As Rhoda lay in bed that night, she considered the events of the past month. She had had her undergraduate and now, masters training at Harvard and had both times been top of her class. Charles was right, the world was at her feet. She had received so many lucrative offers of employment in the weeks leading up to her conclusion of the masters programme that she was truly spoilt for choice. On paper, all was as rosy as could possibly be.

But she felt empty, drained of passion. She felt like a soulless marionette whose strings were pulled this way and that in an involuntary enactment that limpressed the audience but left her feeling used and unfulfilled. Charles had everything planned out for them; a practical and sensible future; a life in the states with high income jobs,a luxury apartment they would own,great kids-2 of them, Michael and Patricia-a fantastic retirement plan, everything. Instead of surfing on waves of excitement listening to these plans, she felt numb. It wasn't that she didn't love Charles, but it seemed he had become the symbol of insipidty that she so dreaded in her life.

Her phone ringing cut into her thoughts. Sure enough it was Charles. She switched it off and tossed it carelessly beside her pillow.

She allowed her thoughts drift back to the public lecture at Harvard that had set her on this path. She hadn't wanted to go but had just decided to go out of boredom. But midway through, she could hardly remain on her seat. It was the most stimulating talk she had ever listened to. She followed events back in Nigeria fairly regularly but She had never heard of the speaker, Dr Hassan before. He was a small man with a disproportionately loud voice that seemed a more than adequate compensation for his unimpressive frame. He initially began his speech with the composure that was fitting for an academic presentation but midway through the presentation, he abandoned all semblance of serenity and was darting all over the stage in a frenzy that made him seem like an overexcited Pentecostal pastor in the middle of a sermon. Such was the fury with which he spoke, that Rhoda was afraid he would be thought mad and security would be called to arrest him. He spoke so passionately about the state of decay in the country while pointing his fingers accusingly at the audience that one was won't to think his audience was responsible for Nigeria's woes.

"I pray that the next generation of young Nigerian journalists would take up the exciting and daunting challenge of saving our country or at least, what's left of it". It was strange that the only the last sentence of his fiery presentation actually directly adressed the topic of his presentation which was "the role of young journalists in Nigerias future", but to Rhoda, that was all she needed. It was more than enough. At the end she was the first on her feet in applause and whether others joined her out of politeness or because they were as moved as she was, she did not care. She had found a reason to be alive once more. Her very core quivered with anticipation. She tried to find him a few minutes after the presentation ended but was told he had left quickly to catch a flight. It didn't matter. He had rekindled the smoldering embers within her. She knew she had to go back home.

"Charles you wont believe what happened today..". She got the distinct feeling from the way Charles looked her during her excited narration that Charles didn't think her being so agitated was going to do her any good, and so she wasn't surprised when he told her he was it was all very nice, but he needed to go to sleep.

Her mind had already been made up.

@Becalina-thanks, I will.

When Rhoda arrived at the coffee shop, it was a few minutes to11pm.Charles was already there seated on one of the tables beside the window looking out into the street.He was fiddling distractedly with his necktie and inspite of the austere winter, large beads of sweat had formed on his brow and were coalescing to form slow running streams tracing the creases on his face. There were only a couple of other people in the small shop; one of them was a young man who was nodding off at the far end of the shop and the other was an elderly man who seemed to be talking to either himself or his raised coffee mug. Either way, it did not leave her convinced of his sanity. She sat down opposite him, without taking off her thick fur coat.

"I thought you were on call this night" she inquired

Charles ignored her and continued looking out the window

"Talk to me" she pleaded

" I couldn't concentrate so I left the hospital" he finally replied still staring blankly outside.

" So, is there someone covering for you?" She inquired .

He remained mute. Rhodas long sigh coincided with the cafe clocks chime indicating the top of the hour. He finally turned to her, his eyes murky, like the sky before an impending downpour. "Whatever it is I have done Rhoda, I am sorry"

"How many times do I have to tell you that this is not about you" she blurted out , making no attempt at concealing her growing irritation.

"Ok, I m sorry" he offered, apologising for his apparently misplaced contrition.

"Look, Charles, I have made up my mind, I know you don't want to go back to NIgeria, but I want to, I really do. Please respect that"

"But why?" He queried feverishly, his whole frame vibrating with bewilderment. " Everything is working out so well for us here. I am already midway through residency and you are just rounding up your masters with the world at your feet here. Not everyone graduates from Harvard Rhoda, Harvard!"

