TIDES OF LUST (Episode 59)

 The next morning brought a palpable sense of excitement, as the entire camp was abuzz with the knowledge that freedom was just four days away. I woke up feeling strangely invigorated, though I couldn't quite put my finger on why. 

Meanwhile, Yamani was already up and running, his eyes glued to his phone's screen.

“Guy how far Na, good morning”.......I greeted with a yawn.

“Pasky boy good morning, how you dey na?”.......he replied.

“I just dey oh......that reminds me, how far with you and your babe? Una don unite?”........I inquired.

“Which one?”.......he asked, looking down from his bed.

“Wait oh, so they are more than one sef.....I mean that your platoon girl. The one you told me to talk to on your behalf Na, see this guy oh”.........I yelled.

“Oh,that one? She dey one side abeg. I don pack from her matter.......There is this new chick from your platoon that is on point now.....the babe too correct”.........He described, also demonstrating with his hands.

I clutched my forehead in frustration, utterly perplexed by Yamani's antics. 

Where did he even come from? His behavior was like a puzzle I couldn't solve, and I couldn't help but wonder what went on in that mysterious mind of his.

“Which kind wahala be dis? Guy what's your problem na? Why did you ask me to help you talk to the babe, when you know fully well that you both won't come back together again? Which kind play be that one na?”..........I blasted.

“Guy free me abeg, let's just forget that babe, she is playing too hard to get. Does she think I have all the time in this world to waste on her elusive self?”.........He asked, with a scornful tone.

I exhaled heavily, regret washing over me for getting involved in Yamani's mess. I should have just kept to myself, but no, I had to go and try to help him repair things with his girlfriend. And this was the thanks I got? Him diminishing my efforts and leaving me feeling used and unvalued.

“Now let me warn you, don't you ever try to involve me in your affairs again”.........I warned seriously.

“E never reach like that Na, No vex abeg”........He apologized.

“Na you Sabi, I have something important to discuss with you later sha”........I mentioned.

“What's that?”.......He asked inquisitively.

“I said later, Shey you no dey hear word?”.......I cursed.

With some time to spare before the clarion's blast, we squeezed in a quick shower.

Soon, the clarion's loud call pierced the air, and we fell into line, making our way to the parade ground.

I pulled Yamani along to my platoon, eager for him to identify the girl who had caught his eye. He nodded discreetly towards Simisola, a girl from the Yoruba tribe, and I couldn't help but take a closer look.

Simisola was an enigmatic figure, so soft-spoken that I often found myself wondering if she ever spoke at all. Her beauty was undeniable, but her slender frame didn't quite align with my personal taste.

What really caught my attention, though, was the perpetual smile that adorned her face, leaving me to ponder whether her life was as picture-perfect as she seemed.

“I can't believe my eyes, are you sure you aren't joking with me?”........I asked 

Yamani, after he pointed to Simisola as his new girl.

“I can't joke with you naw. You suppose don trust your guy by now”........he said playfully.

“Taaaar! If I trust you Make I die. In fact, seeing is believing in this your case. Until I see a valid prove, just know that I don’t believe a word of what you have told me”.........I said bluntly.

“Ok fine, just wait and see something”........he said in a low tone, then he went up to Simisola, and led her behind our platoon. They started talking about what I couldn’t hear.

Before long, he escorted her over to where I was standing and introduced her as his girlfriend. She greeted me with a demure smile as we exchanged polite small talk. 

After a brief moment, she excused herself and returned to her post, leaving Yamani to shoot me a knowing, sidelong grin.

“Guy no dey doubt me again if I dey tell you something......This one no be just mouth, I go chop her like yam before the end of camp, then we go continue after camp”........He said proudly, and I chuckled at his foolish remarks.

“See let me just advice you as my guy man.....Don't try this rubbish thing you just told me, with this girl......If you want to have her trust, just respect yourself jejely until after camp......If not, be ready to tell me another story that touches the heart”.........I advised him solemnly.

“Abeg Forget that thing. No level, just dey watch”........he bragged.

“Okay oh, if you say so. Just don't cry to me again when yawa gas oh”......I warned, drawing one of my ears.

“Pasky forget, everywhere good”.......He said nonchalantly, and I shrugged.

“Ennhheenn, abeg show first make I reason you something”........I said in a low tone, leading him to the back.

“There is this link to work posting that a friend of mine told me about. I don’t know if you are interested”........I announced.

“Forget that runsing thing.....I have heard many of that story and I know they are all scam. Didn't you heard the State Coordinator saying that all those posting things are scam? They will only end up taking your money and bail on you”..........he advised.

“So that means you are not interested?”........I asked.

“Abeg, I no dey interested oh, I don't have money to spend on thieves”.......he retorted.

As Yamani and I continued to chat, his gaze drifted past me and locked onto Pascaline, who was making her way towards us.

“Your second babe don show”.......he announced, and turned his back to leave.

“Oya na later”........I replied.

“I am surprised to see you on parade this morning, what happened?”.........Pascaline asked, as she got to where I was.

“I have been serving punishment for three days now. I was among those caught three days ago in the hostel”.........I replied.

“Are you serious?”.......She asked, and bursted out laughing.

“No wonder everybody has been asking for your whereabouts. By the way, hope you are now ok?

Gave you a couple of missed calls yesterday but you never called back”.........she complained, after laughing.

“I’m sorry about that and about yesterday. Sorry for the way I reacted towards you. It was with no intent to make you feel bad”.........I apologized.

“No problems, I understand. You have to go and talk to her. From what I can discern, nothing is happening between the two of them. The guy has been on her matter for a while now and I am sure she must have told him about you”.......she muttered, sounding convincingly.

“I don’t give a flying fuçk about the two of them......And I don’t want to talk about them now or later”.........I said coldly.

“Hmm! Coming from someone that advised me to reconsider my vow and I actually listened to him but now my own words sounds like nothing to his ears”.........she sneered.

“This has nothing to do with you so don’t even bring it up”........I retorted.

“You are damn right, it has nothing to do with me anyway. Have a lovely day”........She said sadly and walked away from me.

Once she was gone, our commander arrived, and we commenced the morning parade.

Following a series of drills, we finished with a jog around the parade ground. As our commander departed, I caught up with Pascaline, who was heading towards her hostel.

“I am sorry for the way I sounded towards you earlier. I will surely go and talk to her”.......I apologized sincerely.

“That’s cool. I have an idea, why don’t we all go and have breakfast together? It has been a while”........She suggested.

“Sounds good to me though, but I doubt if she will come”........I muttered.

“Just call her first and find out”.......she suggested.

I instantly dialed Sandra's number, and she answered immediately, on the very first ring.

“Good morning”........I greeted.

“Good morning. How was your night?”.......she responded.

“Fine and yours?”........I asked.

“Mine was cool”.......she replied.

“Don’t know if you have sometime let’s have breakfast together?”.........I requested, feeling a bit nervous.

“The normal place right?”.........she asked.

“Yeah”......I replied.

“I will meet you there soon”.......she said, and rang off.

“She said she is coming”.......I said to Pascaline as she smiled.

To be continued.........

TIDES OF LUST (Episode 58)

 

“I know because there is no need to doubt it”........She replied confidently.

“But that is not convincing enough. I need something very convincing because I don’t want to hang my fate on a balance”........I said, with a bit of doubt.

We were still dragging our feet on the matter when Evelyn suddenly nudged me, pointing out two figures approaching the eatery. I turned to look, and to my surprise, Sandra and Kennedy were walking towards us, their presence catching me off guard.

A surge of unexplained fury welled up inside me, triggering a familiar sensation of suffocation. I lifted my head, gasping for air, and simultaneously took a long, calming swig from the water bottle on my table, trying to quell the rising storm within me.

I averted my gaze as they approached the entrance, knowing that our table's proximity to the door made it inevitable that they'd spot us. 

They entered and made their way to a vacant table on the opposite side of the eatery. Sandra's eyes met mine, but she quickly looked away, avoiding eye contact.

“Remember you asked how legit my source is?

Come on let me show you”.........Evelyn muttered, drawing my mind back.

