Church Rats (chapter one)
Edit
WRITTEN BY OGILI OCHE PRINCE (XB_Lym)
ocheogili@gmail.com
INTRODUCTION My name is Prince but my
frnds call me xhurebhoi but i shorten it to XB,
I live wit my parents in d slums of Ajegunle.
Our house na small but mighty because it get
kitchen, sitting room and bedroom for only
one room(pple wey don suffer go understand.
D tin wey de pain me for dat house b say our
toilet far from compound small. So if u dey
pressed for night, u hav to wake up, open
door and stroll small to d pit toilet. My papa
born eight children and i still de wonda y
person wey no get money go de produce
children like factory..Ma mama try sha. I get
seven sisters which make me d only boy. My
mother is a trader, abi make i tel d truth, she
b market woman,she sells soup tinz. My
father is a carpenter and na testimony bfore u
go see customer for his shop. I no kno weda
he no sabi work or na juju follow am frm
village come Lagos. I no even fit count how
mani Prophet and Pastor wey don come to
break d yoke but e b lyk say diz my papa
yoke strong die!..
I gat 4 senior sistas and 2 Junior ones which
makes me d 5th child,3 of my senior sisters
don marry poor man but wetin shock me b
say all of dem marry poor men. De claimed
dat it is love and money is not everything.My
first sista loveth married a welder for
shitta,my 2nd sista Blessing married a
vulcanizer for surulere while my 3rd sista
Grace own beta small, small, she married a
gateman. I already de advice my 4th sister
Mercy, make she no bring poor man as
husband because anytym ani my 3 senior sister’s
husband cum 2 our house, de onli eat our
food and de wud not drop ani shi shi. My
mom na action woman so she has banned
dem frm coming except na beta bring dem
come. B4 i even 4get, my two last sistas na
twin,so we name dem joy and Peace. But wat
u wud b curious is dat all my sisters cari
christians names, na because our mom is a
staunch christian woman “Mountain of Fire”
wen she pray she fit shake her head sumtyms
i de pray her head no commot 4rm her body.
I hav several uncles,aunts, and relatives but d
fact remains dat we even rich pass sum of
dem and d ones wey get de giv stupid
excuses. I am in 16 yrs old and i am in SS3
and i attend a public skul 4 my area. i am
intelligent and i always top d class but as d
sayin goes ‘no moni no frnd’. so i am mostly
alone or wit my best frnd Kalu(He is also
poor. I always iron my cloth veri well even
though i gat kno gud sandals to match am.
My sandals rili bad oo, d last tym i go sew
am d aboki throw d sandal on me. He said
dere was no place to put his needle but afta
alot of begging he eventuali sew but he rili
bone face die and told me 2 neva bring my
sandal come sew. Even tho i poor, i stil gat
high ambition and i want to bcum a civil
engineer and i nid 2 work harder to achieve
dat. To be continued THIS STORY IS BASED
ON D WRITER’S IMAGINATION.

Church Rats (chapter two) Edit Chapter 2 In Ajegunle high, we hav a large field, 8 blocks of classrooms nd several oda buildings 4 staff room nd administrative office, we also hav a kiosk were we buy snacks,drink and oda ‘chop chop’. Sum big guys always stay dere xo dat de cud toast ani fine gal wey pass while sum de dere just 2 de beg. Dat skul bad ooo,xo guyz like me de lower our head xo as not to enta problem wit d skul bullies. One faithful day,as i de trek as usual 2 ma house, i saw a girl headin 2words me but she wasn’t concentratin. b4 i cud warn her dat person lyk me de her front, she don alreadi step on my sandals. i luk my sandal and saw dat it had cut. OMG, i don already package slap 4 her, den sumtin in me say make i luk her face, wow, omo see beauty, ogbono feli feli. I just calm down nd acted cul. She was scared, sorry nd shocked at d same tym. Girl: im veri sori, i promise 2 repay 4 d damage on d sandal. Me: It’s ok (buh i de boil wit anger)Wen i got home, i started tinkin abt wat i wud wear 2 skul d next, i dare not go 2 dat ‘aboki’ to mend it 4 me so i decided 2 wear it 2 skul lyk dat. Afta skul d next day,I was goin home wit my fellow frnds wen i saw diz girl dat stepped on me d previous day walkin 2wards me wit a poly bag. Girl: Hi Me: Hi Girl: Take diz (handin over d poly bag 2 me). All my classmates nd skul mates don de watch us already. I bcame shy, sum of dem come worsen mata, de begin shout ‘XB’,’XB’,’XB. Omo my head begin 2 swell. I gain courage to recieve d poly bag and i checked inside, wow, na correct leather sandal, diz sandal na high class. Me: thank u Girl: dont mention… As i wan turn waka go, she called me back. Girl: Wat ya name. Me: XB, wat i yours? Girl: i am Sophie,can i hav ur fone numba? (me no get fone but i gat 2 form) Me: It has spoilt. Girl: wat abt your address? (i begin de uncomfortable,i no want make she see my pako house)…. Me: no nid, giv me ur numba, i wud giv u a call.( I no get fone buh mayb i wil go call center) We bade our self gudbye, i de smile lyk goat 4 road. The sandal Sophie gav me turn me 2 supastar, pple don de respect me small small 4 skul. Rumours don de spread 4 skul sey poor boy lyk me don hammer fyn babe but i got 2 b careful or else all doz big bullies go collect diz my correct leather sandal. I pray 2 God 4 it not 2 cum 2 pass. On saturday evnin afta watchin premier league in viewin centre(i no get moni 2 pay, so pple lyk me go wait first make d owner go round 4 his money b4 we go enta sitdown 4 last bench) Wetin de pain me 4 viewing centre is dat, pple go just de vex and de insult players as if dem sabi play ball. Wen i gat home, i checked my new sandal, i polish am because na wetin i go wear go church d next day which is sunday. As we de eat our dinner of Afang soup with fufu. We heard gun shot outside..Gboa gboa. D fufu almost choked me wen i heard d gunshots. I ran quickly 2 my sandals and threw it 2 our backyard thru d window. Afta lyk a minute, we heard gba,gba,gba on our door. One man wit a deep voice com talk. Thief 1: Open diz door or i go break am. No one get liver 2 open d door so d thief broke d door down. as dem enta we come see sey de were 3 in numba. Thief 1: where is d money or u all die. *Where diz guy see money here,abi de no see d kind house de break enta? The thieves scatter evriwhere 4 our house but de no see ani valuable tin 2 carry. My mama already hid her money 4 her bra so dat dem go naked her first b4 de get access 2 d money. Afta lyk 20mins of searchin,dem bgin provoke. THIEF 1: E b lyk diz house dry oo THIEF 2: I talk am na,una no de hear word. *d tin wey pain me pass na wetin d 3rd thief say. The third thief is veri fat and i bet say e no sabi run. THIEF 3: Since de no get moni, make chop soup and fufu,so dat even though we leave empty handed we no go leave wit empty stomach….

