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........

TIDES OF LUST (episode 49)

 I woke up the following morning feeling like someone that was knocked down by a train.

I felt my body aching all over coupled with the fact that I couldn’t sleep through the night.

The clarion sounded when it was like I just closed my eyes to sleep.

The headache that accompanied the body ache was head splitting. I knew all that was a sign of a restless night.

After the parade that morning, we had all gathered and headed to Mami market for our breakfast without Pascaline.

Everybody noticed that I wasn’t myself as I was ordinarily cold. Sandra had pulled me aside and asked me if I was okay to which I had replied in affirmation telling her that I just had a bad night.

At the SAED lecture, I slept throughout. Sandra became extremely worried but since she didn’t know what was wrong with me, there was nothing she could do.

After the lecture, I didn’t have the appetite for lunch so I told them to go on ahead that I wasn’t feeling hungry.

While I headed to the hostel to sleep. Sandra understood that I was really having a bad day so she just allowed me to be.

Yamani on his part haven’t seen this part of me before, so after trying to get me to flow with his discussion without success, he surrendered and allowed me be.

I don’t know for how long I slept, but I woke up to see some people relaxing and gisting about football.

Pulling my phone from under the pillow, I saw it was already 6pm. I don’t know how, but my phone was on flight mode. Turning off the flight mode, messages started coming in.

The first message was from an unsaved number, another from Pascaline and some Whatsapp messages too.

The message from the unsaved number read “Mr Man where are you?.......Come to the parade ground right now before I count three” I a light smile crept on my face after reading the message. I know it was from my platoon commander.

Pascaline's message confirmed it. Hers read.

“where are you? Commander is looking for you” After looking through the Whatsapp messages I decided to call my commander.

“Good evening sir”........I greeted politely as he answered.

“Ozuor, what is your problem? Why weren’t you at the parade ground this evening?”..........he barked.

“Sir I was sleeping and didn’t hear the clarion”.........I replied.

“Mumu, you think this is your father’s house where you can sleep as long as you like abi?........Don’t worry, you will meet me tomorrow morning”........he retorted.

“Sir please I’m sorry, it won't happen again”.........I apologized.

“Is sorry a name of person abi na una village head name? Sorry Kee you”.........he snapped.

I continued apologizing for some time until he instructed me to report to the platoon leader and provide my complete details, as they were compiling the list of members in each platoon, before ending the call.

I called Sandra afterwards, while we discussed, she told me she was glad I was back to my usual cheerful self.

I asked for her location and she told me that some guys took her, Daisy and some of their friends to Mami market, to which I told her to have fun.

I had my bath, changed to another set of white outfit and went out. I called Yamani twice but got no reply.

I was heading to the pavilion when I saw Evelyn with some of her friends.

I called out for her but she didn't hear me, so I dialed her number.

“Where are you headed?”........I asked as she picked the call. She turned looking around for me “I’m going to the volley ball court, where are you?”........she asked.

“Behind you”........I replied.

“Behind me where? Abeg tell me where are you joor?”.........she retorted.

I raised my hand and waved at her. She saw me and dropped the call, while I walked down to where she stood with her friends.

“So you have learnt to play hide and seek with me abi?”.........she asked, when I got to them.

We exchanged pleasantries and started walking down to the volley ball court.

“Are you playing volley ball?”........I asked curiously as we walked down, ignoring her first question.

“No oh, I don’t have that kinda strength......Just going to watch my platoon girls train”.......she replied.

“Is there ever anything you have strength for, lazy girl”........I teased.

“Ehnnn! What did you just say? You said I don't have strength for anything? Really?

Should I remind you of something? Do you want us to go down that lane?”..........She bombarded me with questions, staring at me intently while a mischievous smile on her face.

“Come on Evelyn, I was only joking.......you don't have to cook me with questions”..…....I muttered.

“The fact that I had the strength to ride that heavy duty between your legs for three years, believe me there is nothing I can’t do”........She said boastfully.

That was the least line I expected her to use. I looked at the other girls with her, as all of them were giggling and stealing glances at me.

I felt like the earth should open and engulf me immediately. As if to make matters worse one of her friends asked.

