STORY- Treasure and the lucky Digger ( EPISODE 1 - 10)

EPISODE 1

Provided you are a non-writer and a reader who isn’t familiar with this style; this story is narrated in POINT OF VIEW of two main characters – FESTUS and SHARON.

FESTUS
As much as I tried holding it back, this wicked wind kept seizing the stapled papers from my hold. Our exam was few weeks away and I needed to consume the content in this handout early enough. The cool atmosphere was made intense by the shade of the giant mango tree that dominated our leisure-garden.
The stylized metal chairs were arranged at strategic angles of the spacious territory. The vicinity wasn’t conducive enough for reading for its rowdiness, but my brain really desired a cool spot before it could absorb tough information such as this psychology. As far as coolness is concerned my brain is adapted to noise. Right in front of me was one vacant seat. The other seats were occupied by various young couples and mob of boys that were gossiping about girls that were passing by. Those guys were seventeen in number. Their aim was to identify girls with positive, semi-positive and negative names.

If they saw a particular girl they would all mouth-whistle, and immediately such girl took a backward glance, they would pretend looking somewhere else while shouting MARKET DON FINISH. That simply meant many of them had slept with the girl. They would call ROOKIE when the girl had slept with a few of them, and finally S.U if the girl was very strict to approach.
At the end of their shouts they would all explode with a mocking laughter. I began to wonder if those guys were all secret cult members. Otherwise, what gave them the nerve to be insulting any girls on campus? Anyway, they were all good-looking and majority had statures chicks would definitely die for – tallness and fitness. I deemed it fit that they were all ‘players’ if they were not really cultists. Those girls ( the negative and semi-positive bearers) must have sold away their dignities to LUST. If they had stuck to only one guy, would they ever face such dehumanization?
In the midst of my own gossip I didn’t realize that my handout had been wrenched away from my grip by the wind. As I began to pick them up one after the other I noticed a hand beside me. I lifted my face only to get my heart crashed as if struck by a thunder lightening. I was taken aback by the sight of this girl whose kind of beauty I had never seen in my life. Her chocolate skin agreed with her plump and shapely figure. It was as though she was created with those wears – The white skimpy skirt defined her moderate butt, while the cleavage of her round boobs could be seen through the exposed part of the red armless top.
“I don’t want to step on it. That’s why I picked this up.” She muttered as she handed the piece of paper to me.
“Okay. That’s kind of you.” I said.
Before She settled on the seat right in front of me, she waved at one big man that was just starting the engine of his hummer jeep just beside the garden. I guessed she alighted from that jeep. That must be her man friend.
She produced a text book from her hand bag. She crossed her legs and focused her attention on the book. At this moment I also made up my mind to study. I started reading, but the contents didn’t find their way into my head anymore. For a moment I began to stare at her while drinking in her beauty. Whenever she wanted to reveal her face I would quickly bury my face back in the handout. It felt as though my heart was going to blast off. The urge to approach this girl kept gnawing at me in every air I breathe. Literally, It wasn’t like I had never seen a girl that beautiful or that my ex- girlfriend wasn’t as beautiful or nearly. But there seemed to be something about her that defied any explanation.
At this moment our eyes were almost connected and I saw a seductive look in her killing eyeballs. A Seductive look? That must be my wishful thinking – she might even be snubbing me with that look. It was obvious that this babe had come from a rich home. I could see no speck of blemish on the exposed part of her body – like she wasn’t nurtured in this country. Her golden jewelry looked natural and her wears were apparently from the best designers. In short, she waz a biggest girlz! – according to our slang in the hostel.
For me, poverty was our surname. I was a hustler. I engaged in various jobs to sponsor myself to school. Most times I applied as servers at prestigious parties during the weekends, and I earned some money from stage dancing too. And it was through those money I got myself all my second hand designers. I couldn’t spend lavishly on my appearance because knowledge was my priority. All these facts must be the reason why I felt inferior to approach this goddess.
SHARON
Why couldn’t he just start a conversation with me when I helped him picked up that slip from the ground? I wish he could just ask my name after mumbling that compliment. He must be too engrossed in the book he was reading. When our eyes met he couldn’t just fix his eyes into mine to know that I felt for him. I needed to pretend as if I was reading; if not, he would be suspicious about my crush. If I hadn’t held this book, I bet I wouldn’t do anything but stare at him all the while. But now I could be stealing a glance at him to know whether he was also interested in me. I persuaded Dad to drop me off here because of him.
He was just my type of guy – huge, dark in complexion, with fine parted lips. This wasn’t my first time of seeing him. The first time was when he was dancing on stage with his crew. On that day I heard somebody call him Festus. I learnt he was in 300 level – a year ahead of me.
Oh my goodness! His attention was still absorbed by that stupid book. I wonder why he was reading so hard when exam was still four weeks away. I gotta use one craft to make him speak with me.
“Hey!” I waved my right hand to gesture at him.
He revealed his face only to glance left and right like a watchful criminal.
“I’m the one calling you,” I tried to pull out emotion from my voice, “hope I haven’t disturbed you. My wrist watch has stopped and the time on my phone isn’t correct. I wonder what time is it on your wrist watch.”
He took a glance at his watch and told me the time was 4:21pm.
“Oh, thank you so much,” I smiled at him, “I thought the time was 3’oclock … Don’t you think it’s wearing out quickly today?”
“How … how do you mean?” He said with a slight puzzled look.
“I mean the climate is just too irregular these days,” I slid out my tongue playfully while narrowing my eyes into seductive slits, “sometimes the day would run fast and slowly other times. What could be the cause of that?”
Now he was turning over the handout to another page. Then he said, “ Hmn … Sometimes, I think it’s a geographical factor and other times it appears like that to us. I am not really sure because I’m not a science student.”
“Yeah, maybe,” I shrugged indifferently. This was another opportunity for me to harness the conversation, “So you are what student then?”
“A creative Art student,” he said and continued reading.
“Wow! That’s really great.” I said, fiddling with my phone.
I already knew his faculty, but I ought to feign that total strangeness. I didn’t want to tell him I’d once seen him dancing – some guys tend to feel superior when women begin to compliment them. They would quickly realize that the woman was having a second motive. And I didn’t want to make that obvious.
It seemed he was getting interested in me. At least he was responding well to my questions. Oh, Poor Sharon! He might just be jovial in personality. Men’s taste are really hard to judge. He might be interested in the conversation, and nothing more. I didn’t mind if he would have lust for me, at least. Lust could graduate to love … No, no, no. That is not possible. I wish he would just love me once and for all. I really, really felt for him.
This feeling was quite funny. Of course, he wasn’t the first cute guy I had ever met. Yes. I could tell when I had a pure lust for a dude. Some people believed love couldn’t be detected at first sight, but lust. That philosophy didn’t seem to work for me. This was my second time of having this strange feeling. The first guy I ever loved broke my heart into pieces few years back. He was my senior in high school. We made love countless times at every corner of the school as we were both in the boarding. Immediately he graduated from school, he left for UK without informing me. He was now studying there. When I reached him on phone he bluntly told me he was no longer interested in the relationship. He told me he had met another life partner. It was then I realized that the guy never loved me. I should have known. He would ask for sex almost every day and hardly would I refuse. I had cried and cried that I almost committed suicide. I told Daddy that I wanted to go study in the UK – inwardly, Nigeria was my choice. I just wanted to meet him and probably kill him and kill myself. Unfortunately Dad didn’t permit me to study abroad. So….
“May I know what faculty you are?” Festus’ voice aborted my thought.
“Bus. admin. – Accounting department.”
“That’s good…You must be very good at math.” He remarked, and I could sense enthusiasm in his voice.
Oh, I had finally got him on the move.
I hummed for a moment and said, “I am trying. And you? I mean what course are you good at?”
He chuckled and said, “Me, I am good at nothing in particular.”
“You don’t mean it,” I smiled broadly while adjusting on my seat.
“I am serious.” He said. But no look of that seriousness on his face.
“Alright then.” I smiled and asked him what handout he was reading, he told me it was psychology. I asked his level and I told him mine. I was actually expecting him to ask my name. How would I make him ask my name?



