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They all met for lectures the following day. When they asked Jenny how her impromptu date went with her prince charming, she just shrugged and said,
“It was okay except for the fact that he somehow steered the conversation to the topic of Oleng.” She smiled. “We talked about Delta state, this school, this and that, then all of a sudden he kept asking questions about you. I told him as much as I could but he thought I was hiding things from him. Why didn’t you tell me you knew him all the while I was drooling over him?”

“I don’t know him. Well, until we talked yesterday. He was the one who approached me when I was waiting for my order and as you ordered before I left, I brought him to you.”

Jenny laughed. “So you set me up? I knew there was no Mrs. Asuquo. Well, he walked me to my room when you didn’t show up. He’s a nice guy but now that I've seen him up close and personal, he’s not so much of an enigma to me anymore.”

“Really?” Oleng asked bewildered.

“Alleluia! Alleluia!” Debbie sang.

Jenny hit Debbie playfully.

“I guess he’s okay but he has his eyes on you, Oleng.”

“Well, he’s going to have an eye problem because his eyes on me doesn’t mean anything to me.”

“Give him a chance, Oleng.” Jenny said.

Oleng was flabbergasted. “I can’t believe this. Less than 24 hours ago, you were drooling over the guy. Now you are shoving him at me? Are you alright?”

“Yes, though I think you’re the one not alright to throw away such an opportunity. Granted, I was tripping for the guy but talking to him yesterday just made me realize I was only tripping for his beauty. Up close and personal, he’s not so gorgeous. He likes you like every guy who has approached you and you have shunned.”

“I’m not into guys.” Oleng protested.

Her friends stared at her in shock before she realized what she had said.

“Na the reason why we be your friends? Abeg make we know o!” Debbie asked.

“Stop it! I’m not a lesbian. I was hurt by a boy in the past. So I don’t want to have anything to do with guys for now. Until I start working before I can even manage to look at a guy because I know I’ll have to get married some day.”

“You are joking!” Jenny said amazed.

“No, I’m not.”

“But that’s like three to four years from now.” Debbie was equally surprised.

“So?” she shrugged nonchalantly.

“How will you survive it? How will you stay without a guy? Without a man in your life?”

“If you’re talking about sex, I have done without it before and I will continue to do without it. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not a virgin but sex caused a lot of disasters in my life and I’m not about to embark on it any time soon. Been there, done that but not going back.” she said with pain in her eyes and walked out of the almost empty classroom leaving her friends to look at each other. Each guessed that Oleng had probably gotten pregnant and had had to have an abortion. They both felt sorry for her.

Oleng continued to evade guys and men alike. She stuck to the only advice her mother had ever given her. She kept men at bay. Even in her third year when her friends Jenny and Debbie had boyfriends, she still refused to have anything to do with guys.

Her beauty made her an easy prey for guys yet she refused to give in. She earned herself the nick names of ‘cast iron virgin’ and ‘miss iron pants’. She didn’t mind because she knew she was not a virgin. If only they knew her life history, they would leave her alone but as it was, they didn’t know. She didn’t even tell her friends about her ordeal. She just kept everything to herself and concentrated on her studies. She was grateful to God that she didn't fall into the hands of cultists.

She still lived in her Aunt’s place much to the latter’s joy because she kept her company when she came back from school. Aunt Vien gave her her space and freedom which she liked. She hadn’t seen her mum since the day she had come to warn her about going back to school. She didn’t care though as long as the woman kept her bank account stuffed with money which she did. She still didn’t fail to send clothes and jewellery also.

Oleng got home one day and met her Aunty crying. Fear gripped her. She quickly dropped her hand bag.

“Aunty, what is it?” she fearfully enquired.

Her aunt shook her head and continued crying. She consoled her for a while before she could talk.

“Are you not in your third year in the university?” she asked sniffing.

“Yes, aunty.”

“Emem has still not gained admission into the university because she has still not made her papers.”

“Oh! Aunty, is that why you’re crying? Don’t worry. She’ll make them na! Is it not only Maths she’s looking for? She will get it. Please stop crying. We just need to encourage her. Please stop crying.” she comforted.

“That’s not why I’m crying. Instead of her to be thinking of the fact that she’s not yet in the university, she went and got herself pregnant.”

“What?” Oleng was shocked. The worldly wise Emem, pregnant? Unbelievable.

“Her dad sent her to me today. Her sisters caught her trying to arrange for an abortion. They are all disappointed in her……I’ve always known that that stupid girl will be the death of me. She nearly killed me when she was coming to this world but she only succeeded in rendering me incapable of having more children. I’ve always known that she’s a hopeless child. I feel like killing her so that I can finally have peace.” she wailed.

“Aunty, please don’t talk like that,” she comforted, putting her hands around her dear aunt. She hated seeing such a nice lady crying over a worthless daughter.

“Aunty, don’t worry. Everything will be alright. Remember that I was once in such a situation even at a younger age. After everything, she’ll realize her mistake and become a better person. Just stand by her and pray for her because that is all she needs right now.”

“Thank you so much for understanding, my dear, even after all she did to you.” she sniffed smiling a little.

“Its okay. Afterall, we all make mistakes.”

Oleng went in then to talk to her pregnant cousin. The latter who was on the bed saw her and sighed.

“I suppose you’re here to gloat.” she threw at her. “Oya, dey laf!”

“No.” Oleng replied and sat on a chair facing her. “You’re causing your mum a lot of distress.”

“So? It’s not as if I got pregnant intentionally. Na mistake.”

“Oh! So you think I actually got pregnant on purpose. For what? To spite my mum? Mine was out of sheer ignorance but you didn’t want to listen to me then. You called me a fool and all sort of names. Well, I’m not about to tell you all you told me. All I can say is remember the bible says judge not so that ye might not be judged. It was said not only for you to be judged in heaven but also for you not to find yourself in the same situation you were judging someone.
I feel sorry for your mum because she’s the one who will bear the brunt of everything.”

“It was a mistake! A mistake!” she yelled.
“Damn that particular condom! God punish that girl wey go tell my sisters about the abortion. God punish Udeme too. Where’s he now? He’s in school probably with another girl. E no go better for am.” she wept bitterly.

Oleng felt sorry for her. Despite the fact that she had been a pain in the neck to her, she couldn’t help getting up to go and hold her age mate who was weeping bitterly. She comforted her.

Oleng and Emem became good friends there and then. Oleng explained the different changes that she was undergoing in her body. Emem felt bad at having treated her badly in the past and apologized profusely but Oleng shrugged it off saying they were all humans; liable to mistakes.

Oleng was the one who enabled her elder sisters to make peace with her because they had been very angry and disappointed in her. Aunt Vien finally came to terms with her daughter’s pregnancy and hired a private doctor for her. Emem finally gave birth to a baby boy much to her mother’s joy. Her dad also had to accept her and her pregnancy. He was happy at the male child his two wives had been unable to give him.

Emem finally gained admission into the University of Uyo and of course, left the child with her mother who took care of the baby with the help of Oleng. The baby reminded Oleng of her own loss but she always pushed the sad thoughts aside whenever she carried the baby.

###############################
Oleng found herself attending lectures from her aunt’s place. She was tired of being a burden to her aunt so she volunteered to live alone, closer to the school but Aunt Vien pleaded with her not to go because she would be alone in the house again and would miss her company terribly. She even offered to pay her transport fare to and from school everyday as bribe but Oleng refused. Since her mum was only good at stuffing her account with money, she should continue to do so.

She still wore the best clothes and jewelleries courtesy of her mum. She wore them without passion because she had no choice. If she wanted to buy her own clothes, it would still be with the woman’s money so there was no need cutting off her nose to spite her face. Her new friends Debbie and Jennifer always admired her.

“How I wish God had given me a mum like yours.” Jenny told her one day as they walked to their lecture hall.

“Me too o! “Debbie put in, “Throughout the year, I no go wear the same cloth.”

Oleng smiled sadly, “Be careful what you wish for girls.”

After classes, they went to a restaurant to get some drinks and snacks.

“God! Look at Collins! O God! If only this guy would just smile at me, I swear, I’d just die.” she wailed with wondrous eyes making Oleng and Debbie to burst into laughter.

“God! He‘s so handsome. God must have spent a month making him.” she looked lustfully at the tall, dark and handsome guy in their class.

Oleng wondered what Jenny would say if she got a glimpse of Eric. She would probably say God spent a year making him. She quickly pushed the thought of him from her mind.

“Why don’t you go over and say hello since you like him that much? Abi you dey fear say e no go answer you?” The almost albino looking Debbie advised.

“I can’t do that. It will make me look cheap.” She looked stricken at the thought.

“Then stop drooling over him and wait for him to make the first move,” Oleng put in.

“I'm going to get myself some water. Do you girls want anything?”

“No.” Debbie said.

“Yes. Collins.” Jenny replied making them laugh.

Oleng walked slowly to the counter. She became shy because she knew a lot of guys were looking at her. She ignored them and managed to get to the counter without falling flat on her face with so many eyes on her. She ordered for water.

“Hi.” A deep voice said beside her.

She turned slowly and was surprised to see Collins, the guy Jenny was head over heels for.

“Hi.” she said and turned back to face the counter.

“My name is Collins. What’s yours?” he drawled.

Oleng had to smile at that. His handsomeness didn’t get to her, after all Eric had been more handsome.

“Oleng.” she replied after a while. She wasn’t into the game of hard to get because she didn’t want to be gotten.

“Nice name. You’re from here, right?”

“Thanks. Yes, northern Cross River.”

“I am from Delta state.” he informed her.

Oleng smiled. Jenny was from there also while Debbie from Akwa Ibom.

“I’ve been seeing you around in class and…..” Collins rattled on but she drifted off in thought.

There were quite a number of people there so it took time before her order was given to her. She remembered asking her friends what they wanted and Jenny saying she wanted Collins. So she decided to give her friend her request.

“Would you like to come over to say hello to my friends?” she asked smiling sweetly.

“Eh….” The handsome Collins was flustered for a second. “Sure.” he replied grinning brightly.

He was indeed handsome but she wasn’t moved. No guy had moved her since she lost the two Erics. Even in her second year in the University, she still told guys who approached her that she wasn’t interested in a relationship. Her beauty made it hard for her to be the ghost she wanted to be. Guys flooded her all the time.

“God! She’s bringing him over. I can’t believe this.” Jenny looked as if she was about to faint

“Abeg calm down jare.” Debbie chided.

“Hey girls. Meet Collins. Collins, these are my friends. Jennifer Nwabilo but we call her Jenny. Deborah Okon but we call her Debbie.”

They all exchanged pleasantries. Collins grabbed a chair that was vacated from a near by table and sat astride it facing the beautiful girls.

“Jenny, you and Collins have something in common. He’s from Delta state.” Oleng commented smiling.

“Really?” she was flushed. “Where exactly in Delta state?”

“Ibuzor.” he replied looking at her and smiling.

“I’m from Asaba.”

“Nice.” he replied.

“Please, you'll have to excuse Debbie and I. We have to see someone.” Oleng informed them, standing up.

“We do?” Debbie was puzzled

“Yes. Remember Mrs. Em… Mrs. Asuquo.” she replied making eyes at her.

“Okay. That Mrs. Asuquo.” she caught on and got up also.

“I’ll walk you down there.” Collins offered standing up also.

“Don’t bother. We’ll be back in a jiffy,” she sweetly smiled. “Just sit and chat with Jenny.” Oleng said and walked away with the smiling Debbie.

“Who be Mrs. Asuquo?” Debbie whispered as they walked away.

“I have no idea.” Oleng replied and they both giggled.

Waiting!

If Oleng had been considered moody before she gave birth, well, after the death of her baby, she became worse. She became withdrawn. When she was discharged from the hospital, she wanted to go back to Port Harcourt so she would stop being a burden but her Aunt would hear nothing of it.

So she continued to stay with her though she spoke no word. She would stare into space as if she were in a trance. Nothing Aunt Vien did or said could get to her. She had to complain though that her breast felt heavy because of the unsuckled milk. Aunt Vien helped her out.

In desperation at all her failed attempts at bringing her out of her shell, her aunt told her mum to come over. The latter didn’t mince words in telling her to snap out of it when she came.

“You should be happy that you are not saddled with an unwanted baby. Now you can go back to school and get on with your life. Don’t you know you would have found it difficult to get married? No man would want to be saddled with a child that is not his. A male child for that matter! So you should be grateful to God for saving you from such an incongruous situation. Instead of mopping around, get a grip on your life and start preparing to write your G.C.E. exams by September and since it is too late to enroll WAEC exams for you, you’ll take that next year. You must gain admission into the university next year. Have I made myself clear?” she asked the still figure on the bed.

“Oleng! I’m talking to you. Have I made myself clear?” she asked her daughter who just ignored her. She walked to the bed and roughly shook her daughter who leapt up in anger.

“What is it? Why can’t you just leave me alone the way you did when I was pregnant? I know you’re happy that my baby died so that you can continue to control my life the way you want. Well, I’m not in your house anymore and I’m not going back so please just leave me alone. I’ll resume school whenever I dim fit and not at your own command. So just go back to Port Harcourt and continue to live your life without me as you’ve always done.” she threw at her mother and laid down on the bed again not facing her.

“Oh so you feel we are equals now for you to talk to me anyhow because you’ve given birth to a child the way I did even though yours died. So you want to continue to useless your life pinning away over that fool and his bastard child. Let me tell you, you won’t succeed! You’ll write that G.C.E. and WAEC even if I have to drag you to the exam hall myself. I’ll send your books down and everything you need for the exams. I’ll be here by September. Make sure you are ready.” With those sternly spoken words, she walked away leaving her daughter numb.