"I know Charles, but I have explained..."

"Don't tell me that nonsense about that idiot that gave that lecture. All that nationalistic crap sounds very noble and gallant all the way out here, but back home, it's wild and it's not for people like you. Can't you get that into your head?" He screamed.

The waitress glanced sharply in their direction and then looked away quickly. The young man nodding off was startled back to wakefulness and only the old man still deep in his animated converation with his inanimate neighbours was not jolted by the Charles loud outburst. Rhoda felt paralyzed by his venom impregnated verbal missiles. She stared at him for a full minute with an expression of deep hurt and then stood up to leave.

"Please Rhoda, wait.." he stood up and grabbed her arm..

"Charles Attah" she screamed. "Get your hands off me".

This time, even the crazy old man turned to watch them as she stormed out of the cafe.

PART 28

Benson had always heard of a part of town known on campus as the street, but had never been there. It was the lane of ultimate sexual fulfillment. There was no sexual fantasy, none whatsoever that the street could not fulfill. From the mundane to the grotesquely obscene, it was all on offer. Benson had thought of going several times but had never done so because he was held back by the prudish part of him, and because he had been terrified of "carrying" which in student lingo referred to contacting a sexually transmitted disease. "How ironic?" He thought to himself. Nothing was dangerous anymore to Benson. The threat of peril had become a welcome distraction.

Benson arrived at the Street at about 7pm after a ride across town in a rickety bus which threatened to fall apart after every pothole. True to legend, there was a vast array of scantily clad women calling out like the greek Siren to passing men. Benson looked around for a few minutes before walking straight upto one of the lot who was tall and fairskinned, with narrow eyes and full lips and a mole on her lower lip. She had a graceful carriage with small breasts but massive hips. He didn't haggle; a dying man had no time.

Over the next two weeks, Benson became "customer" and his fairskinned sex vendor was simply known as Philo. There was no version of sex that they did not have; protected and unprotected, man dominating and woman dominating, oral and penetrative, mundane and freakishly exotic, quiet and deafening, sensual and rough, on the squeaky bed and everywhere else. The more he thought of him wasting away from an incurable illness, the more he would indulge in mind numbing sex.

Benson woke up on a wednesday morning feeling extremely weak and with a very high fever. He took a tablet of paracetamol and laid back down. His body felt like it was on fire. There was a knock on his door

"Yes?" He was able to weakly utter

The door was pushed open impatiently by Kefas with Abdul following closely behind.

"Ben,for goodness sakes, where have you been? We have been coming here everyday for 2weeks now. Your phone is switched off, we don't see you in class, you just disappeared" Kefas had a frustrated tone.

"What's wrong with you?" Abdul inquired, more appropriately.

Benson didn't answer. Kefas touched his forehead. "Ben, have you been sick?" Benson still didn't answer, he just wanted to be left alone. He knew that wouldn't happen.

Before long, they were at the teaching hospital having pulled him out of bed and put him in the car. He was seen at the outpatient clinic. The doctor asked what his symptoms were and when he did not speak proceeded to write out drugs for him with a provisional diagnosis of malaria fever. They left the consulting room and Ben sat with Kefas in the waiting area just outside the pharmacy while Abdul went to get the medicines.

"Did you hear about Agada and Sade?" Kefas asked
Benson turned to him but said nothing.
Kefas continued. "Well we have been trying to reach you. Agada got tested and was negative".
"What?" Benson said. "But he was screaming that day.."
"Yes, he had a scare. Apparently the first kit the nurse used was expired, so they repeated the test three times when the doctor came with new kits. He was negative".
Benson kept listening.

"Agada went to Sades house to confront her, it appears you made a mistake Ben. She's not HIV positive"¥

"What?" Benson screamed with a vigour that belied his illness.
"Well she did have truvada in her house and its been there for a long time, but it wasn't for treating HIV. It was for prophylaxis or prevention. She had sex with a guy before Agada and discovered the day after that he was HIV postive so she went to the hospital, and they gave her some drugs for a month including that truvada. Its just been there in her medicine cabinet. They tested her after the drugs and she has been tested twice since then; all negative.

Benson couldn't believe it. He had been panicking for nothing.

"Sade was very angry with you. Infact, its a good thing you didn't see her, she would have poured hot oil on you" Kefas said.

Benson was relieved. Abdul came back and they made their way back to the parking lot. Abdul was pinging on his blackberry some distance behind him and Kefas when they heard someone scream. "Idiot,watch where you are going"
They turned back.