“Wait a minute, don’t tell me you guys were once......”........she made a sign signalling intimacy.

I was mute, so as Evelyn. But the look on Evelyn's face, said it all, that we were once sêx mates.

“So Evelyn, you mean this handsome nigga here drilled your kitty while in school?”........Her friend asked again.

“Yes he did, and for three good years, I was taking in the gigantic machine in between his legs”.........Evelyn replied, and her friends started laughing.

“Three what? Omooorr”........the same girl asked again with mock seriousness.

“I rode this guy for three good years before he dumped me for a fresh K!tty, he say my own don too wide”.........she said sternly, making a sad face.

“Come on Evelyn…..”........I started, before she cut me off.

“Come on what? Am I lying? You were tired of the old meat, because it has lost its sweetness according to you, so you went for a fresh one”.........she blasted.

The other girls kept watching us and were giggling. They were enjoying the display between Evelyn and I. I needed some private time with Evelyn, so we could discuss like adults.

“Ladies, do you mind if I take her away for a while? She will be right back”.........I asked the girls.

“Sure, go on ahead, so long as you bring her back without getting her pregnant”........the one who seemed like their spokesperson said, and everyone laughed.

Dragging Evelyn by the hand gently, I led her away from her friends.

“Must you say all those things there? That wasn't necessary na”........I asked her as we walked down to the Pavilion.

“Did I tell lies?”.........she asked rudely.

“Typical Nigerian, answering question with question”.........I said sternly.

“Yes, no doubt, I am one”.........she replied, forcing a smile on her face.

We got to the Pavilion and settled down on two seats. At first we stared at each other before she asked, “This is about last night right?”

“Thought we settled this thing before now Evelyn?”........I asked.

“Settled what exactly? Pascal you played me for a fool........Okay, fine let me ask you again, did you ever give us a chance or you just got tired and used the single opportunity you had to get me off your back?”........She inquired.

“Come on, Precious , you know I tried developing feelings for you, I tried but it wasn’t just coming”........I replied.

“You tried when you already had another girl that followed you home and got introduced to your people......Is that the definition of trying? Is she the girl you told me you were trying to build something with?”..........she asked apprehensively.

“No it’s not her. I found out things couldn’t work between that person and I. I started with Sandra not long ago. We are not even up to two months into this relationship”..........I said sincerely.

“Oh this sounds more interesting and you want me to believe this hogwash? Ok fine, assuming I believe that you guys just started this thing recently, so what were you guys doing back then in school? Just making out?”.........she said sarcastically.

“Yea, it was something that happened just a couple of times. Why are you being like this?

Are you trying to tell me that back then in school you didn’t have other guys you were doing things with? Why am I the one being questioned here?”..........I inquired, trying to get to the bottom of something.

“Pascal let me tell you, you are the only guy I ever had something to do with sexually, in my entire life. Yes I know what will be going on in your mind but I just told you the gospel truth”..........She clarified, with a gloomy expression on her face.

It sounded funny to me, how could she say that? She wasn’t a virgin when I first had intercourse with her, though as I could still remember, she was very tight during our first time, but I know a virgin when I see one.

“I am the only guy you ever had something to do with sexually? How? What happened?”.........I inquired, in a state of confusion.

“Pascal, that will be a story for another day, but I feel used by you.....You are the only guy I ever had a bonding with......The only guy I ever came to truly love and adore is you. After I realized that you were trying to cut ties with me by avoiding me, I decided to let you be”

 “But when I got posted here, I saw a flicker of hope that maybe since you said you will be working your posting here that we could revive things in a new environment, but see how my hopes got shattered” 

“At some point, I do think that I am over you, but I always find out that I am not over you yet.......Maybe I need to work more on myself”........she lamented bitterly, as tears rolled down her cheeks.

“I’m sorry for acting like a kid with you. Believe me I treasured what we had, it meant a whole lot to me.......You feel I used you, but I also feel the same......I felt you were using me, and I was afraid of what the future will turn out to be”..........I explained to her.

She looked up at me after I said that, her eyes were very red. I tried to hold her hands but she took them away before I could get to her.

