SEASON ONE

 

MY NEMESIS part three (3)

*DAPHNE* .

 

The walk home was usually a long one. Often times when I had extra money, I would pick an okada home. Today, the walk wasn't long, and even though usually, there were many faces on my way home, and some shop owners close to my apartment whom I usually joke with on my way home, I'll bet I saw no one and no one spoke to me. It suddenly downed on me that I was oblivious of my walk home totally, it's like lost in thoughts I just found myself at home.

 

Not looking at the door, I fumbled my hand in my purse trying to locate my key, I couldn't find it. I looked harder, and there it was at the corner of my purse, 👛. My legs were still weak I had to get in, sit down and get myself ready to question myself and answer myself and then curse myself. I have had this kind of conversations with myself countless times.

 

Looking at the door it wasn't locked and that could mean only one thing—Debbie was inside. I replaced my key in my purse and walked reluctantly inside.

"I was expecting it to take longer than this, e be like people no plenty today be that ba?" Debbie said inquisitively. I didn't answer her I walked straight to the foot of the bed, sat myself down, reached a hand, took two pillows kept one on my laps and one behind my back and laid on it slowly and I was facing the ceiling blankly. In between her makeup, Debbie was still blabbing something I couldn't hear or maybe I heard but I was just ignoring her. I wasn't ready to tell her my tale, she would laugh at me. Now that I have decided not to talk to her she said something that caught my attention "abi dem poshu you comot say u be under age" "under age kill you there, me weh old finish" I said. "You weh old sotey you no geh boyfriend" She was at it again. I couldn't stretch it further, Usually we never kept secrets, at least not about boyfriends and stuff like that. I had to tell her. 

"I didn't do it" I said in a give-up-tone. "Didn't do what the PVC??" "Yes" I affirmed. "Why, too many people?" I nodded my head in negation "guess who I saw" I asked, this time with more energy. "George" she said with glee

 

"Nope" I said. "Bossy junior" she guess again smiling. I nodded my head in negation. "Remember Ephy?" I said, but she looked confused "Azin I-F-I" I stressed just like he did the day I met him "oh! now I do" she said with her face glaring the more. I had told Debbie about Ephraim, the day I met him, the kind of chill I felt down to my stomach just from his words and how clumsy I became, and left. I even told her how I saw him countless times after that day. I would hide yet, I'd wish he sees me and he wouldn't. I would go home cursing myself asking myself why I didn't go to say hi to him. 

 

"I saw him again, infact I stood next to him" I said

"And...?" She asked with an interest and intent to hear more. I didn't speak. Then for a moment she started drawing her conclusions or probably trying to persuade me to talk. She loved such gists. "Oh so he didn't recognize you, you could have told him it's you nah... Abi he ignored you?" "Far from that" I said then what?? She inquired with more interest. "He did recognize me, he wanted to talk to me but I ran away" I said and sank back in my bed. She kept her face as though she was dumbfounded. I told her every single detail of what had happened, even how I felt the moment I saw him again. She still had that dumbfounded face and then all of a sudden she began to laugh hysterically. "See the reason I kept quiet in the first place?" I said and then she controlled her fakingkly-louded-laghter. "Why on earth would you do that?" And then I began to pour out my mind. 

 

"I was scared, have you ever thought of telling a guy you love him? Have you imagined how odd that sounds? he hasn't even indicated any interest in me and I like him this much, what will I do if he finally do? And on top of it, he looks too flirty. Oh gosh! He's always like he would be the king of wooing, you know, from the way he speaks je you go know say this one na bad guy... But somehow I still see gentleness in him. Thruth is I don't even know what to do." I paused, Debbie was just looking at me with her mouth wide open. "You must think me stupid" I resolved, "I'm here getting all worked up about someone who hasn't even said a word to me and I jeopardized the only chance I had of speaking to him".

 

Before she could utter another word, I begged her. "Debbie pls let's close this topic for today". She just shrugged and went back to her makeup. She knew I was getting depressed and upset with myself. I get too emotional at times.

