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Gracemoimoi:
hi Collinometricx, pls I need updates on this interesting piece. thumbs up.

[color=#006600][/color]U are awesome[b]U are awesome[/b]U are awesome

[color=#006600][/color]U are awesome
[b]U are awesome
[/b]U are awesome

Idemudia
Chapter Two
"Stop following me!" Idemudia shouted at the dog with reddish fur. "Ojiemhin! What kind of dog is this one sef?"
The dog moved back a few paces. It wagged its tail and moved in circles, sniffing at the bushes along the path. But as soon as the boy turned and resumed walking, the dog followed, undeterred.
Idemudia had other things on his mind at the moment. He knew the dog was still following, but he decided to let it be. Maybe it was lonely like him. Better still, maybe it was hungry. He remembered he still had a half-eaten ball of Akara inside his school bag. He took the battered bag down from his back, and reached inside. He felt around for some time till his fingers brushed against the warm bean cake. He brought it out and laid it gently on the ground. "Oya come and eat, bingooo."
The dog looked at the boy. The scent of the bean cake wafted towards its nostrils. The boy must have put food on the ground. Finally, the boy was gaining some sense. It had taken many tricks to finally get him to drop some food. The dog walked confidently to the half bean cake and ate it in seconds.
"Osenobulua!" Idemudia exclaimed, hands instinctively rising to his head. "So you have been hungry all this while. That's why you have been following me abi? Hmmm. So dogs eat Akara sef."
The dog looked at the boy with eager eyes. If he had more of the delicious thing he just dropped, he had better drop another. It couldn't understand all the noises the boy was making. But it didn't care.
"Stop looking at me o." Idemudia said to the dog. I just gave you the last piece of my breakfast."
The dog barked, danced around, then barked again.
Idemudia smiled for the first time that morning. He had made a friend for the first time in his life. "No, I won't call you Bingo. I will call you Fryo. Fryo, Friyo."
The dog barked.
"Smart dog. Oya, let's go," Idemudia said, as he ran ahead. The dog ran after him, enjoying the fun...
***
"Conye." A voice called out.
Idemudia stopped in his tracks for the second time that day. Not again.
"You deaf? I say conye!"
Idemudia smiled as he moved closer to the uncompleted building. He should have been beside the school fence now, if not because of the stupid senior that had wanted to punish him. "Bros mi. Na hail I dey hail before o. E be like say you no hear me dat time."
"Shorrup!" The voice ordered. A dirty and smallish boy emerged from the shadows. He moved closer to Idemudia. "You know who I be?"
"Yes bros. Na you get this area na. Dem never born who no know you bros. I hail bros."
"You know my name."
"Haaa, bros mi. Na you be Fryo. The one and only for the area."
The dog barked.
Idemudia flinched. He didn't dare turn around.
"Na your dog be dat?"
"No ooo!" Idemudia shouted. The thing just dey follow me since morning bros. Maybe e loss."
"Wetin be im name?"
"Ehn?"
"I say wetin you dey call am? You deaf?
"E never get name bros."
"No wahala. Giyan name o. You hia?"
"Yes bros."
"So you say you no me abi?"
"Dem never born who no know you bros. After you na you again."
"Good boy," Friyo said, obviously pleased that he was so well known.
"No be school cloth you wia so?"
"Yes bros."
"Wetin you con dey fain for the yard by dis taim."
"Bros mi. My people never fit pay school fees, so dem bin pursue me comot from school."
"Jesu!"Fryo exclaimed. "Dos pipo wiked o. Dem poshu you comot kpatakpata?"
"Yes bros."
"No wahala na. Siddon hia. Make I teach you sontins. Me sef na ticha. You no go pay shin shin."
Idemudia wanted to object but he had lost control of his mouth. He didn't realise when he eagerly said "no wahala bros. I dey with you."
As Fryo went back into the uncompleted building, Idemudia knew he would not leave that place the same.
To be continued...
Good day dear. Hope you had a great day? Please pray for the repose of the soul of Rev Fr Augustine Ebosele, who was laid to rest today.