Abdul had run into a woman carrying a bag of drugs. The drugs had spilled on the ground and Abdul was apologising and helping her gather them together. There were several packs of truvada on the ground and other tablets they could not readily identify. When the woman left cursing, Kefas and Abdul exchanged looks and laughed. Benson froze, she hadn't recognized him. The woman was tall and fair skinned, with narrow eyes and full lips and a mole on her lower lip. She had small breasts and massive hips.

THE END

I'm very sorry guys for not updating in a while. Nigerians like to blame and I won't be an exception here! It was all PHCN's fault oh. I have had a total blackout where I stay for the last 3days or so and couldn't get to use my system or phone. My sincere apologies. Don't worry, the rest of the story wouldn't delay. That's a promise..oops,I shouldn't be promising, PHCN might just hear me again!

PART 27

The nurse followed Agada out trying unsuccessfully to calm him down.
"Where is a doctor?" He insisted.
"Agada what is it?" Benson asked quietly pulling him to a corner as the nurse hurried away, presumably to find a doctor.
"This is none of your business" he said pushing Benson away and walking back into the consulting room.
Before long, the nurse came rushing back with a doctor following closely behind. Behind them, an elderly frail security man who looked as though the effort of breathing alone was enough to snap him in two followed eagerly. The door was closed as the doctor and nurse went in. The security man sat outside and promptly nodded off, waking up at intervals and glancing around confused.

Benson rubbed his eyes. He had dozed off and didn't know for how long. The consulting room where Agada was was open. He stood up and walked in.
"Goodafternoon, please where is my friend? The guy who.."
"He left about 15minutes ago" the nurse told him.

Benson walked away from the sick bay slowly. He walked around campus absent mindedly for hours until he finally found himself seated at the university dam on the far side of campus. Strong winds picked up dry leaves tossing them up and down at will. Benson felt as powerless and as agitated as the unfortunate foliage. Sade had destroyed him, destroyed Agada. He could still hear Agadas screams; "I can't believe it". He was sure he would be positive, after so many sexual encounters with her, many rough leaving them both sore.

His phone rang. It was Sade. Benson was all of a sudden consumed by fury as he hurled his phone into the dam, as though its sinking while showing her caller Identity would somehow drown the depraved harlot.

His life was worthless, it was over. He had betrayed his best friend and was most likely infected with a deadly virus.
It was over.

PART 26

Agada and Benson sat in one of the waiting rooms of the campus sick bay,dedicated to HIV counselling and testing while Kefas and Abdul waited in the car outside. Benson looked around. There were pictures on the wall including one in which a dark stern looking doctor in thick rimmed glasses was pointing a warning finger while holding a pack of condoms with the bold inscription-USE ONE OF THESE! He turned away from that picture but began to hear the words-YOU SHOULD HAVE USED ONE OF THESE-in the tone of a damnatory sermon.
He turned to the wall on the other side of the room where he saw a drug advert marketing the drug Truvada. He buried his head in his hands.

"Mr Benson" one of the nurses shouted in a loud shrill voice that could do wellannouncing a hawkers wares.Benson stood up briskly without looking at Agada and walked into the consulting room.

"Good morning" a pleasant looking smallish nurse greeted him cheerfully. He nodded in response.
"So why are you here Mr Benson?"
"I have been having unprotected sex with a girl for a few months now.I now know she has HIV and I want to know..." His voice tailed off into the obvious.
"When last did you have sex?"
"Excuse me?" Benson asked with a frown. "How is that relevant?"
"Well,there is a window period of 6-8weeks and so even if we test you now, we'd have to test you again after 2months to be sure".
"Ok,I see. Well we had sex yesterday so I guess I won't bother doing the test now.I will come back later then"
He stood up to leave.
"But we need to talk about the details of this disease.." She called after him.
Benson was already out the door.

He didn't meet Agada in the waiting area. Agada was probably already in one of the consulting rooms. Two whole months, he thought to himself. How would he survive the agonizing suspense? He shook his head hoping the thought would fall out as he did. A loud scream from inside one of the consulting rooms caught his attention.
"What? No no no no, do it again, do it again now. Infact where is a doctor? I don't trust you this nurse"
"Calm down Sir"
"I will not, I will not. This cannot be true"
At first Benson couldn't recognise the voice.
Then Agada came storming out of one of the consulting rooms screaming "this cannot be true".

