Love from Darkness

LOVE FROM DARKNESS.

Egbulonu Odinaka Kingsley.

A pure work of fiction. Any similarities in places, people and events are entirely coincidental.

©2024.

Egbulonu Odinaka Kingsley.

Dedication.

This story is dedicated to every first time lovers.

Table Of Contents.

Title page

Disclaimer page.

Dedication

Table of contents

Part 1.

Episode one

Episode two

Episode three.

Part 2.

Episode Four.

Episode Five

Part 3.

Episode six

Episode Seven.

Part 4.

Episode Eight.

Episode Nine.

Episode Ten.

About the Book.

About the Author.

Part 1

I thought I found love but that was the beginning of my trouble.

This is how it all began...

Episode one

It was on a Wednesday morning.

The classroom was parked up from corner to corner with chemistry students. I had a regular sitting position at the back of the classroom, just adjacent to a condemned blackboard. Many at times the rough edges of the board tainted my white shirt and picked at it’s cotton. The chemistry teacher, Mr Omaka entered with his Long cane. The class prefect with the help of his fist banged his desk......

Kpam, Kpam, kpam,

“Good morning sir” all stood as we recited the routine greeting.

“Morning. Sit down. Ehm, class prefect take all their last week assignment and submit it on my table immediately after this class.”

“Yes Sir” Tony responded.

“Where did we stop?” The teacher was flipping through the pages of his Notebook to probably recall the last thing he thought. We almost hated him for this. He asks us the questions which he himself had no answers to.

“Now tear out a sheet of paper and write down this questions” the teacher continued. My heart skipped, and I was pretty sure the same happened to almost the entire students. We knew he liked dishing out assignments in remorseless successions but what we didn’t understand this day was why he had to issue a test unannounced. Many grumbled at his inconsideration but Ofeke was Adamant. Ofeke was the name we gave him due to the fact that hardly would he punish any student without calling that student by that name especially when he asked a question and you are unable to provide an answer correctly.

Nevertheless, we obeyed him. I tore out a sheet of paper. My friend, Stephen who customarily sat close to me did same too. Ofeke scribbled down some chemical equations on the blackboard, turned and gave us a disheartening, broad mischievous smile. My stomach creeked with pains as I tried to control the beats of my racing heart. Reason because, the questions he gave us were never discussed in any of his classes. Infact, our failure was Ofeke’s joy.

“You have ten minutes to submit.” He said.

“I believe you know this is a very simple chemical equations. Just play around it and submit quickly. I’m including it into your term assessment.” He concluded and adjusted his ties. He gradually moved from desk to desk to see what we’re writing. Unfortunately nobody was doing anything reasonable on his or her paper. He came to a particular girl named Doris who was so busy. I could sense genuine surprise in the eyes of the teacher to have seen one intelligent student trying his HARD test.

Doris didn’t look up. When the teacher carefully looked into her paper he discovered to his thorough disappointment that Doris was not writing anything that resembled the Test.

“What nonsense!” Ofeke barked.

“On the blackboard is a test you should be attempting and here you are composing a useless love poem. Your senior WAEC comes in four months time and you’re not even doing anything to help yourself.”

“Sir...” Doris wanted to talk,

“Don’t saaa me, idiot, now leave my class. You’re beautiful for nothing, Ofeke Njanja like you”.

On a normal day the class was supposed to launch into an uproar but today, the chemical equations on the blackboard tied everyone’s emotions. Many of us submitted empty sheets. As for me, ha! I couldn’t risk submitting an empty paper. Guess what, I wrote some chemical equations different from the ones on the blackboard and provided solutions to it such that when you see my paper you would envy my brilliance. Stephen my friend did likewise. After the class, many of the students came to me begging me to show them how I solved the equations. All I could do was laugh. You would be misled to think I was laughing out of my ingenuity but actually, laughing at my foolishness.

Later that day, Doris, who was recuperating from the cane stripes came to me. At first, I didn’t think she came for anything that serious because every other girl in the class who admired my intelligence came, collected pen, hanky or anything not worth any value. They just wanted to connect. I thought Doris came for same. To my disbelief, she brought her sitting stool and told me she’s going to be sitting right beside me from now on. Her friend Onyinye accompanied her. She came with her chemistry testbook. I knew that single act I put up that day had given me a new name which I didn’t even merit.

“Achebe I want to know chemistry like you. Can you teach me please?” She sounded emotional, with one of her arms hanging on my shoulder. Stephen pinched me. Believe me I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t know chemistry as much as they thought and here am I dragging unnecessary attention to myself.

“I can try” was my response. This girl was the admiration of most guys in the class. And here am I peddling on her emotion effortlessly.

“Can you start a private lesson for me please? I don’t want to fail my WAEC chemistry”

“I can try” I responded again. By now, sweat had ran my forehead, streaming through my face down my white shirt. I had no hanky, so I had to clean with my barehand from time to time wishing she goes away so that I could breathe well.

“So when do you begin the lesson for me? Your house or here in the school after school hours”

“Here in the school by 12:30...” I manage to say under serious tension. I had not been in a relationship before let alone being so intimate with...

“You mean 12:30? When exactly, because I know school dismisses by 2pm and you want us to meet here in school by 12:30”

“O, sorry. 4:30. let’s meet here by 4:30”

“Alright , so what should I bring for you when coming?”

“Your chemistry testbook and writing materials” I managed to force a smile on my face.

“No that’s not what I mean. I said what gift should I buy for you.”

“Gift? Anything would be fine.” I continued to smile but this time the forcefulness was noticeable.

“Okay ” she said.

Episode two

At stephen’s place.

“Boy what’s up na. This girl don trip for you oo”. Stephen jeered at me.

“Abeg, abeg, I don’t even know what this girl wants. Shebi na this rubbish chemistry work we do dey make her think sey I know chemistry”

“Baba forget that thing. The most important thing be sey she don fall for you. Grab this opportunity oo...”

“Steph please let me be. I don’t want to have anything to do with these girls. Before you know what happens this guys would start thinking am a womanizer. I don’t want that kind of bad name abeg”

“See, many guys wants this girl’s attention by all means...” “Leave me alone Stephen. I want to focus.”

***

For reasons that my Lodge wasn’t far from Doris’ enabled her come looking for me frequently. If she’s going to fetch water she would branch at my place with claims to say HI. If she’s going to Church on a Sunday morning she must say HI. No day passes without Doris saying hi to me either by phone call or visitation.

No day passes without Stephen motivating me to go for Doris. He claimed it’s wrong for a woman to approach a man for love matters. That all the lady has to do was to give signs and let the man play along. But for over eighteen years of my life I’ve never dealt with such. Many at times, I could like a girl and end up having a relationship with her in my fantasy, and that ends it. I didn’t have the moral statue to voice my wish before any girl, and Stephen knew about it. As for Stephen, talking to girls was a cheap thing to do.

