Episode 14.


****Weeks Later****

Exams were already around the corner and I wasn't really prepared to take my first exam in the university, despite the facts that I have been studying really hard and have gotten series of tutorials from Bro Tunde, and also different study sections with my friend Desmond and Sandra, i still felt in me that I wasn't really ready for the exam. Ever since Desmond apologised to me for asking me out, we have grown into super close friends. I really regret blowing things out of proportion, it was just him expressing his feelings and I really chastised him but him being the gentleman that he his, he kept on apologising till we became friends again.

Sandra who has always admired how I and Desmond has been best of friends in school had walked up to us one day and asked to be friends with us, initially she thought we were dating but later when we got really closer, she realised we were just friends. Though sometimes I always feel like having him as my boyfriend because of how much he cares and adores me unlike Gbenga who has really changed ever since we have had sex couple of times. Many a times I challenged him that he was only dating in me because sex but all of those times he denied it, he would really tell me how much he loves me and how he wanted to make me his future wife, I believed everything and anything he said.


"Hello mademoiselle, what is wrong with you, you have not really been yourself lately" Sandra said as she tapped me and I jerked back to reality.

"Don't tell me you have not been listening to everything we have been discussing" Desmond said and paused to look at me "Juliet I hope you do realise that exams is starting next week"

I wanted to explain what was wrong with me but how on earth will I tell them am being bothered about my boyfriend at a time like this. I stayed mute for a while and when I realised they wouldn't stop starring at me like I am some tourist attraction, I decided to leave. Just as I was about to take a step to move away, I felt some emptiness in me, I felt like I was empty inside, I still moved on regardless of how I was feeling. I was about to take the second step when I realised my legs couldn't bear the weight of my body again, I felt dizzy and I fell to the ground.




"Juliet Juliet, are you okay" Desmond and Sandra chorused.

I struggled to open my eyes gradually, at first everything was blurry, I could only hear Sandra and Desmond shouting but after a while I could see clearly.

"At least, I am alive" I replied them smiling.

"Ohh thank God" Desmond

"You really scared me" Sandra.

"Am sorry guys" I said and made to stand up from where i was laying, I saw almost half of the students staring at me. At that moment I almost fainted again out if shame but I faked boldness.

"How long was I out" I asked after standing to my feet and dusting myself.

"Almost 10 minutes, what is wrong with you Juliet, are you sick? " Desmond spoke with a lot of concern.

"Don't sweat Desmond, it's probably because I didn't eat before leaving home this morning" I replied still smiling.

After a lot of arguments, I had to concur to Desmond and Sandra's suggestion that I should go home and rest. Sandra volunteered to take me home. When we got to my area, She excused herself and branched at a Pharmacy close to my house, she bought somethings which she quickly hid in her bag. We walked to my house and I was surprised to see the main door widely opened. I was sure Mum had left home before me that morning and she was not supposed to be back till late night. I alerted Sandra and we both sneaked in gently to see if there was an intruder or an armed robber, someone was lying on the sofa but I couldn't get a clear view, I creeped further and when I realised who it was, I screamed.



"Daddy" I screamed out loudly that Sandra almost freaked out. I ran towards where he was and hugged him.

"My pumkinlicious Pie" he also screamed.

"Daddy you shouldn't call me those kind of names anymore, am a big girl now" I replied feeling a little embarrassed.

"Look at this girl oo, I will call you that name even after you get married" he joked and I laughed, Sandra also giggled "Ohh you are shy because of your friend abi, my dear don't mind her she is my little princess" he continued.

"Good afternoon sir" Sandra greeted.

"How are you my dear and what's your name" Dad.

"Sandra Okagbue Sir"

"Haaa you are omo igbo, just make sure you marry a yoruba man or else we will send you back to the east" Dad joked again and we all laughed.

After talking for a while, I beckoned and Sandra to come into my room, we gisted for a long time and we didn't even realise it was dusk already.

"I have to start leaving right now" Sandra

"Okay my dear friend, thank you for everything" I replied.

"What are friends for, lest I forget, I have to give you something" She brought out something from her bag and handed it over to me. "With the symptoms you said you felt before fainting, I think you might need this". It took me a while to recall where I had seen that thing before, I later realised it was in movies and couple of books about sex and pregnancy.

