Vagrants

Chapter 44

I went home during the next weekend. I had to take some stuff and I needed a break from that austere resident in Lekki.

Aunty Kemi was the only one who welcomed me. The rest of them including the new tenants were just nonchalant about my presence. Abisola was still in school while Bayo was out with his friends. I had arrived in the afternoon after everyone had, had lunch. Aunty Kemi offered to cook for me but I told her I was fine.

She followed me to my room and stared at me for a long time before she said. "How are you?"

"You've already asked me now. I said I'm fine." I sighed, sitting on the bed and dumping my bag in a corner.

"People were around then. Now tell me." She sat down. "How are you coping with your condition?"

"I don't know jare." I hissed. "I wish I didn't tell you about it."

"Why?"

"Because you wouldn't have had to punish me and I wouldn't have fainted."

"How is that...?"

"Because I fainted, Mother found out and I lost a good chance of abortion." I hissed.

"So you want to blame me now?"

"Who else?"

"Why didn't you say something like you shouldn't have met Damba or you shouldn't have allowed him to sweep you off your feet?" Aunty Kemi shook her head.

"I didn't allow him to sweep me off my feet. In fact, I never allowed anyone to do so. I think Damba used charm on me."

"What else will you say? Be looking for who or what to blame there." Aunty Kemi hissed.

"Tell me why a whole me couldn't even ask him questions about himself. Me that I'm always inquisitive, why didn't I ask? Damba charmed me jare."

"What questions do you have for him?"

"I don't know his real names, his family, where he is from, why he chose to use me instead of other girls that were dying for him, why he betrayed me, how he managed to fool my family too."

"You need the answers to these questions?" She asked.

I nodded. "I don't even know one single thing. I asked him for his name and he didn't even tell me. He just said 'you heard them' like I should call him what the rest were calling him."

My voice shook and I tried really hard not to cry.

Aunty Kemi patted me. "I'm sure you've learnt your lesson now."

"Yes. Ordinary what happened to me last week was more than enough lesson to learn."

"What happened?"

I told her how Cassandra kicked me out and how Remi wanted nothing to do with me and how she joined my ex-classmates in insulting and calling me names in respect to my condition.

Then, I told her about the place I am living in and how inconvenient it is for me.

"I swear I'll find Damba and make him pay for what he did to me." I broke down to tears.

Aunty Kemi placed my head on her chest and started patting me. "It's okay. Don't cry."

Just immediately, Mother walked in so we both tore apart.

"So you regret your actions?" She asked.

I nodded, sniffling.

"And you think that boy charmed you?"

"Yes ma." I was already thinking she was soon to forgive me.

"You're still very stupid! Ahh! Adeola, how much more of stupidity do you possess?"

"Ma?"

"So you don't know that it is because you're stupid that's why you fell prey to him?" Mother asked.

"Mummy, I..."

"Shut up there! Do you know how much embarrassment I face daily because of you?"

"I'm sorry ma. I didn't mean to put you to shame."

"You should have thought of all that before you decided to spread your legs wide for a man." Mother hissed and left.

*

That night, I had a dream which I couldn't consider as a good or bad one. I saw Damba in it. He was chasing me and I was running fast. Then he stopped chasing me and yelled loud enough for me to hear. He asked me to come look for him that he was in deep trouble. I didn't understand what he meant but I continued running till I fell.

I woke up alerted. My heart started racing and I was scared. Why did I fall? Damba should be the one to fall for putting me in such a tight spot.

Then, I thought deeply. Why did Damba ask me to come look for him? What kind of trouble was he in? He probably must have impregnated another woman and wants me to help him out of it. Or he must have scammed someone else's girlfriend and they're threatening to kill him.

I was panicking. I didn't know who to tell about this strange dream I just had. Why would I be thinking or dreaming of Damba of all people? He destroyed my life and made me miserable.

I had second thoughts about it. Was God trying to convey a message? Was Damba really in trouble? But why did he need my help? He had other people in his life, so why me?

I decided to call Folake. I didn't check the time nor did I care.

It was 4 a.m. and I knew I was disturbing her but she still picked my call. I was already panicking when she asked me to calm down and tell her everything.

So, I did. Then, she laughed. She laughed so hard that even Tayo who was definitely sleeping next to her, woke up.

"Who is it?" I heard him ask.

"Adeola."

"This early?" That was when I decided to check the time.

"Sorry."

"Okay. It's fine." Folake said. "You have to remain calm."

"I can't. I had a dream in Abuja remember? And now I'm having this dream too." I sighed.

"Maybe Damba really is in trouble." Tayo said.

"What should I do?"

"Pray and go back to sleep." Folake suggested.

They spoke to me for a while before they hung up so I decided to pray.