₦airaland Forum

DISGUISED

The beautifully carved and vertically lined flowers that ran from the main gate down to the Administrative Block, the blue and peach colour painted walkway and the sophisticated storey buildings were only but a few eye-catching descriptions of Nissi high school. An educational citadel founded two decades ago and stood out among her sister colleges since then, Nissi high school was worth the honour and respect she commanded in terms of education. They had just resumed for a new session and academic activities were actively up and running. The students, beautifully clad in their uniforms and blazers to compliment, looked classy when they stand in lines according to their classes every morning during the assembly. Mrs Obiorah, the director and wife to the owner of the school, addressed the one thousand plus students every morning in her cry-like voice. The funny voice made the students nicked her 'bush baby', a name they dared not mention to any teacher's hearing.
"I have said it, and I'll continue to say it that we do not train uncouths and hooligans here. Instead of seeking for an expulsion, it'll be good if you drop out willingly, because I noticed that some of you do not want to be tamed. Meanwhile, SS3B class representative should forward the name of the culprit who damaged their class door handle before noon. If the person is unknown, the whole class will have to pay the fine for the fixing. In a straight line, walk to your classrooms and prepare for the first lesson."

SS3B was known to be the most noisiest and indecent class. Most of the reports from teachers to the disciplinary committee were from the class, and their form master was already out of ideas on how to bring the few bad eggs back in track before they influence the innocent ones. Among the class members were: Damilola — a Yoruba boy fluent in French language, Ake — the smallest girl who no one could challenge in a quarrel, Biyo and Awo — identical twins fond of making jokes by confusing teachers with their names. The class had students who had different issues to be addressed every blessed day, but there were also a few decent others who comported themselves properly.
"Class rep and assistant, stand up! Who broke the handle?" It was Mr. Imeh, their form master, sent by the director to fish out the culprit.
"Yesterday I had left before the closing bell rang because of my running stomach." The assistant class representative, a lanky girl with braided hair, tried to pull herself out.
"I only saw it already broken and on the floor when I returned from the staff room." Elijah explained with his Igbo accent coating each word.
"It's quite unfortunate that some innocent people will get involved, but I'm sure it'll serve as a lesson anyway; you'll be vigilant of your surrounding henceforth. In this regard, you all are expected to pay for the damage by tomorrow just as the director mentioned. I'll make sure I keep an eye on you from this day forward, otherwise you might ruin my reputation."
He was still talking when a beautiful girl with a pointed nose and curly hair entered the class, she wore a mufti and sneakers that looked like they cost a fortune. From her appearance, it was obvious that she came from an upper-class and affluent family. She greeted him by genuflecting slightly and went closer to pass an information.
"The director wants to see you."
Mr. Imeh, in his strictness, motioned her to pause.
"Wait. Are you not done with the registration?"
"I am."
"Go get your bag then and return to the class. You will get your uniform hopefully by tomorrow."
He turned to the class.
"Class, this is Mirabel. She is a new student and your classmate, do well to make her comfortable. Elijah and Mary, put her through and make the teachers know her. Have a great day."
He stepped out of the class with Mirabel following behind to pick her bag and books. Five minutes after she returned, the Mathematics teacher entered and the first lesson began. Halfway through the class, he had complained more than five times for Mirabel to look up to the whiteboard.
"Young lady, what is wrong with you? Your eyes have been fixed on what I cannot say. Let me see your hands."
A big bar of chocolate was the cause of her divided attention. The teacher frowned and displeasingly shouted at her.
"Submit that to me right now, you uncultured girl!"
She obliged at once. All of the boys in the class were again lost while staring at her curves and the girls were feeling insecure already as she walked to her seat.
"What's your name? Keep standing."
"Mirabel, sir."
"Be formal!"
"My name is Mirabel Ekanem."
"Good. I'll pardon you today because you do not know; probably because you are a new student who has not gone through the school handbook. This should be the first and very last time you eat in class when it's not recess, except of course you want it confiscated and thrown into the bin."
For the rest of the day, Mirabel was uncomfortable with the stares from the boys in class, at a point she rested her head on the desk. Some bold guys walked to her seat at the close of school; among them were the twin brothers and three others who planned on trying their luck to woo her, even though it was to be only one person who would win her at the end.
"Hello, how did you enjoy the lessons?"
"You need assistance? I could help copy one or two notes to enable you catch up quickly."
"Who's coming to pick you?"
Each person wanted to get a chance at all cost, and she was calm while responding to their questions. Ten minutes later the class was almost empty, Mirabel breathed in relief for the first time. Daniel and Elijah were the only ones in the class with her - Daniel arranging his books and locker, while Elijah was waiting for her to leave the class so he could lock it. Daniel was the most shy and quiet student in the class. He found a convenient seat at the back of the class, and it remained his position right from junior secondary days. He, like other boys in the class, was also attracted to Mirabel and her charming beauty, but he didn't join the bandwagon to chase her openly.
"You're waiting for someone?" He asked her from behind.
"My dad's driver."
"Alright. I'm Daniel, and you?"
"You know my name already."
Her words were blunt, it was obvious that needed an end to the conversation.
"See you tomorrow, bro." Daniel bid Elijah good-bye as he walked out of the class with a disappointed face.