Church Rats (chapter three) Edit Chapter 3 All of dem come settle down de chop our dinner. My papa wan cry, i almost vex wen d 2nd thief begin chop my meat. Meat wey de take months b4 we chop 4 our house. All my sisters behave because dem de hear hw robbers de rape girls. Wen de finished, de washed their hands and commot 4rm our house. Afta de had gone, my father started makin mouth. My Father: Make dem come, i go show dem sey na me b ‘fearless’, i will deal wit una… My Mom: shut up…Useless man, see as u sitdown de cry lyk baby.. Mtcheeeeew. *No mind my papa, na hunger de worry am, i thank God dat i was smart 2 hide my sandals… D next day was sunday and was our church thanksgiving, none of my family members gree go church, xo na onli me go church dat sunday. Wetin i no lyk b say, evrione including my pastor de ask y my parent no come church and na onli one word i used to reply of dem ‘NOTIN’. Afta service, i started trekking home, wen i reached in front of my house i heard my name. I looked back and saw sophie……… I looked back and saw Sophie walkin 2wards me wit smiles on her face. Mehn! diz girl fyn die, she wore designer shirt, designer bag, designer trousers, infact all d part of body na designer full am. I no wan spoil mata, so i pretended as if my house was still far 4rm were i was,meanwhile my house was just facing us. Me: Hw u doin? Sophie: Fyn nd u? Me: im cul *she puts her hand in her bag and brought out a parcel and gave me. i looked at d parcel wit a confused mind. Me: watz diz? Sophie: just a little gift. I wanted 2 refuse it but she insisted dat i took it. I had 2 take it na. Me: Tankz Sophie: where are u going? Me: home Sophie: which home again, is diz not your house? *how diz girl take kno say na here i de live, as i wan deny am datz wen my twin sisters come de run 2wards me 4rm house. i no fit lie again. Me: (Feelin ashame) yea its my house. Wat suprised me was dat she was not even concerned about d kind of house i was livin. she hugged my sisters and was chatting wit dem……… Commented on by I was just standing dere, watchin dem. and at d same tym observin Sophie’s beauty. Afta she was thru wit my sistas, i escorted her 2 d junction. Pple were just starin lyk as if de were watchin movie,even pple wey de cari face for me begin de greet me, dat wen i gained courage 2 hold her on her waist, i thought she wud slap but instead she just luked at my face and smiled. B4 i got home, my twin sisters had alreadi spread d news dat i hav a girl frnd, my mama and my snr. sista begin de luk me wit suspicious eyes, i no even mind dem. I went 2 d backyard and opened d parcel, Omo! na Andriod, she has already bought and registered an airtel sim, she even load am wit credit, she also stored her numba in d sim card. I decided 2 call her……. Me: Hello Sophie: hello dear *Wow, she even called me dear Me: Tankz, ur gift is so great Sophie: datz just a small token. *she even call am a ‘small token’. Me: No, it’s a big tin 2 me 4 now. Sophie: k,make sure u call me often and i wil make Me: Can i ask u question? Sophie: Yea Me: don’t u feel ashame being wit me considerin my status. Sophie: No, i think u are unique and i lyk u. Me: i lyk u too and tankz 4 d gift. Sophie: No problem, i feel sleepy now, Gudnyt luv. Me: Gudnyt. *She called me luv, e b lyk say diz girl love me Datz means dat i hav 2 play my cards well. I no mind tellin tellin my parents say na girl buy d fone 4 me, i just told dem dat it was my teacher dat dashed me because of my brilliance. ********** One day afta skul, as i was walkin home, i saw saheed and his boyz dat usualli 4llow him lyk mumu, Saheed and his gang are d most dreaded guys in our school. Wen i saw dem 4llowin me, i started walkin fast, wen i saw dat de were still 4llowin me, Omo i pick hot race, i kno it was my sandals de were afta. Saheed chased me until i fell on d ground, de overpowered me and started molestin me, datz wen i saw Sophie runnin 2wards us… Sophie: leave him alone! your comments are highly welcome

church rats (chapter four) Edit CHAPTER 4 Saheed: y shud we leave? fyn girl mind ur business Me: Sophie leave, don’t wori abt me Sophie: No, i say leave him alone. Me: Sophie go, i wud settle dem *i’m afraid of wat saheed may do 2 her bcoz he is veri brutal Saheed: Ehen! so u are d lover girl dat has been showering diz church rats gifts Abi? Saheed walked 2wards her and tries 2 plant her a kiss on her lips but sophie landed him a big slap 4 his face. dat serves him right Sophie: U must b mad, leave my boyfrnd alone. *So she even call me her boyfrnd, i no fit take diz insult 4rm Saheed again, y e go touch my girl, i stood up but saheed’s boys throw me back 2 D ground. Meanwhile, Sophie removed her fone 4rm her bag and did sumtin, i suspected dat she sent a msg. It was not up 2 two mins wen d big gate facing us just open, four huge guys came out 4rm d house, dere face b lyk stone, Sophie whispered somthin 2 one of dem, e b lyk say dat one na d Oga. Saheed and his wan pick race. Man: If u try 2 run, u are Dead….. D men caught saheed and his boys and told dem 2 kneel down. One of d men brought out a whip and gav Sophie, Sophie pull their trousers down exposin their bare buttocks, she flogged dem twenty each, I gain courage and collected d koboko 4rm sophie, i must pay dem back 4 d beatin de just gav, i gav dem additional 10 lashes, Saheed wan cry, him and boys pick hot race. I thanked Sophie, she told dat she is livin in dat house where doz men cameout 4rm. Omo d house big, she took me inside and served me food, she told me dat her parents were not in d country now and de wud b back in 2 weeks tym. We were watchin one korea film called Boys before flower, d film borin, i no kno wetin she see 4 dat film, instead of her 2 de watch film lyk ‘Game of Thrones, Atlantis, Viking and so on. E reach wen one girl 4 d korea film(She is d main character) kicked one guy 4 d film,e b lyk say d guy name na Gu jun pyo. Nepa come take light, i thanked her and bade her goodbye,she den kissed me on my lip, dat was my first kiss.What happened to saheed and his gang had already spread in school, I did not know how it reach school but it wasn’t my concern after all, saheed started greeting me anytime he sees me and sometimes he hides whenever I am passing, some carried rumour that I yaff join bad gang dat is stronger than saheed’s own *bad gang ko HKN gang ni*, while some said that my girlfriend is a cultist. On the other hand, Sophie started showering with