CHAPTER 9: THE FATE THAT NEVER WAS

CHAPTER 9

The ceiling fan rotated slowly. It let out a shriek of creak every time it completed an oscillation. The window, opened in half, let in a gentle breeze with a low whistling sound. Everything else in the room stood still- including Blessing, Ade and Bukky. One could almost conclude that they were mourning.

Bukky cuddled up to Ade, who, seeing this as a life time opportunity, wrapped her up in his arms like his breath.

“You know,” Bukky turned to Ade, “I still couldn’t believe he slapped her.” She whispered.

Ade sighed, “You were there, right? So was I. The sooner you believe, the better you help her stop this madness.” Ade whispered back.

“She is beyond help.” Bukky said. “She still insists on keeping the pregnancy.” Bukky said with worry.

“Maybe, it’s what you girls know as love.”

“Why am I not been affected by that disease?” Bukky asked Ade.

“What disease?” Ade asked.

“Love! Why am I not been enveloped in the madness?”

“Maybe you lack affection.”

“No, try ‘wise’. I am not a fool. I have a reason for living and I have priorities. That is what differentiates me from idiots like her.”

Ade rolled his eyes. She is truly wise, he knew this. “See, enough of us. How do we help Blessing?”

“Even with a black eye, she still professes her love for him. This all strange to me. Is she crazy or what? Maybe Uncle James already bewitched her.”

Ade asked Bukky to forget about Uncle James. “He is not that type of person.” He argued.

In all, Blessing sat, dead silent, lost in thoughts, sad without tears. In her hand, she held the picture of Emeka, even with her swollen face. Right within the whispers and the silence, she reminisced about the event of two days ago…


************************************

They had arrived at Uncle James’s place to know about Blessing’s fate, since he already promised to talk to his nephew. But on arriving at his place, Monica, his first daughter, told them that her father traveled for an emergency event. It was a meeting of the herbalists and being the general secretary, he had no choice but to be there. Even though it was impromptu.

“I overheard him talking to Emeka though- he said they will talk when he is back from the meeting.” Monica told Blessing, whom she was worried and concerned about.

“So, when will he be back?” Bukky had asked.
Monica said she couldn’t say, but assured them that Uncle will never support Emeka’s decision to let Blessing abort the pregnancy. She asked Blessing to be patient.

“Talking of Emeka, where is he?” Ade just realized they haven’t asked the question.

“He’s not available.” Monica said.

“I thought you said he came home some days after we left? Blessing asked.

“Yes, he did. He said he had an accident.” Monica replied.

Blessing had sprung from her feet in fear. She asked many questions at once. Monica assured her that he is now fine. He just went to see some friends. Blessing was relieved, Bukky was angry at her friend.

Few minutes later, as they were about leaving, Emeka had showed up. Blessing rushed to her feet to meet with him after seeing him in a bad shape. Plastered forehead and a sling to the neck. But it was a surprise to everyone when Emeka met her goodwill with a wild slap across her face. This sent her flying to the left. She banged herself against the wall with a scream and fell with a thud- silent.

Everyone had frozen in horror- everyone except Emeka who churned out threats and warnings to Blessing who lay still on the floor.

“I have told you and I will keep repeating this, stay away from me! I don’t want you or the bastard inside of you!”

He had walked inside and ignored them all.


End of 9 (just two more chapters to go!)

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CHAPTER 8: THE FATE THAT NEVER WAS

CHAPTER 8

Emeka got home very late in the evening- he appeared very tired. Uncle James had asked him to see him for an important discussion. That was exactly four days after Ade had left with the girls. Although, Uncle James had called Emeka immediately the guys left, but, Emeka could only make it home, three days after.

Uncle James was mixing some concoction when Emeka emerged. One of his eyes was swollen while the forehead was plastered. Uncle James dropped what he was doing and ran to meet his nephew, who also has a sling around his neck for his left arm.

“What is the meaning of this? Who did this to you?” Uncle James bellowed in anger.

“Good evening Uncle, I am sorry I couldn’t make it home three days ago.” Emeka answered, evasively.

“That wasn’t my question, Emeka. I said, who did this to…”

“Nobody, Uncle James. It was an accident. I fell off the stairs.” He lied. He couldn’t have told him about his encounter with Pastor Hulk. His Uncle would have been ashamed that he got a beating because of a girl.

“Well, I hope you are fine?” Uncle James asked and Emeka said, “Yes, I am. Thank you.”