EPISODE 2

FESTUS

This girl must be very friendly. I had to know more about her. But … If I asked her name, won’t she think I was taking advantage of the short discussion between us? Girls really hate when guys take advantage of them. Whichever way, I must take the risk. She might begin to frown at me or give me a condescending look. ‘All these Ajebo girls dey funny well, well.’
I cleared my throat quietly, “Em, em, I am Festus by name, and you?”
At that moment, She wore a naughty look, turning her eyeballs, “I am Sharon. But my parents like to call me Treasure.”
“That’s lovely.” I smiled.
“Oh, thanks.”
“You stay on campus?”
“Nope,” she shook her head slowly, “I rented a flat apartment outside the school.”
“…And you stayed there alone?” I didn’t realize I asked the question until it left my mouth.
Must I really ask her that? Maybe it was because I never knew of any student that rented a flat apartment. Most students that stayed outside the school rented low class houses, except for those in the private hostel. Anyway, that must be the way she wanted her own privacy.
“Two of my friends are staying with me. And why did you ask?” She inquired in a soft, soothing tone.
“Don’t mind me. I think it’s just risky for a student to stay alone in a flat apartment.”
Her phone had actually been ringing in the course of our conversation, but she kept terminating the call. And she seemed to pay attention to what I was saying.
“Why don’t you pick up your phone call?” I was forced to ask.
“it’s from one of my girl-friends. I will see her later.”
As if it was a curse, the phone rang again; she quickly hit the red button. I asked if it was her friend again. She told me it was her Mum.
“But … you should have received that!” My voice was almost tense.
“Don’t mind Mum,” she said in a carefree tone, “I just left her at home. I know she wanted to ask me if I’m already in school. I will call her later.”
Girls and their pure lies! That might be her boyfriend or man friend. Okay. Was she rejecting calls because of our discussion? It couldn’t be. And if so, that meant she had a hidden agenda. Most girls would reject calls in the presence of a guy they had a feeling for, or otherwise cheating on. That simply meant that the guy’s presence was more important at that moment. I wasn’t her lover, so she had no right to be terminating anybody’s call in my own presence. All the same, she might just feel like not answering any call.
SHARON
Why should I be receiving calls when Festus was already getting to know me better? This was the moment I had been hoping for. I couldn’t spare any second. Mum might be upset that I was not picking up the phone. Anyway, I would sort out myself.
“I guess you are also preparing for the exam.” He said.
“Of course, yes. I like to study ahead. And I like coming here to read, just like you.” I uttered the last statement with a naughty smile.
A noise from the back became obtrusive on our discussion. There was a group of guys exchanging abusive words. Festus’ attention suddenly diverted to the scene, and I used the opportunity to stare, turning my head slightly.
“That girl na my babe now. She no be olosho!” growled one of them, “why you go dey laugh am? I dey warn you o! You no say I no talk as you dey yab those girls since.”
“No be you bring the slang?” asked another boy with a strong Igbo accent, “you see that babe, her market don finish! oya do your worst!”
“I dey warn you o. I no dey joke o.” The guy pointed a warning finger at his opponent.
Some of the guys sprang to their feet, while others started mocking quietly. One of the aggressive parties began to search the ground for a weapon. All the students that were reading in the garden started walking away one after the other.
“Festus, please. let’s leave here … It’s becoming dangerous.” I said nervously. But Festus looked unperturbed. I wondered why he was so brave. I couldn’t afford to let him get hurt by those rogues. He appeared strong though.
“Festus now!” I whined like a five year-old kid; my voice even sounded funny to me.
Festus began to regard me in a strange manner. He must have realized how much I cared about him. Love and care are indeed children of the same parents.
This love is even crazy. Sometimes If one decided to hide it, it would just reveal itself like a smoke.
I was glad when Festus finally obeyed me, and we walked far away from the danger zone.
When he was not asking me any more question I began to feel timid. Pretentiously, I glanced at my phone.
“Oh, it is 4:35pm,” I said, fidgeting, “ It’s time for lecture. May I have your contact in case I need a help in your faculty? ”
“Sure, sure,” he said as I handed my phone to him. He typed his number and I dialed it immediately.
“What kind of help would you need in my faculty?”
“You shall know when the time comes,” I winked at him.
The corner of his mouth twitched with a smirk. I loved his smile. It was quite impressive.
FESTUS
Around 7:30pm I lay in bed, staring towards the ceiling. The continuous noise from my block mates kept intruding on my thought. From the corridor I could hear the usual uproars like:
“‘What you are burning is cooking o!”
“The water wey you dey cook to make eba never do?”
“Abeg, I fit get local cornflakes for ya side?”
My nostrils were assailed by different kinds of aroma that must have forced their way through the door. My roommates, Collins and Dayo, were shouting over a pot of egusi soup and eba just below my deck bed.
The bed was three divisions and I was at the lowest side. They were eating the soup from the pot. Dayo kept nagging about Collins’ handful of of eba. He said the mound was just as big as his girlfriend’s boobs. I would have laughed to make it sound funnier, but I wasn’t in the mood for that tonight. Sharon’s image had formed on my mind like I was seeing her in front of me. Collins had been calling me to join in the food, but I’d asked him to keep my own aside.
“O boy, wetin do Festus this night?” Collins said amidst his usual big swallow.
“Maybe he is thinking about Lizzy,” Dayo said, licking his five fingers, “that was how he was behaving when Lizzy just broke up with him.” He ended the statement, facing Collins who then glanced at me if I would give a response.
Dayo was right to an extent. My ex-girlfriend, Elizabeth, told me she was tired of our relationship about two months ago. That fateful night, by past 11 pm, She said frankly that I didn’t deserve her. She had only been dating me in vain. She further said I had nothing special to offer than ‘I love you’ all the time.
She let me know that her roommates always teased her as a downtown girl whose boyfriend couldn’t afford to buy her the latest designers, jewelry and finally the latest blackberry products like theirs. I was surprised that Elizabeth could vent all of that. I thought she was a fool for listening to her friends, but I couldn’t say it out. Instead I began to plead with her to consider my status. At a point I knelt down before her. She just walked out on me, dropping a long, irritating hiss on my head. I tried to call her back. But She disappeared into the night without looking back.
I’d loved Elizabeth. And she had always declared her love to me. I begged her for over a month, but she didn’t heed me. She wouldn’t pick up my phone call let alone replying my text messages. At broad day lights, She disgraced me twice in the midst of her friends. Gradually I erased her thought from my mind, and it was over. I couldn’t afford to let that disturb my studies.
But two weeks ago, late in the night, one of her roommates, Cynthia, came to meet me where I was sitting in the garden. She was wearing a short skirt and a top that barely covered her big breasts. She narrated how Elizabeth had always been insulting me in the midst of her friends in the room. At the end of her gossip she began to exhibit sexual contacts; inching close to me, obviously expecting me to hug or kiss her and finally screw her there. Then I could tell she was one of those who poisoned Elizabeth’s mind.
Having realized Cynthia’s intention, I freed myself and walked off. When I glanced back I realized she was still sitting there. She had probably thought I would come back to give it to her. Instead, I took my phone and called three among my bad friends. I planned a blind rape for her. Those boys were real ogres! – they had the oversize of what all women need in their ideal men. They blindfolded Cynthia and shoved her to an uncompleted lecture room behind the campus. I pitied her life when they narrated to me how they had ravaged her for almost two hours.
Just as I concluded the poignant memory, I heard my phone ring. I checked the screen, and my heart skipped a beat. It was Elizabeth! Did she call my number by mistake? I frowned in disgust.
“Why you squeeze ya face like this … Person die for you?”
You could guess it was Collins. I didn’t mind his teasing expression. The phone continued to ring and I kept wondering if Elizabeth had mistaken another person’s number for mine.
“What is wrong, Festus?” Dayo asked gently.
“You fit guess who dey call my line?” I asked them.
“Na your great Grandma. I get am?” Collins remarked.
“Ghost go call your number, idiot!” I said.
Collins began to laugh uncontrollably and slapped Dayo at the back.
“Don’t mind Collins jor,” Dayo said reproachfully,“ For me, I’m not that good at guessing. Just tell us.”
I showed the contact to them and they were both surprised. They asked me not to receive the call. And I reasoned with them. I could recall that I glimpsed Elizabeth when I was speaking with Sharon in the evening. She was heading to the lecture room with her friends. Perhaps she thought I had started going out with Sharon. Why should I even care about that?
I dropped the phone. It rang again and again. I didn’t even bother to touch the phone.
I later sat up to eat my food. Then I decided to browse through my Facebook. I could see another missed call – SHARON?
My heart shivered with excitement.
No sooner had I dialed the number than I heard Sharon’s thrilling voice from the receiver.
“Why were you not picking up the phone?” She whimpered.
“I am sorry. I left the room while charging it.”
“Alright, I just wanted to say ‘hi’ to you. Where are you now?”
“I am in the room, about to eat. Come and join me.”
She asked what food I was eating. When I told her, I heard her laugh out. She asked me if it was my girlfriend that prepared the food for me.