I trailed behind Evelyn, speechless and seething with anger. The confirmation I had been trying to avoid hit me like a ton of bricks: it was clear that something had indeed been brewing between Sandra and Kennedy.

The icy glint in Sandra's eyes as she glanced at me was unmistakable, and her complete disregard for Evelyn and I was palpable, she couldn't even muster a greeting, let alone a word of acknowledgement.

“You don’t have to allow what you are seeing right now eat you up, just let it go”..........Evelyn said, holding my hand as we walked out from Mami market.

As we neared the Pavilion, Evelyn retrieved her phone from her waist pouch and made a quick call to someone, inquiring if they were available. Apparently receiving an affirmative response, she ended the call with a brief assurance that she was on her way.

Evelyn asked me to tag along with her to the army barracks, explaining that she had to meet with her platoon commander for a pressing matter.

“Is he your source?”.........I asked, as we made our way towards the army quarters.

“Just wait and see”........she replied.

Evelyn guided me to a specific room within the quarters and rapped gently on the door.

A feminine voice from inside invited us to come in. I was taken aback, having expected a male platoon commander, as the soft, female tone granted us entry.

I stepped inside, and my eyes landed on the stunning female army officer, renowned for captivating the hearts of many men. Evelyn warmly greeted her, taking a seat beside the officer, and introduced me as her "school son", a term of endearment that conveyed a close, familial bond.

I exchanged warm greetings with the army officer, who graciously offered me a seat.

Evelyn and the officer then engaged in a hushed conversation that lasted several minutes.

As their discussion drew to a close, the officer gathered her belongings, including her keys and lunch flask, and exited the room, the sound of the door locking into place echoing through the air as she closed it behind her.

“Who is she?”........I asked, walking to the bed and looking around the room which is self -contained and fairly furnished with a 10 by 12 inches bed.

The vibrant floral carpet perfectly complemented the soothing blue hue of the room. In a cozy corner, a sturdy reading table stood alongside a matching chair, adorned with a thoughtful selection of books and a Bible, creating a peaceful retreat for quiet contemplation.

A tall wardrobe stood sentinel at the foot of the bed, while atop the bed itself, a pair of rugged military boots lay proudly displayed, a testament to the officer's profession.

“She is my platoon commander”......... Evelyn replied.

“And what has she got to do with how legit your……” Just as I was about to utter my final word, our lips collided in a tender kiss, silencing me.

The familiar sensation was like a homecoming, and I couldn't help but acknowledge how deeply I'd missed the softness of her lips.

I felt a faint hesitation, but my deeper desire propelled me forward, and in that instant, I craved the intimacy. Our lips devoured each other with reckless abandon, as the pent-up emotions burst forth in a torrent of passion. We kissed with the fervor of two star-crossed lovers reunited after an eternity apart.

As our lips remained entwined, I gently guided her down onto the bed, lowering myself beside her. As our passion intensified, our clothes became a hindrance, and we hastily discarded our tops, sending them flying across the room. 

We resumed our ardent kissing, and I deftly slipped a hand behind her, releasing the clasp of her bra.

Breaking our kiss, I dipped my head and enveloped her taut, swollen nipples in my mouth, sucking with unbridled intensity, as if I sought to extract her very essence through the sensitive tips.

While I suckled on one of her boobs, I was teasing the other tip with my finger, she held tight to my head pushing it down hard to her Boobs.

When I felt I had feasted enough on her Boobs, I kissed my way through her tummy downed to her shorts. Dragging it down to her foot, I slipped in a finger and felt her dripping Kitty.

I tickled her already swollen clit before pulling down my shorts, setting my rod free.

She had her eyes closed, lost in the world of pleasure. I continued tickling her clit, while smearing the already leaked prêcum over my Rod's cap.

Gently I guided my rod into her warm tight kitty, with her walls clinching to my rod. She squirmed and covered her head with the pillow in other not to attract attention to the room.

I began moving inside her with a slow, deliberate rhythm, gradually building up to a more fervent pace. I sustained this intense cadence until I felt my passion reaching its peak, my body tensing in anticipation of release.

I tried to withdraw to delay the inevitable, but her legs were firmly wrapped around my waist, holding me in place. Instead, I intensified my movements, delivering deeper, more passionate thrusts until I reached the point of no return, and my release followed.

She let out a deep, satisfied sigh, biting into the pillow as her fist pressed into my waist, urging me deeper. Afterwards, I rose and began gathering my clothes, while she remained sprawled across the bed, her eyes closed in serene contentment.

No sooner had I finished dressing than a knock at the door broke the silence. I chose to ignore it, but Evelyn quickly sat up, wrapping herself modestly in the bedsheet. The knock came again, and this time she responded, her voice barely above a whisper, before the lock clicked and the lady re-entered the room.

A faint smile flickered across her face, but she swiftly suppressed it, her expression turning neutral as she took in the scene of Evelyn hastily covering herself with the bedspread.

“You have to go to your hostel, they are already chasing people in”.........she said to me, placing the food flask on the table.

I glanced over at Evelyn, and she nodded discreetly, her eyes conveying a "go ahead" message. I then turned to the army lady, who seemed blissfully aware of the intimate moment Evelyn and I just shared. 

I muttered a hasty "thank you" before beating a quick retreat from the room.

As I made my way out, I encountered a group of army personnel who cast curious glances my way, but didn't detain or question me. I continued on, leaving the quarters behind and breaking into a jog as I joined the throngs of corpers hastening towards their respective hostels.

Upon returning to the hostel, I flopped onto my bed, weighed down by a nagging sense of guilt. Lost in introspection, I was jolted back to reality by the ringing of my phone, Evelyn's name flashing on the screen.

“Are you in the hostel?”........she asked me “Yeah, and you?”......I inquired.

“Will be going in later. That’s how legit my link is”.........she replied with a giggle.

“I will still have to see how sure the other one is but meanwhile your link is undoubtedly sure. I also need to rope Sandra in, don't know if it’s cool with you?”........I requested, and she kept mute for a while before replying.

“Well let me talk to her and see if she is cool with it, but while I do that, try and get in touch with your girlfriend and know her take on it. And while doing that don’t let your emotions do the talking”..........she advised.

“Thank you so much”........I muttered.

“Anything for you my baby”.......she replied.

I ended the call and shouted out for Yamani, but I knew it was a pointless attempt, as he was already fast asleep, his snores a clear indication that he was oblivious to my summons.

To be continued..........

TIDES OF LUST (Episode 57)

 

I slowly opened my eyes to find it was already 8pm, feeling invigorated after a long nap that had started at 4pm. 

Reaching for my phone, which had slipped under the covers, I saw that I had missed a few calls from Pascaline, as well as some other notifications that needed my attention.

I lay awake, my mind racing with thoughts of the dynamics between Sandra and Kennedy. After some intense contemplation, I resigned myself to accepting the situation, deciding that if that's the path Sandra had chosen, then I should respect her decision and give her the space she seemed to want.

That's how resolute I can be when it comes to making up my mind. With my decision settled, I threw off the covers, grabbed the bucket of water stored under my bed, and headed to freshen up with a shower.

Following my shower, I slipped into a crisp new white outfit and bundled up the soiled clothes in a nylon bag, intending to drop them off at the dry cleaners in Mami market. As I stepped out of my hostel, I dialed Evelyn's number to check in on her whereabouts, and she informed me that she was hanging out with some friends at Mami market.

I let Evelyn know that I was actually on my way to Mami market as well, and that we'd catch up soon. After dropping off my laundry at the dry cleaners, I strolled over to my go -to eatery and secured a table, ready to grab a bite.

I wasn't in the mood for anything heavy, so I opted for a light meal, ordering a plate of food and a bottle of water. Just as I was savoring the first bites, my phone rang. It was Evelyn calling.

Evelyn inquired about my whereabouts, and I provided her with my location before she quickly hung up. Within a few minutes, I spotted Evelyn making her way towards my table, a welcoming smile on her face.

“This one you called me today, hope I’m safe?”.........she asked, as I pulled out a seat beside me for her.

“Are you saying that I don’t call you?”.........I replied.

