[Story] Life as a corper (Episode 151 – 200 Final Episode)

Life as a corper

EPISODE 156

“Adaora, what are you doing here?” i asked with a deep tone. She heaved a sigh of relief, stood up and faced me.

“mum sent me to fetch you. She’s really worried over what you have become. Hope you won’t mind telling me where you spent the night?” she said calmly, throwing a curious, searching glance at me. I breathed deeply.

“i won’t tell you a thing, and i won’t go back with you either. Thanks for coming by the way”. I murmured seriously. She drew back in disbelief, gasped and shook her head.

“Val what did you just say?” she asked,

“i’m not going with you, i won’t repeat it again” i answered. Her face coloured up with fury, she held her head with her right hand, and turned, backing me.

“i’m not doing this because i want to. I’m simply following mum’s orders. She was very serious when she asked me to go fetch you this morning” she explained with a controlled tone.
“so please get it into your head and stop being naughty. I didn’t come here on my knees, begging you to come back to my life. Mum sent me, for all i care you can destroy your useless life” she added seriously.

“you better leave now” i shouted at her. She shrugged, grabbed her handbag and walked past me to the entrance door.

“I thank God i never got pregnant for you. I have no regrets over locking you out of my life. I only pity mum” she said at the door.

“you know what Adaora, you are very despicable. You and mum thinks i’m now living a useless life because we arn’t together anymore. Do you think you are the only decent girl out there huh?” i barked.

Rolling her eyes, she scoffed.
“Mum isn’t worried because we arn’t together anymore. She’s only worried about how you are living your life. Is Abuja your place of primary assignment?, what are you doing here with dad’s finest car?, what do you gain from all these?. Think my dear, think” she instantly replied and left, leaving me totally broken and worried.
____
I quickly dialled mum’s phone number, but it was busy. I threw myself down on a sofa. Obinna showed up that moment, with a worried look on his face.

“i listened to everything. I think your girl is right, you still have the chance to amend your ways, or you will soon end up like me, who is now ashamed to go home. That’s almost how it all started for me. Do the right thing bro, you are still under your mum, don’t fight your destiny. Forget about Elinor, i will fix her as you requested” he said seriously. I scratched my head and breathed deeply, finding myself between the devil and a terrific deep sea.

“most people think i’m a very bad person, without even caring to study me. Don’t let the same happen to you. Ada is a nice girl, even though we can’t stand each other. A mum’s boy will always be a mum’s boy. Don’t break your poor mother’s heart” he concluded, leaving me slightly confused and empty.

“instead of going back to Adaora’s house, i rather drive back to owerri. I won’t be able to stand the sneer which will appear on her face when she sees me come back” I reasoned. My phone rang, breaking my thoughts. It was Adaora calling.

“yes Adaora, what is it again?” i asked coldly,

“mum is very upset with you. She just swore never to call or ask of you again. You better call her to straighten things out, she’s really very upset. I just did you another favour, d.ick head” she informed me coldly. I breathed deeply and dialled mum’s number expecting the worst.

“what are you doing in Abuja, is that where you are supposed to be?, you are definetly under a spell. You don’t behave like my son anymore” she scolded hotly, while i patiently listened. There wasn’t any doubt she was extremely upset just like Adaora told me.

“mum i’ll explain everything when i get home. Please trust me.” i pleaded desperately.

“just go over to Adaora’s house, then start heading home first thing tomorrow. That’s only when i’ll believe you are still with your senses. You are my only son for Christ sake.” she ordered.

“i’ll do as you say mum, don’t worry” i promised without the slightest clue on how to fulfill it.
____

Fullfilling the first promise, however was a bit easy for me. All i did was simply to pack up my things and head over to Adaora’s house by 4:30pm that same day. Luckily She quietly opened her door and allowed me into the house, without saying anything to me. {The girl she was with when she caught Tessy and i, weeks back was in her house that evening}. I really felt uncomfortable being there, but had no choice than to hide my feelings.

Thirty five minutes later, the girl {Adaora’s friend} showed up quietly in my room, surprising me a great deal.
“hi, i’m sorry for disturbing” she murmured polietly, standing a safe distance, while her eyes searched me keenly.

“no of course, you can sit here.” i smiled, offering her the lone chair in the room. She sat quietly and stared at me strangely.