“I know you expect that I would have moved on, but it’s not as easy as you think. I understand the fact that moving on was so easy for you, yes because I was just not that girl for you, I was only that girl that was good for the bed......Pascal I disobeyed my parents thinking that we belong together”

 “Do you know that I am still not in good terms with my parents? I risked everything but what did I get in return? Nothing”.........She lamented again.

Another round of tears freely streamed down from her eyes. I pulled out my handkerchief and handed it over to her. I couldn’t understand why she was saying all those things.

From everything I recall, Evelyn and I had resolved our differences in a calm and understanding manner, and not once did she bring up any of these issues afterward.

So why is this coming up now? Could it have something to do with Sandra? After she managed to gather herself and regain her composure, I continued speaking.

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

TIDES OF LUST (Episode 48)

 Following the evening parade, individuals are at liberty to engage in any activity of their choice, such as heading to Mami, enjoying games, or taking part in other camp events.

Starting from 8 pm until 10 pm, movies are screened at the Pavilion for those who wish to unwind and enjoy a cinematic experience.

This provides an opportunity for interested individuals to relax and immerse themselves in entertainment during their free time on camp.

A few minutes passed before Sandra arrived and took a seat beside me. I handed her one of the cups of ice cream, and together, we sat quietly, observing the flow of people bustling around.

We continued chatting about various topics until around 8 pm when the movie began.

As soon as it started, the lights surrounding the Pavilion were turned off to enhance the clarity and brightness of the projector screen.

The movie selected to be shown for the evening entertainment was SPARTACUS, a captivating film that promised to hold the audience's attention with its engaging storyline and dramatic scenes.

The majority of the audience watching the movie had settled in the front rows, leaving Sandra, me, two other guys, and a girl seated together in the back row.

Not long after the movie began, I leaned towards Sandra, subtly pulling her closer and asking her to adjust her shorts slightly.

With a sly grin spreading across her face, she glanced around cautiously before subtly adjusting her shorts, crafting a discreet opening that invited my hand to explore her kitty.

Dipping in my hand, while she kept her gaze at the screen like nothing was happening, I pushed her g-string aside and started teasing her clit.

I could feel her clit producing liquids while I kept teasing her clit which was protruded already.

I noticed how hard it was for her trying to stifle her moan with me, making it harder for her.

After a moment, she tightened her grip around my hand and leaned back, as I sensed a sudden rush of intensity, then the warm fluid on my fingers, and a smile crept across my face.

“If we keep up with this we might end up being decamped”.........she teased when she recovered herself.

“So long as we would get decamped together, then it’s no problem”.........I replied.

“You are not serious”.........she muttered, and kissed me.

After adjusting her shorts, she leaned against me, and we carried on watching the movie.

Before long, she began to drift off, resting her head on my shoulder.

I escorted her back to her hostel before heading to mine. After a quick shower, I relaxed on my bed, scrolling through my phone.

Yamani had already fallen into a deep sleep, along with the other guys near me. Some were still out, either at Mami, Pavilion, or tucked away in corners with girls.

I sent a couple of WhatsApp messages to Sandra, but she did not reply. I suspected that she must have slept off.

I clicked on Evelyn's profile and noticed she was still online. After a moment of hesitation, I decided to go ahead and message her, thinking it might be a good time to strike up a conversation.

“It’s past your bed time already, why are you still awake?”.......I inquired.

“Hello son, what are still up doing too?”........she replied, without answering my question.

“Waiting for mum to sleep”........I replied.

“So you can sneak out to meet your girlfriend, right?”........she sent, with a smiling emoji.

I quickly sent a shy emoji, feeling a bit nervous, before I gathered my thoughts and began writing a response to her message.

“No mommy, I don’t have a girlfriend”.......I replied.

“Shut up and go to bed. Mommy is not sleeping any time soon, so your hopes are dashed”.........she replied.

“Bully of a mother”........I sent, with a straight face emoji.

“That’s why you love me, loltz”......she replied, with a laughing emoji.

We joked and teased each other for a while, before I made the decision to change things up.

“How are you enjoying camp, miss celebrity?”.........I asked.

“Hmm!! Well what can I say, it has been a little fun sha. But why didn’t you tell me that you got Akwa- Ibom after I sent you a message?”.........she replied.

