Life as a corper
Episode 126
“Jesus!” Adaora screamed, holding me tightly. I quickly murmured silent prayers as cold shiver ran through me.
Three men came upon us breathing heavily as if they crawled out of a grave. I instantly felt great pain as a hard object landed heavily on my head, making me collaspe on the floor, while Adaora knelt by my side, extremely scared and lost.
Within few minutes the bandits expertly ransacked the whole room, seizing Adaora’s jewellery, expensive shoes{her dad sent her from abroad} and even her hand bag. They totally swept the whole room, though we were lucky they didn’t discover the phones and laptops she hid inside an old carton filled with old newspapers.
“where are your phones?” one of them barked, as he grabbed the old Nokia phone Adaora was holding. I tried to say something, but lost my voice due to fear which engulfed me.
“we were robbed inside a taxi this afternoon, we have nothing but the little you have already seized” i heard Adaora mutter nervously, but her words infuriated them immensely, earning me more kicks and blows which they rendered on me without pity. Seriously if not for Musa’s voice which interrupted them as he sang outside Adaora’s window that moment, perhaps they would have left me in a more terrible state.
Musa’s voice rang out as he walked towards the backward, passing through Adaora’s window and flashing his torch aimlessly. Maybe the electricity that went off earlier alerted him or perhaps he was simply doing his night round. Whatever it was, his action really stopped the hoodlums who frooze and waited patiently till he moved away. One of them, squatted by my side, breathing heavily as he pressed a steel object on my head.
“one sound from you and you are gone” he threatened, while another held Adaora strongly.
Musa the security man soon disappeared, leaving us once again to our fate. The hoodlums quickly whispered among themselves, before leaving the room noiselessly.
“if anything should happen to us as we leave, we will come back to finish what we started” they threatened as they left. But their threats really wasn’t necessary because i was still in a big shock with my left eye swollen and hurting.
“my baby thank God they didn’t kill you for me. God will surely repay them, for a moment i feared they came for your life” Adaora cried as she hugged me like an elder sister, while i thanked God for my life, even though i felt ashamed as i did it, because i truly had dared God on numerous ocassions.
“i can’t believe we were just robbed” Adaora sobbed as she hugged me. I felt very bad and ashamed about everything, but i hid my feelings, quietly broke away from her and stood up with a painful smile after regaining my strength.
“c’mon baby, stop lamenting, let’s check the other rooms and see if they were tampered with” I said to her,
“what if those guys are still around? Let’s wait till dawn please” she murmured fearfully.
“get the phones dear, i’m very sure they have left” i replied with a deep breathe. She hesitated before silently retrieving our phones from where she hid them{ which took her quite an effort, because we were in darkness}.
Using the little light our handsets had, we walked to the sitting room.
But I wasn’t surprised when we eventually got there and discovered that the t.v decoder and d.v.d machine were gone. My room however was untouched, though there was no valuable thing in it anyway. {Adaora’s room is the first when coming from either the sitting room or kitchen}.
We calmly made our way to the second corridor to check the fuse box, which we discovered was switched off. With a deep breathe, i switched it on, while Adaora smiled as the bulbs glowed. We thereafter went outside to fetch a bewildered security man who couldn’t believe his ears when we told him what happened us. However I asked myself lots of questions the following morning after discovering that the family living next door wasn’t robbed
______
The events of that fateful night really shook Adaora alot and made her insist on travelling to Imo state with me which i finally gave in to, because i was left with no choice.
On Wednesday morning i headed back to Owerri with Adaora by my side, and by 7pm that fateful evening, we arrived at my lodge.
I truly wasn’t confortable with her presence, but i equally was a bit glad that she was willing to face a tough life for my sake. Frank was in my room chatting with Sonia and Jenny when we walked in, they smiled happily as they welcomed us.
However Jenny’s bright smile instantly turned into a dark scowl after I introduced Adaora to them, while Frank was all smiles as he hugged Adaora
“welcome to a new life” he jokingly said to her..
“I pray nothing bad happens” i murmured to myself with mixed feelings.
Episode 127
After Adaora had settled down, i went over to my land-lady’s apartment to greet her. I gave her children the bread i brought for them, spent few minutes with them, before returning to my room. However i ran into Jenny on my way back.
