ENVY 36

Mummy Mummy you forgot to come with any of my school socks. What am I going to put on now?" Rose complained
Ese was not really in the dotting mood that morning, she was running late and the last thing she was prepared to deal with was a difficult child. They had first argued about her uniform with Rose insisting to get the school's uniform before she starts going to school. It had taken a great deal of patient explanation to convince the 7-year old that she needs to first go in her mufti while the school gets her the uniform.
"I have laid out a pair of socks for you on the bed, go take them." she replied her as she examined herself in front of the vanity
"My fancy socks?" Rose asked incredulously, with more emphasis on "fancy."
"Of course your fancy socks." her mother replied imitating her
"But my fancy socks are meant for parties and Sundays and....."
"Just put them on for now." Ese snapped. The girl was really trying her patience. She then added calmly "Rose this is an unusual situation, you are going to school in mufti, you can as well go in your fancy socks. I promise to get you as many pairs of socks as possible for school."
"And fancy socks too?"
"Yes, and fancy socks too."
This made the girl brightened up.
"Okay Rose, be fast, we are running late already." Ese said as she picked her bag and left the room. Rose quickly grabbed her backpack and food flask and ran after her mum.

                        ★★★

As Ese was driving out of the university's staff nursery and primary school her handset started ringing. She looked at the caller's ID, connected the phone to the handsfree speaker, then picked the call.
"Hello Teju." she said
"Why did you switch your phone off?" Teju asked accusingly, her voice filling the car which was sealed.
"I have been trying to reach you for awhile now." she continued without waiting for a reply
"I am sorry dear, I needed some peaceful time."
"I thought he doesn't have this number."
"Of course he doesn't, but my mum does, and even though she isn't happy with him, she still wants me to stay with him and I'm tired of her trying to change my mind. Who knows what she might do, she might give him the number. And although the chances that he will be looking for me are slim, I don't want to hear from him anytime soon."
"You are actually mistaken, that's why I have been trying to reach you to let you know."
"Know what?"
"That he is looking for you."
"Are you serious Teju?"
"Yes, Pago asked my husband to try to find out where you are from me, I told Kalu but I also made him promise not to tell him."
"Jeez."
"Kalu called me about an hour ago to tell me he just got off the phone with Pago."
"And?"
"He told him I don't know where you are, but he said he was sure Pago was not convinced. I thought you should know."
"Oh! Thanks, I really do appreciate it. Thank Kalu for me too."
"It's nothing, how is my baby doing?"
"Stubborn as ever, getting her to come to school was a task, I just dropped her off, I'm on my way too...."
"You've enrolled her into school already? You really are serious about this, aren't you?" Teju interrupted
"Of course I am"
"What about the job?"
"We've finalized it, I only need to meet with the dean in some minutes time and resume fully. I am on my way to the faculty now."
"But I thought you said the building is yet to be constructed."
"Yes, but a provision has been made that would serve temporarily pending when the building is ready. They want me to have a say in the way it would be constructed so I'd be meeting the contractors too, I am even late for the meeting as it is."
"Okay dear, let me let you face your job, talk to you later then."
"Thanks, bye."
As she cut the call she wondered why Pago was trying to reach her so soon. It was quite unlike him. Something must be pushing him, ordinarily Pago would not care at all about where she had gone. At any case she was deciding to remain hidden. She was not just hiding from him alone, she was also hiding from the noise the press was causing about them in Lagos. Quite and serene Ife was the right place to be and at that moment she didn't regret her decision to take the job. Her main worry then was how to head the new department. Despite the fact that she had a PhD from a foreign university, she knew she would need more than her achievements and qualification to succeed in a testosterone driven field

                             ★★★

She parked her car almost illegally in front of the faculty and rushed up the stairs taking two steps at a time. The men were already seated when she entered the faculty's boardroom.
She apologized immediately she entered "I'm so sorry for keeping you waiting gentlemen. Prof. I had to take my daughter to school, it's her first day in school and some paperwork needed to be done and....."
"It's alright Dr. Osarunwense. The Prof said smiling at her, we haven't waited too long. You may have your seat please."
After she had sat down, he continued " It isn't really a formal meeting perse, it's just for me to introduce those that would be working with you in the new department. You'll call for the meeting at your own convenience." he turned to the men and addressed them "gentlemen, here is Dr. Osaruwense, she will be heading the new department of Philosophy, Politics and Economics. I implore you all to cooperate with her fully." then he began introducing them to her.
As they were being introduced, she tried to commit their names to memory as she wondered how she was going to be able to succeed with these men as her subordinates. Some of them had been lecturing before she finished her first degree. But the smile they all gave her somewhat reassured her. After the introduction, she informed them that she would get back to them and they all filed out of the room.
"You should meet the contractor that would be handling the building project. I told him you have an idea or two about the construction and he is willing to talk to you about them."
"Oh, thanks sir, where is he?"
"In my office, waiting."
"I kept quite a number of people waiting, it seems."
"Oh! It's nothing." the dean said as he led the way to his office.

                            ★★★

The figure in the office was standing and backing the door, and he didn't turn as they got in, not until the dean cleared his throat to announce their presence and said "Mr. Ade, here is Dr Osaruwense."
Ese started to say "it is pleasure to meet you Mr....". The words froze in her mouth as the figure turned and smiled down at her.
"Jesus." she whispered without realizing it. She was transported twelve years back to the diner, when this same face had smiled down at her. It had been a sincere smile then, open, trusting and innocent. But the face she was looking at at that moment was far from trusting or naive, and she shivered at the malice she saw in his eyes. Despite her uneasiness, she still found herself drawn by his looks. He had grown into a more handsome man. The afro was gone, replaced by a neat low cut and he now wore his goatee longer with a moustache. ---where have you been all these while?--- her mind asked.
Siji was prepared for the meeting, he had planned it all, rehearsing every step in his mind several times. What he did not plan was the effect she would have on him. As she looked up at him in shock, he found that she still had this inexplicable effect on him. She was now a woman, not the girl he used to know. Motherhood had changed her a bit but he still found her incredibly attractive.
---Come on Siji, you are losing it. She is the enemy, don't be fooled again, stay focused--- he mentally admonished himself as he took her hanging hand and shook it "nice to meet you too ma'am." he drawled sarcastically.
The dean who was a bit confused looked from one to the other and said
"I guess you both are no strangers to each other."
"No, Ese here is an old friend of mine."

About the author

 Soji Adeola Ayanleke was born about 3 decades ago in Kano.

He studied Electronic and Electrical Engineering at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, he speaks Yoruba and Hausa fluently and he is trying to learn Igbo and Spanish. His hobbies are reading, writing and playing some indoor games.

ENVY 35

Dr Kalu Okafor took his phone out of flight mode after he finished his morning rounds with the residents. The medical profession has several ethics and rules to guide it. Kalu not only stuck to them religiously, he went a step further to add his, and one of them was putting his phone off whenever he was attending to his patients. It did not matter if he was being consulted in the comfort of his office, or if he was conducting a serious surgical operation in the theatre, he always could not be reached whenever he was attending to a patient. By giving them his undivided and uninterrupted attention, he let them know he cared deeply for them. Actions such as this together with his brilliance endeared many patients, as well as their families to him and also made him the envy of his superiors, peers and subordinates. Some patients would refuse to go into the theatre unless they were assured that Dr. Kalu would be in the operating team. The fact that he may not specialize in their required medical field was lost on many of them, they just wanted Kalu.
    Kalu after his housemanship and one-year compulsory service to the nation had left the shores of the country to do a residency in Traumatic Surgery. When he got back, he joined the medical team of the teaching hospital in Lagos and became one of the very few surgeons that specialized in trauma.
  Because he was a busy and well sought after man, his fone was usually inundated with calls and text messages whenever he put it on, that Saturday morning was not an exception. Immediately the young doctor's handset connected to the network, his phone started ringing. He looked at the caller identity and swore, it was a call he had been dreading since he had the discussion with his wife the previous night. He picked the call as he walked down the long corridor to his office, while his wife's words rang in his ears.
"Hello Pago."
"Where have you been bro? I have been trying your line for ages." Pago said into the phone without greeting
"I was busy, my phone was on flight mode"
"Okay, so?"
"So what?" Kalu asked, stalling
"Don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about Kalu. Did you ask her?"
"I did, and....."
"Did she tell you?"
"Teju doesn't know, Pago, she does not know where Ese is."
"And you believe her? You expect me to believe that?"
"What are you insinuating Pago? That my wife is a liar? I won't have you insulting my wife to my face." Kalu said acting pissed and hoping it would work. It did
"I'm sorry man, but..........what I mean is.........you know how they both are, they are like 6 and 7. Ese wouldn't do anything without informing Teju."
"Well, I guess she decided to go solo on this one."
"Okay, thanks anyways, later."
"Anytime, later."
As Kalu placed the phone back in his pocket, he felt a little bad about lying to his close friend, but Teju had made him promise her that he would not reveal where Ese was to his friend. And when it came to loyalty, he would rather go with his wife, especially considering the fact that Pago had not really been a good husband or father. He reached into the breast pocket on the shirt he wore under his clinical coat and took out a relatively smaller handset which was hardly switched off. Only one person had the number to the phone and she was the only one that could make him compromise on the work ethics he had set for himself. He was already smiling by reflex as he dialed her number.