On that lesson day as usual, Doris approached me for a hug. She claimed I was a guru in chemistry and that I deserved a tight hug. “Really.” I said in my mind. After the hugging she came up with another demand.

“How about midnight calls? Should I call or would you prefer to call”

“I will call when I recharge”

“Don’t worry, I’ll buy you a recharge card as we’re going home now. Make sure you call me okay.”

While we were heading home she began telling me everything about her family, the Church she first worshipped and how that her pastor wanted to rape her before people came to her rescue. Disclosing the fact she was a virgin wasn’t heavy to her as much as it seemed to me. She equally disclosed how she had decided to keep herself for her man until she’s married and how she’s going to let her children maintain celibacy and godliness until they’re married too.

I was really thrilled by such a modesty.

My control nut was let loose when Stephen mentioned to me how he was going to toast this girl and probably make her his wife since she had the attributes of a good wife. I felt my heart shifted in position out of jealousy. My blood ran hot with agitation. I wanted to curse Stephen in my heart for letting such a thought prosper in his heart. It dawned on me I was actually in love with this girl but I never gave it a thought until someone else showed interest.

Many of the nights, Doris was the one that usually called but that night Stephen showed interest I was the one that loaded recharge card worth a thousand naira and was willing to finish it with her over the phone call. We spoke at length over the phone about issues that didn’t even matter. All I just wanted was to be on the call with her. After the phone call I lost appetite for everything. I mean, everything. All I wanted was to be with her. When Stephen called me that night I didn’t pick his calls because I was angry he was going to steal my ’Girlfriend” from me.

My throat went dry with thirst and yet I wasn’t thirsty for water. I was hungry but not for food. I was really feeling sleepy yet I felt I was going to cheat on someone if I slept alone. In an attempt to relax my mind I started playing the snake Xenzia game in my Nokia torch phone. But the pressure of letting my snake get killed worsened my feelings. My lips cracked from dryness. It was as if a stone hung somewhere in-between my heart region and stomach. I couldn’t breath properly. I went down to the drug dispensory store along the road and made a complain.

I didn’t tell the drug dispenser what I was actually going through. I didn’t want to be ridiculed. He gave me some medications which I knew didn’t work but I desperately needed something to stay calm. When I finally slept I dreamt about Doris. We were leaving like two lovebirds. It was a long dream. If not for baby Emma, (a neighbors child that usually crawls into my room) that was “yayaying” in my ears I would have had issues with whomever that woke me up.

It took me a lot of courage and recitations and demonstration to confess my love to Doris. What! Stephen made me do it. He was moving faster than me and being an introvert I was not going to let this opportunity unlike the other ones slip out of my hands.

After lesson that day I told her I would like to see her. I saw the excitement in her eyes. We went to a corner but Stephen wanted to interfere but I shut him out.

“There’s something I would like to tell you. ”

I felt I was making the biggest mistake of my life yet I was insistent in view of what might happen if I gave Stephen a chance. “I would like us to be friends” I started. I perceived a strong choking smell coming from the nearby bush. I felt the earth was against me immediately I said those words.

“But we’re already friends. Or do you mean you want us to be in a relationship?” She made my work easier.

“Yes. Let’s be in a relationship.”

“Of course, why not. We should be In a relationship dear.”

It felt like it wasn’t too romantic like the ones in Nollywood movies. I wanted more than just “let’s be in relationship”. I knew Stephen would do and say more if he had any chance and am not letting that happen. I remembered a movie where a popular Ghanaian actor, John Dumelo proposed to Jackei Appia and decided I was going to apply the same method. I turned to her and said,

“I think I’ve fallen in love with you” Where the hell did that come from? Me? I didn’t think so. It was John Dumelo’s.

“Achebe you know I love you too. I’ve always loved you from the first day I entered this school but got a better chance of approaching you the day you solved that chemistry test that everyone failed.” Doris said, her voice was sober and liquids stood on her eyelids such that a little blink would cause them to drop generously on her cheeks. She placed her head on my chest, looked me in the eyes and asked,

“What did you eat before coming?” Honestly, I couldn’t remember what I ate because my mind was completely swept off by the gentle caress of her tender palms.

Stephen barged in. “O boy, e don happen oo” he shouted with his hands above his head.

“What now!” I asked. I didn’t know whether to be ashamed or encouraged because I didn’t understand the direction of his words. Finally he said several other things that sounded like an encouragement, calling us latest couples in town.

Episode three.

We were going to write Geography Exam that fateful day when Doris hurried her way into my room. “Odi please teach me how to draw map of Africa. I suspect it might come out today. I don’t trust this WAEC people” She sat on a lower bench while I squatted very close to her. I was intending to draw for her while she learned from me but she insisted that I hold her hand and draw with it. Terrible!

Gradually, with her hand overlapping with mine I started drawing. Believe you me, I lost focus because she too wasn’t concentrating. She tried getting my hand in between her chest region, a way of trying to get me to balance on her breasts. I succumbed. I too wanted to have that feeling. The tension built so high that if Stephen hadn’t interrupted with his reckless knock we would have crossed the Rubicon.

Around 3pm, the Exam was over and we were going home. This time, she took me to her room. I made every effort to ensure that Stephen didn’t follow or interrupt our unholy beatitude. After serving me lunch like a king, I was set to return home. Doris stood by the door and insisted I kiss her before going. There was a sudden thumb in my heart. I had never kissed before and I feared the fact that I might contact bacteria deposited in her mouth which might result in tooth decay.

“if you don’t kiss me then you are not going anywhere”

“But you said you’re a virgin” I asked her.

“Yes. Virginity is not necessary when you are with a man you truly love and he truly loves you.”

“What , you said you would only do that with your husband” “Achebe stop reminding me all that. What matters to me now is either you kiss me or you are not going home today.”

Immediately I became pressed.

Boldly she looked me in the eyes, brought her lips closer and planted a kiss on my lips. I felt ashamed, not because I kissed but because a girl kissed me first. I felt I wasn’t man enough. To build my ego again, I grabbed her face and kissed her mouth. It tasted salty but I didn’t want to rumple my face or show any signs of displeasure. Actually, that was my first time.

I got home that day and recorded it in my diary that I kissed a girl for the first time. Carefully, I hid the diary out of sight. Now, I felt man enough to stand Stephen and brag about how I kissed my “Girlfriend”.

There was a change on his face. I couldn’t tell if he was actually Happy with me or envious because the writing on his face was thoroughly efferverscive. What could he be thinking? That I committed a sin or that I stole what should belong to him? I only got to finalize my assumptions when I called him several times and he ignored my calls and didn’t bother to return the calls.

After Sunday service in three days time, I visited Doris only to find a man lying down on her bed with boxers and singlet.

“What the hell” I screamed in my spirit. I tried hard to beat down my emotions when Doris walked out of the bathroom with a tiny towel hanging down her waist.