It took less than a month for Mirabel to get used to her new school. She loved everything about the school except one - the only problem she had was her male classmates who pestered her with love profession every day. Her cold attitude sent so many of them away, but a few of them were resilient to continue trying. Daniel was one of the boys who secretly hoped to get a chance with her one day. During break one day, he found her buying snacks from the tuckshop two weeks before the first terminal examination, this was his golden chance to talk to her.
"Mirabel, I am hungry too." He giggled and drew closer.
"You came to the tuckshop empty-handed? Is that it?"
"Yes."
"Okay. Take whatever you want and I'll pay."
Daniel had money for his snacks, but if Mirabel paying for him would be a way into her life, so be it. He took a little higher than what he could afford and she noticed.
"Is that all you want?"
It didn't look like she was making ridicules, because she was even more than capable to pay for it.
"That's all. Thank you."
She opened her small purse to pay for the snacks and a bundle of shiny mint notes fell out. Daniel averted his eyes and pretended not to have seen it. That was the first and only opportunity he needed to strike. He kept the momentum from that day onwards.
Classmates noticed how he went close to her every day and mocked him for degrading himself because of friendship.
"Daniel, you of all people? Following that Mirabel girl up and down and everywhere in the school?" One of the twin brothers blocked him after class one day.
"Yes, why?"
"This is not you c'mon!"
There was a touch of envy in his tone and Daniel could notice. Just like the others, he was envious because she selected a few people she talked with.
"Don't worry, I'll be good. Take care." Daniel muted him and walked away.


A theft case that almost shocked the whole school happened during the examination. It all started when Mary, the assistant class representative, brought her new phone to school. The phone went round the class even though it was prohibited in the school premises. All of a sudden, it vanished into thin air during the recess. Pandemonium broke out in the class when Mary couldn't control her wailing. Elijah suggested that they searched themselves instead of reporting to the teachers, to avoid incurring punishment for bringing a phone school. Somehow the news got to the form master and he appeared immediately.
"Over my dead body will you children disgrace me in this school. Everyone step out. Now!"
There was no trace of guilt on their faces, and so it was difficult to track the thief.
"Mary, I hope you know you're in another problem aside your missing phone."
She nodded.
"Was the phone switched off?"
She nodded in negation and wiped her eyes.
"Sir, let's call the phone and see if it'll connect." Elijah added.
"Alright. That's a good idea."
There was dead silence in the class as Mary typed her number in his phone. Expecting a negative outcome but praying for a good one, they waited the longest twenty seconds of their lives until the phone rang. It rang inside Mirabel's bag. The whole class, surprised and shocked, broke into an uproar that sent the director and some teachers running to SS3B class.
"What is going on?" The director inquired, waving her cane to calm the excited students.
"A phone was stolen. From the look of things, Mirabel is the thief." The form master explained bluntly.
His words triggered another uproar. The students, the twin brothers in particular, were happy to finally break her wings in mockery because of the attitude she gave them.
"A phone? Stolen? Since when did you permit your students to bring phones to school?"
"Ma, it has never happened before."
All these while Mirabel was shivering at a corner with sweat popping on her face.
"The owner of the phone and the thief should step out." The director instructed.
All eyes turned to Mirabel and she felt her soul leaving her. In a jiffy, as if a Messiah came, the scenario changed.
"She didn't steal the phone; I put it inside her bag to deal with her." Daniel declared from the door side, causing a wave of silence to blow again.
"Why did you do that?" The mathematics teacher asked sharply.
"She wouldn't give me a chance to be her boyfriend."
The matter became funny, complicated and somewhat true; the classmates knew that he was going after her, but he surely went too far by putting a phone in her bag.
"Mr. Form master, bring Daniel Obi, Mary George and Mirabel Ekanem to my office. I need to deal with these children.
Inside Mrs. Obiorah's office, series of interrogative questions were asked and Daniel claimed responsibility until he was finally proven guilty. He was laid on the table and given forty-five strokes, which was triple of what Mary received for bringing a phone to school.
At the end of the day, the matter didn't age well for the students as the classmates channelled the insult to Daniel for being desperate for love. The closing bell rung and they trooped out one after the other, conversing in small groups. Daniel finished packing his books and set to leave the class when a teary Mirabel walked up to his seat.
"Why did you do that?"
He giggled the same way he did when he first met her at the tuckshop.
"I just had to, not for any reason whatsoever."
"You saved me, unexpectedly."
The whole truth was that Mirabel stole the phone, but Daniel confessing to the crime changed the whole storyline.
"Well, I am glad I did."
The tears rolled from her eyes as Daniel bolted his locker and left for home. A whole lot of mess he just saved her from.