gifts, she also became a family friend, I visit her also but have never met her parents, “they are always on business trip” was what Sophie usually tells me any time I ask about even though I do not have the liver to face them. Sophie took me out on one occasion for shopping; she spent a lot on me that I was even scared whether she stole the money from her parents. I started wearing upgraded clothes, my parents could not even believe that a girl could spend that much on a boy. I was sleeping one night when rain started falling heavily, it started like joke until our roof started dancing shoki. The noise made by the roof woke all of us up except from my dad, he was just snoring deep. We were all afraid that the breeze will remove our roof and my dad was still deep asleep, nobody bothered to wake him up because it is always hard for him to gain full consciousness anytime he is disturbed from his sleep. All of us including my mom just sat down and watched the roof as it is doing the lil kesh and orezi kind of shoki. Thank God that the rain stopped eventually after we had all stayed awake for like two hours. My dad woke up the next morning shouting “my roof” “my roof” “my roof”. My mom just hissed and left to her shop while everyone went on with their various duties. After doing my own morning duty I decided to go to where they are selling newspaper since it was Saturday, I met people arguing about good luck Jonathan tenure and buhari’s current tenure, I did not know what made me contri

church rats (chapter five) Edit CHAPTER 5 The WAEC examination was fast approaching, every guy and babe don already start burying their head for book,expo suppose flow buh e b lyk say our bubble don burst because ministry of education don hear say our school is a major centre for exam malpractice and they hav decided to personally send representatives to our school to invigilate our centre. It is this kind of period that usually turn me to super star bcoz na me b boss for academics. Our waec exam eventually started and everything was going well though d invigilators were very strict until our biology paper which was our last paper. Nobody fit forget dat day especially doz pple dat did not register for agric. It was one idiot dat even cause d whole wahala and he is even an external student. During d biology exam d boy was trying to get d attention of one of d invigilators who was a female, but d problem was dat he called her in d way pple try to call pple who hawk on d streets or d way u try to get a prostitute attention *guys wey de toast babe for street go understand na D female invigilator who was an Igbo woman felt insulted wen she heard someone trying to get her attention in dat manner. INVIGILATOR: who called me in dat manner? Nobody answered, everyone continued their work *d exam hall is a very large one INVIGILATOR: I said who called me in dat manner? Diz tym she asked it with anger written all over her face, everyone became confused, nobody cud fetch d real culprit since d hall was large and filled with students and d worse thing is dat everyone was denying it. This made d female invigilator and other invigilator angry, they seized all our answer sheets and told us dat our biology paper for our centre has being cancelled. Our teachers and principal tried pleading with dem bur none of dem listen, all d invigilators stormed out of our centre angrily, come and see tears, all doz guys and babe wey dey say dat they cannot offer both biology and agric started crying. I thank God dat i did registered for d both subjects. God save d guy dat caused all d wahala, we later found who d person was but was already too late, d invigilators had already gone. Come and see d way de beat diz guy, his head even tear. Police had to come and calm d commotion if not they wud hav burn d guy with tire…u no trust mah school! After d waec exam, i started learning tailoring as an apprentince. My oga dat has d tailor shop is a very proud man and he always command us lyk say we b slaves but i dont blame him, afterall na “condition wey make crayfish bend”. Sophie came to where i was working one day and it caused a big wahala with my oga. My oga was teaching us one style in sewing a male native trouser and all d apprentinces gathered and listened attentively but everything changed wen sophie entered. I had never told Sophie where i was working and i don’t know how she knew. I was still trying to fifure how my boss did d cutting of d native when i saw dat everyone’s attention has being diverted to the shop entrance. When i looked at d shop entrance, i saw sophie entering, omo my heart skip. What d hell was she doing here, but she was lookibg hot with her bumpa shorts and spaghetti top which exposed her figure eight curves. I cud see some of my fellow apprentices already admiring her. My oga who was also staring at her, buttoned and tucked in well, bur d mistake he made was to go and talk to her, he went to her thinking she was a customer. I cud see sophie and my oga chatting from d inner shop but she cud not see me, i observed dat my oga’s face changed when he entered into d shop. Oga: XB, someone is looking for u outside, i give u only five minutes, ur tym starts now. He den muttered some words i could not hear properly, all my colleagues don de hail me say i don catch correct fish but i cud see jealousy on my Oga’s face. I went to meet Sophie and we discussed, i asked her why she came and who told her dat i was w

church rats (chapter six) Edit CHAPTER 6 I was shocked, wat did i do to my oga to recieve diz kind of slap? Oga: i told u not to spend more than five minutes but u spent over 30 mins , u must b very stupid and i can see dat u are not ready to learn in this shop. I thought dat he did not mean it wen he told me dat i shud spend only five minutes with sophie. Me: i am sorry sir it wont happen again. Oga: keep ur sorry to ur self, i can’t train unserious pple, so i want u to leave diz shop diz moment. I tried pleading but he did not give me any listening ear, dat was how i left d tailoring shop. I went home sad, i didnot tell my parents dat i was dismissed from where i was learning work, i told dem dat i quit from learning tailoring. I stayed at home throughout d WAEC result was releaaed months later, i checked my result two weeks after it’s release, i was not suprise at my result, i knew dat i wud make distinction in all the subjects except for biology that was cancelled. Sophie congratulated me