It's a Sunday morning and although I should be in bed, I'm all over the place trying on clothes upon clothes.
I haven't been to Eric's place before, since he's mostly always coming over to mine. So, since he couldn't make it today, I decide to go over instead.
The materials for my joint business with Dare have been bought the day before. I ran out of thread last night, and since it's a Sunday, hardly any shops are opened.
Once I'm done dressing up, I grab my bag, food flask. On my way out, I meet Amanda in the hallway.
"Good morning," she says.
"Good morning."
"I see you're also on your way to church."
I spot the Bible in her hand. "Oh. No, I'm on my way to a friend's."
"So you won't be going to church today?"
"I go to church on Saturdays."
"Really? But I don't see you leave your house on Saturdays."
Is this one spying on me?
"That's because my kind of church isn't around this place," I tell her.
"Ah. Debby. Debby." She gives me a suspicious look.
"I'm serious," I say, laughing.
"You know lying is a sin."
"Why would I lie to you about something like that?"
She shrugs. "I don't know. You tell me."
I let out a faint chuckle. "I'm being honest. I go to church on Saturdays. Haven't you heard of people that do?"
"Well, I have."
"See."
"But the fact that your church isn't around here doesn't mean you shouldn't go to church."
"True. But my church is different and I'm used to it. I can't go anywhere else and feel comfortable."
"Hmm!"
"I'm serious!"
"Okay. I want to invite you to my own church. I'm not sure it's like your church, but I can promise you you'll like it there."
Scrunching up a part of my face, I scratch my neck. "I just told you—"
"I know what you said, but give us a chance. Lord's Fellowship is a place for everyone. Trust me."
I really don't want to go, but turning her down will only make it look like I've been lying the whole time. Like I just didn't want to go to church.
"Okay," I give in. "But not today. I already planned to go see a friend of mine."
"No problem. Next week Sunday. We always start 9 am sharp."
"Okay. Take care then." I'm on my way out when I see Diamond coming up with Annie.
They're both dressed in long, Ankara dresses of different colours, and I'm sure they're coming back from morning mass — since the two of them are Catholics. Aside from their religious beliefs being the same, they're both very different characters who get along well.
"Hey, Annie.”
"Sup, Debby. You're just on your way to church?" She asks.
"This one that's a pagan," Diamond says.
"Diamond!" Annie exclaims, although chuckling.
I shoot Diamond a glare. "I'm not a pagan.”
"How many times have you gone to church since you resumed?" Diamond asks me.
"She said her church isn't around here," Amanda tells them.
"Abegi. This one will just be giving excuses," Diamond says and enters the house.
Annie climbs the rest of the stairs and comes to me. "Don't listen to her. That girl has no filter, so her words always sound harsh."
Annie's explanation does nothing to ease my mind as my frown deepens.
"That's why I don't even like that girl," Amanda says. "She's too rude."
"If you like, like me, do I care?" Diamond shouts as she comes out of her room and heads our way as Amanda begins to climb down. "See her. Holy Mary, mother of Jesus. Na you go go heaven sef."
"Ashawo!" Amanda calls back.
"Your papa!" Diamond widens ten of her fingers and points them at Amanda.
"Diamond, it's okay," Annie says and I start to leave too. "Debby, bye-bye o."
I simply nod and keep going.
"Diamond," I hear Annie try to call her to order.
"Abegi," Diamond snaps.
***
Following the directions Eric texted me, I get to his place but don't enter because he said to wait at the gate.
My back is turned to the closed gate when I hear it being opened. Upon turning, I'm shocked to see Mariam.
She looks me up and down, her fixed, long eyelashes sweeping the air as she sneers. "Even in university, you're still following my boyfriend up and down.”
...
Words/phrases and their meaning:
* Abegi: please!
* Na you go go heaven sef: you'll be the one to go to heaven
* Ashawo: prostitute
Nothing interests me.The guys are filled with enthusiasm as they take turns playing a game of PES, Mariam talking with two girls at one corner of the living room.I'm seated on the armchair adjacent the guys, my legs pressed together as I ask myself over and over again why I'm here. Nothing was stopping me from going back home when I saw Mariam at the gate except my coconut head.Eric only said a hello, not even sparing me a glance as he furiously played against the guys, making a mockery of every one of them that steps in to challenge him.My pee threatens to spill, so I maintain a tightly closed laps. I don't know why now. Why of all times my bladder chose now to be a bastard.Despite my efforts, I can't hold it in any longer. I've been waiting to see if Eric will lose, but it's obvious I
Maybe Amanda is right. I don't think I'm ready for a relationship — even though there's no one to have a relationship with.Perhaps it's for the best that Eric has Mariam. It gives me the chance to be serious with other things in my life: like school, sewing and many other things that I can't think of at the moment.For dramatic effect, I scroll over to my dramatic playlist and play a song that fits how I'm feeling.Confident by Demi Lovato begins as I fold my bandana and scrutinize it to be sure the shape is perfect before tying it around my head.I'm careful not to mess up my room as I pick out a dress and shoes, gather my books into my bag and then check the mirror. There's a new pimple on my forehead, and although I want to pop it, I stay away. Popping it only worsens it, the internet said.