“I don’t know how I lost all my contacts, it was only few days back that I remembered that I backed up my contacts with MTN so I had to contact them to retrieve them”........I wrote back.

“You still don’t know how to lie sweetheart. Were you trying to cut ties with me?”.........she inquired.

“Why would you say that?”........I asked.

“Come on, that is what it seemed like. I called you several times after graduation but you never answered or replied to my missed calls......All the messages I kept sending to you all were delivered but I never got a reply. What does it look like to you?”..........she complained, via her chat.

“Evelyn come on, don't even start”........I replied, already regretting why I started chatting with her.

“What is come on? We are not kids, Pascal. Even if you didn’t want the friendship anymore you should have been mature enough to come out clean with me but instead you decided to do it the childish way by avoiding me........I didn’t expect that kind of act from you”..........she outlined.

“Evelyn it’s not like I was avoiding you. I don’t think you will understand”........I replied.

“Understand what Pascal? That the same girl you told me to the face that you had nothing with is the same girl you are now dating and also in the same state with, is that what you think I won’t understand?”...........She lamented.

“Evelyn……”.........I typed, but couldn’t continue.

It felt like she knocked the wind out of me. I tried to find the right words, but nothing came to mind. What made it worse was that I started feeling guilty.

“It’s alright. I’m over it now though, but seeing you seemed to have brought everything but it’s nothing that I can’t handle, goodnight Pascal”.........She replied, and went offline.

I closed the WhatsApp page, scrolled through my contacts, and dialed her number. After one missed call, she answered on the second ring.

“Evelyn, I’m sorry……..”.........I tried to apologize, but she interrupted me instantly.

“What precisely?”.........she said coldly.

“I don’t really know, let just say I'm sorry about everything”.........I replied remorsefully.

“Are you sorry about lying to me that you had nothing to do with someone you took home and introduced to your mum and siblings? Or the fact that instead of telling me that you didn’t need me again as a friend, you resorted to avoiding me?”..........she snapped.

“I had nothing with her then Evelyn, believe me?”........I muttered.

“I now know better than to believe you. Let me even ask you, did you try making any efforts towards us? Did you even try developing feelings for me?”..........She yelled, and her voice sounded like she was trying to prevent herself from crying.

I was at a loss for words with her. After waiting for me to speak, but receiving no response, she took the lead and continued.

“Yea right, your silence speaks volumes......I guess I was just that girl you needed around but wasn’t good enough for you to date”........she said soberly.

“Evelyn please can we see? I mean can you come out right now?”........I demanded.

“It’s already late Pascal, just go to bed. Good night......Just know that I hold nothing against you and still love you”........she muttered, and hung up.

I almost redialed her number but stopped myself just before hitting the button. I don’t like feeling emotionally unsettled, and now I found myself in that exact state.

She was right; I handled it like a child. She had tried calling me several times, but I neither answered nor replied.

I had believed that by ignoring her, she would eventually give up and stop trying to reach out. It’s like when you're ready to move on, but the past keeps resurfacing.

Even though she sounded calm, I couldn’t help but hear the pain in her voice. Evelyn is someone I never wanted to hurt, but I was just afraid that, at some point, she might interfere with what I wanted with Sandra.

I decided to meet Evelyn the next day to clear the air, even though a part of me wondered if reopening the conversation would only stir up past issues. Still, I felt it was necessary to ease her pain.

All through the night, I kept going over different ideas in my mind, trying to find the right words to say to her in order to make her feel better.

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

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..............

TIDES OF LUST (Episode 46)

After the skills lecture had concluded, we decided to head to Mami Market to grab some lunch and unwind a bit.

As we strolled along, chatting about the session and making plans for the rest of the day, Daisy suddenly interrupted our conversation.

With a slight nudge and a nod, she directed our attention to a girl nearby. According to her, it is the very same girl who had been the subject of countless conversations and whispers throughout the camp.

“Look at the girl that was called up to the stage by that famous artist last night”.........she announced.

As I lifted my gaze and looked ahead, my heart skipped a beat. There, right in front of me, stood the very person I had unconsciously been searching for all over the camp without even realizing it.

