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I was about to sleep that day when Jordan called. I rejected his call severally and he ended up sending a text “Swidy,am so sorry for not coming to pick you up as promised. My car brooke down and i had a flat battery. Am sure you were able to sit for the exam. I know you are angry with me, i promise to make it up to you
and always remember that i love you so dearly. (Jordan)” that was the message content. I was stil contemplating on trusting Jordan or not when he called again. I accepted his incoming call and i could hear him breathe a sigh of relief. He told me he was very worried when i did not accept his calls and he went on and on to apologizing for not keeping to his promise. I accepted Jordan’s apology and he made new promises, to be there for me and stand by me through thick and thin. I felt love again and was happy to have Jordan by my side in the absence of Kelvin and Khole.
The week went on with me continuing my normal routine as an errand girl. It was not a good thing to do but i was beginning to get use to my duty. On sundays we do no open the supermarket, so it was a free day for me. On our way to church the following day, Lizzy told me the jamb result was out and she would check for mine when we come back from just. I went to church feeling anxious. I used all my strength to pray and dance in church,hoping for a good result.
Immediately we came back from church, we met uncle mike and his wife in the living room, we greeted them and went to lizzy’s room. I told lizzy to check my result for me but she said her period just started and she was out of pad, so she needed to get herself a pack of always immediately. Lizzy went out to get the pad and i decided to make lunch for myself in a bid to keep myself bussy. I was about to go to the kitchen when i saw aunty Nike cooking, she looked at me and said ” have you checked your jamb result? Or you have failed thats why you have refuse to tell us?” I told her i was yet to check it and she said “I knew you will lie but am ready for you this afternoon, go and get me your sit number and examination center number, i have the scratch card with me” my heart skipped a bit and i was confused. Though i was anxious to know what my score was, i wanted to find out before anybody in the house inorder to prepare for the worst if i should fail. I prayed to have a high score with the whole of my heart as i went to get my sit and examination center number.
I came back to the living room where my uncle and his wife were sitted. I gave aunty nike the requested numbers and she got bussy with her system. My heart was beating fast as she checked for my score. I knew it will be a thing of joy for her if i fail, so i prayed to put her to shame. I did not write well during examination but i was hoping a miracle will bail me out. “Yes! I knew it! I knew you would fail. Come and see with your eyes, your score is not even up to average. Useless, thats what you are! Come here and check your score!” aunty nike’s voice brought me back to reality, but i was hoping everything she was saying was a lie as i slowly moved towards her to see things for myself. I got to her and she pointed at the screen where my score was boldly written.
Literature-42
Mathematics-45
English-45
Government-44
Total score=176
Immediately i saw my score my heart brooke into a million pieces, this was my last hope. How will i gain admission into the university without an average score? I asked myself as tears rushed out of my eyes. To make matter worse, i would have to continue to slave for my uncle’s wife for another year.
As if the pain i was feeling because of my failure was not enough, my uncle stood up with full force and gave me a slap. My eyes went blur for a minute. I was not expecting the slap. Before i could come out of the shock of the first slap, he gave me a second one and i lost my balance. I fell on a couch close to me. Uncle mike did not stop at that, he continued to hit me all over as aunty nike sang him praise song for what he was doing. Lizzy was not home and their was nobody to save me. I was loosing my strength and if i should receive the beating without running for my life, i might end up loosing my dear life. ‘No, i cant die now! I must make it in life and write my success story someday!!’ i thought. I remembered my parents and the thought of making them proud someday as kelvin told me gave the the strength to escape. I pushed uncle mike with the whole of my strength and he landed on his bare a-s. I could not go back inside since it would warrant more beating, the only option was for me to run outside. I quickly unlocked the door and ran to the gate. I could hear aunty nike screaming my name and accusing me of killing her husband as i unlock the gate. I got out of the house and i ran as fast as my legs could carry me, far, far, far away from home.