“The last time I saw your call was like ages and I know how you can be, if you stay a while without calling me and all of a sudden decides to call without waiting for me to call, then there is something hanging over your head”..........she remarked.

“Nothing is hanging over my head, just missed you, that's why I called. And before you continue ranting trash, what would you want to take?”.........I asked.

“Nothing, I’m filled already”.........she replied.

“Come on, I can’t just allow you stare at me while I eat”.......I retorted.

“Guy rest, I’m fine. I just left my friends up there where I had something to eat already”.........she muttered.

I conceded, focusing my attention on my meal instead. Once I'd finished eating, I took a refreshing swig from the water bottle and slid the tray away. Leaning back, I began to pick at my teeth, relaxing as Evelyn continued to tap away on her phone.

“You are worried about her right?”..........she asked, jolting me back from my mind journey.

“Worried about who?”.........I retorted, not sure whether she was talking to me or her phone.

“You are worried about Sandra and that guy right?”.........she asked again.

“And how did you know about them?”.........I sneered.

“Have seen them a couple of times and I know it’s either you have seen them or someone told you. Either way, I know it wouldn’t be far from what is disturbing your mind”..........she outlined.

“If at all something is disturbing my mind, believe me, you just pointed in the very wrong direction because that doesn’t even make me beat an eye lid”..........I blurted out, trying to hide the truth.

“You know what, acting all manly, strong and unperturbed doesn’t make you more human than you already are. Sometimes it’s good to share your worries. It wouldn’t kill you. Bundling it all up in your mind like you always do and making rash decisions doesn’t solve it for you, you know that”.........She remarked solemnly.

“But at least it keeps me safe within my own walls”.........I said before I could realize that I just slipped.

“When are you ever going to let that wall fall?”........she asked.

“It's not ever going to fall. Sometimes that is where my sanity comes from”........I replied.

“From shutting people out of your life and problems. I think the right thing you should have said is that from there comes your insanity”.........she muttered.

“Fine, fine, I’m worried about them. I don’t know for how long but I think something is going on between the both of them. We had a little misunderstanding about him this afternoon and it wasn’t up to five minutes after she walked out on me that I saw the both of them walking down her hostel holding hands. But the truth is at this moment, I don’t care whatever is going on between them, it’s none of my business”.........I explained sadly.

“Wow! Typical Pascal. That last line is what I have been waiting to hear. And that goes a long way to prove that you are still who you are”........she teased.

“Thanks, I will take that as a compliment”........I replied.

“Have you called her to talk about it?”.......she asked.

“I’m not calling her to talk about anything. And by the way there is this guy that has been on your matter for a while. Do I have to worry that someone is taking you away from me?”.........I asked, trying to divert the discussion.

“You can play smart all you want, but I need you to call her and mend the walls”.........She suggested.

“Okay, so answer my question”.......I insisted.

“Don’t mind him. He wan take style show me say them get money small. Imagine that small boy already talking love and marriage to me when we aren’t even through with camp. I have warned him to stay off my face”........She grumbled.

“Although I’m jealous but come on, don’t you think you should give him a chance. He might be serious you know. Majority of serious relationship, started like a joke”..........I suggested to her.

“Give him a chance and leave you for who?”.........she asked, making a face of mock seriousness.

“Oh! And you want me to go and make peace with Sandra, and leave you for who?”..........I teased.

“No mother supports the son leaving the wife because they are having issues so that he could come back to her, she will always want him to make peace and hold his family together. So that’s what I want from you”..........She muttered.

“Yes mommy”.........I said playfully, and threw her a salute.

“But you know if you ever need to go get some succor from somewhere, you can always run to me”........she said gently, and dimmed her eyes.

“I’ve got that in mind”........I replied.

“By the way, there is someone who wants to help me with my posting, don't know if you are interested, I can add your details. You don’t have to worry about the money just let me know if you are interested”..........She offered.

“Was just about telling you same. Someone told me she has a link so I wanted to know if you are interested”.......I offered too.

“Who is that person? You have to be careful. Many people claiming to have sure link are just scam. They will collect your money and do nothing because they know that after the posting, you are never going to see them again”.........She advised.

“So how sure are you that your own link is legit?”........I inquired.

To be continued........

TIDES OF LUST(Episode 56)

“Come on, you know he is not like that.....He is my friend and I know him better.

Sometimes when we guys are drunk, we tend to misbehave. but that doesn’t excuse his actions. He is a good guy and you know that. Don’t judge him because of one single mistake which he made unconsciously please, I won’t be happy if you guys just end things like this. You guys look very cool and cute together, why end something so good because of one little mistake? You know it’s not fair”.........I counselled solemnly.

“Pascal we have not talked for like two days now.....Yesterday I saw him with one girl, so I guess he is not interested in the relationship any more, so let’s just leave it like that”........She said nonchalantly.

“To be sincere with you, the girl you saw him with is one of our friends, they don’t have anything together. They were coming to meet me that yesterday at Mami market.....Trust me I’m going to scold Yamani. He will come back to plead with you, please don’t turn him down again. If you do, you and I will start our own round of quarrel”.........I said playfully, and she laughed.

“No na, God no go allow us quarrel oh, you know that. You be my personal person oh”.......She said amidst laughter.

We chatted for a bit before she took her leave, and I headed to my hostel. After a refreshing shower, I drifted off to sleep. I was in a deep slumber when my phone suddenly began ringing, jolting me awake. 

I rummaged under my pillow to grab the phone and checked the caller ID, and it was Sandra calling.

“Hello?”.......I croaked into the phone.

“Good afternoon”.........she greeted.

“Good afternoon, how are you?”........I asked sternly.

“I’m not fine, where are you?”.........she inquired, like one under duress.

“In my hostel, I was sleeping before you called.

What’s wrong with you?”...........I asked worriedly, sitting up on the bed.

“I miss you, so much”........She said with a calm emotional tune.

I took a deep breath, knowing that nothing bad was happening to her. A sly smile crept on my face as I replied to her.

“I miss you more, Mon Cheri”........I whispered.

“It’s a lie you didn't miss me, if you did, you would have called me.......For two days now, we have not talked, neither have we seen each other and I know that if I didn’t call you now, you wouldn’t mind not calling me till camping ends”........she complained, and I smiled.

“You know that is not true. I would have called you if you didn’t call after today. Not like I was waiting for you to call though”.........I replied, in a calm manner.

“I know that’s what you will say....The great liar of the universe”.........She sneered, and I laughed.

“Its okay abeg, are you busy? let’s meet na”........I requested.

“I’m not meeting with you anywhere, leave me alone”.......she retorted.

I was aware that she wanted me to beg her, so I chose to humor her and play along. It was a tactic she often employed when she wanted some extra attention and affection from me.

“See Shakara oh, should I sing a poem for you?”........I asked playfully.

“Leave me jhoor”........She replied, but I could tell she was trying to hold back her laughter.

“My Shakara Baby, please na.......Okay I am sorry for not calling you all these while.

Knock my head when you see me”.........I said playfully, and she started laughing.

“Of course you know I will do just that, but tell me sorry again”.........she replied, after laughing.

I apologized once again, and after much persuasion, she finally consented to meet up with me. I suggested we convene at the Pavilion, and from there, we could head to Mami market for a relaxing time together.

We settled into our favorite café in Mami market, and I ordered two plates of catfish pepper soup. While we waited for our meal to be served, our conversation flowed easily.

“So what happened between you and Pascaline, because she has been in an elated spirit since three days ago?”.........she asked.

“Nothing much. Daisy came to tell me what happened and why Pascaline was the way she was and pleaded that I talk to her, since she tried and it never yielded”.........I explained.

“What did she said was her problem?”.........she inquired.

“She told me she had a bad relationship three years ago and promised herself that she won't date anyone except he was her namesake”.........I explained.

“Hmmm!! So she was acting up because she can’t have you, is that it?”.........she asked, feeling unconcerned even after I narrated Pascaline's predicament to her.

“Not really, according to her, she said you are her very good friend, and she can’t for anything try coming close to me knowing you will be hurt”........I replied.