"Is this not the thing they use for pregnancy test" I said almost shouting.

"Shhh lower your voice" she cautioned.

"You think am pregnant" I asked in a whispering tone this time.

"I don't know but just to be sure, you know how and when to use it yeah? " Sandra.

"I think I do" I replied softly.

"Just make sure you do it and let me be the first one to know the outcome" Sandra said hugging me and bided me farewell. I couldn't even see her off, the mere thought of being pregnant made me feel like a dead girl, I started praying in my mind***



***TO BE CONTINUED***



EPISODE 15



I prayed all through the night, I prayed for a second chance, I prayed for the opportunity to make it right but it was rather too late, the test came out positive when I checked it in the early hours of the day. I cried my eyes out, I remembered the first day we had sex. I persuaded Gbenga not to do it without protection but he manipulated me with his sweet mouth, I decided to call him and inform him of the pregnancy. I picked up my phone and dialled his number, he didn't pick up at first but he later did.


"Hello Gbenga"....

"Hey my princess".....

"Gbenga there's a problem oo"...

"What is it honey"....

"I am pregnant"....

"Pregnant ?" Both Gbenga and my mum who I didn't know was already at my door shouted.

"You can't be pregnant baby, there's no..." Gbenga couldn't finish the sentence before the phone fell off my hand.

"Omo yii ti pa mi oo (This girl has killed me)" my mother exclaimed so loudly that my dad had to run into my room.

"What is wrong" my dad asked as he entered. At that moment I just wished the ground could open up and swallow me immediately, I'd rather die than choose to see my parents disappointed in me.

"Your daughter is pregnant" my mum replied amidst her cries. My dad didn't utter a word, he just went out of my room immediately. For a moment, I thought about running outside and probably got hit by any running vehicle. My mum kept on crying on the floor, it hurt me deeply to see my mother cry like that because of me. My phone started ringing after I re coupled it, I picked up instantly thinking it was Gbenga calling.

"Hello girlfriend" Sandra said on the other end of the line.

"Sandra" I am pregnant was all I could say before I got overwhelmed with tears and had to terminate the call.

"Take me to his house" my dad said as he walked in to my room.

"I don't know his house Dad" I replied barely audibly due to the crying.

"Excuse me, you don't know the house of someone who impregnated you, are you foolish or what? " I couldn't even dare to raise my head to look him in the eyes "Where can we see him then?" I closed my eyes and thought about it, the closest I know of his location is the shop he described to me the other day. "I think I can locate where he works" I replied.

They both starred at me in disappointment, how could I be so foolish, how didn't I ever ask for his location all these times that we have been dating.

"Let us go" my dad roared from the sitting room, mum and I rushed out immediately, we got into the car and I started directing him towards the shop Gbenga described for me. Occasionally they both will look at me through the rear mirror and shake their heads in disgust, I was even more disgusted with myself. We kept on navigating the same place and we still couldn't locate the shop, just when we were about giving up on the quest I saw someone walking by in front of us, I shouted for dad to stop immediately which he did and I rushed down. I shouted for the guy to stop as I approached him, he recognised me immediately.

"Good morning" he said but I was yet to reply him before my dad deposited 2 heavy blows to his face.


"Dad stop stop, this is not Gbenga" I screamed, he pulled away from him but the poor guy was already on the floor bleeding from his nose.

"What I am do na, why his your father blow me like this early in the mornings fah" the guy exclaimed bitterly in his poor English, my dad felt pity for him and apologised .

"It is Gbenga we are looking for" I asked him.

"Gbenga is not come to shop this mornings oo" he replied

"Please my son, do you know his house" my dad asked.

"Don't calls me your son o, after you blow me like this" he muttered.

"I am so sorry please" my dad apologised again.

"Okay let me take you there" he agreed and came in to the car, even with his poor English which almost made me laugh, he was still better than me in directing the routes. After we drove for a period of time, he instructed my dad to park in front of a storeyed building which was obviously a face me I face you. Seeing how dirty the compound was, I was more ashamed with myself for associating with someone from this kind of house. We all alighted from the car with the guy leading us like he owns the whole building.