The Border Town
Chapter Two
Ese couldn't believe her eyes. She had to be dreaming. Her husband's flesh felt cold. Shivers ran down her spine. She shook him again. It was their fifth wedding anniversary today. Was he trying to pull a prank on her? Today wasn't the day for such expensive jokes. She called his name for the umpteenth time. He wasn't answering.
"Baby... Please wake up. I beg you, please... Don't leave me alone. Please. Oh God... Oh God... Why aren't you answering?" Ese wailed.
She picked up the phone and called their family doctor.
There was a cackle at the other end, then a voice said "Hello..."
"Hello Doc," Ese began. "He's not talking to me... He's so cold... He's not moving Doc. Please help me. Help me ooo, help me Doc..."
"Calm down ma'am. Who are you talking about?" The voice asked calmly.
"My husband ooo. Please help me. Help me ooo. I'm finished. Heeeeey. My enemies have won. They have won ooo. Doctor ooo. See me. See me ooo..."
"I'll be right there ma'am. Please give me a few minutes." Then the line went dead.
***
Ebosele stood beside the woman he loved. He tried to comfort her. Her eyes were red and swollen. She still wore her nightie. He watched as the medical team carried him on a stretcher toward the ambulance parked on his driveway. His wife ran after them.
"Baby go back inside and wear something more decent. Haba! How can you come out of the house in your nightie?"
But Ese just kept running and wailing. There was not the slightest indication she had heard him.
"Baby?" Ebosele tried again. "Can you hear me?" He was getting tired of being ignored. "Maybe not then." He shook his head in frustration.
He had overheard the doctor telling his colleagues that he was dead. How can he be dead? He was still here for God's sake! Why won't anyone notice him? Even his wife couldn't see him? This was painful and disappointing. He got inside the ambulance along with his wife and the medical team. He felt so light; so free. This was all new to him. Their team of house maids had stared at his body as they wheeled it into the ambulance. They were all crying. Was he dead? Was he truly dead? Is this how it felt to die? His house, his wife, his name... Was it all over? No! He couldn't believe it. He would just hope this whole mix up sorts itself out. With a more determined look, he floated in and out of the van... Wait a minute! He wasn't walking. For the first time he realised he wasn't actually stepping on the ground. He was floating. Was he now a spirit or a ghost? He couldn't tell.
***
Dr Dave Sullivan was convinced Mr Ebosele was dead. But how? The man had regular medical check ups. He had no history of heart or brain diseases, and he was barely 36. He was dumbfounded. Dave knew there were some unexplained deaths, but not in his wildest dreams had he ever imagined that a man so full of life could just die. He was bent on performing a post mortem. He needed a closure; something to help him move on. Ebosele was his responsibility.So he somehow felt responsible for his death. Was there something he missed? Something he could have done?
***
Ese watched as the doctors gathered round his husband's body. They wouldn't let her into the room. What were they doing to him? Was he alive? Was this all a dream?
***
Ebosele floated about the room. He knew from the sombre faces of the doctors that there was nothing else they could do. But he was still here. He needed to find someone who could see him. He needed to somehow communicate with his wife. This was all strange. He didn't believe in ghosts. How had he suddenly become one?
To be continued 2moro 3pm

