Who Can Bail Me Out of This Trouble (3)

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Life continued as usual with hope turning into expectation, which in turn had its stretch on the mind. It was after two days that everything took a dramatic turn. The romantic coup de’etat had worked and our queen of the pack beefed-up her defence. I had to allow some seconds to pass, to properly assimilate the implications of the news Ben had just broken to me.

“Ken-o, yawa don ga-as”, he blurted out, advancing towards the balcony from the entrance. .’

I looked sharply at him, eager to know what was in the pipeline, still holding on to the shirt I was washing.

“Wetin happen?”, I asked.

“Men .. Prisca has leaked our move to her friend”, he informed.

“Babes in – their childish excitement”, he moved his hand in mock surrender. I allowed my mind to take a quick dive, dimming my eyes slowly.

“How come she knows about the deal?, You told her, ehn?’

“I had no option but to let her know. She was beginning to think I had an ulterior motive. You know women and their suspicion”. He replied leaning on the rail.

“So how do we get out of this?

“You have put things in a tight corner.

But she for no tell-am anything”. I didn’t really know how to approach the issue.

Ben smiled at me: “Easy, she’s already in the game, we’ve got to play it willy-nilly. I’ll take the initiative of talking to her this evening, is that okay by you?” I smiled and nodded.

He walked over and entered the room. Before I could settle back to my washing, the music from the room increased in volume. The sound box was humming Keith Martin’s, “Never find Someone Like You”. I shook my

head. Ben and his penchant for loud music, Nawah”. I mumbled.

The room was too hot for comfort, N.E.P.A. had just struck and probably the school generator was faulty.

The balcony and the environs of the hall were paying host to groups of students discussing:-Ben and I decided

to take a walk through the main campus. We were later joined by a friend of ours, Jenny, who was just coming

in from town.•

“Dunlop Elite tested and trusted.” Ben teased, pointing at his protruding stomach. “Men … this guy’s tyres never go flat, no matter what. Front and back”.

John smiled and adjusted the ‘waist of his jeans trouser. •..

Evidence of good living. This hard time no reach your body one.” I pointed out to Ben, laughing.

“Na-wah-oh!. This ‘one pass me o”. Ben moved over to take a-closer look at the folding on Jenny’s neck.

“You guys should come off this. Man dey die, you dey talk bull-shit”,  John reproached us, trying a false

frown”.

  • What’s killing the guy man?”, A female voice asked from behind us.

We turned swiftly and fixed our gaze on the enchanting face of Prisca and her course mate, Nnenna. I could

only allow for the usual “how-do’s” before I pleaded to see Prisca in camera, dragging her away from Ben’s arm.

“Eh … you’ve started again. You already know why I was to see you.• I accused her smiling. She was all smiles and

she weakly tried to free herself from my grip.

“Come, tell me”. I let go my grip on her arm. •Why did you tell her?”,

“Who?” She asked feigning ignorance of what I was pushing at.

“Jennifer, why did you tell her my intention”.

Prisca nodded meditatively and shrugged.

“I just had to. I felt that wouldn’t make much difference and besides …

‘,Besides what?” I’ interrupted, using the most appealing tone I could, offer.

“You’ve put me in a tight corner because she has bluntly refused to come to our room”. I bared my mind  completely to Prisca and passionately asked for her support. With that, I pleaded with her to create an enabling environment for me to meet with Jennifer in the evening.

I was decked in a sky blue multiple striped long sleeve shirt, a navy blue pair of trousers and my eye catching Italian hard leather “knock” to complement my elegantly disarming appearance. Ben’s perfume’ was handy to add scent to the glamour. We walked into Prisca’s room at exactly 7:05 p.m. The uncertainty that had continuously pervaded the air around us was doused. Prisca and her friend-were in the room, probably expecting our visit. After a few minutes chat, Ben and Uche excused themselves to see Uche’s sister in the next hall. I had no other option than to chat away -with Prisca who was busy preparing some food for us.

All this time, I was psychologically studying Jennifer’s internal reaction; feeling more-relaxed at the nervous disposition that had-taken over her. Prisca winked at me grinning from ear to ear.

‘Should I call her out?”, she whispered a second time, trying to conceal her words from the other roommates.

I nodded affirmatively, returning the wink and managed to suppress the smile that was freely playing around my lips.

To Be Continued….