GONE ASTRAY
EPISODE 9
I lifted my head up slowly, to confirm the figure standing in front
of me. My heart melted away when i saw the shock and disbelief on
Ehis’s face. He gave me a cold hard stare, sending shock waves all over my
body. I tried to speak, but words didn’t come out. There was no
plausible excuse for my presence here. Ehis pinned his gaze at
the bra in my hand, it
was very obvious to him that i had engaged in some Sekxual
activities. He let go of me and walked
towards Mesode. I turned around and looked at mesode, it
was at that moment i
recognised the face. He had a striking
resemblance with , infact they must be
related. I stood by the door in a state of confusion, i
had no idea what to do or say.
Streams of tears began to roll down my
cheek. I knew i was in big trouble.
Ehis simply walked up to mesode and handed
him something from
his pocket. Probably an atm card.
My attempt to abscond coupled with the
unusual chemistry between me and Ehis
must have surprised mesode.
“whats going on here?
Do you know her? ” he
asked, alternating his gaze between me and
Ehis.
Ehis looked at me with
disgust written all over
his face. ” yes, she was my
girlfriend” he replied as he turned his eyes
away from me and walked towards the
door. The sound of those
words fell on me like a
bomb. My heart became heavy, my
limbs grew weak, i felt
like dying. I ran up to Ehis and knelt down
beside him, crying and pleading.
I kept trying to explain that things were not exactly the way they
seemed, i was here by accident and i wanted
to escape before he came in.
I swore on my life that i had nothing to do with
mesode. But the bra in my hand, and my rough
appearance made everything i said seem
like a lie. Mesode simply stood
and watched, without corroborating my story.
Ehis tore my hands away from himself and
walked out of the room, closing the door
behind him. I remained on the
ground feeling lost and
disconcerted, i was like a woman in the early
stage of madness. I sprawled on the floor
weeping. I was yet to count my loss. Mesode
was busy sipping wine from a glass cup, and
paid very little attention to my sobs.
“so shall we continue from where we
stopped.? ” he asked, trying to hold me up
from the floor. ” leave me alone, get
out” i screamed, and pushed him away from
me. I got up without his help and reached for
my bag. I folded my bra in two and squeezed it
into my bag and headed for the door.
“come back here my friend, where do you
think you are going? we are not through”
mesode ordered.
“i’m through with you, you just ruined my life”
i replied, as i continued
towards the door. “look here, you can
settle you issues with my cousin later, that’s
non of my business, just let me enjoy the
worth of my money, don’t you know how
much your friend charged me?
I stopped in my tracks and turned around, i
needed to understand his last sentence, i
hoped it was not was i was thinking.
“what do you mean? ” i asked with an air of
seriousness. ” don’t ask me dirty
questions, i paid your friend thirty thousand
naira for this runs, so let me enjoy myself”
At that point, reality set in. Hannah had sold
me to a man like a cheap pr0stitute_. And i
instantly began to feel like one. Regret joined
my broken heart, i was deeply grieved.
I spoke calmly to mesode, and tried to explain
to him that i was not a party to the entire
arrangement, in fact i was not into that kind
or ‘runs’. My pleading and explanation fell on
dead ears.
As i approached the door, he ran towards me,
grabbed me and threw me towards the bed. I
knew what was going to happen next, i wasn’t
ready to allow it happen to me.
My frustration turned into rage. I swore to
protect myself with any means possible. I
grabbed the bottle of wine he left on the stool,
emptied its content on the floor and smashed
it.
“if you come close to me i will kill you” i said
with a stern voice. Pointing the broken piece
of the bottle towards him.
He could sense the anger in my voice, he knew
i was serious. I would have stabbed him to
death if he came close.
He reached for his phone in his pocket and
dialled a number.
“come to my room now, i don’t understand
what is happening” he barked at the person at
the other end of the call.
Few minutes later, the door opened, Hannah
walked into the room, with only a piece of
clothe tied round her chest. She was taken
aback when she saw me holding the piece of
broken bottle.
“Ella what are you doing?” she asked, with
shock on her face.
I made no attempt to answer her question, the
door was open, mesode was standing away
from it. I put the fragment down and walked
out of the room in a hurry. Hannah ran after
me, and held my bag in an attempt to stop
me.
“Ella wait, why are still acting like a small
girl? Just allow him do his thing, i will settle
you well. It’s me, you owe me this ” Hannah
pleaded.
” so because you housed me for one night, you
feel you can sell me off like a LovePeddler? Well i
don’t live an immoral life like you. ” i shouted
angrily.
Hannah ‘s countenance changed immediately.
” hey, holy girl. You were sleeping with a man
through out the night yesterday, and today
you have the guts to call me immoral? What
is the difference between me and you? Abi
your virginity don grow back? Holy ashawo ”
She had barely finished when my hand landed
on her cheeks. She reciprocated the gesture
without prior hesitation. My anger
overwhelmed me, and a fist fight ensued.