EPISODE 3

SHARON
“My roommates prepared it,” he said and sighed, “ and for now, I am single.”
“Really?” My heart fluttered with joy, “Hmn. You must be joking. A guy like you. I doubt it.”
“I must confess to you,” he said almost in a mournful tone, “ My girlfriend broke up with me long time ago and since then I’ve decided to be alone.”
On hearing that, I lay my hand on my chest with excitement.
“I am also single.” I told him. And I heard him burst into laughter.
“You are very funny,” he said, “ I don’t believe any girl could be single, especially an angel like you.”
I was so pleased to hear that compliment from him. I blushed and smiled to myself like a baby.
“I am flattered … But I am really single. Funny enough, when Dad dropped me off this afternoon he asked me to introduce him to my boyfriend. When I told him I had none, he couldn’t believe his ears either. And he later asked me to be careful if I wanted to have one?”
“Your Dad said so?”
“Yes.”
“You have got a wonderful and considerate father.”
“Thank you, dear.” I said.
I decided to abort the phone-call when I realized the network had beeped two minutes. I called the number back and lied to him it was a network failure. I had over 10,000 worth of airtime on my line to lavish on no one, but the king of my heart. I thought it was time for me to express how I felt for him. If I refused to seize the opportunity I might just lose him to another girl.
“Festus, I hope you could dine with me, as a friend.” I said and slid out my tongue in anticipation of YES or NO
“Have a dinner with you?” I heard him laugh, “ Oh, I can’t afford to … How much do I have to dine with a big girl like you.”
“A big girl? cut the crap,” I said, smiling, “I’m the one asking you. I would be very glad if you wouldn’t say NO.”
I didn’t hear anything from Festus for almost a minute. I knew some guys always found it difficult when a girl asked them out and having the girl doing the spending. If Festus was actually thinking the same way, that meant he was more of my type of guy.
“Festus, please say YES.” I broke the silence with my usual babyish tone.
“Okay. Okay. I will try.”
I almost burst out screaming when I heard that. I thanked him for honouring my request. I gave him a familiar address of an eatery outside the campus. We agreed on 7:30 pm of the following day.
When I dropped the phone I stood up from the couch I had been lying on. I went straight to my freezer for a red wine that could make me get tipsy. I took a goblet from the bar and filled it at once. I picked up the remote control and turned on my flat screen TV. I flipped open a hot romance novel I just bought in the afternoon. Reading through it, I began to relate what the characters were doing to what I would love to do with Festus. I felt like kissing him. I wanted him to squeeze me, hold me tight, place his hands on my butt and tell me ‘I love you’.
****
I had been seated for almost thirty minutes awaiting Festus to join me at the table. I already ordered for a lemon soft drink which I was now sipping with a straw. I had called his number, he told me he was on his way. I kept fretting and fidgeting. I couldn’t wait to dine with my heart desire. I began to browse through my phone to while away the time.
In a little while, I heard a knock on my table and I revealed my face only to see Festus – my heart almost flew away. He was looking more handsome! He was dressed in a fitted blue shirt and black trousers. His hair was different from what I saw on the previous day. It used to be a rough Afro, but now it was neatly trimmed.
“You are welcome, dear.” I smiled at him and he wore a smile too.
His eyes swept over my body, and I felt shy for a moment. I must be looking so ravishing to him. I was arrayed in a purple top and a black jean trousers. When I looked into the mirror a while ago, I’d made sure my make-ups were moderate. And my long, dark hair was well bonded with a material that matches my top.
“It’s a pleasure meeting you again.” He extended his hand to me for a shake, and I quickly collected it warmly. He sat on the well-upholstered chair right in front of me.
Afterwards, I signaled to the servers with my index finger up. I already asked the bartender to bring cold a juice, fried chicken and spiced fried rice if my guest arrived. Festus might reject the offer if I asked what he would like to take. He should be the one doing that, of course.
I could hear Festus breathe heavily as he began to stare around the eatery. I supposed he was trying to avoid my gaze. Now I didn’t hide the fact that I wanted him. Even without me saying it, he should know from the way I was staring hotly at him.
A female server came to the table with the dishes and drinks, and I caught her staring at Festus.
“I’m done with you, thanks.” I glared at her and I quickly put on a smile when Festus was about to catch my eyes.
Festus smiled. It seemed he saw what I did. I asked why he reacted like that.
“Nothing,” he smiled again, “I was just wondering if you had a grudge against that lady.”
“Don’t mind her,” I said, “ Didn’t you see how she placed the food wrongly on the tray? She is not competent at all.”
Soon, we set our cutleries to start eating. My mouth seemed to reject the food probably because I had not expressed my feelings. I was just nibbling at the chicken with the knife.
“Festus,” I called in a low tone. He revealed his face slowly, then I paused for a moment.“ I would be happy if you can do something for me.”
“What is that?” He looked puzzled.
I began to caress my nape with my right palm in anxiety. Then I asked, “Don’t you mind if we become a very close friend?”
I saw what seemed like a mischievous smile on his face. He bowed his head and showed back his face with a daring look. It was the look I had been anticipating – strong and passionate. I didn’t know where he suddenly gathered the courage. Our eyes became tangled. As if it was a spell, I couldn’t disengage myself. I became a captive to those dreamy eyes. And I could see bliss and harmony beckoning at me.
“But, I was actually thinking we could be more than friends,” he said at last.
“Really?” My voice fainted out, while my eyes were still trapped. I guessed he already had the evidence that I wanted more from him. My head nodded slowly without taking any permission from my brain.
“The fact is that, I don’t just like you,” he said and paused. My heart began to sink like a Titanic ship, “But, I love you – irrespective of your personality.”
“I … love you too,” I said passionately, almost under my breath.
FESTUS
Our eyes didn’t depart yet. I had felt as though I was going to die if I refused to burst out my feelings. What with the sexual eye-contact she had been stabbing at me. It was visible that I meant a lot more to her than her request. The jealousy that showed in her eyes towards that female server was too evident. With that, I could tell that she loved me.
In the midst of our emotional gaze, I began to wonder if everything that just happened between us was a dream or fantasy. A girl I met yesterday , and we could express a mutual love. This reminded me of ‘Romeo and Juliet’ who fell in love on the first day and had their first kiss on that same day. Our story was quite different – friendship on the first day, dating and love-declaration on the second day.
Elizabeth’s case was totally different. We were friends for over two months before I could express my love to her. Even then she had told me she would be thinking over it. It was after three days she said YES to my proposal.
“Guess what!” Sharon broke the long silence; not the gaze.
“What is it?” I asked softly.



EPISODE 4

She told me that her birthday was six days’ time. I expressed a surprise that the period coincided with the time we met.
We couldn’t do without staring at each other (at least in ten seconds interval) when we began to do justice to our food. I wouldn’t have known how to use cutlery if not for my experience as a server. We hardly found a spoon to eat in my home let alone using flatware.
*****
Sharon’s birthday was being held in her lavishly decorated flat apartment in the evening. I was seated with my two roommates and three other friends in the couch. In the middle of the spacious sitting-room was a glassy center-table where the birthday cake had sat. Most of the students were obviously the affluent personalities on campus. The cars I saw outside the apartment were the latest in town. I had got to know that Sharon had her own car when she invited me to her apartment two days back. It was ‘Accura 2009’ – that meant that the car came out the previous year. I’d asked why she wouldn’t drive it to school. She told me she’d been driving it to school before we met. She decided not to drive it again because she wouldn’t want me to feel inferior to her. I was very impressed to hear that from her. I asked her to start driving it to school.
Most of the students at the party had come with their partners. The sitting-room was vibrating from the rocking music that was playing from the home theatre. The present music was ‘Rihanna’s rude boy’. The music must have been mixed by a skillful DJ – it maintained a regular pattern with the previous one.
The program soon came to a start with a dancing contest – a single male and female were to dance to a particular song and a winner would be chosen. The dance floor was the middle of the sitting room. At that moment Sharon beckoned at me from the opposite couch. She gestured that I should come and sit beside her. I guessed she had purposely left the place vacant for me. The program was anchored by my roommate, Collins. When I insisted that I must have a part to take in her birthday, Sharon had asked me not to bother. Eventually I persuaded her that I would present to her a MC – Collins was very good at that.
I was not receiving any cordial looks from some of the rich students whose face were familiar to me. Perhaps they were thinking I wasn’t compatible with Sharon in terms of high class. Although I was gorgeously dressed. I was clad in a red V-neck and black baggy jeans; I had borrowed the pair of quality sneakers from Dayo. Sharon had offered to give me some money for whatever I needed to look outstanding on her day, but I had refused. I thought it was too early to start receiving anything from her. To kill all the haters at the party, Sharon rested her head on my shoulder as we watched the various activities.
When the celebrant was called out to dance cheers rented the air. Of course, the MC called me out to dance with her. I had already told Sharon I was a professional dancer. The music started slowly. When the beat started for real I realized that Sharon was a wild fire. I was amazed at her prowess at dancing. Her body-twisting was fantastic. Her steps were in fact coinciding with mine as if we’d rehearsed together.
The music finally came to a halt at a point where I held her by the waist while staring into her eyes. A thunderous applause complimented us alongside the wildest cheers ever.
When we resumed our seat I kept staring at Sharon and she seemed to be smirking with her index finger in her mouth. The naughty Sharon. I knew she had deliberately hidden her skills from me.
****
I was still in Sharon’s apartment when the whole ceremony was over. The time was 10:45 pm. Everyone had gone, except for her two friends who’d already gone to sleep in the second bedroom. It was a two-bedroom flat.
We sat close to each other in the couch while we toasted over a bottle of champagne. We talked about so many things. I told her about my background and how difficult life had been for me to sponsor my education. She expressed a sympathy and promised that all my sufferings must stop since I had now met her. She confessed to me that she once had the ambition of being a street dancer, but her Dad didn’t permit her. Her father wanted her to graduate as a business student in order to make her the head of all his companies home and abroad. I was perplexed to hear that she was the only child from her both parents. Her mother had several miscarriages after giving birth to her, until the doctor said she couldn’t bear anymore child.
“But,” I said, puzzled, “your father should have sent you abroad to study then. Most high personalities in this country do send their children abroad.”
“Yeah, you are right,” She sighed, “My father couldn’t afford to let me go far away from him. He comes here often to check on me.”
“So, I should call you father’s pet.” I smiled teasingly.
“Yes, I am,” she nodded and smiled, turning her face to me. From her dim eyes I could tell that she was tipsy.
I grunted thoughtfully and said, “That must be the reason behind your pet name, Treasure … Who named you that between your Mum and Dad?”
“Mum nicknamed me Treasure. But Dad is now fond of the name more than Mum.”
“That’s funny.” I smiled a little.
“You are right; it’s quite funny.” She winked at me and faced front again, smiling.
At that moment I glanced at my wristwatch – 11:05pm.
“I should be on my way now.” I told her.
“Oh, no,” She grumbled, nestling her weight on my shoulder. She extended her left hand gently to remove something from my forehead, “today is my birthday. You need to stay over.”
I was excited to hear that, but I wanted to feign a reluctance. So, I told her I had a lecture by 7: am on the next day. And moreover, I had to change my wears in the morning. She said all the excuses given by me were absolutely not genuine, and I would break her heart if I refused to sleep over.
“Alright , I will,” I said grimly, “I don’t want to break your heart. okay?”
With that, she stood up and beckoned at me. I still sat down there.
“Let’s go.” She insisted.
“To where?”
“My room, of course,” She said in a low tone as she grabbed my right hand.
“But, I thought…”
She placed her finger over my lips, “Don’t think anything. Let’s go.”
Without being told, I knew what was going to happen. And I was prepared for it anytime. I actually wanted to say, “I thought I would sleep on the couch.” She must have seen the lies in my eyes before she shut up my mouth.
When we got the room, she shut the door and removed the key from the lock. I suddenly felt like a prisoner in a dungeon. But I understood that she didn’t want any disturbance. After switching on the AC, she went straight to the tape just beside the wardrobe and inserted a CD. I could hear a cool music rising slowly into the air (‘Everything I do’ by Brandy).
The sound was considerable low, and thus emotional. I pulled off my shirt and dropped it on the bed. We started inching close to each other in accordance to the rhythm of the music. We stood, looking at each other’s eyes for a moment as if to obey the musician who was now singing:
‘Look into my eyes, you will see what you mean to me.’
Before I thought of feeding on her lips she had overtaken me by wrapping her arms over my head, and our lips compressed sensually – like a sandwich. Her lips were daintily full and delicious. She released her lips and smiled at me for some time. I replied the smile. That was our first kiss. We began again. In this very game she was the superstar, I was an upcoming actor. I just realized she was not only skillful at dancing.
A little later, she pressed her lips slowly around my nipples; then tenderly and carefully down my hairless chest, while caressing my groin. My blood started boiling and sizzling with desire. I quickly overpowered her by kissing her front neck to the back of her right ear, and over to her nape, while running my hand wildly into her hair.
I stripped bare her upper body, and I thirstily fed on her creamy mounds as if expecting some iced yoghurt to fill my parched throat. I heard her moan softly and needfully – the same way I sounded when she was arousing me. Finally she knelt down to unbuckle my belt. She wore a smile of satisfaction before feeding on what now made my body explode like fireworks.
When the real game started, it was rough at first, and finally slow and sensual. Forty minutes – it was over.
*****
After a week Sharon and I became a popular couple on campus. But I told her we had to reduce our closeness until after exams. Sharon agreed to create a chance for me to study, but Elizabeth did not.