“Welcome dear” she said. Before I could say a word she introduced the man to me.

“Meet my friend, Kennedy. He’s a Seminarian. He just decided to branch here and have some rest before he returns home” I couldn’t look at her face while she spoke.

After much effort to convince me that nothing was going on between her and the seminarian, I turned and left. At home, I made up my mind never to have anything to do with Doris. How could she take my feelings for granted. She’s dating a Seminarian? And all this while acting like virgin Mary. What the hell?

Later that evening, she sent me a text, telling me how sorry she was in inviting her Seminarian friend without informing me and how that she was not going to marry a Seminarian, all just to please. That’s it. Which means, while she was busy dating him she was hoping to get entangled with another person for marriage. And that person unfortunately became me. I vowed never to have anything to do any girl including Doris, But I was very wrong. So I thought.

Part 2.

Episode four

I almost gave up on her.

Why would she try to cheat on me knowing fully well that was my first time of engaging in a relationship. A seminarian or not, I was offended. Afterall, I knew about people who sleeps with Pastors and Rev. Fathers.

Doris kept calling my line that night after much SMS but I refused to either pick or respond to her numerous texts. I was grieved and ashamed at the same time. This was a girl I trusted with my big heart, but now I was struggling with keeping up with pangs of jealousy boiling in my soul. I needed to talk to someone, so I called Stephen.

“O boy, how far. I’ve been calling you but you are not picking up. What’s happening?” Stephen said.

“Nna, you won’t even understand. Like this, I feel like am going to die any moment from now” I was rolling from one corner of the bed to the other.

“Wetin happen?” Stephen asked with an air of suspense.

“Doris is Rubbish. Kai, that girl sef get another man. And she told me am the only man for her life.”

“Wait, how come? How did you know, you catch am on top man?”

“It would have been better say I catch am than to see wetin I see. ”

“Ok, what’s the problem. ”

“Can you imagine I went to this girl’s room and I found out a seminarian was lying down on her bed with boxers and singlet. Omo, I no do again. I thought she’s even a virgin ”

“Wait, a seminarian? You mean this people that will soon become a Reverend Father?”

“Na them. Yessso, na them. As I dey like this ee, am weak.”

“See guy, relax. We go show am shege. When you come to school tomorrow I go tell you wetin you go do. For now, no pick her calls oo.”

“Haba, trust me na. She has been calling since evening and I vowed I won’t have anything to do with her again.”

“We go see tomorrow for school”

***

It was on Monday morning at Community Secondary School, Aguda Community.

We, the SS3 students, or popularly known as the Exam class hardly came to school when school activities are in session. It’s believed we should all be reading instead of loitering about. But I and my colleagues already believed that reading to pass WAEC had never worked in that school except you have your Money.

We would gather under the cashew tree and told stories. While we were still there, Doris and her colleagues walked past us. She didn’t look my direction or even acted like anything went wrong between us.

My heart lost peace. I wanted her to be ashamed for what she did and probably beg me in real-time but she damned my presence. I felt heavily guilty. All of a sudden, I felt I didn’t want to lose her anymore. I signaled Stephen, he winked me to come to a corner so that we could chat.

“See, don’t mind that girl. She wants you to notice her...”

“No Stephen you don’t understand. Are you sure I didn’t accuse her wrongly?”

Stephen swallowed hard in disappointment. My heart was terribly shaking and I became pressed immediately. Being a public school surrounded by bushes it wasn’t hard for me finding a nearby bush but when I tried to poo nothing came out. It was only anxiety and obsession that was ruling me crazy. I dragged my trousers on and came out to join Stephen.

“The best thing to do now is to watch her today and tomorrow. If she doesn’t talk to you then go ask her what’s up” Stephen suggested.

“Abi.”

“Yes na. If you do anyhow this girl go Carry your emotion dey play anyhow. Be a Man. Do you even know how long this girl might have been crying about losing you. It’s like you don’t know girls. You sef na hot cake. Relax, she go come”

I felt a bit relieved with Stephen’s words.

Few hours later, I saw Doris with some group of boys. It was as if a sharp arrow struck my heart. Honestly, I have no idea what it was but I felt like dragging her out of there or shunning those boys to stay away from her. I just wanted to see her lonely and pitiable but the opposite was happening. I called Stephen who told me what to do.

I went to Divine. She’s one of the most pretty girls in our class. She was quite taken aback and swept off by my unexpected visit and romantic approach.

“Hey Divine, what’s up.” I asked.

“Hm, Mr Achebe” that was all she said, looking at me with much expectations. She knew I wasn’t the type that goes about meeting people especially ladies.

“How far na...what are you doing” I asked, while trying to sit with her.

“I’m fine.” She adjusted yet not sure if I really meant my visit. Patience her friend just walked by on seeing me to ask her for a pen. She gave her, and she left with questions lined up in her eyes as she looked at Divine. Divine nodded in affirmation to the signal.

“What book is that...” Meanwhile that wasn’t what I had in mind to ask. Now my head was beginning to shake in confusion as I didn’t know what to say anymore.

“No book. It’s just a piece of paper.”

“Ok... I forgot to see it clearly. Do you have black biro?”

“No. But I think patience has. Let me borrow for you.”

She called patience and collected the black pen which I didn’t even know what I was ever going to do with it. I was still acting my drama with Divine when Doris walked into both of us. I felt happy. That was what I wanted. I wanted her to see I could live and survive without her. But Doris to my utmost disappointment came there, exchanged greetings with Divine without giving a damn about my presence.

I looked at her steadily to see if she could see my terrible face and pity me. But none happened. This girl was heartless. She had indeed proven to me she’s engaged with another man.

I left Divine quietly as though I never visited.

I went back to Stephen. I wanted him to say something that would console me as usual because right now my heart was tearing apart. The only way to relieve myself was to either cry or sleep. I just needed something to cool off. Stephen looked me in the eyes and told me I lost her. No! I was now ready to fight. I wasn’t going to let that happen. Whoever it is, seminarian or not, I was going to confront him.

After school that day I called Doris upto 15 times and more, this girl didn’t pick my calls. I then knew what it means to ignore the call From a loved one. Chai! As I dialed each number I was just praying and begging God to touch her heart so that she could show me Mercy and take my calls even if it’s ones. I felt like begging MTN service providers to help me reach this girl’s phone, pick my call and then leave it in loud speaker so that I could shout over the phone and beg her to forgive me even if we didn’t date anymore.

Nothing happened after many trials.

I went back to my diary and wrote down the date I lost my girlfriend. I thought that was going to help me settle the matter in my heart and give me courage to move on. It was like a block on my chest. I couldn’t explain it. That block didn’t go away for a long time.

Stephen called me.

“Nna, how far.”

“I dey bro.”

“Have you spoken with her.?”

“My brother, this girl is proving what I don’t know. Can you call her with your number?”