“She is seriously funny and insane. Does she think that even if I wasn't friends with her, that she stands a chance with you when I am involved? That would only happen in her dreams”..........She said sarcastically.

“Calm down Sandy, I already told her to get over the vow she made, and there are chances that she is never going to meet someone that bears similar names to her again and meeting the person might end up causing her more Disaster”.........I explained.

“This is even crazy, I mean, why would she even make such a vow? I think she is going psycho”........She sneered.

“Sandra, you have to understand that she was hurt. Some people don’t handle heart breaks pretty well you know”........I replied, trying to sound calm, even though I was already getting pissed by her tantrums.

“Oh please spare me that crap, Is she a kid?......If everyone decided to keep making unreasonable vows just because we are hurt, believe me, all girls will end up at the convent just as the guys will all become priests”..........She blurted out, without remorse.

“You are just too impossible......So tell me, have you joined the Kennedy group now?”.........I inquired, not even hiding my jealousy.

She let out a gentle laugh, and then her expression transformed into a thoughtful gaze, her eyes locking intensely onto mine as if lost in a profound contemplation.

“So you saw me with them that day?”........she finally asked.

“Is that a yes or no to my question?”........I retorted.

“It’s nothing to your question”.......She replied, staring into space.

“Okay then, if you say so”.........I replied, holding myself back from asking further questions.

Our food arrived, and we dove in with gusto, savoring every bite. The catfish pepper soup was incredibly flavorful and spicy, and we made a show of focusing intently on our meal, pretending to be completely absorbed in it to avoid any, ahem, uncomfortable repercussions. Once we finished, I ordered two bottles of malt to round off our meal.

“I have this connect that could help us work our posting to a very good PPA (Place of Primary Assignment), don’t know if you are interested”.......I announced, breaking the silence after taking a gulp from my bottle.

“Hmmm!! Who or what is this connect?”........she inquired.

“You don’t have to worry yourself about that, just indicate your interest and leave the rest to me”.........I said boastfully.

“I am asking because someone already sold that idea to me which I didn’t buy. I wanted to confirm your interest before giving the person a reply”.........She replied.

“Who is that person?”........I asked curiously.

“Okay you are now asking for my source but just a few seconds ago you refused telling me yours, how fair is that?”.........She snapped.

“Are we now playing a game of fairness here?”........I fired back.

“Exactly who you are, always trying to exonerate yourself from situations which you created while expecting every other person to be held back into it......Well it’s Kennedy.

He wants to help me with the posting”........She explained rudely.

“Pull out your phone now and tell him to hell with him, and you aren't interested in his cheap disgusting connect for posting”.........I grumbled.

“This is exactly the reason why I didn’t want to tell you the source in the first place, I know you are going to push it into the trash can”.......she retorted.

“You are damn right, the trash can, that’s where I just pushed it and that’s where it would be......Any offer from Kennedy isn't welcome, it should be trashed immediately”.........I annoyingly retorted.

“Well, before we leave it in the trash can according to you, why not tell me the market from which you are buying yours and we can compare the credibility and legitimacy......As for me, I so much trust Kennedy's source”.........She said nonchalantly.

“Just for the record, there is no way I am going down with you on Kennedy's link. Call it my pride or whatever you think, but if that’s the only link left in this world, then I will rather leave my fate with NYSC to post me where they like”..........I spat.

“Noted, that's your own cup of coffee. But first tell me who is selling you this link”.........She inquired.

“There is this friend I recently met, that’s how I got to know about it”........I replied.

“And who is this friend you recently met?”........she asked anxiously.

“Does it matter who the person is?”........I sneered.

“You can just stop trying to play smart with me because if it’s what my mind is telling me, then be rest assured that there is no way that I am buying it”..........She said coldly.

“And what is your mind telling you? I know it’s telling you shits right now”.......I said sarcastically, She looked at me with disdain and scoffed.

“Is this your link not coming from Evelyn?”........she asked, and I scoffed too.

“Your mind always has a funny way of roaming around.......Sorry to disappoint you, it has nothing to do with Evelyn, or anyone you even know”.........I replied, using a tone of mockery.

“Then who the hell is this person? If you aren’t going to talk, then be rest assured that I am going with Kennedy, with or without your consent”........She yelled, and stood up to leave.

“Don’t you dare walk out on me, don’t try it”........I grumbled.

“And if I do so, what will you do? You know what? Get the fûck out of my head. If you are ready to talk, let me know”........She spoke in a frosty tone and turned her back on me, walking away.

I settled the bill for the drinks and pepper soup, then departed. Although I can be defensive at times, I chose to hold back, otherwise I would have pointed out the person who initially suggested the idea to me.

Ironically, I was aware that she would never tolerate such a suggestion from another woman, just as I wouldn't accept it from a man associated with her.

As I strolled towards my hostel, deep in contemplation, my attention was abruptly diverted by a familiar sight. Glancing in that direction, I spotted Kennedy and Sandra walking hand in hand, heading towards her hostel.

I froze in astonishment, my eyes fixed on the pair as I struggled to process what I was seeing. Just moments before, she had walked away from me, and now she was strolling hand in hand with him towards her hostel.

A surge of indignation swept through me as my pride took a hit. How could she move on so quickly? Did she always run to him at the slightest hint of trouble?

“What are you staring at?”.........Pascaline asked, interrupting my thoughts as she stood beside me.

“Errmm!!….nothing”........I replied, drawing my gaze away from them.

“Don’t tell me that, you have been looking towards that direction for over five minutes”.......she retorted.

“Please not now”........I said out of frustration.

“Not now what? I just asked what you are staring at and you are telling me not now, is that an answer?”.........she pressed on.

“I am not in the mood for this now please”........I replied, walking away towards my hostel.

“Then get in the mood and tell me what the problem is”.......she pestered, walking behind me.

“Not now and probably not today so please leave me be”........I said coldly.

“Is it about them? I mean Sandra and Kennedy?”........she inquired.

“So you know already? congrats. Can you now let me be, I don’t want to talk about it, thanks”........I retorted.

“If it’s going to make you feel better, then go on ahead and talk to your bed”........she fired back and turned around.

I didn't bother to watch her go; instead, I chose to retreat into solitude, needing some time and space to gather my thoughts and untangle my emotions.

It was clear that there was a connection between Sandra and Kennedy, but even if they weren't involved, her sudden rush to him raised my suspicions. What was behind her instinctive decision to turn to him?

I trudged into my hostel, exhausted, and collapsed onto the bed. Before drifting off to sleep, I carefully stowed my waist pouch and phone beneath the bed sheet, securing them safely out of sight.

To be continued........

TIDES OF LUST (Episode 55)

 

 The constant compound cleaning duties in camp, which seemed to stretch on endlessly, were starting to exhaust me, both physically and mentally, and I couldn't help but feel like I was trapped in some kind of never-ending cycle of drudgery.

It had been two days since Sandra and I last spoke, and our encounter at Mami market had left us avoiding each other, barely exchanging glances.

Despite my lingering anger, I still had Sandra's best interests at heart, which is why I had discreetly given Daisy some money to pass along to her, just in case she found herself in a tight financial spot.

I couldn't shake off the feeling of puzzlement, constantly wondering what had driven Sandra to act the way she did, given that I was completely innocent when it came to Pascaline.

While I acknowledged that my anger had prevented me from clearing the air with her, I still felt that Sandra's reaction had been disproportionate and completely over the top.

We had just wrapped up the morning's attendance check, following our group's compound cleaning duties, when Racheal approached me; as a member of my same cleaning group, we had spent the morning working together.

Initially, Racheal was hesitant about participating in the compound cleaning, much like everyone else. However, by the second day, we had all loosened up and begun to appreciate the benefits of our collective efforts.

As others participated in the morning parade, we took a more relaxed approach, casually strolling around the compound under the guise of performing our cleaning duties.

“What’s up na?”........she asked, adjusting her tag on her neck.

“Babe I dey oh, how are you doing?”........I asked.

“I’m good......I noticed that you've been going solo since the beginning of today, what’s the problem?”........she asked gently.