EPISODE 5
My phone began to burst with calls and romantic text messages from Elizabeth. Each time I saw those texts I would laugh bitterly before deleting them. As for the calls, I kept rejecting them. I was not a type of guy that would insult a girl on phone.
On one occasion I didn’t have the time to delete the messages she sent throughout the day. Summing up the text messages during the night, they were up to fifteen. I showed them to some of my friends and they burst out laughing. They said she’d come to know my value since I started going out with Sharon.
Meanwhile, over the period of our relationship Elizabeth wouldn’t call me or compliment me with a text, except when she needed money or voucher. I had been the only one doing the calling, and if she ever called, that meant she wanted to tell me she had received the voucher. She once told me she loathed night calls. Although, after we departed I overheard her friends saying she wouldn’t sleep overnight, calling her rich boyfriend. The height of her arrogance to me was really competing with the sun level. I wondered why she wanted me back when she’d started dating Badmus a.k.a Sixty-degree. He was one of the topmost boys on campus.
A week to our exam Elizabeth came across me in the library, and immediately our eyes met I noticed that her body shivered like a bird that was just beaten by a heavy rain. The book in her hand fell on the floor and she hurriedly picked it up. I did nothing, but regarded her like a mere stranger.
It seemed she was afraid to have a physical interaction with me. She was reading on the row of chairs next to me with her right palm supporting her jaw. I had thought she would ask me why I wasn’t receiving her calls or replying her text messages. She must be very shameful.
I let my mind assume that she wasn’t around, so my mind was completely swallowed by the book I was reading until I heard a librarian’s voice somewhere around. She was questioning somebody with gravity in her tone.
“How come the surface of this textbook is soaked with water?” She demanded again.
when I revealed my face I realized that the woman was addressing Elizabeth.
“I’m talking to you.” The woman insisted; although in a low tone.
Elizabeth had now buried her jaw in her two palms, while her head bowed over the book. She sat still like a statue.
When she eventually showed her face, the woman’s forehead furrowed with alarm, and I wondered why. It was then I saw Elizabeth’s tears-misted face, and another drop of tear began to crawl down her right cheek.
“Why the tears, my dear?” The woman’s voice fell with sympathy.
Elizabeth’s face diverted towards my side, and I quickly lowered my head in my book just in time. I heard the librarian ask Elizabeth if looking towards my side was the response to her question.
The librarian’s voice suddenly fell into a whisper in my ears. I guessed she was trying to know the reason behind her tears. Perhaps she thought she was bereaved. I couldn’t tell why she was weeping either.
She muttered something to the woman. I tried to listen, but my ears failed me completely. The next word I heard from the woman was, “Don’t think about that. May his soul rest in peace. Make up your mind, it would only distract your studies.”
With that, the woman left for the next aisle to further her supervision. I wondered what she must have told the inquisitive woman.
Afterwards, I decided to steal a glance at her to see her reaction. It was too late. Our eyes clashed like two live wires that were struck together. And she threw back her face in her book before I could escape my own eyes.
She soon packed her books and walked feebly out of the library. She was a tall girl who had the stature of a model. Her pronounced hips had always swayed proudly whenever she walked, but now it appeared rigid. Her fair skin had become pale, and I could see frustration etched on her pretty face. When we were still together I had been a slave to her striking beauty. If anyone had told me that her love would vanish from my heart, I would have doubted it. However, Sharon’s beauty and modeling stature was much more stunning.
****
The following day was Saturday. I was playing football with my friends on one of the fields on campus. We were just catching fun by raising the ball and passing it without letting it kiss the ground. Four of us were staying at different angles. My other friends were arguing over the previous day’s match between Arsenal and Chelsea. They were all seated under one of the colossal cashew trees that flanked the football field. It had been a shrill argument between them that each team surpassed the other in skill.
But suddenly silence fell in their midst. I was wondering what caused the abrupt quietness. When I looked towards their direction, I discovered that they were still arguing, but in a low pitch. A shocking look spelt on their faces and some mouths turned agape like that of roaring lion. I was just thinking about going to join them when they all beckoned to us from afar. On getting there, one of them asked me if I knew what happened overnight in the female hostel.
“Wetin happen?” I asked them.
“Are you aware that your Ex-girlfriend, Lizzy, was rushed to the school clinic last night?” One of them asked.
“Wetin concern me about that one?” I said, spreading my palms apart.
“According to wetin me I hear,” said another, “she collapse when she dey climb the staircase to her block.”
“Na God save am o,” retorted another person beside me, “If not for somebody wey dey her back, She for crash pata-pata.”
“So, guys wetin be your point now?” I said, “why you dey tell me. Me be her boyfriend?”
“The doctor confirmed that the girl is three months pregnant.” The first speaker added, “and according to the report, the dizziness was not because of the pregnancy. It’s because of excess brooding.”
My heart hammered against my chest, and my body shook to the force of it. Three months pregnant?
“And so what!” I said, feigning carefreeness, “Sixty-degree should take care of that!”
“The belle na three months old o!” Somebody emphasized behind me,“ I just dey pray say no be you go get am. Na only you she dey follow up and down like chicken around that time.”
I said a big AMEN to the prayer within me. Elizabeth had refused to use protection with me twice. I asked if she was on contraceptives, and she answered YES. Maybe the contraceptives didn’t take any effect after all. ‘Oh, no. I am certainly not ready for this. Not now!’ She must have been sleeping with Badmus ever since then. I prayed that the medical test should just indicate Badmus; not me.
I assured my friends that the pregnancy was not mine. I asked them to gather information about the further medical test.
****
I was fretting, turning up and down in bed during the night. What would become of me if the pregnancy was eventually mine? And according to further information, Elizabeth had once consulted a doctor outside the school. The doctor advised her not to abort the pregnancy as it might claim her life. The information was linked by my friend who was dating one of her roommates.
“Oh, my goodness, what do I do about this?”
It was my phone that answered the question from the corner of the bed. The ringtone was certainly for a call; not a text message. I fumbled for it under the pillow. It was Sharon. I cleared my throat, and composed my voice to hide the emotion.
“Hello, sweetie.” I said to the receiver.
“He-e-llo, Festus,” she said hurriedly, “Please, I need your attention at the back of the old hall.”
“Hope nothing is wrong. You are not sounding alright.”
“Nothing. I guess it’s because of the cold.”
“Okay. Give me a minute,” I said, glancing at the wall clock. 11:45pm.“ What are you still doing on campus at this hour?”
“I just left my friends’ hostel. I need to see you. it’s urgent.” Her voice shivered.
I quickly dressed up. Collins and Dayo were not in the room. I locked the door and made my way downstairs.
When I reached the back of the old hall there was no trace of anyone. The place was dark, but the whole campus was lit up. The hall had always been alight except when the light tripped off, and it rarely did.
“All the florescent in the hall are off. Why?” I asked myself.
The whole streetlights around the hall were also dead. Although, the place was not entirely silent. I was still hearing voices and shuffling of feet here and there; obviously from students going for tutorials. I thought I needed to call Sharon. Maybe I didn’t hear her right. “She can’t just be here.”
When I was about to place the phone on my ear I heard heavy footsteps. Looking back was too late, a heavy rough object blew my head off.
Everything went blurry. Indistinct and wavering sound of laughter. Blank out.


