GONE ASTRAY
EPISODE- 4
As we all alighted, i kept turning from side to side, i could not risk being seen by someone who knows me or my parents.
One would have to look closely to recognise me though, because the make up and trousers made me look different.
This part of the city was unfamiliar, i have never been here before. It was somewhere around sapele road.
I turned around and saw a big sign board it read “kada plaza”. The building was large, and booming with activities.
It is one of the numerous places to have fun in Benin. A really magnificent building, containing a cinema hall, hallmark supermarket, a gaming center, and different fast food joints.
I was quite excited to be here, I knew I would have fun without doubt, but what would happen afterwards, i wasn’t sure.
We made our way into a section of the plaza, it was a fast food segment.
We occupied a table for four.
Ehis and i sat side by side, facing Hannah and Odion. A waiter came around, and we made our orders.
I waited patiently for everyone to make their orders first, i wanted to be last because i had no idea what to order. i was quite lost. I have not eaten at a fast food before.
The orders came eventually, i had a plate of fried rice and chicken with five alive.
Hannah ordered the same, but with a bottle of Smirnoff ice. The guys opted for local dishes.
Odion requested for a bottle of alomo bitters, while Ehis took a can of lacasera.
As we ate, we discussed various topics. I was starting to feel a little more comfortable.
Odion dominated the conversation, he spoke quite fondly of his university and NYSC days.
He was a graduate of Ambrose Alli University. He wasn’t shy about admitting that he was a “rugged” man
In school.
I became a little scared of him. For once i noticed his “rugged” appearance. His red eyes and dark lips gave me the impression that he is a smoker.
I stole a quick glance at Ruth, she had been actively involved in the conversation, asking questions and laughing when there’s nothing funny.
She didn’t seem scared of Odion as i was. But i could tell from the conversation that both of them had only met today!
Occasionally, Odion would run his hands through Hannah’s . She would simply look at him and give a smile of approval.
I was irritated every time i saw this, they were in public for crying out loud. It made Hannah look like a LovePeddler. But she didn’t mind.
My displeasure was written all over my face. Odion must have noticed this as he turned attention to me.
“So Ella, how old are you?”
” I’m 16,”
“ah! you are a big girl na, just relax and enjoy yourselve ok? There’s money to be spent. You ll go home loaded”
As soon as he mentioned money, Hannah gave him a peck. I started wondering, is it all about the money?
If she will let him do those nasty things because of money, does that not make her a LovePeddler? And what about me?
I turned my attention to Ehis, he seemed quite indifferent. He took my hand and told me to relax.
We finished our meal, and Odion took care of the bills and we headed out of the restaurant.
We took the stairs upwards, and entered hallmark. The entire complex fascinated me.
The store offered all kinds of consumer items, there was a lot to desire. I stood for a while, looking round and round. Not knowing exactly what i was supposed to do.
Odion and Hannah walked towards a different direction, out of sight.
Ehis put his hands around my waist, and pulled me forward as we continued walking. I felt special, but i was still a little shy. I wasn’t used to such public display of affection.
“so what will you like to buy?” Ehis asked, pulling me closer to himself.
I wasn’t sure what i wanted, i have not been out shopping before. My mum buys everything i need.
” thanks, but i don’t think i want anything, I’m ok” i replied politely
“oh come on, i have to buy something for you today, something to prove how much i love and adore you”
Seeing he wasn’t going to give up, I looked around the section we were standing in, trying to pick-up anything that may interest me.
“there,” I said, pointing towards a glass shelf containing wrist watches.
We both walked towards the shelve.
There were different brands of wrist watches carefully arranged, with price tags on them. I examined each price tag carefully, the cheapest was #4500.
I looked up at Ehis, and shook my head, indicating that i didn’t want the wrist watch anymore. I thought they were too expensive to buy.
“what?” Ehis asked with a puzzling look on his face
“They are too expensive” i replied
“oh, don’t worry about the price baby, i can do anything for you, even if it means paying with my life”
I blushed a little and thanked him, his words made me fall in love with him more.
I pointed at the cheapest wrist watch, he open the shelve and brought it out.
It was a beautiful gold watch, worth all the money spent on it. The most expensive watch i have ever owned cost 600 naira, it was a birthday gift from my brother Ighalo.
“Where is your phone? Let’s snap some pictures” Ehis said, stretching his hands towards me, hoping to collect it.