"Luukaku baba ooo" someone hailed the guy leading us in side. He was so happy at the hailing that he started jumping up "Baba agbalagba ooo" he hailed back and they both continued hailing forgetting that we were there with them until my dad cleared his throat.

"Haa no vex sir" he apologised after realising we were walking for him. "Baba oo, Gbengene nko (where is Gbengene ?" lukaku asked.

"Gbengene ti ya danu laro yi (Gbengene has ran away this morning)" the guy responded

"Ya lobo, kilode (to where and why)" lukaku inquired more.

"O ni omo to n fe yen ti loyun tori e lo se ya lo odo awon obi e (he said his girlfriend is pregnant and that's why he is running back to his parent's place in Abuja)" the guy explained. Lukaku turned to face us to see if we understood what the guy said, my dad nodded to confirm to him that we understood. He then deeped his hands in his pocket, brought out some hundred naira notes and handed it over to lukaku. Lukaku and that guy started jumping up and hailing my dad, at that moment I felt empty and dizzy again and then I fainted***



***TO BE CONTIUED***

EPISODE 11


I got home thinking how Desmond had messed up with me today..he pretended as if he wanted to teach me and took me to where no one is and started saying thrash...Mtcheew. I was still on my thought when DESMOND's call entered. With incensed mood, i reluctantly pick the call.

ME: Yes so what else do you want?....i am highly disappointed in you Desmond. What do you take me for?

DESMOND: I am sorry Juliet......i.i.i.i am just...........

ME: You are just what...let this be your first and last time, don't ever try that with me again ( i ended the call immediately and called My boy friend)


ME: Hello dear

GBENGA: how are you?

Me: Am fine

We exchange pleasantries but he noticed my voice was kind of down.

GBENGA: what is the matter?, your voice sounds somehow.

I narrated all what happened to him and he was happy about my reaction. We had a short discussion of about 3minutes and ended the call. Immediately after dropping Gbenga's call, another call entered.
ME: Oh!, its Bro Samuel **i picked it and we exchange pleasantries. He told me he had discussed with his friend and he said no problem.

Bro SAMUEL: i will forward his number to you so you can call him anytime for your academic problem.
ME: Thank you very much bro...i will be expecting the number.

After the call i thought in mind "This is even better, if Bro Tunde is taking me on those complex courses i wont have any problem on them that will lead me to asking Desmond to teach me that will warrant him messing up with me"
Not up to 2minutes my phone beeped and i checked. it was a message from Bro samuel containing Bro Tunde's number. I save the number immediately.

By 5pm in the evening, i bought #400 recharge card in a kiosk close to our house. I tried the number but it was swiched off. Since tomorrow is thursday, i wont be going to school because i have no lecture for that day i decided to call him back the next day.
The next day was here so i called him.

"Hello Good morning" I greeted

"Morning, who is on the line" He asked

"I am Juliet by name, from Bro samuel. He said i should call you for my academic challenge that you will help me out" I explained

"oh!, you are the one he his talking about....a 100L student of Pol Science right?" He asked

"Yes" I replied

"Ha Ha, no problem.....so have you guys started lectures?" He asked

"Yes we have started since last month" I replied

"OH!, you have started, so how as it been so far?" He asked

"Fine, but i have like 2 to 3 courses that is giving me headache"

"Hmmmmmmm......owk, you know what will happen, will you be chance today?"

"Yes i will"

Bro Tunde: Good, come to FLAT 8, ALEBIOSUN COMPOUND. That is where i live.

ME: Owk sir.....but what time will you be chanced?

Bro Tunde: just come anytime, am free today

ME: owk...i will be there in the next few hours...Thank you very much ** I ENDED THE CALL**


**TO BE CONTINUED**



EPISODE 12


Within two hours, i finished all the home chores. I dressed up, carried my books and proceeded to Bro Tunde's house. On my way, i saw Gbenga from a far distance along side a friend. As they were approaching FOWOROLA COMPLEX i tried to double up my pace but with the way i saw it, i realised i wont be able to catch up with them so i decided to call him.

"Hello Love" i greeted

"How far, how as been your day?" He asked

"not bad and yours?"

"fine thank you....are you in school?"

