Read previous episodeThe last time I had a physical conversation with my friends was during the retreat three weeks ago. We lived in different cities and met few times in a year during family occasions and our quarterly retreat. Though we couldn't meet as often as we used to back in school, our constant chats and conference calls on WhatsApp made up for the distance.
We hardly do normal network calls so I was surprised when my phone rang that morning and the caller ID showed Kyrian.
"Guy, how far. I spoke into the receiver
"I dey o, how your side"
"Very well, this one wey you dey call me this morning, any news"
"Not really, I just wanted to check on you"
"Hian, since when that one start"
"Oga shift, because I say make I check on you this morning, you wan come dey feel important"
"Yes na"
"Dey there dey whine yourself. The thing is, you've been on my mind since I woke up this morning. I texted you on WhatsApp but you haven't been online so I decided to call. Hope you're fine"
"Yes, I'm fine o. I turned off my data to enable me to read without distractions. I still have so much to cover and you know the PG entrance exam is next month. Aside from that everything is alright, no worries. How's Enugu treating you"
"Enugu is fine. You'll be home the whole day studying abi you dey comot."
"I'll be indoors for most of the day, but I'll go out later in the evening to see Mela"
"Mela? The girl from the wedding, right?
"Yes we've been chatting"
"Ah-ahh! Give me gist na"
"Nothing is going on between us. She's a nice person and very boxed up too but she's not our kind."
"Obviously she's not. Just be careful"
"Alright bro, thanks for the call"
The call ended and I went back to my studies
***
"How far, I've been expecting to hear from you"
"I'm so sorry dear, work has been quite tasking today"
"Oh, sorry about that. Are we still meeting today"
"Sure, but it will be a bit later than planned. My hair bundles just arrived and I'll have to stop by the airport to pick them up. But I should be done latest at 6pm. Hope you don't mind."
"It's no problem at all. Go and attend to business, the money is important."
"Abi now" she replied laughing "thanks for understanding" she continued.
"You're welcome"
"See you soon"
"Alright" I replied ending the call. I now had an hour to kill before meeting with Mela. I had spent almost the entire day reading and needed a break. One hour of gaming sounded like a good idea so I headed to the living room to get on with it.
***
"I'm close to your junction, start coming out" the SMS read
My phone's vibration had forced me to look away from the TV screen for the first time.
"What!!!!" I screamed dropping my pad.
"What's the problem, Nate?" Mum asked stepping out of the kitchen as she heard my shout."
"I didn't know time had gone this far" I replied.
"Is that why you screamed like that? Please don't give high blood pressure before my time" she scolded.
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to scare you. It's just that I was supposed to meet a friend earlier, I didn't know the time had gotten to 6:30pm"
"When you'll put your entire being into a game, how will you know the time" she hissed and went back into the kitchen.
I hurriedly put away my gaming equipment and headed out.
It was 6:45pm by the time I got to the junction and Mela was already waiting.
"I'm so sorry I kept you waiting," I apologized as soon as I got into the car.
"What happened"
"Nothing o, I was already dressed when I called you earlier so I had extra time on my hands when we rescheduled. I decided to pass the time with PS4, and I don't even know how time flew so fast."
"No problems, so where are we going"
"Oh, I thought you had that planned out"
"No, I was too busy to plan anything."
"Ndo, anywhere is okay as long as their shawarma is good.
"You're just so strange, see me thinking that the shawarma craze was reserved for the female gender," she said laughing
"Because na only them get mouth to chop better thing abi"
"Before nko" she replied still laughing. "How about we go grab shawarma, ice cream, and popcorn and then head to my place for gist and movies."
"Doesn't sound bad at all. But you know I won't be able to stay long because it's already getting late."
"I know, so...."
"I'm in, let's do that"
We got the shawarma and went to Mela's place.
Mela lived at Federal Housing Estate, Egbeada; the part of town reserved for the elites. Her one-bedroom apartment had all the markings of her upper-middle-class financial status. I was more than impressed.
"Welcome to my house"
"Your humble abode abi" I replied making quotation marks with my fingers.