“Now, you may go inside while I finish this medicine for a client of mine. Bathe, eat and sleep- we have something important to discuss- maybe tomorrow.”

Emeka nodded and dragged himself inside.


*********************

Bukky and Ade watched as Blessing pasted her phone against her ears. She has been on that call for fifteen minutes. Bukky and Ade were eager for her to be done with the call so as to know the next step- Blessing listened with rapt attention.

“I think it will work out.” Bukky whispered and smiled to Ade who only patted her while his eyes were fixed on Blessing.

Blessing shook her head slowly and she readjusted the phone with her other hand. After a while, she was done with it. She gently placed her phone of the table and looked at Bukky and Ade whose eyes were asking, “How was it?”
Blessing shook her head slowly. Bukky took a quick disappointed look at Ade who happened to do the same.

“You mean…?”

“He denied!” Blessing interjected Bukky.

“Is he crazy or what?” Ade shouted and stood up abruptly.

“I think you need to talk to your friend. He cannot deny this pregnancy!” Bukky said to Ade..

“Blessing… please, relax, I think I need to see Uncle James. I will be back.” Ade said and left.

Bukky sat closer to her friend on the bed, “What did that bastard say?” She asked annoyingly.

Blessing replied with rains of tears. Bukky tried to pacify her.

“He… He… He said…” She sobbed, “Can you imagine Emeka calling me a prostitute? Can you?” She asked Bukky with a faint voice.

“He did what? Is he crazy or what? Let me ask you, was he not the first guy?”

“Bukky, you know me.” She cried and placed her hand on her chest, beating it softly. “You know me, you know Emeka is the only guy with me.”

“I know…I know. You know, guys are very funny. Maybe he read a message on your phone or …”

“Bukky, you’re hurting me! What messages could it be? What other guy? Ever since I gave him the chance, I ensured I am as transparent as I could, just to avoid this type of situation?”

“Listen, Blessing, the best thing to do is to avoid this… this issue of… erm… sex, completely. I mean, when all these is over!”

Blessing looked at her slowly and shook her head, with her forefinger in between her teeth, immersed in regret.

Bukky continued, “If a guy really likes you, let him wait for you. If he is in a hurry, let him work hard and start preparing for the wedding. I have never allowed Ade to go beyond pecking and holding hands. If he doesn’t like it, he may leave. I am not saying that virginity is chastity or good behavior, but we all need to avoid these idiots who walk around shamelessly with their third legs, looking for whom to destroy.”

“Bukky, Bukky, please, I am not worried about all you’re saying. It is too late already, what do you think I should do?” Blessing sobbed.

“Well, I don’t know of your own plan. I can only advice you based on your interests.”

“I can’t believe this is happening to me!” Blessing lamented.

“Like you said, it is too late already, we should talk about the solutions- the future.”

“I don’t think I have one without Emeka.” Blessing said, much to Bukky’s disappointment. “Bukky, maybe we should wait a little and give him some time. Maybe he will come around. What do you think?”

Bukky was lost in words, she opened her mouth and closed it again- no word came out. Blessing continued in her folly,

“Maybe if you talk to him, he will listen to you. You know, he respected you a lot. I believe he is still angry and will see things the right way.”

“Listen, Blessing,” Bukky stopped her after she couldn’t take it anymore, “Emeka had already seen things the right way- his own right ways, and that was why he arrived at that conclusion. You need to…”

“No, Bukky, no.” Blessing interjected. “You cannot just say that. He may going through a major stress that…”

“Enough of this folly!” Bukky shouted her down. “Why are you this insane? What has Emeka done to you? I hope he hasn’t bewitched you with a love spell?”

Blessing sighed. “He didn’t. I love him. I am sorry that you may not understand what that means.”

“Oh, I love myself. I love my parents and I love my family. I love my future and I love Ade too. That was why I decided not to be carried away in this ten minutes madness and jeopardize everything I love!” Bukky clapped back.

“I didn’t mean it that way.” Blessing said. “What do you think I should do?”

“I will be blunt with you- abort this pregnancy and continue with your life. Don’t jeopardize your life by pitching your tent with a guy like Emeka. He is already proving that he is an animal. Even if you marry him, do not expect any special treatment.”

“You don’t know that!” Blessing defended Emeka. “I told you, that Hannah-of-a-witch could have bewitched him! Maybe we should pray for him.”

“God forbid!” Bukky growled. She shook her head as she looked at her friend with uttermost pity. “You should make up your mind, and you should do that real fast.”

“I already did.” Blessing replied. She was looking out of the window.