“Abi, that’s good. I’m going to call her now.”

I suddenly became jealous. How sure am I Stephen won’t win her over to himself if she finally responds to his call. Then she might start seeing me as a bad guy.

“When you call her just tell her that her husband-to-be wants to speak with her. Please Stephen you know I trust you so much with all my Life. You’re my childhood friend, remember. So don’t say what I didn’t ask you to say. You know we’re more than brothers. Just tell her that her tight, intimate, close, one and only boyfriend wants to talk to her.”

Stephen was quiet for sometime. As if he was trying to process the things I said.

“Hm. Enyi, this one you are sounding like this. Anything the Matter?”

“No! Just wishing I would talk to her directly ”

“Don’t worry. I know what that girl is doing. Her reason for ignoring you is so that you can do exactly what you are doing right now. I will call you when I finish with her”

“Alright my good brother. I’ll be waiting now. I mean, Immediately you finish calling her now call me back because I’m waiting for you. ”

“No problems.”

The call was terminated.

Few minutes later, Stephen called me.

“Guy how far. Wetin she talk?”

“Omo this girl dey vex oo”

“Wetin she talk... ”

“She didn’t even take my calls. I called her upto 5times yet she didn’t pick. “Somehow I felt relieved for the fact that Stephen didn’t talk to her on my behalf. I wanted to win her back at all cost by myself.

“Thank God. Sorry I mean, what are we going to do now?”

“Go to her house. That’s the next thing to do. Just go there and act like everything is normal between the both of you”

“Yes that’s right. I didn’t even think of this all this while. I will do that first thing tomorrow ”

“Why, won’t you come to school? ”

“Yes. I will but I want to first visit her and sort out this Matter. I don’t even think I can concentrate in the Exam hall tomorrow if don’t settle this Matter. ”

***

Episode five

I tapped gently at the door. After few seconds Doris came out, almost bare. She was surprised seeing me visit her that early. She left her door opened and went back inside. That was a way of saying come in.

On entering I saw a man lying down again on her bed. But this time I was ready to have any explanation she had to give me concerning him. I stood for sometime expecting her to usher me a seat.

“Bright, it’s dawn. Return to your room. I have a visitor.” She said, the guy Bright stood and left through the door.

“What is it?” She began.

“What’s the problem. Why are you not taking my calls?”

“Really, can you count the number of times I called you and you bluntly refused to pick my calls... Do you know how much pain you caused me that night... Do you have any idea how I felt...”

She started weeping.

“I hate people misunderstanding me or taking me for granted. You think I would cheat on you with a seminarian? ”

“But who is this guy that slept in your room last night? You think you can stand it if you see me sleeping around with other women abi”

“Achebe, are you accusing me of sleeping around?”

“What do you want me to believe?”

“Ok. Now the seminarian you saw is my cousin brother. I can show you his picture in my phone. This guy who slept here last night is my elder sister’s son. Both of us are writing WAEC here but she leaves in the opposite room. He ate here last night and so while we were jisting he slept off. I couldn’t force him to retire to his room since we’re blood relatives. You don’t know how much it hurts to be misunderstood, Achebe. You made me cry blood. Infact, if not for one thing I wouldn’t even have allowed you inside my room this morning.”

“Ok. I’m sorry. I was very wrong. It won’t happen again ”

“I won’t forgive you until you tell me what you were doing with Divine my friend yesterday in school. ”

Honestly, I was shocked. I never knew she was going to still talk about it.

“How did you know that...”

“You thought I wasn’t watching you abi...”

“Nothing serious. I just went to borrow her black pen.”

“Black pen ke, abi you were trying to get me jealous. You failed.”

“Well, I only wanted to get black pen. Any other thing you attach to it is none of my business”

“Whatever. ”

“Well, I came to check on you before going to school ”

“So that you can concentrate abi, you think sey you get sense... ”

“Doris please stop. Let’s get back to how we used to be.”

“I’m not interested anymore. Please leave my room.”

My heart stopped beating immediately I heard that. I wanted to make sure she didn’t mean it and then I asked,

“Have you eaten today?”

“Really, who eats by this time of the morning?”

I lost guard over my emotions.

“Doris please don’t leave me. I have not been In a relationship before and I don’t know what it means to fell in love with a woman until I met you. You said you were going to pardon if I should tell you what I was doing with Divine. I did, and you are still saying you don’t want me anymore. ”

“Listen, it’s not like I don’t like you but am hurt. I don’t want a man who will be hurting me at any slight chance. ”

“Ok am sorry. It will never happen again. I take God beg you. Please help me so that I can finish this WAEC well. If you break up with me now I’ll have f9 in all the subjects because I won’t even know what to write anymore.”

“You asked me if I have eaten before. If I had said no, what would you have given me for a breakfast.?”

“Food. ” I responded.

“What food? Did you come with any food... ”

She was still talking when I ran out of her room and sped down to a nearby kiosk to get her noodles. Unfortunately the shops were still locked. I went to their house and knocked and told them how important it was that I get two satchets of noodles that morning. When I paid I ran back to Doris’ room and gave her.

“Ok. We’ll see after exams today. I want to dress up for school”

“Ok. Thank you. Can I go now?” I asked, hoping to get more.

“Of course”

“Just like that... Are you still angry?”

“I don’t know but we’ll see after school”

Something in me refused to settle.

“I want to kiss you.” I said, I felt like the ground was going to open so that I can disappear immediately.

She drew closer, looked me in the face and planted a kiss on my mouth with her eyes closed.

The odor was horrible. She had not brushed her mouth but I pretended to be a perfect gentleman and walked out of her room only to end up cleaning my mouth with water the whole day.

Part 3.

Episode six

Stephen told me to get a preservative. What! Immediately he mentioned it my mind ran to fornication. As a matter of fact, I’ve not been exposed to sex before, how the hell could Stephen be telling me to get a Preservative? I knew what it took me to confess my love to her and here he’s telling me to get a Preservative. His reason was this, once you sleep with her she would start respecting you. All her “shakara” would stop immediately and she would become humble and submissive completely. It would be hard for her to abandon you for another man if she’s truly a virgin. I stood for a long time pondering over what this guy said.

Inasmuch as I was desperately in love with Doris or rather obsessed with her, having to sleep with her was like a log of wood on my chest. For many days I pondered over it. I’ve heard our Anglican Priest, Rev. Azubuike, preach against premarital sex but I didn’t think that applied to me. Probably he was referring to the “Born-agains”, not me.

After much thought on getting a Preservative the idea didn’t sit well with me. I decided I was not going to have sex with her no matter what. I was going to wait until we got married.

***

One Saturday morning, I visited Doris.

“Did you tell Ozioma anything about us?” She asked, her face focused on her phone.

“What are you talking about, who’s Ozioma by the way?”

“Ozioma is our neighborhood. She’s been acting strange for sometime now and I can’t really place my hands on what exactly she’s up... ” She was still talking when a knock came at the Door.

