frantically,everyone booed them.
Suddenly a car stopped by,two men in their mid thirties came out and settled the two girls doing a public display of shame,soon the crowd dispersed,and the men drove away.Hannah and her friends walked into the hostel laughing,Akin had just dropped them outside the hostel some minutes ago,they had stood there watching the mini drama and deciding who of the girls was a better fighter.
The day was far spent already,they had fun at the pool with Akin paying for everything they bought,even they air they breath.Hannah did all she could to avoid being alone with Akin all through their time.
She pulled off her dress and lay on the bed,Rotimi called her more than 10 times,she didn't pick it she was to pretend that she was sick,Rukayat had slept off,Hanny noticed that she had been talking to just one guy all through the day.
Hannah had just finished speaking to Jacob on the phone,he asked about her welfare,and told her he was having Jane over at his place.he asked if she needed anything,and she gave him the list of things she needed knowing fully well,that an alert would come in by monday.
Cynthia was on the phone too,she dropped the call soon and sat on the bed,
'That must be Uncle Jay'
'Yes?' she smiled'What about him?'
'The guy is cool'
'I know thanks,i hope you don't have your eyes on him o'
'Who wouldn't,he's handsome,rich,got good manners,and he's a bachelor' she laughed.
'Am sure you're kidding,don't even try it babe.'
'Its okay,i dont dig him anyway'
'Better!'
'Have been meaning ask you something' Cynthia got serious this time.
'Whats that?' Hannah looked up,having no idea of what her friend had to say.
'Its about Rotimi Williams' Cynthia paused to look at Hannah,she caught a look of concern and fear on her face.
'What about him?'
'Do you like him?'
'Yes i... do'
'Do you want to go out with him?'
'Ofcourse,i want to.Why are you asking all this?' Hannah stared at her friend,with mixed feeling.
'I just want you to remember that,nothing stays for too long,if you like a man,don't waste time playing hard to get,there are other ladies,waiting to have him at all cost' Hannah looked on as if she was lost.
'What exactly are you saying?'
'What i am saying is that,time and tide waits for no man,i think you should get serious with Rotimi'
'I...like him,but..hmm.'
'But what?'
'I'll think about it sha'
'The earlier the better dear.'
'Thanks for that friendly advice,this one that you're playing Mother Theresa,i can't stop laughing o'
'Edward is coming next weekend,i want this to be between us,'Cynthia whispered quietly.
'Love bird is coming,no wonder you're in good spirit this week'
'Na you know o'
'Wait o Bookie never come back since o' Hannah looked at the wallclock.
'Its almost four thirty,wetin she dey read self' Cynthia said.
'Help me ask am o,the babe can read too much.'
'I no blame am o,exam na one month time o'
'Na true you talk jare'
With this Hannah lay quiet on the bed,exam was one month away?when last did she do a thorough reading except for occassional glance before going to class.
She had a lot ahead her,Akin and one other guy was still disturbing her to be their girlfriend,Rotimi was constantly on her mind,she really liked the guy sha,she was beginning to fall for him and she was watching herself like an horror movie.
The guy was always hanging out with girls wherever he was,class?library?social gathering and all.She made a mental note to make sure they got to see this following week,time was jogging,
She picked a paper unconsciously from her table,it was Prof. Boyle's 40th birthday celebration jotter,the young handsome lecturer was good at his work,he was a disciplinarian,you read to earn his marks,it came rushing out in a flash,
Yeeepa,she had forgotten,the prof. had asked to see her on Friday,she had left class in a hurry to get prepared for her date and now.....? Well,she hadn't done anything to be ashamed off,an apology and that would be all.
Why did he even ask to see her self,she had submitted her assignment along with the rest of the class,she did her test well too,so why? Wait ooo,why was she bothered self,she could tackle anything that came up,but what about this?
See me in my office,8:00am Monday morning,no excuse allowed. Prof. A. Boyle
the text message blinked on her phone,she read it over again,hmm,she sighed,this must be something important.
…………………………..
Breakfast was over in no time,she packed the plates to the kitchen,Adekunle came in waving a new wristwatch in her face and smiling.
'Hey sis,have a look' Adetoun looked at the gold chain wristwatch.
'Nice watch,courtesy of?'
'Uncle Tt'
'I should have known' She returned to her washing.
'He bought Adeola pairs of earring and a necklace,and he also gave the baby of the house a new boot' Adetoun smiled mildly not wanting to make any comment.
'He's in the guest room,waiting for you.' Adetou frowned instantly.
'Waiting for me?'
'Yes,for your own gift now'
'Okay,but you can see that am busy now.'
