Chapter 3 Welcome to Bangkok Lodge

Gabrielle slept like a baby after her matriculation. She was just so tired that she almost forgot that it was Monday already. No one had ever talked to her since she moved in. It was as if they were waiting for her to settle down before including her in their games. 

"Good morning Pa Uzo." Gabrielle greeted the caretaker. His first daughter's name was Uzo, so the people who lived in the lodge called him 'Pa Uzo', which means Uzo's father. 

"Good morning Angel, I hope you slept well?" the caretaker asked with a broad smile, exposing his decayed teeth. Gabrielle smiled back at him. 

"Yes, I slept well, but the switches are not working so I could not use my standing fan," Gabrielle responded. 

"I'm sure I fixed everything before you moved in, but don't worry I will get an electrician that will fix it for you. Just give me one hundred and fifty rand." 

Gabrielle entered her room, she counted out one hundred and fifty rand from the money her sister gave her. She gave the money to the caretaker who was waiting for her. The caretaker stared at her admiringly and left. A boy came out of room four and followed the caretaker. 

"Mr caretaker! Emma called with a deep voice, adjusting his boxers. The caretaker recognized his voice and began to hail him. 

"So if I no come out, you for carrying my work give another person huh? Emma asked with broken English. 

"Emmanco P! The caretaker continued hailing. 

"I was heading to your room before you called me," The caretaker lied to save himself. 

"Give me the money before I forget am for your face now," Emma shouted with an open palm. The caretaker handed the money to him. 

"How many switches do you wan  make I mend for am?" 

"Just two."

"Two switches na im you dey give me one five?

A beg go tell her to say her money na three kpa!" Emma said. 

"Emmanco P! Just do the work, I will give you another one hundred and fifty rand in the evening to make it three hundred, " the caretaker assured him. 

"See no just try ya self oo till evening na."

It was already 4:00 pm, and the electrician had not yet fixed Gabrielle's switch. She came out of her room and walked straight to the caretaker's room, but he was not at home. Just as she was about to enter her room, she saw the caretaker entering the lodge's gate. She walked up to him. 

"Pa Uzo, I'm yet to see the electrician," Gabrielle said, frowning a bit. 

"Do you have a boyfriend?" The caretaker asked. 

"Boy...what...? I'm talking about the electrician that you promised to get for me." 

"I will get you a boyfriend," he said. 

"Pa Uzo, please I don't need a boyfriend, I need an electrician right now. " 

"Where are you from?" 

"Bedford," Gabrielle responded. 

"Good I know a man, he is a builder, we go to work together and he is a native of Bedford too. I will invite him to come and see you," the caretaker said. 

"Okay now, can we talk about the electrician?" Gabrielle asked. 

"You see that boy over there?" He said, bringing his face closer to Gabrielle's face. Gabrielle could not stand the stench of alcohol oozing out from his breath. The caretaker pointed at some groups of boys that sat a few feet away. Gabrielle did not know the one he was referring to, however, she nodded her head as she could not breathe.

"The one on a red t-shirt, he is the electrician, go and meet him." The caretaker said and disappeared almost immediately. 

Gabrielle waited until she gathered enough courage to meet the boys. The boys stopped what they were doing when they saw Gabrielle coming toward them. It was a total surprise for them except for Emma who already knew why she was coming. 

"Well done!" Gabrielle waved at the guys. 

"Please I need you to mend the switch now it's already late and I won't be around tomorrow," Gabrielle said. Emma kept quiet for a few seconds. 

"Where are you going tomorrow?" Emma asked. 

"I have lectures."

"Go to your room, I'm coming there now," Emma said calmly. Gabrielle left and walked straight to her room. She lay on her bed and slept off. 

"Knock! Knock!"

Gabrielle was woken up by a knock on her door, which was followed by a male voice. She stood up from her bed and cast a glance at her wristwatch that was carefully placed on the small table beside her bed. She could not believe she had been sleeping for the past three hours. 

"Knock! Knock! 

The voice and the sound on her door came louder this time. She caressed her eyes and yawned. 

"I'm coming," Gabrielle responded. She quickly put on something that covered her body properly before heading to the door. 

She was taken aback by the presence of Emma who stood at the doorway, smiling seductively at her. Gabrielle looked at his back and saw all the boys in Bangkok lodge standing behind him with weeds on their lips. She was frightened by their presence, so she frowned.

"I'm here to fix your switches," Emma said, giving her a sensual smile. 

"No! It's past 7 already, please come back tomorrow," Gabrielle said. 

"You said you have lectures tomorrow, so let's do it now," Emma said in a lower tone. 

Gabrielle was about to shut her door when Emma pushed her aside and entered the room. She stood still, while she left the door open. Emma sat down on her bed. He turned and saw Gabrielle still standing at the door. 

"Come and sit down baby," Emma said, offering her a seat by his side. 

"Please leave my room now," Gabrielle uttered politely. 

"Come naa person no dey play with you?"

"For the last time, get out of my room now!" Gabrielle shouted. 

"Which room? Emma stood up from the bed and took a few steps forward. " What would you do?" 

"See make I tell you, na we get this lodge, you feel me? I say na we get this lodge!" Emma yelled at her. 

"Babe, sit down,  let me explain how things work for this lodge," Emma said with a calm voice, pointing at one of the chairs in her room. 

"Baby, sit down, I won't bite you," Emma urged. 

"What is your name?" Gabrielle asked politely.

"Sit down first!" Emma dragged her and sat her down on a chair forcefully and bolted the door.