                          ★★★

Pago cursed as he cut the call in annoyance. He was sure Kalu was lying to him. He could not understand how a woman would have that much control over a man as Kalu's wife seemed to have over him. She had him around her tiny fingers. He had to find other means to search for his wife and daughter now, since his friend had decided not to help. Left to him, he did not care an inch where they were, since he was sure they were safe. The love Ese had for Rose was so great that she would not try anything stupid. He would have let them be, but the chief wants them back and he could not defy the chief, not now, not before he got what he wanted. There was too much at stake. In one crazy moment he thought of reporting them missing to the authorities but he quickly decided against it. It would cause another wave of news and that was the last thing he needed, he did not want anything that would make the chief annoyed again. He had to search for them silently, and that in itself was a challenge. He sat in his office for about an hour pondering, trying to think of how to go about it all. Then it struck him at last and he chided himself for not thinking of it earlier. It was not just the only option left, it was the perfect one. He opened his desk drawer and searched through the pile of business cards he had collected from business associates, clients and acquaintances he had met over the years. It took him a long while but he soon found it, he smiled as he started typing the number on the card onto his phone.

                           ★★★

The university security officials led him into the eerily cold room as a sheep being led to its slaughter. The room was not unfamiliar to him since it was his fourth visit and most probably his last. As always, he met the deans already seated behind the long and unflattering table. On this day, they were eight, not nine. The scariest of them all and the one that had made his life a living hell in the past weeks was absent but that didn't make him feel any better. Without being directed, he went to stand at his usual spot while he awaited their verdict. The leader of the panel shuffled the papers on the table in front of him and adjusted his glasses as he read from the papers.
"After listening to testimonies from several witnesses and from the accused, Mr Adebambi Adesiji and also with the evidences presented to this panel, as well as the thorough investigation carried out by the panel, the panel finds the accused, Mr Adebambi Adesiji with matriculation number 0920003, culpable of all charges levelled against him and......." The professor rambled on as Siji tuned him out. Even though Jasper had warned him that that was what was going to happen, it still was a devastating blow to him
"My son" Jasper had said "they are going to sacrifice you because it's easier. You are a nobody, and the evidence against you is strong, your friend on the other hand is the son of a big man and the faculty's best student, the evidence against him can be easily overlooked. They are not even ready to look, the crime they are accusing you of far outweighs his. But don't worry, all will be well."
"......therefore, this panel has advised the Vice-Chancellor to expel the accused from the university since it is in the best interest of the institution not to be associated with any unscrupulous element."

He knotted his tie and examined himself in the mirror as he replayed the scene in his head over and over again. He looked handsome enough but he was taking extra care with his looks. He was like a guy going for his first date ever, and in a way it was the truth, he was about to meet the woman he had once loved. He had to look his best.

About the Author

 Soji Adeola Ayanleke was born about 3 decades ago in Kano.

He studied Electronic and Electrical Engineering at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, he speaks Yoruba and Hausa fluently and he is trying to learn Igbo and Spanish. His hobbies are reading, writing and playing some indoor games.

Selah Entertainment Awards 2015

Am super excited cause the Gospel is taking it's place
The Star Youth Ministry Presents SELAH ENTERTAINMENT AWARDS

Date: NOV 1st 2015
Time: 4pm
Venue: PRAISE CATHERDRAL constitution road
Ministering :

FIST,
F.L.O,
J WHYTE,
PWAASHIO n STEVE,
T.GEN,
RYMBOX,
COMPASS,
SPIRIT QUEST,
YWAP,
JOY ADEJO,
NANCEE,
JESSE,
HISTERIA,
DIDI,
and a lot more..............
It promises to be so much fun.

If you made it to The Spokesman PROPHETional speech tour in kaduna, then you should know that this is another event you should not miss.

More events coming your way.

xoxo

ENVY 34

When Pago was told by his secretary that she had gotten a call from his father's secretary summoning him, he had known the old man was displeased with him. His dad always had a dramatic way of showing his displeasure and one of them was by going professional on him. He easily could have called him directly, but he had chosen to go through the bureaucratic channel.
Pago knew better than to keep his old man waiting, so he had abandoned all he was doing, rushed from his office and took the elevator to the topmost floor. As he waited in the secretary's office, he wondered how annoyed his dad could be.
---it was because of the lost contract at the university--- he thought to himself. He himself had been so annoyed last night when he had been told that the bid had been won by another company, and to add insult to injury, it had gone to a smaller company that had just came into the industry. Winning the contract was to be a huge turning point for him, he intended to use it to prove to his dad that he could handle the reins of the company. So he had pursued the contract with all his zeal, bribing and blackmailing where necessary. And he had been so sure it was his, his contacts at the university and at the ministry had assured him that it was all his. Then the devastating phone call he had received as he was about to go home the previous night had shattered his plans. He was yet to recover from it, 24 hours after
"You can go in now Mr. Adebantu." The secretary said rousing him from his thoughts.
He entered the massive office and saw his dad sitting behind his desk like an emperor about to pass a judgement on an unfortunate subject. He felt intimidated but he covered it well as he smiled up at his dad's impassive face and greeted.
"Good evening dad." ---that should remind you that I'm your son not your subject--- he added silently
"Evening." Victor replied gruffly, then said. "Sit down."
Pago sat on the chair facing his dad across the table and he had to look up at his dad who was looking down on him for his chair was lower. Victor had made it that way, he liked being at an advantage.
"What is this I'm hearing?" Victor began immediately Pago sat down
"I know dad, and I'm sorry we lost the contract, you can't be as pissed about it as I am, but I promise I'll...."
"Who is talking about the goddamn contract you lost?"
"You aren't? So what is it then?"
To answer him, his dad flung the magazine at him. Pago caught the magazine against his chest and read the headline
---goddamn busybodies, why can't they mind their businesses?--- He thought as he looked at the pictures of himself with several women.
"Where is your wife and daughter?"
"I don't know where they are. She packed some of her stuffs this morning and left with Rose."
"Jeez! You are so irresponsible. And you call yourself a father. Did you hit Ese again?"
Pago was silent and Victor continued. "When will it sink into your thick skull that it's only weak men that hit women?"
"Daddy she provoked me... I......I didn't want to, but I was in a bad mood last night because of the contract and I got home and I....I didn't know what happened...I was drunk."
"Is she filing for divorce?"
"She hasn't made it official, but she has been telling me for a while now that she wants a divorce."
"And?"
"And what?"
"And what are you going to do about it?"
"I'll give her what she wants."
"Bullshit! You are doing no such thing. The only way you can succeed me is if you stay married."
"I can always get another wife dad."
"I don't want another wife, I want Ese, I won't have you be a divorcee. If you really want this company to be yours someday, you will go find your wife and daughter and bring them back and try to convince her not to go through with the divorce."
"But dad...."
"Don't daddy me. It's time you started leading a responsible life. I don't care how you do it but I want Ese and Rose back in your house."
"Yes sir"
"Good, you may leave now." he said dismissively.
Before Pago could reach the door Victor called out again "One more thing, I don't care how many women you sleep with, but I have had enough of these scandals. The next time I see you on the covers of a magazine or tabloid with any woman other than your wife, you will be demoted to a lower office, great positions come with great responsibilities.

                             ★★★
"You should have listened to me and not call back your scripts for remarking, then it wouldn't have gotten to this point."
"Why Pago? Was it because of Ese?"
"Oh! I had it all planned out before Ese came into the picture, but I was considering not carrying it out until you snatched her from under my nose."
"But you were not dating her, you only wanted to......."
"Yes, I only wanted to f**k her which I did at last, and news flash bro, she isn't as innocent as you think, at least someone was there before me, I wasn't her first but even at that she was a great lay." He said with a wicked glint in his eyes
"You bastard, I'll....."
Easy!... easy bro, now you are not in a position to make threats, are you? You are a cultist remember?
"You won't get away with this, I swear."
"I already have amigo. From that first day at the MTH 101 tutorial class, I knew you'd be a threat and I learnt a long time ago to keep my enemies closer."