The Border Town
Chapter One
Ebosele got up from the King-sized family bed and stretched lazily. It was going to be another long day. But he was determined to enjoy it to the full. He had every bit of the day planned out in detail. He peered outside, trying to see through the blinds of their bedroom window. Then he looked above the Samsung 65" HU 8500 curved Smart 3D TV, which had cost him a fortune, toward the exquisite wall clock that seemed to float just above the expensive contraption. It was 5:05am. No wonder it was still dark outside.
Ebosele looked down at his wife who was still sleeping. She was as beautiful as he remembered her from seven years ago. It was their fifth anniversary as a couple, and they still had no kids. She had always been very worried about their state; more worried than he could ever bring himself to be. Today he wanted her to forget about their childlessness. They were still a young couple, and he believed their babies were on the way. God had blessed them with much wealth. He was certain He'd bless them with children as well. Ebosele had waited till this morning before finally unravelling his plans to her for their anniversary. Last year, he'd taken her to Dubai. He'd been planning another trip for them this year, but business had held him back. Later in the day, he would take her to Sheraton Hotel here in Abuja and they'd celebrate their anniversary in a grand style. He already paid for a brand new Ferrari Sergio at the asking price of $ 3.5 million dollars. It was one out of the only six that were manufactured in the world. He had been selected by auto maker to come pick it up himself, when they became certain that he was for real. He had had to lie to his wife that he was travelling out of the country for a business trip. When he saw the car, he'd been convinced that it was worth every dollar.
Ebosele strolled into the bathroom to get a bathe. He would freshen up, then profess his love for Ese and hit her with his love package for the day. He stretched out his right hand to switch on the tap. He couldn't. He tried again. Again his hand passed through thin air. He panicked. What was wrong? It was then he realised the bathroom door was still closed. How had he passed through without opening the door? Ebosele tried to control his heart beat as it raced faster toward a crescendo. He rushed back into the bedroom. His wife was just coming round. He shouted at the top of his voice. It was a loud shout. But his wife was oblivious. He looked closely beside her and saw his body. What? How come he was still lying down? He jumped back onto the bed and lay on his body, willing the nightmare to cease; to no avail. He heard his wife calling his name. He saw her shake his body many times. He saw the shock on her face, the fear in her eyes and the pain in her voice. He saw her shake him repeatedly as she called out his name. Each time she called, he answered. But she didn't hear; couldn't hear him. It was then he realised what was truly happening. He was no more...
To be continued...

I will like u quys to correct, criticise mhi any were u feel am qoinq wronq

If i dn't understand esan i dn't think i can understand anyothe lanquaqe

Deo7:
Obhiaba (hope you understand Esan well )you've got great skills bro

Wen i gt the notification i waz happy thinkinq it waz an update

[s]Wen i gt the notification i waz happy thinkinq it waz an update

[/s]Wen i gt the notification i waz happy thinkinq it waz an update

bibijay123:
hi all,

Sorry i won't be updating tonight. Its due to certain unavoidable circumstances. See ya all tomorrow evening. Stay blessed.