I tore the wrapper off her body, leaving her
Unclad and exposed. She fought on like a
shameless LovePeddler, not minding the small
crowd that had began to gather.
Someone pulled us apart, i couldn’t recognise
who it was. Hannah was busy covering her
body, while i culled up on the floor crying. A
feeling of regret surged through me.
I had lost the man i love, i’ve been tricked by
my friend, i didnt even know who i was
anymore. It all seemed my whole life was
falling apart before my very eyes. Other than
the fact that we made a lot of noise, no one
really cared about us
I picked my self up from the floor and walked
away slowly. As i stepped outside, i felt a
peppery sensation around my face, so i looked
at my face in a mirror. Tiny fingernail marks
spattered all over. It was obvious i had been
in a fight.
I boarded a taxi and headed to Ehis’s hostel. I
told myself that if i explained the situation to
him and pleaded profusely, he would forgive
me.
My heart throbbed as i alighted the taxi. I
took several wobbly steps towards Ehis’s
room. I was thirsty and tired.
The hostel was in its usual state, loud music
and jobless boys strolling in their singlets and
boxers. This time i paid no attention to their
whistling and cat calls. I walked straight up
the stairs towards Ehis’s room.
I stood right outside his door, drew in a lot of
air and knocked on his door repeatedly, there
was no response. I could here some
movements within the house, i knew he was in
there.
I called out his name, and the movement in
the room came to a halt. Few seconds later,
Ehis opened the door. He wasnt wearing any
shirt, his boxers hung freely from his hips. He
was sweating profusely.
He planted himself at the doorway to prevent
my entering. I looked down at the floor, and
discovered a female footwear. I looked up at
Ehis in disappointment. The look of
indifference in his eyes tore my spirit.
He was definitely with another girl.
“Ehis why? ” i asked coldly, with tears running
down my cheek.
” why? Ok lets see. I wanted to take you out
this morning, but you said you were busy with
school. Only for me to find out you were doing
my cousin” he replied mockingly.
“its not like that, you are the only guy i have
ever been with please believe me” i fell on my
knees and intensified my tears, hoping to
soften his heart.
“really? If i didnt catch you today i would have
believed you. You are a cheap LovePeddler, go
and continue your runs, i’m through with you.
I have replaced you” Ehis slammed the door
close, leaving me helpless on the floor.
I remained stationary for about five minutes,
before i could get up and walk. I struggled to
my feet and made my way out of the
compound. I had to go back to school.
The ride back to school was exhausting, it felt
like the longest ride i had ever been on. My
whole appearance was a mess. I was dirty and
sweating, with finger marks on my face. But i
could care less.
Different thoughts surged through my mind, i
kept wondering what would change after
today, as one fact had become obvious. I
wasn’t the girl i used to be.
I arrived in school at the nick of time, the bell
signalling the end of the break had just
sounded. I rushed into the gatehouse to
change quickly into my uniform. The gateman
kept staring at me with a surprise look on his
face.
I dragged myself all the way to my classroom.
Hannah was already seated, but Ruth was no
were around. She looked at me with contempt
and hissed. I couldn’t care less.
I rested my head on the desk and slept off. My
whole body ached. I had no idea how long i
had slept, but a stray thought woke me up. I
hadn’t seen Ruth.
I pinged her repeatedly, but the messages
were not read. I called her phone repeatedly,
without response. At this point, i grew slightly
worried. But my sadness and aches prevented
me from seeking further measures.
Hours past, and the closing bell rang. Ruth
still wasn’t back. Anxiety overwhelmed me, i
feared something bad might have happened to
Ruth. I was convinced she had no prior
knowledge of Hannah ‘s plot. Could she have
met a more bitter consequence than me? I
wondered within me.
Gradually, the anxiety i felt began to increase.
Ruth’s absence greatly disturbed me. All
through out the period of fighting in the hotel,
she never came out neither did Mrcoded.
Negative thoughts began to sip through my
mind. I feared something bad might have
happened to Ruth. There was only one person
who should know where she is. Even if we had
just fought, i had no choice but to talk to
Hannah.
I looked around and spotted Hannah, she too
had a worried look on her face. She had her
phone to her ear for a while, obviously trying
to call someone. The frustration and
resignation after each attempt showed that
she wasn’t getting any success.
I marched towards her with obvious
annoyance.
“where is Ruth.? ” i demanded,
Hannah noticed the fury in my voice, she too
was scared. I expected her to reply harshly,
but i guess she too saw the enormity of the
situation, and her undeniable involvement.
” i don’t know where she went, i left her in the
hotel” she replied, with a shaky voice. She was
almost crying.
Her sudden change of emotion made no
difference to me. As far i was concerned, she
was as guilty as hell.
“why on earth did you leave her there? ” i
inquired further, spitting out more anger.
” i didn’t see them any more when i wanted to
go, she wasn’t answering her phone either.”
At the point, Hannah began to sob. Something
told me she knew more than she was letting
out. She wasn’t just panicking, there was more
to it. What ever it was, we had to find Ruth.
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