She didn’t bother to spend the night but took the next flight back to Port Harcourt.

Vien shook her head. Her sister was still as insensitive as ever towards her daughter. If she had known, she would have refused to breast feed Oleng so many years ago and to agree to take care of her till she was two years old. Maybe breast feeding and taking care of her own daughter would have softened Linda's heart towards Oleng. Poor Oleng! Aunt Vien tried talking to her to forgive her mum for her rash behavior but the latter with tears in her eyes told her,

“Like I have told you so many times, Aunty Vien, I don’t have a mother.”

Oleng lightened up a bit but was still a bit moody until Edidiong talked to her.

“See Oleng, it has happened, it has happened. It is time for you to move on. I know it's hard but you just have to try. You can’t continue living in sorrow all your life. You've got to move on. Frankly, I think it was God who actually took the baby back so you could move on with your life.”

“Then why did He allow me to get pregnant in the first place?” she countered in tears.

“Did you do anything to prevent the baby from coming?” she retorted.

Oleng lowered her head and shook it.

“You see?” Edidiong continued, “I’m sorry to say this but the baby would have become a burden to you. You’re just too young to be saddled with a baby and you know my mum is too nice and will shoulder your responsibilities and that of the baby without complaining. So please take your mum’s advice and start all over again.” she wisely advised.

“Thank you very much.” was all Oleng could say.

Great was her aunt’s joy when she told her she could enroll her for the G.C.E. Oleng dived into her studies with great vigor. She had to read extra hard since she did not attend SS3. She studied very hard with all the books and materials her mum had sent her. Her cousins helped her study also. She tried very hard to put away thoughts of Eric and his dead son behind her. It was hard but she focused on her studies.

September came but her mum didn’t show up much to her joy. She wrote the exams and waited to write the WAEC. She had changed from being a science student to a social science student. She felt with so much turmoil in her life she couldn’t read medicine anymore and she secretly hated doctors now. She felt their carelessness had killed her baby so she opted to read banking and finance. It was tough for her because she had been in the science class before she dropped out but she managed to cope. Her aunt, ever encouraging had enrolled her in a lesson.

The results of her G.C.E came out and she made some papers but didn't make some. She wrote the UTME also. She wrote the WAEC to complete her papers.

She wrote the post UTME exam at the University of Calabar and before she knew it, she had gained admission into the university at seventeen. She truly felt grateful to God for helping her out because it was tough business getting into the university these days. She knew some of her then classmates hadn’t gained admission. She was grateful to her aunt too who had pulled some strings because the registrar was related to her husband.

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Oleng woke up to find her aunt crying profusely. She grew alarmed.

“Aunty Vien, what is it? What’s wrong?” she fearfully asked but she just continued crying. She looked into the baby’s cot but her baby wasn’t there.

“Where’s Eric? Where’s my baby?” she clutched her aunt’s hand who shook her head vigorously and continued crying.

“Where is my baby?”

“He’s dead.” Aunt Vien finally said in between sobs.

“What?” she screamed. “No! What have you done with my baby? I want to see my baby. Eric! Where’s my Eric?” Oleng yelled hysterically upsetting the drip on her hand.

Aunt Vien ran to call the doctor while Oleng continued yelling. The doctor and some nurses came in then.

“Calm down please.” The doctor advised.

“Doctor, where’s my baby?” Oleng yelled with tears rolling down her eyes.

With great sorrow and shaking his head, he replied, “There was a sudden complication with your baby. He couldn’t breathe. His umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck when you gave birth to him but we managed to remove it but it had already affected him.”

“But he was okay when I held him.” she reasoned still in tears.

“Yes. It was a delayed effect. He suddenly had trouble breathing and finally died. I’m sorry.”

“No! No! No! Where’s my baby? I don’t believe you. You’ve killed my baby. Eric, where are you? They have killed my baby.” she wept hysterically and had to be injected before she calmed down and slept but before she slept she muttered, “I’ll never forgive you. You’ve taken my baby away from me. Eric, they’ve killed our baby.”

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She came back to the present and remembered her mother. Not once had her mum called her to talk to her. She sent messages through her sister. She had taken her phone so she could not communicate with her friends Zinny and Marvy whom she missed so much. Eddy and Dave were out of the question. She missed her friends so much she wished they were there with her. Zinny would have made mince meat of Emem and Marvy would have made good friends with Mfon since they were so alike.

Her aunt had registered her in antenatal classes but she had refused to go there again after her first visit. The women and the doctors had embarrassed her with stares. They had wondered almost loudly what such a young girl was doing there. She had heard whispers from some pregnant women that she had probably been raped. She had wept all the way home despite how her aunt had consoled her.

Her aunt had called her mum who had sent down money for a private doctor to come and see her regularly since she refused to go back to the hospital. She had also sent money for new clothes since the bulge had grown bigger as she was five months gone and baby things. That was all her mum was good for; sending money since Aunt Vien was just a teacher.

She followed her aunt to the living room after much persuasion where the girls were making noise about the movie they were watching. Emem burst into rude laughter when she saw her in front of her mum. Mfon nudged her to be quiet.

“Edi love, please can you get Oleng her breakfast?” her aunt asked.

“Sure.” She got up from her chair.

“Please I can get it myself.” she protested.

“Don’t worry, Oleng. I’ll get it for you. Just sit down.” she advised going to the kitchen. “By the way, what do you want to eat?” she called from the kitchen.

“Bring rice for her.” Her mum called out to her as she made Oleng sit carefully on a chair.

Mfon and Anietie tried not to look at her for her not to be embarrassed but Emem looked at her mockingly. Oleng lowered her eyes. She felt ashamed indeed.

“Please Edidiong. This is too much. I can’t finish it.” she complained.

“As usual, the queen of the house dey complain.” Emem taunted.

“Shut up, Emem.” her mother chided.

“Try to finish it. Remember you're eating for two. Do you want your baby to be as small as an ant?” Edidiong teased.

“Actually, I don’t care.” Those very sadly spoken words touched everyone in the room except Emem of course!

Oleng continued to live with her aunt in peace except when Emem visited. Time flew and her pregnancy was now nine months old. Her mum for once didn’t talk to her all the months she was in her aunt’s place. She didn’t mind since she was used to such treatment. The doctor examined her and said she would be able to put to bed naturally and if she couldn’t she would undergo a cesarean section.

She woke up early on the thirtieth day of April feeling pains. She ignored them and didn’t tell her aunt until late evening when the pain became worse. Her back felt as if there was a heavy wood on it. Her waist was killing her. Her aunt rushed her to the hospital when she told her it was as if she had urinated on her body which meant her water had broken. She kept lamenting that she didn’t know that labor pains was like that. After hours of tough labor, she finally gave birth to a healthy baby boy in the early hours of the first day of May. She cried tears of joy when she heard her baby crying.

Aunt Vien was very happy. She kept saying that Oleng had finally broken the girl jinx by giving birth to a boy. Her parents had given birth to two girls; her sister had given birth to her, Oleng while she had given birth to four girls. So it seemed there was no male child in their family but Oleng had proven them wrong. Oleng felt it was Eric’s gene since his parents had given birth to two boys also.

After Oleng’s sleep, she was made to breast feed the baby. She cried tears of joy while doing so. The baby looked so much like Eric. He had his family trait of very fair coloring. Though the baby still looked red, Aunt Vien told her the baby would be fairer than normal. Oleng knew he would look like a half caste like his dad. Aunt Vien noticed that the baby had her nose. She asked her what she would call him.

“Eric, after his father even if he abandoned us,” she replied weakly and sadly. “If he had been a girl, I would have named her Erica.”

Aunt Vien smiled. She told her she had called her mum but Oleng had closed her eyes after the baby finished nursing hungrily and was taken to his cot.

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Oleng became numb. So Eric had gotten her message all this while and ignored it. He had deliberately switched off his phone and abandoned her and now he wants her to not only terminate the pregnancy but forget about him also.

That she would surely do! She tore his portrait from the wall and burnt it. She smashed the laptop and phone against the wall in anger.

Emptiness took over her. Her mum had to force her to eat for the baby’s sake since she was bent on keeping it. She seriously began contemplating having an abortion after all, there was no need keeping the baby now that the father didn’t want it.
She just lazed and dazed around all day.

She heard commotion in the living room one afternoon and strained her ears to hear what was being said. Tessy had finally come back home.

“Go inside right now and pack your things. You were supposed to be here with my daughter not gallivanting around Nigeria. If you had stayed with her instead of abandoning her to juvenile delinquency, she wouldn’t be pregnant now.” Her mum yelled.

“Don’t blame me. If you had been here like a mum should, no stupid boy would have come near her. What am I? Her body guard? So I won’t go to school again and live a normal life because you have a foolish nymphomaniac for a daughter.” Tessy threw back at her which earned her a hot slap.

“Shut your foul mouth! How dare you call her that? Are you not supposed to be like an elder sister to her, to talk to her about such things and advise her? You think I don’t know you don’t even talk to her.”

“And what did you do about it? Nothing! Did you correct me? No! Don’t lay the blame on someone else’s door. You’re to blame for everything. I’ll leave. It’s not as if my parents can’t educate me. You just offered to do so.” she spat out and walked away.

Tessy packed her things in tears. She was going to miss her freedom here and her expensive way of life. Bitterness took her to Oleng’s room before she left. She felt little pity for the dejected figure lying helplessly on the bed.

“So you’re pregnant, hmm? You really are very foolish. You should have come to me instead of telling your mum. I know a good place where they would have removed it for you without any qualms. So that handsome half caste is responsible? I knew you were more than friends. Well, this is goodbye since your mum has asked me to leave all because of you. Good luck in being a mother.” she hurtfully said and banged the door behind her leaving Oleng to start crying again.

A week later, towards Christmas, her mum forcefully came to take away her damaged laptop and her phone.

“Stop fooling yourself. Just accept the fact that he has abandoned you. Let this be a lesson to you. Take cue from me. Now you know why I call all men bastards! It’s a pity you are learning this at a very young age.

Why do you think I didn’t want him here? To spite you? I knew this would happen. I thought you respected and feared me enough to heed my words but your foolishness prevailed. Now you are facing the consequences alone. If I were you, I won’t allow a man come within five feet of me because they are all heartless bastards!

Get ready. Next tomorrow, you'll leave for Calabar. You’re going to stay with my sister, your aunt, Vien. I can’t bear to see you like this. Besides, you need antenatal care.” With that, she took away her daughter's only means of communicating with her remaining two friends.

Oleng felt it was a good idea to leave because Port Harcourt didn’t appeal to her anymore. She felt it would be better to stay where at least she would be shown some love. The few times she had seen Aunt Vien had been joyous ones. She was very nice and caring. So she packed a few things leaving behind everything that reminded her of Eric. They got to Calabar quite late that day.

Thus her life in Calabar began.

A Thousand Tears

"It's time." The doctor informed her when he came out of the private room.

Doris sighed and looked up in despair. She tried to convince herself they were doing the right thing.

She followed the doctor inside the room. There her dad lay like a vegetable.

Tears poured down her eyes like a flowing river.

She held his cold hand in hers.

"O dad! I'm so sorry. All our funds have depleted and no one will lend us money anymore. Mummy couldn't bear to be here. I love you, dad. Adieu."

Pinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn! The doctor pulled the plug!

#############################
Zinny and Marvy were amazed when Oleng‘s mum opened the door when they came to visit her after school as they had promised.

“Yes?” she asked harshly, “What are you prostitutes doing here?”

They were shocked but she continued, “Isn’t the fact that you have ruined her life enough?”

“Ma, we don’t know what you’re talking about.” Marvy managed to say.

“Oh! You want to tell me you don’t know she’s pregnant? You want to tell me you all haven’t been sleeping around but are wiser. Why didn’t you tell her what you normally do to avoid pregnancy? Or is it that you girls have done so many abortions you want her to join your club?” she lashed at the bamboozled girls.

“Now before I lose my temper, you harlots better get out of my compound.” she furiously told them.

“Let’s go, Zinny.” Marvy told her friend who stood looking at Mrs. Akpan in anger.

“No Marvy,” she shook her friend off. “She’s going to tell me when she saw us standing on the streets looking for men and if it is her hospital that we did the many abortions.”

“Zinny, please let’s go.” Marvy tried dragging her but she stood rigid.

“Oh! So you want to know?” Mrs. Akpan smiled bitterly.

“You’re only looking for who to blame when the person to blame is you. Have you ever been there for your daughter? Have you ever discussed sex with her before? Is it not a mother’s place to teach her daughter the dangers of premarital sex? Now you’re blaming us. We did our best. I think its God that is punishing you for your wickedness but it’s a pity He’s using poor Oleng.” she continued yelling as Marvy dragged her towards the gate where the gate man stood staring.

“Get out of my house and stay out!” Oleng’s mum yelled.

Oleng who had been asleep all this while suddenly came out and ran to her friends.

“What’s happening?”

Zinny who was breathing heavily said, “We came to see you but your mother started calling us names. She called us harlots and accused us of carrying out abortions. I’m sorry Oleng but I had to tell her my mind. She is to blame for everything.” She was crying now.

“I understand. I told her my mind too yesterday when she found out.”

“How did she find out anyway?” Marvy asked.

“A nosy friend of hers told her. Then we went to see our family doctor and he confirmed it. Like I said, its four months old.”

“Oh Oleng!” Zinny hugged her and Marvy hugged her too. They were all crying.