The next day, Mirabel arrived earlier to wait for Daniel who was always the first to come to school every day. Unfortunately, he didn't show up until other students had filled the school compound. She had a message for him that she wanted to pass. During the assembly, the director, in her ignorance, addressed the previous day's incident and warned the males to avoid reoccurrence. Marching to their classrooms, Mirabel sighted the ever quiet Daniel and her heart skipped a beat. She had rushed to his seat just before the first lesson began and talked to him in whispers.
"Thank you for yesterday."
"That should be okay."
"My mom wants to see you."
"I hope all is well. Is she outside?"
"Everything is alright. No, she's not outside. You'll follow me to my house."
"Not today."
The Geography teacher's presence brought the conversation to an abrupt end. All through the morning, Daniel caught Mirabel stealing glances at him, but he kept a straight face and pretended not to have noticed.
"Can you please accompany me to get snacks from the tuckshop?" She said to him when the bell for breaktime sounded.
"Sure."
At the tuckshop, she sat beside him with plastic soft drinks and baked food in front of them.
"Daniel, you saved my neck yesterday."
"This is the hundredth time you're saying this. Let it be in the past."
"No! There's more to it and that's why I called you. At it is now, you're no longer just a classmate to me. Can I confide in you?"
He winked.
"Alright. I'm a kleptomaniac."
"Okay?"
"Do you even know what that means? Why do you make it look light?"
"It's nothing. That's all."
"Fine. It's obvious that you do not want to talk about it. I'm now ready to be your good and close friend."
From her voice, it was clear that she wanted more than being friends.
"You want me to be your boyfriend? I am not interested. Don't you remember what your counselor told you?"
"What?! How did you know I've got a counselor?"
"I know you."
The topic changed entirely, she pushed the snacks aside to concentrate.
"You know me? How and where?"
Daniel looked like he didn't want her to know, but he decided to explain everything as an afterthought.
"My dad, he has been your counselor for five years now and counting. When he told me about the theft incident in your former school and how the ridicules from your mates affected your mental health, I suggested that you came here, to my class in particular. It's all good."
Mirabel's knees became weak, and her lips shut. It all seemed like a dream until she found herself crying.
"Will I ever be fine? I just can't help it."
"It's a gradual process; you'll get over it with time."
"I can only hope for a change; I wish it comes quickly."
"You have to learn how to control yourself. Let's go back to the class."

After school that day, she slid a tiny paper into his locker and went out of the class. It was her professing love to him and how it's growing rapidly. He laughed and folded it into one of his notes. She was standing at the gate waiting for her father's driver when Daniel came out.
"Dear, you're leaving already. Can you just wait some minutes? My dad is coming to pick me today." Her voice had changed completely.
"Today is Friday, I need to attend my football training."
"Okay. When are you coming to see my mom?"
"I don't think that would be necessary. By the way, make sure no one at home hears what happened yesterday."
"If you say so. But, what's your reply?"
"To?"
"The paper with you."
"That too, I don't think it'll be necessary, but we can still be good friends."
"How is it possible that I remain 'just friends' with someone who has stolen my heart in a twinkle of the eyes?"
Her countenance fell and she was greatly disappointed.
"Remember what I told you. You have to learn how to control yourself if you desire a change. Start with your emotions."
A tinted glass Nissan pulled over in front them and Mirabel walked to the backdoor.
"Do have a great a weekend." He bid her goodbye, giggled and ran off.
"A very small world we are in. Daniel, guardian angel in disguise."
Her eyes fixed on Daniel as they drove past him, he had unbuttoned his shirt and was kicking an empty bottled water container while running with his sweaty face.

©️ Ephraim.

Divepen1 Obinnau, help please.

popsy2:
Dunno

Alright.

Suggestions please.

Goalnaldo:
I would like to learn too. Concerning Amazon, you need to have the manuscript and book cover designs then go to https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/GCAMZS55VGYBQVEG and sign up. It's a really straight forward process.

