Vagrants

Chapter 28

I was washing the dishes while Abisola leaned on the wall, talking to me. She wanted to know everything about my trip to Abuja so I told her about the fun. I was stuttering as I spoke because I was seeing images of myself and Damba. Back then, I thought we'd be together forever. I thought no one could separate us. Even Folake thought so but right now, I was even scared as to how my life will turn out now that I'm no longer pure.

"That sounds fun! Why did you now say he abandoned you?" Abisola asked.

"Who abandoned who?"

My heart skipped a beat as I turned around to find Aunty Kemi standing by the door. I heaved a sigh of relief at first then I remembered Aunty Kemi never keeps her mouth shut so my heart started beating fast. I really hope she doesn't tell my mother anything.

"Bayo didn't pack everything." Aunty Kemi brought few plates and dropped them in the sink.

"Thank you ma."

"So who abandoned who?" She asked again.

I wasn't really close to her and I didn't trust her too. "Nobody ma."

"It's a lie. She said Damba abandoned her." And there was Abisola who talks to Aunty Kemi every now and then as though they were sisters.

"O to ni o." That's true. She sighed. "I even forgot to ask about him. How was your trip?"

"It was fine." I had to narrate the whole thing all over again to Aunty Kemi.

"Wow! Eku igbadun." Happy enjoyment.

"So why do you think he abandoned you after all that fun?" Aunty Kemi asked.

"Help me ask her oh." Abisola hissed.

"Oya answer now." Aunty Kemi stared at me. I was focused on the plates I was washing but I could feel her gaze on me.

I told them about the morning when Damba lied about going for a walk and how I didn't see him since then.

"Abi won ti kidnap e." Has he been kidnapped? Aunty Kemi joked and I realized I haven't thought about it. Why would they kidnap him anyway? He has muscles and he would be able to fight. And besides, my dream said he fled with that girl.

"No jare. I had a dream." I narrated it to her and she laughed.

"So you drew conclusions over a mere dream?"

I sighed. "God was trying to tell me..."

"The only reason you are believing this is if..." Abisola said.

"Se e ti do ara yin ni?" Have you guys had sex? Aunty Kemi asked.

I looked away.

"Adeola!" Aunty Kemi turned my face to her. "Iro ni." It's a lie.

Tears trickled down my face. Abisola walked towards me and patted me.

Aunty Kemi slapped her hand away. "So go ni? O do okunrin ti o ki n se oko e. Ki lo wa n be fun." Are you stupid? She slept with a guy that is not her husband. What are you patting her for?

"But Aunty Kemi, He said we were going to get married and..." I tried to defend myself.

Aunty Kemi slapped me. "Have you now gotten married? Ma je ko gbo oh?" Don't let them hear it.

Aunty Kemi looked around. "Let's go inside. The walls have ears."

They assisted me in washing all the plates and we quickly left the kitchen.

*

"Walahi, Adeola mi o mo pe o go to yi sha." I swear by God, Adeola I didn't know that you're this stupid. Aunty Kemi said after we walked into my room.

"He...He said he'd marry me and you people approved." I sniffed.

"Abisola. Tilekun yen." Close that door. Aunty Kemi faced me. "You're the most stupid and naïve person I've ever seen in my life."

"Aunty Kemi..."

"Shut up! O dun mo e abi?" It was sweet to you, right? Aunty Kemi hissed. "You were pretending as if you're an holy girl that you didn't like boys in your university days but this is your true color."

"How many times did you do it?" Abisola asked.

"Iwo na fe se abi?" You also want to do it? Aunty Kemi shook her head.

"P-plenty times." I was ashamed of myself.

"Ahh! Adeola ti pa mi." Adeola has killed me. Aunty Kemi held my shoulder and shook me.

"Ahh! Iru omo wo leleyi? Iya e o ma gbodo gbo." Which kind of child is this? Your mother must not hear oh.

"Aunty Kemi, please help me." I cried.

"You didn't know you'd need help when you opened your legs for him to enter abi?" Aunty Kemi hissed. "Oya start reminiscing the sweetness of that day."

Abisola sighed. "Aunty Kemi please. Help her. Help us."

Aunty Kemi hissed. "E ma gboro." Listen to what she said. "I should help you. The two of you are stupid."

Abisola knelt down. "If you don't help us and everyone turns their backs, how will she live?"

"Ahh!" Aunty Kemi bit her index finger. "Better look for somebody that will marry you because if the whole world finds out what you did, you're in trouble."

"Aye mi ti baje, Aye mi ti baje oh!" My life is ruined. I cried.

"O se n mo iyen ni?" Are you just realizing? Aunty Kemi hissed.

"What should we do?" Abisola asked.

"We would hide it ni." Aunty Kemi sighed. "And if she falls pregnant, she will have to abort it before anyone finds out."

"But I'm a Christian..." I started to say.

"You didn't know that when you decided to..." Aunty Kemi raised her hand to slap me.

Abisola stopped her. "If you keep beating her, how will she cope with the beatings she would receive from Mother?"

"How will your mother know? Will you tell her?" Aunty Kemi asked.

"No ma."

"Then keep quiet." Aunty Kemi looked at me. "You're a disgrace!"

With that she hissed and left the room. I wanted to hug Abisola and cry but she walked away.

"Don't think I'm happy with you because I supported you." Abisola hissed. "I just pitied you ni."

"Th-Thank you."

"Do you know you'd put me in trouble because we are twins? They'd say that we are the same thing." Abisola hissed and went to bed.