“You girls shouldn’t come here again. I’ll come to your respective houses tomorrow.”

“Okay. Take it easy. Everything will be fine” Marvy hugged her again.

“I hope so.” Oleng replied with doubt.

“Take care.” Zinny said and hugged her too. They said goodbye to her not knowing they were seeing the last of her.

Oleng walked quietly to the house ignoring the gate man who was looking at her strangely. She didn’t care if she knew she was pregnant. He had probably guessed who was responsible after all he had played a part in the whole ordeal. She walked dejectedly into her room. Ricky had still not replied.

Her mum who was still fuming went to her room.
“So those are the kind of friends you keep who don’t have respect for their elders?” she furiously told her daughter who went to lie on the bed.

“So now you know. You didn’t care to know before.” she said in a bored manner.

“Well, you weren’t stupid enough to get pregnant before.” she threw back.

“Just leave me alone. I’m tired.” she snuggled into her sheets.

“You should be. Afterall, you’re carrying what’s bigger than you.” she lashed out again but Oleng just ignored her. She stood there and thought for a while.

“Get ready. Tomorrow, we’re going to see a doctor. Try not to eat anything because you’re going to have an abortion.” she declared and began walking out of the room.

“What?” Oleng jumped up in bed, “You really want me dead, don’t you?”

“How dare you say a thing like that? Are you not happy that I’m taking you to a qualified and competent doctor to remove that thing instead of the quack your friends would have taken you to?”

“I don’t want an abortion!” Oleng yelled.

Her mum was shocked. “What?”

“I don’t want an abortion. What if this is the only child in my womb? What if something happens? Human beings make mistakes even the best of them.” she threw at the woman she called her mother who was looking at her in disbelief.

“I can’t believe this. Have you thought of the fact that you can’t deliver safely? Have you thought about the fact that you can very well die during labor?”

“Yes. I might not know much about such things but I know there is something like cesarean section,” she boldly told her. “I’ve always hated the thought of abortion. I was among those who campaigned against abortion in school and now that I’m in a fix, I won’t go back on my word. I won’t lie, the thought of labor scares me but I would rather die during labor than live the rest of my life knowing I killed my child, Eric’s child.”

Mrs. Akpan smiled. “So this is about him. Well, for your information, he doesn’t love you. He doesn’t care about you. He just used you to satisfy his youthful lust.”

“That’s not true. You don’t know anything about him so don’t say anything.”

Mrs. Akpan pointed at her laptop for an answer. “If I had known that thing was for you guys to continue communicating, I wouldn’t have bought it for you. Have you told him?”

“Yes.” she replied looking down.

“What did he say?”

“He hasn’t replied.”

“And he never will. He has abandoned you.”

“No!” she vehemently denied.

“Stop deceiving yourself. He isn’t worth it. Men are not worth it,” she retorted. “Well, you can keep the baby but don’t come and meet me for anything.” With that, she left the room and banged the door.

Oleng wept bitterly on her bed. Then she suddenly got up from the bed and picked up her phone. She kept trying to call Eric but it refused to go through. Had he switched off his phone also? She thought in despair. When she finally got the number, it said it was off service area. She continued trying but there was no reply. What happened to his promise of always communicating no matter what? In desperation, she sent him a text to call her immediately he got the message. Yet nothing.

It was like that for a whole week. He didn’t reply her text nor call back and he was still offline. What her mum had said finally seemed true. Eric had deserted her when she needed him most. She would have gone to his house to enquire about him from his parents but her mum refused her going out. She was surprised that her mum hadn’t gone out in a week. That was very strange and unusual though she talked for hours on the phone. Zinny and Marvy were the only ones Oleng communicated with over the phone. Her life felt worthless without Eric.

How could he do this to her? Abandon her at a time like this. She knew it was scary being told that you were going to be a father at sixteen but he would have thought of her also and what she would be going through. After two weeks and there was still no message from him, she had to agree with her mother, Eric had abandoned her.

Joy was hers when she finally got a message from his line. She was however shocked beyond words when she read the message. It read,

“Oleng, I got your message. So you actually want me to believe the pregnancy is mine? I’m too young to be saddled with an unwanted baby even if it were mine. I have a bright future ahead of me. So terminate the pregnancy and forget about me. Eric.”

Incredibleme: Following like seriously. Am realy geting hot stuff her, more power man.

. Tanx so much 4 following. Dts d encouragement I nid 2 write on!

morsadh: [color=#006600][/color]I think I like this. Pls when would you continue[b]I think I like this. Pls when would you continue[/b]I think I like this. Pls when would you continue

. Tanx 4 liking it. I'm abt 2 continue

Linda walked slowly to the living room and collapsed on a chair. Thoughts flooded her. She sighed when she remembered sixteen years ago in Calabar.

She had been head over heels in love with Umoh then. They had planned on getting married. The day Umoh gave her an engagement ring was her happiest. Everything had been going smoothly until that fateful night. She and her boss, Efiok had gone for a business night party. The alcohol had been very strong and before she knew what was happening, she found herself in bed with him the following morning. He had apologized profusely for what had been a drunken one night stand.
She had wanted to resign her job as his secretary but she had needed the money for her wedding so she had stayed but their relationship became strained because of that night.

She was almost suicidal when she discovered a month later that she was pregnant. She couldn’t pass off the child as Umoh’s which she would have done not to lose him but she and Umoh had never gone to bed together. They had been waiting for their wedding night and now her boss had ruined it. She went for a D and C but almost lost her life in the process yet they had not removed the baby because doing so would cost her her womb. She kept everything to herself until Umoh discovered she was pregnant. She tried explaining things to him but he wouldn’t listen. He called off the engagement. She wept herself almost to death.

It was her younger sister whom she had confided in, who had gone to tell her boss that she was pregnant. He was sorry Umoh had broken up with her and wanted to marry her but she refused. He had continued pleading and with her sister’s intervention, they had gone to get married in the registry. Efiok had wanted a white wedding but she would hear nothing of it. Efiok had been a perfect husband. Even though they had not planned the pregnancy or marriage, he fell into the role of husband and expectant father very well while she was always moody at losing Umoh.

As fate would have it, he died in a plane crash on his way to Port Harcourt to return back to Calabar the same day. When the news had been broken to her, she had gone into forced labor and had given birth to Oleng a month before she was due. She hadn’t breastfed her baby. Her sister, Vien who had been nursing a baby then had been the one to breastfeed and wean Oleng because she, Linda had been very sick after the birth, for over a month.
Vien had been the one to give Oleng her name.

She had decided to change location then to forget everything and she had chosen Port Harcourt. It was when Oleng was two years old that she had gone to bring her to live with her in Port Harcourt. To worsen matters when she had met two other men who wanted to marry her, they had deserted her when they discovered she had a child. So Oleng was indirectly responsible for her loneliness though she had not killed her father who would have been a companion to her. It had caused her great pain when she had gone to Calabar once and saw Umoh with his wife and kids. What she had lost because of Oleng made her more bitter. That had brought a greater gap between them because she couldn’t forgive Oleng however childish it seemed for taking her happiness away even though it wasn’t her fault. All these had made her cold, bitter and authoritative. It had made her swear off men because they were all bastards!

As her heart turned colder, she knew the saying was true that if a female got pregnant out of wedlock and gave birth to a female child, the girl would follow her foot steps. She had gotten pregnant out of wedlock and now Oleng had done the same at an even younger age.
Hell no! She wasn’t going to allow history repeat itself. She had been secretly molding Oleng to become like her. She had withdrawn emotion from her because emotion didn’t get one anywhere in this world. She had left her alone for her to endure hard times and become mature without motherly love. To help her cope in this wicked world yet she had disappointed her by getting pregnant for that bastard! Such foolishness she couldn’t fathom. Had Oleng ever seen her with a man? Why hadn’t she taken cue from her? Couldn’t she have used a contraceptive? It made her very angry. She knew what she was going to do. She sat there just staring into space until late evening when Oleng came back.

Oleng ignored her mother and went to her room. She had made up her mind to tell Ricky. At least to get away from this house before her mother poisoned her. She had no idea if Ricky’s mum would accept her but she had to try. Anything was better than staying here where she knew surely her mum would make her life a living hell.

Eric was offline but she still typed the message. She told him she was sorry but she was pregnant and needed help. She asked if she should go to his mother. She pleaded with him to reply and she was sorry for shutting him out all this while. She waited and waited but he didn’t come online. She slept off still waiting. She woke up the following morning yet Eric had not replied. She became sort of scared. Her mum didn’t go out much to her annoyance. She went to the kitchen to get herself breakfast thanking God that her morning sickness had let down. She ignored her mum.

By afternoon, Eric had still not replied. She became worried. She picked up her phone and sent him a message to call her as soon as he got the message. She waited and waited, yet nothing.
What’s going on? She wondered.

“What?” Mrs. Linda Akpan was shocked.
“You can’t be serious, Kate.”

“I’m dead serious. As you know, I am a mid-wife so I have seen so many pregnant women in my time. Your daughter is pregnant. It should be roughly four months.” she said as a matter of fact.

“Jesus! I’m dead. This girl has killed me.” She put her hands on her head.

“Find out from her how far gone she is and who’s responsible.”

“I think I know who is responsible. I warned her. I told her not to bring that boy to this house again.” she was in rage now.

“It might not have been here. Afterall, there are so many places where it could have been done.”

“My God!” she was actually shaking.

“I’ll take my leave now,” The nosy woman said getting up. “Just take it easy. These things happen. Just find out things from her and see how you can get rid of it before it starts showing or ruin her future. If you like, I know a good doctor who can help you remove it without complications.” she advised.

Her friend could only nod her head. Oleng, pregnant! It was unbelievable. She didn’t even know when her friend left as she just sat there thinking and shaking her head. Then she suddenly got up in anger.

Oleng was very surprised to see her mum in her room. Her mum never entered her room. She looked at Eric’s huge portrait on the wall and hissed.

“Get dressed,” Her mum told her without preamble. “We’re going to see Doctor Stanley.” she declared and was about walking out of the room when Oleng said,

“What for? I’m not sick.”

“I know you’re not sick. You’re going for an examination.”

“Examination for what when I’m not sick?” she fearfully enquired.

“Don’t try to be smart with me young lady! Or maybe you want to tell me the truth to save me the trouble of dragging you to the hospital.” She walked into the room and folded her arms looking piercingly at her daughter on the bed.

“What truth?” she asked in almost a whisper as she swung her legs from the bed to the floor.

“Are you pregnant?”

Oleng held her mouth on impulse. Her heart beat became faster. That nosy woman had somehow found out and told her mother. What was she going to do now?

“No.” she said and shook her head at the same time.

“Then get dressed, we’re going to the doctor to make sure you’re not.” Her mother pronounced and started walking to the door again.

“But I don’t want to see the doctor. I’m not pregnant.” she protested.

“Oleng! If you don’t get dressed right now, I’ll beat you up and drag you to the hospital.” Her mum fiercely told her which made her shiver.

Her mum was rarely in a fit and whenever she was, heaven help her! She slowly put on her clothes again as tears streamed down her eyes. She knew the cat would be let out of the bag now. Her mum would discover that she was pregnant for Ricky.

“Oleng!” Her mother yelled from the sitting room and poor Oleng in fear ran out.

They were both quiet as her mum drove to the private hospital. Unfortunately for her, the doctor was not busy so they were ushered into his office. Oleng looked at their elderly family doctor and tears rolled down her eyes anew. He would be disappointed in her. Her mum found it hard to explain why they were there. The doctor was surprised when she was able to say something.

Oleng looked at the floor when he looked at her with disbelief. When he asked her the last time she had seen her period and she kept quiet, her mum barked at her. Doctor Stanley told her to take it easy. Oleng told him. He made her lie on the bed and examined her. Her mum insisted on watching. She shook her head when she saw the tell tale bulge that had been her daughter’s flat tummy.

They drove home quietly again with her mum shaking her head and continuously asking how could she have done this after the doctor had pronounced her at least four months pregnant and the result of the test they had waited for had read positive.

When they got home, Oleng rushed to her room but her mum followed her to torment her.

“How could you Oleng? How could you? Didn’t I warn you? Didn’t I tell you not to bring that boy here again? Just look at yourself now. Where’s the boy now? He’s in the states enjoying himself while you’re here carrying his bastard. I never knew you were so stupid. Stupid enough to get yourself pregnant at such a tender age. You’re just fifteen for crying out loud!” Mrs. Akpan ranted and raved while Oleng just used her hands to cover her ears as she wept loudly.

“I don’t mind the fact that you had sex,” she continued “Because you kids of nowadays are very experimental but for you to be so stupid to get yourself pregnant is what’s driving me mad. Where did contraceptives and condoms go?”

After she said that, something snapped inside Oleng. She suddenly stopped crying and got up from the bed to face her mother.

“How could I have known about contraceptives and condoms?” she yelled, “Did you for once tell me about them? The day I came to you to explain, adolescence, puberty and pregnancy to me, didn’t you send me out of your room with the excuse that you were tired and some other time? But you never found time for me. You were either in Dubai today or China tomorrow. Even when you were at home, you didn’t give a damn about me. And now you stand there blaming me for everything and calling me stupid.

Eric taught me everything I know today. It was his mum who told me about menstruation. She bought me my first pad. And maybe I got pregnant on purpose because you told me sometime ago that if I got pregnant, I’d go and live with them and I know for sure that life there will be better where I can get attention no matter how little than here where I’m not noticed.” she spat out angrily.