'I can help,while you go'
'Thanks but no thanks'
'No problem,did i tell you about her?'
'Her? No you didn't' Adetoun said rolling her eyes sideways.
'Actually,i just met her 3weeks ago and...'
'And what?,am listening jare.'
'Well,i like her,and she's beautiful,she's 16 in her final class,preparing for WAEC.'
'Whats her name?'
'Daniella,she's yoruba,and she lives with her parent'
'More,spill it' Adetoun pressed him.
'I just asked her out and she said yes,am so happy,we're hanging out tomorrow' Adekunle smiled,he seemed to be proud of his achievement.
He had just written his exams last year,Just 17 and three months old,he's planning to have a girlfriend,so that had been the reason for the new glow on her brothers face,Adetoun thought.
She left the kitchen for her room,she called Priye,they were on the phone for 10minutes.Before Adeola burst in without knocking.
'Have you lost your manners,you brat'
'No,i haven't,you were not even dressing,why the paparazi that i knock,we are both females' Adetoun watched her lousy sister eye her.
'I don't have your time what do you want?'
'Uncle Tt asked me to get you' Adeola said
'What for?'
'You can ask him when you get there'
'You are a spoilt brat'
'Before you insult me,Mum asked me to tell you that,you should clean her bedroom and that of dad,before she comes back o'
'Back?did she go out?'
'Yes,with dad,go and see uncle Tt,he's waiting for you o' Adeola made to leave.
'Wait!'
'Don't even say it' she said as she stopped by the door.
'How do you know what am about to say'
'Well,am smart,you know'
'Good,we'll both clean mum and dad's bedroom,i believe thats clear'
'Clean my foot,am off to Omotola's place,we have a group reading' Off she ran without waiting for a reply.
Adetoun stood up from the bed adjusting her blouse,she didn't want to start giving him ideas,she left for Titus room,she knocked twice before the door was answered.
'Come in' Titus thick voice sang out from the room.
Adetoun opened the door carefully,peeping like a thief.she entered standing by the door.
'You can come in Toun' he was wearing a white singlet over his jeans now.
'You asked for me'
'Sit down on the chair' he also sat up on the bed.Adetoun inspected the chair like a detective before sitting.
'How are you doing'
'Am fine,thanks.' she answered politely
'What are you doing currently'
Thats none of your business man,she wanted to say.
'Sitting at home,washing,cooking and cleaning' She swallowed the pain that followed those words.
'I see,you've been lazying around' Titus looked over her,a wicked smile playing on his lips.
'Can i leave,i have some works to do'
'No,you can't,i got you something from the states' he stood from the bed and brought out a box,opening it,he sat by her.
Adetoun was shocked,all the while she was hating him,he got her a beautiful set of jewellry which contained,earrings,a lovely necklace,a wrist chain and a watch.
She stared at the set,a smile lightening her face,Titus covered the box and held her hands,she jerked instantly,standing up.
Titus joined her on her feet,putting his hands on her shoulders,before she could say Jack,his mouth came crashing on her lips,he pushed her against the wall,kissing her fiercely.
Adetoun pushed him away,but what could her frail arms do against that of her uncle.He kissed her harder groping for her bosom,she became mad,she was unable to scream,she bit his lips hard,he left her for a seconds before he could touch her,she sent another kick to his groins,making him fall on the bed like a pack of card.
She hurried out of his room like someone being pursued by a masquerade,she entered her room,closed the door,securing the lock before falling on her bed.
Titus must be mad she screamed in her head,he couldn't even wait for a day or two,before making his evil intention known,little wonder he had been smacking his lips during breakfast.
She could still feel the lustful desires in his eyes,he hadn't changed a bit,she knew he would make a move,she hadn't thought it could be this fast and ugly.
As she cried she felt blood on her tongue,she examined her lips in the mirror,she had no cut,that must be from bitting that bastard.she wondered what excuse he would give to her parents for his bleeding lips,she cursed him again,as her tears formed a pool on her bed.
…………………………….
Jane
The cucumber and honey were beginning to wear off on her face,she rinsed her face with warm water,then cleaned it with aloevera,rubbing it gently on her face after thirty minutes,she rinsed it off with some warm water,she massaged her skin with different ointment and lotion,she had a long bath taking extra time in the bath.
She tied a white towel over her bosom and rubbed cream all over her body,she looked in the mirror,the beautiful image she saw pleased her,she sat at her dressing table styling her jet black curly hair which was below her shoulder,she wore her undies,and began to dress up......
Jacob
The question sounded like a time bomb in his ears,he stared at Jackie who stared back at him.