for my result, she also performed very well in her own result but according to her, her parents wants her to study business management abroad so dat she wud b able to manage her father’s importing and exporting business. Though i did not tell her d real reason y i stopped learning tailoring, i also told her dat i decided to quit it. Sophie usually comes to my house to spend some quality time with us, my parents are fond of us and even calls her “our wife”. In one of her visit she told me dat i shud also pay her a visit so dat i can see her parents since i hav not met dem b4, i wanted to reject d invitation because i was afraid of wat her parents wud think of me, but i later reluctantly agreed to visit her. It was on saturday, d day we both planned dat i wud meet her parents. I had washed and iron my cloths properly so as to look smart and neat as possible, i even spray my snr sista perfume. I took bike to her house to prevent me frm sweating, when i got there, i called on phone to tell her dat i was in front of her gate, she told me to wait for her, after lyk 3 mins, d gate opened, she came out and gave me a hug, all d servants and maids were just staring at me lyk i don win Bet9ja. We both chatted till we got her sitting room, her parents were sitted watching t.v, i greeted both of dem and they replied ,d father welcomed me well and offered me a seat while her mother was observing me suspiciously with her eyes as if she was ttrying to find a fault in me. D father asked some questions abt me and my education while d mother was concerned abt my family status, though it was un easy answering her questions but i still told her d truth. Her father said dat sophie has been saying a lot of good abt me and he has been determined to meet me. He also said dat he wud lyk to see my father on d next saturday, i looked at sophie who was sitting on d same couch with me, she was just smiling innocently. I ate lunch with dem and spent sometym in sophie’s room , we played video games i was just admiring her beauty through out, sometimes our eyes wud just meet and we wud smile,, i was deeply in love with her.. it was time for me to go, i thanked her parents ,, d father handed me an envelop containing 5k, i rili thanked him, i cud see her mother looking at me suspiciously , i left her house by eight pm, everywhere was dark a little bit, sophie’s street is a bit far from d bustop so i had to trek to d bustop bfore i see bike or keke, after i trekked for a while, i reached a bushy path,,, dat was wen i saw some group of boys following me ………….. TO BE CONTINUED

Church Rats (chapter seven) Edit Church rats 7 I woke up to see myself in a different environment, i felt pains on my head, i cud not properly recollect wat happened but i was sure someone knocked me out after sometym. I saw my parents, sisters and sophie entering d room i was, i tried muttering something but i cud not. My parents told me to relax and dat d nurse is coming, it was then it occured to me dat i was in a hospital, my parents left after spending an hour or more with me. I saw my dad talking with two men, i cud not really see them well but i suspected one of d men was d doctor judging from his dressing. Sophie asked me how i was, she kissed me on my lips before i cud give a reply, i guessed she knew d pain i was facing. The men i saw entered at dat moment, it was d doctor as i guessed and Sophie’s dad, Sophie’s dad stared at us as if we stole someone’s yam while d doctor felt my pulse, he told me dat i wud b discharged d next day. My parents came to take me home d next day, they were treating me lyk a crowned prince when i got home, i did not understand at first until my dad told me dat Sophie’s dad has promised him a job in his company anytime he returns back from d business trip he is embarking on. I was very happy at least our poverty wud come to an end. I spent three days bed ridden at home, i was trying to remember d boys that knocked me out , they made off with my money and phone, i made up my mind to find whoever dat did dat to me. A week later, i bought my jamb form while sophie was preparing to take d CAMBRIDGE A’level exams, i was strolling one evening when i saw my phone with one guy, I approached d guy, his name his Peter and he works in a barbing saloon near my house. I greeted him casually and teased him on buying a new phone, dat was when he told me dat it was saheed that sold it to him. My temper was rising, i did not tell him that it was my phone, the battle is just btw me and saheed only, i was bent on dealing with him. Days passed and i was still thinking on how i wud deal with saheed , it seems d one sophie did was not enough, i decided to hire some touts to deal with saheed and his boys, i found it easy to get d touts since my area was filled with them. I hired four touts and paid dem 500 naira each, we carried bottles,cutlasses and canes, i warned dem not to make use of d bottles and cutlasses on anyone but they can use it to threaten them while we wud use d cane to flog them. The day came, we raided saheed and his gang at their meeting point, it was an uncompleted building, saheed was about forcing a girl to pull of her cloths while his boys were laughing and mocking d girl, i jumped through d window while d touts blocked all d entrances, d girl ran out lyk someone that have being fred from d devil’s oppression. Saheed and his gang tried running but everywhere was blocked, i told him dat i knew he was d one dat knocked me out d oda night and demanded for my money. He was reluctant at first but when we had beaten dem to some extent, all of them started dropping all their belongings, we parted away with everything and beat dem more, i told dem neva to try me or else i wud elimanate them, i cud feel dat they were all afraid. I counted d money i got from saheed and it sumed up to 25K, i gave d boys additional 1K and all d jewelleries, watches and phones, i did not want to own doz things All d touts were hailing me, they promised to fight for me anytime i nid dem, i felt lyk a boss at dat moment, i was left with 21K and i bought a new phone and SIM card and saved d remaining money. I called Sophie d next, she told me dat i shud come and see her dat day. I went to her house immediately, we chatted and played video games in her room, Sophie started acting strange, she started caressing my chest,i knew wat she wanted but i was not ready to give her. She started kissing my lips, i resisted her by pushing her back, she told me dat she loves me and her parents wud b back late dat night. I did not know what came over me, before i cud say “jack” we were both nude, I demanded for protection but she did not give any listening ear, i entered her raw with little doubts on my mind, she was not too tight, i suspeccted she had done it before while i was still a virgin, she knew dat i was a virgin so she climbed on me and started riding me, she was moaning loudly and it made me uncomfortable dat was wen it occured to me dat d door was not locked but it was too late to lock it bcoz someone opened d door and shouted “Jesus Christ “