EPISODE 6
  SHARON
Their wicked grin still continued. His body sprawled on the ground there; not moving. The hot tears that had sprung out of my eyes increased with my heartbeat. Festus was knocked unconscious by the guy that abducted me a while ago. Those cultists were eight in number, with red straps around their wrists. My heart almost burst open immediately the giant stick landed on Festus’ head. Even now I wasn’t sure if his skull had not fractured. I prayed he wouldn’t die. If he did, I swore I would follow him.
About ten minutes ago when I was about to start my car, a gun pointed at my ear; a rough masculine voice then asked me to cooperate and follow him to wherever he was going. Looking at the guy, he was tall and fit, and his mouth stunk with Indian hemp. Getting nauseated, I gagged on the acrid odour. He asked me to cheer up and follow him gently like I was his boyfriend. Of course, I did. I was taken to his four accomplices who gathered behind the dark alley of the hall. The only light at the spot was the red glow at the butts of their weeds and cigarettes. They’d threatened me to contact Festus. They pointed a gun at my skull as they urged me to be calm so that he wouldn’t suspect anything. I tried to caution myself, but fear gripped me – it gripped my voice more. My fear was not for the gun, but for what they might do to Festus.
Festus was lifted by two among those guys, and another person also carried me across his shoulder. I started struggling, but a raspy voice asked me to stay quiet. And I quickly obliged.
Finally I met myself at a clearing in a jungle where tongues of flames kept dancing in the air from a bonfire. One of them began to tie Festus to a tree – around his chest and legs.
They dropped me on the ground. I saw five people seated around the bonfire. After a while they all began to recite some words that sounded like a foreign language in my ears. I believed it was an incantation. They started jugging around the fire while uttering those incomprehensible words.
Then, I heard a familiar voice from across the burning logs. The voice told me that today was the day he would destroy his obstruction. It dawned on me that it was the guy who had been pestering me on campus for almost a month. He was Kinsley by name – popularly known as KAY-EURO. His parents were very rich. He said I was his type of girl since I had also come from a very rich home. I never knew Kay-Euro was a cultist! Had I known, I would have acted as if I’d accepted his proposal. I had pushed him out of my way several times.
“Now I know the reason why you’ve been avoiding me!” He had whispered to my ear two days ago, in a restaurant on campus. I was standing while buying something from the bar when I heard his voice from behind.
When I turned back I said, “Yes. you again? what’s it this time around?”
“I will fuck you up!” He said firmly, but in a low tone, “So, you treating me like shit because of that wretched brat. huh?”
I didn’t say anything. I just walked out on him as he rattled on.
“I gonna deal with both of you. Bullshit! Bullshit!”
That was the last word I had heard from him on that day. I never knew he meant it. According to rumour, I learnt he had been staying in the U.S right from his childhood. He was a dropout from Oxford university before his parent bundled him back to Nigeria. He started from 100 level, and he had spent seven years in school for four-years course due to continuous carry-overs. Besides, he was not my type of guy. Although he was fair and extremely handsome, but nothing about him seemed to interest me. My heart never beat for him. No accounting for taste truly. If not, how would Festus steal my heart away at first sight?
Back to the frightening scene. Their dancing soon came to a halt. One of them brought out some clothes from a hiding behind the tree. They all wore the red uniforms that had black images of scorpions on them. As if the uniform itself was a devilish spirit on its own, their faces became more sinister and their eyes seemed to spit fire as they glared at Festus. He was now awake from unconsciousness. I heard him cough and sneeze as one of them placed a raw weed by his nostrils, and another person slapped him hard on the face.
I was sitting there, staring with horror. I could feel my veins forcing the blood in my limbs to my head and vice versa. I felt sweat gathering in my palms, my lips trembling, my body quivering. Violently, my heart started butting behind my chest like a mad ram. I was very nervous.
“You dare drag a girl with me on this campus!” Kingsley said between clenched teeth as he pointed at Festus from across the burning logs. “Ha! Ha!! Ha!!!” His throat burst out with a murderous grin. And he ended it by smiling like an innocent boy – a smile that seemed more dangerous than his previous outburst.
“You are a dead meat!” said another person beside Kingsley.
Kingsley stretched forth his palm at the person that spoke as gesture for him to pause. I guessed he was their leader for his authority among them. And Immediately his face directed towards me.
“And you!” He pointed at me, “If not for love … that wicked thing called love that makes a tiger behave like a sheep. I, Kay-Euro, the scorpion king, that stings without mercy, was rejected by you!” He paused, shaking his head and walked close to Festus. He looked at Festus in the eyes, smiled and continued “I shall taste your girlfriend before your two naked eyes. And I may kill you afterwards. I hope you will enjoy the live pornography …. Some of my members might also be interested in the show. Am I right?” He asked, turning back.
They all answered, “Yes, King!”
With that, Kingsley burst into a resounding mocking laughter.
Oh, my God! come and save me from this. I couldn’t afford to be raped before my lover. This would be the worst experience. When Kingsley turned back to meet his members I managed to see Fetus’ eyes from the reflected light. His eyes seemed to be shining with tears, and he shook his head limply.
FESTUS
My headache was aggravated by what I heard from Kay-Euro. Rape was that incident I dread most for my lover! It would depress me to the point of death even If I heard about it. What if it was performed in my presence? I wished I was rather knocked unconscious before they carried out their operation . Oh, Jesus! I couldn’t stand this. I wish Kay-Euro would change his mind.
“God, please forgive me,” I whispered with tears-bathed face, “forgive me if my past is beginning to catch up on me. I can’t stand the pain that would be caused to Sharon. If this rape is carried out as planned, it might make my love for Sharon turn to hatred.”
I shook my head slowly. I couldn’t afford to lose the love I had for Sharon. If she was raped by all these terrible guys, would I ever forget?
Would I ever forget the rhythms of their jerks, their sweats, her painful moans, with the varieties of manhood? What an anguish! How would I ever erase this memory off my mind? And my life wasn’t safe either.
Kay-Euro asked his members to bring Sharon right in front of me while he unbuckled his belt.


EPISODE 7

One of the boys lay Sharon on the grassy surface before me. They threatened to shoot her if she tried to scream or prove adamant to any instruction. Kingsley laughed and pulled down her skirt to reveal her thighs and her white panties. Sharon was fidgeting on the ground like a virgin bride on her wedding night. Her face began to stream with tears. When Kingsley’s hands made for the panties I shut my eyes tightly and stooped my head.
Thump, thump, thump – my heart beating loud and clear in my ears. A cold shiver surged through my body despite the overflowing sweat pouring from my forehead to my feet. I wished I could shut my ears to bar the slightest sound of her moan or the sound of sexual body collision.
Now all voices became echoes in my head – as if coming from a very far distance.
“Take off that shit for me before I blast your head!”
Waves of Sobs echoed in my ears, “Please, don’t do this to me. Pleas-s-s-s-e! U-h-h-h-h-sh-h. A-s-s-h-h-h-h!”
“Oh, yea. You gonna enjoy this babe. Just shut the fuck up!”
Indiscernible voices passed through my head. It felt as though thousands of arrows were ripping through my flesh, while my head went numb as if drown in iced pool of water.
“Sacrilege!”
A voice rose high into the sky. My eyes flipped open only to see Kay-Euro back on his feet. He screamed again, and his body was quivering as if smarting from electric shock. He hurriedly delved his hand around his waist and produced a red rope strung with cowries. Sharon was lying down there, her thighs trembling. Her panties were still intact, but her camisole was partially open, revealing a fraction of her sweet boobs.
Then like a lunatic at a fresh display, Kingsley began to laugh stupidly while holding the fetish skywards. The yellow flames from the bonfire cast fast-moving shadows across his tall figure, but his sweat-stained countenance was visible enough and one could see a smile of satisfaction on his face. He directed his look towards his members whose mouths were agape with baffled facial expressions. They were standing in a single file about two feet away from him. Kingsley’s action must have appeared as a drama to them as well. I guessed the time he spent on Sharon wasn’t up to a minute before his strange uproar. Perhaps he was still going to resume his diabolic gusto.
“The great scorpion!” He bellowed at his members three times. “Yah!” they answered to each hail with their right fists thrusting heavenwards.
“Do you remember what Baba said about this amulet?” He directed his question to his members.
“Yes, King!” They chorused.
He shook his head and turned back gently, dropping a gaze on the fretting figure on the ground.
“She is a spiritual soul!” Kingsley barked, while demonstrating with his hands like a witch that was about to make a confession, “No one ever draws hurtful tears from her eyes without facing destruction! Children like her do not want rival in any home they find themselves … She must be the source of her father’s wealth … She might not be aware of this because her spiritual friends had been made invisible to her long time ago. That old man had forecast all these, and warned me not to hurt any woman. ”
Kingsley collapsed to his knees and bowed his head. He began to punch the earth with all his might. His members were staring in shock at him. I supposed they knew the implication of what Kay-Euro had just done. Although everything still appeared as a melodrama to me. Sharon also looked confused.
Kingsley sighed and continued, “But she has shed that tears when I’ve not even dug that hole of destruction; the hole that might have taken my soul if not for the alert of this amulet. Oh! Baba asked me to be careful, but lust has….”
“Everybody, freeze!” A baritone voice interrupted from the bush behind me,“ if you make any attempt to move, you are playing with fire. The whole place is surrounded by armed corps. Drop any weapon that might be on your body and your hands up!”
I couldn’t turn my head to look behind, but I was sure it was a police man that spoke. Kingsley still maintained his position. He did not even reveal his face, and I began to wonder if he was easily obedient; I believed a scorpion king would have a mystical power. His members didn’t take any step either. They removed the pistols and the different charms that were hung around their body and dropped them on the ground. I was actually expecting them to combat the police. I was excited they didn’t. I heaved a sigh of relief, and I felt cool breeze washing over my tense skin. It was that moment I felt that I had a wound on my head.
Kingsley revealed his face and shook his head solemnly, “Welcome! I have been expecting you. You must have been informed by the spirits.”
The twelve armed officers that came into view began to look at each other in the face. They were apparently confused concerning the word ‘spirit’ mentioned by Kingsley.
“For your information Mr. Man,” one of them said, “We are not here to play. If you continue to say jargons, I will blow off your head with this gun. We were not informed of your atrocity by any spirit or whatever! Somebody alerted us on phone about twenty minutes ago.”
Kingsley smiled bitterly and said simply, “You can’t understand. You are all naïve of the terrestrial force.”
One of the officers wanted to shut Kingsley up, but another one cautioned that they should hear him out.
“You can say whatever you like,” the officer said, “remember everything you say here will be used against you in the court of law.”
“You black rats have no sense of cultism!” Kingsley said with fury in his eyes, “those spirits must have taken the form of a human as an informant. If those immortals have not fortified you, none of you ‘incompetent dogs of Nigeria Government’ dare not visit the lion’s den without bathing with blood … if not for the tears of this ‘sacrilege’ that rendered my power impotent, I bet none of you will leave here alive; even though you are up to a million!”
“Officer, untie that young man!” One of them instructed, “Young lady. Dress up and rise to your feet.”
Seven officers came forward to handcuff Kingsley and his nine boys. Two of them untied me and supported my limp body on their shoulders. I was very happy that I hadn’t been killed before the police arrived. I didn’t know where I was. I did not know how far it was to the main campus. I thought God had answered my prayer through Sharon’s unknown mystical guards. All in all, I just learnt my lesson about evil deeds such as rape. Everything that happened still appeared to me as a dream. Who could ever believe that Sharon was no ordinary human?
SHARON
Festus and I had been taken to the hospital by some of the officers. Festus was deep asleep from the sleeping injection he had received. A drip was being passed to his body. I was glad that his injury wasn’t as much as I expected. He had a minor cut at the left part of his head. However, the nurse had used a bandage around it. I had called my parents’ number immediately we left that terrible scene. Before 6: am Dad and Mum arrived. They met me beside Festus’ sickbed. Mum started examining all over my body if I had not been bruised.
“Are you sure they didn’t touch you at all?” Mum asked anxiously.
“No, Mum. I’m fine.”
Dad stood speechless. I narrated to them how God had saved me from gang rape. But I didn’t include that Festus was my boyfriend. I told them he was just a friend. Mum sat beside me on a plastic chair beside Festus’ sickbed, while Dad remained on his feet.
Dad heaved a sigh, and stretched his palms upwards, “Oh, thank you Jesus!”
“My Treasure, you know you need to be hospitalized, yourself.” Dad said in his baritone voice, while rubbing his bulging belly. In his left hand was a silver walking-stick that had always accompanied him to any journey.
“Dad, I am fine. It’s Festus that really needs a treatment.”
“Omalicha Nwa! You mean your own health is not important to you?” Mum asked with agitation in her voice and directed her speech to Dad, “I can’t afford to let my daughter study in this country any longer. I don’t want to lose her. And I have asked you to send her to the states, you refused. If she has been raped to death, is this what we’re going to be saying?”
“Woman, be patient!” Dad said, almost provoked. He paused for a moment as if to calm his temper. He struck his walking-stick on the tiled floor and said, “Alright, I will think about it.”
“You’d better think about it.” Mummy mumbled; her affectionate hands were still wandering on my body.
I didn’t care about what Mum and Dad were deliberating over. I had one important question to ask them, but I needed to reserve it. When I was narrating to them concerning Kay-Euro’s revelation about me, my parent stared at each other in the face. Dad interrupted me with another topic when I wanted to confirm if I was really surrounded by spirit. Somehow, I believed my parents were hiding something from me. Could I have been a child surrounded by spirits without my knowledge? What sacrifice could they have made to hide my spiritual friends from me?
My Daddy’s loud throat-clearing pulled me out of my thought. He would only clear his throat in that manner if he was suspicious about something. But what could he be suspicious of?
“And you say this young man is just a friend?” Dad asked.
I was forced to smile when I looked at Dad’s curious facial expression, and I bowed my head timidly.
“Treasure,” Mum said, patting my back, “Just tell us the truth. I know my daughter quite well. He is more than a friend; Right?”
I glanced at my parents questioning look. And I smiled while nodding my head shyly. I didn’t mean to lie that Festus was just a friend. Of course, I was not too small to have a boyfriend. I had just marked my 24th birthday. I didn’t want Mum to start interrogating me about his background. My parents really wanted me to present to them a fiance from an influential background like ours; although, Dad didn’t care much about that. All he wanted for me was a responsible man.
“You mean he is your boyfriend.” Mum insisted.
“Yes.” I nodded slowly.
“Hmn … he is a good-looking boy. You have really taken after your mother. ” Mum remarked animatedly, while stealing a glance at Dad’s face.
I smiled in response to her compliment. I knew what she meant by that. Indeed, Dad was still very handsome in his late sixties. He had a light-brown skin and a bald head. His blemishless white beard and moustache created a sharp contrast in a way that made him look like a typical professor. And he was really intelligent. During my secondary school days, each time he didn’t go to the office, he would tutor me on all subjects. His sense of arithmetic was awesome. He studied statistic in school. Mum was just in her late forties. I didn’t take after her with fair skin, but her beauty.
“So, who is this boy’s father in this state?” Dad asked the shocking question I had been avoiding.


