EPISODE THIRTEEN
Theme: Gay uncle
Arike's POV
"Wait...Arike.." he grabbed my elbow before I reached for the door. I looked down at his hold on me.
"Bamidele.." I placed my hand on his. "You don't have to open up to me if you don't want to." I said but hoping he would just tell me everything.
He shook his head. "I will tell you everything. Please stay with me." His eyes pleaded with me.
"Okay..okay..let's seat down." I said.
He motioned towards the couch to sit down.
Bamidele heaved a sigh as he started off. "My parents died in a plane when I was 12."
"Oh..I am sorry about that..." I mumbled.
He nodded in acknowledgement. "They were out for a vacation out of the country."
"You survived the crash?" I asked without thinking. What a silly question!
Of course! Bamidele wouldn't have survived a plane crash without sustaining a permanent injury.
"No, I wasn't with them. My dad sent me off to his younger brother's home at Abuja. No one knew that they would never return home." He closed his eyes for some seconds.
"We travelled back to Lagos for their burial. And after that my uncle took over my father's company and decided to raise me too. It was just the two of us, my uncle was so young...and I didn't know he was gay until I turned 15."
"You never suspected him?" I asked.
He looked at me. "Well..let's say I noticed some things about him that was strange but it didn't occur to me that he could be gay."
"Like what?"
"Despite the fact that we had several rooms in our home, my uncle never allowed me sleep alone. I always wake up to him cuddling me. And he always insist on bathing me even at 14."
My eyes widened a bit. "I became uncomfortable around him when he toyed with my di*k while I was taking a shower."
Bamidele shut his eyes tight again. "And that was how it all started. He made me believe that loving a woman was a waste of time. He said that it was better to be with another man who understands how it feels to be a man."
My jaw dropped in shock. "What's sort of theory is that?!"
"That was his own belief. I was so little and naive that I believed everything he said to me even though I knew it wasn't right to love a man. At the same time I couldn't fight it. It became so hard for me to know what's right or wrong." He rubbed his temples.
Pity stirred within me for him. "He made me do all sort of things with him until I couldn't control my feelings anymore. I..I..." He paused and sighed. "I fell in love with my uncle." He said soberly.
"I found it really hard to love a girl, everytime I was drawn to a man. I hated the girls in my school because of the stories my uncle told me about the women who broke his heart."
"Why didn't you talk to someone?" I asked.
Bamidele looked at me. "There was no one I could talk to..." He paused.
"Maybe at some point...I didn't...want to speak up... because I love..my uncle. Basically, I enjoyed being with him." This time he didn't even try to meet my gaze.
"So you just let him -"
He interrupted me. "And it continued like that till I gained admission. I already had many gay friends,home and abroad. So it wasn't really hard connecting with the gays at the University."
"So..the issue with Adedayo -"
"I got attracted to Adedayo the first day I met him. You..know...as the son of the famous Mr Awosika..we all wanted him in our group. He didn't want to join us or be my... girlfriend. He was so stubborn and it annoyed my boys." He explained.
"So you sent them after him?"
"No, he threatened to report us to the school authority and even the police. His threats annoyed us and so we decided to teach him a lesson." He said sincerely.
"What he didn't know was that I begged my group to not kill him. I didn't want them to hurt him because of what I felt for him...so they spared him but on the note that they couldn't kill him because he was the son of a well known business man."
"You saved his life." I added.
"Maybe..." He nodded. "I tried to apologize to him but he avoided me and asked me to never come to him again."
"Do you want to tell why and how you stopped being gay?" I asked after a moment of silence.
"It was really hard being that my uncle never wanted me to be with any woman. I wanted to stop because of what Dayo said to me. His words...kept ringing in my ears."
I can imagine Dayo words to Bamidele. Oh God! That guy knows how to use words on people.
"He said I was worst than the devil. And some day the law I was studying would be used against me and no one would be able to save me."
"He must have said more terrible things to you."
"He was right." He rubbed his palms together. "I thought about his words and realized that as an aspiring lawyer I didn't want me name in the headline news. And knowing that being gay was a crime in this country, I became desperate to quit the act."