     Siji stood in front of the Students' Union Building and replayed the scene. Though it has been eight years, he could still replay their conversion in the building's tiny room where he had been held, word for word. He had replayed it countless times and each time he did, his resolve to pay back to those who had hurt him, in their own coins was strengthened. Jasper had told him to let bygones be bygones but he could not. The two people he had loved and trusted the most after Ma'ami had stabbed him in the back. It was pay back time. Snatching the contract from Pago was just the beginning. He won't rest until he crushed him. Ese would not be spared either. They both would get their fair share of rewards.
He turned, walked to his sports car and zoomed down road 1 towards the school gate. The game had begun and it was time to up the ante.

About the Author

 Soji Adeola Ayanleke was born about 3 decades ago in Kano.

He studied Electronic and Electrical Engineering at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, he speaks Yoruba and Hausa fluently and he is trying to learn Igbo and Spanish. His hobbies are reading, writing and playing some indoor games.

SHATTERED HOPE!

Every time I walk down the street,
I see people looking happy and sweet,
I wondered if their joy was real,
Or were they just concealing a secret?

Cos this moment I'm happy and hopeful,
Seeing yesterday as an end to being sorrowful,
Saying goodbye to fear and torment,
"Tomorrow is a day of joy and fulfillment".

Then comes tears flowing like a river,
Did my hope and perception just misfire?
Did I just miss my in-goal area?
I feel my hope just sank into a mire.

Hmm! I was told if there is life, there is hope, though nothing in me feels like hoping, I will hope beyond hope till my shattered hope becomes whole.

Gift Simeon © 2015

IT'S PROPHETIONAL....WATCH OUT!!!

Wow its The Spokesman PROPHETional speech tour Grand finale happening live in Kaduna...
Date :Oct 25th 2015,
Time: 4pm
Venue: @ International Praise cathedral constitution rd..
Ministering:

1. Spokesman
2. Greal (Jos)
3.Rap choir(Jos)
4.Fist
5.Soul Quest(Ywap)

The PROPHETional Speech CD will be available for SALE...a prophetic concert you dare not miss..

If you really love good music and appreciate great gifts(talents) you wouldn't miss this.
Tell a friend and of course tell a hater *smiles*

See ya.

ENVY 33

                               ENVY
                                  ‡

                        BOOK TWO
                                  ‡

       

November, 2012

"Is this where we'll be living now mummy? We are not going back to Lagos to be with dad?" Rose asked as they unpacked their luggage in the bedroom. They had traveled light, since their move, though not sudden, had come earlier than planned. It was a beautifully furnished bungalow with two bedrooms, a sitting room a bathroom and a kitchen. The university used it as a guest house. Ese had been asked to stay there for the time being due to the urgency that surrounded her employment. The guest house would be their home pending the time she would be given her own apartment at the staff quarters. Ese continued unpacking her clothes, pretending she had not heard her daughter. She had known the questions would come and she had been wondering why her usually very inquisitive daughter had not brought them up earlier, she had been anticipating and dreading  the time when the questions would come for she knew she had no answer to them.
"Mummy?" The 7-year old prodded and Ese knew her silence would not save her from answering.
"Yes darling?"
"Are we going to live here now?"
"Yes my dear. It's our new home"
"So we are not going back to Lagos?"
"No we are not, not in the foreseeable future."
"What does 'foreseeable' mean."
"It means to anticipate or predict."
"What is 'anticipate' or 'predict'?"
Ese thought for a while but still could not find a way to explain what foreseeable means to the child without using another big word. Rose was too bright and inquisitive for her age and her questions could be unending.
"What I actually meant was that, we are not going back to Lagos any time soon."
"Will daddy come and live with us here?"
"No."
"Why?"
"Because daddy is a very busy man, he has his work."
"But can't he work from here?"
"No he can't, his business is in Lagos."
"Are we leaving daddy?"
Ese was a bit shocked by Rose's last question that all she could say was "Rose!"
But the little girl was not deterred. She continued "Is it because he hit you?"
"How did you know...."
"I woke up last night when I heard you screaming, so I came downstairs and saw him hit you"
"Jesus! You saw that?" Ese had thought Rose had been safely asleep in her room upstairs. She silently prayed that the girl didn't hear some of what was said."
"Rose what did I tell you about eavesdropping?" She asked, then continued without waiting for an answer "didn't I tell you eavesdropping is bad, especially when you eavesdrop on adults."
"I wasn't eavesdropping, the screams woke me up and I was thirsty, so I went to the kitchen to get water." the kid said defensively.
"Okay, I'm sorry we woke you up and that you had to see that."
"Are you diforcing daddy? My friend Sophie in school said her dad was hitting her mum that was why she diforced him."
"It is 'divorce' not 'diforce'. And I am not divorcing daddy now."
"But you'll divorce him later?"
Ese took a deep breath and thought of a way to answer the question as honestly as possible without giving her daughter false hopes or poisoning her mind.
"Come sit down my love." She said and held both of Rose's hands and looked at her straight in the eye as they both sat on the bed.
"You see, your dad and I are having some issues."
"What kinda issue?"
"You won't understand now, maybe later, they are adult stuffs and yo....."
"I'm too young to understand them now." her daughter finished the sentence for her while smiling up at her. She smiled back. "Yea, and because of these issues I......we have decided to stay apart for a while."
"What happens next then?"
"I sincerely don't know my dear, but know that I won't take any decision that will hurt you. Understand?"
The girl nodded.
"Good, now help mummy unpack and I will take you out and show you around the school. We may even check out your new school, the university's staff primary school.
All other questions temporarily forgotten, the girl jumped up excitedly and helped her mother unpack. Ese felt a tinge of guilt for she had not been entirely truthful with her daughter. But she excused it as an understandable and forgivable lie.

                             ★★★

Chief Victor Adebantu was not a happy man, he was fuming as he paced in his office. The office was as big as it's occupant. Victor was a huge man who stood at 6ft 4inch with broad shoulders and a wide torso, at 55 he still looked fit and handsome. He loved his things big, from his toys to his office furniture. His office was absolutely masculine aside for a picture frame on the huge desk in the centre of the office which holds his late wife's picture. 
He normally should be busy doing some paper work, but he had a lot in his mind. His two sons had always been his headache. His first son Fela had decided to become a musician after he had graduated from one of the best universities in the world, it had broken his heart but he had learnt to accept it and be consoled for he had another son to bank on. But the other son had proven time and again to be irresponsible. Every action of his was scandalous, he sneezed and farted scandal. Victor looked at the headline on the magazine on his desk and it screamed at him once again

BUSINESS MOGUL HEIR'S MARRIAGE THREATENED AS WIFE LEAVES WITH DAUGHTER AND FILES FOR DIVORCE.

The magazine went on to say the marriage had been full of abuses and unfaithfulness on the part of the husband. It also went ahead to post pictures of the husband with the numerous ladies he had been seen with. Victor's anger swelled as he looked at the pictures showing Pago with different women. As far as he was concerned, Pago's sin was not that he was unfaithful, it was that he had been indiscreet about it all. God knows that he himself had not been entirely faithful to his darling Doyin while she was alive, but he had strayed with discretion and she had only caught him once, but Pago here was flaunting his unfaithfulness. Victor believed in family values, he had truly loved his wife even though he cheated on her a few times. He believed a man may cheat but he must be discreet about it. He was a discreet man and it had helped him build a business empire, he was not sure the empire would last a year in the hands of his indiscreet son, even the board of shareholders would not want Pago at the helms of the company, not with his irresponsible attitude. He believed a man that cannot keep a home would not make a successful business man.
---Oh! How I wish Sike was male--- he thought ---She would have made an excellent business man---
But he was too old-fashioned to let her succeed him, she would get married and his empire would belong to another man. He wanted only a true Adebantu to take over from him.
His intercom rang, the one that linked him only to his secretary. He walked briskly to it, picked it up and barked "Yes?"
"He is here sir" the feminine voice at the other end said quietly as though she could feel his anger through the line.
"Let him in." He said then dropped the phone and sat on the gigantic chair behind the gigantic table. It was time for a father and son tote-à-tête

About the Author

 Soji Adeola Ayanleke was born about 3 decades ago in Kano.

He studied Electronic and Electrical Engineering at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, he speaks Yoruba and Hausa fluently and he is trying to learn Igbo and Spanish. His hobbies are reading, writing and playing some indoor games.