Idemudia
Chapter One
The thick scent of _Igbo_ leaves hung in the air. Idemudia covered his nostrils with his right palm. The smell was repugnant; filling him with nausea. He knew the 'area boys' living inside the largest uncompleted building on his street were at it again. They smoked all day and night. Idemudia was under the impression that they even smoked in their dreams. He paused a bit, deciding on whether or not to go back home. He was certainly not in the mood to meet these boys right now. But he had to get _akamu_ from _Ini Paepae_, the only woman that sold the mashed corn paste on their Street. A child screamed in the distance as curses rained down in a feminine voice almost simultaneously.Idemudia smiled. These were usual morning sounds on Edakin Street. A skinny dog with reddish fur walked lazily to his side, eyeing him with sad eyes. After a moment, the dog lost interest in him and moved towards the uncompleted building. Taking that as a cue, Idemudia decided to move on.
"Hey! Come hia!"
Idemudia increased his pace, hoping the area boy would let him be as they sometimes did.
"You dey craze? I say come hia! Ona no dey fia face for dis strit again abi?"
Idemudia stooped in his tracks. He wanted to make a run for it. But that would be disastrous. It was better to play cool. "Bros me! Sorry o, I been no hear well." Idemudia said, as he touched his right knee with his right hand, in a gesture of obeisance.
The tall, lanky area boy walked towards Idemudia. "O boy, whia you dey go dis morning?"
"No where o!" Idemudia explained, scratching his head. "I jus wan buy akamu from Ini Paepae."
"How much den giyu for haus?"
"Na only fifty naira bros."
The area boy rubbed his dirty goatee. "Your mama dey drop small shayo sotimes for the boys. So... dey go. You get luck say no be Fryo catch you. Oya run," the area boy barked.
Idemudia took to his heels, heart racing. The skinny dog heard the boy's bark and ran after Idemudia, tail between its legs.
***
Idemudia was late again to school today. His parents had refused to give him any money to pay his fees; the very reason he'd been sent home the previous day. Was he supposed to pay with his fingers? He had decided to hang around the school compound instead. There was no point going inside, only to be driven out again.
"Hey. You, come here."
Idemudia looked up at the skinny boy standing over him. He could tell from the boy's long-sleeved white shirt and black trousers that he was a senior. How had the ugly senior discovered him here. Haba.
"So you are late to school, and you're hiding behind the fence, ehn? Come out here. Idiot! This is how you have been wasting your parent's money abi?" The senior said, eyeing Idemudia with disdain. "See the way you're even dressed sef. Is this the right colour of black shorts? Why is yours looking like cut and dye buba material?" The senior eyed him again. "And it's even tattered," he added.
"Senior, I have not paid my school fees..."
"Will you shut up there." The senior cut in. Did I ask you to talk?"
"But you have been asking questions na. Am I not supposed to answer?" Idemudia was getting angry.
"Oya lie down there. Quick! I'm talking you're talking?" The senior's right hand moved towards the belt hanging loosely around his waist.
Idemudia considered his options. Should he lie down and take the beating? Wouldn't it be so much easier to make a dash for it? He waited till the senior got closer.
"I said lie down here."
"Senior, if I tell you my situation now ehn? You will know that your current course of action is ill advised."
"What?!" The senior was bewildered. "Am I the one you're blowing grammar for? Do you know who I am?"
Idemudia decided against running away. He wasn't a coward. "Senior, I have not done anything wrong. Leave me alone. I like school, but my parents have not been able to pay my fees. That's why I'm outside."
The senior attempted to slap Idemudia, but Idemudia held his hand. "Senior, rest na. How would it sound if news goes around school that a junior student beat you up?"
The senior was taken aback. His eyes blazed in anger. "Wait till I get back, stupid boy."
"Don't worry senior. I won't be here when you return. Besides, if you go and tell your classmates what I said, I'd block you somewhere and break your legs." Idemudia picked up his dirty school bag and made his way back home. In the distance, the dog with the reddish fur waited...
Just testing my skills. I'm not sure I'll continue this story...
Hope you're having a great day?

"Back through the years I go wondering once again-" Ivie picked up her phone, cutting the ring tone midway. It was some minutes before 10:pm. Who was calling her at this time? She rubbed the sleep off her eyes and looked closely at the name of the caller "dearest daddy?". She didn't want to talk to him. She thought she had made that clear. But her dad kept calling. At the fourth ring, she decided to take the call. "Hello dad, it's late na. Couldn't you wait till the morning?" Ivie asked.
There was silence at the other end. Then a crackling sound, like breaking twigs. Then a voice replied, "sorry, this is not your dad. I'm afraid he was involved in an accident. I'm the Corp Marshall of the Ehor division of the federal road safety. Your dad has been taken to the hospital..."
Ivie removed the phone from her ears. She was sure she was having a nightmare.
To be continued..

