The Truth About Mariam

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Chapter Three‡

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It was official. Mariam wasn't a lesbian, rather she was really friendly.

After  out from the library, I saw her in the chemistry lab and she waved at me and I went to her.

We talked for a little while.

She is a Muslim and also the only child and she's in the science department.

Turns out she likes the color black, so do I.

We exchanged numbers, but I could tell something wasn't really well with her but I didnt want to ask.

Whenever I brought up the school,her face looks pale for a bit, and she changes the subject.

I finally made a friend on my first day in this big school.

While we were talking and she rolled her sleeves up, i noticed she had bruises on  her arm and they looked fresh, they were red.

I didnt say anything or ask her about it.

School was finally over, we closed at 2.

I took out 200 naira from my purse as i looked for a vehicle to transport me back home.

I found a bike and the mallam said 150 at first, I bargained it down to 100 and he agreed.

I closed the door and sighed.

I placed my bag on the chair as I removed my shoes.

I was bored, I switched the tv on, nothing interesting.

I went to my room, I removed my uniform and kept it in the laundry bag.

My phone lit up ,it was a call from Mariam. I picked it up immediately "Hey"

"How're you, gotten home yet?

"I"m good, yeah, like an hour ago, how about you?"

" I don't want to go home"

"Why...?"

" I just don't want to." Her voice was so off and I wondered what's happening to her.

"You have to go home at a point in time you know "

" I won't. They beat me at home Asake"

" This is Nigeria, parents surely beat their children, not a surprise there"

"I thought I finally found a friend but turns out you don't understand." And she cuts the call.

I tried calling her again but her line wasn't reachable.

I was worried. I just knew her for a day, so why should I care about her whereabouts or anything.

Something wasn't right.

The following day, Mariam was absent in school.

I still tried calling her, the same message earlier. Nothing. And I don't know her house or any of her family members.

It continued like this for a week. No signs of Mariam. No one knew where she was. But her parents assured the teachers that she was fine, and that was all what they said.

The days continued to pass. Monday,Tuesday, Wednesday,Thursday, Friday,Saturday,Sunday.

I went to school,church,did my homework and my normal routine and tried to stay patient.

It was on a Monday when i was coming out of the library that a hand dragged me.

It was Mariam. I didnt see her attend class, neither come to school.

I looked for scratches or bruises or signs of sickness or anything on her face and body but none apart from the toothy grin on her face.

I stared at her as she unlocked her phone and showed me pictures of her with a man in the picture.

I asked her the first thing that came to my mind. " Who's that?"

She blushed and covered her face with her hands " He's my boyfriend."

I looked at the picture again, that man seems old enough to be her father or uncle, there's no way he can be her boyfriend.

" He doesn't look like a boyfriend material or is he your sugar daddy?"

Her smile turned to a frown immediately i said that. "Of course not, I love him and he loves me too."

" So does your parent know about this relationship?"

" They do, they are in support of it sef."

I was confused. Was she was playing games with me..?

I never asked her again after that, so I kept quiet.  But although my silence was ensured, it didn't apply to the rest of the school.

When Mariam came to school the next day,  questions were asked and the story of her reappearance had her at the height of her high school fame.

"We thought someone was holding you hostage or something" Hillary said.  Mariam and i were standing by her locker the morning of her return to school.

Hillary was really a nice guy, we got to know each other better and became friends  he was just a flirt.

Mariam laughed turning her back in the conversation to open her locker. "Seriously?    That's what you guys thought?.  I just visited one of my relatives, it was urgent and unexpected".

She left out the older guy as her boyfriend.

" The teachers were worried also, Everyone was , you know you're loved by many in this school" Hilary insisted.

Mariam nodded her head and gave us a wry smile as she shut her locker.

Hillary and I exchanged glances, I shrugged.