I pleaded with her for another one hour but I had to give up when it appeared she wouldn’t bulge. At last, she left my room telling me she would give me some time to make up my mind. As I heard the door slam behind her, my heart sank. What in God’s name was happening to me? I wondered. How come my whole life was crumbling right before my eyes? Becoming a father at my age meant foregoing all my future plans. It meant divided attention. It meant disappointing my parents, disappointing all those who had always believed in me as one whose star would shine. It meant being stuck with a girl I wasn’t even sure I wanted to marry. It meant having to take responsibility for another soul-a situation of a baby fathering a baby. Was Cynthia thinking straight at all, I wondered.
“Peace be unto this house and woe unto those who do not desire peace!” a voice said from the door. I jumped in obvious fright and turned to the door immediately. Standing arms Akimbo was my course mate, Zacky, I managed a smile!
“Hey Zack, how are you today?”
He shrugged. “Fine, I guess. Praying seriously that Shagari’s regime ends soon. Hey, you were totally carried away that you didn’t even notice when I came in. If I had been one of the military guys, I could have killed you right away, you know.”
I smiled again. My friend was one of the few advocates of the military regime who believed seriously that Shehu Shagari’s coming into power in 1979 was a major mistake. But that didn’t even seem an issue to me at the moment.
“Are you alright, Thomas the brain?” Zack asked concernedly, sitting close on the bed.
“I really don’t know, Zack,” I replied sadly.
I noticed the piece of paper still on the bed and I tried to conceal it immediately, but my curious friend was too fast for me. In a flash, the paper was in his hands and he studied it rather religiously. I bowed my head in shame.
“Hey, come. Is this why you’re trying to worry yourself to death? I noticed you were not in class and luckily, the lecturer did not show up so I thought I’d come over. Mr. Man, don’t tell me this is what is killing you.”
“Honestly, it is. I don’t know what to do.”
“Are you alright?” my friend said angrily. “Take her for a quick abortion. It doesn’t cost much these days.” It doesn’t cost much these days.”
“That’s the problem exactly. She says she won’t do it.”
“Why?” Zack asked, with fury in his eyes.
“I really don’t know.”
“Then, tell her to go look for the father of the child. You are not responsible for it and that’s it.”
I felt a tingle in my ears. How in the world was I supposed to deny a pregnancy I knew was mine?
“Hey, don’t look at me as if I was some demon,” Zack fired, as he noticed the distant look on my face. “You think you’re not ready for this. I for one would never even want to associate with you anymore if I knew you had a child, how much more your other friends and family. Think, man, think!”
After Zacky left, I found myself in the biggest dilemma I could ever imagine. I had always been a totally honest and considerate person and as far as I knew, I had a good heart. I really did not want to force my will on an innocent girl like Cynthia, but at the same time, I wished she would also be a little considerate in her decision making. Two days later, I received a letter and I got to know that it was written by Sandra, Cynthia’s roommate. It read:
In my room,
April 30, 1983
Thomas,
I believe you are doing fine, but if you are not, I perfectly understand why. I know this might sound unusual of me, but I also know it would be in your best interest for you to know these things that you are about to read. Cynthia has been a very close friend of mine for a long while now and it would be an understatement to say that we do know a lot about each other. She confided in me on some issues about your future plans and especially on how you do not intend settling down until after having your doctorate degree and being fully established. Now, from her calculation, you would be close to age 30 before all these are taken care of and that certainly does not make her included in your plans.
Cynthia loves you so much and she is ready to do all she could to have you for keeps, and that’s where the issue of the pregnancy is coming from. She is indeed pregnant but that is because she’s purposely decided not to use the contraceptives. There is nothing you could do to persuade her to get rid of the baby. She is out to have you for keeps. Please, do what is in your best interest here.
PLEASE DESTROY THIS NOTE AS SOON AS YOU ARE THROUGH READING IT.
Yours sincerely,
Sandra (Cynthia’s roommate)
I felt like passing out after reading the letter. I could hardly control my rage. Right there, I made my decision. No woman could ever blackmail me. Not even Cynthia, I decided. Not on her life!
…to be continued