 

"And your PVC?" her voice came on again. Tomorrow is going to be the last day, so I'd go again" I said and silently prayed I'd see him again.

Will she still run if she sees Ephraim again?? 
Will Ephraim be able to speak in case he sees her? 

*Watch out for the next episode next Sunday.

SEASON ONE

 

MY NEMESIS part two (2)

*EPHRAIM*

 

I began to wonder if she hates me that much. Could she hate me just like that without even knowing who I am? 

The first time I saw her, was kinda different. At least she spoke that day. I can still remember It was in a retail shop close to my apartment. I had gone to get some detergents. And for the first time ... No, actually, for the second time in my life I saw someone who made my heart skipped a beat. 

 

At moments like this, I usually don speak cuz I fear I may puke. But fortunately at least, that day I left my cowardice self at home and took my flirting self. "My name is Ephraim but people often call me Ephy—yeah as in I-F-I," I said, stressing it  in a way that sounded more like a joke. She smiled, was she smiling because I wore only a vest to cover my chest? Well, it was a bit dark but the smile wasn't hidden, it was pleasant she was definitely damn beautiful. She looked at me for a moment and then she turned cold. I couldn't even tell but she became clumsy. "I'm Daphne" she managed to say. "You live around here?" I could swear she didn't want to answer the last question but some heavenly spirit must have compelled her and she muttered "yes I do" and hurriedly she left. I went home with this feeling you get when you achieve something. I just couldn't figure what I had achieved. 

 

The following day I asked around, no heads or tails. I began to wonder if I had seen a spirit yesterday. Well, I wouldn't be shocked, she was too beautiful to be human. I was just unlucky. As if that wasn't enough, my younger brother began to do what he does best—to tease me. After a lot of insults, he finally said "I have good news for you" 

I knew it was another prank of his, but deep down I was expecting good news sure it was. Only that it was barely useless.

 

"She graduate for my school, na she be head girl dah time. And the good news be say she don get admission for this una prestigious family University". He said the last words almost in-between a laugh. I knew he was talking about Benue State University.(BSU) And that was it; that was all I ever heard of her. I never heard anything more about her. But believe me, I never for once forgot her face and the thoughts of her, the innocent looks in her eyes always kept me on my toes.

 

After a very long time, I finally saw Daphne again yesterday... Things work well when the devil is asleep. A very nice angel who must have known that the devil was still sleeping pushed her on the queue right behind me.

 

I have always been adamant about coming to get my PVC ( permanent voters card). But somehow a good heavenly being must have been behind pushing me to go for it. It must be angel Gabriel because he made sure that I went to the right place—where I would find Daphne. The Redeemed christian church was nearer to my house but I preferred to go to the school Chaplaincy. No wonder, it was for a worthwhile reason. There was beautiful Daphne right behind me.

 

Fate is cunning, it never does anything completely well. Somehow, I forgot my flirting self at home and my cowardice self was there looking for a reason to turn behind and steal a glance at the Pretty face behind me. What a pity!

 

I stood, there lost in thoughts, for almost an hour, thinking of what to say. The line wasn't even moving fast. 

 

"Welcome to BSU where we do everything on queue.  Yet, nothing goes well" Phizzy my course mate said. I knew she was referring to Daphne because she was the only 'year one' student close to us and maybe she was uneasy. And here came that opportunity to talk to her. I turned as though to face Phizzy but Somewhere within me, my flirty self, that bold me, that talking me sprang out at the sight of her so I faced her. Oh she was the truest definition of 'pulchritude'. Just a look at her face and I had a million things to say. But then something happened. My luck had died maybe the devil was now awake, she turned back spitefully and left for God knows where. She acted like she was impelled by an impulse. I wanted follow but no, I knew better what my course mates, especially Ricky and Phizzy would do if I followed her.

The good news be say na the only place weh remain to do PVC for Makurdi be this. I was sure she would come back the next day. I consoled myself with that and I let go thoughts of cursing myself for not following her.

 

I did the process that day but I just spent the rest of that day idling around smiling sheepishly.

Watch out for episode 3 next Sunday.