For an answer to her outburst, her mum gave her a sound slap. She fell on the bed and held her cheek. “How dare you talk to me like that? I’m still your mother!”

“No!” Oleng yelled, “You’re not my mother. You’re a stranger. I hate you!” she yelled and ran out of the room. She ran out of the house also.

“What?” Marvy screamed. Zinny just held her mouth in shock.

“I suspected it but prayed it wasn’t true.” Zinny admitted ruefully when she finally found her voice.

“Are you sure? Maybe it’s a mistake or something.” Marvy still in shock, assumed.

For an answer, Oleng raised her shirt up for them to see the small bulge.

“Does this look like a mistake? I’m four months pregnant.” She confirmed sadly.

“Maybe its not pregnancy, maybe you’re sick. I heard liver disease makes the tummy big too.” Marvy countered shaking her head.

“Marvy, I know you can’t and don’t want to believe it, I didn’t too but I had to face the reality. I’m pregnant. I feel the baby sometimes or maybe it’s just my imagination sha.” Oleng tried holding back her tears as she saw Marvy eyes watering.

“Who raped you?” Zinny slotted in, full of anger but Oleng just shook her head.

“Why won’t you tell me who did this to you?

“Zinny please………” Oleng began but was cut off by the angry Zinny who got up from the bed and held her shoulders.

“Who? Don’t be afraid.”

“Ezinne!” Oleng yelled, standing up. “I wasn’t raped!”

Zinny was weak at that. She carefully went back to the bed to sit.

“Were you drugged?” Marvy enquired still in tears.

Oleng slowly shook her head and stared at the floor of the bedroom. “Eric and I were a bit drunk that night at their graduation party. When we got to my house, maybe it was the alcohol, I don’t know, he declared his love for me and I did the same. We started kissing and one thing led to another and before we knew it we made love. We both didn’t give a thought for protection then until he talked to his elder brother. We used a condom the next time we did it a day before he left. I don’t know what to do.” she informed her dumb founded friends.

“Does he know?” Marvy finally asked after the long silence.

“No. I haven’t told him.” Tears rushed down her eyes.

“O God! Oleng how could you? How could you and Eric have been so careless? I know love and alcohol intoxicates but for crying out loud, you guys should have prevented this.” Zinny angrily lashed out.

“I never knew I was going to get pregnant. I thought since it was my first time nothing would come out of it. After a month and nothing happened, I thought I had escaped it. I didn’t know pregnancy symptoms didn’t show that early.” she explained in tears.

Zinny looked at her in disbelief. “I never knew you were so naïve……….O God! This is our fault. We never discussed such things with you even when we knew your mum didn’t tell you things; you missed that puberty seminar and have a boy as your best friend who couldn’t tell you such things…….Eric should have known better.” she held her head downcast.

“Stop looking for who to apportion blame on. I messed up. I’m supposed to be old enough to know such things. I was just too dull.” she wept.

Her friends went to hold her and comfort her “It’s not your fault Oleng. Its true, Eric should have been wiser.” Marvy put in.

“I’m still to blame, after all, Zinny is not pregnant even though I saw her kissing Eddy at the party and you Marvy, I saw you holding hands with Dave but you’re not pregnant.”

“That doesn’t mean we actually slept with them that night.” Zinny put in, “Eddy told me his true feelings for me and as you know he has a way with words so I got caught but I didn’t sleep with him that night because I felt it was alcohol talking in him………It was during our hols when he came to me to declare his love again, that was when I slept with him but he used a condom and we’re now dating.

I didn’t know how to tell you girls because you all know he has always been a womanizer but he’s no longer like that. I’m sorry if it is your seeing both of us kissing that made you agree to sleep with Eric.” Zinny explained sorrowfully.

“Don’t apologize. It wasn’t. I love Ricky, so it happened naturally.”

“Dave and I were holding hands because we just felt like being together since everyone there had someone and we didn’t. I didn’t sleep with him and we’re not going out. We are just friends.”

“I understand.” Oleng quietly said.

“What are you going to do now?” Zinny asked.

“I don’t know.”

“Are you considering an abortion?” Marvy asked.

“No. I’m too scared. I feel I will die.”

“Not if it’s done by a competent doctor.” Zinny put in.

Oleng shook her head. “I can’t. The thought scares me a lot.”

“You have to tell Eric so you can both find a solution.”

“I can’t. Our relationship is now strained because of this problem. I don’t communicate with him like before. He’s going to start school soon so I don’t want to spoil it for him. One ruined life is enough.”

“Don’t say that. Your life is not ruined.” Marvy started crying again.

“I still insist you tell him so he’ll know what you’re going through alone……..Or better still, why don’t you inform his mother? She’ll know what to do.”

“I have to tell Eric first then. It wouldn’t be fair to just spring it on his mum like that without his knowledge and consent.”

“That’s true. You just have to tell him.”

“I don’t want to alarm him. Knowing Eric, he would want to come back to be with me. We’re too young to get married; otherwise he would have suggested we do so. It’s better for him to be over there than here thinking of how he’s going to become a father at such a tender age.”

“But what about you?”

“With the right advice and encouragement, I can handle it. See, I love Ricky very much so I can’t do this to him. I might probably tell him when I safely put to bed but not before.”

“Eric won’t thank you for this sacrifice you’re making.”

“I know but I believe the storm will be over then.”

“I hope so.” Zinny said and hugged her. Marvy did too.

They walked her home; each one lost in thought. They hugged again when they got to her place as if they wouldn’t see each other again. They promised to visit her after school the following day.

Oleng was surprised to see her mother’s car and another car in the compound. So it meant she was at home with a visitor. She dragged her shirt over her tummy harder before slowly walking into the house. She wanted to quickly escape to her room but her mum called her as usual to come and greet her visitor. Oleng greeted the woman but didn’t like the way the woman was looking at her. To worsen matters, her mum sent her to get the woman a bottle of malt. As she opened the drink, the woman continued to stare at her much to her distaste.

She had to wait to be dismissed so she couldn’t rush out as she felt like doing. She heaved a sigh of relief when her mum told her she could leave. She felt the woman’s eyes on her back as she walked away. She hoped the woman wouldn’t divulge her secret. Her mum would kill her if she knew she was pregnant.

“You should ask your daughter questions.” Mrs. Amare coyly said when Oleng had left the living room and took a sip from her drink.

“About her whereabouts? I know she went to see her friends.”

“Not that. I mean the changes in her body.”

“There is no need for that. She knows about growing up.”

Her friend smiled and shook her head then she took a sip from the malt offered her. “I knew you would be too busy to see what others see so I came to see for myself. When she passed by my house in the afternoon, I was surprised to see her because I haven’t see her for a while now. When I observed the changes in her body, I knew why. So I came here to see things for myself. So, what you’re telling me right now is that you haven’t noticed anything about your daughter?”

Oleng’s mum was puzzled. She shook her head slowly in confusion. “No. Not really. All I can see is that she has put on weight. I told her to control it when I gave her money to get new uniforms to replace the old ones she said were now too tight for her.”

Mrs. Amare smiled again. “Call her. Let me see her again. At least to make sure I’m not getting blind or hallucinating.”

“Okay. Though you’ll tell me the meaning of this when she leaves.”

“Just call her.” Mrs. Amare said feeling worldly wise while her friend picked up her phone and called her daughter.

Oleng groaned before she answered the call. She hoped that woman would not look at her funny again.

“Ah...Em……..” Her mum didn’t know what to say as an excuse for her calling her. “Go to my room, get me my black hand bag on the bed.

When she brought it, she noticed the woman was still looking at her intensely. A cold shiver went down her spine. Could women detect such things at sight? She wondered, as she walked to her room after she was dismissed.

“Yes, my suspicions are correct. Linda, your daughter is pregnant.” she proclaimed.

Shokoloko: Captivating....talent cant be hidden

. Tanx a million 4 following and 4 ur compliment.

halfcaste1: . Tanx dear. Dis is jst a spark sha

. Dis my naughty friend. Told u I ws busy na. Who send u make u com dey comment on my bhalf? Tot u wre jokin. Tanx anyway. Lyk u said, its rily jst a spark. D fire dey com.

LarrySun: The first bullet struck him in the shoulder and the second caught him in the neck; blood spewed from his neck like mount Vesuvius but he was still mobile. He couldn't risk being caught or dying now, he had to hide the document safety first. He felt weak as he ran now; his yellow shirt had been soaked wet with his own blood. His vision was becoming increasingly blurry, and it was only a matter of time before his pursuers catch up with him. He searched frantically for any escape route; he ran with all his might to the end of the street and cut across to the adjacent street; this one was also quiet, he yearned for the presence of someone, anyone.

The last bullet hit him on the back of the head and then darkness set in.

. Dude, dt ws deep!

CHAPTER FOUR

By November, Oleng knew there was something wrong with her. She kept throwing up and feeling sick especially in the mornings, her breasts were bigger and sore to touch; she kept urinating and she was gaining weight. She couldn’t quite place what was wrong with her though she was suspecting something but her fears didn’t allow her think of it. She didn’t tell Eric though.

“Oleng, what’s wrong with you? I’ve been watching you. This is the third time I’ve caught you throwing up this week.” Zinny announced with a worried look as Oleng washed her mouth and her hands in the toilet sink.

“I don’t know. I think its malaria. I throw up whenever I have malaria.”

“Sorry. When did it start? Have you taken drugs?”

“Last week. Yes, I’ve taken drugs.”

“Good. Sorry ehn. Can you manage to the assembly or should we go to the sick bay?”

“No. I’m okay.” she proclaimed weakly as she straightened up even though she still felt queasy.

They walked quietly out of the toilet.

Oleng knew she had to find out what was wrong with her immediately when during their lunch break, Marvy suddenly slotted in,

“Oleng! What’s the secret? Your breasts are getting bigger.”

“Really?” She looked down at them as if she didn’t already know.

“Yes. Look at your buttons. Your uniform is tight there.”

“I…………I’ll be on soon.” she stammered as she removed her blazer from the back of her chair and put it on to cover them.

“Haven’t you been on for years? Your busts have never been this big.” Marvy extended with emphasis.

“Well, maybe I’m growing and leaving you girls behind with your swollen nipples.” she tried teasing.

She succeeded because they all burst into laughter and threw things at her.

She kept asking herself what was wrong as she continued to notice changes in her body. She even had to buy a new uniform because the other three were now tight at her breasts and waist. She didn’t want to ask anyone so she kept everything to herself. She didn’t even tell Eric though their relationship was waxing stronger.

She went for a walk one evening and saw a book shop. She went in on impulse and asked the kind looking elderly woman if she had a book that talked about changes in a girl’s body. The woman gave her a book called, ‘Every Woman’. She thanked the woman, paid for the book and rushed home to read it.

She threw away the book in shock when it confirmed her fears. She went to the mirror, lifted up her blouse and looked at her stomach. It was true that her period had only been dents of blood for three months now which she read was called, ‘spotting’ but she had thought it was because she lost blood when Eric had deflowered her. She was so scared she didn’t know what to do.

She ran to her bed, fell on it and started crying. No! She couldn’t be pregnant, could she? She wiped her tears and sat on the bed. She went to pick up the book again hoping it was a false alarm, but when she read the book again, everything said she was pregnant.

She hadn’t seen her period for three months now, her breasts were fuller, she kept throwing up in the mornings and sometimes during the day, she urinated a lot, she was putting on weight especially her stomach region and the thought or smell of some food irritated her to the extent she would lose her appetite. God! She was pregnant. She held her mouth and started weeping again.

Oh! She was dead. How would she tell her mother? If her mum found out, she would kill her because she had warned her before. Oh! How could she and Eric have been so careless? Foolish as she was, she hadn’t even thought of protection until Eric had brought that condom the second time they had made love. She was ruined! Her future was ruined! She was only fifteen for Christ’s sake! How would she take care of the baby? She didn’t even know much about taking care of herself not to talk of taking care of a baby. Would she even be able to give birth? She heard labor was very painful. She kept wondering about her future as she continued crying on her bed.

When she saw the beep on her system signifying that Eric was now online and wanted to chat, she ignored it. She thanked God it was a Friday because she didn’t think she would have been able to go to school the following day knowing what she now knew. She remembered school and cried anew. She would have to drop out because the school would surely expel her if they found out. She could just imagine the shame and embarrassment; ‘The school’s time keeper, pregnant.’

People would surely know Eric was responsible if they calculated the time Eric left Nigeria and how far gone she was. She calculated herself and discovered that she could be three months pregnant. She looked at her system and Eric’s, ‘Hello love, are you there?’ messages and ignored them. What did he want to tell her? Sorry for ruining her life? He was living it up in the states while she had her life ruined here. She shook her head from such thoughts. It wasn’t his fault after all, she was the female involved, she should have taken proper care of herself and insisted on protection but she hadn’t been kissed before; she hadn’t known passion could make your brain numb.

She didn’t know once could result in pregnancy. She laid down there and continued crying. She was like that throughout the weekend. She however managed to go to school on Monday with the hope that it was probably a false alarm and she had been worried over nothing but by December, she knew she was pregnant. Her stomach was now protruding a little. The bulge couldn’t be mistaken for over feeding. She stopped going to school then and shut herself in for fear of anyone discovering. She shut her friends out too. They kept calling her and sending text messages but she didn’t reply. She bribed their gateman to tell them she traveled whenever they came to look for her at home. Her mum was only at home in the evenings so she thought she was still going to school, Tessy too.