@BukkyDan-Agada didn't know oh
@mariana-lol,no dulling
@Damexx-Na so. Agada see am oh!
@filiks-tanx a million,hope the baby went back to sleep.
@supergirlie-tank u so much :-D
@junneyvone-learning the hard way.
@Olenyi-Agada was as shocked as Benson.

PART 25

Benson wondered which was the greater shock. Finding out Sades nasty secret or realising Agada did not know.

"You mean you didn't know?" Benson asked
"Sade? HIV? How would I have known?" Agada wailed suddenly realising that bruises and cuts were the least of his problems.
"You didn't see her take any pills or discover any hidden medicines?"
"No,well yes I happened to find some medicines in her hosue once and when I inquired, she said they were antidepressants and some other psychiatric drugs".
"Psychiatric drugs?" Benson repeated."And you believed?"
"Of course I did" Agada raised his voice in self defence while feeling foolish deep down. "She told me she was treated for severe depression with suicidal thoughts and attempts to harm those around her".Agada stopped speaking. The more he spoke, the more foolish he felt for believing her incredulous tale.

"So is that why you said I should stop seeing her for my own good?"

"Yes" Agada said."I had promised her I wouldn't tell anyone".

Kefas and Abdul sat down watching, amazed by the unexpected turn of events, and glad they had not slept with the most beautiful girl on campus.

"So how did you find out?" Kefas asked.
Benson narrated the broken cupboard debacle stating that the cupboard fell with the door smashing open against the floor, conveniently leaving out the part about two naked bodies throwing themselves against the poor wooden cabinet.

"So" Abdul started,"You two have HIV?"
"Abdul!" Kefas cautioned. "You don't know how to talk. How can you just ask like that, as if you are a child"
"What?" Abdul protested. "Is that not what all this talk is about?"

The room fell silent. A wasp whizzing past punctured holes in the blanket of gloomy silence.
"So what happens now?" Kefas queried.
"We go and find that witch called Sade" Agada fumed.
"And do what with her?" Abdul chipped in.
"What do you mean and do what? We have to see her, how could she do something so vile?" Benson charged.
Abdul sneered."I don't know how that cures your HIV".
Benson rushed forward and grabbed Abdul by the throat. Agada and Kefas had to restrain him as he bellowed angrily at Abdul who was still shrugging defiantly.

"Abdul is right. You guys should go and get tested" Kefas offered when tempers had cooled.

PART 24

Benson felt himself being pulled off Agada by strong hands. Kefas had gotten there in time to knock the stone out of his hands and had now seperated the pair. Kefas and Abdul quickly shoved Agada and Benson into a small class nearby, away from the small crowd that had gathered before the brawl became a campus security matter.

"Benson are you mad? What's your problem?" Kefas asked while pinning the squirming Benson against a wall.
"Ask him? Ask that bastard" Benson screamed, still trying to wiggle out of Kefas' vice like grip.

"You are the one that came charging like a rabid dog" kefas insisted. "So what is the matter?"
"How could you?" Benson yelled, struggling with a new found intensity;like an earthworm that had been bathed in salt.

Agada who was examining the small cuts and bruises following his rough landing on the ground screamed back. "Stop beating about the bush and say what's on your mind?"

Benson paused for a while."Why didn't you tell me Sade had HIV?"

Benson watched for their reactions. Kefas let out a loud shriek and abandoned his law enforcement responsibility, leaving Benson alone. Abdul threw both hands on his head quickly as though trying to stop it from flying off. He turned to Agada searching for a knowing smile, a gloating look. Instead he found a genuinely dazed expression as Agada seemed to have been hit by a jolt of lightening.

"What did you say?" Agada mumbled finally.

@BukkyDan-abeg no vex oh!!! Lol
@Damex-allow Ben small now, d guy still dey vex! Na HIV oh!

PART 23

Benson felt his head explode as Ugwu made the declaration. The shop was spinning all of a sudden and he had to hold on to the counter for balance.
"HIV?" He asked in a low terrified tone,trying desperately to believe the three alphabets were innocently coming together to form something different from what he was thinking.

"AIDS" Ugwu declared unsympathetically when it was obvious Benson was being slow.

Bensons mind went completely blank initially like a clean white board, before his thoughts began to form a collage on it. He thought of the innumerable sexual encounters with Sade which were unprotected because she was on the contraceptive pill.He thought of Agadas warnings; "...for your own good". He thought Sades frequent question."Did Agada say anything about me?".