“And that is?”

Blessing turned to face her friend and coldly replied, “Emeka will come around. I will start praying and fasting by tomorrow. I will keep this pregnancy.”

Bukky shook her head in anger and left for the lecture room.

END of 8

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CHAPTER 7: THE FATE THAT NEVER WAS

CHAPTER 7

Uncle James quickly wrapped up what he was doing to be with the visitors he asked to wait for him outside his veranda.

“I hope you are not angry, my son and daughters?” He asked as he sat in the chair in their front.

“No, Sir.” Ade and Bukky chorused- Blessing was silent.

“Ade, you know the nature of my job, I attend to a lot of pressing issues from many people, every day. It is a pity that my nephew is not around to help me out, he has been away in school for months now. Besides, you guys said you are here because of him, right?”

“Yes, Uncle.”

“Ade, I hope your friend is okay?”

“Emeka is fine, Uncle. But we are here because of this lady.” Ade pointed to Blessing who went on her knees, sobbing.

Emeka’s Uncle and guardian, Uncle James, urged her to sit down. He asked what the problem was. Ade told Uncle James that they had reasons to believe that Emeka was responsible for Blessing’s pregnancy.

“Really?” Uncle James was clearly happy, but couldn’t fathom why Blessing was crying. “This is a thing of joy, my daughter. If you are worried that my nephew has no job, do not worry about that as I will take full responsi…"

“It’s not that, Uncle.” Ade jumped in. “I know you are a good man, but Emeka didn’t want to see her again.”

“Why? Did she do something wrong?”

“I don’t believe so. But it appears that Emeka is dumping her for another lady!” Bukky said.

“Even when he knows he had her put in a family way? That is cruelty and I cannot take that from him!” Uncle James raged.

“Well, we just knew yesterday that she is pregnant. Emeka broke with her several days ago.” Ade said.

Uncle James sighed and assured them that he will talk to his nephew.

“What if he didn’t listen?” Blessing sobbed.

“Listen, my child, I may not be Emeka’s biological father, but I have been his father ever since his parents left this world through a fatal accident, when he was just thirteen years old. I am the one who has been his father since then. Listen to me, my child, I also have children of my own, but Emeka has always been to me, my first born and he hasn’t for once, go against my advice. Relax your mind.”

Blessing felt comfortable, at least, even if it felt false. They all thanked Emeka’s Uncle and they left. As they were going, Bukky said,

“The man seems nice, don’t you think?”

“Of course, he is a very nice man. I knew him before I and Emeka gained admission into the University. I used to sleep over at their place sometimes.” Ade said.

“Is he a Pastor?” Blessing asked.

“A Pastor? Not even close!” Ade said. “He’s an herbalist.”

“An herbalist?” Blessing stopped abruptly! “Jesus!”

“Jesus what?” Ade said. “You better let that thought go. Uncle James is one of the best and easy going ones. You need to lay your mind at rest.”

Blessing sighed as Bukky patted her. Bukky asked if Blessing really thought was really wise to let the pregnancy grow instead of aborting it because of her studies.

“I don’t want to lose him.” Blessing said, rather disappointing to Bukky. “I can always come back for my studies.”

“Well, if you say so.” Bukky, who doesn’t want to be seen as an antagonist, replied her.

“Do you think that Emeka will listen to her Uncle?” Blessing asked again.

“Well,” Ade said, “that is left to be known.”

“I am just scared, that’s why?” Blessing said.

“Well, I would be too.” Bukky said. “But if it were me, I will abort the pregnancy and move on.”

Ade looked at her, but, she didn’t notice. She kept on talking, “I cannot be allowed to be treated like I don’t have a choice. No man is entitled to treat a lady that way. Not even when I gave him my virginity like you did with Emeka. It is unfair.”

“I beg your pardon,” Ade came in, “but, she wasn’t forced to give it to him.” Ade said angrily.

“Are you for real?” Bukky asked angrily. “Did you really say that?”

“Of course, I did! You made it sound like both Emeka and Blessing are kids who are not responsible for their actions. There wasn’t any coercion!”

“So, what are we to call it when a guy keeps promising lies and heaven just to get laid, just like you’ve always been doing with me?” Bukky asked angrily.

“And did you ever give in?” Ade asked.

“Of course, I wouldn’t!” This is sort of thing I was clearly avoiding!

“Hello guys,” Blessing finally said, “I think I am still here. You guys can just direct the insults at me.”

“Sorry.” Ade and Bukky chorused.

