On the third day of our arrival in the Nigerian capital, I decided to pay Elo an unscheduled visit. I was having a negative feeling about the whole thing, even though everyone knew how impeccable Sabiu was a s a detective. Our convoy drivers parked beside a hair dressing saloon and my mum went in to sit and wait for me. I took a left turn and walked past two fenced plots before I stood in front of Elo’s father’s house.The house had a black gate, with green flowers near the pedestrian walkway. A crazy idea popped up in my head, the moment I knocked thrice on the black gate.“Good evening sir, how may I help you?” A tall light-skinned security guard opened the pedestrian section of the gate, and stared suspiciously at me.“Good evening, my name is Caleb Ishiekwene and I’m looking for Elo.”“And who may you be, sir?”“Oh, my apologies.” I said with a quick smile.“I’m the President of the Delta State Students Association at Igbinedion University Okada. I’m trying to confirm Elo’s identi
While A. J. Baby maintained her stance on the ‘testing’ issue, Davi soon involved his elder sister in the issue, and possibly, to prevail on A. J. Baby, to change her mind. One particular day, Davi took A. J. Baby to an eatery where he re-ignited the issue. They sat at the extreme corner of the large colourful hall, and paid no attention only to the other customers who came in and sat down to eat, or exited the fast food restaurant. It was a weekend and both lovebirds had all the time in the world. I’ve always been unable to point at any cogent reason as to why A. J. Baby never breathed a word of her ‘predicament’ involving Davi with Talia.“How’s the weekend going, my love?”“The weekend’s great.” A. J. Baby replied and stared through the large windows.“You’ve hardly touched your food,”Davi whispered.“Must I eat at the same pace like you?” A. J. Baby snapped.“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it like that…”“Of course, you didn’t,” A. J. Baby fumed before taking a sip of the Coca Cola beve
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWOThe next day, I went to a bookshop in town to purchase some relevant textbooks for the courses I’d be offering in 400 Level. I returned almost two hours later, and was relaxing inside a sitting room adjacent the main throne room when it began to happen. On the walls in the room were a massive family portrait, and other smaller individual pictures. In the family portrait, Inikpi was wearing a traditional turquoise print, with a silvery veil over her shoulders and the upper part of her body. I was staring at Inikpi’s enchanting smile when her face ‘transformed’ into Ghan’s face.I was immediately rattled on the Italian sofa I was relaxing on. The only sound inside the room emanated from the LG split unit air conditioner. I was the only one inside this particular room, why Gahn was taking over my senses. I rose to my feet, shut my eyes and and opened them again. I stared at the painting again and opened my mouth in shock.All the girls and women in the family portrait
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREEHalee was so relaxed as she flipped the pages of her lecture note and textbook at the same time.“Here, this one.” Halee whispered and handed her law of evidence to me. I received it and gave her a review of the particular topic and sub-topic. She listened with rapt attention, and I avoided her eyes and mascara. Thereafter, she asked several questions pertaining to the topic and I answered them all. They were several students thronging around the huts the next hour, and I silently prayed that Halee would not allow herself to be distracted. For the next two hours, I answered questions from Halee’s notebook and textbook. When darkness began to creep in, Halee drew closer to me and I inhaled her mild perfume. The bulbs in the hut where we were weren’t too bright, and Halee seemed happy and comfortable about that singular fact. “Any oth
I could hear my mum laughing heartily over the phone. Maybe I sounded funny, but I was not going to mention anything about Bussy, Elo or even Pre.“Well, in that case, I’ll give Inikpi my blessings to find a suitable damsel for my beloved son at the right time.”I breathed deeply and fixed my gaze on a busty girl who was wearing a pair of jean bum shorts, and a yellow top.“That won’t be necessary mum… when he time is right, my heart would know and find what it wants, and love who it wants to llove. So, kindly drop the matchmaking ideas.”“Are you sure, baby?”“Yes, I’m sure… and I’m not angry with you over your suggestion.”“Okay… but you should know it’s because I love you, and that you’re my only son… that’s why I’m thinking in that direction.”“I know mum, I certainly do.”The next second, I received seven kisses from my mum through my mobile phone before she ended the phone call. I called Patt a afterwards, and his phone rang without any response. When I sent a text message to hi
“So, where is this stroll taking place?”“Just come to the Chills Restaurant later in the evening. We’d be waiting for you.”“Alright, but I have to freshen up a bit.”I thought about what Patt had said about not being married, and sleeping with as many girls as possible. Although I didn’t align myself with the latter, I had to admit that he was right about the former. Pre had agreed to befriend me and I didn’t want to hurt her, or to be seen as an easily-manipulated individual.After my experiences with Bussy and Elo, I made up my mind to be more cautious with the opposite sex. I resolved to befriend girls without any shred or modicum of emotion. Pre was beautiful, innocent and a virgin and I hated the thought of breaking her heart. Later, while I was finishing the last stick of French fries in a small pack, I received a text message from Pre. It read:Peace be unto you Brother P. A. Kindly read and meditate upon Isa 28:16 and Eccl 3:11My Bible was nearby, so I immediately opened it
One particular Thursday afternoon, while we waited for our Political Science lecturer - Mr Lekun, I received an SOS message from Laurie. When I looked around the noisy lecture hall, no one paid me any attention while I got to my feet and went outside.“What is it Laurie?” I asked after she answered the call.“It’s Patt… he has started his craziness and madness again.”“What do you mean by madness and craziness?”“He beat me up this morning after demanding to know who my other boyfriend is.”“You went to his hostel this morning?”“Yes… because he claimed there was an emergency, and he needed to ask me something urgently...”“It’s alright, I’ll talk to him.”“Please, you better do… and tell him to replace my pant.”“Your pant? Did you forget your pant in his room?”“He tore my pant this morning, and forced himself on me.”“I’ll talk to him, and make sure he replaces your torn pant with three new ones. Did he he see you in any uncompromising position, anywhere?”“No, that’s why I said he
I held Pre’s right hand and ignored a couple of male students who walked into the restaurant. They headed straight to the bar and ordered their meals. Afterwards, they walked out with packed foods in white cellophane bags. Pre’s hand felt tender than they looked, while her nails were neatly filed. At that moment, I wondered what type of hand lotion she was using. “It’s not as if you’re not the kind of guy that I desire in my life, but if you can just be patient till I’m done with schooling…” “Do you feel I could be a form or source of distraction, to your academic work?” “No, not like that. It’s just that before two people from different backgrounds, lifestyles, families etc. can come together and become committed in a relationship,, certain things should be mutually acceptable, agreed upon and in alignment.” “Okay… I’m understanding the angle you’re coming from.” I was slowly reaching for the remaining bottle of Sprite on the table before me, when Pre stood up with lightning sp