ENVY 32

When Pago reentered the bar, Ese was on her third bottle and there was still one more unopened bottle in front of her. He gave the barman a wink as he sat down at their table.
"I can see you are enjoying yourself."
"Yes, I am." she drawled, then added "I never knew alcohol could taste this good, I'm beginning to feel a bit lightheaded  but I just can't stop myself. And the bartender isn't helping either, he keeps bringing more."
"Actually I asked him to serve you as much as you want, anything you want."
"Are you trying to get me drunk?"
"I'm trying to make you forget your sadness. There is nothing better than a couple of bottles to do that."
"I'm still mad at Siji, though I don't feel as bad as I felt initially."
"You see? It's working. You are going to be alright."
"You think?"
"I know" he replied as he uncorked the remaining bottle and poured her more wine.

                         ★★★

He slapped himself in an unconscious attempt to kill the sandfly that had landed on his cheek. And that woke him up.
"Damn it." He cursed when he looked at the palm of his hand and discovered that the insect had escaped after all. He had dozed off while waiting for her at her doorstep. He checked the time on his handset. It was approaching midnight, yet she had not come back. He called her one more time and just as before, the disembodied voice told him her phone was switched off.
---Maybe she had gone to sleep at Teju's place--- he reasoned. He thought of calling Teju but he decided against it. She was too annoyed and not in a state of mind to talk to him yet, he would let her cool off. She would be ready to talk to him in the morning. He stood up and started walking back to his hall.

                           ★★★

Ese knew she had outdone herself when  the fourth bottle was half empty. The lightheadedness had somewhat increased, but she still looked at the remaining liquid in the bottle longingly.
---just finish it up, after all you are going straight to bed and you've got a free day tomorrow--- the voice in her head that had been urging her on, whispered again. And Pago, as if reading her mind emptied the remaining bottle's content into her glass cup.
"What are you going to do about your girlfriend?" She asked with a drawl
"Huh."
"Your girlfriend, Stella."
"What about her?"
"I asked what you're going to do about her since she is cheating on you with your friend."
"Stella isn't really my girlfriend, we've got a special kind of relationship. We are both free to do as we please. I don't belong to her exclusively, neither does she belong to me exclusively."
"Oh! I have forgotten I am talking to the very independent Pago, too bad my case isn't that uncomplicated." she said sarcastically. He ignored the sarcasm and asked instead "So what do you plan to do about Siji?"
"I don't know, maybe I will tomorrow. Right now all I wanna do is to go home to my bed." She tried to stand up but she staggered and fell back on her seat. She was drunker than she thought. She tried again and this time she would have tumbled over if not for Pago who had quickly stood up to hold her steady.
"Thanks." She muttered.
"You're welcome. Now let's get you home." he said smiling at her. He beckoned on the barman and paid him with a tip, then he walked her to his car, holding her as she leaned on him.
He made sure she was secured in the front passenger's seat before he started the car. She was half asleep all through the journey to her apartment. He helped her to her doorstep and asked for her key. When she wasted too much time groping in her bag, he took the bag from her and brought out the keys. Immediately he opened the door, she went straight to her bed and fell on it, she was too tired to change her clothes or go to the bathroom.
"Thank you and goodnight." She said sleepily when she heard the door close. Assuming he had left, she pulled her pillow to her bosom, backed the door and settled to sleep. Then she felt his hands on her back undoing the zip of her gown. She jerked up and turned.
"What are you doing?" She asked in alarm as she tried to hit his hands, but it came out as a mumble.
He pulled her gown off her even as she hit his hands repeatedly, albeit weakly. Then he started removing her undies.
This time she shouted. "What the hell do you think you are doing Pago?" But it came out as a weak protest.
"Undressing you." he replied as he smiled down at her, hovering above her. Though she was drunk, what she saw in his eyes made her heart skip, and she started struggling, fighting him off when she discovered his intention. But even sober, she was no match for his strength.
"Stop it Pago.... Leave me....no no" she screamed as she fought him but her cry was a little more than a whisper.
"Stop what?" He jeered  "isn't this what you want all along? A guy to make you feel like a woman."
"No no no, please please Pago." She begged as he started pulling her panties
"Yes baby.........call my name as I give it to you. What Siji was stupid enough not to give you.......I have waited for this opportunity too long."
She felt a piercing pain as he molested her. He had both of her hands pinned above her head and she was too weak to fight, all she could do was plead weakly.
He collapsed on her when he was spent.
"That was the first." He said. "We still have a long night to go."

                             ★★★

The loud and reverberating knock on his door startled him up. It was early in the morning, his bedside alarm which he had set for 6:30am was yet to go off. He rushed off his bed as he shouted. "Who is that?"
"Open this door, or we would break it down." A voice shouted back at him, then another said "Spiro why you dey waste time talk to the baggar? Break this thing jare."
Siji knew who Spiro was, he was the Students' Union Chief Security Officer. Siji wondered why he was at his door and he obviously was not the only one. He could hear other voices threatening and asking him to open the door. He had no business with the Students' Union guys, he had always made conscious effort to stay clear of them for that matter, which was not exactly easy since Pago had lots of them as friends.
"Give me a minute please, I'll open it now."
"Abi o fe si'ere ni? Silekun yi nisi" another unknown voice shouted.
"Siji abandoned the trousers he wanted to put on and went to the door in his boxers. As he unhooked the latch, the door came crashing against his face hitting and breaking his nose. The force knocked him to the floor and about ten or so guys rushed into  his room
"Se o ya were ni? O fe silekun na tele abi?" One of them said as he slapped him.
"Afeexo duro, duro nan. Don't hit him yet." Spiro said as he held the guy back.
"What's all these about?" Siji protested. "What have I done?" he said as he tasted the blood from his nose in his mouth
"We are here to search your room, we got a tip-off and we are acting on it."
"A tip-off? Search my room? Alright, go ahead, but God help you all if you don't find anything." Siji started shouting as the guys moved about his room turning it upside down.
"You can't barge into someone's room without prior invitation or notice, and hit him without being provoked and think you'll go scot-free, no you can't, it's not done. I will make sure I ........." The words froze in Siji's mouth as he saw what one of the guys discovered in his wardrobe. The guy was holding a red banner, on it was a painting in black, of a skull with two bones across. As if that was not enough, another guy brought out two cutlasses from the wardrobe and dropped them on the floor then went back and came out with a handgun. " Cultist ni bobo yi sha." One of them said loudly.
"So you are a cultist. Don't you know this school has zero tolerance for people like you?" Spiro said calmly but coldly.
All Siji could say was. "Rara, mi kin se cultist ejo. I am not a cultist please." His pleas fell on deaf ears as they all descended on him.

                       THE END?

About the Author

 Soji Adeola Ayanleke was born about 3 decades ago in Kano.

He studied Electronic and Electrical Engineering at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, he speaks Yoruba and Hausa fluently and he is trying to learn Igbo and Spanish. His hobbies are reading, writing and playing some indoor games.

ENVY 31

He leapt off the bed, this time Stella did not try to stop him, he ran out the door that was left ajar, like a mad man, calling her name. "Ese! Ese! Ese!". He knew she could not have gone far, that he could still catch up with her. But when he ran down the steps from the third floor to the ground floor, he didn't see her. She could not have disappeared that fast, not even if she had run. He wondered if he had not really seen her, maybe he had been hallucinating. No, he was sure he had not, it was not just him, someone had opened that door and Stella had seen her too.
He ran from his block to the entrance of the hall but still did not see her, so he went farther. It was not until he was several metres from the hall's entrance that he noticed his feet were bare and he was only in boxers and singlet. So he turned and walked back while wondering what way she had taken.
When he got to his room, Stella had left.
----- good for her--- he thought.
He tried to lie down for a while but he could not, he stood up and paced for awhile, then he picked his phone from his table and called her, it went through but it was not picked, after he tried several times, her phone was switched off. He put on a pair of trousers and a shirt and left the room, locking the door behind him. He took an Okada in front of the hall to her apartment at the staff quarters and met her door locked. She had not gotten back. He sat on the stairs by her door to wait for her.
---She will soon be back--- he told himself
---She doesn't keep late nights---