“That’s not necessary. It doesn’t seems like this is your fault. I think Ade is right. I can only blame myself.”

“I…I mean, we didn’t mean to make it sound like that.” Ade said.

“I am sorry.” Bukky added.

Blessing was silent, lost in thought. The rest of the journey, back to the campus, was as silent as the graveyard.

End of 7

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CHAPTER 6: THE FATE THAT NEVER WAS

CHAPTER 6

 “What happened?” Blessing asked as she was brought back to life.

“You blacked out,” Bukky replied with a worried face, “again.” She added.

“Again?” Blessing asked. She had recollected that the reason she was at the hospital was because she fainted at Hannah’s place, but to say she blacked out again, was worrisome.

“Where am I?” She asked as she was helped to sit.

“You are in my office, Blessing. You need to take things easy.” The doctor said.

“I blacked out again? Am I still in the hospital?”

The doctor nodded. “But, like I said, you need to take things easy. You’re no more a kid.”

Blessing sighed. “Why…” She rephrased, “Is this how I am going to be fainting every now and then?”

The doctor scoffed. “No. But, are you telling me you do not remember why fainted right here?”

“I…” She rubbed the back of her neck, “I thought it was a relapse of what happened at Hannah’s place.” She said.

“A relapse?” The doctor chuckled. “Ade…sorry, I think Bukky, being a female, will be in the best position to tell you what happened.”

“Something else happened?” She sprang towards Bukky, who nodded with a pitiful eyes.

“What is happening?” Am I infected?” She screamed.

“You need to calm down, Blessing, you are not infected.” Ade patted her.

“You need to be scared of infections too, if you’re going to be having sex without protection. Latex condoms are very cheap. Didn’t somebody tell you guys?” The doctor schooled.

“So, what happened to me? What is happening? I could only recollect I was being discharged after three days and the doctor asked to see us briefly, right?” She asked Bukky, who nodded. “So, I was given a result sheet for the test done and…” She looked at Bukky in horror as she recollected exactly why she fainted. She exploded into tears. “No, no.” She screamed.

“I think we will find a solution, okay?” Bukky tried to pacify her friend. She was also crying.

“Solution? Solution? Don’t you understand? Are we not talking of Emeka?” Bukky wailed with mucus mixing with tears.

“We will see her Uncle, okay. I will take you there by myself.” Ade did his best.

“No, no, I am dead.” Blessing cried. “My father is going to kill me!”

“No, you are not.” The doctor replied her. “Go think this through and come back to see me, okay?”

Bukky and Ade thanked the doctor and guided their friend out of her office.

**********************

Emeka had been begging Hannah since the trio came looking for him. Immediately they left, Hannah had pushed him away and asked him to leave her place for ‘perjury’.

“I thought… you were just holding me now.” Emeka had asked, bemused.

“Yes, that was before your girlfriend interrupted us.” Hannah had replied. “And don’t forget, you swore to me that none of your friends knew this place and it was funny that you even used the Bible to lie.”

“See, Hannah…”

“See, Emeka, let it go. It is over!”

That was three days ago. Emeka hasn’t stopped begging Hannah, who had it all planned. The whole swearing thing was a trap she set for Emeka.

That day, while at the window, she already saw Ade, Bukky and Blessing alight in front of her hostel’s gate. She quickly excused herself from Emeka and ran downstairs to tell Rucks and Sarah to delay the three incoming visitors for just fifteen minutes- enough time for her to ran back upstairs to set the trap for Emeka. Also, enough time to get both of them half-naked so that the three incoming visitors met them in the unholy position. She was glad when Blessing fainted.

There was a knock on the door.

“Hannah, your man is here!” Sarah popped in her head to inform Hannah who was busy addressing Emeka. Sarah was surprised to see Emeka on her knees. “Is this guy still here?”

“I have done all I could,” Hannah replied, “he just wouldn’t leave!”

“Listen, deaf guy, you better leave. Rucks is still trying to delay her man by the gate. If he should meet you here, you are a dead man!” Sarah threw her two cents into the bowl and left.

“You heard her.” Hannah told Emeka. “Do not let Pastor Akin meet you here!”

“Pastor Akin?” Emeka asked, puzzled. “So, he’s a Pastor!”

“He is not a Pastor in any way, dumbass! It was a nickname given him for his gentle looks. But do not be deceived, he is very dangerous. You must leave. I can always say you are a delivery guy.” Hannah tried to help him but Emeka refused. He continue begging.

