Night Walk

Episode 1

Leaving the office very late because my boss had some documents I needed to sort out before the next morning. I peered at the road as I drive slowly due to my poor eye sight. Few cars drove pass, I was a bit worried about security. My phone beeped. As I wanted to pick up the phone, it fell. The mini seconds I took to pick it up and look up I saw a woman with a child in the middle of the road. I applied brake immediately and swerved sideways to avoid hitting them. The car stopped and I took a deep breathe, touching my body to make sure I wasn't harmed. I looked outside to see if they were harmed but I found nobody. I stepped down from the car and searched the road but didn't see them. I became scared, I was sure I saw a woman with a child. No cars were passing at that time. I rushed into my car and ignited the engine to drive away, I looked at the rear mirror and I thought I saw them again.

I honked at the gate three times and wonder what is keeping Segun, the gateman. Then I remembered he said he was going to visit his family in the village. How could I forget? I came down and opened the gate, drove in and locked the gate. As I was about to insert the key to my two bedroom apartment, I found out the door was already open. Strange. Probably I didn't lock it properly as I was rushing to work in the morning. In absence of electricity, thanks to NEPA I searched for my phone to use as torch light. As i was undressing I saw a figure move at the corner of my eyes, I turned sharply but didn't see anything. What was that? I thought. I took my shower, wore my silk pajamas and laid on the bed.

You killed my baby and me, the woman screamed. Who are you? What do you want? I asked trembling. She continued screaming and then disappeared. I felt a tap on my shoulder, I turned and saw her disfigured face staring at me with blood dripping from her mouth then I screamed like I have never done before. Oh! Thank God it was just a dream, so I said as I woke up. I checked my time and it was 7:35am. Oh my God! Am late, I said. I rushed to the bathroom, brushed my teeth, took a fast shower, dressed up as fast I could and rushed out of the house without even eating. Then I realized I forgot my car key, I ran back into the house. I heard my bathroom tap rushing, I opened the bathroom and the bath tub was filled with blood. I closed the door immediately and opened it again, the tab wasn't even on. My mind is playing me again.

Thirty minutes later I got to work. Luckily, my boss hasn't arrived. Maybe today isn't really going to be a bad day. My first two hours at work was like any other day, a lot of documents to file, boss scolding my colleagues and I, Mr. Jude trying to flirt with me forgetting he's married and Madam K's delicious fries actually spicing up the morning but wait I can't forget fine Mr. Deji's terrible mouth odour how I wish he could stop talking. Then the most fascinating thing happened, a woman walked in with Femi she was looking exactly like the woman in my dream but without the blood. My heart beat raised, a lot of thoughts going through my mind, is this a dream? Can this be real? Am I going insane? Or maybe am hallucinating then I heard it, Shola Shola Shola Shola. It was actually Mr. Femi calling my name then I realized she was as real as Mr. Deji's mouth odour.

They walked towards me, Mr. Femi introduced me to the woman. She said hi, unlike my hallucinations she had a nice voice. I became calm knowing she wasn't really as bad as I imagined but my whole world came to a pause after about twenty-five minutes of our discussion when she told me her and her son were hit by a runaway driver yesterday. Could that be me? How on earth? How come? I thought.

The Life of a Nigerian Youth

 

Episode 3

“My guy!!” Alfred said, laughing when he opened the door.

“How far na? You dey fear?” the visitor said as he enters the room.

“Ahah no na, for where!” Alfred said.

Visitor: “Babe whatsup? Introduce me to your babe na Fred”.

Relieved that the visitor wasn’t what I thought and angry at the silly joke, I forced a smile. I opened my mouth to reply but was cut short by Alfred.

“Kaima meet my Gee Disciple, guy meet Kaima the girl that stole my heart” he said, as he winked at me.

Mehn that wink sent a different message to me sub conscious. I blushed.

Me: “Hi”.

Disciple: “How are you?”

Me: “Am good, why are you called Disciple?”

He smiled and changed the topic.

Few hours later, Alfred walked me to my hostel. He held my hands, squeezed them a little and pecked me good bye. I couldn’t get the feeling out of my head, I wanted more than just a peck. I watched him walk back home, admiring his stature from behind, wishing I could call him back to my room for a private session. Pervert! My sub conscious called me, I smiled to myself.

“Kaima baby!!” a voice called behind me as I was going to my room.

“Yeah, what’s up?” I asked, as I turned.

“Oh, Esther” I said, realizing who called me.

Esther: “How far na? who be that fine boy?”

“Really? Esther” I asked, making that ‘this one has come with gossip question’ face.

Esther: “Talk na, the bobo fine!”