                         ★★★

Ese heard him call her name and his footsteps as he ran down the stairs, so she had hidden under the staircase. If he had not been in a rush he probably would have seen her. Few seconds after he rushed past her she came out of her hiding and saw him running through the hall's main entrance. She quickly went to the opposite direction, while hoping with all her heart that he would not turn back in time to see her. She was not the type to shy away from confrontations, but the height of his betrayal was such that she did not trust herself to behave sanely if she confronted him.  After discussing it with Teju, she had changed her mind about not wanting to talk about what they did,  so she had decided to pay him a surprise visit to talk about it. It turned out that she was the one that had been the surprised. And it was a very unpleasant surprise. She exited the hall through the small gate that led to the road going to New Buka. She did not mind which way she was going, she only just wanted to put as far a distance as possible between both of them. Her handset started ringing and she fetched it from her hand bag, while suspecting it was him. When she confirmed he was the one, she ignored it but held the phone in her hand. He called again, again and again, after which she switched her phone off in order not to be tempted to pick it. She was shaking as she walked. The shock she had initially felt when she had happened on him and the girl had metamorphosed into a searing hurtful pain, then into a deep seethed rage.  Her mind was in a riotous state as she walked down the road minding no one.
---So it had all been a game to him? I can't believe he jumped into bed with another girl in less than 24 hours after I gave myself to him--- She thought. A part of her tried to make excuses for him, that maybe she had rushed into conclusion, maybe she should have waited to hear him out, maybe it was not as it looked. But she pushed the voice far away from her consciousness, she knew what she had seen, and it was clear. It could not have been any other thing. She was sure.
The shrieking honk startled her and she jumped off the road onto the sidewalk. She turned to apologize to the driver, then saw Pago getting out of the car.
"What's wrong with you Ese? You were walking in the middle of the road and you didn't hear my car coming, not even when I honked few metres away."
After Siji, Pago was the last person she wished to see right then, but the genuine concern she saw on his face was her undoing. All the emotion that she had succeeded in bottling up came rushing out. She lashed at him in a shaky voice. "So you and Siji share girlfriends right? When is he going to pass me over to you? When he's done with me?"
Pago was genuinely taken aback by her words "what are you talking about Ese?"
"Don't pretend you don't know. I just caught Siji in bed with your girl, Stella."
"Stella?" Pago repeated in shock, and Ese misinterpreted the fear in his eyes for surprise.
"So you are not aware she is cheating on you?"
"No, are you sure of what you saw? Because Siji......"
"I knew what I saw okay."
In her current mood, it would be foolhardy to argue with her, and Pago was not ready to, even. He had a lot to worry about as it is, so instead he said. "Where are you going to?"
"I don't really know, I'm just walking."
"Okay, since we are close to New Buka, why don't we just go together and talk all these through."
She hesitated.
"Please." He urged, opening the front door for her.
She was drained to fight him. Before she could stop herself, she started walking towards the opened door.

                            ★★★

As Pago drove, he thought of what could have happened in Siji's room. He had sent Stella there, but he had not asked her to cozy up to Siji, he only hoped she had not sabotaged his plans by her actions. He would have to call her to confirm as soon as possible.
He took Ese to a joint and ordered for drinks. A beer for himself and a wine for her.
"I don't take alcohol." she said
"It doesn't contain much alcohol, check the percentage, just 5%, it's a feminine drink, and beside it's good for your present state of mind. You are hurting, it will cool you off."
He uncorked the bottle and poured her wine. She took a sip, tasting it tentatively on her tongue, expecting it to be bitter, but it was surprisingly sweet.
"I expected it to be bitter." she said
"It has fruit flavours in it. I told you it's for females."
"Hmmm." Ese agreed as she emptied the glass cup at a go and refilled it."
---She is learning fast--- Pago thought as he smiled at her.
"So what do you plan to do about Siji?"
"I don't know, and I don't want to talk about it with you. I just want to enjoy this drink then go home and sleep."
"Okay, will you excuse me, I need to use the rest room." He said as he stood up. Ese watched him talk to the bartender before walking out of the bar through the backdoor.
Pago called Stella when he got outside.
"Ese said she caught you in bed with Siji." Pago barked into the phone without preambles, immediately Stella picked the call. Then he rushed on before she could reply "I didn't send you there to seduce the guy, I sent you to...."
"I know, I was only curious. You know I have always wanted to find out if he was gay." She interrupted
"And you chose today out of all days to satisfy your curiosity. You know I don't care what you do with him, but you chose a wrong time. You were only meant to get in and get out. Now you have possibly jeopardize my....."
"Nothing is jeopardized Pago, we are still cool. I only wanted to kill two birds with a stone. You know I may not have the opportunity again, if the plan comes through."
"So you were able to...."
"Yes"
"Good, thanks" he cut the call and dialed another number. When the person at the other side picked, he said "it's set, you guys should move first thing in the morning."

                            ★★★

After the call, Pago was in better spirit. Everything is going better than he had planned. Not only did he have Siji where he wanted him, he also, due to Stella's amazing curiosity would soon have Ese where he had always wanted her.

About the Author

 Soji Adeola Ayanleke was born about 3 decades ago in Kano.

He studied Electronic and Electrical Engineering at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, he speaks Yoruba and Hausa fluently and he is trying to learn Igbo and Spanish. His hobbies are reading, writing and playing some indoor games.

ENVY 30

"We finally did it" Ese whispered conspiratorially, and Teju could barely hear her over the noise being made by the generating set vibrating close by.
"Did what?"
"Siji and I, we did it." Ese answered, this time a little bit louder.
"You mean you........" Teju didn't have to finish the sentence. The shy smile on Ese's face as she nodded her head was enough.
"Really? When did you guys.....how did you....why?" Teju was full of questions
They were just leaving the Business Centre where Teju had accompanied Ese to drop her project write up for typing.
"Cool down dear, a question at a time."
"Tell me everything, I want to hear everything. Don't leave anything out."
"Like you told me everything when you and Kalu......"
"I did, I tried." Teju interrupted, smiling
"Yea, I am going to try too." Ese smiled back.
"So how did it happen? You can at least give me a summary."
"It just did. Though the feelings have always been there, but we've been denying it, but yesterday at the dinner, on the dance floor, it was so strong. We rushed to my place and you can easily guess what happened next."
"So?"
"So what?"
"How was it? Was it good? Did you....."
"Yes it was, yes I did" Ese said, then continued "but the way he acted this morning got me worried. I know Siji is a bit old fashioned and superstitious but I never expected him to be all too serious about it this morning."
"What did he do?"
"I  think he regretted it, though I was a bit shy this morning, I don't regret what we did"
"Did he tell you he regretted it?"
"No, not in clear terms, but..."
"Why then do you think he does?"
"I guess it's the way he......the way he was....I don't even know how to say it."
"It's easy, just open your mouth and let the words out"
"He wants to talk about it."
"And that's bad? I don't get you, I think you should be glad he's responsible enough to want to talk about it."
"Well.....you need to see the look on his face when he said that, he looked like his Ma'ami just caught him stealing meat from her pot of soup."
"I don't think you should rush to judge him by his expression or what you think he was thinking."
"I don't want to talk about it with him, not now anyway, maybe after I have had time to go through it myself."
"Did he use protection?"
"No, but that's not an issue, I am in my safe period and I trust him."
"You still need to talk about it Ese."
"I'll think about."
"Please do."

                            ★★★

If not for the dream that had woken him up, he would not have heard the soft knock on the door. He had been dreaming again of being almost caught in bed with Ese. Just that this time it was Jasper not Ma'ami.
---You will keep dreaming about this thing if you keep thinking about it--- he told himself as he rose up from the bed. On his bed was a rumpled sheet of paper on which he had started drafting the letter he was to submit to his HOD on Monday. He had slept off while he was writing it.
"Who is at the door?" He called out when he got to the door.
"It's me Stella." he heard a feminine voice say in between sobs at the other side of the door.
"Stella?" He repeated questioningly. Not that he did not know who Stella was, but he found it odd that she would be coming to see him alone. She had always come with Pago the few times she was there, but never alone.
"Yes, it's Stella." she said again and this time the sob was more audible. He quickly unlocked the lock and opened the door. It was getting dark already so he could not see her face well as the door opened. She fell on his chest crying immediately and Siji was confused, he had many questions running through his mind but he held her still as she sobbed against his chest covered only by a singlet. He led her gently towards the bed and she dropped the bag she had with her by the bed side as she sat on the bed with him, her face still buried on his chest. Siji was short of words to say. Though Stella was not a stranger. After all she had once been his date. But they both were not exactly close.
"I am sorry." he kept saying repeatedly, apologizing for what he knew not, just to console her.
"What's the matter?" He asked after a while while he gently raised her head to look her in the eye. There was a swell above her left eye, just around the eyebrow and both eyes were bloodshot.
"What happened? What happened to your eyes?"
"We had a fight"
"A fight? Did Pago do this to you?"
She nodded "he hit me with his fist severally." she said in a shaky voice "it's over between us Siji." she wailed and dropped her heard against his chest again. Siji did not know that Pago could actually hit a lady, he was shocked and he felt sorry for the her.
"What was the cause of the fight?"
"Not now please, I will tell you later." she said and he let her be. He still held her while her sobs subsided, then she began shaking as though she had caught cold.
"Please do you have Aspirin and any cold medication? I'm cold and I have a terrible headache."
"I don't."
"Is there where I can get close by? A chemist?"
"Yea, there is a chemist close by. I can rush there to get them for you if you don't mind."
"Oh! I don't, that's nice of you" she said.
He made her to lie down on the bed and rushed off in his singlet and boxers.
As the door closed behind him, Stella sat up, unzipped her bag and started emptying it of its contents.
 