He turned sharply and ran out of the shop. His shock had been replaced by fury. He didn't stop running till he got to Sades house. He pounded desperately on the door,ignoring the surprised looks of neighbours. He continued for twenty minutes even though there was no response. Finally the security man attached to the building forced him to leave.

Benson was frustrated. He needed someone else to be angry at. He began running again, this time to find Agada. "Why didn't he tell me?" He thought to himself as he raced furiously towards campus. He arrived at their departmental lecture theatre where he knew they'd just be finishing a group discussion. Agada, Kefas, Abdul and another girl;one of their coursemates came walking out of the hall.

Benson breathed heavily as he watched Agada approaching, holding the girls hand and laughing heartily. So Agada had given him the HIV infected ex while he moved on happily. He felt his blood boiling, his ears were steaming, his vision was blurred by superheated tears. He rushed like a launched misile towards Agada. Agada turned at the last minute and saw him but was too late reacting as Benson had thrown him to the ground and lifted a stone to ram against his head.

@BukkyDan-lol,u r too kind.tanx
@Damex-sounds like a nice next line! Lol
@oastor-thanks a lot bro
@Berreta-grateful for d encouragement
@olashas-no be small trouble oh

PART 22

"I'm so sorry. Hope you are not wounded?" He said pulling her up with an embarassed look.
"I'm fine" she said hurriedly as she turned back to the mess that had been created.
"Let me help" he bent down.
"No" she spluttered sharply."I'll handle it.Just sit down" she smiled.
There were some drugs scattered on the ground. Some in sachets and others in small containers. There were also some papers which Sade quickly squeezed as she tried to gather the drugs together looking very flustered.
"What are these for?" He asked.
"Mostly multivitamins and contraceptive pills"
He picked up one of the white containers "Truvada?" He read off the body.
She snatched it with lightning speed from him.
"What's wrong?" He said.
"Please stop going through my things" she stomped off angrily, carrying away the medications with her.
"Sorry" he called after her wondering why she was so upset.

After Benson left her house,he couldnt shake the fact that Sade was so uncomfortable and upset when he saw the drugs. Why would she hide her taking multivitamins? And afterall, he knew she was already on contraceptive pills. On his way, he saw Ugwus pharmacy shop. Ugwu was a 400level pharmacy student who owned a queer pharmacy shop.In the shop, you could find basins of rice beside syrups, and vegetables beside Vitamin B complex tablets. He went in hoping Ugwu could help him.

"Oga Ugwu, well done", he greeted.
"Yes oh, what can I do for you" he replied in his thick igbo accent.
"I want to ask for some multivitamin tablets" he said.
Ugwu rummaged throught the shelf moving aside some cunes of Maggi and nylons of crayfish, producing an old torn carton of multivitamin tablets.
"Please do you have this brand. Em..Truvy"
"Truvy" Ugwu asked disappointed."There's nothing like that here".
"You don't have any tablets at all called Truvy?"
"There's nothing like that? The only drug I know that closely resembles that name is Truvada. It.."
"Yes yes Benson cut in excitedly"
"Truvada is not a multivitamin" Ugwu continued in a self important tone.
"What is it?"Benson queried curiously.
"Its for HIV".

PART 21

The next few weeks were awkward for Benson. Agada seemed to be everywhere and was neither friendly nor agressive, but rather ignored him so effectively that he sometimes almost doubted he was present. Kefas on the other hand always had the severe look of a priest who was disappointed with an iniquitous parishioner. Abdul just thought it was all very funny.

Sade had been unusually anxious around him and would always ask if he had talked with Agada recently, if Agada had said something recently about her. He would get irritated and leave and then she would call him and invite him back over. He was on his way over after one of such altercations.

"Welcome dear" she hugged him. He released himself from her embrace.
"You are still angry?" She asked him with a penitent look.
"I just wonder if you are over him" he replied coolly.
"Why would you ask that?" She asked pianfully.
"Because you are always asking what he said about you. What am I supposed to think?"
She sighed."I have said I'm sorry" she muttered turning from him and walking towards a brown standing cupboard in a corner of the room where she rested her hands and began sobbing softly. He walked over to her with the noble intent of comforting,her but in the short transition to where she was, her massive hips that protested their incarceration in a far less than adequate short jeans skirt distracted him. He stood behind her with one hand disappearing beneath her skirt and the other handling her bosom. With time,her sobs became soft moans and soft moans became wild animalistic screams as he bent her over thrusting frantically from behind.

