TIDES OF LUST (Episode 47)

 

 Returning to my hostel after the meeting with Sandra, I decided to rest briefly to prepare for the evening parade. Before long, the sound of the clarion roused me from my nap, signaling it was time for the parade.

Due to the election scheduled to take place after the parade, I had already decided to skip the evening parade. After all, they wouldn’t vote for someone who wasn’t present.

While everyone else headed to the parade ground, I chose to make my way to the camp clinic. I have a friend in our platoon who is a doctor and works at the clinic.

Upon arriving at the clinic, I inquired about him and was informed that he was on the evening shift.

The lovely, fair skinned nurse at the clinic, kindly inquired if there was anything she could help me with. My intention was simply to request my friend to assign me a bed to stay in until the election period was over.

I made up my mind to be completely honest and transparent with the nurse, thinking that by laying everything out clearly, there was a chance she might understand my situation and offer some assistance.

“Actually I just want to rest here for a while till the parade is over”........I replied, in a calm tone.

“Are you tired already? when we still have two weeks and some days to spend here?”.........she muttered playfully.

“It’s not really like I’m tired already. Yes, tired a little, but I am also trying to avoid something”........I complained.

“What is that?”.........she asked worriedly.

“I am running away from the election in my platoon.....I don’t want to be elected into any post”.........I grumbled, with a frown on my face, and She looked me over.

“How sure are you that they are going to elect you?”..........she asked, with a tone of scepticism.

“You won’t understand my dear, if I am there, they will definitely elect me”........I retorted.

“Which platoon are you in?”.........she inquired.

“Platoon Five”........I replied politely.

“Wait, are you not the guy that leads your platoon during the parade?”..........She asked, her eyes widened in amazement.

“Now you know why I’m looking for a place to hide”.........I muttered, downcast with regret “It’s already like you are the platoon leader, so why running? You are running away from what others will gladly take with gratitude”..........she outlined.

“Please I don’t need that kind of responsibility.....Some other person should take it, I'm not interested thanks”........I retorted.

We were still deep in conversation when, without warning, a soldier marched into the clinic, his expression as harsh and menacing as ever, sending a sudden chill through the room.

“What are you doing there, when your mates are at the parade ground?”........He yelled at me.

I subtly dropped my gaze, feigning a sudden bout of illness, and maintained a stoic silence, intentionally shutting him out and declining to respond to his inquiries.

“He is not feeling fine sir”........the nurse said gently, referring to the soldier.

“Then he should lie down on bed......Hmmm, you haven't seen anything yet, just make sure you don't die for here, Moron”.........he said rudely, and left.

The nurse and I burst into laughter as soon as the soldier walked out. She then kindly assigned me a bed nearby, and we continued our conversation.

“Just know that you will take me to Mami market for this favor I did you”........she muttered, with a smile on her face.

“That one isn't a problem.......But as someone that is sick, you are supposed to give me even if it is vitamin C, so that the claim will be legit”.........I requested, in a joking manner.

“So I have given you bed now and you are still asking for vitamin C? It’s Chloroquine and flagyl that I will give you”........she teased.

“Thank you, I don’t need it anymore. By the way, I don't even know your name, I’m Pascal by name”..........I said politely, making a formal introduction.

“My name is Chiamaka”........she replied.

“Which platoon?”.......I asked.

“Platoon Six”........she replied.

“So we are even platoon neighbors?”........I said, with an impish expression on my face.

“How did you think I was able to easily know you?”.......she teased, and I chuckled.

“Which school did you graduate from?”........I probed further, even though I know that shouldn't be my business.

“UNEC”.......she replied.

“Wow, I graduated from UNN......Anyways, nice meeting you”........I said curtly, stretching out my hand for a handshake, which she accepted.

After the evening parade, I obtained Chiamaka's contact details and thanked her before departing the clinic for my hostel. As soon as I arrived at the hostel, Pascaline gave me a call.

“What’s up?”........I said into the phone.

As I listened attentively to her voice, I distinctly recognized the familiar sounds and murmurings in the background, which led me to make an educated guess that she was still situated on the parade ground, and more specifically, was likely in the midst of our platoon.