“Are you expecting anyone?” I asked her.

“Not really. Get the door please”

Behold, it was Stephen and Divine. I was not expecting this visit.

“Man, what’s up.” Stephen greeted.

“Stephen you never told me anything about this visitation...”

“He told me earlier over the phone.” Doris interrupted.

“Wait a minute, you mean you spoke with Stephen and you didn’t bother to talk to me about it, and not even Stephen told me anything either ”

“It was supposed to be a surprise, I guess ” Divine said.

“What do you mean by surprise? Whose birthday are we celebrating?”

“Achebe, relax first. Chill. No dey rush things like this. Your blood too dey hot. Haba!” Doris cajoled. I took a deep breath with the hope to hear what the surprise was. With few inches apart, I adjusted my buttocks on the bed for Stephen to sit.

“So guys, this evening it would be happening at Palm groove. And so we decided we’re going to celebrate the success of our WAEC there. We actually kept it away from you, Mr Achebe, because we feel you might scatter our plans for us...” Doris was talking,

“So what if I hadn’t come here?” I asked,

“Mr Man I said keep calm. I’m still talking. I’ve not even landed yet. So, as I was saying, we go there tonight by 9pm and rock down that place. Meanwhile, I was planning to come over to your place myself my darling... ” She said caressing my chest. I would have enjoyed it had Stephen and Divine not been there but now, instead of pleasure I felt ashamed. I wanted to tell her to stop but Stephen turned to Divine and started kissing her. I wondered what gave Stephen his guts. That guy would put me into trouble. He was a perfect gentleman when we were still very small and now Stephen had become what I didn’t have explanations to. I never knew he went behind my back and toasted Divine. How could she even agree so cheaply? Wait a minute, was Stephen even using jars on these girls? No girl has ever refused him.

No week passes without Stephen telling me how many girls he took their virginity. And I was still there learning how to ordinarily talk to a girl. My God! I felt so backward.

“So, you guys dress up and meet me here. We all gather here and then take off from here...”

Stephen was still kissing Divine.

“Divine I think you guys should stop now. You guys are stirring my baby boy up” she was referring to me. A baby boy? It’s obvious am now her baby boy because I wasn’t man enough like Stephen to caress and kiss her ordinarily. A big slap on my long face.

“Let’s go to your house Achebe” Stephen said,

“To do what exactly” I responded. Wait a minute. Was I actually jealous of Stephen for kissing Divine or was it just the fact that they kept me in the dark all this while.

“Guy calm down. We’re not quarelling. Ok, no problem we see in the night”

“You said you wanted to come over?”

“I thought you are angry at me?”

I opened the door and was about leaving when Doris held my hand and kissed it. I wanted more but Stephen and Divine were standing on the way and so there’s nothing I could do but to get on. Stephen followed me.

“We would be waiting for you guys here” Divine said.

***

Episode seven

Around 7:18pm Stephen came to my house.

“You need to get a cap bro. It’s necessary for your protection.”

“I don’t have cap and I don’t like wearing one. By the way, what made you say the cap is good for my protection?” I asked, mindfully buckling my belt holder.

“So that you won’t contact germ na. Na normal thing bro. Every guy dey wearing am comot.”

“Germ?” I asked, looking at him with mixed feelings. I didn’t want to believe what I was thinking.

“Yesso, I no dey miss am. I bought two parkets as I dey come her self”

“Stephen can you please come out straight? What’s cap?”

On hearing my question, he sat up on the bed, genuinely surprised that I was yet to know the use of cap or it’s literal meaning.

“Guy how far na. No tell me sey you no sabi sey cap na Preservative?”

I couldn’t help but to laugh at my clemence.

“O boy...”

“Guy you be ju oo. You see as Doris be now, if you want make she love you like mad you need to be ‘rugged and whosky’. Girls like guys that knows about all this things well. That’s why e no dey hard me to f*ck any of them.”

“Stephen, how did you become this corrupt? Who taught all these dirty things?”

“Dey there dey speak English until maga chop Doris for your front. Na there you go know sey pepper dey pepper for yansh”

I wasn’t sure if I was doubting him or processing all what he said. But I had one fear in my heart; I didn’t want anyone else to sleep with Doris before me. If she’s truly a virgin then I’ll have her all to myself for the rest of her life, even when she’s married to another Man.

Doris called.

“Are you guys ready?”

“Yes.” I responded.

“Start coming out. We’re waiting for you guys by the roadside opposite that woman selling unriped plantain”

" Ok. We’re coming”

We left.

When the bike stopped in front of the groove my heart skipped. I’ve not done this before. Going for club and night party wasn’t my fancy, but if doing it was going to make Doris happy then I was ready for it.

The sound of the disco music was deafening. I saw some of the guys I met in the Exam hall; I wrote Physics with one of them. I didn’t know how they were going to judge me for coming there; a bad boy or good boy. Honestly, I wanted to remain a good boy on the hearts of this people, but now I was becoming what they wanted me to be, not what I wanted to be.

Everybody had a dancing partner. They held hands and swingled right and left in opposite directions. When I got closer and looked up I saw naked ladies dancing by a long pole on the stage. Rich boys got closer and slapped their buttocks with dollar notes. I couldn’t see the faces of everyone clearly due to the fact that smoke coming from cigarettes and Shisha pot clouded everywhere.

When I looked left, where the rich guys were sitting, one naked lady, I mean literally naked was lying down on a long deck and this guys were playing cards on her breasts and pubic region. It was neatly shaved. My heart began to pound in lust.

I was lost in thoughts when Doris tapped my shoulder.

“Can we dance now!” She shouted into my ears. I wasn’t sure if I knew how to dance but I agreed anyway.

She held my hands and we started dancing.

“Where’s Stephen?” I asked with a shout.

“I don’t know. Maybe he went to f*ck Divine inside the bathroom!”

My heart skipped. What! Stephen was about to do what? Sleep with a woman? My God! Was that why he was asking for a cap. I was still lost in thoughts when Doris started a kiss. And we continued like that for a long time until I felt like I wanted to urinate.

“Where is the bathroom?” I asked.

“What’s the problem?”

“I want to ease myself”

“Ok, come let me show you”

Obviously Doris knew this place well. She took me through all the corners until we got the bathroom door.

“There” she pointed. I entered. To my shock, not only Stephen with Divine but many other young people where in the bathroom having real sex. I wanted to shout, “I catch you” the way we do at home when we catch people doing this in the bush but it was useless. It appeared nobody was going to pay any attention to that. None of them even looked my direction or even acted like a human being entered.

I found my way into one of the rooms there and eased myself. It was such a horrible sight to behold; used Preservatives, spilt semens and dark bloods messed the room up.

“Hope you enjoyed what you saw?” Doris asked me. I was quite shocked for the fact that Doris even knew the type of activities that goes on in there.