“i know i’m a stranger to you, i also know i have no right to ask nor tell you the things i have to say, but i have to because Adaora is my good friend” she said seriously. I listened quietly.

“why are you so keen in destroying her heart and happiness?. The poor girl keeps giving you chances to redeem yourself, but you always fling them away. It’s not right, you are hurting everyone that cares for you. I have just said my mind, you can crucify me if you want” she seriously said, standing up.

“you still have the chance to patch up things with her. But i can’t speak for tomorrow. I’m doing this for my friend because i don’t think she will be truly happy without you, but don’t let it get into your head because things change.” she concluded and left, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

An hour later, i went over to Adaora’s room in order to apologize once again. She was alone and busy with her laptop when i came in. She quickly kept it aside as soon as she noticed my presence, staring at me with a coloured face.
Without a single word, i knelt by her side and rested my head on her laps, holding her waist tightly, like a little child.

“Val what you are doing isn’t necessary, because i know you will still go back to Tessy. I know your business with her isn’t over, or am i wrong?” she asked seriously, making me raise up my deeply coloured face to stare at her, my conscience playing dirty tricks on me.

“how much does she know?” i wondered deeply.

“you shouldn’t be here on your knees, while your heart is elsewhere. You are really possessed but you don’t know. That woman has turned you into a toilet paper. Everything comes with a prize. I only pity mum” she said seriously, shocking me with her words. I never knew when i stood up, more confused than ever. My phone vibrated in my pocket that moment, startling me immensely. Adaora equally was so sharp to notice it.

“oh dear Lord” she breathed, shaking her head.
“i know it’s Tessy?, isn’t it so?” she asked with a dirty smile.

“i guess you will only regain your senses after she has flushed out of her system like sh.it. This time, i’m telling mum everything, i won’t hold back a thing, because this definetly isn’t you” she muttered.

“Hmmm, am i really under demonic spell?”

EPISODE 157

“luckily, the caller turned out to be Obinna. I breathed deeply and answered his call.

“the boys are ready, they are moving in tonight. I’ll notify you immediately they take position” he seriously said over the phone.

“what!” i exclaimed, throwing a quick glance at Adaora who wasn’t even staring at me, though i knew her ears were open.

“why the exclamation?, havn’t you paid for the job?, don’t tell me you are growing cold feet all of a sudden?” he asked,

“bros not that” i replied, quckily leaving Adaora’s room for mine, {where i} locked the door before being able to speak fluently.

“my mind is on saturday” i murmured,

“hmmmm nawaoo, what’s up with you again?, are you the person doing the job?. The guys said they are ready, let them do their work. I’ll notify you once they have taken position. It seems breaking and entering is their best food. They prefer roughing her up in her apartment than in the street, the only thing that will save Elinor this time is if she stays away from her apartment tonight” he laughed.

“alright let them do their thing, i will send you my etisalat phone number. You can reach me with it, though you have already compromised this line. Just saying sha” i murmured and hung up. My legs shook as i thought over everything.
“I could go to jail if things go bad” i reasoned fearfully.

My phone vibrated again, five minutes later, shaking me out of my thoughts. It was Tessy calling.

“hi baby, where are you?, arn’t we seeing this evening?” she asked.

“i really don’t know” i murmured,

“what do you mean by ‘you don’t know, Eeh?, remember the dinner party we are having tomorrow?, arn’t we supposed to discuss about it this evening?” she asked,

“what’s there to discuss nau?, i thought we have discussed everything” i asked,

“try and show up at my house, val, don’t disappoint me” she concluded and hung up.
_

I was unable to leave Adaora’s house that fateful evening, because my conscience kept disturbing me. I was very scared over the dirty job Obinna was doing on my behalf. I really would have cancelled the whole thing had he given me the chance. But he wouldn’t hear of it when i called him with my etisalat line, forty minutes later.

“stop acting like a baby, the plan is already in place. Everything is going as scheduled. You can only cancel it by stopping Elinor from sleeping in her apartment tonight” he said. A condition he knew was a bit impossible to achieve by me.

9:59pm

Nervously i waited patiently in my room, glued to my phone as i eagerly waited for Obinna’s alert. Adaora walked into the room with a tray of fried plantain and sauce.

“you havn’t eaten since you got here, i know you hardly skip meals even when you are very sad. Though we are not dating anymore, i still care about your health. It won’t be wise sleeping with an empty stomach” she said softly, resting the tray on a stool. A text message entered my phone that moment, sending my heart flying. I eagerly opened it. A text {message} from Obinna.