Me: “He’s a friend”.

Esther: “Only?”

Me: “You don’t have to know the details, biko am tired have to shower and rest”.

“Esther gossip gossip leave Kaima alone” Bec said, as she passed by.

Me: “I taya o my dear”.

“Busy body Rebecca, who call you for this talk now? Just dey talk any how” Esther said, walking away.

“How are you dear?” I asked Bec, as I opened my door.

Bec: “Am good o. Later okay? Got to rush to somewhere”

Me: “Alright bye”.

“Tear out a sheet of paper” the lecturer said.

There were protests in class as usual. Students asking for a middle page, biro and even struggling to sit close to the ‘Intelligent ones’, I was amused by the chaos caused by just a sentence.

“Sir, please come again” someone called out.

“Ask your neighbor” the lecturer replied.

After the 5minutes quiz, I lost the vibe to read ever again. I didn’t understand where the man got his questions from, anyways any how any how we go pass, I thought. I searched for my friends and we discussed about the impromptu quiz we just had. I looked outside and saw my Alfred, yes my Alfred smiling at me. Gosh he’s so cute, I smiled back at him. He signaled me to come outside.

Alfred: “Hey baby”.

Me: “Hi”.

“You don’t look so good, are you okay?” he asked, cupping my face with his hands.

“Yeah, just that we had an impromptu quiz and I don’t think I wrote well” I said, placing my hands on his.

“Ow, sorry bae” he said, as he pecked me.

That lifted my spirit, his pecks always send chills down my spine. Imagine what his kiss would do, I grinned.

“What?” he asked, as he moved back a bit.

“Nothing” I said.

“You can be mischievous” he said, shaking his head.

“I know right” I chuckled.

Alfred and I got dating officially, we were one of the popular couples on campus and this made me not to have ‘toasters’. We had our ups and downs as any other relationship would have, argued a lot though, a few domestic violence…..err actually alot, that was the peak. I endured all hardship thrown at me by Alfred, I began to see the monster in him but I stayed in the relationship hoping it’s going to be alright soon. I chased away my male friends because of Alfred. I was relieved when it was time for industrial training, I couldn’t wait to be far away from him, from his clutches, and the funny part was that I still loved him. One day, after series of punches on my face I went to my room to cry as usual and was shocked to see Sonya at home by that time which was unsual.

Sonya: “Ehe, babe thank God you are back o. Got this gig I wanted us to attend this night, mehn it’s gonna be the bomb, fresh guys are sure to be present but it’s not necessary for you na since you have a boyfriend, so what are we going to wear?”

Silence.

“Why are you not saying anything? Besides why wearing a hoodie in this hot afternoon and you covered your face. Are you okay?” she asked, trying to remove the hood.

Me: “Sonya wait, stop”.

She removed the hood revealing my black eye, swollen cheek and a cut on my lower lip.

Sonya: “Jesus! Who did this to you? Were you attacked? Come on let’s call Alfred, he sure can find those foolish hoodlums”.

That statement made me laugh. She was actually calling the devil the angel.

Sonya: “What’s funny?”

Me: “Your ‘angel’ did this to me”.

“I don’t get” she said, looking confused.

“Alfred did this to me” I said, trying real hard not to cry.

“Taa! Is that what those hoodlums asked you to say? Mtchew, babe nawa you o and you dey obey them. Stand up joor lets meet Alfred” she said, as she stood up.

“Am serious” I said, crying.

Then she realized I was being honest. She drew me closer and rocked me to sleep, she never asked me what went wrong. She only said “Use this 6 months of industrial training to break up with him”. I foolishly ignored her advice, was blinded by love, was in love with a monster, my monster and I paid the consequences………

 

Believe

 
Let's take a break from stories, let's talk about life. Some of us believe in fate while some don't, they believe the future is made by the present. A man went for a Job interview and was told he would be contacted, he prayed and put all his trust on fate, he said "Whatever that was meant to be mine would be mine"  but a different man went for the same interview and didn't believe in fate, he believed that he did so well and deserves the job, he said "Whatever that wasn't meant to be mine or whatever was meant to be mine would be mine by my efforts and hard work". You see, the two men had different beliefs and i presume it works for each of them. Sometimes what we believe in tends to get us what we want. For instance, if you believe in a child and he knows you believe in him to win a race and get a scholarship to study in college, trust me he's going to get that scholarship. Always believe in something, it leads to success!!

The Virgin

Episode 2

Micheal transferred to another school the next term. After my ordeal with him, I still wanted to give guys a chance. Fast forward to ss3, before waec (West African Examination Council). Koko was the labour prefect I secretly had a crush on but was nothing serious. Then it got serious. We were not in the same class but we shared the same Economics teacher. She gave a general assignment which had a lots of calculation. On my way to the assembly ground, a voice called my attention.