                             ★★★

Siji came back in record time with the drugs. Stella was under the covers shaking, she looked up when he came in and made a feeble attempt to smile.
"I got you a bottle of soft drink too, to take the drugs with. She sat up and he gave her the drugs and drink. She lay back down on the bed after taking the drugs.
"Will you please come and hold me again." she pleaded.
"Please, I am still cold" she added when he hesitated. She lifted the covers for him to get in. He lay by her side and she moved closer to him and he held her. Soon she stopped shaking and rested her head on his chest as he lay on his back. Her hands moved over his chest, down his tummy and lower, his desire was stirred and she felt it.
"You know, I used to think you were gay."
"Yea, Pago told me. It was because I left that night, at the Amphitheatre."
"Why did you leave that night? If you had not, I wouldn't have ended up with Pago."
He almost told her he had gone after Ese that night but he kept quiet. She continued "I have been curious about you ever since." she said softly "will you let me satisfy my curiosity fully?" she made to kiss him but he turned his head to the other side.
"I think it's time you left." he said as he tried to stand up but she was suddenly astride him pinning him to the bed. She was suddenly strong for someone who was sick some minutes ago.
"What the hell do you think you are doing?" He asked angrily.
"Common, don't pretend you don't want me, I can feel it." she said as her hand aimed for the fly of his trousers but he slapped her hands and pushed her off him not too gently that he was scared he would hurt her. She landed beside him on the bed and he tried to stand up. He had just a leg on the floor, the other was on the bed, so when she pulled him down he lost his balance and fell on her and she gave an excited shriek.
At that moment the door opened and they both looked up to see a figure standing by the entrance, he couldn't see the figure's face for it was dark outside, but she was silhouetted by the moonlight that shone behind her, hence he could see her shape. He would recognize those curves even if he saw them when he was dead drunk. She stood there looking at both of them in their compromising position. The bulb in the room was lit, so he knew she could see them clearly . He tried to talk, to say something, anything, but no word came out. He tried to move, to get off Stella, but his muscles and bones failed him. After awhile, she turned and walked away without saying a word.

About the Author

 Soji Adeola Ayanleke was born about 3 decades ago in Kano.
He studied Electronic and Electrical Engineering at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, he speaks Yoruba and Hausa fluently and he is trying to learn Igbo and Spanish. His hobbies are reading, writing and playing some indoor games.

 

ENVY 29

The rays from the morning Sun shining through the blinds woke Ese up. It took a little while before she realised she wasn't alone in bed. His hand was around her waist. She smiled as she recalled what had happened over the night. Despite her bravado, she had being nervous at that turning point, but Siji, albeit inexperienced, had being gentle until she had adjusted. And when they had tried it again and again it had gotten better and better. She was sure the incredibly inexplicable surge of sensation she had felt had been the zenith she had always heard and read about.
"Shit." she exclaimed quietly when she looked at her bedside clock, it was 10:30. She had slept past her alarm that was set for 6:30, which was unusual. But again, what happened over the night was unusual too, she reasoned. Good thing it was a Saturday.
She gently lifted his hand and dropped it by his side, he stirred and laid on his back facing up, but he did not wake up. She turned on her side to observe him for a couple of minutes, she could hear the faint singsong sound the air entering and escaping his nostrils made. She was glad it was not a snore for she could not stand snorers. She rose from the bed carefully in order not to wake him up.
---he deserves the sleep--- she surmised as she entered the bathroom.

"Siji so wa nle, are you home? Ma'ami's voice startled him. He was on her bed with Ese, he had thought she would not be coming back early from her shed. His first thought was how he could hide Ese, so that Ma'ami wouldn't see her, but it was too late for the door was already opening. He closed his eyes not wanting to see the look of shock and disappointment he knew  would be on Ma'ami's face. He opened his eyes after a while and saw that he was in a different environment. He was still on the bed, yes, but he was alone and the room was different, feminine. Then it dawned on him that he had been dreaming, he was on Ese's bed, not Ma'ami's.
---where is she?--- he thought and he was answered by the sound of water from the bathroom.
The dream had felt so real that he began to think it was a bad omen, not that he regretted what he had done with Ese, but he just could not push the dream aside or explain it away as nothing. He tried to, but his mind would not let him.
The bathroom door opened and Ese stepped into the room. One look at her, and all his thoughts about the dream flew off his mind, she had just showered and she had a towel around her, covering her chest to her thighs, and another tied on her head like a turban.
"Good morning dear." she said smiling shyly at him, but not looking at his eyes. She couldn't explain why she was suddenly shy.
"Good morning to you too. How was your night?"
"You very much know how my night went"
He smiled at her with a smirk "you snuck to the bathroom without inviting me." he accused her jokingly
"I wanted you to enjoy your sleep." she said, then added before she could stop herself "you needed it."
When he observed she still was avoiding his eyes, he said "Ese please look at me." it took an effort to hold his gaze "we need to talk about what happened." He said
"Is there anything to talk about?"
"Of course there are lots of things to talk about, I....."
"Your phone is ringing" she interrupted as she retrieved his phone for him from the pocket of his trouser which was by the door. He had flung it there the night before.
"It's Jasper." she whispered as though he could hear them from the other end, as she handed Siji the phone.
"Hello sir..., yes sir...I'm on campus.....okay....right away." he cut the call and said to Ese as he hurriedly wore his clothes  "he wants to see me right away, I gotta go."
He kissed her on her forehead then said. "We still need to talk."
"I know, see you later in the day."
She silently thanked her stars for the phone call as she closed the door behind him. She was not ready to discuss what they did, not yet anyway, not until she had thought about it herself.

                          ★★★

"Are you coming from a party?" The Prof asked. Siji silently swore as he realized that was the second time he would be seeing his supervisor unprepared. His shirt was not buttoned to the top and his tie was hanging askew from his neck while he placed his jacket on his arm.
"Not exactly sir, I went to an FYB dinner party last night and slept over at a friend's. I rushed down here from there, I haven't had time to change."
"I see, some party it must have been."
Siji did not know what to say to that, so he kept quiet.
"What is your present CGPA?" The Prof asked startling Siji
"Ehmm.....ehmmmm.... 4.52 sir"
"What of your friend's?"
"My friend's?"
"The other guy with me."
"4.81 or so."
"Or so?"
"Yes sir, I am not very sure, but I know it's above 4.8" Siji said while he was trying to figure out the reasons for the Prof's questions. Siji had made a conscious effort not to follow Pago's CGPA rise, for his own peace of mind. Though it had not been easy.
"4.52." the Prof repeated after awhile, then said "You are really at the border, which means if you have a 'D' in my course and maybe a 'B' or 'C' in another course you'll drop below First Class"
Siji's fear had always been dropping below First Class, hence the Prof's words went through his veins like chilled water. The Prof was still talking.
"I just finished marking your script, not the one you did here yesterday, the one you wrote in the examination hall. It was very poor. You'd have failed my course if not for your course work. You only managed to score a 'D'"
The chilled water in Siji's veins froze up, a million thoughts ran through his mind but he could not make himself talk.
"Tell me something Adesiji." the Prof continued. It was the first time he would call him by his given name. It had always been Adebambi,  'you' or some less pleasant nouns or pronouns.
"Was what you did here yesterday exactly what you did at the exam hall?"
"Yes sir."
"Exactly the same thing? Nothing Changed? Not even the final answer to one of the questions?"
"It was the same thing, even to decimal places."
Jasper knew it was exactly the same, he only needed to hear it from the young man himself. He thought deeply for awhile, then made his decision. "I think something is going wrong son." The endearment was a strange thing too but Siji had no time to dwell on that.
"How do you mean sir?"
Instead of answering his question, Jasper said. "This is what I want you to do, call for the remarking of all your scripts, from last session to this semester."
"How is that possible? Even if it can be done, you know doing that would turn all the lecturers in the department against me"
"Not if I am involved, I would have a word with the HOD. You just write the letter and submit it to the secretary of the department, first thing Monday morning, and I'll follow it up from there. I would have asked you call from two years back but most lecturers would have disposed the scripts, I have your scripts from three sessions ago, and I have gone through them. Something is just not right."
Siji did not know what the Prof was talking about nor did he know why he wanted to help him but he was willing to do anything possible not to fall from First Class.
"Okay sir, thank you sir."
"Don't thank me yet, let's see how it plays out first." Jasper said smiling his very rare smile, then he was all serious again "that will be all for now Adebambi, but I'll like to see the letter before you submit it"
"Okay, thank you sir" Siji said again, before he could stop himself, and left the office.