Efe
Chapter Six
"Please my daughter. Forgive me. I love you so much. You didn't even tell me you were pregnant. How could a father rape his own daughter? I am sick my child. I need help. Please don't push daddy away. Daddy never meant to hurt you. I don't even know how to apologise. I don't know what came over me. I know I've not been a good father to you. But please forgive me." Okodogbe knelt down inside the student's common room. They had come in here at Ivie's suggestion. Efe hovered around at the entrance to the room. It seemed he couldn't do anything but pace. There were tears in Okodogbe's eyes. He didn't care if the young students were looking at him. He just wanted to make things right with his daughter. He wanted to do things right. He knew he was in a big mess.
"Oh dad please stand up. Jeez! You've turned me to the center of attraction. Now everyone would think you're my sugar daddy or something." Ivie looked away from the sea of faces turned in her direction. She didn't even know what to say to her dad. She didn't love him any less. She wanted so much to. But she just couldn't. Her dad was a good person, deep down inside. But she didn't know how to place his dad's perverted desires. It was repulsive to her, and she hated him for it. But she loved him as well. "Dad, please, not like this. You can't just walk in here and expect me to forgive you." These days, her tears hung around, knowing that they'd be needed. They eased her smarting eyes. She blinked many times, trying to clear the salty water off her eyes. "Dad... Please go home! Please. If it's mom you're worried about, don't be. I won't tell her about this. She doesn't need to know it's you. She'd die of shock, and she'd never forgive you. Please... Dad... Just go-" Ivie turned and went to Efe by the door.
***
Efe had been watching the drama from a distance. He knew Ivie's dad was past saving. He also knew that Ivie was emotionally shattered. But he wanted her family to stay together. His own dad had died when he was barely five years old. He hadn't experienced what it meant to have a father as a kid. Growing up without a dad had been hell. He had been hoping that one day he'd get a wonderful father-in-law. Looking at this man, he couldn't tell if he was the kind of person he wanted for a father-in-law. A part of his heart went out to him though. It was painful enough to watch Ivie cry daily. Now it seemed he was going to have to witness more anguish from her dad as well.
"Can I speak with you?"
"Me?" Efe asked. He was clearly surprised that Ivie's dad wanted to speak to him. "Yes sir, of course. Baby, please gimme a sec. I'll just be over there with your dad."
Ivie nodded, looking away.
"Life is crazy my boy," Ivie's dad began. "I don't know you, but it seems my daughter respects you. She loves you very much. I can tell from the way she seems to totally hang on your words." The older man inhaled, and Efe noticed his eyes had watered. 'Please don't cry sir, please don't cry', a tiny voice whispered inside his head.
"Please help me. Help me beg my daughter. I need her to forgive me. This is all my fault. I've abused her so much. She doesn't deserve any of this. She deserves better. I know I'm guilty in the eyes of God and the law. I'm a criminal, yes! That's what I am. I must thank you for finding the courage to restore me to my sanity." The older man paused and looked over at his daughter. Ivie was looking at them from across the room.
"What's your name son?"
"Efe sir. Efe Omoruyi."
"Love my daughter with your heart. Don't hurt her like I did please. She deserves better. I will tell my wife what I've done. I deserve to be punished. I will tell her. I am very scared, and I don't know how she'll take it. But I will tell her. She deserves to know the truth. She deserves to know that her daughter could never have gotten pregnant outside wedlock. She deserves to know she brought her up right. Promise me you'd keep her safe, and promise me you'd not let her abort the baby. I'll find a way around this my boy. I love my wife and daughter and I don't know how this happened to me. But I'll take responsibility.I'll make sure she's safe and the baby as well. It will be a constant reminder of how much I failed my family. But I'll live with it." The older man brought out some money from his briefcase. "I'm not trying to buy your trust my boy. I won't do that. But you'd need this money. She won't take it from me. Please you don't have to tell her I gave you any money. Just use it anyhow you seem fit."
Efe stared at the money in disbelief. There were two bundles of new one thousand Naira notes. He couldn't take this money. "Oh no sir, please..."
Sir Okodogbe calmly left the bundles beside Efe and got up. He went towards the door of the common room and went past his daughter. He tried to say something to her but she took some steps backwards. She probably didn't want to hear anything from him anymore. He didn't blame her. He left the place in a hurry, got into his car and drove off