She gave me an askance look, blocked me and folded her hands.
“Jenny baby, why are you frowning na, don’t you know it makes you look very ugly?” i asked with a smile. She sighed and rolled her eyes,
“i really missed everything about you” i added jokingly. She scoffed with a clap.
“so gist me the latest, What’s happening at school?” I asked curiously,
“and why should i tell you eeh?” she asked with a drawn face. I drew nearer and held her hands strongly.
“madam what did i do to you na? Are we not friends again?, abeg gist me small nau” i pleaded calmly. She shook her head and looked away.
“Akunna your girlfriend is pregnant, that’s the latest news” she said and made to leave, but i quickly hid my surprise, held her strongly, and prevented her from leaving.
“are you serious?, who got her pregnant?” i asked curiously.
“i don’t know, she refused to disclose that piece of information to anyone and it’s really causing quite a commotion in the Village. You know her dad is a retired policeman? He almost killed the girl on sunday” She narrated, while i shrugged with surprise.
“didn’t she tell you, i thought you guys were….?” she murmured mockingly, wrapping her question with a dirty smile, which said a thousand words to me.
“you thought we were what?” i asked nervously,
“never mind, but i pray she dosen’t name you oooo hmmm” she said with a weird tone, while i gasped.
Akunna slept only once in my room and i really was unable to do anything with her that fateful night, because she offered herself so easily, which kind of scared me away, {even though i nursed some dirty plans for her}.
“did you hear anything else, please speak up” i urged as i breathed heavily on her.
“hey easy jor, i heard nothing else pleassssse” She coldly answered before walking away, leaving me to my thoughts. I returned to my room with a heavy mind.
I really had no concrete reason to be scared, but Jenny’s news actually shook me alot, sending great fear into me as if i was the person responsible.
“so Akunna was pregnant all the time she was coming close to me?” i wondered seriously, “no, no, no, it can’t be. I must seek her out tomorrow, yes i must” i concluded nervously. Adaora however was the first to notice my changed mood….
“you look lost, are you okay?” She asked searchingly as she held me.
“Kpoom kpoom kpoom!!!” My heart pounded.
Frank travelled back to Okitipupa town the following day, leaving Adaora and i all alone. Things went smoothly for the first two days allowing Adaora and i to enjoy each other, but however on saturday, Akunna showed up unexpectedly, without the slightest clue that her elder brother was following her discreetly. Her brother soon swooped in on us with his friends, like cops, spoiling my weekend and the peace i was enjoying with Adaora.
______
10AM SATURDAY
I was updating my stories, while Adaora concentrated on a home video she was watching, when we heard a calm knock on my door. I lazily ignored it, focusing all my attention to the story i was typing, but Adaora quietly stood up and opened the door, admitting the visitor after a brief chat.
I smiled nervously when i looked up and saw that the visitor was no other person than Akunna. I quickly sat up and stared at her curiously.
“good morning” she greeted before sitting on a plastic chair,
“wow it’s been a while, how are you doing?” i asked calmly. She simply smiled and gave me no reply.
“baby, she’s a good friend living few blocks away, her name is Akunna” I introduced her to Adaora,
“Akunna meet my sweet heart and fiancee Adaora” i equally said to Akunna who nodded nervously.
“i’m so glad you came, i have been dying to ask you some questions. There is this rumour going round about you?” i asked cautiously, while she looked down with shame.
“it’s true and i need your help” she murmured, throwing uneasy glances at Adaora who was busy once again with the home video she was watching.
“which kind of help?” i asked suspiciously, but before she could answer, we were interrupted by someone who knocked heavily on my door as if he wanted to push it down.
I swallowed hard, stood up and opened my door with anger. There stood four young men panting heavily with anger in their eyes, reeking of weed and alcohol.
“so you are the guy who decieved my sister? You again?” one of them asked, leaving me totally shocked, frightened and appalled.
The noise they made soon brought out my neighours and landlady, turning the whole issue into a public affair. Much to my dismay.
Episode 128
“seems like you guys are crazy, how am i responsible for your sister’s problem?, abeg make una no provoke me oo, this is not like the other incident i allowed you guys to go free after humiliating me” i shouted at them. My voice brought Adaora and Akunna out from my room, while the boys stared at me murderously, lacking the morale to throw the first punch.