Suddenly they both lost balance and fell face forward knocking the cupboard over and falling on it. The door of the cupboard which he had always remembered being locked were smashed by their combined weight and several contents poured out on the floor.

@everybody-forgive my not updating yesterday, got distracted. Will definitely update today,thanks

PART 20

Kefas had a look of unreserved disgust, Abduls expression was a combination of disappointment and amused suspense, while Agada was expressionless. He looked neither hurt nor angry as he stared at the iniquitous pair.

Kefas broke the unnerving silence. "And to think we came here to make peace between you and Agada. You are shameless you know that?" He barked pointing his finger at Benson.

"Don't point at me" Benson bellowed back with an arm around Sades shoulder."Last I checked, she wasn't anybodys girlfriend. You can tell Agada to go and find a new girlfriend and stop bothering me over someone he dumped".

"You have become mad" kefas attacked back. "This girl has made you utterly insane".

Benson shrugged defiantly as he pulled Sade closer to him. He glanced at Agada who was seated on the bonnet of the Toyota, his hands in his pocket, staring blankly into space. Agada then slowly allowed his gaze to settle on Sade, then drifted to Benson as though trying to determine who to upbraid.

"Ben" he finally decided."I will never speak to you about Sade again.I have adviced you for your own good. That's as far as I can go. And Sade. What did Ben do to deserve you?" With those final words, they drove away.

"What did Ben do to deserve you? What did he mean?" He asked Sade.
"I don't know" she said, getting into the car in a hurry and driving away.

@olenyi,nexxy and lilcutie-tanx a lot for ur encouraging comments.

PART 19

Benson was just taking off his jeans when he heard a soft rap on his door.
He put them back on and walked to the door.
"Who's there?" He inquired wondering who the midnight intruder could be.
"Ben its me" Sade replied.
He opened the door and let her in,offering her a seat while he leaned on the wall.
"I'm sorry for bothering you at this time Ben but I need to know. Is that all he said about me?"
Benson looked puzzled." You wanted him to say more?"
"No no" she chuckled softly."Was just wondering" she concluded with a worried look.
Ben came and crouched infront of her placing his hands on her thighs. "What's wrong?" He asked wondering why instead of being angry at his made up stories,she seemed nervous.
"Nothing" she said.
"Please tell me" he insisted.
"Well" she hesitated."I'm worried you believe what he said" She looked down sullenly.
"I don't" he replied lifting her chin up so he could look into her eyes.
She smiled weakly. "Thank you Ben. I should go now"
"Ok" he said pulling her up for a hug.
The hug lingered and their lips found their way to each other, tenderly at first then hungrily. Clothes began flying in all directions as they sought to satisfy their intense cravings. After their passionate love making, while she was nestled up against him, Benson sighed and smiled."Poor Agada" he thought to himself.

"So I'll come over later" Benson said as Sade opened her car door to get in the following morning. She was to have left earlier but had been insistent on putting his morning erection to good use. Just as she was getting into the car, a silver coloured Toyota camry drove into the yard. They both froze in horror as Abdul, Kefas and Agada alighted from the car.

PART 18

Bensons mind was a whirlpool of confused thoughts as he left Sades house that night. Nothing made sense anymore. Instead of choosing his best friend,he had chosen to trudge on the hedonistic path of wanton carnality and had now found himself in a forest of solitude,having neither the friend he betrayed nor the wily seductress.

"What did Agada tell her?" he asked himself aloud as he navigated the dusty streets of the neighbourhood. His phone beeped. The new message read
From Agada
Let's not let this girl come between us. I forgive you,please just forget her and let's move on.

Benson read throught the message a few times,with each read stoking the furnace of indignation that was now razing within him.
"I forgive you", "forget her" he read aloud. "Who is he to forgive me?" He asked himself in a rage which surprised even him. He suddenly felt a fierce possessiveness towards Sade and an intense rivalry towards Agada. "He thinks he has won" he muttered aloud.