You're a good man. I'll check it right away.

Good morning and a blessed weekend to you, good people of Nigeria. Hope we're all good.

Straight to the point. I wrote a novel (20k words) during the Lockdown/ASUU strike. Before now, I've written many short stories and won some literary competitions with them, but this particular one was specifically written for financial purpose. This is the first time I want to go beyond the normal write&post I've been doing for years now, that's why I need experienced persons to help put me through. I'm really nervous (more like being scared), although I have a conviction that it'll end well. I called a publishing company who asked me to get a lecturer to do the vetting (corrections and rearrangements) for me. I already contacted an ELS lecturer in my school who agreed to do it (10k after I pleaded). The company asked me to come back to them when he's done.
That aside, I still need suggestions on how to go about on: low expenses and total costs, promotion after it's been done and how to make profit from it. I'll also appreciate if someone puts me through on how to sell on Amazon and other marketing sites.

It's a story about a young boy who, just like others, travelled from the village to the city in search of greener pastures. His struggles and how it finally ended. It's really worthwhile.

Her king-sized bed covered with a colourful sheet was by the corner of the room, a big teddy bear laid on the neatly folded pink duvet. She sprayed a strawberry flavour air freshener that made the room smelt like a wonderland. My eyes were heavy, but she didn't look like she'd sleep anytime soon, as a matter of fact she picked a book to read when I yawned for the seventh time.
"You can go to bed if you want to, I will have to finish reading before I sleep." She spoke like she could read the exact move in my mind.
"That book is too big for you to finish this night."
"I read one chapter per night. What is your daily routine before sleeping?"
"Routine? I barely have time to follow routines religiously, I'm always inconsistent when it comes to things like this."
"Different strokes for different folks. Let me not keep you awake."
The bed was thick and soft, smooth and cozy, I rubbed my feet to remove sand before climbing on it. She had just one pillow on the bed, and I was too mannered to touch it.
"You can use it." She spoke without looking at me.
I wondered how she noticed, and how she saw me. I pulled the pillow closer to myself and my eyes caught a glimpse of two objects that looked like a police baton, I touched them blindly in curiosity.
"Pass those things to me please." She requested.
I noticed her countenance fell when she stretched her hands to receive them. Truth to tell, it was the first time I saw and touched a Love Machine, although I had seen many of them in porn videos.
"I haven't used these stuffs for quite a long time now." She explained calmly.
"It doesn't seem so." I replied sharply, my mind had become free to talk boldly.
"Yeah, I know. I only use them for clitoral stimulation and nothing more, I cannot remember the last time I was penetrated."
"That's serious!"
"More serious than you think. I hated every single thing about sex when I divorced my husband seven years ago, he made me turned into something else. But I can't stay forever like this, I'm human."
"You've really tried to stay celibate for seven long years. I give you credit for that, because I cannot stay that long without ..."
"You talk too much! Sleep."
Her voice didn't sound like she meant what she said, and I would have been a flop to do as she had said.
"Let us read together."
"Should I join you there, or you'll come here? The bed is more convenient, I think so." These words gladdened her heart and I could see it.
She packed her hair and stood up slowly. I saw a part of her nightie stuck in-between her buttocks when she turned to close the windows. She joined me in bed and flipped the pages of the book. I could feel her warm breath on my skin as we read together, that's if I was reading at all. A couple of times when she turned her body, her boobies rubbed my shoulder, almost like she did it intentionally. I tried to maintain gentlemanhood by not making any move on her, it would have been rude and improper to do such. The time was now 12 midnight and the night was becoming cold, I could barely see the writings in the book anymore. She was still reading and flipping pages with her eyes wide open.
"I'm dizzy, I think I'll crash now." I finally gave up.
"Alright, goodnight." She replied abruptly.
I turned to sleep, but my eyes mysteriously became clear again. I breathed hard and tried to regulate my body temperature, the rate at which my heartbeat doubled made her suspected something.
"Don't you think it should be a thing of shame for a twenty-five year old man to quiver in fear like a scared puppy?"
That was it! I couldn't stand the taunting anymore.
"You do not know me." I fired back.
"You think so? By dawn I'll know the real you. Goodnight." She turned immediately and closed her eyes to sleep.
I was left alone, with just the cranking sound from the rotating ceiling fan and squeaking insects keeping me company. My body trembled heavily when thoughts and ideas flew into my head, I couldn't just find courage to do anything. An hour later, it felt like a legion of daring spirits rushed into me, I summoned confidence and slid my hand from under her gown. My body froze when I touched her fatty fluffy buttocks, and my head became like doubled of its normal size. She adjusted closer, making my hand went round the big ass easily, she chuckled when my fingers went under. It was too early to go there, I quickly removed my hand and changed moves. I went straight to her boobies. She laid facing the ceiling and I pulled the breasts out from the top, they were full and large in size. I didn't wait for a millisecond before throwing my mouth at the nipples. She pressed my face on them when the sensation travelled all over her body.
"Let me take it off." She whispered.
She took off the nightgown and dragged me to herself, kissing all over my face and rubbing my head. It was a clear sign that she's really sex-starved for long. I reciprocated the romance by grabbing her ass and slapping it softly, she tried to lay on top of me and my breath ceased for some seconds. She laughed and held me below my belt area, caressing my little brother.
"Let's see what you've got." She unbuckled my belt and my trouser dropped, she smiled and held the erected brother.
"What a big and smooth yam you've got."
I didn't know what to respond, all I did was caress her weavon. I was taken by surprise when she threw it deep inside her mouth, the saliva she applied on it gave the sucking a lubricous sound. The last time I received such a BJ was during my undergraduate days, it was done by a coursemate during a truth and dare session in our lodge. After minutes of sucking, she couldn't contain the urge anymore.
"I want you to hit my honey pot like a freshly baked bread."
The last piece of protection in my wallet was the saving grace I had, I slotted it and prepared to ride. She laid facing the ceiling again, this time her legs were wide open and suspended in the air. I tried to gently push my little brother in, but the penetration was difficult.
"Whew! Almost like I'm back to being a virgin again." She muttered under her breath as she reached for the olive oil on the bed head.
She poured a little quantity on her honey pot and applied some on my little brother. I added a little force before it finally slipped inside, she covered her mouth in a gasp and breathed hard again. I hit it slowly and gently until she closed her eyes in ecstasy. I cummed in ten minutes, and she frowned in displeasure.
"I'm really tired and unprepared for this." I explained and removed the protection.
She passed a roll of toilet paper to me and wiped her body with a towel. I dumped everything in the waste bin at the back of the door and came back to bed. We both slept under the duvet in a cuddle. It was almost dawn and the cocks were already crowing, we were woken by a loud banging on the door.