“Honestly, that was a dirty sight”

She giggled, forcing her mouth closed with her palms.

“That’s what we see ooo”

“How long have you been visiting this place, Doris?”

“Huh,”

I saw her eyes filled with fear because she suspected where this question might lead to.

“Don’t lie to me, Doris”

“Ok, we talk about it when we get home”

We were still talking when Stephen and Divine walked out looking very clean and simple as though nothing happened.

“Guys you are not enjoying yourself yet?” Stephen asked.

I acted deaf to the credit of the loud speakers.

“O boy na house I dey go like this o” he told Divine.

“But we’ve not bought anything na. Let’s buy shawarma and Candy please” she cajoled him with feigned zeal.

“Ok, vamos.” That could probably be the only Spanish word Stephen learnt during the Spanish class.

After eating, drinking and telling stories outside the club house, we went home.

Stephen slept over at my place. Middle of the night, Doris started calling me on the phone.

“Can you please come over to my place?” She said.

“Why? It’s late already. Can’t we wait till tomorrow? ”

“No sweetheart. My body is itching me since we came back and I’ve not been able to sleep well. ” That was her first time calling me ‘Sweetheart’.

“And you think my presence is going to solve the problem?”

“Exactly, my love. Once you come around I will be okay. See babe, if you truly love me, I want to see you in my room any moment from now.” She said with an air of finality and terminated the call. Is this what it means to have a girlfriend? Are all girls like this or is this just how Doris chose to be? I would find out.

“Guy wake up” I tapped Stephen.

“What’s that” He barely opened his eyes.

“Doris called me now. She said she’s feeling itchy all over her body since we came back. The funny part is that she wants to see me otherwise she would break up with me”

Stephen opened his eyes and sat up on the bed.

Next thing, he was searching for something in his wallet. A Preservative. He brought out a Preservative and handed it over to me.

“Go quick. She needs it.”

At first, I thought he meant I should go and give it to Doris, that she wanted to give it to someone or something like that.

“Once you hit her hard she won’t be disturbing you again.”

“I should hit her. What does that even mean?”

“F*ck am well, idiot. Since you dey claim sey you be holy Angel. Dey there make another guy dey chop your girl front and back.” He sighed and feigned asleep.

Something was happening just below my stomach and I couldn’t understand why. My body was ready but my mind wasn’t. How could I have such a bad egg for a friend?

I left anyway.

Her door was not locked when I got there.

“What’s the matter Doris?”

“I don’t know... Can you just spend the night with me. You will go tomorrow morning.”

I obliged.

She locked the door, tied wrapper on without a blouse or shirt and reduced the intensity of the light from the rechargeable lantern. I faced the wall while she joined behind with her arms wrapped around me.

“Babe, you’re not romantic at all” She said.

“Why”

“I’m your girlfriend for Christ sake. You should hold me close. Maybe that way I can sleep well.”

I turned and wanted to hold her behind but she was already facing me.

“Face the other side na”

“No. Hold me face to face. There’s nothing wrong with it. After all, I’m your property.”

Woo! That gave me a sense of superiority. I held her.

“Don’t just look at me. Tell me sweet and romantic things to make me sleep”

Now this girl was asking for much. I said in my mind.

“What do you want me to tell you”? My voice shook when I said that.

“Ok, since you don’t know what to tell me. Teach me reproduction in biology. I know that’s one of your best subjects”

What!

“Doris.” I almost screamed.

“That’s my name babe. Are you going to teach me or not?”

“Where should I start?”

“Start with the practical. Much later we talk about the theory.” She whispered.

Now it’s obvious she wanted something. I didn’t know how to start this and I couldn’t pretend I didn’t know what she was talking about. By this time, a part of my body became tough and rigid. I felt so uncomfortable but at the same time bottled within the arms of a lover.

She started kissing me. This time gradually. I corporated.

“Bring out your tongue.”

“For what...”

“I want to chew it”

“What!”

“Yes na. That’s the sweetest part of it. Don’t you know if I chew your tongue it will make me more relaxed ”

“How do you expect me to give you my tongue to chew? Which tongue am I going to use to eat food tomorrow”

I was thoroughly disappointed.

“Relax, I’m not gonna hurt you. It’s just part of love making.”

“But Doris you are a virgin. ”

“I can’t keep my virginity with a man I love.”

“No. You don’t understand. I mean, the things you know about sex are far beyond the things a virgin is supposed to know ”

“I’m an adult babe. I read books and I watch movies. You know, things like sex movies.”

I gave up. I knew Doris was bent on having sex with me that night and I gave it a short.

It happened. Yes, like a novice struggling to climb a mountain top was my experience with her that night.

Thanks to Stephen for the Preservative.

But that night’s experience marked the beginning of my troubles. Meanwhile, Doris was nothing close to being a virgin like she claimed by the time we finished.

Part 4.

Episode eight

The deeds of the previous night had remained with me and refused to go. I wanted to live up to my responsibility. I wanted to own the fact that I slept with a lady and not go about worrying over it. Now Stephen had returned to his house and I was left alone, lonely with all kinds of thoughts warring against my soul.

Should I be ashamed of myself? No! Never! How long then was I supposed to continue mourning over my ill exhibition with Doris? It had happened and there’s nothing anyone could do or was going to do about it.

I felt Doris had planned out this whole thing. If it’s true, with who, then? Stephen? No. Guess I should look elsewhere. There was a deep peace in my heart over the ecstatic moment with Doris but I knew it wasn’t supposed to be so. I did evil. Why was my heart not worried enough to make me feel guilty? Instead, I was the one now feeling I should be guilty. Could it be because I have been desiring for that moment?

As I regurgitated about the whole matter I felled asleep.

***

There she was, a lady wearing a long white robe standing just in between two Mahogany trees proximic to the shrine of a popular Ezemmuo; a traditional servant of a common deity in Aguda community.

“We have been waiting for you since you were born but your family turned away from us. Come. Let me show you what you must do” The white garment woman was referring to me.

Like someone under the influence of alcohol, I began to move towards her. We entered a shelter covered with streaks of dried raffia. Just at the entrance to the raffia shelter were two pots blazing with fire. Tender palm fronds were used to decorate the doorpost; actually not a door, but constructed to mean a door with weak-looking and blood-splashed plywoods. You would see a red linen tied around a wooden beam just near the many lined up Ogirishi tree.

I literally had to bend to enter the lookalike shrine. If you saw the structure from outside it was really small. But I couldn’t contend with my shock on entering to discover how large the inside was. Red candles with flames at the tip lined up every corner of the large hall. One would say the hall was empty except for the candles, bells, pigeons, small turtles crawling here and there, short wooden images constructed to look like humans but tied side by side with wires and something else...

Something that looked like a human being squatting at the extreme end of the hall. Doris. Could she be the one? I needed to be sure, but I couldn’t get any closer or rather I wasn’t allowed to get any closer.