 EPISODE 8

Getting dazed by the question, I started fiddling with my shoulder-length hair in anxiety. I didn’t know where to start from. I was scratching the back of my neck without feeling any itches. I wonder what my parents would say if I told them how poor Festus’ parent had been. I trust Mum. She might call him a gold digger. Dad might ask me to stop relating with him. As much as Dad craved a responsible man, he did not want to betroth his daughter to the son of any nonentity. Right from my tender age Dad had promised to make my wedding an elaborate one. He had always attended the engagements of his friends’ children, and each time he returned he would tell me all he witnessed.
“My Treasure,” he would call me, while sipping a wine from a goblet or puffing on his tobacco, “Oh, I wish you were there. If you see how many cars the groom bought the bride’s parents as a present you would be amazed.” At the end of his statement he would tell me whose son the groom was among the important personalities in the states.
“Wow!” I would giggle, my panda doll would lie beside me, “That’s really interesting.”
That statement had always been my response over the years. That was Dad for me. He would talk to me like an adult those times I was less than fourteen years of age. Sometimes, Mum would become jealous of me because anything Dad was supposed to discuss with her, I would be the one to first hear about it.
“Who are his parents?” Daddy’s voice yanked me out of my daydream. His voice was calm this time.
“Dad, his father is nobody in any state, but his parents are living fine.” I said with confidence. I needed to just lie again in order to save myself from further interrogation.
“Honey, this is no time for such question,” Mum said, fondling with my hair. “This is a time for thanksgiving. I am just happy that my daughter is alive. Boyfriend or no boyfriend is not the issue for now. Besides, she has not introduced him as a fiancé.”
I wished I could interrupt Mum. Did she mean I wouldn’t be allowed to marry him if I finally introduced him as a fiancé?
“I know you wouldn’t let me talk,” Dad said with a tinge of tease in his voice, “I am still talking to my second wife; not you.”
“Okay o … husband and wife. Continue with your talk.” Mum smiled, turning her face away.
At that moment, the nurse in charge of Festus came in and asked if Mum and Dad were his parents. I told the nurse that Festus’ parents were staying in Lagos, which was very far from Kano state. Then she prescribed some drugs for his quick recovery. My parents volunteered to pay all the bills. Dad asked the nurse if she had carried out any test on me.
“Yes, sir,” responded the nurse, “I have examined her immediately. She wasn’t hurt. But she needs a good rest for her to recover from the shock she passed through during the incident.”
“I hope you heard what the nurse said,” Dad turned to me, “you have to come back home. So, I will make sure you have a good rest.”
“…And you must come back home today,” added Mum.
“But, our exams is few days away – five days precisely.”
“I’m not sure you’re going back to that school, “ Dad said firmly, “When you come back home, I will know the next step to take.”
“But, Dad why?”
Dad did not respond. instead, he gave me a glaring look that suggested that the reason was obvious. Mum didn’t utter a word either. She just gave me an eye-contact, meaning that I shouldn’t argue with Dad. She rose to her feet, picking up her handbag.
“Come home before nightfall,” Dad said as he turned towards the door with Mum leading the way.
I believed my parents had decided to send me abroad to further my education. What would become of my relationship with Festus if I eventually leave this country? I couldn’t afford to. I would rather find a way to persuade them.
When it was quarter-to-nine in the morning I realized that my phone had been off all through the night. The battery was dead. I rummaged for the charger in my handbag and plugged it at a socket near the bed. In a little while I switched on the phone.
“Oh my goodness!” I exclaimed in a low tone, covering my mouth.
Checking through my BBM, I realized that the incident had spread through the whole campus. Majority of my friends were taunting me that Kingsley had seen my nakedness at last. Some of their messages went thus:
“Upon all your shakara 4 dat guy, he finally checked you out. I can’t still believe it. So tell me, how many rounds now?”
“Shasha Baby, I don tell you say Kay-Euro go chop you. Lol. Sorry for the pains o. Where the hospital dey?”
“….hope dem no wound your Festus for you too much sha. Lmao …. lover girl. Me too dey suspect say dat guy be cultist for all im swag for campus. Na so God go dey catch dem one by one.”
Scrolling through the countless messages, I shook my head. The campus newspaper would definitely have me and Festus on their cover page this week. How many people would I tell that Kingsley hadn’t raped me before the police arrived? He had only stripped my bra and buried his mouth on my nipples before he screamed. Nothing more. He must have become infatuated with my breasts. Although his first attempt was for my panties, but he had changed his mind.
I heaved a sigh as I directed my look towards Festus. He was still sleeping.
“With all these rumour, would I be able to study in this school any longer?” I thought to myself, “ Is this how I’m going to part ways with Festus? No … never!”
At that instant, I heard my phone ring. It was Bisola, one of the friends I accommodated. She told me she was just hearing about the incident when she got to the lecture room. She added that the incident was the new topic in every department. And I narrated all that happened to her.
“Oh, thank you Jehovah!” She exclaimed, “this is a testimony to be shared. I hope your boyfriend is not seriously injured.”
“Yeah. It’s just a small cut in the head. He will be alright. Thanks for your concern.”
When Bisola told me she was coming to the hospital, I asked her to get some food and beverages for him on her way.
****
I arrived home on the next day after Festus had been discharged from the hospital. Three security guards came to help me with my luggage out of the car. Our edifice had almost the same structure with the Whitehouse in Washington DC, but not as gigantic. It was coated in cream and orange colour. A section of the house was decorated with the American clay bricks. Our garden stretched up to 15 acres. From our gate, one had to drive through paved road flanked by flowers, decorative trees, streetlights, sculptures and fountains before locating our edifice.
I was clad in a body-hugging dress that left my arms and shoulders bare. I walked through the front door after the guards. When I got to the sitting-room, I looked up only to see Mum smiling down at me from our loft or interior balcony. I guessed she had seen me coming through the security camera. Gently, I climbed the stairs with my pink high-heels which glamorously matched my dress. Mum embraced me. She welcomed me as if I hadn’t been home for a year, and I couldn’t do without coming home once in a month.
“You look stressed up, dear,” Mum said, putting her arm around my shoulders. We headed towards my room, “remember what the nurse said.”
“The driving is just too tedious for me.” I placed my palm on my aching head.
“You mean Kano to Abuja is tedious? But you have refused to let your Dad get you a driver.”
Immediately we got to my room Mum said she had a good news for me, and asked me to guess. We both sat on the bed, facing my tall standing mirror.
“Oh, Dad eventually got that private jet?” I asked while unknotting my diamond necklace and bracelets.
“Not about your Dad.”
“Alright then,” I hummed thoughtfully for a moment, “Okay. You have decided to open another mall in the UK or … California.”
“You don’t still guess right. Now, let me tell you,” Mum said, her voice falling into a whisper. She told me that Alfred Peters, the first son of my Dad’s best friend, would be coming back to Nigeria in three weeks’ time because of me.
“Why … because of me?” I frowned, my voice laced with repulse.
Mum said Alfred had refused to marry since he left Nigeria to manage his father’s business in New york. He had been gone for three years after he graduated as a medicine student. I could remember when I was 13 year-old or thereabout. Each time Alfred and his Dad paid us a visit, his Dad would stroke my chubby cheeks and say, “Beautiful Princess, I will still marry you to my son.”
Seated beside his father, the fifteen year-old Alfred would tilt his head shyly. His tender eyes would speak out desire. He was such a cute black boy.
“Me?” I would laugh childishly, “I can’t marry a black boy. When I grow up, I’m going to marry a white man. They are very, very fine. I like their films too.”
That was all I could remember about Alfred. I hadn’t seen him for a very long time. Why would he decide to propose to me now?
“So, I want you to treat him well when he comes here,” Mum continued delightedly, “your Dad had supported the union already. Alfred is a very handsome man with a high reputation. If you see him now, I bet you won’t be able to resist his sight. Let me show you some of his pictures on my….”
“Mum, don’t bother,” I interrupted Mum when she was about to show me the picture on her phone, “I don’t care if he’s the most handsome man in the universe. The fact is, ‘I already have a fiancé!’ ” I uttered the last statement out of frustration, and I could see Mum almost bouncing off her seat as if the words had sent a thunder bolt into her body.
“And who is that?” She asked, confused.
“Mum, it’s the boy you saw at the hospital!” I said with a frowned face. I turned away, folding my arms across my chests.
“I don’t think you know what you’re talking about. So, tell me what his comfortable parents have achieved; maybe I will consider him.”
I took a long sigh and turned to Mum. With a consoling, gentle voice I said, “I think, at this juncture, I have to tell the truth … His parents are poor, and I don’t think that has anything to do with the feeling I have for him.”
Before Mum could respond I heard my phone ring. On the phone screen I saw “SWEET HEART calling…” That was Festus.
“Mum, please; just a minute,” I said, walking across to the corner of the bed. “Hello, sweetie,” I said in a low tone.
“Hello dear,” Festus said, “I just want to know if you’ve arrived home.”
“Oh, thanks dear,” I said, peeking at the wall clock, “I got home about thirty minutes ago. I hope everything is alright. Feel free to call me if you need anything. Okay?”
I was very amused when Festus said he wouldn’t be needing anything for two months after the one-fifty-thousand I gave him. That wasn’t up to the money I bought my recent necklace. If I needed to shop for jewelry Dad wouldn’t give me less than 750 k. I really wished to give him up to 300k, but I regretted I had only N150,000 left in my account.
“You must be kidding,” I smiled, “ that wouldn’t be enough for two weeks let alone two months.” I stole a glance at Mum who was about to stand up, “anyway, I will call you back, dear. Let me attend to Mum … love you, bye.” Festus replied the statement and sent a kiss to me.
“Mum, I’m so sorry,” I said, moving close to her. I placed my hand around her shoulders, “ I didn’t mean to interrupt the conversation, but I had to keep Festus’ mind at rest. He wanted to know if I’m already at home.”
Mum still stood on her ground that Festus was not suitable for a prestigious girl like me.
“He is only a gold digger!” Mum almost yelled at me. “All I know is you can’t marry him.”