“position has been taken, Target identified. Going in pretty soon” my face coloured after reading it, while Adaora curiously stared at me. I had a strange feeling things wouldn’t go as planned.

I never really bought the idea of Obinna’s crew breaking into Elinor’s apartment, all i wanted was just a simple less risky approach.

More at my9jarocks.info

Quickly hiding my feelings, i smiled at Adaora and held her left hand.

“thanks for all the pains you are having for my sake. You are really a nice person” i said calmly. She scoffed, turned and left the room without another word. Leaving the food behind.

I stayed awake all night waiting for Obinna’s report which never came. You can’t imagine how nervous and scared i was, and how loud my heart pounded that very night. I kept imagining things.

“dear lord, guide them” i prayed.

7am the next morning, i sprang up from bed. I never knew when i dozed off with my worries.
After taking a quick bath, i reached for my phone and dialled Obinna’s number. It was switched off. I dialled it again and again, yet got the same result.. I didn’t know what to think again.
“what’s wrong?, were they caught?, did Obinna go with them?, or is his mobile phone battery simply dead?” i wondered fearfully.

Grabbing my car keys, i left my room, and bumped into Adaora who was cleaning the sitting room. She quickly faced me curiously.

“i’m coming, i won’t take more than an hour” i explained with a fake smile.

“so where exactly are you going?” she asked,

“please Ada you are killing my patience, i’ll tell you everything when i get back” i answered and ran out of the apartment, leaving her very stunned. But i cared not.

On getting to Obinna’s house, i saw his car parked outside, but his apartment locked. I nervously rang the door bell, waited for a while before turning to leave. I felt something was wrong somewhere. I was deeply scared.

“what do i do?” i wondered. I was still battling with my thoughts when a call from Tessy came through {my phone}. I sighed and answered it.

“you kept me waiting last night silly boy. Anyway i don’t think the dinner will still hold tonight. Elinor and her friend were robbed and battered last night, they are currently admitted in a private hospital down town. I think the bandits were caught, not sure though. Come let’s go see Elinor together” she said slowly. Her words hit my right ear like a powerful slap, leaving me stunned.

“Val are you there?” i heard Tessy ask. I simply hung up and swallowed hard, while her words played back in my head. “i think the bandits were caught, not sure though”
d–n!” i cursed.

As i was fearfully leaving the compound, minutes later. My phone rang, it was Obinna this time.
“my guy how far nau?” i asked curiously,

“everything went as planned, but we ran into a little problem on our way out. Where you dey?” he murmured,

“where i dey??” i repeated suspiciously. The last thing i would do is telling him my location, though i knew it would be futile running away. If things actually were that bad.

EPISODE 158

“yea, where you dey naaaa?” he asked again,

“few blocks away from your house” i answered.

“guy abeg transfer 50k{fifty thousand Naira} into my account. Do it via mobile transfer, just like you did the first time” he ordered.

“transfer wetin?, guy nawaoo!, what for?” i asked curiously.

“please just send the money instantly. I will explain later” he begged and hung up. I breathed deeply, while my heart continued to pound furiously. With shaking fingers i successfully did the transfer and headed straight to Tessy’s house with my thoughts running wild.

Tessy was a bit surprised to see me when i got to her house. She was in her sitting room discussing over the phone when i walked in. She smiled sweetly, scanning me as usual with her eyes.

“what’s up Val?, you look as if you just saw a ghost” she laughed.

“your phone call this morning really got me worried. I can’t believe Elinor was attacked” i murmured.

“i’m about heading there, let’s go see things ourselves” she smiled, while i nodded.
We got to the private hospital{name withheld} fifteen minutes later, surprisingly the hospital was just few kilometres away from Tessy’s house.

One of Elinor’s housemates, showed up at the gate and led us to the private ward, where Elinor was helplessly lying with a bandaged head, hand and jaw. She really looked terrible. Another housemate was watching over her when we got into the room, she too had a bandaged head, but looked perfectly okay. My mind increased the tempo of its pounding as i stared at my hand-work.

“how did they come in?, i really can’t believe my eyes” Tessy hissed, snapping her fingers. I stood with hands crossed, my ears wide open.