Efe
Chapter Five
John Okodogbe was a broken man. Many days after the episode with his daughter and the mysterious young man, he still couldn't figure out what to do. He had called her severally but she wouldn't take his calls. He was not a devil. He loved Ivie. He truly did. She was all they had. He didn't quite understand how it had all started. One day he had begun desiring her in that abnormal way. He had tried suppressing the thoughts back then. But they had kept returning. He had thought he could run away from it all, by spending so much time at work. But that hadn't worked. He had worked hard to raise a God fearing family. He was a good husband to his wife, and he tried to be a good father to their daughter. He did his best with his tithes. He was charitable to those in need. He was...
'Pls stop deceiving yourself,' his conscience reprimanded him. 'You're a disgrace! Do you really think you can hide under these self righteous lies of yours? Now that your daughter is pregnant with your baby, what will you do? Is this how a father should love his daughter? You are a disgrace!'
Okodogbe shook his head vigorously. He could only hope his conscience would let him be. He was having a very bad Friday. Everything in and around him was suffering. He couldn't sleep well at night, his appetite had gone on holidays, his intellect was fried as well. He got up from his office chair and looked through the window, down at the afternoon traffic on Papa Via. He knew he had to do something, but he just didn't know what. His actions were already becoming suspicious. Cynthia his wife had been complaining that Ivie had stopped calling her. She wanted to know if she was still calling him. He had of course lied that she did, very often. Ivie was always closer to him than her mother. It was something they constantly joked about. Cynthia didn't mind. She felt daughters should be closer to their fathers. But she was a smart woman. And these past days she had been regarding him with concerned intermittent stares. He knew she would ask him what the matter was soon enough. For now, he just prayed he could live through the day. He needed to go to Ekpoma first thing tomorrow morning.
***
"So have you come up with anything yet?" Efe asked. He was with Ivie under the cashew tree in front of her hostel block. These afternoon meetings had become routine since they got back from Benin.
"Hmmmmm. You know na. My dear, I've been unable to think ooo." Ivie looked him in the eyes. "I simply cannot think about aborting this baby. But I cannot have it either. So what to do na? What will happen when my tummy starts bulging? Ehn? How long can I hide this from my mum? What do I tell my course mates?" Ivie looked at him with eyes filled with fear and uncertainty. "I am so finished this time. It's all my fault. How could I have let this continue. How? How?"
Efe was silent. She was blaming herself again. She's been doing that. He watched the rays of the sun form a flowery pattern on her face as she talked. She looked so much younger today than she actually was. She didn't have the kind of face that out rightly blew one's mind. Her beauty was almost not noticeable at a glance. It only became so whenever she smiled. Her lips would part in such a heavenly manner, revealing a tiny gap at the upper row of her front teeth.
"Stop staring at me jor." Ivie blushed. "I'm saying something serious. Come on!"
Efe smiled. "You've been saying this same thing over and over again. It seems you'll never make up your mind on what to do." He cleared his throat. "I've been thinking. The idea of giving birth to your dad's baby is repulsive even to me. But the idea of you taking pills and stuff like that for me is not easy to swallow either." Efe paused to catch his breath. "Do you maybe think I should take responsibility for the pregnancy?"
"You'll do no such thing," Ivie cut in.
"Please let me finish. If your mum gets to know about this, your family as you know it will be totally finished. Please let's save her the trouble. Let me take responsibility for the baby." Efe was serious about it.
Ivie was not comfortable with the news. She didn't like it one bit. She was now more confused that she'd ever been before. She couldn't make up her mind about anything. But she wouldn't let Efe do this. Her dad would have to man up and do something about this mess he made. It was his responsibility.Not Efe's.
Just then, a young lady walked up to them. "Are you Ivie Okodogbe?" She asked Ivie. Efe and Ivie nodded simultaneously.The young lady looked confused for a second. Then she smiled and said, "there's a man here to see you. He says he's your dad."
Ivie sat up at once. “My dad? Where? Why?" She looked at Efe, but the gaze he gave her suggested that he had no clue why her dad was here.