Church Rats (chapter eight) Edit Church rats 8 Sophie jumped off me while i scampered for my cloths to cover my unclothedness. I was shocked to core and confused as well, i thought sophie told me her parents wont be back until late dat day. I saw disappointment on her father’s face while d mother was raining curses on me and at d same time was staring at my manhood as if she was trying to how big it was. “I said it, he is a gold digger, he has a bad influence on my daughter, i knew from d first day i set my eyes on him, see how he has now deflowered my daughter” ” son of a pog, animal. I dressed up quickly with shame, i and sophie tried begging her parents, i felt d ground should open and swallow from the earth surface, i tried explaining to them, dat it was d devil but it all fell on deaf ears, i now know how Adam felt when God confronted him after Eve had convinced him to eat d forbidden fruit. The mother suggested dat they should call d police but her father rejected d suggestion and walked out from the room while her mother followed him like a disciple. Sophie was ashame to stare at my face, she just muttered some words, i cud not comprehend the meaning of dem, tears flowed down my cheeks lyk say i steal rice for market *u no say rice is very cost now, market boys and girls go understand* She could see the tears, i know she felt guilt deep inside for putting me into this mess. She came towards me, held my hands and told me she still loves me , i released myself from her hands without uttering any word. * See this girl ooo, i am still thinking of what her parents are about to do to me and she is talking about love. “MBOK”!* Her parents came back with two of thier security, they were huge lyk brock lesnar * doz who watchs wrestling go sabi am. One of dem landed me an heavy slap on my face, i staggered like a drunk man and squiezed my face like a monkey that just lick lime. The other man grabbed me and was ready to give me a further beating before sophie’s dad stopped him, tears had already started forming in my eyes due to the hot slap, i hope d man did not forget his palm print on my face. Sophie’s dad warned me to stay away from his daughter at any way possible and if he sees me with his daughter, he would castrate me,her mother eyes was telling me dat she was ready to do more. Sophie was just sobbing loudly. The security men grabbed me roughly to the gate and threw me outside. Omo, see where love don land me, i thanked God dat no one was on d street at dat time. I went home sad dat day, “what will happen next? Will they tell my parents? What will they do to Sophie? Does dat mean my father won’t be given d job promised by Sophie’s dad. All diz questions raced through my mind as if a benevolent wind controlled it. Abeg readers, how u take see d matter? TBC

Church Rats (complete chapter) Edit Weeks passed and my dad was still waiting for Sophie’s dad to call him for d job but no call came,, he tried calling her dad number but he did not pick d calls. I thanked God for not allowing sophie’s dad to tell my dad what happened but i still felt pity for my dad, i told him to forget about d job and dat God wud provide another one. Sophie called me severally but i did not pick her calls, she sent me msgs thru SMS, whatsapp and facebook telling me how sorry she was but i did not respond her, i was angry abt d mess we both created and i was not ready for any problem from her family. Jamb exams finally started and i passed scoring 240 in it. I was happy because i was now eligible to write d post utme for d school of my choice which is FUTMINNA. On my way back from registering for d post utme exam, i heard someone trying to get my attention , i turned back to see who it was, guess who? It was d girl i saved from saheed and his gang. I did not observe her at that moment but ryt now i cud see that she was very beautiful, though not as pretty as sophie. The girl approached me, she introduced herself as Janet, i also told her mine . She thanked me for saving her and dat saheed has been disturbing her but she refused dat was why they forced her into that building and tried to rape her. She told me that she was staying alone and she is a student at yaba tech, i guessed she was from a well to do family judging from the way she spoke and expressed herself, we exchanged numbers and bade each other goodbye. Me and Janet became tight friends, i spend much time at her place, she cooks alot and her food was very delicious. I had forgotten about sophie and i guessed she has understood Becos i do not see her msgs and calls anymore, my family stopped asking about her, they may have gotten too tired, unknown to me, my senior sister(mercy) was still keepin in touch with her, i didnot know what they chat about and i don’t care. ************* My fourth sister mercy was getting married to a wealthy man, at least she heeded to my advice, the man was working for an oil company, he financed my dad to start an electronic shop, the business was expanding and my dad had to open three more shops. My mom opened a supermarket and was also doing well. I thanked God it was during the time i got the admission to study in Futminna that all this Change started happening in my family, we packed frm that store that we called a house to a four bedroom flat that is owned by my sister’s husband. —————————— What! I exclaimed when i was told that sophie was going to be part of my sister’s bridal train. So my sister even choosed her as part of her bridal train, i know it was because she was beautiful but i calmed down when my sister said that Janet is also part of the bridal train. The wedding day was very blissful, the man my sister was getting married to knew people that matters so alot of prominent people attended the wedding. I was put incharge of the drinks and wine, alot of my friends used the opportuinity to make me smuggle wines and drinks for them, some even begged me to organize food for them, some people that i did not even know started referring to me as their friend so that i can answer them. All my teachers came, i dont even know who invited them sef.. It was from that day i started using this quote “No chop chop, No friend!”