“Nothing much, just having a little problem with my babe”.......I said sincerely.

“Awwwnn! Lovers fight......Don’t kill yourself over it, she will come around trust me”.........she advised.

“No problems, where are you headed?”.........I asked, as we approached the Pavilion.

“I am heading to the Hostel jarreee, let me go and wash off......Ennhheenn, that reminds me, there is this connect that I have, actually someone gave it to me though. He helps people work their posting to any place of their choice......I don’t know if you are interested”...........she suggested.

At first, her proposal seemed appealing and generous, but as I gave it more thought, I started to harbor reservations about its authenticity.

“It's not as if I am not interested in this connect oh, but how legit is this person?”........I asked, my uncertainty being visible.

“My uncle that influenced my posting to this place gave me the contact. So I know that it is a sure link.......Though I haven’t called the man but my uncle talked to him about me so I guess he is waiting for my call”..........she explained.

“I think I’m interested, but first you have to talk to him let’s know the requirements. After that, we can now proceed from there”........I replied.

“Okay then, but keep this to yourself. You know how things are here”........she warned.

“Sure, it’s safe with me”.........I muttered, almost in a whisper.

Racheal and I went our separate ways, each heading to our respective hostels. As I approached the turn that led to mine, I caught sight of Yamani's girlfriend walking with a friend.

I recalled Yamani's earlier request for me to intervene on his behalf with his girlfriend, which I had declined. However, I couldn't shake the notion that, as friends, we should have each other's backs, no matter what.

I called out to Yamani's girlfriend, trying to catch her attention since she seemed oblivious to my presence. She turned around, a hint of surprise followed by a warm smile spreading across her face, and walked back in my direction to exchange greetings.

“Good morning”........She greeted, stretching her palm for a handshake, but I embraced her instead.

“Nawa oh! So it’s only Yamani that you like going out with these days abi? You don’t even ask after me anymore, it’s not fair you know”........I teased, while pulling away from her.

“Come on, it’s not like that. I do ask after you maybe he is the one who doesn’t tell you”........She replied.

“It’s a lie, the last time he told me that you asked after me was like three or four days ago”.......I retorted.

“Hmmm!! I think that’s about the last time we saw each other.....As a matter of fact, we aren't even together again”........she said coldly.

“You are joking right?”.........I asked in disbelief.

“No, I’m not joking. He did something really stupid, so I had to walk away”.........she said sarcastically.

“Are you busy right now? I want us to discuss”.........I requested.

She bid her friend farewell, and then we strolled down together, eventually settling onto a concrete slab to sit and chat.

“Now tell me, What did he do to you?”........I asked.

“I don’t know if he thinks I'm a courtesan or too cheap.......The last night we were together, he was trying out something funny with me, not minding the people around us.

Even after I told him to stop, he didn’t listen”.........she explained.

“Something silly like what? Was he trying to kiss you?”.......I inquired.

“That’s not it. We've already kissed in the past, so that is not an issue.......He was trying to dip his hand into my pants to finger me. I told him to stop it but he refused......At first I thought he was tipsy because we had a couple of drinks that night, but he persisted and it was turning into a struggle between us, so I left.

I wasn’t pissed because he was trying to do that, but why would he do that when everybody was seeing us?”........she lamented. 

I heaved a big sigh before replying to her “I know that was very foolish of him, but believe me, for him to do that he must have been very tipsy.......Yamani is not someone that can do such consciously and I know he will be very sorry by now”..........I said solemnly.

“Yeah he has apologized, but I don’t think I can continue with him anymore. He might spring up another surprise one day that may leave me so embarrassed”........she retorted.

To be continued.......

TIDES OF LUST (Episode 54)

The next morning got off to a rough start. The sound of the bugle woke me up, but like a handful of others, I chose to hit the snooze button and skip the morning parade.

I was rudely jolted out of my sleep by someone shaking me forcefully. As I struggled to open my eyes, a harsh flashlight beam assaulted my face, forcing me to wince. I lifted my hands to block the light, and that's when I heard the commanding voice.

“Ode, you better get up, move to the door and join your mates”

 I grumbled as I leapt out of bed. As the soldier moved on to rouse others, I quickly got dressed and joined the group. At the door, I found another soldier accompanied by ten fellow corps members, and with my arrival, our number swelled to eleven.

We could hear the soldier's voice inside, shouting orders and rousing the remaining corps members. Once they had gathered everyone, we were formed into a single file and marched off to the parade ground under their strict supervision.

I assumed the raid was isolated to my hostel, but upon arriving at the parade ground, I was surprised to discover that every hostel had been targeted, and corps members from all the hostels were gathered there.

They assembled us in front of the stage at the parade ground, where the state coordinator proceeded to unleash a torrent of verbal abuse, condemning us and our ancestors for generations past.

She hurled a barrage of insults at us, scouring her vocabulary to label us everything from despicable creatures to contemptible fools, and from mentally unstable individuals to indolent primates, leaving no stone unturned in her verbal assault.

Having unleashed her wrath upon us, she instructed the camp commandant to segregate us into groups and confiscate our identification tags. As a deterrent to others who might consider following in our footsteps, she decreed that we would undergo a three-day camp sanitation exercise, after which our tags would be returned to us.

It was my first attempt at dodging the morning parade, and it ended in disaster, I was stuck with compound cleaning duties. I couldn't help but wonder why I always seemed to get caught whenever I tried to follow the crowd and get away with something. We were split into six groups, our tags confiscated, and assigned to various camp officials who would oversee our punishment.

Each official escorted their respective group to a designated area of the camp, and so our compound cleaning ordeal began. To add salt to injury, my group leader took it a step further, insisting that we sign in before starting the cleaning and sign out afterwards, which only fueled my exasperation.

It turned out that the morning's events had a surprising upside. Following the compound cleaning, I returned to the hostel, showered, and then headed to the dining hall for breakfast, feeling somewhat revitalized.

As I made my way to Mami, I gave Sandra a call and surprisingly, she was already at the market. When I asked her to share her location, she hesitated, so I suggested she meet me at my usual eating spot once she was free from whatever or whoever was occupying her attention.

I didn't dwell on Sandra's reluctance to share her location, as the morning's events had already provided ample frustration.

As I walked towards the café, my gaze drifted to a nearby, popular spot, and that's when I spotted Sandra in the company of Kennedy, a charismatic figure who had been making a name for himself in the camp, surrounded by a group of other guys.

I observed Sandra enjoying her meal while the guys sipped their drinks. I decided to prioritize my growling stomach and grabbed a bite to eat before dealing with the potential drama that was unfolding.

As I sat down to eat, my mind persistently wandered back to Sandra and her companions. A suffocating weight settled in my chest, making it difficult for me to catch my breath, and for a few moments, I felt like I was drowning in my own emotions.

If Sandra had been honest with me about her whereabouts, I wouldn't have been consumed by such distress. But the fact that she was withholding information because of some guy made the sting even sharper, intensifying my feelings of hurt and betrayal.

My appetite vanished, and I shoved the food away, instead asking for a bottle of Heineken. One bottle quickly turned into two as I downed the first and promptly ordered another.

I wasn’t drinking to forget what I saw, but I just wanted to relax my nerves. When I was through with the second bottle, I paid and just as I was about to leave, she started calling me.

I was tempted to ignore her call, but something made me hesitate, and I picked up instead. She inquired about my whereabouts, and I shared my location with her. I leaned back, waiting for her to arrive.

“What’s up?”.........she asked, sitting opposite me across the table.

“I’m good, and you?”........I inquired.

“I’m cool, I was with some friends when you called me”........she muttered.

“Is that why you couldn’t tell me your exact location?”.........I retorted.

“Must I tell you?”.......she fired back.

“And by the way who are those friends that you were with?”........I asked, and she scoffed.

“Do I now owe you explanations for all my activities in camp?”.........she said sarcastically.

“What’s all this about Sandra, are you pissed with me over something?”.........I asked, staring at her intently.

She locked eyes with me for an uncomfortable moment, then broke the gaze, diverting her attention to her phone.

“Are you going to just pick up your phone while I’m talking to you?”........I asked rudely.