The school didn’t ask because they thought she actually traveled as her friends had officially told them. She continued in solitude until she couldn’t take it anymore. She called Zinny and told her she was coming over to the latter’s joy. She called Marvy also and told her to meet her at Zinny’s place. She made up her mind to tell them everything and to probably find out from them a way out.

Zinny and Marvy were already waiting for her outside the gate when she got there. They hugged her fiercely because they hadn’t seen her in weeks. They went up to Zinny’s room. Oleng didn’t bother with any preamble.

“I’m pregnant.” she announced coldly as she sat on a chair facing them on the bed.

#############################
Meanwhile back in Nigeria, Oleng tried coping without Eric. She managed to write her exams though she had to be motivated by her two friends. It wasn’t her best efforts but she felt her first and second term results would make up for it. She didn’t even mind if she was promoted to SS3 on trial. After all, the sun had left her world. She missed Eric terribly.

Though Zinny and Marvy came to her house sometimes, it couldn’t be compared to Eric who had come almost every day then. Dave had come to visit once and she had seen Eddy outside a couple of times yet it didn’t make up for Ricky’s absence. Though they communicated everyday, she felt his absence heavily. Everyday after school, she chatted with Eric through yahoo messenger on her phone and facebook sometimes. He called her on the phone sometimes. If anything, their love was getting stronger.

He hadn’t started school yet since his WAEC results were not yet out and she was on hols so they had enough time to spend chatting. She pleaded with her mum to get her a laptop and a modem with an excuse of getting more information from the web in preparation for her WAEC but she refused. It was Tessy who however persuaded her to get one for her. For the first time since Tessy came to stay with them, she actually liked her. Great was her joy when her mum called her one day and gave her the laptop and modem with unlimited browsing. She actually hugged her mum; for the second time in her life.

The first had been the first time her mum had traveled and came back. The way her mum had looked at her then made her not to repeat it again. Joy made her throw caution to the wind that day. She however sobered up and apologized. Her mum had only nodded her head and gone inside. It didn’t matter to her though because now she and Eric could see each other through webcam which was what she had been after in asking for a laptop. They could say anything to each other, like how they were burning with desire for each other, the last time they had made love and how they wished they were together to make love again. They talked far into the night even when school began again.

They continued like that with him calling occasionally. Sometimes, when Zinny and Marvy came to visit, they would chat with him too. He introduced her to Damian’s neighbour, Yolanda. Since she wasn’t a beauty, Oleng wasn’t worried even though she noticed how cold the girl was towards her.

Costlybabe: wow love dis,
this is called super story

. Tanx a million dear. Ws beginning 2 wonder if anyone ws following

bestestgirl: Nkechi was in high spirits! Who wouldn’t be? She was about to marry the son of the richest man in Africa, in approximately two hours, she would become Mrs Dangote!
The sun was shining, the bridesmaids were resplendent and the groom was waiting.
Nkechi glided down the aisle to ‘the wedding march’ and faced her handsome groom; she heard the voice of the Minister as if from afar:
‘Nkechi! The soup is burning!’
‘wtf? ’ she thought,
Then she heard it again, and this time, the voice was familiar
‘Nkechi!!! Wake up and check that soup before I get you!

. Wow! Dt ws fast! It tuk u 21 minutes 2 com up wit dis funny story. U must b vry creative. Stil scratching ma head thinkin of a story. BTW, u got my vote. Wake up b4 she get u sha

The following day being Monday, Oleng had to go back to school. Her third term promotion exams were the following week but she couldn’t read. She kept remembering that night and that Eric was leaving in two days. She couldn’t tell Zinny and Marvy what transpired between Eric and her that night. It seemed too private and sacred to be shared with anyone.

Great was her joy when Eric called her to inform her that he would be leaving on Sunday instead of the proposed Wednesday because his parents had decided to go with him. His dad’s leave was going to begin the following week and his mum had taken permission from the ministry where she worked to see him off too. They were both joyous.

They spent their evenings together after school where Eric always put her through with her studies. She was able to study with him around though sometimes their love got in the way and they would end up kissing before catching themselves and continue to study.

On his last day in Nigeria, Eric persuaded his parents to allow him spend the whole day with Oleng. His mother protested as usual but his dad made her see reason with him. Oleng was his best friend and they wouldn’t see each other in a long while. Moreover, didn’t she trust her son anymore? Mrs. Sokipirim Conrad had agreed then. As she told him before he left, she trusted him and knew Oleng’s mum wouldn’t bring Oleng to come and live with them some months from now saying she was expecting her first grand child. Eric had chuckled then. If only his mum knew what had happened the previous Saturday, she would have chained him to his bed. She didn’t, so he joyfully went to his girlfriend’s place. That was what she was now and he loved her dearly.

He was grateful for the umpteenth time for the fact that his parents weren’t the conventional Nigerian parents and allowed him to get away with a lot of things society would have frowned at. He believed it was because his parents had spent so many years abroad before settling in Nigeria, so they didn’t see anything wrong in a girl being his best friend and for them to be so close.

He got to her place and as usual to his joy, Tessy had finally traveled home while her mum wasn’t back from Dubai. As he expected, Oleng wasn’t in a happy mood. He tried making her happy but she kept bringing up his going away. He finally told her to dress up because he wanted them to go to that photo studio in Waterline again so he could get her recent pictures to show to Damian and guys over there that his girlfriend was an African queen. She had smiled then.

They both went to the place and snapped some intimate pictures together. They stopped by Chicken Republic and bought some snacks. They devoured them when they got back to her place. They sat on the rugged floor listening to cool music and holding hands. As she usually did, Oleng dug her hands in his pockets to check what he had in them and as usual he struggled for her not to get to them. She ended up on top of him. They looked into each other’s eyes and started kissing. Oleng broke the passionate kiss.

“We shouldn’t.” she stressed in an undertone.

“I know but that doesn’t stop me from wanting you.” he drawled huskily, touching the nose he was so fond of.

“Me too but we shouldn’t.”

“Okay.” he conceded grudgiling but yelled, “No!” when she playfully thrust her hand in his pockets. She quickly got up and he did the same. When she realized what she was holding, she immediately dropped it. Eric quickly picked up the pack of condoms and put it in his pocket again. They was a great silence. They couldn't look at each other.

“Where did you get it from?” she demanded curtly. He kept her quiet.

“Don’t tell me you got it from Eddy!”

“Of course not. I got it from Damian.”

“Damian? Is he back?”

“No. He told me where to get it in his room.”

“That means you actually told him what happened between us. How could you? I thought it was sacred.” she launched back furiously at him in ringing disbelief. Eric went closer to her.

“It was sacred but I couldn’t handle it alone. I had to tell someone because the beautiful experience was almost driving me crazy. I had to confide in my brother on how to get self control because I felt like making love to you everyday.

Desiring you was driving me crazy. I had to do something and who could I tell but my elder brother who is experienced in such things? It wasn’t as if I wanted to brag about it like Eddy. I just needed help. Besides, Damian won’t tell anyone.” he explained drily.

Oleng was silent for a while. She sent him a frowning appraisal before quietly admitting, “I felt like sharing it with someone too but there was no one to share it with. I don’t think Zinny and Marvy will understand and I don’t trust Tessy enough to tell her.” She shyly smiled. “I have wanted a repeat performance of what happened on Saturday but I thought it was abnormal for me. As you know, I am not experienced in such areas.”

“Neither am I. Sunshine………If it’s any consolation to you, you were my first.” he asserted with coolness. She looked sharply at him.

“You thought I was experienced?” His mouth quirked.

“With friends like Eddy………..and…..and…..the way you touched me and made…..” she trailed off and shrugged.

“I watched a pornographic movie I found in Damian’s box a while back. Eddy is the only experienced one among us. How could I go fooling around when I had my missing rib?”

“It didn’t stop Eddy from fooling around even though he had feelings for Zinny.”

“If you haven’t noticed honey, I’m not Eddy.” he drawled seductively and moved closer to her. She raised her head to look at him and tears rolled down her eyes.

“I’m going to miss you.”

“Me too, my love.” He assured her and took her in his arms. Soon they were kissing again and later on went to her room to make love there. Eric made sure he didn’t allow lust to carry him away again by using the condom his brother told him to search for in his room.

Damian had been mad at him at first when he had told him. Eric had thought it was because he had had sex early in life but later discovered it was because he had slept with Oleng without protection. His brother had said he knew boys would be boys but did he want to ruin Oleng’s future by getting her pregnant? Eric hadn’t thought of that then. He said he felt Oleng getting pregnant was unlikely since it was her first time but Damian had called him a fool and told him to pray she didn’t. So he had prayed. He didn’t want to alarm her so he kept everything to himself.

After they made love, they just laid in each other’s arms with the sheet around them. They didn’t say anything for a while.

“Ricky,” Oleng called softly.

“Yes, love.” he responded softly too.

“Please don’t ever forget me. Please. Please promise me we’ll always be together no matter what.” He heard the tears in her voice.

He was touched. “I’ll never forget you. I promise I’ll always be there for you. Never forget me too.”

“I won’t. I promise.”

“I promise too.” he affirmed and kissed her. He linked his little finger with hers and they both said like they always did whenever they made promises to each other.

“These promises we’ve made to each other will never go unfulfilled.”

He kissed her and continued kissing her until he heard his phone ring. It was his mum. It was time to go because he had promised his mum that if she called, he would come home. That was why she had allowed him out in the first place. He answered the call. She told him to come and put finishing touches to his packing and to remember that they were having a farewell dinner for him. He told her he would be home soon. She promised him she would continue calling until she saw him. He ended the call.

All the while he had been talking with his mum, Oleng had been crying. The dreaded moment had finally arrived.

It was already after six in the evening so she knew he had to go. She tried to stop the tears but they kept falling. They both dressed up yet she was still crying. Eric didn’t know what to do. He consoled, petted, scolded, kissed her yet she continued crying. He didn’t know when tears slowly dropped from his eyes also.

This was his best friend now turned girlfriend for God’s sake! In her tears, he told her that four years was just a matter of time. It would fly by soon and he would come back to her and not stay back over there like his brother to work. Or better still, he would send for her since he would be of age then so they would be together and finally get married.

When she saw the tears rolling down his eyes, she cried even more. To confound issues, his mum kept calling him and not knowing what more to do, he told his mum what was keeping him. He gave the phone to Oleng to talk to his mother. She shook her head slowly. He had to put the phone on speaker. The respect he had for his mum grew when she talked to his girlfriend like a mother and a friend.

Oleng stopped crying then. He thanked his mum and ended the call. She cleaned her eyes, walked up to him, gave him a hug and peck and wished him a safe trip. She was about walking away when he held her and passionately kissed her, then he hugged her, said goodbye and walked away without a backward glance.

When he left, Oleng crumbled to the floor and resumed crying. She couldn’t shake off the feeling that that was the last time she would see him.

When Eric got to the gate, he gave the gate man a huge some of money.

“Sir, please, I’m traveling out to further my studies. Please take care of her. As you know, she’s always abandoned. Please always make sure she’s okay. Please make sure she eats and read her books. Please make sure she’s not sick and if she is, please take her to the hospital and take care of her. I promise to repay you when I come back. Please take care of her. Please.” he pleaded passionately.

“I go try my best.”

“Thank you very much, sir.”

“Safe journey.”

“Thank you, sir”

He looked back at the house once more, shook his head and left. He put up a joyous front at the farewell dinner organized by his parents along with all his cousins that were staying with them. His heart was heavy especially as he knew his girlfriend was alone at home at a time like this. He felt hatred for her mum and Tessy for always abandoning her.

He called Zinny and Marvy then and pleaded again with them not to leave her all alone as he had done a day before; he and Oleng had gone to see them and his two friends to say farewell. He called his two closest friends also and pleaded with them again to take care of Oleng. Dave he knew would keep to his promise but he knew Eddy would be too busy getting down to fulfill his promise. He knew the girls in whatever university he chose to attend were in trouble with such a womanizer like Eddy.

God! He was going to miss such wonderful friends like Eddy, Dave, Zinny, Marvy and above all Oleng. He kept recounting his friendship with all of them as he laid down on his bed to sleep. He didn’t know when tears rolled down his eyes. He was sure going to miss them. He promised himself not to lose contact with them. He wanted to call Oleng but he didn’t want her to start crying again. He would call her immediately he got to California, he resolved.

He however couldn’t call her immediately he got to the airport the following day because he had to make adjustments to his phone and sim card. When he was able to do this, she was the first person he called.

She was happy he had had a safe trip. Though she had stopped crying, she sounded sad. He was sad that she wasn’t happy because he was happy. Damian and Grandma Conrad gave him a rousing welcome.

Two weeks later, his parents went back to Nigeria. His mum cried at their departure. It seemed she realized then that she was going to leave her baby behind. Damian had to promise to come home immediately he could get a break from his place of work.

Though Eric missed Nigeria, it was fun to be with Damian again. They went everywhere together except his office though he went there a couple of times and had fun like they used to before the former left for the states. They realized then how much they had missed each other. Eric even liked Damian’s charming girlfriend, Rachael.

##############################
Eric woke up the following morning with a headache. He turned on the bed and stared at the sleeping Oleng. She was beautiful even in sleep. He remembered what happened the night before and smiled. He sat up and groaned as he waited for the world to become still again.

He removed the sheets to get up but was surprised to see blood on him and on the bed. He wondered why until he remembered a book he had read about it and Eddy bragging about how he got down with one of their classmates in one of the abandoned classrooms and she had been a virgin. It was a thing of a conquest to him to have deflowered her but Eric didn’t feel that way. He felt a strong emotion towards her. She had given him this priceless gift. He had given her a priceless gift too because she had been his first too. He knew they would never forget each other no matter what.

