BACK STABBED BY A HOOD

THE START OF ANOTHER JOURNEY

***
'This is really good. What's the flavour?'

'Strawberry with vanillised mango.'
Trying not to laugh, I managed to say.

'Couldn't it just be vanilla and mango.'

'Nope, then it won't have the flavour but it called 'vanillised mango', then that's the real deal.'

Most times after classes, I spend time with Adams. He is kinda fun. My instincts about him the first day was kinda awkward but these few weeks, he's been nothing but a sweet gentleman. However my instincts are never wrong but it's about time they be, I guess. Adventure all the way.

'Umm, mmm,mmm.' Jemzy clears her throat.
'Madam fresh legs, you're back. Have you seen the time?'

I glanced at the clock and I'm like whaaat. Adam's really is getting the best of me.

'So what's going on?. You and this guy a thing? '

'Nope just friends' I'm wearing the serious look.

'You stay out late with a male "friend"...K.'

'I'm tired okay, morrow?'

One late night, I was out with Adams as usual. Not knowing that night was going to be a game changer.

'Jas, he says. I have...well you're someone I'd like to know more. These past few weeks has been a blessing to me. You've made me smile. I can't even remember the last time that happened. To cut the chase...I like you and would want you to be my girlfriend.'

I'm shocked. My lips pressed against each other with my eyes wide open. I take a step back.

'The thing is...well...I'll think about it.'

'You don't feel the same way about me?'

'No, it's not that. I'm not ready for a relationship but I promise you I'd think about it.'

He's speechless for a while. I can't read his expression. I'm getting a cold feeling about this.

Then he says 'ok'.

'Ok?'

'Ok.'

He just said a damn 'ok' after what I said. No 'take your time', 'can we still be friends?'. None of that.

'Is that all?'

'Yeah or do you want me to say something else?'

'No. Nah. I'll just be going.'

As I turn to walk away, different questions come to my head. 'Should I have said that?', 'Should I turn back and say "yes". I didn't make a wrong choice?

I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn't realize it was getting darker. The cold was so abrupt, it gave me a shiver. Goosebumps all over!

It was getting like a horror movie. 'How did I pass this place before?'

'Is this the right direction? Campus isn't supposed to be far from here, is it?' Bats stare at me, from the trees.

I remembered Mrs Olaletan's, the school's vice chancellor, article: 'One day at work, you look across the streets to see a hooded figure in a black coat pointing directly at you. What do they want? What do you do?'. She based it on the recent mishaps by the hood, a brotherhood.

But in this scenario, I'm not at work. I'm on the streets.

'Hh,..' I took in a deep breath.

'Yeah, yes'. I say trying to calm myself down. Telling myself I am on the right path.

'No, no'. But I could not. The thoughts of it all terrified me as I repetitively thought about it.

I was on the streets...but now I'm here, this bushy pathway nobody dares passes. Should I even call it a bush?. It's more like a forest.'

'I'm cold, I'm cold'. I say shivering as I forgot to wear a hoodie.

'Who's there? Show yourselves. I'm armed and if you come any closer, you'd be dead meat'. Trying to get a hold of myself.

I see a figure in hood, dressed in black, I can't make out his gender. 'Haa, argh, what's that? Please, don't hurt me, ple...as...e.'

Next thing I know I hear a sharp loud sound in my brain. I have been hit on the head, by who?...

Aahh, it hurts. Where am I?. Why is it dark?.

'Heee...lp.'

What am I even doing?. No one can aid me. I must get out of here first before I figure out what is going on.

'We use the girl.'

'I just suggest we kill her.'

'Quiet both of you, I'll suggest what we do to her.'

Han...people.(I listen to their chatters).

'The boss says to keep her alive.'

'But he didn't say, we couldn't cut her. I mean like a small piece of her, tiny itsy bit.'

I show some sign of relief. 'Zainab...Oh my God it's Zainab. I didn't think she'll come rescue me. But...wait...she just said...haah. No it can't be, I must be hallucinating.'

'Bring her!'

They're coming...people are coming. They barge in, drag me up, well after I was being tied. 'What do you want with me, please'. Putting on the pretty face, hoping they would show mercy.

'Han, the lady of the day is here.'

Isn't that?. Han...what the? 'Adams?'

'Hey babe. I apologize for the rough handling. Really I do. It just had to be done, you get.'

'You're sick. Hen, what a psychopath! I say No and you're...han...you really are crazy.'

'I tell him that all the time but he doesn't believe me. Now an outsider has told him.'

'Zainab?'

'Sweetheart.'

'Are you...no...no!. It can't be...I refuse!. I'm dreaming, it cannot happen.'

'Keep dreaming babe.'

'All this years, everything!'

'Hola, Jasmine. Quite a while.'

'Jemzy?...I must be dead. Probably gone. I can't take this! I can't accept this! The hood...you guys are the hood. I...I.'

I faint.That was it. Jasmine has been living a lie. I have been living a lie.