He turned back and broke into a sprint and about a minute later was back at Sades door.
"Who is it?" She queried testily
"Its Ben" he replied panting.
She opened the door and came outside shutting it behind her.
"What do you want?"
"I care about you and so I must warn you. Agada is spreading rumors about you, that he left you because you were cheating on him"
"What?"
"Exactly what I have just said. Said that's how you can afford all these luxuries, by sleeping with rich men around. And your grades were earned in exchange for sex with lecturers".
"Agada wouldn't do that" she said with an expression that was more hopeful than certain.
"Well,I have said what I have to say" he said turning around.
"Wait" she called after him. "Why are you telling me this now?"
"Because when he came here earlier ayou sent me away, I thought you were getting back with him. I just couldn't allow someone I care about so much fall into the wrong hands again. Goodnight"
"Ben wait..Benson, Benson please come back". He ignored her repeated pleas and walked away, the darkness interrupted by his knowing smile.

PART 17

Sade was on top of him expertly grinding her hips on him while he was deep inside her.She would move slowly and teasingly while bending over him,with her ample bosom hovering provocatively above his lips. Each time he tried to reach up,she would pull away riding him feverishly until she sensed his release approaching and then slow down again keeping him bound in a loop of blissful torment.

There was a knock on the door, Sade stopped moving and looked at the wall clock whose hands glowed in the dark.It was 10pm.
"Who could that be?" Benson asked.
"Its not important" she said as bent down to kiss him but the knocking persisted.
"Sade,Sade" the uninvited visitor was more frantic now, aggressively pounding the mahogany door whose offence was being locked.

They both jumped up when they heard the familiar voice."Did you tell Agada you were coming here?" Sade asked harshly.
"Why would I do that?" Benson retorted.
"I'm coming" she shouted while hurriedly putting on some clothes and motioning Benson into the bathroom to hide.
Benson was hidden in the bathroom when he heard the main door open and then close. He could hear their voices faintly as they talked outside the house,initially courteously and subsequently in a heated exchange. Benson tried to make out the words but couldn't as he remained safely out of view.

After about ten minutes, he heard the door open again and then shut with a sonorous thud. He came out of the bathroom and saw Sade sitting dejectedly on the bed.

"What's wrong?" He asked sitting beside her.
"I think you should leave Ben" she said without looking at him.
"Leave? I don't understand. Why..?"
"Just leave Ben. Now!" She insisted, turning her back to him and resting her head in her hands.
"What did Agada say to you?" He persisted.
"Goodnight Ben" she concluded,lying down and burying her face in a pillow.
Benson reluctantly dressed up and left the apartment.

@BukkyDan-lol,Ben is a confused person!
@lilcutie-thanks,you will
@Olenyi- thanks a lot

@nexxy-wetin u want? Lol.

@olenyi-lol,real trouble!
@BukkyDan-i'm here oh!

PART 16

"How is Sade?"

He was going feign surprise, then lie, then scream in anger at Agada for daring to accuse him of such betrayal, afterall there was no way Agada could have known.

"Who did you think you could fool Ben?" Agada snarled effectively cutting off dishonesty as a route of escape.Benson was left with a mask of guilt and his tongue in a firm knot as he stood there,stupefied.

"First you came and started asking me stupid questions about my relationship with her. Then you started acting suspiciously,sneaking around,never telling us where you would be. Now you have the fragrance of her soap on you,small oval pink bar of soap isn't it? Really nice fragrance"

Benson stood there in terrified silence as Agada with a calm voice that belied an inner fury,laid bare his deception.

"The hair I picked from your head, and that little tout who you sent to unhook the door and run away. Do you think I'm a fool Ben? Why Ben? Why Sade? Of all the girls you could have? Why her?" Agada raised his voice in an eruption of the hurt of betrayal.

"I said Whyyyyyy? Agada barked grabbing Ben by his shirt and shaking him violently."Why you bastard?"
Benson looked for a split second into Agadas eyes which had become murky, threatening a deluge of tears. Looking into Agadas eyes felt like looking down a yawning abyss of damnation which he deserved. He averted his eyes.

Agada pushed him away roughly.

"I am warning you Ben,for your own good.Stay away from Sade" Agada concluded and then stormed out.

Benson spent most of the day deep in thought,imprisoned by the cold unyielding bars of guilt. He paced around, sat down,lay down then stood up again, his agitation fuelled by the overwhelming shame he felt. He had to do something. Dressing up hurriedly, he decided to rush to Sades house to end things with her and then proceed to beg for Agadas forgiveness.