Suddenly, the door creaked open and a hulk-looking guy extruded himself inside through the opening. Emeka stood up slowly. The guy sure looks simple, but his stature scared him.

“Who is this guy?” The Hulk roared.
Emeka trembled but turned to Hannah for explanation.

Hannah tried to put on a smile and said Emeka was an intruder who has been stalking her all her life! Before Emeka could recover from the shock of Hannah’s statement. The guy was already red in the face, moving over to him.

Emeka decided to defend himself by saying he was just a delivery guy, but before he could utter a word, there was a crack in the air and everything went dark around him- it was a slap from Hulk. In the darkness, he knew he staggered and hit his head on the wall. His ears couldn’t pick a clear sound- it was all a static sound. He shook his head to clear the darkness and the static sound.

Then slowly, it was getting cleared. He shook his head more frantically and the light was coming back to his eyes. He even picked a sound-

“I swear, I don’t know him!” It was Hannah’s.

As he tried to see what was happening with the dark fog around his eyes, there was another darkness and a static sound again- he blacked out from the second blow!

THE END OF 6

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CHAPTER 5: THE FATE THAT NEVER WAS

CHAPTER 5

An occasional but consistent high-pitched beep sounds visited Blessing in her dreams. It became so loud and consistent that even though she wasn’t yet awake, it irritated her. She shifted in her bed and tried to shake off the sound- all to no avail. Then suddenly, without her wanting it, her eyes opened. Slowly at first, then they blinked repeatedly as they tried to adjust to the light. It wasn’t pleasant.

She felt a hand on her arm, then a voice saying, “She is awake.” It was a female’s.

“Shh,” a male voice hushed her down, “do not make noise. Quick, call the doctor.”

“Hang on dear.” The female voice said and Blessing could feel her arm being tapped by the hand.

She closed her eyes again and was drifting back into dreamland, but a hand, different from the one that touched her arm, slapped her gently on her cheeks. The hand appeared to be sticky.

“Wake up, wake up.” She heard a different voice- the owner of the sticky hands, commanding her with a deep feminine voice.

There was a struggle between her soul and her body as she turned and stretched but not willing to wake up. She groaned. The high pitched beep was now very high and fast- she could hear it, but everything was dark. Then suddenly, she felt a rush of air in her chest- somebody had maybe, tore off her shirt. The first hand that touched her arm now grabbed it, she could hear her shout and panic, but did not know why.

On her bare chest, something cold were placed, she could feel it and it sent an electric shock into her brain. It seemed to lift her up slam her back on the bed. Her brain became so loud that the high pitched beeps sliced through her brain. She shuts wide, her eyes, but the sticky hands forced her eyes open and then she saw a light- very bright, directed right into her eyes.

She shoved her head away and for once, she could make sense of everything.

The sticky hands held a small touch in her hands- she was a doctor and she wore a rubber gloves. Bukky’s hands on her arm was still firm and there. She could see her- panic was written all over her countenance. Then she saw Ade behind Bukky, he held her shoulders- he looked happy.

“She’s okay.” He said with a smile.

She turned her head to where the high pitched sound was coming from- no wonder it was so loud. It was right beside her- a heart monitor. And right beside it was a defibrillator- she guessed that that was what sent the electric shock through her chest.

“Where am I?” She asked in a dead voice.

“You cannot recollect what happened?” Bukky asked, scared that her friend may have lost her memories.

Blessing shook her head. A headache ran across her forehead. She tried to touch it but her hands were strung up with a rubber-like strings like a puppet’s.

“Don’t move,” The doctor said, “just a few more drips and you will regain your strength.” She said as she injected more yellow liquid into the big bag that supplied the hollow rubber strings connected to her arm.

“What happened?” She asked again.

“You need to leave now.” The doctor ordered Bukky and Ade who were eager to tell Blessing what happened. “You guys can come back tomorrow, okay. Your friend is stable now.” She ushered them away with a friendly smile.

Bukky waved.

Slowly, Blessing watch them leave, she drifted to sleep. As she neared the dark world, she could recollect vividly, how it all happened.

*********************

 FEW HOURS EARLIER


Blessing had alighted with Bukky, in front of the gate of a very lovely hostel, with Ade, who had brought them there.

“You mean this is where Emeka is?” Blessing recollected asking Ade who reaffirmed her fear. What Ade failed to tell Blessing was that Emeka was with a lady- Hannah, a known prostitute from her class.

They met two half-dressed ladies, Rucks and Sarah, as soon as they entered the gate and she could recollect one of them telling them to wait for Hannah, who had gone out.