Continuation
.
Sir Okodogbe could feel the uneasiness creep into his bones. But he was trained to resist such emotions. He sat down and glowered at Efe. "And I suppose you're the perpetrator of this act? " The man's voice had gone ice-cold.
Efe raised his voice a notch. "What kind of father sexually molests her own daughter for so many years? What kind of father goes to the extent of raping her own daughter? Just what kind of man are you sir?" Efe felt the anger rise inside his pores like goosebumps. He was shaking from the effort of retraining himself.
Sir Okodogbe's face remained expressionless for many minutes. Just when Efe thought he had perhaps made a mistake, the door to the office opened and Ivie walked in.
"Ivie. Thank goodness!" Efe went to the door and stood by her side.
"Ivie, who's this young man you brought to my office to insult me?" How could you talk about us to a stranger? I love you so much. This is a family affair. Why didn't you..."
"Oh just shut up dad!" Ivie was tired of the abuse. She was tired of the incestuous relationship she had been having with her dad. It was time to put an end to it.
"Dad, how could you do this to me? You didn't even know you had gotten me pregnant did you?" She didn't make any attempt to stop the tears that rolled down her cheeks in torrents. "Dad, you're a Christian for God's sake. You're even a knight in the church. Above all, you're a lawyer. Why did you ruin my life this way? Daddy? What did I ever do to you? I was the good daughter, always trying to please you. What do you think mummy will do to you when she finds out? What am I supposed to do with this baby? Where do I begin from? Don't you see? You've ruined my life, you've destroyed my future." Ivie paused for breath. "Cursed be the day I became your daughter. Oh God! Oh God, why?"
Before Efe knew what was happening, Ivie dashed out of the office. She was running so fast, he feared she'd hurt herself. Without thinking, he ran right after her

Efe
Chapter Four
Efe and Ivie arrived Benin early in the morning. The bus that brought them had left Ekpoma at 6:30 am. They flagged down a cab beside Big Joe bus stop at Ramat Park as soon as they alighted from the bus. The cab man looked at them and said, "Na one five ooo. Fuel no dey". Efe nodded and opened the door of the back-seat of the cab for Ivie. He joined her and the cab eased into the early morning traffic. Efe figured they'd be at their destination just before 8:00am. He glanced briefly at his watch and looked at Ivie. She had a distant look in her eyes. Their eyes met briefly. It was as though they were trying to reassure each other. It didn't seem like the moment for conversation. Efe sensed the nervousness begin to rise within him. He noticed another emotion as well. Anger; intense anger.
***
Sir John Okodogbe stood by his office window that Monday morning. His mind went through the deadlines he had to meet, and the many clients on his waiting list. Today was going to be a busy day. His chambers was located on the topmost floor of the eight storey building directly opposite Wema Bank, Papa Via, Benin City. He straightened his navy blue suit as he turned away from the window, then he pressed the call button on his table. "Please I won't be seeing any visitors today", he said as soon as his secretary came into his office. "Direct my clients to me when they come." The young lady nodded and made to leave. "And Linda", the secretary paused, her left hand on the door knob. "My daughter called yesterday. She'll be coming to the office this morning. Please let her in as soon as she comes. Thanks, that will be all for now." Linda nodded and gently closed the door behind her.
***
Efe sat in the waiting room to Sir Okodogbe's office without Ivie. She had suddenly decided to visit the bathroom. He couldn't but notice how her mood grew worse by the second. It was obvious she didn't want to face her dad just yet. Efe knew this was perhaps the hardest decision he had ever taken for them both. But he was certain it was the right one. So he sat there amidst the many strange faces and waited for Ivie endlessly. Efe glanced at his watch again. Almost thirty minutes had elapsed. He nodded at the secretary and left the waiting room. One of the security men directed him to the restrooms. He went into the male restroom and remained for some minutes. Then he came back out and snuck a peek down the hallway. Satisfied that no one was watching, he quickly went into the restrooms marked "female".
***
Sir Okodogbe raised his head as the young man came into his office. He looked closely at the boy. He was very well dressed in a dark suit, but he didn't seem like anyone he knew. He was in his early twenties perhaps. He exuded the kind of calm confidence one perceived around young arrogant barristers. "Are you one of my clients today".
"Yes sir."
"Come right in and take a seat."
Okodogbe regarded the young man again. "How may we help you young man."
The young man adjusted his tie and cleared his throat. He seemed to be nervous just for the fraction of a second. But he quickly regained his composure. "It's about your daughter sir."
***
Ivie wasn't thinking straight. She rushed into the bathroom and broke into deep, nerve wracking sobs. She couldn't bear to face her dad. Not like this, not with Efe. She had thought she could, but when they got to the waiting room she knew she couldn't go through with it. She looked at her swollen reddish eyes in the mirror. She knew she had to pull herself together. But the events of many years ago rushed at her and jammed her brainwaves. She began to relive the many years of sexual assault. She began to feel the weight of carrying her secret around for too many years. She thought she'd go crazy. Letting out a silent wail, she ran out of the bathroom and went straight to the lift. Seconds later, she was on the ground floor, running towards the gate.
***
Efe was trying his best to remain calm. He shifted on his seat and cleared his throat again. "Your daughter is here... I mean, we came together, but I had..."
"Young man, wait a minute." Ivie's dad cut in, getting to his feet. "I thought you said you were a client. So what's this about my daughter? Is she alright? Is she safe? What happened to her?“
Efe was dumbstruck. This man obviously loved his daughter. He was even genuinely worried about her safety. That was absurd. "Sir I am a friend of your daughter's, I came here to inform you that she is pregnant." Efe didn't know how else to communicate the information. His anger had gotten the better of him.
"What?" The colour drained from the older man's face. "She is what?"
"Pregnant sir!" Efe repeated for emphasis. He stood up and stared straight at Ivie's dad.