“What is your problem? Do you want to talk or argue? Fine.

What is it with you and Pascaline?”.........She asked.

“What do you mean by that?”........I asked surprised.

“Exactly what I meant by asking, the question is simple”........she retorted.

“You should already know by now that there is nothing between Pascaline and I”.........I replied.

“I don't know anything between you two.What happened yesterday? You guys spent the whole evening together. You couldn’t even call me, and yet you tell me that nothing is happening between you guys?”..........She blasted.

“Is that why you are putting up this behavior?”........I asked.

“Is it not worth it?”........she rudely replied.

“So because you saw me with Pascaline last night or maybe she probably told you that I was with her, that’s the reason for your attitude and in order to spite me, you decided to go hanging out with your own people......After all, what business of mine is it right?”.........I muttered, slightly raising my voice.

“I did nothing to spite you, I was just hanging out with friends”........she said nonchalantly.

“You didn’t see me yesterday, did you bother to call me?”........I asked sternly.

“I didn’t need to call, I knew you were having a swell time with your female friends”........she said sarcastically.

“So of all the people in this camp, you decided to join the Kennedy group?”.......I asked angrily.

“Do I now have people I’m restricted from going out with?”.........she blurted out.

“No not at all, you can move around with anybody you want”........I replied.

“Fine then”.........She said, with a note of finality and stood up from her seat.

I also rose to my feet, and we exited the café in silence, like two people who barely knew each other. I was already irritated that she had withheld her location from me, but catching her with Kennedy's group had ignited a whole new level of anger within me.

Kennedy, according to the story making rounds in camp, is a guy that moves around with many girls. The person you see him with today is not the same person you will see him with tomorrow.

It was also whispered that Kennedy had a history of intimate encounters with many of the girls he dated. What bothered me wasn't Sandra's association with him per se, but rather the repercussions it would have on my reputation among our friends when they found out.

I've never met Kennedy in person, but from what I've gathered, his arrogant attitude and personality traits are pretty off-putting, and I'm not sure I'd be able to tolerate them.

Sandra and I went our separate ways in silence after leaving Mami, the tension between us palpable. As I stormed back to my hostel, my anger simmered just below the surface.

“If she wants to play games, I'm more than happy to play along, and I'll make sure I come out on top”........I thought to myself.

To be continued.........

TIDES OF LUST (Episode 53)

 “Guy what’s up? What’s the problem between you and your babe na?”.......I asked Yamani when I got to the hostel.

“I don fuck up again my man”........he replied unhappily.

“What happened? I saw the way and manner she left you at the Pavilion”........I inquired.

“Guy, this whole thing started yesterday night. We were sitting out in a corner close to the mango tree near the Pavilion. As we were gisting, I made a move to try my luck via small touching things but the girl no gree......I initially thought it was no big deal, but it's actually something I've been carefully thinking through, and she's been vibing with me on it”

 “I was just about to make another attempt when she gave me the most piercing stare. If we were alone, she would've totally lost it on me. As she stormed off, I called out to her, but she ignored me completely”

 “Today, I met up with her at my platoon, but she was ignoring me. After trying repeatedly and begging, she finally agreed to meet with me this evening. As we sat in the pavilion talking, I tried to apologize, but suddenly she started insulting me. Just like that, she got up and walked away”........he recounted sadly.

“Seriously, you're something else! You think just because she was listening to you talk about the issue, she'd actually do what you want? You didn't try at all”.......I blamed him.

“Dude, I know I messed up, but why did she have to go and insult me?”........He said, sounding annoyed.

“You should be grateful she only insulted you. What if she takes the matter to the state coordinator? You'd be facing allegations of attempted molestation”.........I said, with a serious expression on my face.

“Impossible!! Attempted molestation? Who would believe such a ridiculous story?”........he yelled.

“Wait until it reaches that time, you will know what I'm talking about”........I mumbled 

“Dude, but I really like that girl. I don't want her to just walk away like that. I was planning on pursuing something with her after camp”........he said, sounding sad.

“Go and talk to her, maybe she'll still listen to you”........I suggested.

“As she walked away from that place, she didn't look like someone who'd ever want to talk to me again.....Please, go and talk to her on my behalf, I'm begging you”.........he pleaded with me.

“You're crazy! What do you want me to go tell her? That my friend is a madman who can't even keep his hands to himself? Dude, forget it, I won't do it"........I scolded him.

“Please, just help me explain things to her, she'll believe you”........he pleaded.

“Dude, that's your mess, you need to clean it up yourself”........I retorted.

“My guy abeg na, I no wan lose that girl”......He pleaded on.

“Go and meet her yourself and tell her all that. She'll believe you”........I replied rudely.

We were still in the middle of our conversation when a group of army personnel suddenly raided our hostel, conducting a bunk-by-bunk search for anyone who had illegally tapped into the electrical supply using an extension cord.

After checking through the bunks, they left after warning us to sleep and not keep making noise as we might not like what they will do to us if they come back.

As the army personnel departed, I suddenly realized I hadn't heard from Sandra all evening. I tried calling her twice, but she didn't answer. However, when I checked her WhatsApp profile, I saw that she was active online.

I was puzzled as to why she was ignoring my calls. I sent her two consecutive messages, inquiring about her day and why she wasn't answering my calls.

After a while, I saw that my messages had been read, but she remained silent. Taking the hint that she didn't feel like talking, I shut off my phone and went to sleep.

To be continued..............

TIDES OF LUST (Episode 52)

 We exited the pavilion and made our way to Mami, where we spent some time eating, followed by drinks, before parting ways.

As camp activities picked up, my crew and I rarely went to Mami together to eat, but we still shared meals occasionally, though not with Pascaline.

After leaving Chiamaka in front of the clinic and heading to my hostel, Daisy called me.

She asked me to wait for her at the Pavilion as she wanted to talk about something.

I returned to the Pavilion and waited. Shortly after, she arrived and sat next to me. After a brief exchange of greetings, she began, while I listened with rapt attention.

“Pascal, I am very sorry about my sister’s attitude.......Sometimes she is like that, which is why I’m not perturbed by her recent change of behavior.

She once had a boyfriend who treated her badly.

When I say badly, I mean very bad. After their relationship packed up, out of anger and hurt, she had sworn that she is never going to date another guy until she meets someone that shares the same names with her” 

“It had been like a joke at first till after two years and she had kept to her words. It is three years and some months now and she is still not budging to my pleas to change that. Now she met you, someone that shares the same names with her but seeing that you are with some other person is something she is finding hard to digest” 

“I’ve tried talking to her, but the same cold attitude she is giving you is the same she is giving me and everyone else.

Sandra told me about how she ignored you, but if you can still try and talk to her, maybe she will come around”..........she explained.

After our conversation, I promised Daisy that I would try to speak with Pascaline before we parted ways. Once I got to the hostel, I decided to reach out to Pascaline on WhatsApp.

“Hello, what’s up?”

“Are you there Pascaline?”

“Can we talk, if you don’t mind?”

I sent the messages one after another but received no response, even after she read them. I decided to skip the pleasantries and get straight to the point.

“Why are you being cold towards me and keeping to yourself?”........I wrote.

“It’s none of your business”........She replied.

“Really? I know it’s none of my business but I care about you as your friend”........I wrote.

“You don’t have to care about me, just mind your business”.......She replied.

“Do you know this is the first time in my life that I am meeting someone I share a similar name with, and to think that this person who has been friendly suddenly went cold baffles me. If there is something I did that you didn’t like, don’t you think you should confront me with it instead of going dark on everybody?”........I sent to her.

I saw typing on her profile but got no message after waiting for a while.

“It’s okay if you don’t want to talk to me again.

But for whatever it is, don’t be cold to others and stop withdrawing from people. We have barely 8days to spend here so have fun while it lasts”.........I typed and sent.

“Pascal, this has nothing to do with you. It’s something I can figure out myself, so you don’t have to worry about me”........She sent, after I waited for like eternity.

“A problem shared is a problem half solved, they said......I’ve got ears and time if you want to share whatever it is that is bothering you”........I replied.

