tres leches. While waiting for their main course of meal, they discussed about Dominican Republic’s economy and possible investment prospect that could yield great returns. As they spoke, there was a sudden upheaval. Shots in the air, men scrabbling on the neatly polished floor of the restaurant. The gang began lifting each face lying on the floor searching haphazardly for a person. Tade and Lola panicked when they got to where they were. The searching stopped apparently, they had found the person as they dragged a chair and heard them threatening while the victim groaned in pain.
Most individuals in the restaurant could not look because they had closed their eyes and directed their faces to the floor out of fear. They hear them converse with the victim in spanish. Tade and Lola tried figuring out what was being said but couldn’t decipher what was said. ‘Regresaremos’ (we will return) they chorused shooting into the air as they hurriedly left the restaurant with their motor cycles filling the environment with unpleasant noise and smoke leaving the pollution to fade alongside their fading tracks.
‘Eh, tú Fuiste tu'(hey you,it’s you) directing his gaze and finger at Rodriguez. ‘No quiero verte aquí otra vez'( i don’t want to see you here again) stated by the manager of the restaurant to Rodriguez with scorn expressed on his face. Tade and Lola ushers Rodriguez out of the restaurant to save him from further embarrassment. ‘why did they come for you?’ asked the very concerned Lola . He struggles to reply her, still overwhelmed by the shock he had just experienced. Tade realizes it was better to drop him in his apartment than to hang out and talk any further as he could tell their dear friend was faced with a serious issue which seemed a matter of life and death.
At his apartment, they discovered it was way bigger and better than theirs. Tade realizes there and then that he actually does not know much about this man he terms his ‘company’ whom seems to be in his 50’s, which he is not certain about. He actually has no solid knowledge of him. He decides to throw it open to him. He asks ‘tell me about yourself’ and then Rodriguez begins a story that would soon become a part of them.
MISUBLU series II.
From the desk of Mary Elebijo.
maryelebijo 
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