After a month, Esteban is sitting in the backseat of his limousine wearing formal business wear, a suit with his tie a bit loose. He's being driven home from work. The limo stops waiting for a green light, Esteban spots Uchenna wandering alone on the street with his school bag on his back.
Esteban leaned back in the luxurious backseat of his limousine, his mind preoccupied with the countless business deals and negotiations he had handled that day. As the limo halted at a red light, he found himself gazing out the tinted windows, his thoughts momentarily broken by the sight of something that caught his eye.
There, on the sidewalk, he noticed a little boy, no older than five or six, wandering by himself. The boy looked a bit lost, his small backpack on his back.
He couldn't help but feel concerned as he watched the little boy from his limo. The little guy looked tiny and vulnerable, wandering alone on the bustling street. He couldn't help but wonder where the hell the boy's parents were. Where was the little boy's mother?
Without thinking, he called out to his driver.
"Stop the car. Pull over here."
The driver complied, bringing the car to a stop by the sidewalk. Esteban unbuckled his seatbelt and quickly hopped out of the limousine, his eyes never leaving the little boy on the sidewalk.
He approached the kid, his long strides closing the distance between them.
"Hey there, little guy, are you lost? Where's your mom or dad?"
He crouched down to the little boy's level so they were at eye level.
The little boy looked up at him, his big, brown eyes wide with uncertainty. He seemed to hesitate for a moment, probably wondering if it was safe to trust this strange man suddenly talking to him. But after a moment of contemplation, the boy spoke up, his voice soft and timid.
"U-Uchenna."
And as soon as the little boy spoke his name, something clicked in Esteban's mind. Uchenna...? That was the name of the little boy from a month ago.
Esteban felt a lurch in his stomach as the little boy replied with that familiar name. Uchenna. It couldn't be a coincidence, could it? Was this the same little boy that he had met with his mother a month ago?
He studied the boy's features, searching for any familiar resemblance. The kid's curly hair, his wide, innocent eyes, his chubby cheeks.
It was the same kid, no doubt about it.
His heart began to race as the realisation hit him. This was the same kid he had encountered a month ago, the little boy whose mother had rejected him so bluntly. It felt like a damn coincidence, but somehow, the universe seemed to be taunting him.
He crouched down to be on eye level with Uchenna, his gaze intently studying the boy's face. He couldn't believe that he was seeing the same little boy from that night at his goddaughter's birthday party.
He felt a surge of emotions coursing through him - shock, surprise, disbelief. What were the chances of meeting this kid again? And where the hell was the boy's mother? Where was she while her son was wandering around by himself?
He couldn't help but ask the obvious question, his voice slightly tense.
"Uchenna, where's your mom? Where's your momma, kiddo? Why are you out here all alone?"
He waited anxiously for the little boy's response, his heart racing as he wondered why Uchenna was without his mom. He couldn't help but feel protective, as if it was his responsibility to make sure the little boy was safe.
He kept his voice gentle, trying to keep his concern hidden beneath a layer of kindness.
"It's okay, you can tell me, kiddo. Where's your mama? She's got to be worried sick about you. You're too young to be out here by yourself."
"Mama's at work. School just ended a while ago, and I was supposed to wait for her, but I wanted to surprise her that I'm grown up now, so she wouldn't have to worry too much about me... Mama's already so busy and tired as she is..." The little boy says softly.
Esteban's heart ached at the kid's response, the innocent confession tugging at his heartstrings. The little guy was trying to be grown-up, to not be a burden on his working mother. It was both adorable and heartbreaking, the way the boy tried to take on responsibility at such a young age.
He reached out, gently ruffling the boy's messy curls.
"That's really sweet of you, wanting to help your mom. But you ain't fully grown up just yet, kiddo. It's not safe for you to be walking around alone like this..."
"Mama will be worried sick right now..."
Esteban's heart squeezed at the little boy's concern for his mother. The kid clearly loved his mom and didn't want her to worry. But he was still so damn small, too tiny to be wandering around on his own. It wasn't right, especially in a big city as busy as this.
He placed a gentle hand on Uchenna's shoulder, trying to sound reassuring.
"You're right, buddy. Your mama is really gonna be worried when she finds out you're not where you're supposed to be. We gotta get you back to her, okay?"
He bobs his little head up and down.
Esteban smiled slightly, finding the little boy's nodding adorable. The kid was so cute, and his innocent expressions were tugging at his damn heartstrings in a way he wasn't expecting.
He patted the boy's head gently, trying to keep his voice light and soothing.
"Alright, buddy. Let's get you back to your momma. I'm sure she's freaking out right about now, wondering where the hell you wandered off to."
He scooped the little boy up into his arms, carrying him easily against his chest. The boy was so light, so small and fragile. It made him feel protective, like it was his job to keep this little guy safe and out of harm's way. He asked Uchenna for his mom's number.
"Just sit tight, alright, kiddo? I'm gonna call your mama real quick, alright?"
The little boy nods. "Okay."
Esteban pulled out his phone and quickly dialled a number, bringing the phone to his ear as the line began to ring.
He waited impatiently as the call connected, his heart racing with a mix of impatience and worry. He silently prayed that Uchenna's mother wouldn't freak out and panic when she heard the news that her son was with a total stranger.
After a few more seconds, a female voice sounded on the other end of the line, sounding both groggy and panicked.
"Hello?"
Esteban felt a wave of relief wash over him as he heard the woman's sleepy and panicked voice on the other end of the line. It was Uchenna's mom, thank god.
He cleared his throat, trying to sound calm and professional.
"Hi, ma'am. My name is Esteban. I've got your son with me. Don't worry, he's fine, he's not hurt or anything. But he was wandering around on the street by himself, and I found him."
"You found him?! Ha... Thank God. Thank you. Where can I meet you?"
He felt a pang of relief as the woman on the other end of the line seemed to relax a bit, grateful that her son had been found safe and unharmed. It was good to hear the relief in her voice, and he felt a bit of pride knowing that he had helped her out.
"I'm parked on the corner of Fifth and East Street in a limo. You can come here and pick him up. I'll make sure he stays here and doesn't go anywhere until you arrive."
"Thank you. I'll be there." I say and end the call rushing to hail a taxi. I get to my destination, Fifth and East Street.
Esteban waited on the sidewalk, still holding Uchenna in his arms. The boy had buried his face into his shoulder, holding tightly onto his suit and shirt, his small arms wrapped around Esteban's neck. He felt a little pang in his heart at the little boy's clinginess, but he didn't mind at all. He gently rubbed the child's back, trying to soothe him.
After a few minutes, he spotted a taxi approaching. He held Uchenna closer and waited for it to stop.
He watched as the taxi came to a stop on the curb, and his heart skipped a beat when he saw a woman exit the car, a look of anxiety and concern on her face. It was Uchenna's mother, he was sure of it just from the resemblance alone.
He stepped forward cautiously, holding the little boy securely in his arms. He spoke up, his voice gentle and reassuring.
"You're Uchenna's mom, right? I've got your son here. He's fine, I promise."
I run towards them, carrying Uchenna in my arms. "Thank you, thank you, thank you so much."
He felt a pang of relief as the woman hurried towards him, tears brimming in her eyes as she took her little boy in her arms. Her gratitude was palpable, and he could see the love and relief on her face. He smiled softly, trying to downplay his own role in things.
"No need to thank me. I'm just glad the little guy is safe and sound. He was wandering around all by himself, and I was worried something might've happened."
"Uchenna, don't you ever do this again, you hear me? Mama was so worried... I... I thought I lost you... I taught bad people took you away from me..." my voice shaky and vulnerable.