"Nollywood cliché that year, thank God we've grown past that" she responded chuckling.
"The thing became annoyingly boring at some point, I wonder how they did not realise that."
"You're talking as if they properly edit their movies those days" switching on the TV as she spoke
"Here," she said handing me the remote. "Make yourself comfortable, I'll be out shortly" she continued going into the house.
I scrolled through the channel list, switching from channel to channel absentmindedly as I waited for her to come. She came out a few minutes later holding a tray and two plastic spoons. She had changed into shorts and a tank top.
"Still not found a channel to watch," she asked as she laid out our meal on the tray and sat beside me on the sofa placing the tray on her lap.
"Not yet" I replied turning to pick shawarma from the tray.
She took the remote from me and settled for African Magic Family where the "My siblings and I" series was being aired. I had not seen any episode of the series so she explained the plot to me as we ate.
When we finished eating, she placed the tray on the centre table, moved closer to me, and placed her head on my shoulder. I had not been that close to a female in nearly seven years and I felt my body react as she caressed my arms.
"What are you doing?" I asked removing her hand.
"I want you"
"You know you can't have me, we've talked about this."
"Just this once please" she pleaded.
"No please, I can't"
"Okay, I get it, no sex but we could cuddle."
I was quiet.
"Nate, I had a very stressful day today, please just see it as you helping me relieve the stress" she continued.
I knew I had to leave but a war of voices was going on in my head.
"You have to leave this place," the still small voice said.
"No you can't go, it will be harsh of you to do so. The girl is just stressed what's the big deal in cuddling with her" the other voice admonished loudly.
"I don't know how to cuddle" I replied to her.
"You know that's not true," she said looking at me like a hurting child, her hands were back on my arms.
I should be able to handle this since it's just to cuddle. If I leave her now she'd be hurt and it'll probably affect her self-esteem. I'll just cuddle her for a few minutes until she's relieved and then I'll leave. I reasoned to myself.
"Alright, just cuddling" I replied
We laid side by side on the sofa, her hands wrapped around me. My body reacted widely, things I haven't felt for years resurfaced and I fought hard to retain control. Then she kissed me and I lost all sense of control. I returned the kiss and my hands were beginning to wander when like one bitten by a scorpion, I snapped into my senses and pulled away from her.
"I'm so sorry Mela, I didn't mean for it to go that far" I apologized standing up from the sofa with speed.
"Why are you trying to spoil things, I thought we were both enjoying it," she said sitting up
"I can't do this please, I have to go now, I'm sorry for starting something I can't finish"
"Please don't go, Nate, please" she pleaded, pulling off her tank top as she came towards me.
I moved away from her, averting my eyes at the sight of her bare body.
She came after me, holding on to my hands.
"Please, Nate don't look away, just touch me, that's all I'm asking."
"I can't please, just let me go" I pleaded.
"Okay, just three minutes, please. I promise it won't go beyond that" she begged, dragging my hand towards her chest.
"No, please no" I replied pulling myself free from her hold and racing towards the door.
She looked at me silently for a while and then came to let me out.
"I'm sorry about everything," I said as she opened the door.
She made no reply but immediately I stepped out of the door she held onto my hand attempting to pull me back in. I wrestled myself free from her and walked out of the compound as fast as my leg could carry me.
***
I had to find my way home that night. I was grateful I had come out with enough money for my fare.
I was trembling when I got home. I went straight to bed but I could not sleep. My mind messed with me playing images of what might have happened if I had stayed back. I felt I had wronged her by getting her aroused and leaving her high and dry.
I tried to pray but the words would not come, I just kept mumbling "Jesus, help me."
The loud voice tormented me incessantly. "You're a wicked person, see how you left her hurting upon all her begging. You know how vulnerable ladies are and you got her stirred up and left her like that. Where is your love for your neighbour? Couldn't you have just sacrificed your principles and satisfy her emotional needs? Is that not what love does? Or did you not see in your Bible that love is not self-seeking?"
I couldn't shut out the voice, it went on and on and drowned my reasoning until I made up my mind to call her the next morning and do whatever she required of me to make it up no matter what she demanded.
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