LOVE AND LIES
TWENTY-THREE
It was evening and the wind was already thrashing softly outside. Honks and gabble still whirring from a distance. The air was musky and the evening sun had a daub warmth.
Lara stepped into the compound, dragging a heavy box along. She wore a crimson shirt that gave out the size of her bulging breasts, heaving at each menacing step. A pair of tapered trousers lent a good match. It cut through her thighs, shielding a huge quantity of flesh she had gathered in her legs. She made her hair packed into something that looked like a bridge. It revealed an oval face, well- made with lipsticks and powder. Lara appeared to have added flesh.
Tolu was sitting outside, talking with a friend from her department. She sighted Lara and her mouth clicked open in surprise. It was almost a week she disappeared. Lara sighted her friend, and she suddenly began to take each step with a majestic display of pride. She had beetled in from a Toyota Corolla.
“Lara is this you?” Tolu cried in astonishment. Lara held a smile. They hugged before she tiredly slouched into the chair Tolu was sitting, her breast shot up with a mighty jolt in the process.
“Where have you been this girl? Eeh? You just disappeared.”
“Oh sorry, Meet my friend Nnamdi. We are in the same department.” Tolu introduced the guy who had been smiling passionately beside her.
” This is my playful friend Lara. I told you about. ” Tolu said to Nnamdi who still held his smile.
“So you have been telling everybody about me.” Lara put in playfully as she shook hands with the guy.
” Where have you been now babe? This one I called you and you said you were in Abuja.”
“I have a lot of gist for you Tolu.” Lara showed a benign smile.
“Really?” Tolu said examining the expensive cloths Lara was wearing.
“How was Kola?” Lara asked. “I called him, he refused to pick my call. I stopped Jare.”
“That guy was not happy with you o. He refused to collect the gift. I told you he had a fractured leg.”
“That’s his problem. Who Kola help?” Lara said and laughed. She got up and dragged her bag to her door. She fumbled for the keys in her bag. She opened the door tiredly and sighed. Tolu was behind.
“This your room needs some cleaning.” Tolu said trying to suppress a frown as some dusts hit her nose.
“That will be later joor.”
“So what happened babe? From Nixon Hilton to Abuja?” Tolu asked.
” It is a long story babe. But let me tell you the gist. I know you can’t wait. I told you about Tony and his 32 million right? He came that afternoon and told me he was taking me to Nixon Hilton. I thought he was joking. We got there, ate and drank as much as we liked. Later I was drunk. He carried me to the room. I slept for some hours then woke up. Tony was nowhere. Music was still
playing in the bar. I got down and went there to sit. I just saw a man. He introduced himself as one of the aides of Honourable Jubril a member of the Parliament. He told me he would like me to join him over there. I didn’t hesitate. We began to eat and talk. He gave me his business card and asked me if I would like to visit him in Abuja. I thought he was joking. The next day he sent me a flight ticket. Tony and I were already making arrangement to return to school. I told him not to bother to drive me that I wanted to visit a family friend. He went his way. I called the Senator later that I got the flight ticket but the problem was that I didn’t come with my clothes. He told me that was not a problem. When I got to Abuja. He sent a Jeep to pick me. From the airport, I was driven to a boutique. I bought as many clothes as I wanted.”
“Who paid?” Tolu asked.
“The Honourable had already made arrangements for that. We got to his Mansion. There I spent few days, enjoying my life.” Lara concluded.
“And he slept with you the way he wanted.”
“He didn’t even touch me. I started my mens the next day. So he hated it. He told me not to worry. We only kissed and cuddled. When I was leaving, he wrote me a cheque of two million.”
“Jesus! Two million Lara without sex.”
“That’s big men for you. See seriously I am tired of all these play boys and broke men.”
“Hmmm. Two million.” Tolu echoed again in sheer surprise. “But you really need to go and see Kola.”
“Abeg leave Kola. Who he help” Lara frowned in disregard.
She began to undress herself. She wrapped herself later up with her towel and hurried off to the bathroom.
“I need a bath seriously.” Lara said as she hurried off. ” Will you wait?”
” I need to see Nnamdi off. We will talk about your cheque when I am back.” Tolu put in.
” We aren’t talking about anything.” Lara replied from within laughing. Tolu went away with Nnamdi her friend. Lara had her bath and came out. She made her bed and slept off for hours.
********
It was two’o clock in the afternoon. Tolu was on her bed reading when Lara stepped in. She looked sad. Tolu looked at her and smiled.
“Babe you are looking really fatter.”
“See I came to see you Tolu. I am worried. Since I came back I have been thinking.”
“What is the problem?” Tolu asked anxiously, sitting up on her bed.
“My mens, it refused to go.”
“Are you serious? When did it start?”
“It started on Monday when I left Lagos. It is six days now.”
“Does it happen like that before?” Tolu asked.
“Never.”
“I think it is all these beer and sugary things you took.”
” But that was not my first time of drinking heavily. Beside I haven’t taken any beer in two days now.”
“Just relax. It could be as a result of all those things you ate. It will go.”
“Are you sure? It has been three more days now Tolu.”
“Three more days? This is serious o. Let me ask, did you have sex with anyone during your trip?
“I didnt have sex with the Honourable I am sure of that. But the first and only night I spent with Tony I am not sure he did. I was drunk. But he couldn’t have had sex with me without my knowledge. No matter how drunk, I will know someone had penetrated me.”
“So nobody had sex with you during your trip?”
“No.” Lara answered. “But I had sex with Kola many times before I travelled.”
“We need to visit the school health centre then.”
“Please let’s go now. I am worried Tolu.” Lara said with a voice choked with tears.
Oh Lara! I have an exam tomorrow.I need to study”
“Tolu please I am worried!”
Tolu got up reluctantly. She pulled down her bum short and put on a mini skirt instead. She combed her hair and powdered her face. She locked her door later before they hurried off to the school clinic.
That is onething about not being contented. She would think she is slaying, enjoying herself. Now look at the consequences. Tolu thought. What would one think has happened to her? May be she has been used for ritual? Tolu panicked. It was unnatural to menstrate for a whole week. I have never heard it. She told herself and sighed anxiously. She hoped she would be fine.
They got to the school clinic and sat on the long bench that had a number of students who were also seated waiting to see the doctor. Lara saw few of her friends who asked her where she had been. She feigned a smile as she answered them. As she sat, many things crossed her mind. First of all, could she be pregnant? Does someone menstrate during pregnancy? Another thought countered. May be it was due to the dancing and drinking she had. She consoled herself. She wished the doctor could find a lasting solution to her problem. She really wished.
To be continued…..
© Emmanuel Erondu, 2019