On my out of the compound to look for Sikirat, I bumped into Veronica the troublesome witch. She was sitting in front of her door with a big Bible in hand, a bottle of olive oil and packet of candle. This stunt was one of the many theatrics she displayed almost everyday, a good number of tenants were already tired of her hypocritical life. I mumbled greetings to her, and she replied in mumbles too, as expected. I was a few steps away from her when she called me, I fumed silently as I walked to her. I saw a smile on her face that she hid almost immediately, I wondered what could be the amusing thing that made a harsh Veronica to smile.
"Good afternoon, aunty Vero." I greeted in a clear voice.
"Good afternoon Ediomo, how are you?"
The joviality in her voice was quite shocking; I became more interested in what she had to say. Staring at her as she talked, I noticed something for the first time. Veronica - a beautiful lady in her mid-thirties, also had qualities of a sweetheart. I observed that she wasn't too old as I thought, and the wrinkles on her face were caused by constant frowning. It felt like a dream having a conversation with Veronica of all people, I remembered the first time I saw her fighting in the compound and how she nearly punched mama Buki to coma; she threw punches like a boxer.
"When is your uncle returning?"
"I don't know, but I'm sure he won't be back in two to three months."
"Uhm. Why are you not working?"
The questions were somewhat intruding and nosy, but her smiling face bought my heart already.
"You know the country we are in, right? So many graduates trekking everywhere under the sun and I'm not ready for that."
"How long will you continue like this?"
"I've sent application letters to many companies. I'm still hoping for a call from any of them."
The conversation became so interesting that I sat down beside her, stealing quick glances at her chubby cheeks and averting my eyes whenever it seemed like she'd notice. We talked about many things: the environment, tenants in the compound and how they related with people and life in general. She spoke with great wisdom and replied brilliantly to the questions I asked. Talking about judging a book by its cover being wrong, Veronica was a clear practical example.
"Why is your uncle not married?" She asked suddenly.
"Personal reasons best known to him, maybe." I shrugged.
I wanted to ask her the same question, but my gut wasn't strong enough. She was smart enough to read my mind from my shaky lips.
"You want to know?" She asked, packing the candlesticks and Bible into her bag.
"Know what?" I pretended not to understand, to avoid looking curious or desperate.
"Do you want to know?" She repeated.
"Yes, I want to know."
"Good. I'm a divorcee. The marriage was like a hell in a cell match, it succeeded in making me a bitter lady, which is just a ..." Her voice trailed off, she cleared her throat and stood up.
It occurred to her that she was going too far, too fast. I too, was surprised how she was so open to me on a first conversation.
"Once in a while you for come dey watch film for my place, I know say you no get television." She teased in pidgin, winked and excused herself.
I was perplexed and lost in a mental puzzle, struggling to understand what she meant.
"What if she's trying to give me a sign? What if she meant the television just like she said? What if? What if?" Random questions swung to and fro in my head like pendulums.
The questions were on repeat in my head as I turned back to my house. My little brother was asleep, he felt the tension on me and couldn't withstand it. Inside my room, I dropped on the bed and folded my hands over my chest, rolling uncomfortably and thinking about many things. I imagined lying on top of a busty Veronica, sucking from her milk factory while my hands caress all over her body, the wild imaginations ended when a siesta I didn't bargain for snatched me to dreamland. I woke up later in the evening with a serious throbbing headache; my stomach was empty and it was obviously the reason.
"You're not treating yourself fine." I muttered under my breathe as I searched the house for any edible thing.
There was absolutely nothing in the house, the only option I had was to walk a far distance to ATM stand at UBA bank, which was almost impossible. The nearest second option was to knock on Veronica's door and request for food.