“Hi”

“Hi” I said.

“You are in ss3 emerald right?” he asked.

“Yeah” I replied.

“Okay. Have you done that Economics assignment? I solved it but i……..am so sorry. Am koko” he said, smiling apologetically.

“No worries, am Inona” I said, smiling.

Koko: “Thanks. As I was saying I wasn’t sure of my answer, wanted to know if you have done yours and see if it corresponds with mine”.

Hmmm. Is that how high he thinks of me? Or he just looking for an excuse to talk to me? Whichever I love the feeling am having now, I thought.

Me: “Yeah, I have done it but my bag is the class. Maybe after the assembly, I could show you”.

Koko: “Okay, cool. Later then”.

I said bye and walked to the assembly ground. Assembly was fast today which I loved. He came to my class almost immediately I entered the class. I opened the page where I solved the assignment.

Koko: “Uhm I think your answer is wrong dear”.

“Huh?” I asked, with one eyebrow raised.

Koko: “Yeah”

Me: “What makes you say that?”

“It is because when x is 12 then………………”

I didn’t get what he said because I was filled with anger. He finished ‘blabbing’ then I said thank you. When he left, I looked closely at the problem and actually I was wrong. My anger disappeared and my love increased.

As a labour prefect, he covers me up whenever I don’t carry out my responsibilities when it comes to labour work. Most times he asks junior students to carry out the operation. We became close friends, talked on phone every day after school. Rumours had it then that we were dating but we actually weren’t and I don’t know why! I keep asking myself why he hasn’t ask me to be his girlfriend formally, I thought. Oh! I forgot to mention, my friend Peri had a crush on him. I didn’t see her as a threat because I knew Koko had eyes only for me. Yes, am confident like that.

Waec was over. We still come to school to gist and play board games. My classroom was the venue for all fun activities, so other students do come to chill with us. Koko and his crew came in, our eyes met he winked at me, i smiled. Peri from nowhere went to where Koko was sitting and started flirting with him. What the hell? In my presence. Doesn’t she have respect for me? I thought. I was furious and walked out of the class. Koko ran after me and stopped me.

“Nana don’t take that personal please” he said, cupping my face with his hands.

“Why shouldn’t i? I know she has a crush on you but she went too far Koko” I said, angrily.

“Let it slide babe” he said.

He kissed my forehead and we left school together.

The next week we hung out at a lounge and this question popped in my head.

“Koko what are we doing?” I asked, sipping my drink.

“I don’t get” he said, looking up from his phone.

“As in are we in a relationship?” I asked, dropping my glass on the table.

“Ofcourse b” he answered, focused on his phone.

Me: “What kind of relationship do you think am asking?”

Koko: “Ahah Inona, everybody is in a relationship in one way or the other. Either as friends, lovers or even enemies, all na relationship”.

Me: “So which are we in as?”

Koko: “Your questions are strange seriously”.

Me: “Koko answer abeq”.

Koko: “Are we not friends?”

Me: “Just friends?”

Koko: “What are saying?”

Me: “I mean something apart from friends?”

“Wait! Do you think we are dating?” he asked, covering his mouth with his hand.

I have never felt so embarrassed in my life before. I controlled my emotions and pretended.

Me: “No o, not really. Just that it seems so to people”.

He returned to the phone. After some minutes.

Me: “But is it a bad idea if we do?”

“I can’t date” he said, without looking up.

“Huh? I don’t get” I asked, perplexed.

He sat up and faced me.

“I made my mum a promise not to have any intimate relationship with anyone till I enter the university” he said.

“Then why have you been treating and talking to me like we have a thing together?” I said, still perplexed.

“Errr that wasn’t the intention of the care. I do those things to all my friends” he said, with a raised eye brow.

“What about when I was pissed about Peri flirting with you? You sounded like she did something crazy to come in between us”.

“Yeah, I knew her act would have hurt and embarrassed you as my bestie. But babe you did think we are dating?” he asked.

Me: “Nevermind”.

Koko: “Talk to me na, am sorry if you took everything the wrong way”.

Me: “So wait, you are not going to have any intimacy till university? Come on, you are an adult. You can make decisions by yourself”.

Koko: “Am not going to break my promise to my mum nana”.

I walked out of the lounge angry. I can’t give my ‘Pride’ to a ‘Mummy’s boy’ I need a man, I need a man who can have my interests in heart, I need a man who can carry the responsibilities that comes with my ‘Honeypot’.