He carefully got up and went to the bathroom to clean up a bit before getting dressed. He checked his phone and saw no missed call from his mother. He smiled knowing Boma had covered up for him too. He gave Oleng a peck on the head and covered her up properly before tip toeing out of the room in order not to wake her up. He knew she would die of embarrassment if she woke up to meet him there.

He prayed she wouldn’t regret their night together. Though unplanned, it had been the best night of his life. He hadn’t intended kissing her not to talk of making love to her but he hadn’t been able to stop himself what with the alcohol and his declaration of love.

He got outside and had to go and wake up the gateman to open the gate because it was around 6am. The latter was surprised to see him. He didn’t say anything though. When he was about to leave the compound, he stopped and brought out some naira notes from his wallet and gave it to the smiling gate man who bade him goodbye and a safe journey home. The gateman shook his head as he closed the gate.

“Which one concern me? Since her mama no send am, anything wey happen to the girl go be her fault. Dis oyibo no know say e no need to bribe me make I no talk. Afterall, nobody dey ask me question.” he said to himself, sighed and went to the small house by the gate to resume his sleep.

Oleng woke up with a headache also. She tried getting up but groaned at the pain she felt between her thighs. She slowly sat up. She looked at the blood stains on her thighs and the bed and wondered why until memories of the previous night flooded her. Was she supposed to bleed?

Then she remembered a romance novel she had read a while back of how the heroine of the book had bled also when she was deflowered. Oleng had to admit that she didn’t know much about sex or womanhood or puberty apart from what she read in books. The time a seminar was organized in the school to talk about everything to do with females, she had been very sick so she had been unable to attend for the whole week the seminar was held.

When she had gone back to school and asked her friends, they had told her flippantly but not in details. They had told her the things Eric’s mum had already told her when she came to talk to her about menstruation.

If someone had told her that she and Eric would go as far as making love, she wouldn’t have believed the person. She didn’t regret it though. She felt she would die of embarrassment if she saw Eric again. Just then her phone started ringing. She knew he was the one. She kept thinking of what she would say until the phone stopped ringing. He called twice before she decided to answer.

“Good morning, my love.” he pronounced cheerfully, making her lose her breath for some seconds.

“Hi.” she replied with a small voice.

“How you doing?”

“I’m fine.”

There was silence.

“Any regrets?” he questioned holding his breath.

She was silent for a while before she responded with calm, “Certainly not.”

He heaved a sigh of relief. “Thank you very much for that. When you didn’t answer my call at first, I was scared you had started regretting what happened between us and didn’t want to talk to me.”

“I was shy. I didn’t know what to say to you.”

“I thought you hated me.”

“I can’t and will never hate you.”

“Same here…….Sunshine?”

“Yes?”

“It wasn’t just alcohol talking last night. I really do love you. I love you very much.”

She smiled. “I love you too.”

He laughed joyfully, then sobered up.

“Are you alright? I mean, did I hurt you?” he demanded with tenderness.

“No, I’m just a bit sore. A warm bath will take care of it.”

“I’m sorry.”

“What are you apologizing for? Are you regretting what happened?”

“No. I’m sorry I hurt you. As for regretting, not in a million years because if given the opportunity, I’d do it again.” he spelt out bluntly and took her breath away again. She was dumbfounded. She didn’t know what to say because she would do it again also.

“When are your parents coming back?” She changed the topic.

“Either today or tomorrow.”

“Okay.”

There was silence again.

“Do you want me to come over later on in the day?”

“No!” she protested sharply before catching herself. “I mean….I’m not ready to see you just yet……..I am still vulnerable……..Still shy…………I….”she trailed off, embarrassed.

“Don’t worry sunshine, I understand.” he drawled softly.

“Thanks…. Maybe tomorrow or next.”

“Sure. I love you very much.”

“I love you too.”

“Alright. Take care. I’ll call you later.”

“Okay. Bye.”

“Bye.”

When she ended the call, she laid on her bed and thought of everything that happened between them. She wished he wasn’t going away. This would have made them closer. She wished he was here right now to hold her in his arms. Funny enough, she felt like making love with him again. She asked herself if that was how sex was. Would she always feel like doing it? What would happen to her now that Eric wouldn’t be around and she felt like doing it? Was that why people were unfaithful to their partners?

She thought of her mum. Was her mum living without sex? She had never brought a man home before. Or was that why she traveled so much? Did she have men friends everywhere? Oleng continued asking herself rhetorical questions before she decided to go and take her bath. She got up slowly and went to have a warm bath. The pain was still there so she decided to take some pain killers. She left her room and went to the kitchen to get some water from the fridge. She was surprised to see Tessy there.

“Good morning. I didn’t know you were back.” She smiled faintly at her.

“Good morning. Why didn’t you go to church?” The former asked in an unconcerned manner as she drank from the cup of tea.

“I……I’m not feeling fine.” she lied. She hadn’t even realized it was Sunday.

“What’s wrong with you?”

“I …I’m feeling pains.”

“Where?”

Oleng shifted uneasily. Was Tessy aware of what she had done the night before?

“Everywhere.” she lied again.

“You should take panadol or something.”

“Yes, that is what I came to take.” She opened her palm for her to see. “When did you come back?”

“Thirty minutes ago. I didn’t travel again. I went to stay with some friends in town.”

“Okay.” Oleng walked slowly to the fridge. She walked awkwardly because of the pains she felt between her legs.

“What’s wrong with you? Why are you walking like that?” Tessy enquired as she surveyed her steadily.

Oleng didn’t look at her as she opened the fridge and brought out a bottle of water.

“I told you I’m having pains all over my body.”

“Sorry.”

“I’m going to sleep.” she informed her relative who just nodded as she walked away slowly.

She didn’t know if Tessy was lying about coming in thirty minutes earlier or if she knew she and Eric had made love the night before. Funny enough, she didn’t care if she knew or if she would report to her mum. The worst her mum could do was ban Eric from coming there. It wouldn’t matter because he was going away anyway. She went to her room and slept till evening. Eric called her again in the evening and before she slept that night.

They were both surprised and ended the kiss. She looked away but he continued staring at her. They were like that for a while before he gently held her chin and turned her to face him. They slowly came closer. They kissed again. The kiss was slow and passionate. Soon they were in each other’s arms kissing passionately.

Oleng felt as if her lungs would burst out of her body. She was feeling tingling sensations all over her body. Eric drew her closer and began unzipping her sexy dress. She sat rigid for a moment and broke the kiss. Eric paused also to look at her with lust ridden eyes.

“What are we doing?” she whispered, her voice heavy with desire.

“I don’t know but I don’t want to stop.” he huskily told her as he made to unzip her again.

“Me neither.” she acknowledged him and started unbuttoning his shirt.

Eric pulled down the mono strap after he had finished unzipping her. He gazed intently at her breasts held by her strapless sheer bra. He unhooked the bra and grabbed her soft breasts. Oleng became senseless then. She dropped her hands from unbuttoning his shirt, hung her head backwards and moaned in pleasure. When Eric brought his mouth to taste the twin buds, she had to bite her lips hard from screaming in utter delight. Eric stood up, lifted her and pushed the dress off her. It landed in a heap at her feet as she stood there before him in only her panties. She wasn’t self conscious because she was laden wit passion. He carried her gently and placed her in the middle of her bed. He quickly removed the rest of his buttons and yanked his shirt and singlet off his body before he resumed kissing her all over her body. When Eric touched her core through her panties, Oleng felt she would die of ecstasy. When his finger found her soft spot and caressed it with his fingers, she arched her body from the bed and moaned. Eric continued expertly caressing her there until her body was a wave of spasms as she had her very first orgasm. When she came back to the present, Eric placed her hands on his belt indicating he wanted her to UnCloth him and whispered into her ears “Touch me, my love.”

With shaking hands, she did just that. Her eyes widened at the size of the bulge she felt when she touched him. Her inexperienced fingers caressed him, making him moan.
They slowly stripped each other off their remaining clothing with no thought of what they were doing as the alcohol they had consumed and their love for each other dulled their senses. When Eric finally entered her, breaking her maidenhead, she gasped at the pain. Eric stopped and offered her soothing words before slowly driving in further. The pain went and Oleng matched his deep thrusts with the movement of her body. When they both came, they shouted each other’s name. No one had informed Eric the ecstasy he would feel at his first orgasm. Oleng couldn’t comprehend the intense joy she felt at her second orgasm which was better than the first. They slept in each other’s arms.

##############################
Oleng and Eric spent everyday together after his exams. Time was running out for them and each day felt like their last. Eric had just days left to spend in Nigeria. He didn’t feel like going to the graduation party organized by his classmates that Saturday but he felt he needed to because that would be the last time he would see his classmates in a long time if not the last time since he wouldn’t be around to attend the one organized by the school. They had all contributed individually for the party.

He asked Oleng to be his date. She obliged, if her mum wasn’t around. Luckily for them her mum traveled to Dubai and as usual, Tessy told her that she had to travel to see her parents. Oleng couldn’t care less. She was happy to go with Eric. She asked Zinny and Marvy what they would put on because some months ago, her mother got her a beautiful Dior gown. The three of them went shopping.

When she opened the door in answer to Eric's knocks that Saturday afternoon, she took his breath away. She was looking heavenly beautiful on a simple but elegant mono strap black dress that showed a lot of skin and accentuated her small breasts and ended at her ankles. High heeled sandals by Jimmy Choo made her look tall and gold necklace, earrings and bracelet adorned her neck, ears and wrists respectively. He noticed she wore make up for the first time since he had known her which made her even more beautiful. She smiled shyly at him.

“Do I know you?” he questioned, smiling in a dazed manner.

She laughed. “I’m supposed to be the one asking you that. You look good.” she complimented, sizing him up in his tuxedo. He looked like a young model.

“You look better. Gosh! Sunshine, you are gorgeous.”

She smiled shyly again. ”You’re not looking bad yourself.”

He laughed joyously. “Are you ready?”

“Yes. Let me get my clutch.”

He waited outside while she did that. He kept thinking of how good she looked. When she came out and locked the door, he took her hand, gave her a peck on it and they walked to the car outside the gate where the driver was waiting for them. The gate man bade them goodbye.

Eric’s parents were equally not at home. They had traveled to Lagos the previous day for a relative’s wedding. Eric had informed them about the party and had taken permission for their driver to take them to the venue even though it was in an exclusive hotel at the end of the estate since they had refused him driving until he was eighteen. His mother had refused at first. She didn’t want her son to be exposed to alcohol, hard drugs and sex which was the order of the day at such parties. It had been his dad who had convinced her to let him go, vouching for Eric that he wouldn’t engage in such and for her to also remember that it would be like prom night for them.

Eric had also reminded his parents that this would be the last time he would see his school mates. His mother had eventually agreed, however she warned him to come back home early and stay out of trouble. He had been told to abandon the party at the slightest sign of trouble. He doubted there would be trouble because his classmates were mature in that area and attendance was strictly by invitation.

When they got to the Audi A6 car, he opened the door for her and closed it before going to open his own. The driver drove at a sedate pace. Oleng couldn’t say a word because she was so nervous. This was her very first party and she didn’t know what to expect. Eric clasped her hand in his and smiled at her when he noticed her nervous countenance.

The party was already in full swing when they got to the venue. It had been slated for 12pm but they had decided to go there late knowing the party wouldn’t begin then because of African time. They got there some minutes after 4pm. Eric showed his invitation card to the bouncer at the door of the big club where the party was being held. Tuxedoes or blazers were the dress code for the guys while evening gown was the dress code for the girls.

All eyes were on them as they entered the hall holding hands. Eddy and Dave walked up to them with their dates, Zinny and Marvy respectively.

“Do I know any of you?” Eric questioned when they had finished shaking hands and hugging. They laughed. “You’re all looking good.” he commented.

“You’re not looking bad yourself. Oleng, better watch him all evening because you see those girls who are already eating him up with their eyes, they’ll try to make sure you don’t leave here with him.” Zinny teased.

“You’re talking of Eric, what about Oleng? I’m ready to have a duel with Eric to get her off his hands and into mine.” Eddy jibed, looking at her lustfully.

“Just name the time and place.” Eric informed him calmly and they all laughed.

“You girls should never wear those uniforms again. You’re all looking good. I never knew you’re all so beautiful.” Dave complimented also and the girls shyly smiled.

They all stayed together and talked. Food and drinks flowed but Eric refused to take anything. He didn’t feel like it. Oleng took a can of malt. They sat together and watched as people danced. It was a joyous occasion. Eric excused himself and came back, drinking from a canned beer.

“Eric!” Oleng exclaimed. “You’re drinking beer!”

“So?” He shrugged nonchalantly as he sat down beside her.

“You told me you wouldn’t drink beer until you are twenty one.”

“Really?” He shrugged again carelessly.

“Ricky, are you drinking beer because your mates are drinking? Because you want to belong and don’t want to be called a weakling?”

“No.” he quietly countered.

“Why Ricky? Why?”

He gulped down the last drop of beer and dropped the empty can on the floor before he turned to look at her.

“I’ve been with these people for the past six years. We’ve been together since JSS1. We’ve seen each other everyday for the past six years except during hols and suddenly, I’ll never see them again. They can go on seeing each other but I, Eric will never see them again. Some might be for just the four years I’ll be away while others might be for the rest of my life. I had to take that beer to block that fact out of my head since alcohol dulls one’s senses because the whole thing was getting to me.”

Oleng was dumb founded. Not minding the people looking at them, she hugged him.