"No, i dont have lectures today....where are you now?"

"Am in shop, but my boss just sent me on an errand not quit long so am there"
"i think i saw you now, are you at FOWOROLA COMPLEX?"

"Exactly, that's where i am"


I told him where i am, waved at him so he can see me which he did. He joined me.

Gbenga: where are you heading to?
Me: am going for tutorial
Gbenga: where
ME: the next street(pointing to the direction)

We walked towards the complex. When we got there he told his friend to take the goods to shop that he will join him soon. We settled down under a canopy of a provision seller and he ordered for two coke and two Scotch eggs which he gave me 1coke 1Scotch egg. I thanked him.

GBENGa: Its nothing....how is school?

ME: Hmm....school is fine jare...somehow stressful. Its not easy o, not easy at all. Those lecturers are not smiling at all, thank God sha we are moving gradually. We will start C.A soon.

GBENGA: That is how it use to be. 100L is usually stressful very soon you will get use to it.

ME: Abi o...so how is your side...yes, that remind me. That work you are doing, are you learning it or you get paid for it?

GBENGA: Learning ke, of course i get paid for it. Why do you ask

ME: Nothing

GBENGA: You look so cute today.... I will always love you till the end of my life.

ME: I LOVe you too ( i replied with a cool smile)

**He continued**
When I say I love you, please believe it's true.
When I say forever, know I'll never leave you.
When I say goodbye, promise me you won't
cry, Because the day I'll be saying that will be the
day I die.
** I kept on blushing**
ME: You look at me as if I'm the only girl around, You make me feel important and never let me down...I LOVE YOU.
L is for 'laughter' we had along the way.
O is for 'optimism' you gave me every day.
V is for 'value' of being my best friend.
E is for 'eternity,' a love that has no end.
Your love will always be in my heart till eternity.
** we kept on exchanging sweet sweet words for about 15minutes**
ME: Gbenga it is high time i took my leave

GBENGa: owk, call me when you get home.

We departed and i proceeded to Bro Tunde's house. When i got to the place, the gate was widely open so i entered. The compound was very big with many flats that i had to be looking at the number placed at the entrance to each flat untill i found flat 8 where bro tunde prescribed for me.

I knocked and waited for a while but when no reply was forthcoming i knocked the second time

"Yes who is there, come in" i heard a voice.

As i opened the door, behold i saw 3 guys playing LUDO GAME at the sitting room with one wearing singlet and a short, They were staring at me in a strange manner.

** TO BE CONTINUED**



EPISODE 13


"Good afternoon" I greeted

"Afternoon" they answered in chorus

"how are you doing" one of them asked

" Fine thank you.....please is Bro Tunde around?" I asked

"Yes he his around, let me call him" he stood up and went into the room close to the sitting room calling Tunde Tunde Tunde....not quite long bro Tunde came and joined us in the living room.

Bro Tunde: Ha ha....Juliet Juliet, How are you?
Me: am owk, Good afternoon
Bro Tunde: how is school
Me: Fine bro
"As you can see, am having a visitor. Please can you just excuse us, you can take your game to your room" He pleaded
They obeyed him immediately as if he was their boss.
Guy 1: No problem na
Guy 2: Tunde Tunde i dey feel you o
Guy 3: kosi wahala just dey flex
They went inside and a thought came to me " Have i not come to the wrong place"

Bro Tunde: Yes, so how do we start....which of your courses do you have problem with?
Me: Hmm....POL 117 and POL 115
Bro Tunde: ok, let start with POL 117. Which topic should we start with?
Me: let start from the basis, ELEMENT OF DEMOCRACY
Bro Tunde: Good.....There are 8 Elements of democracy namely:
1. Personal Freedoms
2. Political Freedoms
3. Political Equality
4. Rule of Law
5. Common Good
6. Human Dignity
7. Being Informed and Getting Involved
8. Respect

He took them one after the other and started explaining them which i listened partially, my mind was still on his friends, they look dangerous. I was thinking about what they are up to. It got to a point, Bro Tunde stood up.
"I am coming let me check if i still have the textbook i used for this course during my time" He said

"Ok" I replied
About 20seconds, one of his friend came out from the room.
" So how is the tutor, hope you are enjoying it" he asked
"Yea, its making sense" i replied
"what is your name" he asked
"Juliet" i replied
"that's good am Daniel by name" He said
"Ok" i replied
After introduction he started he making some funny moves. He came closer to me, i shifted little with a frown on my face. He came closer again and i responded with a harsh tone.