“kelvin, what’s wrong with you?, why are you being so despicable?, you are embarrassing me” Akunna cried, forcing the boys to murmur among themselves, as they waited for kelvin to decide the next line of action.
“he is the guy right?, answer me, is he the guy responsible for for……..?” kelvin nervously asked his sister, pointing to her stomach with a shaking finger.
“what is happening here?, my house is no market place, you all should leave my house this moment and settle your dispute elsewhere” The landlady barked angrily, jolting everyone with her loud voice. Akunna hissed and left the compound, the boys eyed me before going after her, while i shrugged and returned to my room with Adaora.
“what’s happening?” she asked as soon as we were alone.
“Akunna is pregnant and her brothers are accusing me of being responsible” i replied.
“don’t tell me you had s-x with that girl?” she asked with disgust,
“of course not, how could you ask such a question eeh?,” i asked with a frown. She shrugged.
“i don’t know, i don’t think those guys came out so openly to accuse you, without being sure of themselves” she replied intelligently. I shook my head, breathed deeply and threw myself on the bed.
“being too friendly with locals dosen’t always end up well, now the silly girl is pregnant, who knows what else those hoodlums are planning” She murmured to herself, before focusing her attention back to the movie showing on the television screen.
4pm
She gently shook me, waking me from sleep. I lazily opened my eyes and stared at her inquisitively,
“there is a woman at the door, she urgently wants to speak with you” Adaora said to me. I sat up, rubbed my face and went to my door.
“hello, i’m Akunna’s mum” The woman greeted as soon as our eyes met.
“yes i know, good evening ma” i responded polietly,
“I heard my son came to your room to cause trouble, i’m very sorry for that” she apologized calmly.
“oh don’t worry about that ma, it was just a little misunderstanding and nothing else” i replied with a smile.
“yea and the misunderstanding is actually what brought me here. Please Can you follow me to my house, so we could straighten things once and for all? Akunna’s dad and everyone is waiting for you there. We heard you denied being responsible, but since my daughter has refused to disclose the identity of the person responsible, we all will love it, if you can deny culpability before everyone, because every finger is actually pointing at you” she asked of me.
I silently raised my eyebrows, deep in thought.
“no madam, how can i come to your house to answer for something i know nothing about?, what you are asking of me is totally outrageous. I’m sorry, i can’t do it” I replied calmly, with a drawn face.
“I think it’s the only chance you have in clearing your name, anyway i can’t force you. Good day” she murmured unhappily and turned to leave. I breathed deeply, thinking over her last words.
“surely there isn’t any harm in going over to her house to clear my name, moreover she was very civil and respectful with her request” i reasoned deeply.
“i will be there in ten minutes” i heard myself say as she left. She instantly stopped, turned and stared at me with a sharp smile, before leaving the compound without another word.
“what does she want with you?, who is she?” Adaora curiously asked as soon as i returned to my room.
“she’s Akunna’s mother, she want’s me to come over to her house and clarify issues concerning Akunna’s pregnancy” I answered with a cautious smile, as i changed my shirt. She stared at me curiously, before walking up to me.
“don’t tell me you are honouring her request?” she asked fearfully,
“I have no choice my dear” i replied calmly,
“no no no, you have a choice. What if they attack you there, what will become of you?” she asked and held me.
“don’t worry dearest, nothing will happen to me because i’m innocent” i assured her. She breathed deeply and hugged me.
“I know you are, but will they believe you? Your denial might provoke and make them violent, please don’t go” she begged. I closed my eyes, thanking my creator for making her believe me.
“Thanks for believing in me, i never knew you would” i murmured, placing my nose on her hair.
“of course i do believe you. The girl dosen’t fit into your class. I know what you can do and what you can’t do” she replied.
“i have to get going dear, don’t be scared” i said, broke away from her, and walked towards the door. I heard her call my name.
“Val wait!, let’s go together. You need a witness don’t you?” she asked, walked to the door with a smile and opened it.
“let’s go my love, i can’t let you go there alone. They have to pass through me before getting to you” she added with a smile. I shrugged and stared into her eyes.