. The work was tedious that i even forgot that i had not spent time with Janet. I saw Saheed but this time he was alone and was dressed responsible. I heard that his father was now working in the Ministry of Work, i guess his father change of job has affected him for good that was why i sent him a wedding invitation card. Me: “Alaye” how far na? Saheed: Guy i de oo, i can see that things de flow for here oo. Me: yea, i am even exhausted. Saheed: k, lemme assist you. Me: thanks my guy, wat about ur boys na? Saheed: I just decided to grow up and put and end to my former character. Me: datz cool. We talked about a lot of things, he told me he has gotten admission in UNILAG to study economics, i was happy for him. I sighted Janet not to far so i decided to go meet her. Me: Janet, hw is your day? Janet: fyn, so it is now that u remember me abi? Me: No, i was busy, u know that i am the one in charge of the drinks. Janet: yea, that is even true. We walked around together and i was greeting the guest i knew, as i was moving around i met Sophie, she was looking stunning and i could see guys admiring her from all corners. Janet held my hand tight, i knew she was getting jealous. I introduced janet to sophie as my girl friend. Sophie: so is this the reasonswhy( referring to Janet) you refused to pick my calls or reply my messages. Me: It is not like that Sophie: Not like what? (Tears were already forming in her eyes) i loved u with all my heart and you want to pay me back by abadoning me. (She broke into tears and walked away) I wanted to follow her but i was confused, janet was tryin to erase the event from my mind,i told janet to let me be for some time. I felt for her but i did not want any problem and i am already with janet already. I went back to the drinks section but i could not find Saheed there, maybe the work has stresed him. I was feeling pressed so decided to go and pee, on my way back from the toilet i saw sophie and saheed kissing, my heart skipped for a moment, so she has even fallen for saheed, they turned and saw me looking at them, saheed withdrew from her but she drew him back and continued kissing him. I knew she wanted to make me jealous, i walked pass them feeling hurt and returned to the drinks section. Saheed came and joined me after some minutes, i could see that he was happy, i did not blame him at all sha. Me: guy i sight you oo (trying not to show that i was jealous when i saw him and sophie kissing) Saheed: baba, na u cause am na Me: how? Saheed: i have been disturbing sophie since but she usually tell me that you are her bf, i was even suprised when she came today and told me she has accepted me oo, she was even crying when i saw her. Me: No prob, i have broken up with her, you know that i have another bae na. Saheed: Baba na u oo. I tried to erase sophie incident and believed she has moved on. ***********************To Be CONTINUED as “FIRST LOVE” Written by XB_Lym

nice story church rat sorry XB. don't worry, the comments will soon start pouring

Church Rats 2: First Love (chapter one) Edit EraWrites & OcheWrites ©2016 EIGHT YEARS LATER ***************** I have graduated with my masters in civil engineering and now work with an oil company called EraGas and Oil ltd as a senior staff. I was preparing for a seminar that is being held by a pipeline and construction company called NONAGON , i am to represent my company in the seminar with a business plan that i would present. I ordered my driver to prepare the range rover while i rehearsed about what i would present that day. When the car was ready, i took off thirty mins to the commencement of the seminar, throughout the journey, i was thinking about my marriage to Janet which is going to take place in five months time, Both families had already met and decided on how the marriage rites would be performed, i can’t wait til that time because my love for Janet is growing stronger and stronger everyday. I arrived at the venue of the meeting, people just started arriving. I did not want to fail my company because if the proposal is accepted, it would financially benefit my company. My friend Ola arrived not long before i arrived, i could see him resting on his car bonnet talking to some ladies, hmmm, Ola was sent with me to the seminar, but he is very good with flirting and clubbing,he also like food. he has forced me many times to go flirting and clubbing but i turned the offer down, his fav quote is “No woman, no life” and “man must chop. I walked to him to make him know that i have already arrived. Me: Ola the Man, so you are here already? Ola: XB the boss *Ola told the girls to excuse us Me: I can see that you are already enjoying yourself instead of preparing for the seminar. Ola: you know that i am olodo na, na u go do the presentation, and u no that “no woman no life” Me: You and this your useless quote, abeg let us go in before we get late for the seminar. We got into the seminar hall, Alot of big personalities were at attendance. The seminar kicked off thirty mins later, there were lot of representatives from different companies in the oil and construction industry, The thing was that different companies representatives were meant to present a business project and the best project would be picked by Nonagon. I went and joined the queue were companies representative were putting down names and collecting thier batch numbers, i collected mine, i was the 35th person that was presenting out of the 50 people that were presenting. The seminar started with lectures held by some professors , some other talk shows and QA session were also organised. I was not interested at all in all what they were doing, i was waiting for the presentation time to start as quick as possible, ola was just stealing glances at ladies * d guy no even get job sef* It reached d time for presentation, come and see how people were trying to defend thier project, some people even forgot what they were suppose to say. It reached my turn, I started telling the crowd about my own presentation, everywhere was quiet like a graveyard, everyone was just listening attentively to me