"So I spoke to my Uncle..." He paused.
"So did he agree to you not being gay anymore?"
"No he said I was insane and there was no backing out."
"So what did you do?"
"I threatened to report him to the police if he doesn't stop coming to me."
"He let you be after the threat?"
"Yes..for a while but deep down I needed something permanent."
"What did you do?"
"I gave my life to Christ and asked God to forgive me for my wrongdoings. I left home so my uncle wouldn't change my mind. I took the bar exam and passed it...shut my uncle and my gay friends out completely. It wasn't easy but I broke free from being gay with God's intervention." He sighed
That was a long story. I am really out of words. I don't even know what to say to him. But at least I know the reason why he became a gay. And deep down in my heart, I am happy Bamidele wasn't gay anymore.
**************************************************************
I met Adedayo waiting in front of my door when I drove into the compound.
"Why haven't you been picking up my calls?" Dayo asked.
"I was busy." I replied sharply.
"Arike... Arike..." He followed me into my apartment.
"Dayo..I am really tired and I need to rest." I pulled off my heels and flopped down on the couch.
"I don't understand what's going on between us?" Dayo was in front of me when I reopened my eyes.
"Nothing is wrong."
"No..no.. everything is wrong. Nothing is okay between us."
I rubbed my temples. "We are fine."
Dayo settled down beside me. "Did I do anything wrong? Tell me...and I will apologize to you."
"Dayo, you've done nothing wrong to me." I responded.
"Then why have you been avoiding me? Why haven't you been picking up my calls?"
"Don't make it sound like I have been doing these things since...FOR..EVER." I stressed the last word.
I turned him down only today. I didn't pick him calls for just today because I was with Bamidele.
Dayo sat down beside me. "Arike...please -" he held on to my right hand. "Let's go out tonight."
"What? No! It's late." I jerked free. "I am tired." I stood up from the couch to stay away from him.
"You've changed." He muttered.
I bit my lower lip. "Look -"
He cuts me off. "Arike...I don't like this new you. I don't want to see you like this."
"You don't -"
"You've never shut me out like this."
"I am not shutting you out."
"Oh come on Arike! You and I know how we do things together."
"Everything is different now!" I snapped at him.
He gave me a shocked expression. He was taken aback by my expression.
EPISODE FOURTEENTheme: Keeping spaceArike’s POVHe gave me a shocked expression. He was taken aback by my expression."I..I...am..sorry. I..I.. didn't mean to raise my voice at you." I apologized to him."It's alright." He mumbled."Look Dayo...we can't do the things we used to do together as best friends anymore." I stuttered."But why?" He asked."You're getting married in few weeks time."He sighed. "That shouldn't affect us.""You should be with your wife to be and not me.""I know Shalewa called you. Tell me what she said to you that made you change towards me?"I shook my head in disagreement. "I am not sharing it with you.""Keeping space between us isn't right...and you know that!""But everything Shalewa said was right. If I were in
EPISODE FIFTEENTheme: ConfessionArike’s POVONE WEEK LATERSo I am going on a date with Bamidele. Hey! I know what you are thinking! Hanging out with an Ex-Gay! Come of it! Bamidele is normal now! Lol! And we've been going out for a while now. We aren't dating yet. No! Let me rephrase it. I am not in a relationship with Bamidele. We are still trying to figure if things can work out between us.My phone beeped as I apply make up to my face. I was kinda excited to see Bamidele. Honestly I enjoy Bamidele's company. And guess what? We have decided to attend Dayo's wedding together. Thank God I won't be alone at the party,just watching my best friend get married."Hello.""Are you ready?" Bamidele asked."Yes...I am ready.""Okay...I am waiting outside your home.""Oh really?!"