“what do i say to this stubborn girl eeh?” i asked jokingly,
“say thank you to her” she rolled her eyes and replied.
Together we went over to Akunna’s house.
We soon got to the compound and walked into the sitting room, where an old man and two women were seated. They instantly fed their eyes on us without uttering a word.
The look on the old man’s face was very murderous and mean. Perhaps he was already convinced that i was the culprit responsible for his daughter’s predicament.
Episode 129
“so you are the boy eeh?” The old man suddenly asked with an angry loud voice, struggled to his feet and made to advance towards us. Adaora held me tightly, while i drew back a step with surprise.
“with all due respect sir, i don’t understand why you are being mad at me. Your daughter is pregnant, why can’t you ask her the person responsible, she isn’t a baby. I hate all these” i poured out angrily, while Akunna’s mum made signs for me to keep quiet, but i ignored her and continued with my outburst, because i was extremely angry and hurt by the old man’s behaviour.
“i have to speak up because i can’t keep enduring everything being done to me in this village” i continued.
“what? You are shouting at me in my own house, you rascal” The old man shouted, grabbed his walking stick and tried to hit me, but his wife quickly got up and held him. He violently shoved his wife aside, but the force he applied equally made him lose his step, sending him on his knees. He instantly grabbed his chest, breathing heavily, while i rushed up and helped him get to his feet.
“you see your life, you can’t calm down when doing anything, don’t worry till you fall one day and get struck by stroke, you will then realise the value of my words” the wife shouted at him.
“nne don’t talk like that to your husband in front of strangers” the second woman who had been silent all along cautioned Akunna’s mother.
“everything ends today. Woman where is your daughter?” he finally recovered his voice and asked.
“you mean Akunna? She’s inside” his wife replied,
“go and fetch her instantly” he ordered.
Two minutes later, Akunna showed up in the sitting room, her eyes were very red like someone who has been crying for a long time.
“is he the young man responsible for your predicament?” “speak up and don’t be afraid” he asked his daughter who looked down with shame.
“no papa, he isn’t” she replied quietly, leaving her dad extremely shocked.
“what!!” he exclaimed,
“dad he isn’t” she murmured again.
“then who is responsible?” he asked angrily,
“i don’t know papa, i don’t know” she replied quietly.
“may thunder blast your head and scatter your soul, bad child that flew into her mother’s womb from nowhere, you are leaving my house this moment” he barked like an animal, sending his daughter to her knees with a ferocious slap, while i scratched my head and watched on silently.
“oh my God” Adaora screamed.
“let’s go baby, it’s now a family thing and no longer our problem” i said to Adaora,
“you are right dear, let’s go” she replied. Silently we left Akunna’s house without another word.
______
“we are you guys coming from?” Jenny asked as she saw us approaching. She was standing under a mango tree, with both hands on her mobile phone as if she was typing something.
“we went to Akunna’s house because her parents summoned me, luckily the girl told them i had no hand in her problem” i explained,
“you are a lucky guy oo” she exclaimed unguardedly, while i instantly gave her a sharp look.
“that’s what i get for being nice to people” i replied calmly.
“i guess you have learnt your lesson” she added. I smiled, shook my head and walked to my room without saying anything else to her.
“jeez that girl’s dad is very harsh” Adaora sighed as she rested on my bed. I smiled, pecked her, went outside and switched on the generator.
SUNDAY MORNING
Adaora woke me by 7am insisting i take her to church, i grumbled as i tried to talk my way out of it but she kept on insisting. I had no choice than to freshen up and prepare with her. But when we were finally set to leave my room an hour later, someone knocked on my door. I opened it without hesitation and saw Akunna standing outside, looking very unkempt and haggard.
“what’s up?” i curiously asked, after she settled down in my room.
“Val i need your help please” she begged with her eyes on Adaora,
“what is it you want, tell me dear?” i asked calmly.
“i can’t have this baby, i don’t need it, please help me” she begged. I swallowed hard and held her hands,
“i don’t understand” i murmured.
“i want to abort it, please help me, i have tried using herbs but it failed” she pleaded. I instantly coloured up.
“i’m too young to have a child. I can’t let my future crash before me. How do i support myself with a child, what will become of me. Val you are my last hope, please don’t destroy the rest of my broken spirit. Suggest some drugs for me please” She begged.
