FALLING IN LOVE IS A CRIME

VICIOUS AND INCORRUPTIBLE

    As Jacob locked eyes with Alexa, he felt a sense of exoneration course through his veins. As he settled into his seat in the visitation room, his gaze was fixated on Alexa. While he couldn’t fathom how she survived, he was grateful he didn’t lose his dear friend to the cold hands of death.
    “Hey… Is it who I think it is?” Jacob stammered.
Alexa chuckled and said, “It’s Alexa; risen from the dead, literally.”
“How? When did you wake up?” Jacob asked.
“A week ago,” Alexa answered.
“I thought you were not going to make it. It’s been over two months, Alexa,” Jacob said.
“Yeah, I know. Your sister filled me in,” Alexa sniffed, trying to hold back her tears. “I’m really sorry for getting you into this,” Alexa apologized.
“You didn’t do anything. This was clearly my fault. If only I understood Jessica’s statement, I could have averted all the problems she caused,” Jacob said.
“Itohan told me it’s a lifetime sentence.”
“Yeah, something like that. I really wish I could take my own life. It’s not easy for me here. I get beaten by my fellow prisoners, the food here is disgusting, and I don’t really get to do anything,” Jacob sobbed.
“My dad offered your sister some help. He has some connections and they’ve been doing their findings vigorously. They believe the Oladapo’s didn’t do this with their own hands; we believe they hired someone. If we can get the person, we can set you free.”
Jacob scoffed.
“What is it? Aren’t you hopeful?” Alexa questioned.
“You all should stop wasting your time, I don’t believe we can win a war against that family. I’m just waiting for these people to beat me to death one day,” Jacob answered.
    Alexa extended her hand across the table and touched Jacob’s hands. “Jacob, you’re going to get out of here. I don’t care how long it’s going to take, but the Oladapo’s will definitely suffer for their crimes,” Alexa assured.
Jacob sighed, bowed his head, and said, “Thank you so much for everything. Help me thank your family too. I know I was a jerk, but please, find somewhere in your heart to forgive me,” Jacob pleaded.
“Everyone has forgiven you, Jacob… Including me. Osas sends his greetings too,” Alexa said.
“Did he call you?”
“Yeah, he has been out of the country for some time. He said he will visit you when he gets back to Lagos.”
“Tell him thank you, for me. I really appreciate it,” Jacob expressed his gratitude.
“Let’s go,” the warden alarmed Jacob.
    Jacob greeted Alexa goodbye and followed his warden back to his cell.

    “I’ve been watching you for some time now. You don’t look like someone who can kill a chicken,” Jacob’s cellmate, Gideon, said.
“So you’ve been watching them beat me all this while so you can confirm whether I am a killer?” Jacob said.
“You could put it that way,” Gideon answered.
    Jacob scoffed and rubbed his palms together.
    “Now that I’ve confirmed the type of person you are, those morons won’t touch you again,” Gideon assured.
“Cause you’re like what? Angel Michael?” Jacob retorted.
“Ever wondered why I hardly talk around here?” Gideon asked.
“I don’t care,” Jacob said as he lay down on his bed to take a nap.
    Gideon looked at him and chuckled.

    Inside the prison walls, Gideon commanded immense respect. Not only did he have the respect of all the prisoners, he was feared.
    Gideon spent his first two years in prison beating up prisoners that dared him. He once had an ordeal with a prisoner that led to the utter disability of the latter. After that event, Gideon’s words were like thunder- having a striking effect immediately.
    The eight years he had spent in prison completely changed the type of man he was. His nature exuded hostility and only welcomed a few people he trusted.


    By 10am the next day, the whole prisoners were gathered in the prison yard and a new personality stood before everyone.
    “Greetings, everyone. My name is Paul Adesanya and I will be your new warden. The state has received multiple reports concerning the malicious acts the last warden permitted within these walls and for that reason, he was suspended,” the new personality introduced and murmurs resonated throughout the yard.
    “Quiet!” the warden yelled. “I’m about to bring a change to these walls. Whether it will be positive or negative, depends on you. I’m an astute personality and I refuse to be a part of any perverse activity that will detriment the life of any prisoner. And please, don’t be on my bad side; there’s nothing good about it.”
    Jacob locked eyes with Gideon and they both nodded. Now, Jacob had the protection of two personalities; Gideon, the vicious prisoner and Paul, the incorruptible warden.

    The next month was Lagos’ gubernatorial election. While the election had a lot of candidates contesting, two reputable figures; Gbenga Oladapo and Joshua Adetayo; had the heart of the masses. These two personalities were rivals and their families were the most revered in the state. The only reason why the Oladapo’s had not put the Adetayo’s in a deplorable state was because of the money and influence the Adetayo’s commanded.
    The gubernatorial election determined the family that was going to remain in affluence as the state government had the power to impose rules that will dramatically affect companies and industrialists within the state. The Oladapo’s were impenitent and vicious; ready to do any perverse thing to take power. The Adetayo’s, on the other hand, believed in the law and were patiently waiting for the Oladapo’s to make a mistake.