“hmmm dear i still can’t believe it happened” the girl who led us in, murmured and shook her head.
“the rogues were very professional and fast. Five hefty guys and i feel they weren’t only five of them, but five of them came into the apartment through my room” She narrated slowly.

“I was fast asleep, when i felt something strange happening to me. I opened my eyes to see two guys tying me up as if i was a goat. I couldn’t scream nor plead. I felt like pissing on my pant. I was scared they would rape me, i really wasn’t appropriately dressed. After tying me up and sealing my mouth with a duct tape, they took off the bulb in my room and headed towards the other rooms. I started hearing screams a minute later, my dearie here will tell you guys the rest of the story, that’s all i know” she stopped and nodded at her friend {with a bandaged head}.

“there’s really not much to say. I was in the toilet when i heard Elinor screaming. I rushed out and headed to her room, but never got there. I was knocked out at the corridor, when i got myself, i started hearing gunshots from the vigilantee guys and police. I really can’t say if those b——s were caught or not because everyone’s attention were on Elinor who was badly brutalized. I think they came for her” she concluded with a sigh.

“holy moses” i nervously breathed, while Tessy shrugged. Elinor really wasn’t in shape to say anything. She just laid motionless like a dead wood.

“the operation was successfully carried out, but was the mission a success. Why did Obinna demand more money?” hmmmm my9jarocks.info

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I thought dealing with Elinor would make me satisfied and happy. But on the contrary, it made me very sick and uncomfortable. I felt nauseous staring at her helpless state and regretted everything i did. It really cost me a hundred and fifty thousand Naira to put her in that condition.

To what gain?” i wondered,
“she may never know who did this to her and so what’s the benefit?” i deeply wondered.

We left the hospital an hour later. Tessy was near tears as we headed to her house.
“i still can’t believe my eyes, who could have done such a thing to Elinor?” she wondered aloud.

“do you think she was the prime target?” i asked,

“i really don’t know, but the level of injury on her body suggests so” she replied sorrowfully.
_______

I returned to Adaora’s house later in the afternoon, with my thoughts flying high. I really tried calling Obinna as i headed out of Tessy’s house, but was unable to get him. He kept hanging my calls.
“what could be happening?” i wondered.

Adaora really wasn’t pleased to see me when i walked in. I threw a careless hello at her and walked to my room. She followed me.

“this is your one hour abi?” she asked, while i yawned.

“i thought mum ordered you to come home today?, where went you?” she asked.

“i’ll head home tomorrow, i will call mum and explain” i smiled nervously. She breathed deeply and left.

Obinna surprisingly showed up {at Adaora’s house} by 4:30pm {later in the evening}, looking very nervous and hungry.

“my guy e no easy oooo” he exclaimed, shaking his head slowly in the privacy of my room.

“things went as planned. Fred and his boys broke into the apartment, secured the first room and immobilized the occupant. But on getting to the second room they couldn’t find the occupant, so they left it and made for the prime target, who thought it wise to scream instead of begging. This made the boys hit her uncontrollably in order to make her shut up but she refused to yield, until they knocked her out. The missing girl from the second room however showed up that moment screaming, and the boys had no option than to knock her out as well. But unfortunately the obnoxious ladies alerted their neighbours and the vigilante around when they screamed, making escape very hard for the boys who were challenged to a gun fight, by the vigilante group that showed up. Fortunately they were able to escape but one of them had a bullet buried on his right leg. I had no choice than to involve myself by making sure he got medical help, which resulted in the extra money i demanded” he narrated, while i listened eagerly, many questions popping up in my mind.

It really was so unfortunate that i spent a fortune on something so useless and uncalled for. “supposing they were caught, what if someone had died? Would i have been able to live with the guilt. Revenge is something left for our creator alone to handle.

where do i go from here?

EPISODE 159

I spent the rest of the evening thinking over the money i had spent. Money i would have used to do something better.

“How do i recover it?” i wondered deeply. My mind on Tessy.
“yea she is the only person capable of refunding me, but how do i get her to cough out such a huge amount or a hundred thousand at most?” i wondered, without reaching any concrete solution.
“i must get my money back” i concluded, shaking my head.

___

After dinner, I went over to Adaora’s room to try out my luck on her. There wasn’t any denying that i was still madly in love with her, my reckless way of life notwithstanding.