“It’s okay. I understand. Just try to be happy. Today is your day.” she encouraged him smiling.

He smiled back at her and told her he would be right back. He came back with two cans of beer, opened one and gave it to her.

“Ricky, you know I’ve never drank beer before.” she protested.

“Well, there is always a first time.” He opened his own and took a gulp. He prompted her to sip from hers. She did and made a face. He laughed. He told her to try again and she made a face again as if she was taking a bitter pill. He laughed again.

“It’s sweet at first but later on, it becomes bitter.” she remarked and he laughed. He urged her to continue sipping. She tried again but gave it to him. He finished his and drank hers also. He later went to get them a pack of Don Simeon alcoholic drink. It was so sweet they both finished it.

Then they took to the dance floor. They danced so much that people left the dance floor for both of them. No one knew they were both tipsy. Later on, they exchanged partners. Girls tried to smooch with Eric but failed. He was tipsy not foolish, he thought to himself. When he saw Uche and Eddy trying to do the same with Oleng at different intervals, he yanked her off their arms.

The party got heated. Boys and girls could be seen smooching. Oleng was appalled to see Zinny and Eddy kissing. Dave and Marvy were holding hands and talking. Eric finally decided it was time for them to go home at about 9pm after his mum had called to check up on him. They bade goodbye to all of them with Oge and her friends still sending daggers with their eyes at her because Eric had hardly spared them a glance as he bade them good bye.

Though Eric was tipsy, he managed to call the driver to take them to Oleng’s house. He dismissed the driver telling him he would walk home instead. He had paid the driver to cover up for him incase his mother called him to ask about Eric’s whereabouts because he had already told his mother on their way there that he was already on his bed about to go to sleep.

He needed to pee badly because he hadn’t wanted to use the rest room at the hotel. Oleng had barely opened the door before he rushed to her room and went straight to the toilet. She dropped her bag, his coat and tie he had taken off before they entered the car home and went to the door of the toilet to wait for him because she needed to pee too. He came out and they both laughed as she rushed in. He stared at his huge portrait on her wall and smiled. That was how Oleng met him, standing in the middle of her room, grinning like an idiot.

“You still have it.” he stated as a matter of fact.

“Sure. Don’t you have mine?”

“I do.” he replied and went to sit on the bed.

They had both gone to the photo studio though it was quite far from their residence. They had snapped a lot of pictures together before going to an artist’s shop to have a huge portrait of each other painted, so they would never forget each other and look at it everyday.

His mum had protested when she had first seen it in his room but he had pleaded profusely with her to let him keep it. Oleng didn’t have such problem because her mother never came to her room. Oleng went to sit beside him on the bed and they discussed the party. Oleng told him how shocked she was to see Eddy and Zinny kissing. Eric laughed.

“Eddy has always had a thing for Zinny but had been afraid she would laugh in his face if he told her.”

“But Eddy is a womanizer.”

“Yes, but he’s crazy about her and I think she has a soft spot for him too or she would never have allowed him to kiss her.”

“Well, she didn’t tell me anything like that. Imagine Eddy really liking a girl. It’s hard to believe when all he wants to do is get down with them” Oleng laughed.

“Yeah, I know it’s hard to believe but he’s crazy about her.” he insisted then added quietly, “Like how I’m crazy about you.”

Oleng looked at him in shock. Eric didn’t know if it was the alcohol that loosened his tongue but he felt like barring his mind to her. He took her hands in his.

“I don’t know how or when but I’ve fallen hopelessly in love with you. I’ve been hiding it all this while because I didn’t want it to spoil our friendship but now that I am leaving, I can’t hide it anymore. Oleng, I love you.”

When the shock wore off, Oleng found herself smiling. “Oh Eric! We’ve been playing games. I have asked myself continuously what this strange feeling I have for you is. I know that the way I feel about you now is not the same way I felt when our friendship began. You’ve finally given it a name. I love you too.” she declared, smiling brightly.

Eric was so happy he didn’t know when he kissed her.

#########################
Eric and Oleng knew they had little time together so they spent it wisely. They were now inseparable. After school, Eric would spend some time with her before going home. Whenever he was tired of reading, he would go over to her house. They spent their weekends together. This was their normal routine except when her Mum or Tessy was at home.

Time flew and Eric West African Examination Council Exams began. Then it was time for NECO. Eric decided to write the NECO exams just to spend more time with Oleng because it was only WAEC that was needed for his schooling abroad. He had already written his GED and passed. It was a hard time for Oleng because she rarely saw Eric due to his exams and she was preparing for her own third term exams.

The exams finally came to an end. On the last day of the exams, Oleng, Zinny and Marvy waited a short distance from the SS3 classroom. Physics was their last paper so Oleng was assured that Eric would come out smiling. He was a genius in physics. The art and social science students had finished 2 days earlier leaving the science students to finish theirs that day. It had been much joy for them and their friends from SS2 downwards had waited for them to come out of the hall to hug and congratulate them. Hence the three friends were waiting to do the same to Eric, Eddy and Dave.

“The way I’m feeling right now, I can actually kiss them when they come out. Oleng, hope you won’t mind if I kiss Eric?” Zinny questioned smiling broadly.

“Just try it.” Oleng warned and they all
laughed.

“Its Dave I know I can kiss. Certainly not Eddy. That womanizer will read meaning into it and before you know it, he’ll want to get down with me.” Oleng said and they all laughed again.

There was a small silence before Marvy remarked with great emotion. “I’m really going to miss them. I can’t imagine lunch break without them anymore. I know for a while now we haven’t spent our lunch break with them because of their exams but it was just like a temporary thing to me then but now I realize its forever.”

“Yes Marvy. I’m really going to miss them. Eric’s charming personality, Eddy’s silly and flirtatious attitude, Dave’s quiet and cool nature. I’m not sorry to have known them. All thanks to Oleng here. If not for her friendship with Eric, we would never have been friends with such nice guys.” Zinny pronounced smiling.

“Yeah, thanks Oleng.” Marvy smiled also and hugged Oleng who just kept quiet.

Zinny and Marvy kept recounting all their experiences with the three seniors. They discussed how the three friends were like them in terms of tribe. Eric was from Rivers state, Eddy was from Anambra state and Dave was from Bayelsa state. They were all from different states like them too. Oleng was from Cross River, Ezinne was from Abia state while Marvy was from Rivers state.

They didn’t know the effect they were having on Oleng. All this while, she had put a mental block against thinking of living without Eric but as her friends talked continuously about him and his two friends, reality dawned on her. She finally saw her future without Eric.

“Oleng!” Marvy exclaimed as she saw tears rolling down her friend’s eyes.

“What’s the matter?”

Oleng cleaned her unheeding tears and picked up her bag. “Please tell Eric I’m sorry. I can’t stay.”

“Oleng, what’s wrong?” Zinny demanded of her friend who was already walking away.

Oleng stopped and turned around. “A week from today, Eric will be leaving for California where he’s going to school. He’ll be gone for about four years.” she announced still in tears.

“Please tell him I’m sorry that I can’t share his joy on a special day like this. I’ll only make a fool of myself if I stay because I know I won’t be able to look at him and not remember that I’ll lose him a week from now. I’ll only wet his shirt with my tears of sorrow instead of joy.”

With that sorrowful declaration she quickly walked away leaving her friends in a sad mood.

“No wonder she’s been so sad.” Marvy commented at her friend’s receding figure.

“Yes, poor girl. Marvy, we must make sure that she doesn’t feel Eric’s absence. We’ll be closer to her now more than ever.”

“Sure. That’s if she’ll let us.”

“No matter what, we must try.”

They waited there alone with others quietly. They however became joyous again when students started filing out with great joy and students were screaming and hugging each other.

The three people they were waiting for came out together. Zinny rushed to hug Eddy, Marvy ran to hug Dave too. Eric looked around for Oleng but she was nowhere to be found. He was both hurt and disappointed. Zinny rushed to hug him and Marvy followed suit. Female students who had been looking for an opportunity to get close to the gorgeous former senior prefect saw their chance.

They hugged and kissed him continuously. Zinny had to forcefully drag them away. She became his self appointed personal body guard. Eric put up a happy front but inwardly, he wasn’t happy. Where was his best friend on a day like this? He didn’t accept the excuse she had given to her friends. She had given no thought of his feelings whatsoever. Didn’t she think of how he would feel seeing she wasn’t there to share his joy? He knew how she felt but he felt the same way also.

He heard people whispering that they had quarreled, that was why she wasn’t here. For the first time in their relationship, he was truly angry with her. She had behaved in a self centered manner.

When he got home, his mum welcomed him like a king. His dad who was usually not at home at that time of the day was at home to welcome him like a king also. They had arranged a small party for him. He tried his best to be cheerful. His brother and relatives called to congratulate him. He however kept rejecting Oleng’s calls. He didn’t feel like talking to her just yet. When the small party was over, he went to his room with the excuse that he was tired.

After awhile, he decided to pick Oleng’s call. He answered the call albeit coldly.
“Thank God you finally answered.” Oleng was full of relief but he kept her quiet.

“Please can you come over? I need to talk to you.” she eagerly requested.

“About what?” he coldly asked. He was obviously still angry.

“Please. I really need to talk to you.” He could hear the tears in her voice but he just wasn’t in the mood.

“Sorry, Oleng. I can’t come over. I’m tired. I need to rest.” With that he ended the call. He told himself that he would switch off his phone if she tried calling again. He was surprised when she didn’t call back. She was probably crying her eyes out. He picked up his phone to call her back. He shook his head and dropped the phone. He was the wronged party here. Let her do the calling and begging. He laid on his bed but couldn’t sleep.

A while later, one of his cousins staying with them came into the room. He sat up on the bed. Boma was funny and mischievous and Eric liked her like that; and of course for the fact that she called him handsome.

“Handsome, your girlfriend’s here.” Boma informed him as she sat down on the bed.

“God!” he winced. “Don’t tell me mum invited Bridget to dinner without my consent again?” he lamented and laid back on the bed.

Boma laughed. “No, not that one. I mean your real girlfriend.” she stressed in an undertone.

“Here you go again, Boma. You know I don’t have a girlfriend.”

She laughed again. ”That one” She stabbed a finger in the air at Oleng’s huge portrait on the wall.

Eric turned and looked at it in ringing disbelief. “No way! That’s not true. Oleng cannot be bold enough to come here on her own. She doesn’t like coming here. She’s been here only once and that’s because it was mum and dad’s anniversary and I threatened to end our friendship if she didn’t come. I even had to go and pick her myself.”

“Are you calling me a liar, handsome? Or maybe I’m blind?”

Eric paused and surveyed her steadily.

“Boma please, I hope this isn’t one of your mischievous games.”

Boma got up then. “Well, I’ll go and tell her you don’t want to see her.” she said as a matter of fact and walked towards the door.

“You’re serious, aren’t you?”

“Like a heart attack.” she laughed heartily.

“I can’t believe Oleng actually came here. She must really be sorry.” he murmured under his breath. He didn’t want to start explaining things to his nosy cousin. He got up from the bed. “Where’s she?”

Boma still standing by the door said, “The lounge, but be warned; your parents saw her. Your mum was talking to her before I left to get you.”

“O no!” he exclaimed, putting on his chinos trousers. “She’s terrified of mum.”

Boma giggled. “So was I until I got to know her. I discovered that that look of hers, that ‘Don’t come near me, you leper’ kind of look was just for show. She’s the sweetest person I know.”

Eric smiled in spite of himself. His mum was really like that to a lot of people. He had told Oleng a lot of times that his mum was different from the face she puts on but Oleng had never believed.

“Now that you know your parents are aware of her visit, don’t do what you guys normally do in her house.” Boma advised in a teasing manner.

“We don’t do anything in her house. What are you insinuating?” he asked buttoning his shirt.

“A handsome guy like you, a beautiful girl like her, tell me something else.”

“For crying out loud Boma, I’m just sixteen and she is just fifteen!” he protested.

“And Jesus died at the age of thirty three.” she put in as a matter of fact.

Eric just stared at her. “What has that got to do with the issue at hand?”

“Yeah well………….Okay, maybe it doesn’t relate with what was just said. What I’m trying to say is that no one is too young to taste the forbidden fuit. Joleen, my elder sister lost her virginity at the age of 12……….Ooops! Pretend you didn’t hear that.” she put a hand to her mouth.

Eric burst into laughter and walked to the door smiling brightly.

“Come on, handsome. Promise me you won’t tell anyone. Let this be our little secret.”

“Lets see,” Eric pretented to think. “Little secret number thirty four? How much?” he held out his hand, grinning.

“Cash or kind?” she questioned, rolling her eyes at him.

“Both.” Eric smiled mischievously.

“Alright, spoil sport. I’ll think of something.”

“You better do. Cause’ we don’t want Joleen to know we know her little secret, right?” he remarked sweetly, still smiling mischievously and opened the door.

He walked slowly to the lounge. He knew his parents would be in the living room. He still didn’t believe Oleng had come to his house. He was indeed surprised to see her there. She quickly got up when she saw him. Eric had to appreciate Oleng’s mum once again. She knew how to buy good things for her daughter.

Oleng was looking drop dead gorgeous as usual in a beautiful top and hip hugging jeans, which brought out her hour glass figure. She wore chucks on her feet and he knew it was some kind of jewellery other than gold and diamond that adorned her neck, ears and wrist. God! Oleng was beautiful.

She walked shyly towards him while he just stood in the middle of the room and put his hands in his pockets with an air of indifference. She stopped before him and stared at the thick rug. She thrust out a beautiful hand-made card to him.

