Vagrants

Chapter 40

The next week wasn't favorable for me. Cassandra's room mate returned and the moment she walked in was the beginning of my misery.

"Ehn? Oloyun? Nibi?" A pregnant woman? Here? She hissed and said after seeing my things on her bed. "Ehn? O tun sun lori bed mi?" She even slept on my bed?

"Good evening."

"Eyin na Good evening." Good evening to you too! She started throwing my things out of her bed, I wanted to retaliate when she pulled her bedsheet with two fingers and she held her nose as though I was a disgusting person but I kept my cool. Cassandra told me her Father passed away so I understood she was just cranky.

"W-Why are you throwing my things?" I asked, hoping she won't yell at me.

"Egbami." Come to my aid. She clapped her hands mockingly as though she was dusting dirt off it. "Ashawo ko ni e ni?" Are you not a prostitute?

"No. I was posted to teach at..."

"Ode. That's not what I asked you." Idiot. She hissed. "Do you have a man in your life?"

"No, but I..."

"Then you're an Ashawo."

"Please don't call me that." My voice shook.

"Why? You didn't know that's what people like you are called?" She eyed me.

"I didn't sell my body for sex."

She rolled her eyes. "Did he buy you any material things or give you money?"

I nodded.

"Then you're an Ashawo."

I turned to Cassandra who stood there trying to figure out whether to support me or get on the good side of her friend.

Cassandra saw me and sighed, her eyes begging for forgiveness.

I bent to pack my stuff which her roommate threw in anger.

"No." Cassandra stopped me and helped me pick up my things.

In short, she helped me pack everything into my bag as though she was chasing me out herself.

"Thank you." I managed to say. "For letting me stay and for chasing me out too."

As if she didn't hear the bitterness in my voice when I said 'Chasing me out', She smiled and said I was Welcome. I was losing it and wanted to say something to her but she shut the door in my face as I was standing outside.

I waited a while and I heard the two of them speak.

"Cassie. Mi o like ikan to se now. Bawo lo se ma je ki oloyun wo inu bi?" Cassie. I don't like what you did now. How would you let a pregnant woman walk in here? The roommate hissed.

"I'm sorry. She came here begging for help saying she's poor and has nowhere to go." I heard Cassandra say and I got angry.

At first, when Cassandra was quiet, I thought she was probably scared of her friend and she was trying to impress her so I didn't get angry. But this got me angry. So she is painting me a beggar and helpless person just because I needed shelter for the time-being? It was because of the exams. I actually have a place to stay!

*

I walked out of the compound and unto the streets with my bag, handbag and phone. I started scrolling through my contact list, looking for who to call. Then, I thought of Remi. I don't know why I didn't even call her since when I knew she actually did live in Lekki instead of Cassandra who I barely knew.

I called Remi's phone and I was glad it rang. I knew she'd definitely help me. After a while of ringing, the call dropped.

I called again and she dropped the call. I was confused. I checked my phone, turned the back and front to be sure I'm using the same phone I've been using. I thought it popped on her screen as unknown number that's why she dismissed the call.

Remi has never hung up on me even if I've not spoken to her in a long while. She's probably angry that I've not called her since and like the Remi that I knew, she'd hang up and let me call her for a while before she picks and tell me I've offended her.

So I called again. This happened a few more times before she finally picked. I knew Remi would surely pick.

"Remi, my friend." I started reciting her eulogy.

"What do you want?" I found this strange but ignored it.

"How are you and everyone?" I asked.

"What's your business with me and my family?" Her tone was very serious and harsh so I couldn't ignore.

"I'm very sure I've offended you this bad for you to be..."

Remi hung up. I was surprised.

I called again and she picked it.

"Can't you tell that I don't want to talk to you? You've been disturbing my phone with your calls."

"Since when have my calls been disturbing?" I sighed. "I even thought it was because I didn't call you for a while."

"Kilo kan mi pelu yen?" What's my business with that? She hissed. "To ba pe ma pe now, amo mi o kin ba Oloyun oniranu soro." If you didn't call, I'd have called. But I don't talk to promiscuous pregnant women.

I was shocked. This was my best friend that we both went to the same school and served at the same camp. "Oniranu? It was only Damba now. And don't people sleep with their boyfriends?" Promiscuous?

"You're right. People do it but that doesn't mean you should and besides, if you used condom you won't get pregnant and I wouldn't fear people saying that I'm interacting with a pregnant woman." Remi hissed.

"You don't have to talk to me. I just need a place to stay. You see, I stay in Ikeja and the school I was posted to..."

"What's my business? You didn't hear ni? I can't interact with a pregnant woman!" She yelled, obviously disgusted by my voice.

"But..."

"Iwo Ashawo yii. Ja kuro lori phone mi." You this prostitute! Get off my phone.

And with that, She hung up. I just couldn't believe that my best friend called me a prostitute, refused to help me when I needed her the most and hung up on me!

It was disheartening. She wasn't really my friend after all. I was mistaken.

I was scared and it was late. I stood on the streets of Lekki, helplessly, my legs aching from standing too long.

Only God's intervention could help my current state. But God is angry with me for fornication. If God has forgiven me, then I'll get help. If not, I'll be left alone here, stranded.