She sat up on her bed as soon as she saw me enter her room. Her eyes searching me keenly.
“what do you want?” she asked,

“i came to talk” i replied with a smile.

“you can talk from there. I can hear you perfectly well, don’t come any nearer” she said seriously, making me smile nervously.

“c’mon you can’t be serious. Let me sit on your bed naah” i murmured,

“you see that knife on the table?” she asked, pointing to a knife an inch away from her bed.
“i kept it for you. Just try sit on this bed and see what will happen to you” she threatened seriously, taking me aback.

“you are really going to stab me?” i asked,

“of course, all i need is just an excuse” she answered. I took a step closer, she quickly reached for the knife, battle ready and serious.

“you can never take advantage of me again, nor take me by surprise. So simply go back to your room and sleep” she seriously said.

“i’ll love to attend tomorrow’s church service with you. Hope you are going?” i asked. She scoffed and stood up.

“go back to your room please. I have had enough of this conversation” she said coldly, leaving me with no choice than to leave her alone. There was fear in my eyes as i returned to my room. There wasn’t any doubt that i had lost my Adaora, even though i knew she also was still in love with me.

Early the next morning, i woke up more confused than i was the previous evening. I really was supposed to travel home that morning, but i wasn’t ready. I still had lots of unfinished business i knew not how to finish.

My phone rang minutes later, waking me fully. It was Tessy calling.
“happy sunday dear, hope you had a wonderful night?, can you come over to my house this morning. I have something important to discuss with you” she said with a lively tone.

“of course i will be there” i replied hastily, thinking only of the money i intended getting from her, even though i was still clueless on how to go about making the demand.

“fine, i’ll be waiting” she laughed and hung up.

Adaora came into my room a minute later, very surprised to see me lying on the bed.
“arn’t you travelling?” she asked,

“i don’t know” i replied lazily. Shaking her head, she left the room furiously.

*****

Tessy was all alone when i got to her house by 9am. She kissed me happily, welcoming me.

“were are your kids?” i asked,

“they have gone to church with the helps” she winked. “i’m all alone”

“so here i’m” i murmured with a shrug. She kissed me again, staring into my eyes.

“why don’t you allow me work on your {NYSC}redeployment huh?” she asked, while i rolled my eyes.
“anyway i didn’t invite you here for that” she said softly.

“i’ll be travelling to my home-town next weekend for a friend’s traditional marriage. I want you to travel with me, in return i will make things work out between you and Adaora once again. Remember i’m a woman, a good business woman. I know how to get your girl back for you. Just travel home with me and leave the rest for me” she proposed seriously, stunning me with her words.

“what exactly is her game plan?, why will she offer to help me get back Adaora instead of offering another thing?, what does she intend to achieve with all these. Is she doing this out of selflessness or for personal gain?. Why will she want to get Adaora and i back together. How is she aware that Adaora and i are yet to resolve our differences?” i wondered deeply, my head spinning wildly.

So so confused.

“why arn’t you saying anything?” Tessy curiously asked, breaking my thoughts. I smiled and shook my head.

“don’t bother talking to Adaora, i need money instead” i murmured seriously.

“money?” she asked with surprise,

“yea money. I need about a 100k{hundred thousand Naira}” i added seriously. She quickly drew back with a deeply coloured face.
My demand really shocked her. Perhaps because it was my first time of seriously demanding a huge sum of money from her.

“Val what do you need such a huge sum of money for?” she asked with a controlled tone, her face still coloured with astonishment.

“i want to rent a two room apartment in Owerri. The cost is actually 200k{two hundred thousand naira}, i have raised half of it, but my mum refused to help me complete it. That’s why i came to you. I wouldn’t have asked for your help, had i another solution” i explained innocently. She breathed deeply and laughed.

“it’s alright Val, i understand. For a moment i was scared over something you shouldn’t know” she said, kissing me.
“i’ll get a hundred and fifty thousand naira for you on friday. But i really would have loved you to settle down here in Abuja instead of Owerri” she murmured with a sad face. I held her reassuringly and stared into her eyes.

“it won’t change a thing between us. I promise” i assured her.

“then let’s do one quick round here in the sitting room before my children returns” she suggested with a naughty smile, roughly holding me. I smiled, kissed, fondled and disrobed her. Within a minute, my joystick was inside her K—y, furiously firing away, while she moaned and sang.

