LIFE OF US

EPISODE 7

KATE’S POV…
I have never thought that love life will be such an amazing thing till I agreed to try it out with Steve. Even though our relationship is still hidden, Steve always tries his possible best to take care of me. He will do everything he can to make me happy. I suddenly realized that I have been missing a lot all these while. It’s true that hanging on in the past will never do any good. I sighed deeply as I leaned on the bed thinking about my experience. Let me tell you about my worst experience with men…
My name is Kate Johnson. I am a native of Enugu state but brought up in Kano state where my father has his business going on. I had my primary and secondary education there in Kano state along with my sister. Everything was going very well as we enjoyed living in the northern part of the country. The culture, people, marketing skills and traditions of the people is really interesting. We made a lot of friends that turned in to families.  My family’s business is moving so well and everyone wants to be close to us.
It was an unfortunate Friday when we resumed from school after writing our final WAEC exams when we met our father together with his friends drinking and jubilating. We greeted them and proceeded into the house just to meet our mother crying. She hugged my sister tightly. I already knew what was going on because a few of my friends has experienced that. But I never thought our father will also be a part of that. We were still young when my sister was married to a man of almost 50years. My mother was really mad but she couldn’t do anything. No one would listen to her because in this era, women are voiceless.
After about a year of Judith’s wedding to Malam Bukar, she died during child labor. We cried our hearts out but my father was not regretting it. I knew all along that this will surely happen. A lot of young girls less than the age of 15 experience this which results to death or health challenges. After a few month of Judith’s death, my father came with the request of offering me out to Malam Bukar on the second time. That was when we realized that he was only doing such for the benefits of his business.
My mother and I couldn’t take the betrayal and we had to fight my dad over that. My parents got divorced in the court; thank God their wedding was a court wedding so they had to share all their properties. That was how we left Kano state back to Enugu. Since then, my phobia for men begins.
I was still on the bed when Steve came into the room. He climbed on the bed and cuddled me, wrapping his hands around me so tight that I was breathing slowly. “What are you up to Steve, I am getting ready to leave.” I said trying to free myself from his tight grab. He groaned silently. “Can you just allow me to stay like this for a while?” He said as he started placing a kiss on my neck. I giggled a bit. “Common Steve. I still have to explain to the girls my reason of staying out late. I don’t want them to be suspicious of me.” I said looking worried.
He quickly sat up and adjusted himself; he folded his arms and faced me. “About your friends Kate, when will you announce to them officially that we are a couple? I am tired of hiding this. I want to show you out there to everyone. I want to walk around with you feeling proud.” He said looking at me as he grabbed my hands. I sighed deeply as I stare at him for a while. I know it’s his right to publicize the relationship since I have already accepted him, but I am not ready to face my home girls with that. “About that Steve, can you please give me more time? I am happy the way we are now. I am not yet ready to spill this out. Can you just hang on for a while? For my sake. Please Steve?” I pleaded looking at him.
He sighed and hugged me tightly. “Its fine Kate, you don’t have to be worried. I understand you and I am willing to wait till the time you are ready.” He said still hugging me. “Thank you Steve. I am really grateful.” I replied with a smile. He hugged me tightly again for a while before releasing me.  “So have you planned out your birthday party yet? What help can I offer?” He asked looking at me. I giggled and adjusted myself. “Oh common Steve, you have given me enough money already, I think that should be okay.” I said picking up my phone as it was ringing. “My ride is here already, I should be going.” I said as I picked up my bag and leave. He walked me to the gate and kissed me while I entered the car and take off.
YESMIN’S POV…
“What?” I shouted as I was speaking to Jide on the phone. “Yeah, I am in Lagos and I want to visit you in the hostel.” He said with a straight voice. I was sweating already hearing what he said. “But... But it’s not month end. Besides, I am writing exams, I don’t want any distractions.” I stammered while complaining. He giggled a bit. “It’s just a harmless visit Yesmin. Don’t panic already.” He said and hangs up the call as I was about speaking. Jenny and Mars were already staring at me as I was talking to Jide on Phone. “What is going on Yesmin? Mars asked looking at me with a confused face.” I quickly stood up and started clearing the room. “What is going on Yesmin? You are scaring us already.” Jenny asked curiously.
I sighed as I removed the large portrait of CARDI-B beside my bed. “My fiancé is in Lagos and he is visiting me right away.” I replied still trying to make the room look more decent. They quickly stood up in shock and begin parking with me. “But Jide normally comes by month end, why does he suddenly want to come over?” Mars asked curiously. I continued tiding up the room and quickly changed into a long gown. “Who knows why he is coming. It’s just a casual visit as he said.” I replied as I picked up my phone. He was already at my hostel gate so I quickly went out to pick him. My apartment is not actually a school hostel; just a student’s building outside the school so males are allowed in the female’s houses and vice versa.
We walked to my apartment and met my girls already on the study table. They greeted him and faced back their books. He looked around the room and smiled for a while. His eyes landed on a literature note on the table. “I thought you study nursing? What are you using a literature text book for?” He asked giving me a suspicious look. I began sweating. I totally forgot about that part. I actually lied that I was studying literature. Writing has always been my passion and my family has always wanted me to be a nurse. “Shit! What am I going to do about that?” I asked myself as I was still sweating seriously.  Jide was still looking at me, waiting for an answer when jenny turned quickly. “Oh, that was my book, I forgot it on Yesmin’s bed earlier.” She said collecting the book. Jide smiled and hand me a bag of chocolates and other stuffs.
He was about leaving when Kate jumped into the room with a mini gown, shouting and singing. I was frozen because jide was already suspicious. I totally forgot she wasn’t home. “I will surely kill this BITCH!” I murmured. “666!” Mars said trying to read a book. Kate understands that it’s a code so she acted accordingly. “Girls, can I borrow a mop?” She asked. Jenny offered her the broom and she left the room immediately. Jide was giving me a weird look with an awkward smile. “Oh, that’s our neighbor.” I said looking awkward. He smiled and head out of the apartment. I sighed deeply and leaned on the bed. I am not sure whether Jide is suspecting me but I don’t feel good about his visits and the suspicious looks on his face.
JIDE’S POV…
I smiled as I sit in the car. “So how long are you going you keeping on lying Yesmin?” I said with a smile on my face. I am sure that textbook was hers and that lady wasn’t her neighbor. She is definitely her roommate because there were four beds in the room. “Let’s see what your party looks like. I will surely burst you out!” I said as I drive out my car.
JENNY’S POV…
We were seated in the exams hall after writing a paper, everyone was complaining about how hard the exams was when the class representative came in with bunch of papers. “Hey guys, these are your assignment scripts from Mr. Greg.” He said and everyone started rushing to get theirs.  I was shocked when I opened mine. I didn’t score that much but the note under the score caught my attention. ”Thank you Jenifer, and lets hangout some time. I have an explanation for you.” That was written on the small card I found inside my script.
I slowly picked the card and stare at it for a while. It’s Greg’s card. I smiled and throw the card into my purse as we all walked out of the hall. As we were on our way out of the campus, I sighted Greg in his car; he smiled and waved at me with his lips moving. I am sure he was saying thank you again. I smiled and waved back at him. “He is not a bad guy as I thought.” I said to myself as I proceeded home…