'Am sure you both heard me' Funmi inquired looking from Jacob to Jackie.'Who are we expecting?'
'A very good friend' Jackie said smiling at her mother.she couldn't bear to listen to another exchange of words betweeen mother and son.
'A business associate?'
'My girlfriend' Jacob said confidently maintaining eye contact with his mother.
'A girlfriend who lost her name or what?' Anger roared in her beautiful voice.
'If you must know,she's got a name,she's Janet Odenuga' Funmi stared at her son without wavering her eye.
'The same poor girl you brought home the other day'
'The same beautiful lady i brought home the other day.' Jacob corrected.
'I see' Funmi stood and paced the spacious sitting room.
Jackie sat down quietly at a loss of what to say.
'I don't want that girl in my home.' Jacob could feel the authority in her voice.
'In our home'
'You have the nerve to talk back at me se?'
'Mum,why all this,what has she done to you'
'I don't want to see a gold digger in here'
'Jane is no gold digger,i love her and she's been so honest and faithful to me'
'Why wouldn't she be?' Funmi laughed, 'Money is involved you know'
'She's not after my money mum,how can you say that?' Jacob frowned,he felt anger surge through his bone,while Jackie dropped her hands on his arm trying to pacify him.
'What do you know boy'
'Am no boy,am all grown up now,you just have to accept that,i make my decisions here' Jackie could feel his anger,Jacob stood up facing his mother.
'Look here,when you're in those conference room,you can talk business and use your authority as you wish,but once you're here,you're my boy' Funmi glared at him spewing.
'Boy my foot,you can't control my love life mum,you can do as you wish with Jackie not me' Funmi sat down tapping her feet noisily on the tiles.
'There are so many young girls,i could connect you with,my friends daughters are there,but what does my son want? A poor homeless girl' her body vibrated as she spoke at the top of her voice.
'What has your numerous matchmaking done to help Jackie,she's twenty eight and she's still single' Those words stung Jackie,as a tear escaped from her bright eyes.'Let me be,maybe you should concentrate on Jackie,she isn't getting any younger you know'
Funmi was shocked to her bone marrow,this was coming from Jacob,she couldn't believe it.'Your father must hear this,you're raising your voice on me because of a useless girl,mo gbe o'
'Why don't you call him now,you can use my phone,if you've run out of call card' he said very angry,Funmi stood up and rushed towards her son,in a flash it happened,Jacob felt something hard on his face,he was shocked.
'Mum?you slapped me?' Jackie had come in between them,as Funmi raised her hands again.
Jacob couldn't remember if his mum had ever slapped him,he was about leave when his phone rang,it was Jane,he picked it right there.he called his driver to go and pick her immediately.
'She's coming over' he announced to no one in particular.
'And i'll be waiting for her' Funmi said calmy.
Jacob walked to her,'Mum,she's coming over soon,and i swear if you say one single word to hurt her,or to make her leave.' His face was contorted in a deep frown,blood rushed to his face and there was fury in his voice as he tried to speak calmly,'Mum,i'll leave this house and never come back,and i'll denounce you as my mother.i mean it'
Funmi watched as he walked out on her, 'Jackie did you hear that,Adekunle has asked me to take a vow of silence in my house because of that girl.'
'Mum,you went too far,how could you have slapped him?,i never thought you'd ever do that.'
'I know,but he challenged me,Adekunle pariwo mo mi nitori obinrin' Funmi lamented,she knew she had bitten more she could chew this time.
Jackie pleaded with her to be calm and give Jane a chance,'You know nothing about her,its wrong to judge her like that'
'I thought you had some thing better to say,so you're both in this together,he's drawing strength from you abi' Funmi laughed as she stalked out,sudddenly turning back as she got to the glass door,'Omolewa mi,i'll be waiting for her.'
With that,she was gone.Jackie looked around the sitting room making sure,everything still looked cool as she headed to the kitchen.
Jane
The journey was smooth,as Jacob's driver drove her,he tried to make polite conversation with her,asking if she was comfortable or needed anything,she peered through the glass enjoying the smooth ride,her face was calm and she looked well composed,the Ac was cool on her skin,but inside her a dirty brawl was taking place.
She wondered if Jacob's mother would be home,and what her reaction would be,she was sure Jacob would have spoken with her,if the woman embarrassed her this time,she'll gladly ask the ground to open up and swallow her.
She tried to remain calm as the journey shortened,her mother had told her to have a nice time and be a good girl,the latter she was sure of but the former,she wasn't so sure about that,she prayed that Jackie and Mrs Smith would be warm towards her,her heart was beating fast,she caught the driver staring at her through the mirror.
To be continued at 7pm.