” i don’t have a phone” i replied, feeling very much embarrassed.
I was practically the only one in my class who did not have a phone. I had requested for one, but my parents insisted i must leave secondary school before owning one.
“for real? Why? Ehis persisted further
“my parents didn’t buy for me” i stammered,
” which phone will you like to buy?” Ehis asked pointing towards the opposite section where they sell phones.
“anyone will do”
” I know what to get you darling”
He led me to the mobile phone section. Lots of phones were on open display, it would be really cool to own one of these i told myself.
I was busy admiring one phone after another, i hardly listened to the conversation between Ehis and the attendant.
He packaged one of the mobile phones, and handed it over to Ehis.
We walked up to a female cashier, showed her the watch and the mobile phone, after which she wrote a receipt and tore it out.
Ehis brought out him wallet and gave the cashier his atm card.
She took it from him, swiped it across a machine and handed it back to him.
We walked back to the car.
Hannah and Odion had not arrived yet, so we waited patiently for them in the car.
Ehis took my hand, and fastened the wrist watch to it.
I looked at my hand, and smiled sheepishly.
“its beautiful” i said in between a gentle smile.
“just like you Ella, I love you”
Those words had a way of making me feel weak and vulnerable, i began to feel like a princess. Everything seemed genuine to me.
“i love you too”, was my reply, as i turned to avoid his gaze. I have not said those words to anyone before.
Ehis gently lifted my chin, and looked straight into my eyes. I knew that look, i knew what it meant. I had that feeling in my stomach again.
He drew my face closed to himself, and leaned towards me. I shut my eyes in anticipation.
I felt his hands around me,this wasn’t me, i felt like a different person. But the more guilt i felt, the more Hot’ i became.
The sound of Ehis’s ring tone interrupted our activity.
Ehis brought out his phone, and answered his call.
“bros, we still dey wait o”
“ok na, quick drop am for school o”
Ehis put his phone back in his pocket and turned towards me again.
“that was Odion, he and your friend are staying a little longer inside, they won’t be coming with us”
“how will she get back to school?” I asked, feeling a little worried.
“he will bring her when they are through”
There was a little silence, i faced the opposite direction looking outside the window.
“so, what about us? We still have 30minutes, I’d love to show you were i stay, can I take you there please” Ehis turned my head around gently.
I wanted to refuse, i knew i have had enough for one day. But i was too weak to say No….i simply nodded my head in agreement. He started the engines and drove off.
A lot of thoughts rushed through my head, as we journeyed to his house. I couldn’t believe this was me. I am taking a very bold step, i do not know how it will turn out.
With this my state of ecstasy, it would take divine intervention to hold myself together. I do not want to lose my virginity just yet, my mother may inspect again.
I resolved in my heart to refuse s-x, but will Ehis let me off after spending so much? I wondered quietly.
What happened that day revealed something else about Ehis.
We drove for about 5minutes, and Ehis pulled over in front of a fenced compound, we both alighted.
“this is my hostel” he announced proudly.
It was a decent environment, with two-story buildings facing each other. There must be about 25 rooms in all.
The compound was well adorned with flowers, the floor had interlocking tiles. It had the look and feel of a really expensive accommodation.
Ehis motioned me forward, and we took a flight of stairs up to his room. It was the fourth room upstairs.
The room was quite as impressive as the surrounding. It was tastefully furnished and nicely decorated.
The wall curtains and bed sheets were a match, with different colours of paints on the wall.
A plastic reading table and chair laid in a corner of the room, with books arranged around it.
He had some really expensive electronic gadgets too. A 32 inches plasma screen television hung on the wall, with a portable LG home theater system. A fridge and some other electronic appliances i haven’t seen before.
Overall, the setting of the room provided more than comfort, it was pure luxury. Just how much does his parents give him? I wondered silently.
“Here, have your sit” he said, pointing towards the bed.
I sat down, feeling a little uneasy. I wasn’t sure what i was suppose to do or say exactly. A fish out of water is how i would describe myself.
“your room is lovely” i managed to say.
“oh thanks, I’m glad you like it”.
He grabbed his remote control and turned on his home theater. The music came on, it was a westlife album. I nodded slowly to the beats.
Ehis pulled up close to me on the bed, and placed a palm on my cheek.
“Did you mean it when you said you loved me too?” He asked in a rather innocent tone.