“I had this made specially for you. I should have given it to you earlier but………I’m sorry I wasn’t there when you were through with your exams….I just couldn’t handle everything then………I …” She was still staring at the rug. She smiled a little. “Zinny told me more than half of the girls in the school hugged you. I don’t blame them though. If I had been there, it wouldn’t have happened……I……..Won’t you at least take the card from me?” she queried when she looked up at him and he didn’t take it or say anything.

He waited for a full minute before he slowly removed his hand from his pocket and took the card.

“Thanks.” he quietly said.

“I’m sorry.” she apologised and stared at the rug again. When he still didn’t reply, she pleaded in almost a whisper, “Please say something.”

“What do you want me to say, Oleng?” he began impatiently. “You hurt me a lot today. For the first time since our friendship began, I was really angry with you. A very special day in my life and my best friend was nowhere to be found. I was surrounded by strangers and few friends but the most important person in my life was not there when I needed her just because she was too sentimental to hang around.” he said each word bitingly.

Tears slowly dropped from her eyes. She didn’t know what to say. At the time of her departure, escape had been the uppermost thing in her mind. She hadn’t thought about his feelings. It was when she had gone home and thought of everything before she realized the folly of her actions. It had been too late to go back and Eric had kept rejecting her calls making her more miserable. She had known she had to see him. She knew she would be in trouble if she got home to meet her mum. She would receive a heavy scolding but she didn’t care. She just wanted to make things right with her best friend.

“I’m very sorry, Ricky.” she sniffed. “I didn’t think before I left. I just wanted to escape. All I saw was my future without you. It was when I got home that I realized how you would feel and when I tried calling you, you kept rejecting my calls. I really felt like dying because I knew I hurt you. All I can say is please forgive me. I’m sorry. Please.” she conceded ruefully.

Eric couldn’t bear her to see her cry. He stepped closer to her and hugged her, forgetting his cousin’s warning.
“It’s okay. I forgive you. I wanted you to know how much you hurt me today. It’s okay, sunshine. I’ve already forgiven you. Don’t abandon me like that again, okay?” he informed her, looking down at her smiling.

She wanted to remind him that he wouldn’t be around for her to do it to him again but thought against it. Better to let sleeping dogs lie.

“I promise.” she declared smiling, still in his arms.

“Handsome!” Boma exclaimed from the door way. “What did I tell you?” She looked scandalized.

Oleng quickly struggled to leave his arms as she wiped her tears way. Eric let her go but held her hand.

“Come on, Boma. It was just a harmless hug.” he assured his cousin, smiling mischievously.

“Yeah right! And Jesus died at…………..”

“The age of thirty three. Yeah, I know.”

“Naughty boy!” she admonished, grinning brightly.

Oleng couldn’t help smiling. She wished Boma were in Tessy’s place. She wouldn’t have been lonely. Boma was such a nice person.

“What are you doing here anyway?” Eric inquired.

“Just checking on you. You’re lucky your parents went out to go get suya.”

“And they made you my body guard or should I say Oleng’s chaperone before they left?” he enquired smiling.

“Self appointed.” Boma put a hand to her chest and saluted as if she was a soldier reporting for duty.

They all laughed. Oleng informed them that she had to get going. Boma told her goodbye and wrestled the beautiful card out of Eric’s hand before they left. She read the inscriptions on the congratulations card and shook her head.

Fifteen and sixteen indeed! They were clearly infatuated with each other. She wouldn’t call it love because she felt they were too young to know the real thing. She at twenty didn’t even know the real thing. She would really love for them to end up together in future though. They looked perfect for each other. Eric, tall, fair and handsome while Oleng, petite, chocolate skinned and beautiful. She read the inscriptions on the card again and shook her head again.

She swung to face him then in anger also.

“That’s not the question. The question is why didn’t you tell me? How could you? How could you leave me in the dark like that? When were you going to tell me? Immediately you land in JFK airport or when you begin classes there? How could you?” Tears slowly rolled down her eyes.

Eric quietly sat, looking at the Persian rug. He had made a mess of things. He didn’t know why he had lacked the courage to tell her. He had kept postponing the time and now she had found out. He wondered who told her. Eddy? Dave? Who told her was not the issue now. How would he make her understand that he had not meant to keep her in the dark for this long? He kept thinking for a while.

He finally got up and looked at her. She had her back to him but he knew she was crying. She kept wiping away the tears impatiently with her hand. He walked up to her slowly. He placed a hand on her shoulder. She shrugged it off.

“Sunshine, where do I start from? I really don’t know where to begin. All I can say is I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to keep it from you. I was waiting for the right time to tell you. That’s funny because I still don’t even know the right time to tell you………Sunshine, I’m filled with so much dread at the thought of leaving you here in Nigeria.

I pleaded and pleaded with my parents to allow me school here but they refused. They no longer have faith in our tertiary institutions. Grandma Conrad didn’t help matters also. She kept saying she’d like me to be close to her the way Damian is over there. I did everything humanly possible to dissuade them but they refused to listen to me. My dad who is usually more understanding than my mum refused because I couldn’t give him a tangible reason why I wanted to stay back in Nigeria. When I knew there was no hope, I didn’t know how to tell you………Sunshine, please I’m sorry. Forgive me.” he explained sadly.

When she still didn’t say anything, he touched her tentatively.

“Sunshine?”

She turned around then to look at him. He was sorry to see her eyes flooded with tears.

“When did you know? I mean for how long have you known?”

He stared at the rug. “Before the second term holidays.”

“Since then?” she shouted. “How could you? Why?” She started crying profusely then.

“Sunshine, please. I don’t like seeing you like this. Don’t you know this is hard for me too? How could I just look you in the eye and tell you all our dreams together won’t come to pass? Tell you all our promises of living together, traveling together and visiting tourist centers during our vacations will go unfulfilled. How? Tell me how?” Tears formed in his eyes.

For an answer, she put both hands to cover her face and wailed. He couldn’t resist taking her in his arms. He held her while she cried. He tried very hard not to cry also though tears were brimming in his eyes. He couldn’t imagine life without her.

When she was spent, he led her to a chair and made her sit. He went to the kitchen fridge to get her a glass of water. He made her sip from it; she took small sips and shook her head. She was so downcast; he didn’t know what to do. He had never seen her like this before not even when she had been crying that her mum didn’t love her. He sat down beside her and held her hand. He didn’t know what else to do.

After a while he said, “Why don’t you talk to your mum? You can come over when you are through with your secondary education. We can live our dreams over there instead of here. It would be more fun,” Eric brightened up at the thought. “I know your mum can afford it and she can come once in a while on one of her numerous trips to see you if she wants.”

Oleng looked at him and shook her head. She had to take a sip of water before she could talk. Her voice was broken from the weeping.

“No.’ she simply said after a while.

“Why?”

“I’ve asked her before. When you first told me that your parents hinted that you would school over there. She told me I was joking. She doesn’t want me out of her sight. It was funny to me then because she is never at home. So I wonder how I’m in her sight. If she finds out you’re going also, that will only make her refuse the more.”

“No, sunshine. Don’t be negative. You can talk to her again. I can even get my mum to talk to her. Maybe she can convince her to send you there also.” he prompted with hope.

She shook her head again. “Let it go Eric. There’s no hope. I know my mum. She won’t allow me to go. She doesn’t like me being happy. She likes to see me miserable. She hates me. I don’t know why but she does. She won’t agree because she knows I’ll be happy to be out of her hair and be with you over there.” Tears slowly dropped as she spoke.

“I can talk to her. I can make her see reason.”

“No, Ricky. You’d only put me in trouble.” She wiped the tears rolling down her eyes again.

“I’ve got to try Oleng. I don’t want to lose you.” he sorrowfully proclaimed.

She held his hand and smiled a little.

“You won’t lose me if we promise each other never to lose contact or stop communicating no matter what we are going through or wherever we are.”

“I promise. I promise.” he solemnly declared.

“I promise too” she affirmed and they hugged. When they broke it off, she smiled lightly and said, “Let’s look at the bright side. We still have about four months before you leave since your results will be out towards the end of the year.”

He looked down at their entwined hands.

“My uncle over there helping me with the admission said it would be very good for me to come over there, write my SATs and all, familiarize myself with the surroundings and the way of life there and for Damian to put me through with some things since he schooled there, before my results come out.”

“So when exactly are you leaving?” she fearfully enquired.

He looked down at their hands again and took a deep breath.

“A week after my exams.”

She immediately took her hand from his and used it to cover her mouth as she continuously shook her head, whispering. “No.”

The tears that had stopped falling earlier on, rolled down profusely.

Eric didn’t waste time in taking her in his arms and comforting her. He however couldn’t control the tears that rolled down his eyes. God! He was going to miss her. His best friend. His Sunshine. Sincerely, life would be meaningless without her. Would he be able to concentrate over there without her? He slowly shook his head. He doubted it.

############################
“Something’s wrong with my sunshine.”

Eric commented as he walked home with Dave and Eddy a week later.

“What do you mean?” Eddy asked as he spat his chewing gum out of his mouth.

“Didn’t you notice her moodiness as we walked her home just now?” Eric enquired.

“I did but I thought she was just her normal quiet self.” Eddy delivered bluntly.

“She’s too quiet. I know her. Something’s wrong. What do you think Dave?”

Dave looked uneasily at his friend. He knew it was his letting the cat out of the bag a week ago to Oleng that had made her moody for a week now. He regretted telling her.

“Ah…..” he stammered. “I think she’s moody. Maybe its one of those her moody spells. She’ll soon snap out of it,” he assured smiling. “Better still, why don’t you go and find out what’s wrong with her?” he helpfully suggested.

“I have asked her a number of times but she keeps telling me nothing and with our exams fast approaching, I haven’t found time to go over to her house.”

“Maybe that’s why she is moody,” Eddy put in. “You’ve abandoned her because of your exams.”

“Really?” Eric wondered in disbelief.

“I don’t think so. Oleng isn’t selfish or self centered. Just find time to go to her house.” Dave countered quietly.

“I will.” Eric said as they said good bye to Eddy when they got to his house.

When Eric had taken a shower and eaten, the thought of Oleng’s moodiness was still on his mind. He decided to postpone siesta and studying. He would study throughout the night but for now, he had to see his sunshine or he wouldn’t be able to study. He thanked God his mum wasn’t at home as he dressed up in blue jeans and an Armani shirt. Besides Oleng’s house was only a stone throw from his.

He hoped Tessy and her mum were not at home. That was unlikely anyway. He got to the house and rang the door bell after giving the usual tip to the gate man.

“What are you doing here, Ricky? You didn’t tell me you were coming.” She was surprised to see him when she opened the door.

Eric smiled brightly and with a small shrug said, “I got tired of reading and decided to come and see you since I haven’t been here in a while.”

“It doesn’t matter. I understand that your exams are coming up soon. You should be reading.”

“Is that a polite way of telling me to go back home?” he teased.

She laughed. “Of course not. Come in.” she stepped aside for him to enter before shutting the door. She followed him to the living room from the lobby.

“Alone as usual?” he remarked as he sat down on the leather sofa.

“As usual.” she replied and sat facing him on her mum’s wicker chair.

“Did you make the fruit salad?”

“Yeah. Want some?”

“Yeah, that’s if I won’t spend the rest of the day in your toilet.” he teased.

She laughed. “You’re not serious.”

She went to get the fruit salad from the fridge in the kitchen and served a helping in two glass bowls. She took them back to the living room where Eric was already surfing through the channels of the DSTV for sports.

“Don’t tell me you intend watching TV, Ricky.”

“Not you too, sunshine. My parents allow me to watch only the news. I need a break. I’m tired of reading. God! I’m not the first person to write WAEC and NECO for crying out loud!” he lamented.

Oleng laughed. “So Mr. Civil Engineer can get tired of reading? Book worms like you are not supposed to get tired of reading.”

“Me? A book worm? So it’s only market women like you who are supposed to get tired of reading?”

“Me, market woman? I’ll kill you. Mechanic!” she fired back with humour and threw part of the fruit salad at him. He ducked and it hit the plasma television.

“Oh! Look what you made me do.” she complained as she went to get a hand towel from the kitchen. He laughed joyously but helped her scoop the mess from the floor while she cleaned the TV.

They later sat down to watch a movie while eating their fruit salad. When the movie was over, Eric felt it was time for him to broach the topic that had brought him there. He held her hand, not minding the tingling sensations that ran through his body. She looked down at their hands and looked away.

“Sunshine, you’ve been very moody this past week and I’ve continuously asked you why but you refused to tell me anything. Truth be told, I wasn’t tired of reading. I just wasn’t able to concentrate. How can I concentrate when there’s something wrong with my best friend and she refuse to talk to me? I thought maybe I was neglecting you. Is that it? Have I been paying less attention to you because of my studies?”

Oleng shook her head vigorously. “Of course not, Ricky. You’ve never neglected me before. Even when you go abroad, you still always make me feel your presence.”

“Then what’s the problem? And don’t tell me nothing because you and I know something is bothering you.” he pressed.

For an answer, Oleng got up, wrapped her hands around her and walked towards the TV with her back to him. She thought for a while before saying,

“Nothing is wrong. I mean what could be wrong when my best friend, someone I trust so much is no longer going to school here in Nigeria as I thought but in America yet he refused to tell me? What could be wrong?” she threw at him still with her back to him.

Eric became tense. He was shocked. He sat ram rod stiff. He could only shake his head before anger took over. He stood up in anger. “Who told you?”