Dedicated to zesh
Efe
Chapter Three
There were two lone figures in the common room of the female hostel. It was almost midnight. But the couple was oblivious of time. They were lost and confused, and the only solace they could find at the moment was in each other. They knew they were breaking many school regulations just by being here at this time, but neither cared. Nocturnal sounds carried faintly to their ears. Besides that, everything else seemed still. It was as though the campus had gone to sleep.
Efe had walked Ivie back to her hostel almost immediately. He didn't want anyone thinking she was a loose girl. It was unusual to see females at the male hostel at the hour she had showed up. Ivie never came over to his hostel even in broad daylight. She had only come once, and that was after many days of extreme persuasion. She always had a ready excuse. Efe was still so overwhelmed that she came to his hostel tonight, at the hour she did. What if she had been waylaid or something? He shook his head in the darkness of the common room. He didn't want to entertain such thoughts at the moment. He already had too much to deal with. He instinctively tightened his grip around the one woman that meant the world to him. He couldn't bear the thought of losing her to anyone or anything. He had never felt this way about anyone all his life. He knew he had to stay with her. His life depended on it.
“Baby?“ Ivie's voice broke the silence.
"Yes dearie." Efe tried to make out her face in the darkness.
"Thank you!“ Ivie didn't know what else to say. She only knew she was grateful. She couldn't have asked for more.
"For what? Please don't thank me. You don't have to do that. I should be the one apologising. I didn't know what to do. But don't worry. I'm here now. I'll never leave you again. I promise."
Ivie smiled in the darkness. She could begin to see a silver lining in the dark horizon of her life. "What are we going to do?“ She asked.
Efe pondered the question for many minutes. Finally he spoke, his voice a tiny whisper, "Go see your dad."
Ivie jumped out of the sofa they had been reclining on.
"Go see my dad? Jesus, baby! How... What would you... Oh please!“ The magic moment was broken.
Efe rubbed his palms together and got up from the chair. He went to the wall and switched on the light. Then he came back to the chair and sat down.
"Baby, please look at me." Efe took Ivie's hands in his and looked straight into her eyes. "Do you trust me?“
Ivie nodded.
"We have to go see your dad. Believe me."
Ivie turned her head away. She couldn't bear to look into Efe's eyes. She didn't think it was a good idea to go to her dad. It was a terrible idea. Why would he even bring it up? But she knew she would eventually have to agree. She hated it when Efe got this serious about anything. She knew he would go ahead and do it, even if he had to do it alone. He was too stubborn.
"You don't even know him. He would not... We should seriously not go. Please?“
Efe opened his mouth in a determined smile.
Ivie wanted to say something else, but she thought better of it and let the matter drop.
"First thing tomorrow morning then?“
“Efe! Can we stop this already, please?“
To be continued..

Tnx