It felt almost surreal, like a scene from a dream materializing before my eyes. Of all the faces and names etched in my memory over the past weeks, it was hers that lingered the most. And now, here she was in the flesh it was no one else but Evelyn.

“That face looks familiar”........Sandra muttered, and then she turned to me, and she saw me gazing absentmindedly at Evelyn.

Sandra gently nudged me with her elbow, breaking through the haze of my thoughts and pulling me back to the present moment. I blinked, realizing I had been momentarily lost in my own world.

Turning to look at Sandra, I caught the knowing expression on her face, a mix of disappointment and curiosity. Gathering my composure, I shifted my attention back to Evelyn, who was standing just a short distance away.

After taking a deep breath, I took a step forward, feeling Sandra fall into step beside me, her quiet presence a steady reassurance as we walked toward Evelyn together.

“Who am I seeing here? Evelyn”........I said playfully, then she turned to look at me, and our gazes intertwined effortlessly.

Evelyn stood rooted to the spot, her expression frozen in shock, as if the world around her had stopped spinning. It was as though time itself had paused, leaving just the two of us in that still, surreal moment.

I could see the mix of disbelief and emotion flicker across her face as she tried to process what was happening. For a heartbeat, neither of us moved, the atmosphere heavy with unspoken emotion.

Then, suddenly, it was as if a switch flipped, and she came back to life. A bright, joyful energy lit up her face as she let out a loud, ecstatic shout.

Without a second thought, she ran toward me and jumped, throwing her arms around me in an embrace so full of warmth and excitement that it felt like the rest of the world had melted away.

Everyone was taken aback by the unexpected turn of events. I quickly steadied myself, my arms holding her as she clung tightly to me.

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught the look of clear disapproval on Sandra's face, her expression hardened with dissatisfaction.

“I must be dreaming, is this really you Pascal?”........she said happily, while disentangling herself from me.

“No you are not dreaming, this is me flesh and blood”........I replied to her, grinning like a Cheshire cat.

“What are you doing here? Though it was Abuja you worked your posting to”.........she inquired.

“Yes, I wanted Abuja but it did not work, that’s how I got myself here”........I replied, I couldn't bring myself to tell her the main truth.

“Wow, I guess fate wanted us to meet again, and be together”.........she whispered, looking deep into my eyes.

“I sent a message to you about being redeployed to akwaibom, but it seems you never got my message”.........I replied, trying to change the topic.

Evelyn didn’t reply to my last remark; instead, she seemed to be gazing at me absentmindedly, her focus unshifting.

Her intense stare made me uneasy, and the longer it lingered, the more uncomfortable I became. In an attempt to break the tension, I subtly pulled Sandra closer to me and introduced her to Evelyn.

“Errrmmm Evelyn, meet my babe Sandra, Daisy our friend and Yamani my bunk mate.......And Sandra, this is my very good friend Evelyn”........I introduced.

“Nawa oh, just like that? Just a very good friend you said?”.........she asked sarcastically, with a mischievous smile on her face.

She made sure to greet Yamani and Daisy with a bright smile and a casual wave, the kind of greeting that suggested familiarity and comfort.

However, when it came to Sandra, there was no acknowledgement, she simply ignored her, as if Sandra wasn’t even there. It was an uncomfortable moment, the kind where the unspoken tension seemed to hang thick in the air.

After a brief pause, Evelyn turned her attention back to her group of friends. With a gleam in her eye and a tone that suggested she was eager to share some memory, she proceeded to introduce her friends to us.

When introducing me, Evelyn’s voice took on a playful, almost teasing quality as she stated, “This is him, my pet boy from school that I have been telling you all about, and also my......”.........letting the words hang in the air for a brief moment.

There was an unexpected and strange note of affection in the way she said it, but then, as if caught in a fleeting thought, her sentence trailed off abruptly.

She didn’t complete the rest of what she had started to say, leaving the unfinished thought hanging between us like an unfinished puzzle, with everyone around trying to piece together what she had meant but too unsure to ask.

The silence that followed was heavy, and for a moment, the conversation stumbled as all attention shifted to the gap left by her unfinished remark.