“You told me you didn't give him your number,” Eric says.After our eyes locked, he came and asked me to follow him. Mariam, who had just walked out of the canteen, didn't look so happy to see us together. But I didn't mind her as I followed Eric, mouthing an apology to Caleb when he saw me leaving from afar.We're in one of the empty halls close to where we receive lectures.“I didn't think it'll turn out like this,” I say, unable to meet his gaze.“You didn't think it'll turn out like this?” Eric repeats, disappointment clear in his tone. “Dora, what did I tell you when that man first called you aside? I said that man is worse than the devil's incarnate. What did you think that meant? That it was just a metaphor I was toying with?”“I'm sorry.”
My dress is missing.First, my underwear. Now, my dress. Anger stirs within me, flooding my veins even as I try to stay calm.I love that dress. I made it myself. That dress is the first complicated dress I ever got right on my own, and now, it's missing.As I rummage in my bag, I'm on the verge of tears.It has to be here somewhere, I keep telling myself. Yet, as I dig deeper into my wardrobe, search my bags and hanger, I realize that it's nowhere amidst my stuff. Even my drying rack is empty.Storming out of the balcony, I try to think up a prime suspect amongst my flatmates. There's no way my dress could've grown wings and flown away. Someone must have taken it. But who? Who could've stolen my dress?When I knock on Amanda's door, and she says to come in, I immediately strike her off my list.The only furniture in her room is the flatbed she
“You still haven't told me why you threw that fine flower away,” Annie tells me while we're talking — with Amanda included — in the living room.I'm still contemplating my reply, when Diamond storms into the house, sending all of us to our feet.Upon seeing her swollen cheeks and tears leaking from her black eye, we run toward her.“Diamond.” I gasp as she covers her face.“What happened to you?” Annie asks.“Blood of Jesus,” Amanda says with her hands over her mouth.Diamond doesn't answer anybody as she goes straight to her room and locks the door.The three of us exchange puzzled glances, each asking a question of our own with no one to give us answers.***
The men in the living room have every girl confused, except Diamond who's ecstatic as she tells them where to put the rug, chairs, TV and tables of different sizes.“Diamond, what's happening here?” Annie goes to ask Diamond while we trail her.“Can't you see what's happening?”“I can see what's happening, but what I don't understand is... Did you buy all these?”“No. Charles did.”Charles? Her boyfriend.I can't believe how easy Diamond is; this guy literally pounded on her, leaving bruises that prevented her from leaving the house until they were completely healed. Rather than dumping his ass, she's here smiling like it's totally normal to be pulverized by your fellow human being, as long as they've got money to satisfy your needs. It's quite s
All that rings in my head is, “I don't owe you anything, so no”, thus, making it hard to grasp a word Eric is saying.Maybe it's true he doesn't owe me anything, but I simply can't get over his straight face and the tone he used. It's what's messing with my brain. It's what has me realizing Eric will never see me as someone more than just a friend. It's what has me understanding that I should just give this whole thing up.Eric lets out a groan, his eyes shut tightly as he leans back to look at him.I stare at the equation he's been trying to teach me for the past thirty minutes, refusing to meet his gaze because I know I'll only see the frustration I'm causing him.“What's wrong?” he asks, shutting the book I'm staring at, and it forces me to look at him.I return my gaze to the book.
I can't sleep.Not because Eric is right beside me, but because my latest revelation won't stop taunting me. It makes me feel stupid. No wonder Eric will never like me. I'll only be weighing him down.This thought has had me up for a long while, only staring at Eric when he takes a deep breath. Why in the world did I think a guy like Eric will like someone like me? My brain cells aren't even complete, neither are my facial features something to write about.If I'm a guy and I have to choose between myself and Mariam, I'll definitely go for Mariam. Not only is she beautiful, but her brain cells aren't as dormant as mine.“You can't sleep?” Eric's voice startles me.He inhales deeply as he turns over to lay on his side, his fist under his cheek.“I