MONDAY MORNING

As early as 7am, i was set and ready to travel back to Imo state. Adaora was dressing up for work when i walked into her room. She turned and stared at me searchingly, when she noticed my presence.

“i’m ready to leave. I will be stopping at Obinna’s apartment to pick him up. He will accompany me to Owerri, because i can’t drive alone. I’m not very familiar with the road” i explained as if she was my wife.

“but mum wants you home. She was very clear when she ordered you to come back home” Adaora said seriously.

“i first have to report at my PPA. It’s very important you know” i explained. She shrugged and breathed deeply.

“yea you are right” she murmured, drew close and gave me a surprise hug.

“safe journey” she smiled,

“thanks dearest” i said softly, my eyes near tears.
“you always make me feel alive” i confessed, broke away from her and left without looking back.
___

As i headed to Obinna’s apartment minutes later, another idea hit me like lightening. I smiled, turned the car and headed towards the hospital where Elinor was admitted.

“what’s my motive?, my new plan, what do i attend to achieve with it?? Hope the devil isn’t playing chess with my destiny… Hmmmm

Elinor was busy with her phone when i walked in. She looked perfectly okay, apart from the thick bandage on her head. She was all alone in the room and eyed me angrily as soon as she noticed my presence.

“what do you want?” she asked coldly, her face colouring. I smiled deeply, sat on a small chair beside her bed and crossed my legs.

“calm down dear. I only wanted to see you before travelling. That’s all, how you dey?” i asked with a dirty smile. She shook her head and bit her lips.

“i have a very big feeling that you are behind everything that happened to me. I can’t prove it, but my mind never decieves me” she murmured strongly, while i scoffed.

“stop being obnoxious my dear. Your conscience is just disturbing you for nothing, but i think you deserve it, by trying to step between Tessy and i. So you see, never underestimate anyone including a baby, because you can’t tell when a baby is going to bite” i laughed heartily.

“yes i knew it. I knew that surprising visit you paid me a couple of days ago with your friend wasn’t for nothing. I have been a fool” she cried.
“don’t worry val, coming here is the greatest mistake you have ever made. I will come after you, your girlfriend and all your loved ones. It’s better you finish me now, better finish up your dirty deed this moment because you will never get the opportunity again” she threatened seriously while my heart jumped. There wasn’t any doubt, her words had a terrible effect on me. I swallowed hard, dumbstruck, and scared. I was tempted to end it all, by taking her life. By strangling the obnoxious creature, by comitting a terrible murder.

It wasn’t courage that brought such power into me but fear. I knew she wasn’t bluffing, i knew she was very serious with her words. I knew she will surely get back at me by hurting Adaora. I was prepared to kill to prevent it. Luckily Tessy walked into the room that moment, shocked to see me. Her presence broke the deep tension in the room, sending the evil air present fleeing for safety. I breathed deeply, while Elinor looked away.

“Val what are you doing here?” Tessy asked curiously,

“i came to see my friend. You know i can’t travel without seeing her” i explained, standing up.

“yea you are right” she smiled, sitting beside Elinor on the bed.

“i have to start going. We will meet at Okigwe {a town in Imo state sharing common boundaries with Abia, Ebony and Enugu state} on friday, just like we agreed” i smiled, while she nodded. I left the hospital seconds later without saying anything to Elinor. But Tessy never really noticed.

“d–n” i exclaimed as i drove towards Obinna’s house. I was very close to being used by the devil. I really couldn’t believe i was capable of doing the deadly deed that flashed into my mind a couple of minutes ago. I never knew i had a dark heart.
“God” i breathed, wondering what could have happened, supposing Tessy came in a minute late.

Surely the devil almost urinated on my destiny

EPISODE 160

I finally got to my PPA very late in the evening, while Obinna headed back to Abuja early tuesday morning.

I stayed at my PPA till Thursday afternoon when i headed home to see my dear mother. She really was very pleased to see me, but it equally didn’t stop her from tongue lashing me. She sat me down in her room that same thursday and talked some senses into me.

It really was very obvious to everyone that i was fast deviating from the right track. I was fast losing focus. I was fast going astray. ‘What could have led to such a sudden change’, was the question mum kept asking me. I really couldn’t defend myself nor utter any form of explanation to her. My loved ones felt i was possessed, they all feared i was being manipulated and controlled by an evil power, but to me i felt nothing of that sort. I felt perfectly normal.