“Don’t worry I can fix myself”........she replied.

“I’m worried already, can we meet and talk? Please”........I pleaded, via the chat.

“Where?”.......she replied.

“The place you walked out on me”........I replied.

“Okay, but before then, I’m sorry for walking out on you and the cold attitude”........she replied.

“Tell me that when we meet”.......I typed.

“Okay, let me take my shower, I’m coming”.........She sent and went offline.

I took a shower, changed my clothes, and headed to the Pavilion. There, I spotted Yamani and his new girlfriend sitting together, having a conversation. As I approached, I realized they were in the middle of a heated argument, though I couldn't tell what it was about.

I altered my path before they saw me and made my way to the spot where Pascaline had walked out on me. A few minutes later, Pascaline emerged from behind and sat next to me.

“It seems your friend has found himself a camp chick”........she muttered, nodding towards Yamani.

“Yes they’ve been going out for a couple of days now”.......I replied.

“Good for him. Heard what he did the other night.

God saved him that I wasn’t around when he did that to my sister”.........she retorted.

“He didn’t do that out of consciousness. Moreover, he has apologized to your sister, and we've all moved on from the incident”.........I replied.

“It’s like having issues with ladies is his hobby”.........she muttered.

I looked up and saw Yamani's girlfriend storming off, clearly irritated, while Yamani stood there looking powerless. I considered calling out to him but decided against it.

Whatever it is he will tell me when we meet in the hostel.

After the girl left, Yamani stood up, looked around and left.

“Well that ends the Yamani drama, so what’s wrong with you?”........I asked her.

“Shebi I told you already that it’s not something that I can’t handle”.........she snapped.

“Don’t let us start running around on this issue again just say it out already”.........I said exhaustedly.

“Okay then, firstly let me apologize for my cold and rude attitude towards you all these while. Secondly you didn’t do anything to me directly, so you don’t have to worry. It’s just something I’m trying to deal with”.........she replied.

“I didn’t do something to you directly but I did indirectly? Tell me about it”.........I pressed on.

“Why are you hell bent on pushing me into telling you something just meant for me alone? Didn’t know you are this stubborn”.........she sneered.

“Yes I'm stubborn, I agree, now spill it already”........I said curtly.

“Okay this is it, something happened a long time ago and I vowed to myself that I’m not going to date anybody again except a guy that shares similar names with me.....It’s been over three years now but I never met that person. I had promised myself that if I happen to meet this person and even he doesn’t ask me out that I’m going to ask him out myself” 

“Fortunately I have met that person and unfortunately to my greatest disappointment he is with someone already and that someone is a friend”........She explained soberly.

“What is it that happened exactly?”........I inquired.

“Forget it, there is no way I’m telling you that”........she retorted.

“Come on, what are friends for?”.......I pestered.

“No Pascal, don’t even push it, I’m not telling you that”........She concluded, and I breathed deeply.

“Okay fine, should I say that I’m sorry for whatever that happened in the past that made you make such vow?”.........I said gently.

“No, just forget it. I’m fuçking over it”........she replied, with a frown on her face.

“Can I tell you my mind?”........I requested.

“Yeah sure”........she impelled.

“I think you should give yourself a chance to meet and date other people. That vow is tying you down and keeping you from meeting amazing guys out there. 

Whatever that must have pushed you to making that decision is not far from boyfriend and girlfriend issues. But that fact that you had it bad the last time doesn’t mean that it’s always going to be the same”

 “One way or the other we’ve all had it bad before now, but that doesn’t mean that everybody is the same.You are looking for someone that shares the same names with you, how sure are you that the person is not going to be worse?”

“Everyday life gives us another chance to meet new people and I think you should let go of the past and dump that vow in the trash can and move on. For all I know, you are still living with your past for over three years but you claim to be over it” 

“Pascaline let it go and move on. There are chances you will never meet someone that shares the same name with you again, will you then remain single for the rest of your life all because of one relationship gone wrong? Move on, that is the best you can do for yourself”.........I counseled her solemnly, and she heaved a big sigh.

“You can make a good preacher”........she muttered with a smile.

“I’m not preaching. I’m telling you the truth my dear, please think about it”........I replied.

“Can I ask you a question Pascal?”........she asked.

“Yeah sure”........I encouraged.

“Have you ever been hurt by someone you love?”........she asked, looking me in the eyes.

“Hmmm!! I wasn’t just hurt, I was made a fool to go with it”.......I replied.

“How did you deal with it? I mean, how did you get over it?”........she inquired.

“Mine is kinda complicated. You know this situation where you think that you’ve got everything under your control and feeling on top of the world not knowing that you don’t even know what is going on.

That was my case”.........I explained.

“Tell me about it na”........she requested.

“Oh! Now you want to hear my own story but you wouldn’t tell me yours. No you aren't hearing nothing”.........I retorted.

“Please na, must you pay back?”..........She pleaded.

“Yes oh. It's payback time, any day you tell me your story, I will tell you mine”........I replied.

“Ok oh. So tell me how did you guys meet, I mean you and Sandra?”........she inquired.

“Sandra and I started way back in our school days.

I met her in my second year. I went on date with someone and in the process I met Sandra and she stole my heart”

 “I kept asking her out from my second year till final year but she never accepted, but throughout this asking out period she was like my best friend. I always run to her for some advice and other stuff” 

“As I kept disturbing her life she now told me we should work our service to Lagos that if it works then we will start dating but if not then I should know that nothing was ever meant to happen between us”

 “I don’t know whether to call it fate or nature at work, but instead of Lagos we found ourselves in this place and that’s how we started dating”......I explained, with a bit of lies.

“Seems you guys just started?”........she muttered.

“Dating yes, but we’ve been friends for three years”......I replied.

“That’s cool. You’ve got eyes for good things”.......she replied smiling sheepishly.

“So what are you going to do now?”........I asked, ignoring her earlier comment.

“About what?”........she asked back, feigning ignorance of what I was asking her. I looked at her while she smiled and looked away.

“I will just try to get my feelings together”.......she replied.

“It’s about telling yourself that it’s time to move on and not clinging to the past, is that clear?”........I advised.

“Yes sir”.......she replied.

“That’s cool”.....I muttered.

“But you guys are bizarre, you and Sandra. I was just dying with jealousy that night. Call me wild, but being intimate in a party or a crowded place with a boyfriend is one thing I have always fantasized about”.......she said playfully.

“Well doing something crazy once in a while is the fun of life”........I replied.

“Jeezz! I couldn’t just take it that night. I so badly wanted it to be me”........She desired.

“It can still be you, you never can tell. Maybe all you need is to just get a guy and boom!

Your wishes will come true”.......I replied.

We stayed together talking till the soldiers came chasing everybody to bed. I led her to her hostel before leaving for mine.

To be continued........

TIDES OF LUST (Episode 51)

 After the first week in camp, everything took a new turn as competitions between platoons kicked off, featuring football, volleyball, sprint races, and dance battles.

Platoon commanders selected top performers from the platoon march past to join the team that would march on the final day.

A lot of people became members of different groups, due to rumors that active involvement in camp activities might result in being posted to the state capital.

I chose not to join the marchers. However, upon hearing that members of the band crew were almost guaranteed postings to the state capital, I decided to try out for the band.

Unfortunately, the large number of hopefuls waiting to be selected was discouraging.

I also attempted to join the camp media team, known as OBS, but their list was already crowded with applicants.

After numerous attempts to join a group that could improve my chances of being posted to the state capital, I eventually decided to remain independent.

Sandra and Evelyn were selected to represent their platoons in the upcoming pageant, while Daisy was chosen to represent her platoon in the Miss Bold and Beautiful category.

Pascaline, just like me, stayed out of all the groups, simply observing and cheering others on. She continued to keep her distance and avoided talking to me, so I chose to respect her need for space.

Yamani had attended a military primary and secondary school, where he became skilled at marching, making it impossible for his platoon commander to overlook him for selection.

As for Yamani, he quickly found a girl from his platoon after realizing he wouldn't be able to win Daisy over. He couldn't stop talking about his new girlfriend and eventually introduced her to me.