"What's wrong" Sade asked,her smile morphing into a frown as she noticed his forlorn expression when she opened the door.
"Agada knows" he said, walking in dejectedly.
"How?" She asked shutting the door.
"I don't know,he just pieced things together here and there.I feel so ashamed".
"Of what?" She asked visibly ruffled.
"Of what?" Benson blurted out angrily."I am sleeping with my best friends ex barely a month after the break up and you ask Of what?!"
"So what are you saying? Ehn Ben? What are you saying? That this was a mistake? Are you the one that said he should leave me? Is that your fault? I really don't get you Ben. Be man enough for once to go for what you want!"
"I can't do this anymore Sade, I'm sorry,I can't". He turned to leave.
"Ben" she whispered softly holding his hand. He turned back and faced her."I'm sorry" she purred pulling up close to him. She placed her right hand on his chest running it down his trunk slowly while caressing his cheek with hers.
"I..Sade I can't" he murmured weakly.
"Ben I want you" she whispered seductively as she tugged briefly on his belt knuckle before her hand disappeared into his jeans.
Benson caught his breath as she touched him.
"Sade,please..." he muttered as she drowned out his next words by brushing her lips softly against his. She moved her hand slowly,up and down until he was hard and throbbing while groaning softly.

"It looks like you'll have to choose between Sade and Agada" she moaned faintly as she nibbled his right ear.

"S..sade" Benson stammered. "I want Sade".

@nexxy-una wan kill Ben ba? Lol

@BukkyDan-if he answers sweeter tha I thought,den yes, Agada wud definitely break his head..lol
Thanks a lot for all ur comments,I appreciate.

PART 15

"So you'll come over tonight" Sade purred as she helped Benson button his shirt after his quick shower.
"I'll be insane not to" he replied kissing her forehead before leaving the apartment.

The sun was brighter, the air fresher, the trees greener as Benson bounced on his way home like an overinflated football. He boarded a bike home and when he alighted, waved the bike man away with a hearty smile,handsome change and a look of astonishment as the man rode away.

His door was unlocked following his theatrics with his friends and so he pushed it open.

Agada was right there, seated on the bed with his back resting on the wall. He stood up slowly and walked up to Benson who by now was a statue in the doorway.

"How is Sade?"

@olashas-here it is.
@nexxy-the guy no dey fear again oh.e don craze for woman finish
@olenyi-Ben is feeling sharp..lol,dont mind him.
@Rchemical-thanx a lot,i appreciate.

PART 14

"Let me take a shower first and then I'd make dinner"
"Alright" Benson replied Sade with a satisfied smile as she made her way out of the living room.
Benson lay down on the matress which was more than double the width and height of all the matresses he had ever owned stacked together. He felt weightless,almost ethereal as he sank deeper into its substance. He surveyed the room,it was one of the more lavish accommodations off campus. It was a one bed room self contained apartment. The red and gold coloured heavily embroidered curtains with the plush red rug gave the room an intense,fiery ambience. He admired the fluid silent movement of the standing fan to his left,a sharp contrast to his infinitely more vocal own,and soon drifted off under the soporific effect of its soothing breeze.

He was faintly aware of a phone ringing and hurried footsteps in the living room.
"Hello,I'm fine oh" Sades lively voice interrupted his slumber. He opened his eyes weakly and caught sight of Sades wet feet as she stood facing the wall, her back to him.His gaze travelled up her long legs and had covered more than half the distance up her sumptuous thighs when they were halted in their carnal voyage by her white towel covering her trunk and ending teasingly above her midthighs. Drops of water fell to the ground as she moved and he felt envious of the beads of moisture that had just travelled unhindered down her irresistible figure.

He stood up, moving slowly and deliberately;almost trance-like in the direction of the pointed bulge in his jeans. He stopped just behind her but she was too engrossed in the phone call to notice him. He caressed her shoulders gently kissing each one. He held her by the waist kissing her neck while his hands inched slowly up her trunk. Her breathing became rapid as she struggled to coninue the conversation. He pressed himself against her from behind and she responded by circling her hips over his lightly,barely touching,pulling away on contact. His hands reached her bosom.
"Ooooooh" she moaned as she ground her hips against his with urgency of a frenzied makossa dancer as she managed to expel an "I'll call you back" in her breathless ecstasy. Benson undid her towel letting it drop to the floor and the touch of his fingers against her unclad flesh drove them both wild. Before long, she was pinned against the wall as their hips moved in unison to the rhythm of his wild grunts and her loud screams. His explosive release was the first of three that spanned that night as they rode the ferry of unrestrained passion into the sea of raptuorous bliss.