I stopped to run when my legs could no longer carry me. I looked behind me and i could no longer see my house, i was far away from home. I looked at the signpost in front of me and i saw “The Apostolic church of Nigeria”, A church was the last place i wanted to be, because i believed that the same God i danced and prayed to wholeheartedly in church some minutes ago made me fail my examination but the sun was shining too brightly and i could no longer take the effect on my skin. I slightly pushed the door to the church open and i entered into the church. The church was quiet since i was the only one there. I sat on one of the chairs and the event that took place few minutes ago with uncle mike came to my mind. The cause of the trouble was my failure, i looked at the image of Jesus on the Altar and i asked the image, why he did not perform a miracle and make me have a high score in the examination. I continue to think about my life, The adorable days i had with my family and the days of agony i was having without a family. Tears filled my eyes and i did not hold the tears back, it rushed down freely on my cheek.
I stayed in the church for more than an hour, i found peace and comfort there but i could not stay there forever. I knew going back to uncle mike and his wife was not an option, so i decided to call khole and aunty oyinkan. I placed my hand into the pocket of my jean trouser to get my phone,but i could not find anything in my pocket apart from a squeezed #20. I was stranded again without a phone. Going to khole’s house would take me more than three hours, if i should trek down, so it was not an option for me. Jordan’s house was closer to my present destination and i should be there in the next one hour on foot. I stood up from the chair and said my prayer before leaving the church premises.
It was not eassy to journey on foot but i was able to get to Jordan’s house weak and tired. I knocked on the huge gate and i heard a voice say “Who be that? I dey come o” from inside the house. I leaned on the gate and not long after, the gate man opened the smaller gate. He greeted me and i could tell he was surprise to see me. I thought it was because of my appearance but i was wrong. The gateman said “welcome aunty Nancy, when you con go change cloth again, shebi nah now you enter?” i did not understand what he was saying, i just asked if Jordan and his parent were home. “Oga Jordan never comot ever since you come nao and i don tell you before say mommy and daddy done travel” From his statement, the only thing i could deduce was that, Jordan’s parent were not again but Jordan was home. I was grateful for this because he was my last hope. I was hoping he would take me to khole’s house if i could not stay with him.
I pushed the door to the main building open and it gave way. I entered the living room and called Jordan but i did not get a response. I stil remembered his room from the party, so i went upstairs to check for him, probably he will be in his room, i thought as i climbed the stairs. I was almost at the door of Jordan room when i heard voices, one of it sounded like the person was moaning. I moved closer to the door and i heard a female voice clearly. “Yea…. I cant believe you are this good baby…where have you been all my life….faster baby…..ohhhh….faster….i love you Jordan….” That was it! My heart started to beat fast. I came here to get a comforting shoulder but now my heart is breaking into a million pieces. I wanted to run out of the house but my spirit stopped me. My inner spirit wanted me to find out if he was really cheating or not. Who could he be cheating with? I asked myself and i suddenly remembered the gateman’s statement. He was insisting i was here before. O.M.G could it be Nelly? No….. It cant be. I thought of how betrayed i would feel if i should catch Jordan cheating with Nelly and i almost ran out of the house for my eyes not to see such act of Betrayal. But stil i wanted to find out the truth. I moved to the door and slowly opened it. I was a lady underneath Jordan, both nude.I looked closely and it was Nelly.I did not know when i screamed “Jesus!!!” and jordan jump off her, i could see his huge d–k when he faced me, i did not have the time to look at Nelly as i ran out of the house. I ran outside and rushed to the gate, i could hear Jordan calling my name from behind but i did not stop. He has always been a disappointment and today he brooke my love and trust with his art of betrayal with a friend i once call sister. I kept on running even when i got outside their compound and i was too blind to see the car coming with full speed. I was in the middle of the road already and unable to reverse my step. Before i could say ‘Jerk!’ something bigger than me hit me from behind like a big rock and i felt my body brooke down into pieces. The last thing that came to my mind before going out of this world was “Men are simply Evil!!!”