"Don't be stupid bro! Don't be too fast." My conscience countered the idea.

It took a whole lot of time to critically come to a final conclusion. The hunger was becoming intense and the night thicker. I sluggishly left the bed, swallowed a pinch of mouthwash and staggered towards Veronica's room. I carefully glanced to see if any tenant was outside, I was lucky there was none. I summoned courage and knocked lightly on her door. She peeped from the window and almost screamed in excitement. She opened the door and I entered as fast as I could, it would have been a topic of discussion in the compound if I was seen. She was nightgowned in a see-through material, I could see black nipples hanging in front of the thick breasts that were almost resting on her tummy.
".. Good evening." I cleared my head to enable me think straight.

"You didn't reply when I talked about it earlier today, I was beginning to doubt if you heard it."
"Heard what?"

"The invitation."

"I did. It's like a reverse now, because I came here to ask for food and not to see a movie or something."

"The bottom line is that you've visited, and that is the important thing here."
She switched off the television, and I watched her big buttocks swayed heavily as she walked; she had no panties on.

"I was ready to sleep when you knocked."

"I'm sorry for the inconveniences. I need a thousand-naira loan from you, I'll definitely pay by tomorrow when I go to the ATM stand, it's late and I'm hungry."
"All of that won't be cool, I have food for you."
Without waiting for my reply, she left and returned with the plate of food in a tray. Her yellow-like breasts showed from the top when she bent to drop the tray on the table. She spent an oddly length of time arranging the food, my little brother reacted and I forced him in-between my laps immediately. I tried to observe my table manners while eating, but the hunger wasn't helping matters.
"How old are you?" She asked, just when I finished eating and took the last gulp of water.
"Thank you for the food." I replied, ignoring her question.
"You're welcome. How old are you?"
"Twenty-five, why?"
"I like you."
She was too straight and blunt, a trait I cherished.
"I don't know what to say, but today changed your entire mental picture I had in my head. You're a good person." I looked for suitable words to use.
"I like you."
"I like you too, but ..."
"Shhh!" She muted me.
From my analysis, I knew she was eight or ten years older than me.
"What if I ask you to sleep over, will you agree?"
This question exploded in my head and I could feel the impact, I understood her point and I was fully ready to ride with her.
"Sure, why not?!"
She dressed the bed and turned on the television, returned to the chair and sat with her legs on the table. I was busy arranging skills and tactics to use if eventually it happens.
The time was 10pm and it was time to sleep.