  
EPISODE 9

Having said that, Mum stood up and left my room with annoyance written all over her face.
My headache came again. I lay on my back in bed. I did not care about what Dad might also say about him if he returned from the office.
****
About three weeks later, I was no longer myself in the house. Over the weeks I had been feeling all sorts of illnesses. I would feel feverish in the morning, and before mid-day I would regain my health. Sometimes, the fever would be replaced with a short-lived dizziness. I thought it was the memory of the incident that was causing it. Or could it be because I hadn’t seen Festus for a while? We had only been communicating through BBM and voice call. That wasn’t enough. I felt like sitting next to him every day. Exam was still in progress. If not, I would have organized a date somewhere around my home.
Dad and Mum even contributed to my sickness every day. They would keep reminding me about Alfred’s arrival. Now his arrival was two days’ time. After too much pressure from Dad I pretended as if I accepted Alfred. Mum had given me his phone number and Facebook ID. They would ask me to speak with him on phone in their presence, and they would be smiling with fulfillment. I did not like to see my parents getting downcast because of me. But I knew I would find a way to avoid Alfred’s relationship. They could only impose a man on me. “Is it possible to force my heart on him?” Dad insisted on sending me to Harvard university two months’ time. I didn’t think that would be possible, but I did not object to it. I thought my parents were looking for a way to separate me from the man of my heart. I had to come up with my own plan soonest.
****
Mum asked our driver to take me to Amigo super market for the latest designers and new set of jewelry. Before setting out I went straight to the bar to take a cupful of wine. As I was pouring the wine, the single goblet started multiplying in my eyes …. into two, three, four, five, six until I could see it no more. I could see nothing, but a blank misty space. I thought I was feeling sleepy. Like a burning candle, my legs began to melt away; not supporting my weight any longer. I felt my body lowering to the ground like a falling tree.
The crash of broken glasses jerked me back to consciousness. I was lying weak on the floor, my yellow gown soaked with a red wine, and all around me were shards of a broken goblet. An alarming noise came from our maid. Three security guards rushed inside to lift me on the couch. Mum and Dad had gone for an occasion, but I heard the maid calling them on phone after calling the guards to help me.
To my greatest surprise, Mum came back with the family doctor, Dr. Maxwell. I glared at Mum as she asked the doctor to start examining me. I did not think my dizziness was something serious to deserve a medical attention. Dr. Maxwell finally told Mum that I needed to rest well, but I must come to the hospital on the following day with a sample of my early morning urine.
****
I had been awaiting Dr. Maxwell in his office for over thirty minutes after tendering the urine sample . After a while he came back with a smile on his face. He gave me a folded paper as a result of the conducted test.
“Sir, is it malaria or fever?” I asked impatiently.
“Sharon, I would like you to see for yourself.”
Anyway, If it was not a fever it might be another sickness entirely. Utterly confused, I was unfolding the paper with hesitation. Our doctor had never, in any circumstances, given me a folded paper before announcing my symptoms to me.
When I eventually revealed the content, my heart skipped a beat. PREGNANCY TEST RESULT – three weeks pregnant!
I grabbed my chest as if to prevent my pounding heart from breaking out.
“Is this result for me, sir?” I showed the paper to Dr. Maxwell in devastation.
“Yes, you can see your name on it,” he nodded and smiled again, his eyes popping out behind his spectacles. I felt like slapping the smile off his face. Why must he mock my misfortune?
“I am in trouble, sir.” My voice trembled.
“Trouble, in what way?” He said, his brows creasing with confusion.
“I’m still a student. I’m not ready for this … please, sir .. sir, can … can you … Is there any drug you could give me to flush the pregnancy away, since it’s still early?”
Dr. Maxwell looked angry after my statement. He said I must not take any action on the pregnancy until my parents heard about it.
“As far as I’m concerned,” he continued, “I don’t think your parents will ever allow you to take such a risk.”
I sighed with distress. This pregnancy was just a mixed feeling for me. It was unfortunate and disgraceful that I conceived at the wrong time. Again, I felt it would prevent my parents from imposing Alfred on me.
I felt the vibration of my phone in my jeans trousers. It was Festus’ call. He was calling at the right time. I must tell him about the pregnancy there and then.
“Hello! Festus, there is a pro…”
“Sorry to interrupt you,” Festus said abruptly, sounding a bit nervous, “I have to tell you this. I told you about Lizzy, my ex-girlfriend, right?”
“Yeah, you did. What about her?”
“The girl has been pregnant for over three months now. And she told all her friends that … that … that….”
“That what?”
“…that I was responsible for it. Although….”
“She said what!” My voice thundered with shock.