“Sit there” she pointed. There was nothing to sit on. I was going to ask her where to sit when she abruptly said,

“On the floor”

She sounded mean. Her eyeballs looked intensely on me with shimmer. I didn’t know how I got here and I wasn’t sure whether I was ready for whatever that’s going to come out of it.

“You journey begins here. We’ve been waiting for you for long. One of our own introduced you into this family and right now, her Job is completed. You will have to continue from where she stopped...”

I had no idea what this woman was driving at until I saw the same Seminarian I saw at Doris’ room and the one she also said was the son of her elder sister. What brought them here? I could recall vividly how we met at Doris’ room respectively and what transpired between us. The both of them entered through another door which led into another room inside the large hall. This remained a mystery to me. How could a small thatched structure judging from the exterior could have rooms and departments as massive as this? They both looked at me but didn’t say a word. They were just busy. Busy doing things that you couldn’t place with any meaning. Another man came from another door in the room. He was short, black in complexion with heavy chest and muscles. He passed through the exit door and went out.

“Your room is over there” she pointed. “Feel free. This is now your new home. Your job is, as long as you remain with us you shall freely have anything you desire; women, money, power, fame and influence. Ezenwanyi Oba Mmiri is pleased with you, for you treated her daughter well. Now, you must continue to make the goddess of Oba Mmiri happy by making more disciplines for her...”

To be honest, I still found it difficult attaching meaning to what this woman was saying to me. I couldn’t recollect most of the things said to me but few words were embossed in my heart; You must continue to make disciples for goddess of Oba Mmiri... Was this some kind of cult or Initiation into a strange kingdom? If truly they had been waiting for me, then for how long? Was meeting Doris a setup? By the way, how long had she known me? If not for the chemistry escapade, would she had known me? Now I was saddled with the responsibility of connecting the lines that linked I and Doris.

Of course, she’s the one squatting by the extreme end of the hall. I wasn’t mistaken actually. I saw her walked into an invincible room through the wall. Nothing changed about her, just for the fact she was looking more mature and bigger.

“Now follow me” she ordered. I followed. We came to a room where I saw all kinds of people of different age and sizes. A large table was set before them with all kinds of edibles on it such as Jollof Rice, vegetables, fruits, grasses (Yes, literal grass. Like the ones in the bush fed to goats), bottles of wine, calabashes with legs of fowl (not chicken laps) I mean, a freshly killed fowl without roasting the legs. You would even see stains of blood littered here and there on the table. Or was it a spilled wine? Not sure.

“Sit. Eat what they give you.”

Immediately I sat, like remoted robots, all of them stared at me within few minutes with no particular facial expression. You wouldn’t be able to tell whether they’re happy or sad. They just stared. That’s all they did.

Episode Nine

I sat quietly on the metal chair before me, not sure about the next thing to do.

“Take.” A lady stretched her hand from behind me with a plate full of Jollof Rice and sliced raw meats. I knew it was raw meat upon looking at it for the fact that it had fresh blood all over it. How the hell did I get here? I felt been forced to join family of strange people; blood suckers, vampires, demons, anything evil you could think of. I didn’t know when I started rushing the food with a barehand and chewing the meats as though my life depended on it.

In about three minutes time, I was done. They all laughed. I couldn’t tell whether they were laughing at me or something else because none of them looked at me. But their laughter began immediately I finished eating. While I sat on the chair I felt pressed. I wanted to poo. It was going to drop if I did nothing about it.

Standing up from the chair I sat meant waking up from my sleep, at the same position where I was thinking about my affairs with Doris.

My stomach was heavy and I was truly pressed. I went to the toilet immediately.

I couldn’t fathom the meaning of my dream.

Towards the evening Doris called me and told me to come over. I went without a second thought.

“Have you eaten?” She asked, rubbing my left cheek with her eyes glued to mine.

“No. What did you cook?”

“Myself. I cooked myself for you babe.” I knew she’s at it again.

Now, I didn’t waste any more time. I had the audacity to initiate a kiss. I didn’t feel guilty anymore. I felt responsible for whatever I did. I felt my life was now in my hands. I could do anything I want with any lady and nothing was going to happen. Something better than kissing would have ensued had a knock not interrupted us.

“Who’s it” she asked. Without response from the other end, the door opened and the Seminarian entered. Even the way he looked at me told me he came for something serious. I couldn’t place a definition on the look on Doris’ face, whether afraid or shy or feeling guilty. I watched her slip out of my hand to welcome the Seminarian with a big hug and an outright kiss.

Obviously, he wasn’t going to sleep over because it’s still daylight. Besides, he came unprepared; with a handbag which obviously contained nothing. I was appeased.

“You didn’t tell me you were coming.” She asked.

“Something came up. We need to talk.”

“Is everything Ok?”

“I just said we need to talk. Are you deaf!” He sounded hostile, eyes flamed with anger. A big vein stood out on his forehead. I was wondering what my next move was going to be when Doris said to me,

“Achebe can you excuse us please?”

“Sure” I stepped out immediately.

I wanted to return home but felt the urge to stay behind and eavesdrop.

“Doris am done with this whole shit. I can’t continue living like a slave, a sex maniac for the rest of my life. I was beaten twice this week for attempting to rape a young girl and one other married woman. If not for my mother’s intervention I would have been dead by now. Doris, what have you gotten me into? You told me you love me and you ended up initiating me into your so-called water-family...”

“Lower your voice Tobias. You’re shouting. People outside might be hearing your voice... ”

“Let them hear everything, yes let them hear because I’m tired of living like a slave. Sleeping with you have been the worst experience of my life, Doris. Now tell me, how do I get out of this? At first you told me it was going to make me a billionaire in a short time, buy cars and houses and travel all over the world. My life kept getting messier every single day. Like, I can’t control my sexual urge anymore Doris. I find it hard going for a night without making love to any lady. I hardly concentrate at work. I virtually masturbate at any given space in trying to put myself under control. I’m losing it Doris. I’m losing it...”

“Tobias relax...” Doris spoke in a muffled tone. She was afraid someone might be listening.

“Don’t tell me to relax when am dying slowly everyday. See my manhood...”

Probably, he was showing her something. I wasn’t in there with them.

“...You see all this bruises everywhere, it happened because of my tireless masturbation. Doris, please have pity and tell your goddess or whatever you called it to release me. I’ve been like this for the past three years of my life since I met you. Did I offend you...” I guess he was weeping now.

“Baby please listen, you don’t have to cry. It’s just a matter of time and all this things shall be over. What you are going through now is the prize you pay before all those good things would start coming... ”

“Good things? I’ve been living like a slave for the past three years and you’re telling me good things. Good things from where? Please Doris, whatever it is that you did to me or placed inside of me please remove it. I don’t want again... ”

“My friend keep quiet. What’s wrong with you? I’ve been trying to calm you down and you are still proving difficult ” it sounded as though Doris became angry at Tobias.

