ALL FOR NOTHING…
Episode twenty
The fever persisted but I still managed with it. I noticed that Sodiq and Suleiman had stopped coming to the casino but that wasn’t my problem. Lola had been visiting me quite often and I was beginning to realize that she wasn’t as bad as I thought she was. She told me alot about herself that I saw that she was no different from me.
“I lost my parents when I was six. They died in a ghastly motor accident and ever since then life had been very tough. I moved in with my aunt but believe me it’s like I’m living all by myself. The only thing she gives to me is a roof over my head. Every other thing is mine to provide for myself.” She said. She had come to my place that Sunday evening when she learned that I was having a fever. She helped me to get some medicine from the nearby drug store after which I felt better a little.
“So that’s why you decided to hang out with Sodiq and Suleiman.” I said.
“Honestly speaking, I know those guys are bad boys. They are into some kind of occult or something. I’m careful not to allow them sleep with me.” She said with a smile which was weird to me.
“What do you mean by that?” I asked.
“Look, I’m not a bad girl. I just found myself in a situation that is beyond my control but I’m not a bad girl.” She said.
“I never said you are a bad girl.” I replied.
“Better, Because from the way you looked at me I thought you were already passing judgement on me.” She said.
I smiled and knowing fully well that she would be least expecting me to ask her any further questions, I threw the big one at her.
“Are you a virgin?” I asked.
“Tell me honestly, are you?” I added.
She paused for a while and didn’t say a word. She was boiling rice for me so she stood up to check if it was cooked. I knew she was doing all that to evade my question.
“Running away aren’t you?” I asked.
“No I’m not. I’ll answer your question but first answer this. Will you believe me if I said I was still a vrgin?” She asked.
“I don’t know but if you say you are who am I to doubt?” I asked her.
“I’m not. My uncle defiled me when I was thirteen. He forced himself into me and threatened to send me packing should I mention it to his wife.” She replied and this time she was really emotional.
“What about you? You’ve tasted the forbidden fruit. Haven’t you?” She asked me.
I was quiet and didn’t Know what to say. I couldn’t tell if I was still a vrgin or not. I don’t remember anything from that night with Toyin and I didn’t know what answer to give.
“No answer? You must give an answer.”
“I don’t know.” I replied.
“You don’t know? Are you sure the fever has not gotten into your head?” She asked touching my head.
“I’m serious I don’t know.” I replied.
“Make me understand please.” She demanded.
I told her everything that happened at Utti.
“You mean you were framed for raping a girl? That’s really serious.”
We talked about few other things until the food was ready. We ate together and if I must confess she was beginning to make me see the bright side of life again. I told her about the scholarship exams and she encouraged me to give it my all.
“Ayo, I know you are still thesame Ayo from Achievers high school. You can always be that person again. Making your mother proud is not just about having money to lavish on her but giving her a reason to believe that she didn’t fail on her part as a mother. Your mother must be missing you alot. Why not give your best for this scholarship exam and win it for her. You’ll have to study engineering since you didn’t have a credit in Biology. Don’t see the fact that you didn’t get the kind of result you always dreamt of having because I know God is actually at work here.” She said with a smile reminding me of Toyin.
I couldn’t believe my ears. Lola was not a bad girl at all. She was really nice and the more I spent time with her, the more I saw an angel inside of her.
“What about you? If you had an opportunity to go to school will you go?” I asked her.
“If I had someone to enrol me for a scholarship exam, I don’t see why I wouldn’t put in my best to study for it and win it too.” She said and continued smiling.
“You told me you were through with your secondary education too. How was your results in the final exams?” I asked.
“I passed all my papers with A’s and B’s. I’m not dull, I’m just unfortunate.” She replied.
That day, I saw a new reason to fight because there was someone like me who could feel my pains. I have finally met someone who has tasted poverty like me but has not given up.
“What profession do you plan to pursue?” I asked.
“I want to be lawyer so I could fight for young girls like myself who were sexually abused when they were young.
“That’s nice.”
“Yea thank you.”
“For what?”
“You know, since I met you I now have a reason to believe that there is still hope for people like us in this world. Ayo, I know you are born to be great so don’t allow your circumstances define you. I learnt that from you.” She said.
She stayed a little longer before leaving and I was happy to have had her keep me company that evening. My exam was just five days away and Mr Omotayo had granted me permission to stop working and concentrate in studying.
I was able to talk to Mr Omotayo and I requested him to get the scholarship form for Lola too. I told him he didn’t have to worry that Lola will do well. As God would have his way, the application was still open and Lola got a spot too.
Two days later, she came around and when I handed over the letter to her that she also got a spot for the exams, she was overwhelmed with joy. She threw her arms around me and I was speechless.
“Thank you so much Ayo, I promise to put in my best into the exam. You won’t regret helping me.” She said. I was really happy to be of help and not to be the one who was in need. Moved by impulse, I embraced her close and I could say, I felt like I really got a friend at last. Who would have thought that thesame Lola I met at Pelumi’s party was the one I was embracing so tight.
She stayed a little while before leaving but after she left, the tune of the music changed. The fever returned and this time around, it wasn’t ready to go. I felt dizzy and started vomiting. I could feel that my life force was being dragged out of me. I couldn’t breathe and my whole body was weak. As I struggled within me that night, I knew death was calling and I may not see the light of the new day. There was however one prayer in my lips, “God my corpse will not be taken home to meet mama.” I was hoping that God would answer.
“I must set my eyes on mama again before I leave this world.” I said to myself but that was the last thing I could remember that fateful night….
Hope you enjoyed this episode?
Vicky’s stories….
Touching lives…
Changing people…
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TO BE CONTINUED
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