                            ★★★

Jasper pondered on what he was about to do, after Siji left his office.
---why am I trying to go this far to help him?---- he asked himself. ---I can just give him an A in my course and he will be safe---
Aside the fact that he hated the fraud that was obviously being perpetrated, he had grown so fond of the young man. He had been intrigued by both of his students. The seemingly smartest and brightest one and the one with the best CGPA. That was why he had picked them to be his students. He had had questions, and they had been answered. But what he had found out while searching for answers to his questions had been shocking. He needed to fix things.

                           ★★★

The first thing Siji did as he left Jasper's office was to call Pago.
"Guy, how far?" Pago answered sleepily
"Guess what?" Siji said
"You finally slept with Ese." Pago said jokingly. It was a normal thing for Pago to say but he struck a cord giving how Siji had spent his night. Siji was silent for a while, longer than usual it seems, for Pago prompted "Hello? Are you there?"
"Yeah, not that" Siji replied "I just left Jasper's office now."
"What did he want with you this time? You wrote another exam?"
"No, he asked me to call all my exam scripts from last session for remarking"
"What! Is he crazy?" Pago was fully awake now. "How is that possible? Does he want you to get into trouble with the lecturers?"
"He said I shouldn't worry about that, that he will have a word with the HOD, he said something isn't right. I don't really understand him. But I may end up falling below First Class if I don't go along with him."
"Are you going to do it? Pago asked incredulously
"Of course, I don't seem to have a choice here if I want to graduate with my desired grade. He said I barely passed EEE 504."
"Siji, calling for one paper is bad enough, but all your scripts for two sessions, that's academic suicide. You may end up not graduating with your mates. The time it will take to remark everything, then the victimization that will follow. I don't think it's a good idea."
"Neither do I, but Jasper gave me his word. There is definitely something he is seeing that I'm not seeing. I'm willing to take the risk, with him backing me. It's a risk worth taking"
"Okay, if you insist" Pago resigned reluctantly "all the best in your quest."
"Thanks bro, that's what I need, your support."
"You know I'm here if you need me."
"Yea, I do, got to go now, later."
"Later."

                          ★★★

 Pago's heart was beating fast as he dropped his handset on the bed. He was now very sure that Jasper was on to him. Why else would he ask Siji to call his script for remarking?
---This could not be happening to me, not now, not at the eleventh hour. Everything was working just fine before the busybody Prof came into the picture. I can't let this happen, I have to think fast---
He looked by his side, sleeping beside him, satiated and drained was Stella. A plan began to form in his head.

About the Author.

 Soji Adeola Ayanleke was born about 3 decades ago in Kano.

He studied Electronic and Electrical Engineering at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, he speaks Yoruba and Hausa fluently and he is trying to learn Igbo and Spanish. His hobbies are reading, writing and playing some indoor games.

 

ENVY 28

Ese was happy. She had finished her exams and she just got approval from her supervisor to go and print her write-up. In a few days time she would be done with everything that has to do with her undergraduate program. She felt like celebrating and only one person came to mind. She called his number and he picked it as if he had been waiting for her, by his phone
"Hello babe." the voice she had come to love said.
"Hey baby." she cooed into her phone "guess what?"
"You know I am not good at guessing"
"Oh! You spoil-sport"
"Will you tell me what it is or do I have to beg? You know I can dobale if you insist" he joked and she could just imagine him smiling into the phone.
"Go joor, you've spoilt the fun already." she said pouting, then rush on  "anyways, my supervisor just approved all my chapters and asked me to go to print."
"Waoh! That's good news. I am happy for you sweet, I wish I have the same luck with mine."
"Is Jasper giving you troubles again? I thought you guys are cool."
"Yes we are, it's just that...... he did something funny today."
"Funny? Hope it's good funny and not bad funny?"
About the Author
 
"Hmmmmm.... I really don't know how to classify it. Let's just say it's funny funny."
"Alright, you'll tell me everything at the dinner tonight?"
"Dinner?"
"Siji don't tell me you've forgotten about my departmental FYB dinner, I told you about it last week and asked you to come."
"Oh! How can I forget about such a thing? It's just that it's been a funny day and I was a bit taken aback by the way you mentioned dinner."
"Better, I should be ready by 8pm, pick me up at my apartment"
"Alright dear."
"Don't be late please. I don't wanna miss anything, I feel like partying."
"Yes ma'am"
"See ya, love ya."
"Love ya, see ya."
                            ★★★
Immediately Siji dropped the call, he rushed to his wardrobe to check if his suit was still there, and he gave an exaggerated sigh of relief when he saw it hanging. He actually had forgotten about the dinner but he dared not tell Ese. He was not the party kind and he did not plan to go for his departmental party but he dared not tell Ese he would not be going for hers. He had saved enough to buy the suit for his project defence, now he would be wearing it to her  FYB dinner first.
                           ★★★
She opened the door for him and hugged him tightly, breathing in the scent of his cologne and aftershave, it was a heady feeling and she was reluctant to release him. His hands were round her waist, resting just above her backside. The sexual vibe between them had somewhat increased lately and they could both feel it. They released each other after a while and she looked at him from head to toe.

"Waoh! You've never been this handsome baby" she said, and she meant it. Siji had really cleaned up. He had shaved leaving a little attractive moustache and goatee, his afro was well combed and the hair was very black, making a dark contrast to his fair skin. The suit also became him, accentuating his broad shoulders and lean waist. He was a masterpiece and she was proud he was hers.
"Thanks dear, you are stunning too"
She wore a purple sleeveless dinner gown  that reached up to her knees and just tight enough to bring out her figure. Her braids were packed like a crown on her head to reveal her long delicate neck which was adorned with a gold necklace, the jewellery rested on her bosom.
"Thank you." she said, then added "You're late."
"Am sorry, it was because I couldn't borrow Pago's ride, he has a date with Stella. I had to sweet talk Kalu to lend me his"
"Oh! That's sweet but you shouldn't have gone through all the trouble, the conference centre isn't that far off from here."
"I thought it wouldn't be cool for you to walk to the venue." he said, then added jokingly "but I can take the car back now, then we'd walk or take a bike and I  wouldn't have to be in Kalu's debt."
"You would do no such thing. Since you've borrowed it, we will as well use it." she said then added "By the way, I never knew Kalu has a car, Teju never mentioned it."
"He just got it this semester. You know he still has a session to go, then after that his housemanship. And the distance from where he stays to the medical school is quite long. He said it was easy convincing his parents that he needs a ride."
    He opened the door for her when they got to the car. She smiled and said after he turned around and got in "you don't have to work at being a gentleman with me, I might get used to it."
"I want you to get used to it." he said seriously
"I was just kidding."
"I know, but I am not. I know you deserve more than what I am doing, more than what I can give to you now."
"Siji, I am contented with what you are doing, it's enough just to know you are there for me."
"It's just.... sometimes I feel."
"It's okay baby, I understand your limitations. I know you wish you can do more, and I believe you will in time. Now we have a dinner to attend and we are running late"
He started the car without saying a word.
                       ★★★
"So what's it about Jasper? You said he was behaving funny" Ese asked as Siji poured their wine. The hall was already filled and the program on the way when they had both entered. Siji had been a bit uneasy with the stares they had got as they walked in. He was not used to being the centre of attention, but Ese had loved it. It was the first chance she had to show him off to her classmates. She had relished the stares, especially from the females, as she  walked by Siji's side to their table. 
"Yea, he called me to his office this afternoon, which was quite unusual on its own. He never called even though he had our numbers"
"So what did he want?"
"When I got to his office, he was all suspiciously nice at first, then he asked me to rewrite his exams, exactly the same paper we did a day before"
"And he didn't tell you why?"
"No, just that since I did it before, I should be able to do it again."
"Maybe he lost your script."
"I thought about that too, but Jasper is not the kind to misplace stuffs like that"
"So what do you think?"
"I really don't know what to think, it has been on my mind ever since I left his office."
"Don't worry about it too much, I don't think it's anything serious. Besides, you should be thinking about me this night, and nothing or no one else."
"Don't you think I know that dear?"
"Good."
The dinner progressed, awards were given. Ese got two awards, one as the most brilliant and the other as best dressed female. Soon it was time to dance and a few couples and some singles went to the dance floor.
Dancing was not Siji's forte, so he sat and watched as Ese danced with a number of guys. Watching her dance was quite entertaining, she was a pretty good dancer and he marveled at how she moved her body undulatingly to the rhythm of the hip hop. She danced with so much ease.
As it approached midnight, the music changed from hip hop to R and B. Only few couples where left on the dance floor holding hands and dancing to the slow rhythm. Ese walked to their table.
"Come dance with me Siji" she said when she got to him.
"Aren't you tired?" He asked
"Tired? I can't be too tired to dance with you. Oya stand up let's dance."
"You know dancing isn't my thing."
"Don't worry dear, you'll follow my lead. The night won't be complete without me dancing with you, come on." She pulled him by the hand and he reluctantly followed her to the dance floor
"Just move with me." she said as she placed his hands on her waist and placed hers on his chest. He felt awkward initially, but he followed her nonetheless. He mistakenly stepped on her toes.
"Sorry dear."
"Just follow my lead, you are thinking too much, just let yourself go." she said smiling up at him. He still gave her about two inches despite her four-inch heels. He soon got the steps and it was great, he was actually dancing and enjoying it.
"You see, just slow and steady." she said in an unsteady breath
He nodded, not wanting to risk talking for fear of how his voice would sound. She was so close he could breathe her in, her perfume was pleasant. He moved his hands up and down her back but he was careful not to go below her waist, her face was just the same level with his neck and she rubbed her cheeks against his neck every now and then.
He started feeling that familiar stirring in his loins. He did his utmost to stop it but he could not. She looked up at him again, this time smiling with a smirk and he knew she could feel it too. He smiled down at her impishly, slightly embarrassed.
"Let's go to my place." she said. It was not just a statement, it was a question too. Without saying a word, he started walking out of the room, pulling her along with him.
                            ★★★
They said nothing to each other, as he drove to her apartment, they needed not say anything, they could both feel the field, it was almost palpable.
They wordlessly attacked each other as they entered her room, hands fumbling around buttons and zippers, legs kicking off shoes in a haste, clothes flying all over. They were soon on the bed, lips interlocked. He was the first to speak, releasing her lips long enough to ask "Are you sure Ese?"
"Yes" she replied as she pulled his head down...
About the Author