“Where are you?”........she asked.

“I just left the camp clinic, not feeling too fine”........I replied.

“What is wrong with you? Our commander is asking after you, let me give him the phone”........She said anxiously, without even waiting to hear why I went to the clinic.

“Where are you?”.........my commander roared through the phone.

“Sir I think I have malaria, just coming from the clinic and they said I should go and rest”.........I replied, with a feeble voice.

“We are about to start the election right now, so before I close my eyes and open am, make sure you are here this instance”.........he barked.

“Sir please, I’m feeling weak all over, I won't be able to come over”.......I pleaded, almost shedding tears.

“You want to try me abi, is like you want me to personally drill you........If I count three and you are not here you go smell your nyash, one!”........He thundered and dropped the call.

With a deep sigh, I retreated, trudging back to the parade ground, feeling utterly crestfallen, as though my heart had been shattered into a million pieces.

As soon as the commander caught sight of me approaching the parade ground, he bellowed an order for me to begin frog jumping. I hesitated, but my reluctance vanished when he started storming towards me, his anger palpable.

I begrudgingly dropped down and began frog jumping in his direction, my movements slow and labored, reflecting my evident reluctance.

Upon reaching him, he instructed me to frog jump back to my original position and then return to him again. The prospect of this grueling task was unbearable, and I began to plead with him, but he remained unmoved, ignoring my desperate appeals.

I started frog jumping back, but midway, I flopped onto my stomach, and the tension was instantly broken as the entire gathering, including the commander, burst into laughter.

After the laughter died down, he summoned me back, and the election proceedings commenced. I was nominated alongside another candidate for the platoon leader position, while Pascaline and Ijeoma were put forward for the vice leader role.

Following the voting process, I emerged victorious as the platoon leader, and Ijeoma narrowly edged out Pascaline by a single vote to secure the vice leader position.

However, in a surprising turn of events, I humbly appealed to my platoon commander, expressing my reluctance to assume the role of platoon leader.

After persistent entreaties, the platoon commander eventually relented and reassigned the leadership role to the other candidate, relieving me of the responsibility.

After the election proceedings concluded, Pascaline slipped away silently, as usual, whereas I joined our commander and the elected platoon representatives on a trip to the Mami market.

Our commander ordered drinks as soon as we arrived, and then, with a knowing glint in his eye, he told me that he had seen right through my earlier protests, and that I had been trying to dodge the election all along.

After finishing the first round of drinks, he moved to order another round, but I politely intervened, declining to let him continue.

I declared it was my turn to foot the bill, and promptly placed an order for two bottles of the popular drink, along with a steaming plate of pepper soup for each of us.

“You want to intimidate your father's age mate abi?”........he asked, staring at me intently while we all laughed.

“No oh, how I go wan intimidate you na, I dey craze?”.......I replied.

As the conversation and laughter continued, our commander suddenly received a call and excused himself. 

Meanwhile, Ijeoma and I found ourselves engaged in a discreet game of eye-catching, each of us sneaking glances at the other.

Before the election, Ijeoma was a virtual stranger to me, and I had no recollection of her being part of our platoon.

Ijeoma's facial features may not have been particularly striking, but her physique was undeniably impressive, boasting generous curves that commanded attention.

Her voluptuous figure was accentuated by her rich, chocolate-hued skin, which gleamed with a warm, velvety sheen reminiscent of perfectly polished mahogany.

Her smile was nothing short of radiant, illuminated by a gap-toothed charm and accentuated by adorable dimples that popped into view whenever she beamed, creating a truly breathtaking sight.

During our time together, Ijeoma spoke sparingly, uttering only a handful of words, but her silent participation was punctuated by warm, radiant smiles that spread from her lips to her sparkling eyes, conveying her engaged and lively presence.

With our commander gone and no indication of his return, we collectively decided to call it a night, bidding each other farewell as we dispersed to our respective hostels.

After grabbing two cups of ice cream from a nearby shop, I headed to the Pavilion and dialed Sandra's number, asking her to meet me there for a chilled treat.

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