There was a look of humility and sincerity on his face, he was like a little child pleading for ice cream.
“yes” was all i could say.
“then prove it to me Ella”
“How?” I asked, genuinely puzzled.
While i was still anticipating a response, he pulled me closed to himself.
It was a continuation from were we left off in the car.
I loved the feel of his hands over me.
“No please don’t ” i pleaded.
“Ella, i thought you said you love me?”
“I do, but i can’t do this, I’m scared”
“Are you a virgin?” He asked, looking surprised
“yes, and my mum inspects me regularly, she did the last time the catechist caught us in church” i replied, trying to avoid his gaze.
“what do you mean by inspect? You mean she checks you down there?” He asked,”yes”
He probably knew if i was disvirgined, my parents will take it out on him.
***************
It was around 10minutes before the end of our break, it was time to go.
I dresses up hurriedly, arranged myself in front of the mirror and we headed out.
“did you have fun?” Ehis asked as he started the engines.
“yes” i replied shyly
We drove off and headed back to my school. Ehis did not pressure me to have s-x with him. Unknown to him, it has increased my love for him.
But on the other hand, he has introduced me to a habit that would complicate my life. A life style that has led me to my current state.
******************
We arrived at my school not quite long after. I was silent for most part of the journey, a lot of thoughts ran through my mind.
I would steal occasional glances at Ehis, to see the expression on his face. He often looked indifferent
The school was very much rowdy, as students were still outside playing. It was five minutes before the end of the break.
I came out of the car, and walked cautiously to the gate, looking around to see if anyone had eyes on me.
I knocked lightly on the gate, and the harsh voice of the gate man answered me.
“who is it?”
“sir It’s me I’m back”
He stared through the peep-hole, and identified me, as he unlocked the gates and let me in.
As soon as I entered, i spotted Ruth walking down from the other side of the school. She looked very much excited to see me.
I hurried into the gate house, and began to change into my school uniform. I was excited to be back, I hate stories of my own to share with Ruth.
Ruth rushed into the gate house, and hugged me tightly.
” at last you ve become a big girl, it’s about time you grew up” Ruth said, giving me a familiar look. It was a look of scrutiny.
“abi?” I replied, twirling around and flaunting my curves.
“so what did he give you? I know Ehis is loaded” Ruth queried, sounding very serious
“tada!” Waving my hands for her to see the wristwatch.
“just that?” She asked, a little disappointed.
I put my hand in the polyethylene bag i brought with me, and brought out the mobile phone.
Ruth grabbed it from me excitedly, and did the usual “girl shout”. The phone was a techno M9.
I was so proud of myself, this was almost an achievement for me. But i was sure my parents would never let me keep the phone. So i had a plan.
“so did you follow him home?” Ruth asked, anticipating a quick reply.
“i did”
“and?”
“Nothing” i replied, not knowing exactly what she wanted to hear.
” so you mean you didn’t get down with him?” She said, pointing towards my v.
“not really,i was scared, you know I’m a virgin” i replied, in a low tone.
“so you want to carry your v!rginity to the grave? If a guy gives you this much, the only you can repay him is by opening up for him. Stop being selfish, else you ll lose a guy that loves you so much”
Ruth’s words affected me far more than she realised. Ehis has shown me so much love, he has spent a lot. I should have given him something in return, i wondered silently to my self.
The thought of losing Ehis was unbearable. He was the only one who had shown me so much love.
He gives my life a meaning, more so he provided an escape from my parents. He deserved something, I concluded.
“when next we go out, i ll just do it with him” i said rather boldly
“thats much better, it’s not a big deal, we all do it. Just grow up Ella.
I nodded in agreement sheepishly, and started arranging my person stuff.
The break was already over, and the school compound was getting quieter as students made their way into their classrooms.
A thought suddenly hit me, as Ruth asked
“were is Hannah”?
“she went with Ehis’s cousin, she will soon be back I’m sure”
Deep within me, i was really scared. Odion did not look or sound like a decent person. He looked more like a thug.
I also knew Hannah would follow him home, to sleep with him. But shouldnt she have come already?
We have waited for more than 20 minutes after the break. And our worry had become pronounce.
I kept pacing up and down the gate house, worried that something might have happened to Hannah.
Her number wasn’t connecting either. Even the gate man joined my panic.