“I’m not interested in this relationship anymore. Talk to your people or whatever they call themselves and let them take this filth from me. I’m tired... ”

“Tobias, if you don’t keep quiet now I’ll be forced to throw you out of my room. Are you stupid? What the hell is wrong with you?”

I’ve never heard Doris sound that way before. She’s way too small to talk to that guy like that. I mean, that Tobias was more older than her. By age difference, one would guess Tobias to be twenty years ahead of Doris. Yet she talked to him that way. It wasn’t long I heard some footsteps coming from the compound. I didn’t want the person to see me, so I left, heartbroken by everything I heard.

Actually, it wasn’t a dream. But it came like one. Doris wasn’t what I took her for. The Seminarian was a boyfriend she had initiated into her Marine world like she did to me. So her job was to sleep with men and bring their souls into her kingdom with promises of fortune and luxury.

How could I have fallen so cheaply for this? Why didn’t I see the handwriting on the wall? She claimed she was a virgin yet had the wild knowledge a commercial sex worker would have.

Episode Ten

Now my life is in serious trouble. Would I have to experience the same thing the Seminarian experienced? Sleeping with people at random, making them promises of good life which I myself didn’t have.

I didn’t know whether to cry or pray. My first time sleeping with a lady opened me up to this evil. How about Stephen swimming along with all kinds of girls without remorse? He did it with them and went scot-free. I did ones and was caught in a trap.

Having settled in my heart on what was at stake, I decided I was going to search for solution before the matter gets worst.

Two days gone and Doris neither called me on phone nor visited me. I didn’t bother either. I only noticed her distance when my body started craving for her. This time, I became afraid. I now saw clearly the danger I’ve been exposed to and the consequences thereof.

Four days gone, I felt I was going crazy. Everything in me desired a woman. I didn’t mind admiring even married and elderly women.

It was after about one week later that Doris called me to tell me she traveled. She went to her sister’s traditional marriage at Mbaise Local government. I knew she lied. Infact, I made up my mind to act like I was still with her so that she won’t hurt me with her evil powers. When she was about to end the call she said as usual, “I love you dear.” I insisted the network was bad and terminated the call.

I wasn’t wrong initially when I decided I was never going to have anything to do with any girl again. Now I had to revoke that decision and live by it but it seemed too late. My body was aflamed with lust.

I started messing around with secondary school girls; the same school I graduated from. I promised many of them marriage so that I could get their attention. I continued to depend on sex to survive like a drug addict for a period of five months when I tried sleeping with Rev. Azubuike’s last daughter, Jewel. I thought it was going to end the usual way but jewel started preaching to me.

At first, something in me fought hard to accept whatever she was saying. All I wanted was her body not her preaching. But somewhere along her preaching I felt my body came under control. The craving had reduced, especially when she held my two hands and prayed. I felt relieved when she asked me to repeat the sinners prayer after her.

Later that day, Doris came to me house unannounced. Technically, I mustered courage for the first time in my entire life and walked her out of my room.

“Why?” She requested with drops of tears. How could her eyes readily release tears on hearing my rejection. Was she expecting it or what?

“Doris, please it’s over between us. You’re cheating on me with the Seminarian and some other men... Please leave my place.”

“Who told you... I’ll nerver cheat on you babe... “She knelt before me and began to weep.

Honestly, had I not heard and seen things for myself I wouldn’t have doubted her innocence. She was really beautiful, dimpled and had her teeth gapped. Her chocolate skin color was without a blemish and yet she didn’t use any particular cream or make-up.

“Don’t take whatever you heard seriously please... People are jealous because of how peaceful and united we are. Many guys wants me but I refused them. I guess they’re the ones fighting hard to destroy our relationship...”

“Doris, I said I won’t have anything to do with you again. Please leave my house. You’re an unfaithful partner. I don’t want an unfaithful partner ”

“Achebe, I’m not whatever you heard people said against me to you. How could you fall cheaply to what people are saying against me? Why don’t we sit down and talk about this... ” She made some steps closer to hold my hands but I slapped her hands off.

It dawned on her I wasn’t joking anyway. She was quiet for few moments and then turned and left, wiping her tears as she went.

That night, her messages kept coming in. But I refused to reply.

On one of the messages she wrote:

“I have my struggles too. I need help too. I found myself in a cage that made my life tasteless, meaningless. Leaving me now I need you most would be the worst breakup I’ve had all my life. I’ve suffered broken relationships because people keeps misunderstanding me. No one wants to believe me or listen to my side of the story. I’m not the devil neither am I the daughter of the devil. I only found myself in a circumstance where I too need help. Don’t leave me Achebe. Please stay with me and help me get a normal life. I’m sorry, if I did anything wrong but I want you to know it’s not my fault hurting people I truly love.

With tears, Your love. ”

I only realized I was weeping when few drops of tears splashed on the screen of my phone. But I was still afraid accepting the fact that I still loved her.

Next morning on getting to her house, I saw people clustered everywhere. Some gathered around and folded their arms signing and gossiping. No one was saying anything meaningful. I tried getting into the veranda and discovered that no one was allowed into Doris’ room. When I managed to ask a little girl there what the matter was, she told me “Aunty Doris is dead. She slept and didn’t wake up”.

My blood literally froze within me. Doris dead? How? What happened? What killed her? Who killed her? No. I didn’t want to believe it. I sat at a corner, just on top of some arranged molded blocks, folded my arms with the intention to find answers behind Doris’ demise but suddenly my lips started shaking, my heart beating fast, accompanied by the water that dropped from my eyes. I was crying. I didn’t plan for this. All I wanted to do was to sit down and think but...

Doris died as a result of her failure to meet up her target.

I was the target. Love from darkness.

The End.

About the book.

Falling in love for the first time was a thing celebrated by Achebe’s friends. He didn’t want to until he met Doris who from all indications showed potentials of true love. Little did he know his destiny had been decided by higher forces he didn’t know whose intentions were to bring him into a journey predestined before he was born but must be accomplished on the platform of love and relationship.

Love from Darkness.

About The Author.

Egbulonu Kingsley is a talented and passionate story writer, a preacher and a teacher of the Gospel. He strongly believes that his stories are intelligently crafted and divinely inspired to provoke thoughts, build morals, adjust thought patterns, give guidance on the path to the discovery of life purpose, foster and inbue a level of standard of living in the society especially amongst the youths.

A graduate of the prestigious Federal University of Ebonyi State Nigeria who, as at the time he wrote this book had no payable job but found purpose in writing and preaching the Gospel with a single theme of restoring purpose, passion and vision which can be captured in most of his stories and Gospel messages.

He has written several other books of which Love from Darkness is one.

For inquiries and sponsorship:

Email: [email protected], or [email protected]

WhatsApp line: +234 9073408455. Or +240 222 834 246.