After the three of them had waited for fifteen minutes, one of the ladies came and told them that they could now go upstairs- “Hannah is back!” She said.

Blessing, Bukky and Ade were surprised because they did not see any Hannah enter through the gate. Nevertheless, they climbed the stairs to Hannah’s abode and Ade knocked on the beautiful door.

“Come right in.” Hannah’s voice had invited them in and they did just that, only to be met with the horror of their lives. Hannah’s plan worked!

“Emeka!” Blessing recollected screaming. “Why are you doing this to me?” She screamed as she saw Hannah and Emeka on the bed, both half-naked.

Emeka broke free and screamed back, “Because I don’t love you! Leave me alone!”

Blessing couldn’t believe her eyes, she watched as Emeka wrapped her arms around Hannah, who did the same with a conceited smiled.
Without any announcement, Blessing had blacked out!!!

End of 5

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CHAPTER 4: THE FATE THAT NEVER WAS

CHAPTER 4

Emeka sat with eyes swollen- he sniffed like a child whose chance to play had been denied or whose candy has been stolen. His handkerchief was wet due to frequent wiping of a teary eyes and his stomach didn’t remind him that he hasn’t eaten for a whole day. He had managed to bathe and had his teeth brushed, but he was still with the cloth that was on him since he arrived at Hannah’s place, three days ago. And every night, against his fervent pleading, Hannah had always left him at home every night to come back the next morning.

Hannah was indifferent to his plight, she sat behind a big fat plate of food and ate on like her life depended on it. Occasionally, she threw glances at the sulking man, but no matter how she tried, she didn’t feel any pity for her. She never liked him- as a matter of fact, she never liked anyone. As a spoilt brat from a rich father who always travel around the world like the wind, she is either into a man, either for more money or sex. She wasn’t worried about this, not when she had no mother-figure to guide her since her mother left her Dad when she was four years old.

Now that things just got worse, Emeka was left alone at a corner of the room to grieve. Hannah already told her that she has another man- much older and a political thug who wouldn’t hesitate to beat anyone he perceived as a rival. Hannah had warned Emeka to let go, but it was almost impossible for him to accept. When he broke down after the news and secluded himself at a corner, Hannah had let him grieve and maybe, he will get over it.

“I am not leaving.” Emeka announced after hours of consulting with himself.

Hannah’s heavy silver spoon fell with a bang as it hit the ceramic plate, she couldn’t believe she heard right. “You say?”

“You heard me!” Emeka shouted. “I am not going anywhere! I love you!”

“And I don’t! How many times do I have to reiterate that fact to your deaf ears?”

“It won’t matter, Hannah. It won’t!” Emeka went on his knees and started begging again.

Hannah was furious. She couldn’t not fathom why a grown up man will be acting that weird. She had never been attached to a man in her life and whenever she was done with them, it always looked like she did them a favour whenever she asked them to stop contacting him. Not many of the men ever asked ‘why’, and those who did ask, were not really interested to know ‘why’. She knew she had no feelings for Emeka- she only wanted a night stand because he was handsome. And when they did went once, she loved it and wanted more- only for Emeka to start getting attached unnecessarily. She had never envisaged it would get as messy as it appeared.

“I love you!” Emeka sobbed. “Don’t leave me!”

Hannah stood by the window and wondered what else could be done. At a point, she thought of the police, but thought against it- it appeared too extreme. Maybe I could accept his initial proposal of being together after he graduates, she thought of just anything to yank herself free from this maniac. Even if he had stayed for a week, she wouldn’t have bothered, but for her new sugar daddy, who was in truth, a political thug, she feared that Emeka might be hurt. Emeka being hurt was never her headache, but it would be on her, since he was her visitor. She doesn’t want that conscience on her poor soul.

As she was about to turn away from the window to tell Emeka her decision, she saw an opportunity as three recognized figures alight from a taxi right in front of her hostel gate. She immediately excused herself from Emeka, promising to find a solution as soon as she gets back. She ran like a mad woman down the stairs and banged her fist on Rucks’s door. Rucks came out and Hannah whispered something into Rucks’s ears. Rucks didn’t ask questions, she agreed to do as Hannah has instructed.

Rucks is a randy student living at the ground floor of the same hostel with Hannah. She shared a three bedroom flat with two other students- Sarah and Mary. Apart from Hannah, who wasn’t into direct prostitution, Rucks, Mary and Sarah never denied their profession. Even as a student, the three lived a life of luxury.
Hannah ran back upstairs to her flat (She alone lived in a three bedroom flat) and slammed the door with her back. She smiled.