 EPISODE 10

As if the phone had turned a live wire, my hand began to vibrate violently and the phone fell off my hand; I was shivering as though an iced water was poured on my body. I quickly picked the phone up, trying to compose myself. Dr. Maxwell looked startled and puzzled at my outburst.
“What is wrong?”
“Not…not…nothing, sir,” my voice disappointed me as much as I tried regaining composure.
It was as if an invisible hammer was banging on my head in a quick succession. The phone was ringing again – Festus was calling back. How would I tell him I was also pregnant? Oh, what a misfortune …. what a mess have I gotten myself into? I dropped the phone and hunched over the table with my hands supporting my cheeks. I was trying to fight back the tears that was pricking within my eyes.
“You haven’t answered my question, Sharon.” Dr. Maxwell’s voice raised with curiosity.
“Nothing, sir.” I said, shaking my head. Now my eyes became pregnant with burning tears. I couldn’t help it, but let it roll over my cheeks and splash on the table.
I brought out a white hankie from my handbag and wiped away the stream on my face and those on the office table
“I have to leave now,” I said in a plain voice as I stood up, adjusting my cloth, “it’s a confidential matter … And I wish you wouldn’t t let my parents know about this pregnancy for now.”
“Oh, I am afraid, I can’t assure you of that,” he said with a naughty smirk, while adjusting his eye-glasses, “ I’ve been working with your parents for over 15 years, and I can’t afford to ruin my reputation by concealing your true symptom.”
On hearing that, I didn’t utter a word. I picked up my handbag and slammed the door behind me. When I got inside the car I made up my mind to tell Festus once and for all. I brought out my phone, wondering if to text him or call him. The present situation was a bitter dilemma. Would I become a rival with Elizabeth if eventually she gave birth? Dr. Maxwell was right. My parents wouldn’t allow me to do anything that would risk my life as the only fruit on their tree. The solitary fruit that must not be harvested by fingers of the greedy wind, which is untimely death… I wish to carry Festus’ baby in my womb, but this was too early. And It was not Festus’ fault in anyway… I caused it. As a woman, I was supposed to ask him to use a protection, but I had failed to… I failed because of the sex drive that had overwhelmed me.
“Hell to that imprudent sex drive!” I said, my eyes loading with tears again, “why on earth did I do this to myself? Whyyyyyyyyy!”my voice broke off into a sob. I thought for a while and I concluded on using a voice call.
“Sharon, I… I’m so sorry about that,“ Festus said immediately the call went through, “You didn’t let me explain how it all happened before you terminated the call earlier on.”
“Festus, just listen to what I’m about to say,” I said in a low mournful tone, “I was in our family doctor’s office when your call came in. The doctor just confirmed that I’m three weeks pregnant.”
“You…you…you…d…don’t…mean it!” His voice staggered as if he had a lump in his throat; he was apparently shocked. Then his voice sank with a notable pressure, “You’re really pregnant…Serious or joking?”
“Festus, I am not joking. I’m very confused right now.”
“Why is all these happening? Why my God?” I managed to hear Festus’ fading voice. I was not sure if he was still handling the phone because his voice had receded to the background with lament.
“Hello! Hello!! Are you there?” I asked, but there was no response. I waited until about a minute before I heard his voice clearly again.
“Baby, I really want you to carry my child in your womb, but this’s not the right time,” Festus’ voice sounded very grave, but somehow tearful, “I don’t know if God is inflicting punishment on me with this Elizabeth of a girl. I don’t want her … I hate her! Although, I am not sure if I’m really responsible for the pregnancy until a test is carried out on the baby when she gives birth. So, what do we do about it?”
“I don’t know. The doctor is going to tell my parents and…and…..” my voice trailed off in anguish.
“Talk to me, baby. ”
“…my parents might not allow me to abort it.”
The next thing I heard was a long loud breath. He said he didn’t want me to abort the pregnancy either, and neither did he want me to get hurt because of him. I smiled to myself. Maybe he was afraid because of what he heard from Kingsley. He concluded that we should put everything in God’s hand since the situation was beyond our control. Quietly, I prayed that the baby in Elizabeth’s womb wouldn’t share the same gene with Festus during DNA test. If I was going to be a rival with a girl; not even a useless and arrogant girl like Lizzy.
****
On the following day Alfred arrived at exactly 11: 27 am. I could see him getting out of a land rover jeep through the security monitor in my room. Mum and Dad had already known about my pregnancy. Dr. Maxwell already told them on phone even before I got home with the result on the previous day. Throughout the night I was reproached severely by Dad and Mum for being careless with myself and selling myself cheap to a nonentity. Inevitably, my parents didn’t dare to talk about abortion. Dad had insisted on transferring me to our house in the UK in two months’ time. I would give birth to the baby and further my education there. But nothing was said about Festus. Perhaps they wanted me to give birth to the child and later get married to Alfred as planned. I didn’t believe Alfred could come here after Dad had told him last night that I was pregnant. He had spoken with Dad for about twenty minutes, and I supposed he’d agreed to marry me with the pregnancy. If not, how would he come here today?
The knock I heard on the door stirred me out of my thought. I rolled down gently from the bed to open the door.
“Omalicha nwa! Are you still sleeping?” Mum asked before I could open the door, “you need to dress up. Alfred is here.” She said as I opened the door.
“I know,” I turned away, folding my arms across my chests, a defiant grimace on my face, “ I’m coming.”
“Why are you behaving like this, Sharon?” Mum chided me. She would address me by my real name whenever she was annoyed with me. She would either call, ‘Treasure’ or ‘Omalicha nwa’ (beautiful baby) “Despite that you’re pregnant, Alfred insisted on getting married to you. Don’t you know that a man would only agree to marry you with pregnancy if he has a true love for you? That…that wretched boy purposely impregnated you because of your father’s wealth. Over my dead body will you marry that gold digger!”
“Mum, Festus does not act like a gold digger,” I said firmly, still turning my back at her, “in fact, I have tested him on that severally, and he passed all my test. He loved me regardless of my father’s….”
“Will you shut up your filthy mouth!” Mum interrupted me, and mimicked all I had just said in a slurring and irritating manner, “what has come over you? That boy must have used something on you, because you brain seems to have turned upside down. If you like come downstairs, If you like stay there.” With that, Mum left my room.
In a little while, after dressing in a yellow skimpy skirt and armless blue top, I made towards the stairs to attend my fake fiancée. He was sitting comfortably in the couch, a black suit on his huge dark-skinned figure, his mouth turning agape as he saw me climbing down the stairs. He rose to his feet with a look of surprise on his face. I put on a smile as I walked towards him.
“Oh, see you, you’re so big!” Alfred exclaimed , spreading his arms apart as if to measure my frame, “I wouldn’t have recognized you if not for your pics on Facebook,” he turned to my parents between his fresh mirth and said, “and she is just as beautiful as ever.” With that, my parents burst out laughing at the opposite couch, their faces beaming with bliss like a full moon.
“Thanks. You’re looking good too.” I said as I embraced him.
Sitting close to Alfred in the couch, I began to search my brain thoroughly for all I could ask him to feign interest in him, just to deceive my parents. I did not want to be defiant in Dad’s presence. I asked about his trip and his business in New york.
“Thank you, baby, glory be to God. Business is moving on fine,” he said fervently, rubbing his palms together. He began to blab on about the harshness of Nigeria climate in comparison to the one abroad. And he finally remarked that he would never allow our child to stay in Nigeria. Just as my brows furrowed in puzzlement, he added, “I mean the children we gonna have after our engagement in the US.”
On hearing that, I masked my bitter feeling with a broad smile. How sure was he that I was going to marry him, let alone having babies with him?
One of our maids, a slender teenage girl, placed two bottles of whisky and wine glasses beside the flower vase on the center table. Dad and Mum stood up at that moment.
“Feel at home and have fun, my son,” Mum said as she made towards the kitchen while Dad went upstairs, “the food will be ready very soon. You’re going to have an African taste today.”
“Thank you, ma’am,” Alfred mouthed, a smile of fulfillment on his face.
When it was only me and Alfred in the sitting room, a thought surged into my mind. I needed to let him realize that I never had a single feeling for him. But how would I do that in a polite manner? Now Alfred was staring intensely at me. I was avoiding his gaze by searching endlessly through my phone.
Alfred cleared his throat and said, “So, how is….”
“Oh, Sorry, I have some things to discuss with you,” I intentionally broke into his speech.
“Go ahead, feel free,” Alfred said, waving his hands to urge me, while adjusting the collar of his suit.
I asked him if he was familiar with adage and parables, and he nodded affirmatively.
With that, I adjusted on my seat and turned to him. I started by gesticulating with my hands like a counselor, “Let’s assume you ’re riding a horse to a long journey, and suddenly you see a stream nearby…You decide to stop in order to feed your thirsty horse since the next couple of miles is a desert. If you get to the stream, and your horse refuses to drink, what would you do?”
“That means the horse is not thirsty. I will just take her away and embark on my journey.”
“But if I were you, I would pull the horse’ mouth and force it to drink,”
“Hell no!” He glowered at me as if I was a witch,” That would be so ridiculous and barbaric!”
“Really?”
“Yes, of course.” He said, wearing a look of assurance.
“That is exactly what my parents are doing to me.”
“How?”
In a low one, I explained to him that I was the horse, while my parents represented the rider who wanted to take a horse to the stream and force it to drink.
I took a long breath, tilted my head and continued gently, “The fact is that I already have a lover and he is the one responsible for my pregnancy. I…I don’t want to waste your time … my parents want me to get married to you, but my heart is for someone else. ”
When I revealed my face to look at Alfred, there was a shocking look in eyes. I could hear his breaths pulling and dragging spasmodically.
“And w…why…why didn’t you tell me all these while?”
“I couldn’t.” I shook my head from side to side, “I don’t know how to tell you.”
Alfred sighed, glaring at me in disgust, “ I can’t just believe this! I just have to leave.” He jerked to his feet like a soldier and picked up his car keys from the table.
I didn’t say any word. He stopped abruptly at the doorway, turning to look at me, his eyes were as red as a glowing coal in a dying fire.
“Aunty Sharon, the food is ready o,” I heard our maid’s voice from the dinning, “Is oga going? Come and eat your food before you go!”
“Who is going?” Mum asked all the way from the kitchen. Before Mum could get out, Alfred had pulled his car towards the road that led to the gate. Mum asked me why he left without informing anyone.
“He left something at home,” I said plainly, while filling the two wine glasses, “he will be back shortly.” I covered my mouth to suppress the hiccup in my throat.
“Are you sure of what you’re saying? At least he would’ve just informed me.”
“I think that would be a waste of time, Mum,” I smiled. “ Don’t worry, your son-in law will be back soon. Okay?” I winked at Mum playfully. Mum smiled back at me.
****
During the night Dad became very angry with me. He was aware of all I said to Alfred through Mr. Peters, Alfred’s father. Alfred had refused to receive Dad’s call until around 7pm when Mr. Peters called and expressed how disappointed he was. I saw Dad pleading with Mr. Peters on phone that I didn’t mean what I said to his son. I began to wonder if there was something else behind my marriage to Alfred.
About 10pm I decided to take my used cloths to the washing machine at the third floor. I could hear arguing voices coming from the exterior balcony which was very close to the laundry room. It was Mum and Dad. I crept to the corridor. I peeked at them and hid myself by the door, soft drinks on the table before them. I wanted to know what the argument was all about.
“I don’t want this child to transfer the wealth on her to that wretched boy!” Dad said, “you know that any man that wins her heart is a lucky man forever. If the person is poor, he will become very rich in a blink of an eye once he starts staying under the same roof with her.”
“Yes … I know; according to her destiny,” said Mum.
“And you know Peter’s effort before this girl could stay alive back then. I just wish to marry my fortunate daughter to his son; just to pay him for his effort.”
“So, what do we do when she is blindly in love with Festus, en? Me I am tired of all this o.” Mum said in a nagging tone.
“I have to act fast on that…maybe I should separate them spiritually when physical effort is not working.”
I felt my heart struck having heard that. Spiritual effort? Many questions needed answers in my head. What effort did Alfred’s father make to keep me alive?
“Dad, I have overheard you!” I cried as I appeared to them at the balcony, “I would rather commit suicide!”