The entire situation clearly didn’t sit well with Sandra, but she managed to maintain a forced smile, concealing her discomfort.

Evelyn politely told her friends to go ahead without her, assuring them she would catch up with them later, and then she rejoined us on our way back to Mami.

We made our orders at the café and found an empty table to sit at. As we settled in and waited for our food to arrive, Evelyn couldn’t help but gravitate towards me, her attention fully on me the entire time.

“Look at how fresh you look, what have you been eating?”........she asked playfully.

“Same thing you have been eating. Heard you are now the reigning celebrity in this place”..........I teased.

“Celebrity kooor, don’t mind that artists jaaree”.......she mumbled, hissing loudly.

“Heard he gave you his necklace, let me see it na”........I requested, then she sighed.

“I gave it to one of my friends oh.......Do I look like a celebrity freak? Can you imagine when I left the stage, one of his guys accosted me and told me to drop my contact that they will need to contact me after camp”.........she expressed in dissatisfaction.

“Maybe they want to add you to one of their vixens”........I teased, laughing loudly.

“I nearly pushed him off my way. He thought I’m one of those little girls they entice with all those shitty stuffs, because they are celebrities”..........she grumbled.

I had heard rumors about how some celebrities would call girls onto the stage during their shows, offering them an accessory as a prize, only to take their contact information and later sleep with them. At the time, I didn’t buy into it, but now, Evelyn has just proven those rumors true.

“So you don’t want to have something to do with a celebrity? You don miss am oh”.........I said playfully.

She glanced at me and dramatically rolled her eyes, pretending to be upset. We continued chatting, laughing, and carrying on with our conversation until our food was finally brought to the table.

Once we finished our meal, I grabbed a takeaway for Pascaline and passed it to her sister, Daisy, before we headed out.

Sandra was clearly uncomfortable with what was unfolding between Evelyn and I, but she managed to keep her feelings hidden.

Eventually, we went our separate ways. I headed out with Yamani, while the girls made their way back to the hostel.

I had only just made it halfway with Yamani to our hostel when Sandra called, asking me to meet her at the Pavilion. I quickly excused myself and told Yamani to continue on without me.

By the time I reached the pavilion, Sandra was already there. The look on her face was far from welcoming, and her expression left me feeling uneasy and a bit anxious.

“Did you know she was coming to this place?”........she retorted.

“No, I didn’t. I’m surprised to see her here just like you”.........I replied, as I sat beside her.

“But I heard her saying that she sent you a message or something”.......she said coldly.

“Babe believe me, I didn’t know she was coming to Akwa-Ibom. Back in school, after we agreed to work our service to Lagos, I told her that I will be working mine to Akwa-Ibom because I didn’t want her to know where I intend going. She in turn told me that she will work hers to Abuja and that was it”

 “Seeing her here was something I never expected and for the so-called message she said she sent to me, believe me, I never got any message from her”........I explained calmly to her.

“Ok, I just hope nothing is going to start off between you guys again”.........she said soberly.

“Come on, didn’t I introduce you to her as my girlfriend?”.......I muttered, feeling frustrated.

“You know little about girls. When they want you, some of them don’t mind if you are married so introducing me to her as your girlfriend doesn’t stop her from trying to reignite what you guys had back then in school. I’m just telling you beforehand to be careful with her”........she admonished.

“Nothing is ever going to happen between Evelyn and I again, I promise you that”.........I assured her.

“Okay, that aside.......I don’t like the fact that you keep buying food for Pascaline even when her own twin sister doesn’t care. If she can’t come with us to eat, then let her stay. I know you are just trying to be nice, but Sunshine please it makes me feel somehow at times”.........she complained.

“Okay no problems, the thing is that I don’t really know what is wrong with her......Earlier today before the SAED lecture, I went to talk to her to know what is wrong but she ignored me and walked out on me”.........I replied.

“Don’t worry, I will talk to her sister. But just stop it with all those niceties, if she is being rude to you, just mind your own business”..........she concluded.

“Yes ma’am”........I surrendered with a salute.

She scanned the area around us, and in an instant, she kissed me quickly before standing up. We then left the pavilion and headed back to our respective hostels.

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