as if i was controlling them with my mouth. I recieved a thunderous applauding after i was through with my presentation. After everyone has done his/her presentation, the host company ordered for a break to determine the person project that would be accepted. I and Ola went to nearby restaurant called “mama magic”, it was the only nice restaurant around, it was even the restaurant that Nonagon’s workers usually visit during their lunch hours we ordered for two plates of rice and two bottle of cokes. Ola: Guy, u killed it at your presentation, i am sure your project will be chosen. Me: you are talking as if you were even listening, you that was flirting around with women in the seminar hall. Ola: forget that one joor, and talking about women, look at that very pretty lady that is seated beside the window. Me: woman will not kill you Ola: seriously, this one can kill “vladimir putin” sef, infact this is the type that adekunle gold was referring as “orente”. The way Ola was talking about this so called lady made me to look at her direction. The lady looked very familiar but i could not place the face, just as i was thinking about who she might be, our eyes met,OMG, it is Sophie! , she smiled at me and i smiled back, it seems she recognised me quickly than i thought . Ola:, Choi, i said it, u are even staring at her as if she has charmed u, i think say na only me get eye for pretty ladies, omo, she even smiled at me (he did not know that it was me she smiled at , he thought she smiled at him) Let me go and try my luck. As Ola was standing up to go and approach her, we saw another guy going to her table with two soft drinks in his hands. Ola: the babe even come with guy sef, y did she even smile at me mtcheew, all diz lagos babe sef. The guy looked familiar too, ooh it can’t be him! …. guess who? TBC

Church Rats 2: First Love (chapter two) Edit CHAPTER TWO It was Saheed, he was dressed in a suit, it seems he is working at Nonagon judging from the way he is dressed. Me: Ola, wat is the name of the CEO of Nonagon? Ola: uhmmm, i think it is one Mr Richard Badmus.. The owner shares the same surname with sophie’s, he must definitely be sophie’s dad . Ola: i heard that the owner is hospitalised due to cancer, his wife is also dead some years ago, i also heard that his only daughter is the acting ceo for now…. guy i hope all is well? Me: yea, all is well. Ola: bcoz d way u are asking questions is not clear to me. Me: guy no problem oo. I never knew that sophie and saheed relationship would last till now, she is even the ceo of her dad’s company and saheed also works in the same company . I was still deep in thought when ola reminded me that the seminar is about to resume from the break. Ola: this one that u neva chop ur food nor drink your coke means that dat girl has infected you with love disease,don’t disturb urself, the girl even get anoda guy for her side or are you trying to leave Janet? Me: Rough play oo, don’t even go there at all Ola: I’m just asking, abeg make i help you do justice to your food ,”man must chop”. Me: food will not kill you ,you and all dis your useless quote. * i wished he knew about me and sophie* Ola took my food and ate everything in no time, we spent some minute discussing about things ,i was keeping an eye on sophie and saheed, i wanted sophie to look at me again but she didn’t, saheed on the other hand did not see me. The break was over, me and ola left to the seminar hall. Almost everybody was back from the break, i looked around whether i would sight sophie but i could not. Ola: (pointing to where nonagon’s executives were seated) guy, is that not the babe we saw in d restaurant mintutes ago? Me: i think so Ola: it seems that she is an important person. She mounted the podium while saheed was standing at her back. Sophie: My name is Sophie Badmus, the acting ceo of nonagon ltd. I thank you all for participating in this seminar , i really thank those that contributed to the success of this event……… Ola: so the babe is Mr Richard Badmus daughter and wetin dey do dat guy wey follow her, abi na her bodyguard ni? Me: i doubt it Sophie: …….All the project proposals dat was presented by various representatives of different companies were very good but the fact is that we are only going to pick one. The Nonagon executives have decided to pick the project of Mr XB from EraGas and Oil ltd. Come and see clapping. Ola: i talk am, …abeg make i follow you go podium, so all diz ladies wud know that we are together Me: follow me joor,are we not in diz together again. I stood up like someone that has just won a battle, i now know how david felt when he won goliath, I walked to the podium majestically whiile Ola followed me. Some directors and guests congratulated me, Sophie and saheed congratulated me ,they told me to wait behind after the seminar for some official stuff. All other events followed and the seminar came to an end. I and Ola went to the reception to wait for saheed and Sophie. We waited for some minute but they did not show up, Ola was already loosing patience. Ola: guy, make diz pple come fast na, so dat we would know when we will sign d neccessary documents because i get party diz night ooo . Me: have patience, we are on an official issue here, must u even party everyday? Ola: See lemme tell you, all this holy holy life u are forming up and down will not take u anywhere, u need to blend into big things like me. Me: mtchewwww Just then, i saw Saheed approaching us, he was alone. Saheed: Sorry for keeping you guys waiting, I had some things to sort out urgently. Concerning the project issue, i think you would have to come tomorrow to sign the relevant documents. Me & Ola: k, no problem Saheed: XB It has being a long time since we last saw ourselves, u are now looking good. Me: it is all God oo, u are also doing well. Saheed: yea, things just seemed to be working out for me. Me: what about Sophie? She was meant to come with you, i would have loved to see her one on one. *ola was getting bored with d discussion, he excused himself and told me to meet him outside* Saheed: she is quite busy, she also sent her congratulations. Me: k, tell her thanks, maybe i wud see her tonorrow when i come. Saheed: yea, are u married or are u still in d bachelor world. Me: Guy i just de in between, i wud b tying d knot soon by God’s grace with Janet, do you still remember her? Saheed: janet, janet, janet,….ooookkkk, dat ya babe in doz days…i still remember, i