“I think I may have found a solution.” She said.
“I will do anything.” Emeka said.

“Of course, you will.” Hannah smiled back as she placed her hand on Emeka’s cheek. “You once told me that no one knows my place, not even your friend, Ade, right?” She asked and Emeka said no one knows.

“Can you swear that that was the truth? Because if it happened that you just lied to me again, that will be the end. Do you agree?”

Emeka agreed and said he will swear. Even though his heart pounds for the lie he was telling- Ade knows her place, but he was hoping he would warn him not to ever show up. He wanted Hannah and he was ready to lie to God’s face. Hannah said he should swear with a bible, but they couldn’t find one. So, Emeka opened the bible application on his phone and swore with it.

Hannah smiled.

End of chapter 4

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CHAPTER 3: THE FATE THAT NEVER WAS

CHAPTER 3


Emeka’s eyes were swollen, red and like a brimstone, but this time, it wasn’t due to smoking or drinking, he has been crying his eyes out. If there were any begging position, he had already been there. But now, he prostrated on the floor, still begging Hannah to forgive him.

He has been begging for two days now, but Hannah had insisted that it was over. Something Emeka couldn’t take himself to bear. The first time Hannah said that, he almost drank himself to death. Even his friend, Ade, was unable to rescue him from the plank.

“You got to understand, please!” He kept repeating the verse like it mattered to Hannah, who was apparently not worried about the break up.

“Oh, I understood you the first time you explained, but you didn’t understand my own point, did you?” Hannah asked without looking at his wet face. She sat comfortably on the plastic chair with legs crossed, filing her nails that doesn’t need filing.

“Blessing is not more a problem, I promise you.” Emeka pleaded again.

“See, Emeka, when you approached me for a relationship, six months ago, I told you I can’t be with you unless you do away with… with that wretched girl! Everybody knows her background with her holier-than-thou attitude, just because her parents were pastors. She is poor, her parents are poor, and she is even a squatter because last time we heard, Bukky was the one paying for the hostel and she had never contributed a dime!”

“I swear, if you forgive me this time, I will never go back to her.”

“Yeah, heaven will come if I believe you this time. You know,” she stopped filing her nails, uncrossed her legs and bent from her chair to face Emeka, “the last time, she thanked you for being gentle with her while taking her virginity. This time, she missed you and will love to sleep over at your place. You know, I could only thank my stars that I had your phone with me on these two occasions, otherwise, you would have fooled me twice!"

“This time, I swear, it is over!” Emeka held onto Hannah’s legs.

Hannah yanked herself from him and walked to the window. “The worst part is, that wretched Blessing would have been bragging about you being hers, when I was bragging that you dumped her for me. Being in the same class with that wretched girl is shameful enough!”

“I am begging you. I cannot do without you, I swear!” Emeka sniffed and cried without leaving his position.

“The only way I can redeem my glowing image is to let everyone know that I dumbed you!”

Emeka assumed a kneeling position and walked on his knees to where Hannah was standing, he held on her skirt. “I don’t care if you told everyone that you dumbed me, but I am going to have nothing to do with Blessing anymore!”

“And how does that solve this whole issue?” Hannah turned to him.

“You know, I have just three months left in this university before my final papers, after which we can be together again.”

Hannah refused, and Emeka begged on.

*******************

“How is she?” Ade asked as he came into the hostel room.

“Still the same thing.” Bukky, who sat by a shivering Blessing answered Ade.

“That’s bad.” Ade said. “No improvement?”

“If you meant ‘after you left’, then, no.” Bukky replied.

Ade came forward to feel Blessing’s forehead. He quickly removed his hand. “Jesus! She burning up! Shouldn’t we take her to the school clinic?”

“She refused.”

“I don’t think she has much of a choice.” Ade said and moved towards Blessing’s bed, raised her arm and dropped it like a referee during a wrestling match. “She looks dead.”

Bukky scoffed. “She’s not dead.” She said and padded Blessing’s forehead with a wet towel.

“I am not dead.” Blessing said without opening her eyes. “Just get me my Emeka.”

“Is that what this is?” Ade was surprised.

“Yes, just get me Emeka and I will be fine.”

“I told you.” Bukky said.

“But I don’t know where he is?” Ade lied.

“You’re his friend, just help us find him.” Bukky shouted.