Mum weeped for me, my younger sisters stared at me as if i was a stranger. Everyone watched me with awe. Seriously, if not that i was yet to complete my Nysc programme. Mum wouldn’t have allowed me to leave the house on friday afternoon when i lied and insisted on heading back to Imo state and perhaps it would have done me a whole lot of good and equally prevented me from experiencing one of the most gruesome weekends i ever had.

I truly understood mums advice, her fears and hopes, but when i packed my bag ready to leave on friday afternoon, it seemed as if her words had no effect on me. She couldn’t understand the reason i was rushing back to Imo state when the next day was Saturday, a weekend. Hmmm supposing she knew i was rushing to meet Tessy, to keep the promise i made to her. She would have breathed her last.
I truly was pursuing shadows instead of facing reality.

7:30pm friday

Tessy showed up at Okigwe junction with her SUV. I quietly hopped in, smiling at her.
“thanks a lot Val, you surely won’t regret a thing” she said sweetly before driving to her village. I quietly prayed. I needed no one to tell me that i was taking a very big risk. I was undertaking a dangerous journey. I knew nothing good could ever come out of it.

I truly didn’t know much about Tessy, apart from all the things she told me about herself, and some other things Elinor told me. They really could all be lies with little truth. Most of us live a fake life, and i knew just like i gave half truths about myself to Tessy, she equally did the same to me.

“well everything will be revealed this weekend” i smiled with a shrug.

Sometimes your whole life boils down to one insane move.

An hour later, we arrived at Tessy’s family house. A rectangle shaped seven bedroom apartment, adorned with brown and yellow colours, a yet to be completed one storey building stood by its side.

“my ex husband renovated the house for my family a month before our traditional marriage” Tessy lectured with a smile as she parked her car in front of the long house.

“my brother is erecting the house {one storey building} by your right. I sent him to Italy two years ago and you can see how well he is doing. He really has brought light upon our family” she spoke with emotion while i shrugged silently.

“all these wouldn’t have been possible had i refused to marry that miserable wretch, my ex husband. Sometimes we sacrifice everything just to get to the top” she added slowly. I nodded and stared at her.

“i perfectly understand you dear. Your family could have been backwards had you not grabbed the bull by its horn. I murmured.

Her parents soon came out to welcome us. We quickly alighted from the car, smiling graciously. My heart pounding heavily.

Tessy’s parents were in their late fifties or early sixties. They looked very strong, healthy and happy. Judging from their appearance, they looked like retired teachers.
After hugging and greeting Tessy, they faced me curiously. A bit confused on what to say to me. They really couldn’t make out if i was a business partner to their daughter, one of her workers, a houseboy or a security man.

“you are welcome to our home my son” her father finally said polietly, smiling at me. I nodded dutifully, returning his smile.

I was ushered into the sitting room, where i sat quietly, while Tessy and her parents went into one of the rooms to talk. They really spent close to fifteen minutes in there, leaving me alone with my worries. My heart kept pounding furiously. I really couldn’t believe i wasn’t dreaming. I was in a strange land with a woman who could be my downfall. A woman my family will never welcome. Not only does she have children, her age equally wasn’t acceptable. Yet there i sat like a stupid dog, with my tongue out, playing a game of no rules.

My mind kept wandering as usual, as i thought of many things. Hmmmm yes i always think, my mind always wander, but yet i still act unreasonably.
What sort of boy am i??, so gullible or should i say slightly stupid.

People say i have no guts nor balls, yet i was courageous enough to set foot in Tessy’s hometown. Hmmmm
unlike Elinor who was very daring and confrontational. Tessy was quiet, calculative and sleek. She always pretend to mean well for everyone whereas she’s only fighting for her personal gain.

Tessy and her parents finally joined me once again in the sitting room. Her dad smiling with a bottle of wine and a saucer filled with garden eggs which he dropped on the center table.

“my dear son, we are so glad to have you here. Welcome” he said with glittering eyes, whiIle i drew back with surprise, wondering what Tessy must have told them.

The unspoken truth was that my carefree life was slowly taking a new shape designed by Tessy. Somehow she succeeded in taking my eyes off other girls, destroying my relationship with Adaora and keeping me so busy with my thoughts that i even forgot about setting up a date with the twins i met at her shop days ago.

How do i wake from this slumber?

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