He mentioned to me that he was planning his approach to win the girl over. On the Wednesday of our second week, my platoon played a football match against Platoon Four.

I was at the Pavilion watching the football match when someone suddenly covered my eyes from behind. One thing I’m particularly good at is remembering the scent and cologne of a person.

I raised my nose as the scent of the cologne wafted into my nostrils, but I couldn't identify it. I tried to recall where I had smelled it before, but it eluded me.

“The perfume you are wearing smells familiar but I can’t place it”........I mumbled, touching the hand and raising my hands up to feel the person’s face which she dodged.

“Why not guess”........she said, forming a base voice.

As soon as she said that, I immediately recognized her, despite her attempt to disguise her true voice.

“Chiamaka?”........I mentioned.

“Noooo!”.......she replied in her fake base voice.

“Chiamaka, it’s you”.........I said with confidence.

“Who is Chiamaka?”.........she asked with her fake bass voice again.

“Doctor Chiamaka abi nurse Chiamaka”.........I replied, and She uncovered my face.

“How did you know it was me?”.......she asked, sitting beside me.

“I was trying to remember who I met with the scent of the perfume you are wearing, till I heard your voice”........I replied.

“Hmmm, you are good then.

Lest I forget, so after I did you a favor, you ran away without repaying it abi?”.........she teased.

Everything about Chiamaka had slipped my mind after the dramatic events in my platoon that day. I had completely forgotten that I had taken her contact until that moment.

“I'm so sorry my dear, let me not lie to you, I forgot. That day as I left the clinic, my commander called me. If you see the kind frog jump wey I do that day Ehhhnnn, you go pity me......Upon say I tell the man say I dey sick oh, he still didn't spare me”..........I complained, and she bursted out laughing after I said that.

“So what happened with the election?”.........she asked amidst laughter.

“Of course they elected me, but I had to plead with them to give it to another person.

After pleading like say I wan die he come carry am give another person”.........I replied.

“Why are you sitting out here alone, aren't you in any group?”.......she asked.

“I tried joining the one that would take me to Uyo, but unfortunately, the kind of crowd I witnessed, is so discouraging.......that's why I decided to sit back, after all it's not compulsory for everyone to go to Uyo......What about you, aren't you in any group?”..........I explained and inquired.

“I’m in one already, or do you think working in the clinic is an easy thing?”.........she replied.

“That reminds me, are you a nurse or a doctor?”.........I asked.

“Doctor”.........she replied.

“Hmmm! Small girl like you”........I teased.

“Who be small girl? Na you come be big boy. You senior me?”........She retorted, hitting my shoulder.

“You be small Pickin na, abi I lie?”........I said playfully.

“You are not serious”........she replied, and we both laughed heartily.

I grew bored of watching the football match since Platoon Four had already scored three goals against my platoon.

“Why don’t we go to Mami so that I can repay your favor?”.........I offered to her.

To be continued...........

TIDES OF LUST (Episode 50)

 

“You weren’t just a girl to me Evelyn. I valued our friendship, I treasured it with all my life. It’s just that….........”

I didn’t want to voice out something that will make her feel worse than she was already so I withdrew my words before it came out but she picked it up from there.

“Just that what? Say it Pascal, You couldn’t see yourself dating me right? I mean why would you date me? What is there to gain again? You have seen and had everything on a platter of gold so what more?”.......she said, her voice filled with scorn.

“Evelyn just stop”........I said out loud.

Her words were piercing through my heart. I know she would never stop saying those things till I tell her something that will give her a guilty conscience too.

“Why are you saying all these to me? Do you know how deep I was in love with you in the first year? Do you know what your rejection did to me? Do you know what damage it did to my esteem? Do you think all I wanted from you is just Sêx and money? I wanted you, someone to call my own after Mirabel, but what did you want? You wanted me for just Sêx”

 “You saw in me that guy you could just spend on and use to satisfy your urges. All these while I have loved you but I had told myself that hiding it is the best I could do. When you came out with your feelings, I was afraid”

 “How sure am I that it wasn’t still a plan to keep me around for your satisfaction and when you are done you will get me discarded? I was so drawn to you that I feared what would happen after graduation. I was afraid of being lonely when mirabel's issue came, I decided to end things for good with the both of you and move on”.........I explained everything to her, from the depth of my heart.

She was left speechless after my final remark, and I knew I had struck a chord. The silence that followed was palpable until she finally spoke, her words catching me off guard.

“Pascal I’m sorry I never understood your feelings then. I was only playing by my parent’s wishes and didn’t want to drag you into it. If I could turn back the hands of time, I’ll make things better”........she said remorsefully.

“It’s okay, it’s in the past now. We have to move on to the future”........I muttered, staring at her intently.

“Okay, but can I ask you something? I know it might sound a little weird”.........she demanded.

“Sure, go on”.........I urge her.

“Do you still have any feelings for me?”........she asked with a sly smile on her face.

“Yeah, I still do, but you know I have a girlfriend now, so it doesn’t matter anymore”.........I said bluntly.

“So do you think we can still get down?”.........she asked again, still with the smile.

“I have a girlfriend”.......I replied.

“That is not a yes or a no?”........she retorted.

“I refuse to answer that question, but I will do well to avoid you as much as I can because I HAVE A GIRLFRIEND”..........I sneered.

“Before the girlfriend came around, I was there so I don’t need your answer anymore......I already have the answer I want, thank you”.......she replied, and chuckled.

We decided to go and chill out a bit in Mami market while I collect one of my phone from the phone charging spot. As we walked down, she slipped her fingers into mine and locked them together. When we got the phone charging section, I paid and collected my phone and we left to a café.

We placed our orders and waited for our food to arrive. I was engrossed in my phone when Evelyn gently nudged me to get my attention.

“Is that not your girlfriend?”........she asked, nodding to a girl sitting with a guy in another café opposite ours.

Glancing over in the direction Evelyn indicated, I spotted Sandra sitting with a companion. While he conversed, Sandra was distracted, intently typing on her phone.

Sandra would periodically look up, offer the guy a warm smile, and then refocus on her phone. Her behavior was so characteristic, and I found myself smiling knowingly.

Over time, I've noticed that Sandra has a tendency to be aloof and guarded around other guys, but when we're together, she lets her guard down and is her carefree self.

“Yes that’s her, any problems?”........I asked Evelyn.

“That guy is my platoon leader”........she replied.

“Which platoon you dey self?”........I asked.

“Platoon 9”........She replied, still staring at Sandra and the guy.

“Please leave them to enjoy, being in camp is for only three weeks”........I said playfully to Evelyn.

She swiveled around, her eyes widening in surprise at my comment. I met her gaze with a smile, pocketing my phone as the waiter arrived with our snacks.

“Do you really trust her that much that seeing her with another guy doesn’t make you feel somehow?”..........she asked with disbelief.

“I trust her so much. I have seen things that made me to really trust her”........I replied.

Our conversation was interrupted by the beep of my phone, signaling an incoming WhatsApp message. I glanced down to read the text.

I burst out laughing and turned my phone to show Evelyn the message. Her expression changed instantly, and she swatted at my hand, clearly annoyed.

The WhatsApp message was from Sandra, and it read.

“Baby please where are you? there is someone talking trash into my ears please come and save me”........she added many crying smiley to the message which made it more funny.

“See I told you that my babe can be trusted......she isn't promiscuous”........I boasted to Evelyn, but she hissed loudly.

I brought out my phone from my pocket to send a reply to Sandra, so she can know I am around her.

“My cupcake, please take a look at the shop opposite and you will see your knight in shining armor”.......I typed and sent it to Sandra.

She turned around, caught our eye, and flashed a smile. Then, she stood up, gestured towards us, and the guy followed her gaze before she walked away from him.

As Sandra approached us, her expression shifted, and she became subdued. She sat down beside me, swiftly pulling out her phone and immersing herself in it, her attention diverted.

After a while, Evelyn stood up and left, giving me a flimsy excuse of going to meet her platoon commandant.

After Evelyn departed, Sandra remained eerily silent, not saying a word to me until we exited the café.

To be continued........