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I was hoping not to open my eyes to see the world again. I wished to die and never wake again but it was as if the God i believed in still had more suffering in stock for me because, instead of taking me to heaven to be with him and my parents, he brought me back to this cruel world filled with fake love.
I did not know for how long i was unconscious but i woke up with pains all over my body. I could not move any part of my body order than my eyes (i could open and close my eyes). I saw myself on a hospital bed when i woke up and that was when i remembered all about the accident. How i survived was a miracle, i was not grateful for.
I did not realise that someone was with me until i tried to change my sleeping position but it was too difficult for me to move my body. “Easy my dear” she said and rushed to help me up. I looked up at the person and it was aunty oyinkan. I smilled at her and she asked if i was feeling better, i could not talk so i only noded. Aunty oyinkan touched my forehead and said “sorry dear, you will be fine, you got us all worried,i was so scared when Khole called and told me you got involve in an accident. She said you were lucky your friend Jordan was close to the accident scene and he helped you to the hospital. If not for him, i do not know what would have happened to you” aunty oyinkan ended her speech and i could not help the hatred growing in me toward Jordan. He did not only cause my present predicament, he also had to lie to cover his a-s. Aunty Oyinkan brought me out of my thought when she asked if i needed anything. Yes i do! And all i need is my mom right now! I screamed in my head but i could not utter a word. I noded as a response to aunty oyinkan’s question and she said ” Ok…………. Khole just left some minutes ago, she has a test to sit for. We have been here for the past three days with Jordan, she will be happy you are back when she comes, i need to make a phone call dear. Give me a minute”. I noded and she left. So i was unconscious for three days i thought after aunty oyinkan’ s departure.
The doctor came to examine me. He said i would have to rest for a week for full recovery since i did not sustain any serious injury. The doctor left and aunty Oyinkan arrived later, she told me that she called my uncle to inform him of my where about and he said he traveled and will be back the following day. I did not respond to her statement because i do not want to believe i have a family,i only noded.
Khole came with Jordan later in the evening and she was all over me. I was happy to see her but Jordan’s presence got me angry,he only sat for a while before he left. I gussed his conscience was judging him already because he distanced himself throughout his stay.
The following day, i was able to talk and move my body slowly. Khole and aunty oyinkan were with me and they made me feel as if i had a family ones again. Khole was slicing an apple for me when i heard someone shout “Where is my Nancy” from the door. We all looked toward the door direction and aunty Nike rushed in with uncle mike and Lizzy. Aunty Nike knelt and greeted aunty oyinkan before rushing to my bed. She was behaving all caring and nice, she touched my forehead to check my temperature and sat down on the bed with me. She carried my legs, placed it on her lap and she said “Nancy my dear, how are you? My God, i was so worried about you, i almost died of heart attack when i heard you had an accident, thank God nothing happened to you, i need to go for a thanks giving service for your sake dear. Am happy you are ok” aunty nike ended her speech and i continue to stare at her. I knew she was mean and evil but been a drama queen was out of it. I only noded to aunty nike’s question and uncle mike came close to me as well. He asked if i was getting better and i noded. Only lizzy was quiet and she only smilled at me when i looked at her,i could see the tears in her eyes when she looked at me without pretence like her parent.
My uncle brought provision and he promised to pay off the bill. They left later in the evening and aunty nike promised to come back the next day after she said home was not the same without me and she missed me alot.
I knew aunty nike missed her errand girl not that she missed me out of love but her level of pretence made me doff my hat for her.
Aunty nike’s pretence made aunty oyinkan and khole believe i was safe with them again and against their previous decision,they agreed to me going back to stay with my uncle.
I was discharged on friday afternoon and my uncle was waiting to take me back to the house, my land of pain and agony. Aunty Oyinkan gave me twenty thousand naira before leaving and khole packed my provision to uncle mike’s car. I left the hospital sad, with the thought of the struggle before me. How could aunty oyinkan and khole be so blind to the fact that my uncle and his wife were pretending?
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To be continued