They were nine in number sitting on the bonnet of a condemn car. Marijuana smell filled the air when I drew closer to them, goosebumps filled my pores when I saw three more guys approaching with shiny objects in their hands. The nine of them took a standing position when the three guys who looked like their leaders drew near, bowing slightly when they finally reached. I greeted multiple times but got no reply. They took turns in exchanging slapping handshakes among themselves instead. The tallest guy with the scariest face whispered something and the nine guys exited at once, he coughed twice and motioned for me to sit on the floor. I hesitated for some time, and in a bid to show my bravery, I made up my mind to decline. The muscular guy who had tattoos all over his arms flapped his shirt to reveal a locally made pistol finely tucked by the side of his trouser, my knees became week at instant and I went down slowly.
"Put your hands behind you." The third guy spoke for the first time. He spoke in English and his accent was pure and clear.
It's like the trio were waiting for something before they commence, of a truth, they were waiting for something. A short guy with his left hand suspended on a sling over a broken arm appeared from a corner, he had smell of alcohol as he staggered passed me.
"Where is the son of a bitch?" He roared in a croak voice.
The three guys pointed at me and he gave me an eye-piercing gaze.
"Are you the fool?!" He asked as an afterthought.
It sounded like a rhetorical question that required no answer, but his continuous glare made me uncomfortable.
"Yes, I am the fool." I replied with a wave of shame rushing into me.
Down to that very moment, I still didn't know the offence I committed, but I had to play along in order to avoid escalation. They conversed in low tunes among themselves for a very long time, while I watched helplessly. They echoed a kind of secretive slogan in unison and concluded the briefing.
"Up!" He commanded me.
I stood up almost immediately and dusted my trouser.
"When you get to your house, mark today's date. It'll serve as an evidence and also as a reminder to you, because when the D-Day comes, you'll beg for us to spare your life."
The words were hitting me like blows, but I didn't care, all I wanted was for them to mention my offence to me.
"The next time we find you anywhere near that girl again, you'll watch yourself being slain like a lamb. This is the first and final warning." He dangled a '7' shape mini axe in my face, smirking and shaking his head.
Hot urine dropped in pant and it was like an instant running stomach just hit me. Three tricycles stopped by the roadside and honked twice, the thirteen of them jumped in and rode away, leaving me shaking and chattering my teeth. I managed to look for the road leading to my house with a blurry vision. The hunger had disappeared mysteriously. The night rest was the scariest and most uneasy one I've ever had, it was filled with random nightmares that me really scared of living. For the first time in many years, I did my morning prayers, committing my life into God's hand and putting all my trust in him.
From that day onwards, I awoke each morning with the desire to do right, to be a good and meaningful person, to be, as simple as it sounded and as impossible as it actually was, holy. And during the course of each day my mind resisted every single attempt I made to change for the better. I stayed away from all the daughters of Eve I had something to do with, I didn't know the exact one the guys warned me to stay away from. Despite the fact that I didn't know the lady in particular, I knew for sure that it wasn't Amina; she told she was single. I knew it wasn't Sikirat; she too, was on my neck to be her boyfriend. I was sure it wasn't Rashidat, Shukurat or Abiba; they were all scared of cultists, just like me. Two weeks later I couldn't bear the urge anymore. I needed to know the person I was asked to stay away from, instead of running away from innocent honey pots of different flavours. I made up my mind to delve into investigations, although it was a Daredevil risk to take. I approached our caretaker's son - Salah, and explained some things to him, keeping some delicate part of the case away from him.
"The guys met me two weeks ago for UBA bank, come dey warn me to stay away from their members." I explained cunningly, and it made him really interested in the case.
After bombarding me with multiple questions, he discovered that they were his rivals. Immediately, his countenance changed and expressed anger. I could feel his blood boiling hot already.
"Their father!" He shouted.
"Calm down. E get anything we fit do?"
"Why not? Plenty things dey for us to do."
"Okay. Tell me what I am to do."
He kept silent for some time, biting his lips and tapping his feet.
"You no need to do anything, we go handle the case for you." He spoke with a wide grin that revealed his teeth stained by cigarette smoke.
"Oh really?! You be good guy. I hope it won't cause any further problems please."
"Problems? Their father!" He shouted again.
He was just too mannerless for my liking.
"If the problem go dey, na the ones we go give them because of you. That's if you behave well."
My four years in school wasn't a waste, I knew where his sugar-coating talks were heading.
"What's your point exactly?" I changed my language and intonation.
"You go need to join us, na the only thing you need to do."
His reply wasn't shocking at all, as a matter of fact I heard this same talk over a million times in school.
"No mention this rubbish to me again." I warned him sternly and walked away.
"See this man sha, person I wan help.
I could hear him yelling curses from behind, his voice faded when I went far. I locked my door and sank into deep thoughts, trying to process different ideas in my head at the same time. I decided to play by my own rules, putting away fear and tension.
"A coward dies many times before his final death, but a brave man dies once and for all." I encouraged myself, " after all, we go all die someday."I left the house to look for Sikirat. I needed to eat something before my little brother die of hunger.

The next morning I woke up with a feeling that there was something I needed to know, I thought of many possible reasons but still couldn't get a hold of anything in my head. Some minutes past ten I finished cleaning the house and sat by the window side, this time, looking at nothing and no one in particular. It was a Friday and a Jumu'ah prayer day, the male Muslims in the compound were preparing their kettles and caps for the afternoon prayer. Fridays were my favourite days in the compound, and I got more reasons every day to love them the more. The quietness on Fridays was second to none, and I could bring in any daughter of Eve without fear of Danjuma - our caretaker. Two years ago he threatened to report to the landlord when three girls visited in a single day, his son tipped me of a way to save my neck and it worked for me. I folded a box of stuff and N200 into his palm and he smiled.