 

 Soji Adeola Ayanleke was born about 3 decades ago in Kano.

He studied Electronic and Electrical Engineering at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, he speaks Yoruba and Hausa fluently and he is trying to learn Igbo and Spanish. His hobbies are reading, writing and playing some indoor games.

ENVY 27

August, 2004

Rain

Siji made the sign of the cross countless times before he knocked on the office door. He was acting silly, even to himself. There was no need for him to be nervous, his project was going on fine and nearing completion, the only thing slowing it down was his final semester examinations.
He knew he had impressed the Prof. The last time he had met with the Prof to update him on his progress, the Prof had nodded more than once and said "good". For a man who hardly gave out praises, that was more than an A grade, and Siji was smiling from ear to ear when he left the office that day. He also decided that day, that he would not see the Prof until after his exams. He had an examination to face and since his relationship with his supervisor was good, he need not stress himself unnecessarily
--So why am I now nervous?-- he asked himself.
It was because of the way the Prof had sounded on phone. The Prof had never called him even though he had had his number from the outset, same for Pago. Hence it was no small surprise when Siji had picked a call from an unknown number and heard the thick voice say gruffly
"it's your project supervisor, come to my office right away"
He needed not introduce himself. The voice that Siji would have recognized even in his dreams was not changed by the transmission process it went through.
"Don't break my office door down, come on in" the voice called from inside the office. Siji entered and closed the door gently behind him. The Prof was seated behind his desk and was staring into a scandalously mighty text book with his horn-rimmed glasses hanging on his nose as usual. Siji stood uneasily in the middle of the office waiting to be acknowledged. After waiting for what seemed like an eternity, the Prof without looking away from the textbook said "You look unkempt. Where were you when I called?"
--when did my appearance start becoming a thing of a concern to this man-- Siji thought as he quickly attempted to straighten his rumple shirt and adjust the flying collar. There was nothing he could do to his uncombed afro.
"I was at the hostel, in my room" he thought it would not be wise to add that the call had made him abandon the meal he had been eating.
The Prof looked up then and smiled at him
--that was a first--  Siji thought
"Please do have a seat" he said waving to the seat facing him across the desk.
---another first---
He smiled back uneasily as he sat down wondering what the Prof was up to. ---Why is he so nice?--- hope he isn't trying to fatten the bull before leading it to it's slaughter?---
"I want you to solve this again for me" he said immediately Siji sat down . He was all business again and the transformation was quite seamless. He gave Siji an answer booklet and a question paper. Siji looked at the question paper, surprised. "Sir, this was the paper we did yesterday" he protested.
"Don't you think I know? I want you to solve it again"
"But.....but...but"
"You did it yesterday yourself right?"
"Of course sir."
"Good, then you should be able to reproduce what you did yesterday." the Prof said and continued reading his textbook. Siji sat there looking at the questions and wondering for the second time that afternoon what this was all about.
"Your time starts now, you've got two hours thirty minutes." The Prof said startling Siji from his thoughts.
"I will need a pen and a calculator sir."
"That won't be a problem" the Prof said as he fetched a pen and a calculator from the desk's drawer and gave them to him.
Siji's first instinct was to rush through the questions, but on second thought he decided to take his time. He took his time as if he were in an ideal exam situation. It took him about an hour to finish since they were all familiar questions. He went through his solutions just one time then submitted to the Prof.
"I am done sir"
"Oh! Good" he said, then collected the answer booklet and flung it to a corner of his office as if it were some garbage. It landed a midst some dusty papers.
---Really? That's how you're gonna treat my work after all?--- Siji thought but said aloud. "Is that all sir?"
"Of course, that's all. You may go now." He replied, dismissing him.
                               ★★★

Pago was waiting for him in his room when he got back.
"Where did you go to for so long that you didn't lock your door? I have been here waiting for an hour."
"I actually forgot to lock it in my hurry."
"Where did you hurry to?"
"You won't believe me if I tell you"
"Try me"
"Jasper called me."
"Called you how?"
"On phone."
"Really? Are you serious? He's never called us on phone before. It must have been something important."
"Exactly what I thought, and he sounded even more serious than his usual self. I had to leave my meal half finished and rush to White House"
"What did he want?"
"He asked me to do yesterday's paper again."
"I really don't get you, which one?"
"His course na, EEE 504."
"Why?"
"That's the question on my mind too"
"He gave no reasons?
"No, he dismissed me immediately I was through."
"Maybe he lost your script or something happened to it and he needed to grade you since he knew you did the exams." Pago offered.
"Maybe, I thought of that too but I am not convinced that's the reason, Jasper is not the kind to misplace scripts, he is too meticulous."
Pago wasn't convinced that that was the reason either, and it made him very worried. He needed to know what the Prof was up to. It may be nothing but it can also be something. Was Jasper on to something?

                            ★★★

"Immediately Siji closed the door to his office, Jasper stood up and walked to the corner of his office to retrieve the booklet had he flung. He took it to his desk and brought out the other exam booklets, assignments sheets, and handwritten chapters of the projects of both of his students. He had always been amazed at the similarities in their hand writings. And from the assignments and quizzes they had obviously helped each other write, he had also proven to himself that each of them can so imitate the other in writing that it would take a very careful observer like himself to spot any difference . He opened the exam booklet of the paper from the day before and compared it with the one he just retrieved. He smiled sadly as he looked at both of them. He was very sure he was staring at the work of one person. Not only were the writings exactly the same, the steps taken to solve the questions and inferences drawn from each solved questions were exactly the same too. Two people's work can't be this similar, not even by plagiarism. He closed both booklets to check the back covers once again though he already knew what he would see. The matriculation numbers on both booklets were different, one ending with 3, the other with 8.

About the Author

 Soji Adeola Ayanleke was born about 3 decades ago in Kano.

He studied Electronic and Electrical Engineering at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, he speaks Yoruba and Hausa fluently and he is trying to learn Igbo and Spanish. His hobbies are reading, writing and playing some indoor games.