EPISODE SIXTEENTheme: Pregnancy TestArike's POVI settled in my bed after taking a hot shower. I grabbed my phone from the drawer next to my bed.(Hi. I have been trying to reach you but you didn't pick my calls. I was hoping that you could help me check out my suit. They delivered it today)Dayo's message popped up as soon as I switched on my data.(I was busy) I replied(Okay, Leo already helped me and it looked good on me)He texted back and before I could type, pictures of himself on suit together with his best man Leo came in.(Wow! The suit looks nice on you,Bes.)(Thanks. I am a bit nervous about the wedding.)(You need to calm down. Let your mind be at peace and prepare for the big day.)(Okay. So wha
EPISODE SEVENTEENTheme: His babyArike’s POV“No..no..no..my heart beat skipped two beats at a time. Suddenly I went into hyperventilating mode! And I couldn't control it."Hey..Arike...Arike.." she shook my shoulders. "Can you hear me?!"She sprinkled water on my face and held me tight so I wouldn't hit the ground."Pull yourself together! Relax...breathe in breathe out.." I did as she instructed until my breathing returned back to normal."Are you okay now?" She asked with a worried look."Come..you need to relax." She led me out of the bathroom."We..we..need to talk." I whispered."Yes..yes..I know..but we will do that after you get enough rest. You don't need to stress yourself because of the baby."The mention of _baby_ brought tears to my eyes as I lay back in bed.
EPISODE EIGHTEENTheme: Hard TimeArike’s POV(Flashback Continues)"Arike? You have to -""I promise. I won't engage in premarital sex.""Pinky promise?" She smiled."Pinky promise." She locked our fingers."I will buy you a big house and a car too when I have a lot of money.""The I can't wait for you to grow up..my baby." She kissed me on my cheeks.(FLASHBACK ENDS)She didn't stay alive for me to buy her a car or a house. My mom died a year after and she didn't get to fulfill some promises she made to me like telling me who my father was, attending my graduations and buying my law outfits.And what about me? I failed her! I only got to become a Lawyer but I didn't fulfill my promise of not engaging in Pre-Marital Sex. That promise has be the reason why I never had a boyfriend. I
EPISODE NINETEENTheme: Making LoveArike’s POV"What are you going to do?" A tear slipped from my eyes."I don't know what to do." He mumbled as he hugged me back.I couldn't bear to see him hurting. It felt like I was the one hurting badly anytime he was like this. And the reason wasn't far-fetched. I love him! But I never wanted to admit my feelings because I can't stand a chance.I have been hiding my feelings since high school. To be honest, it had hurt me to see him date several women. I know I would just remain as a best friend in his life and nothing more so I didn't try to get my hopes him."But..I wish I could just end everything." He pulled away from me. I could see tears at the corners of his eyes."Hey.." he placed both hands on your cheeks. "I know..I look pitiful but I don't want you to cry for me."I shook my head bu
EPISODE TWENTYTheme: The promiseArike’s POVA wish that can never come true. It's too late to call off the wedding. His father would definitely disown him if he does anything stupid. And that means his inheritance will be gone too. Though I feel bad for Dayo,the fact that he's getting married to someone he doesn't love but I can't let him lose everything because of me."The Awosika Empire is my sole responsibility now. And --"I interrupted him. "That's you can't call off the wedding." I completed his intended statement."I am sorry." He apologized.I shook my head. "it's alright. I mean..you don't have to apologize. I understand." I faked a smile.We can never be together because he has to save his family business. And I am definitely out of his family league of women. I am not from a rich background.I bit my lower lip as
EPISODE TWENTY ONETheme: My baby’s secretArike's POVI sat on my bed with a pillow popped up behind my back to make me comfortable. I have been in this position for about two hours,only getting out of bed whenever I needed to pee. I was too tired to even wash my dirty clothes in my laundry basket. I was too engrossed in browsing online about "pregnancy symptoms,how to stay healthy,how to be a good mother. I have read so much about being pregnant and motherhood." I already embraced the fact that I would be a mother soon.Busayomi had called like five times to check up on me. Her mind was on me and she promised to come with me.My phone beeped next to me. Maybe Busayomi was calling again. I thought. I checked the caller's ID only to see "Big Mommy" on the phone screen. Uncle Badejo's wife was calling.