"Kai! Carry ten come tomorrow, I go stand as watchman for you, na rantse da Allah." He showered praises on me and the matter ended.

Silahsima - his son, fondly called 'salah' by the Christians who had difficulties in pronouncing his name, was a pin in the ass to his father. He was the only Muslim who ate multiple times during Ramadan fast, attended prayers only when he felt like, and refused to join his father's cow rearing. He was totally different from the normal Hausas and Muslims in the area, this prompted my move to make friends with him. He once made arrangements for his stepsister to visit my room and the meeting ended when I splashed a truck load of cum all over her face. Our friendship threaded smoothly until one fateful day I saw him in the company of some notorious guys. My uncle warned me about having anything to do with cultists in the area and I avoided them like serpent. I cut off ties with him immediately and ever since that day, we lived like strangers in the same compound.
"Goodness me!" My mind finally unraveled the thought at last.

That particular Friday made it five years since I received baptism and first holy Communion. I remember how uncle Godwin bought the white lace I wore, and the candle I carried with both hands. He stood at my back as my godfather and held my head for the priest to pour the water all over my head. I answered questions the priest asked and made baptismal vows.

"Do you reject satan and all his empty promises?" The priest read from the book.

"Yes I do." I echoed alongside other catechumens.

"Do you promise to continue burning like a candle light, illuminating your path and the paths of others?
I didn't reply and uncle Godwin glared at me, I knew I wasn't ready to make promises unnecessarily. The Mass ended and sparkles of camera flashlights rained on me amidst the congratulatory handshakes from friends and well-wishers in church. I celebrated my religious feat that same night on top of Alhaji Ismalia's third daughter, since it was her first time of having sex, blood stains dropped on the bed and I wiped it using the white lace I wore for the baptism. The next day I went for confession in church, but the priest wasn't around to hear, I shoved the idea of confessing back into my pocket and went back home.

"Knock knock." A female voice sounded from outside. It was Sikirat who had come in respect to the previous day's agreement.

"I'm busy please, I'll call you once I'm done." I replied without moving an inch.

I heard her footsteps retracing and I ran to bolt the door. It was afternoon already and I didn't know, how time flies when one is idle. I dressed the bed and waited for Amina to show up at the agreed time. She came in just when I was about to sleep, looking super cute in a Liverpool jersey and blue jean trouser. The harsh treatment I gave her the previous day was a coercing factor that overhauled her lousy look in the space of a day; she wore a pair of earrings, came without waist beads and clean clothes. I pulled her clothes and noticed she wore a pink brazier that scented nicely, how I unbuckled it in seconds and threw my mouth at the nipples was just too fast. Without wasting any time, I slipped the protection on my little brother and made her knelt on the ground with her giant watermelons resting on the bed. I thrusted slowly from behind for the first five minutes before increasing the thrusts to seven hits per second, her moaning almost sounded louder than the music playing when she entered cloud nine. The show came to an end after fifteen minutes and I could see her trying to catch her breathe.

"Since last year I never eat this kind food." She was smiling sheepishly as she spoke.

"What food?"
"Gbola wey sweet like this na."
"Alright."

"You no go kiss me?"
"Kiss you? Because of?"

Her countenance fell immediately I asked those questions and I felt remorseful, I have never been a guy who finds pleasure in hurting women. I never had thoughts of kissing her, but I had to do it as an apology. She wasn't bad at it, her lips locked mine the moment they touched and she sucked it with passion.

"That's enough." I pushed her away slightly.
"Edomo, I love you
"My name is Ediomo.
"Ediyomo, I love you well well."

"Thank you. You go dey go now na, I wan bath dey comot."

She was catching feelings too fast, and I wouldn't even let that happen even in my wildest dreams. The beam of smile on her face was glorious as she walked out of the house with a feeling of satisfaction.

I spent the rest of the day in bed, calming my body system and thinking of the different styles I would have used to shatter her.

"Next time I'm killing that honey pot." I grinned and jumped from the bed.

In the evening I became terribly hungry, I dressed up, picked my debit card and strolled to the ATM for withdrawal. I met a long queue waiting to withdraw also. Minutes later a hand tapped me from behind, I turned and saw a rough scar face guy with a broken tooth.

"My executioner wan see you." He pointed at a dark corner. I could see about seven guys sitting on a car and staring at me.
I made the sign of the cross and followed slowly behind him.