“Alright, alright, I will try and do that.” Ade replied uneasily. He started to think. Emeka doesn’t wants to be found, but it is looking as though he has no choice.

“Ade!” Bukky shouted his name.

“What? Why shouting my name? I am right here!”

“No, you were not. I called you three times.”

“You did?”

“Yes, she did.” Blessing replied to Ade’s question.

“What were you thinking? Did you know where your friend is?” Bukky asked Ade who denied.

Blessing sat up. “Ade, please.”

“What is the problem with you girls, huh? I told you I will look for him, okay? Take care of yourselves.” He said and both girls watched him leave.

END OF CHAPTER 3

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CHAPTER 2 (THE FATE THAT NEBER WAS)

CHAPTER 2

Blessing looked out of the window as she sat on her bed that was also by the window. Her stare was firm and long, but she was not looking at the anything in particular. Her mind was long gone in thought and worry; she has refused to touch her food and this worried her friend, Bukky, who sat beside her all day, watching her cry at intervals.

Blessing held up her phone to her face again and appeared to be dialing a number. After a while, as Bukky had expected, Blessing started to cry again. Bukky was now getting impatient.

“He refused to pick my call again. This is the third day, Bukky, what have I done to deserve this?” Blessing asked her friend amidst more tears.

Bukky wasn’t ready to comfort her anymore. She had tried to make her eat, make her take her bath and make her stop starring at the widow, all to no avail. Bukky hissed and looked away.

“I know you have tried,” Blessing continued, “but if Ade had treated you this way, I would have stayed by you…”

“What else do you want me to do?” Bukky asked, slightly angry. “Your boyfriend texted you that it was over, refused to pick your calls and almost got my boyfriend beaten at the plank when he tried to talk to him.”

“He what?” Blessing suddenly got interested.

“Listen, I shouldn’t have told you this but Ade asked not to compound your issues. He said that your boyfriend walked him away from the plank, two days ago when he tried to talk to him. He said he was dead drunk too and…”

The sound of Blessing’s phone that dropped on the ceramic floor of her hostel room cut through Bukky’s speech. Realizing that Blessing was lying back down on her bed, she believed she has fainted. Bukky rushed to her side and shook her frantically. Blessing responded with a high pitched scream before settling for proper crying. Bukky was relieved but annoyed.

“What is the meaning of this?” Bukky asked as she helped her friend to her butt.

“What did Emeka say I did that warranted this actions against me?”

“He never told Ade you did anything. I think it was a personal problem. Maybe he didn’t want to bother you with it.” Bukky said.

Blessing chose to believe what his friend said- partly because it reduced the burden of her thinking she had offended Emeka, her boyfriend, and partly because she didn’t want to believe that his boyfriend was leaving her.

“Did your boyfriend say exactly what the problem was?”

“You mean, Ade?” Bukky asked and Blessing nodded. “No, he didn’t. He only said Emeka said it was a personal problem.” She lied.

“But, he should have picked my call.” Blessing said. She started to reassemble her dissembled phone.

“Why don’t you just send a text?”

Blessing said she had sent hundreds of text messages. She tried the number again and it was just ringing out. Bukky has had enough, she said she would no longer miss the lectures by staying with her- she already missed two.

“Don’t worry about me. If I didn’t see my love, I am not going to the lecture room.” Blessing said.

“Are you okay?” Bukky couldn’t believe her ears. “May I remind you that both Emeka and Ade are in their final level? We are just at the second level and…”

“Go!” Blessing insisted.

“You need to think this through. Making a rash decision may hurt you for life.”

“I know.” She replied, nonchalantly.
Her phone rang and she was half excited. “He called back.” She whispered to Bukky as she picked the call.

“My love, why…” She was suddenly silent. But it was apparent by her countenance that she wasn’t listening to a pleasantries from the caller.

Bukky, having seen that there was a relief, gestured to leave. With her left hand, Blessing asked her to go, while holding the phone with the right.

“Is everything okay?” Bukky bent down to ask in a whisper, noticing the blanket of frown on her friend’s forehead.

Blessing nodded and Bukky stood up to leave. She had nearly gotten hold of the door latch when a crashing sound visited her ears- she turned around to face her friend just in time for her feet to stop the phone battery that was screeching to a stop. The pieces of Blessing’s phone graced the whole floor- all in different direction. Blessing covered her head with her bed sheet and sobbed uncontrollably.

Bukky checked her time by her wrist watch- lecture was in fifteen minutes, she could no longer help her friend. She left.

END OF CHAPTER 2

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