kno i am automatically invited for the wedding ooo. Me: yes oo, wat abt u na? Saheed: i am also getting married to Sophie na, her parents have already blessed our union, though her mom is already dead and her father is hospitalized. Me: what a pity, i also heard about it. ….We chatted for a while and exchanged phones number. I met Ola outside talking to a lady, woman no go finish diz man! TBC I called my driver not to bother to come and pick me since Ola came with his own car, ola was thru with the lady he was talking by the time i ended my call. I told ola that he was going to drop me at my house b4 he goes home. While he was driving, we engaged in some discussions Me: who was that lady u were talking with? Ola: i don’t even know sef, i was trying to know her but she was formin.. Me: hw can she form for a whole Ola, abi she no know say woman no be ya problem. Ola: you no trust me? I gave d yeye girl my number to call me when she is less busy. Me: are you sure that she would call you? Ola: de no born her well if she no call me, she is not the first girl i have done it for. Me: na u sha. Ola: alot of our colleagues are happy for your success in your project presentation and have decided to host a party for you. Me: party ke, abeg i am not part of it, u guys are on your own if u hold any party. Ola: u too dey dull person mtcheew, u no blend at all…i am going clubbing diz night, u can come along if you are interested. Me: thanks, I’m not and remember you are following me to Nonagon tomorrow, dont go and drunk. Ola: no p, ehen !, so u knew that guy and the daughter of Richard Badmus and you were pretending as if u did not know them when we were in d restaurant. Me: it is a long story but that guy is Saheed, he was my classmate in sec skul. Ola: what about the girl? Me: abeg stop asking questions and drive. Ola: k na, she must have meant something to u in the past judging from ur expressions. Me: you can think anything u want. I got home by 7:00pm, i went straight to the bathroom and showered, i prepared spaghetti and watched movie on africa magic till 10:00pm. I decided to make some calls and check my various social networks account. I called my mom first, she was telling me to visit during christmas (which is d next month) and i shud come with Janet, we talked about mother and son issues, i told her to give d phone to my dad, she said he has already dozed off *u kno my dad and his sleep* , i bade her gudnyt and cut d call. I called my three senior sisters, the first two are still in Nigeria while mercy dat married d rich man is now in New york. I also called my twin sisters, they are 300 LEVEL students of UNILAG, they told me that they would be visiting me on saturday, since they wud be free. I called Janet next, her line was switched off, i haven’t heard from her for the past two days. I logged in on facebook only to see 560 notifications, 18 msgs and some friend requests, most of the messages were congratulatory msgs frm colleagues while the rest msgs were greetings frm pple i did not kno, i did not bother to check d notifications because i know it is all about friends tagging, group posts, like and comments. I checked my whatsapp expectin a msg frm janet, but i only saw msgs frm a group chat and frm some replys i got from my previous chats, i decided to leave a msg for janet telling her how sad i am for not hearin frm her for the past two days. When i was done using d fone, i put it on silent, i prayed and slept off . TOMORROW IS ANODA DAY. TBC

Church Rats 2: First Love (chapter three) Edit CHAPTER 3) I woke up early the next morning , i checked my phone and saw calls from Janet and a whatsapp message frm her telling me she was very sorry and i should give her a call when i see d msg. I decided to give her a call Me: hello, janet Janet: gud morning luv Me: gud morning, hw was ya night? Janet: fyn and urs? Me: mine was not too good. Janet: y Me: i did not hear from u for the past two days and u are asking y . Janet: i’m sorry, it is my work schedule that makes me switch of my phone. Me: which kind of work are u doing by 10:00 pm in the night? Janet: was some kind of meeting ……. Me: (cutting her short) i am not ready for doz stories that touches the heart, i wont allow you to do diz kind of late jobs again by d time we get married. Janet: k, im sorry, i wud make it up to you, what abt dinner diz weekend? Me: k letz make it on sunday night. Janet: k luv Me: i wud send my driver to pick u. Janet: k, i love u Me: love u too, bye , check on u later Janet: k, bye. I cut the call and prepared for work, i wud have to go to the company i work for before i go to nonagon with Ola, I arrived EraGas and Oil ltd by 8:00am, i was welcome with a very warm reception.,I went straight to the director’s office, Mr Fola is a short and bald man, he is quite mean and this makes other staffs make fun of him behind his back but most of all, he ia very intelligent. He congratulated me and promised me that the company is going to do something for me. I thanked him and headed to Ola’s office to check whether he was ready . Fortunately, he was prepared but he did not come with his car, so it was my car we used. We arrived Nonagon by 11am, we went straight to the receptionist at the reception and demanded to see Mr Saheed, na their problem start ooo ******* Wait a minute let me describe the receptionist. She is a lady probably in her 30’s but she is too fat, i guess the A.C was not affecting on her because she was sweating like christmas goat. *********** Me: Pls, i have an appointment with Mr Saheed, can you direct me to his office? Receptionists: do you have an appointment card? (Replying a question with a question) Me: No, but it is official, it concerns the seminar that was held here yesterday. Receptionist: sorry, i can’t let you see him since you Don’t have an appointment with him. That was when Ola begin to para Ola: what is all this?, after all the explanation we gave you, you still refuse us access all in the name of “appointment” ,come on,it is uncalled for. ——- I know that Ola was trying to impress the ladies around with his vocalbulary ——- Receptionist: pls sir, Don’t try and create a scene here, you can book an appointment to meet him tomoro. It seems this lady has ran mad, so she expect me to book an appointment and return tomoro. As i was about loosing my temper , i heard a voice coming from the reception entratance. Voice: What is causing this noise i have being hearing? TBC F