After 20 more minutes of waiting. We heard a weak knock on the gate. I prayed silently for it to be Hannah. I couldn’t bear the panic any longer.
The gate man opened up quickly. The sight before us heightened our anxiety and panic.
Hannah was seated on the ground, looking weak and spent. Her face looked nothing like the person who left the school with me today.
Her make up was ruined, something must have dried up on her face. Her cloths were wet and dirty.
She wore the look of someone who had been through a lot.
We rushed forward to help her up to her feet, and carried her into the gate house.
“What happened to you?” Ruth asked with a shaky voice. I was too dumbfounded to speak.
Hannah began her story from were we got separated at the plaza.
Hannah and Odion took a stroll to the boutique upstairs, she bought quite a lot of cloths which Odion paid for.
Odion requested that Hannah accompanied him home, which she obliged.
Hannah knew she was going to sleep with Odion, and she was prepared, it was something she had done often.
They both left while Ehis and i were shopping. Odion called a friend of his to pick them up from kada plaza. Hannah had no idea were Odion stays.
Odion’ friend took them to a residential building not quite far from the plaza.
It was a four bedroom flat, with a largely unkept surrounding. The grasses were tall, almost growing into the house itself.
It looked quite abandoned, except for the footwears that lined the entrance to the house, coupled with the strong smell of Indian hemp that dominated the atmosphere.
There were other boys in the well furnished, but untidy sitting room. They were smoking , and drinking alomo bitters when Hannah and Odion walked in.
After a slight exchange of ‘boyish’ greetings and handshakes, Odion introduced Hannah as his “little girl” and escorted her into a room in the house.
The room was untidy and stuffy, probably hasn’t been swept for over a week.
The sheets smelled of sweat, with different colours of stains spattered around it.
Odion pushed Hannah to the bed lightly.
He met absolutely no resistance, not that it would have mattered as he was slightly drunk, and Hannah knew she was there for that purpose.
They were both already Unclad when Hannah remembered that Odion wasn’t wearing a c0ndom.
She asked Odion to bring out a condom, which he declined. He claimed not to enjoy s-x with a c0ndom.
Hannah insisted, and an argument ensued. She threatened to leave if Odion would not provide a condom.
Her threat obviously infuriated Odion, as he slapped her across her face. She tried to get up, but Odion held her down on the bed, covered her mouth with his palm and forced his way.
He molested her for more than 20minutes, before letting go of her. Hannah stood up and reigned insults on him.
Odion walked out of the room, and Hannah began to dress herself up.
The door to the room flew open, and the 5 boys from the sitting room strolled in, with a wicked smile registered on their faces.
She was still partially Unclad, she knew what she was in for and there was so little she could do. The five of them took turns on her.
Odion was no where in sight. She got nothing from the whole day’s show, as the money they gave her was barely enough for her transportation.
Cold shivers ran down my spine as i imagined the scenario. Thank God Ehis wasn’t like his cousin, I thought to myself.
Hannah changed into her school uniform, we packaged our cloths inside her bag, and walked towards our classroom. She was still very uncomfortable walking, so we had to help her.
At this time, we had completely missed the first lesson after break. The subject was physics. It was unusual for me to miss classes.
I kept looking around suspiciously, my heartbeat increased as we approached the classroom.
“what are you doing outside”? A voice shouted from behind us.
We turned around, it was our physics teacher Mr Osajie, adjusting his trousers. He must have come this way to ease himself.
“I just finished with your class, the 3 of you were absent. Were are you coming from?” He said, walking towards us.
“Our friend is sick, we took her to the hospital” Ruth replied pointing towards Hannah.
I nodded in agreement, as Hannah actually looked sick. But i could tell from his expression that he did not buy the story.
“so when a student is sick, you take her to the hospital without a gate pass? And how come she is back to school with you?”
“What is she carrying inside that bag” he asked, grabbing the bag from me and searching through its content.
Busted! I said within myself. This wasn’t going to end well. I started to fidget, hoping Ruth will come up with a more believable lie.
“we have gate pass sir” Ruth replied unconvincingly.
” shut up there! Whose bag is this” he asked directing a firm gaze at me.
“its mine” Ruth cut in before i could speak.
“Everything inside is mine”
“come to my office and explain what you are doing with a bag full of cloths and a new mobile phone before the end of today, or else i will personally send messages to your parents and you will be expelled”.
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