"What is the meaning of this, are you insane" I shouted at him
He came closer again trying to touch me and I gave him a dirty slap......all this already happened before I snapped out of my thoughts .
"They dare not try nonsense with me. Which stupid thought is even coming to me now" i challenged myself
"Yea i got it...Hope i didn't stay long?" Bro Tunde asked while coming from his room
"it as been long i used the book so i had to search my room thoroughly before i could find it" he continued
"it's ok " i replied
He thought me for 2hours and the tutorial ended.
"i think i should take my leave, Thank you very much bro Tunde" i thanked him
"Ha No...don't mention. Feel free to approach me with any course that gives you problem" He said
"ok..bye" I greeted him and took my leave.


When i got home, i meet my mom waiting for me in the sitting room she was putting on a moody face.

"Good evening ma" I greeted
"Evening, where have you been?" she asked
"I went for tutorial" i answered
"Ok, that's good, so how was it" She asked
"not bad mom" i answered
" Good.....am very hungry. What do we have in the store?" She asked
I checked the store and suggested a meal which was her favourite. After eating, i went to the room to have some rest while my mom was watching movie in the living room. About some couple of minutes, my phone started ringing in the sitting room which was not known to me.it was Gbenga's call. She picked it and hard a man voice so she pretended as if she was me but when Gbenga noticed the tone of my mom he hang up immediately.

"Juliet..... Juliet ......Juliet" she called me three times with a fuming tone.

"Yes ma" i answered with a strident voice

"who is Gbenga" He asked searching my eyes in apparent confusion
"Em..Em Em...He his a friend" i replied with trembling voice

She almost beat me up that day and she made mention of the the day she saw Gbenga and i gisting beside the house. I kept mute while she was saying all sort of thing to me. When She was through with me i walked straight to my room and lay on the bed. Within 10minutes she called me and told me she will be travelling the next day and not sure if she will be back that same day. She asked me to take care of the house and warned me not to go anywhere since i will not go to school that day, I nodded my head in affirmation.


It was 4am, the next day. My mom woke up early to prepare breakfast. The place she was travelling to was far so she had to eat before leaving. She woke me up to help her in the cooking. When it was 6:30am she gave me 2k and dashed out of the house for her trip. After she had gone i was very happy at least i will have time for my self that day so i immediately called Gbenga and told him about my mum's trip. He was also happy about it.
Gbenga: Thats Good, so when will she be back?
ME: Tomorrow evening
Gbenga: Thats nice, what is your plan today, are you going out?
Me: No am not...will be at home, my mom instructed me not to go outside, she already provided all what i will need for that day
Gbenga: can you come to my side?
ME: Hmmm, i dont think that will work....maybe you should come around as usual i don't want to violate my moms rule.
Gbenga: Ha Ha mummys pet. No problem, so what time should i come?
Me: you can come anytime. I will be home all day. ( smiling Continuously)
Gbenga: Ok dear, expect me around 11am..... Oya give me a kiss
I kissed him and hang up. I clean up the house, washed all the plate and took my breakfast. When it was 8:30am i packed my mum's unwashed clothes out and started washing. I had washed for about an hour when Gbenga called me that he would be on his way. I quickly round up so i can freshing up before his arrival. After taking my bath, i wrapped my body with towel and walked to my room to dress up. As i was about rubbing cream i heard a knock at the door. "Oh Gbenga is around" that was what came to my mind but i haven't finish dressing up.

"Let me go and open the door so i will come back to complete my dressing" i said to my self

I open the door and he came in and gave me an hug.
"I dont know you will be as fast as this, i will be back in a moment let me dress up" i said
He kept mute while staring at me and I walked to my room majestically. The wriggling of my waist tingled in his head that makes him kept staring on me till i vanished from his sight. I was about wearing my p*nt when i feel a hand grabbed my waist***


**TO BE CONTINUED**