I was instantly thrown into a big confusion,
“do i help her or not?” I wondered.
Episode 130
Adaora calmly walked up to her, squatted by her side and held her hands.
“my dear you shouldn’t talk like that, it’s a big sin” she cautioned softly, “A child is a special gift from God and he alone has the power to decide over a child’s life. Aborting your baby isn’t the best solution” she advised her.
“I know but i have no choice, c’mon look at me, how dry and dejected i’m. What do you think will become of me when i eventually give birth?, no, no, no i can’t bring a child into this world to suffer for my carelessness, i rather terminate it and wait for judgement day” she murmured seriously, shaking Adaora with her words.
“c’mon Val tell her something nah” i heard Adaora say to me, i breathed deeply and shrugged.
“my dear i think she’s cruelly right, you have done your part by reminding her of the consequencies let her be” I replied, while she gasped.
“VAL!!! What nonsense are you talking eeh?” she asked curiously.
“i’m not in support or against anything, the decision is hers and the child’s father to make, nne{dear} have you spoken with the guy responsible?” i asked her. She swallowed hard and looked away.
“i havn’t revealed this to anyone because it’s very shameful, but i have no choice since i need your help” she murmured sadly.
“i had s-x with two guys last month. I had s-x with my exboyfriend and with my current boyfriend. I can’t really tell how it happened because they both used protection” she murmured shyly. Adaora and i gasped.
“you had s-x with two guys in a month chei” Adaora exclaimed, while i shrugged silently.
“you see why i need help? I can’t bring such child into the world to suffer, it’s so unfair to subject an innocent child into such misery. I just need some prescriptions and nothing more” she pleaded seriously. Adaora shook her head, stood up and stared at me.
“what do you have to say oga” she asked of me, Sending me into deep thoughts.
I knew helping the unlucky girl had its own dangerous consequencies, thereby putting me in a burning chair as i contemplated on whether to do the right thing and refuse her request or follow my heart and help her out.
*
Adaora seeing how confused i was, faced the girl again.
“you are yet to tell us whether your boyfriend or Ex is aware of your situation?” she asked her. She stared at Adaora nervously, stood up and breathed deeply,
“I’m sorry for coming here to disturb you guys with my problem. I have to get going, moreover you are about leaving for church” She murmured and made to leave, carefully avoiding Adaora’s question.
“no don’t talk like that dear. We really do appreciate your visit and the way you shared everything with us. Don’t you Val?” Adaora calmly said to her, before asking me with a smile.
“of course i do appreciate” i murmured with a nod.
“so how about the prescription i asked for?” she asked searchingly. I breathed deeply and scratched my head.
“I really don’t know any abortion pill. I really wish i do or could help, i’m very sorry” i said to her with a sad look, while she covered her face with her palms, totally dejected and disappointed.
“please can you help me with one thousand Naira?” She begged after a minute of silence.
“sure dear, with all pleasure” Adaora replied, reached for her hand bag, fetched a thousand Naira note and gave to her. She collected it with a smile, thanked her and left my room without another word.
“what’s she up to?” Adaora asked fearfully. I shrugged and held her,
“I don’t know dear, but i pray she dosen’t do anything silly” I replied. She breathed deeply and shrugged.
“dam.n! we are now late for church, but it wouldn’t stop us from attending, let’s start going dear” She ordered seconds later. I frowned and obeyed.
____
We spent the rest of that sunday thinking and talking about Akunna’s problem. I really felt a bit guilty for not helping her the way she wanted, but equally was very glad for not risking my head to help her.
“what do you think will become of her life?” Adaora kept asking me with concern.
11:30PM
I jolted from my bed, as i heard knocks on my door. I fearfully waited for some minutes, before bravely peeping through the keyhole.
I opened my door seconds later, and gasped with Surprise when my eyes fell on Akunna’s mum and brother, standing beside my landlady.
“my daughter is missing, have you seen her?” The old woman asked hopefully, throwing me into a deeper shock.
More at my9jarocks.info
Join the best whatsapp story group by clicking here
Scroll down and click on the next page number to continue…
Add this number to get the latest episodes on whatsapp +23480xxxxxxxx
