BETRAYER IN DISGUISEš½š½
Story by Miriam Edem.
Episode 1.
The clas-s was noisy with students scattered about, I bowed my head engrossed with my Shakespeare novel when I heard a tap on my back,
“Joan you’re here? haven’t you heard? Prisca asked.
“Heard what? I asked confused and heard shouting outside.
Everyone in clas-s got distracted as we rushed out to see my friend in a serious fight.
“Jeez! What are those grown ups doing? I asked so surprised.
“I actually wanted to tell you that, Prisca replied and I immediately threw my book and ran there going into their midst.
“Enough! Its enough! I shouted struggling to tear them ap@rt as they still attem-pted to throw b!ows.
“Enough! I shouted but got a heavy hit close to my eyes and I stood still.
Right there the fight was put to a halt as everyone concentrated on me.
“Joan are you okay? I heard voices but my head was too heavy.
I was led to sit down amidst the noises going on while my face was attended to,
“Girlfriend are you okay? Favour asked tou-ching me and I looked at her.
“Seriously? Were you really fighting on the field like a junior student? What will the junior ones do when you just showed an example? I asked.
“You really think I wanted it? What do you take me for? Favour asked.
“You should have controlled yourself and give a report, look what you’ve done now, I said.
“I’m sorry okay, you still look beautiful anyway, Favour said hitting me but that was not funny.
“I’ll be back, some teachers want to see me, Favour said getting up beside me.
“Alright, but be careful with your speech okay, I said and she nodded and ran off.
“There’s no way you won’t have bruises, that’s the disadvantage of having a light complexion, Prisca said giving me a mirror to look at my face.
“God, its so bad, what will i tell my mom? I asked.
“simple, you went into the middle of two elephants fighting, what did you expect? Another replied and i heaved.
“That was my best friend out there and i was so scared, you don’t expect me to watch her without doing anything, I said.
“Oh I forgot when I comes to Favour no one has a say, but look she’s fine and you’re the one with the black eye, who lose? Another student asked.
“It was an accident, no one wanted this to happen right? plea-se I’m having headache alre-ady, I replied tou-ching my forehead.
“Its alright, looks like tomorrow you’ll be coming to school with a sunshade. You’re the sĀ£nior prefect after all, Prisca said and i smiled.
“And why? I asked.
“You look like a punch bag sorry, by tomorrow you will nee-d a sunshade trust me, another replied with a sm-irking face
“That’s harsh, Prisca said to her and a teacher approached us.
We greeted him and he saw my face,
“So its true then, what if you got hit in a bad place? The teacher asked.
“It was an accident, I replied.
“Still you shouldn’t have gone into it, the teacher said.
“That was my friend sir, I said.
“Favour can take care of herself and you know that, he said.
“Tell her for us, the girls around concurred and i bowed my head.
“Has it been treated? The teacher asked.
“Yes, we used the first aid, Prisca replied.
“Good, I’ll go get you drugs for pain relief, the teacher said.
“No sir, I don’t take drugs and my mom can handle this, I stĀ©pped him.
“Are you sure? He asked and i nodded.
“Then you Better start going home, the teacher said.
“I have to wait for Favour we go home together and she is not back yet, I said and he smiled.
“Alright then, make sure you take care of your eyes okay, he said and left while the girls looked at me quietly.
“What? I asked confused.
Prisca wanted replying but I saw Favour coming,
“Oh she’s here, I said cutting Prisca and stood up to meet her.
“Hey how did it go? I asked.
“Nothing much, they only showed their disappointment that’s all, Favour replied.
“Okay I thought as much, I’ll be going home now, I said.
“Okay let’s go take our bags, Favour said and we held hands walking back while she tea-sed me about my face.
On the way home Favour picked a call and shouted so excited,
“Hey are you serious? I’ll be there tomorrow for sure! She shouted while I smiled wondering who she is talking to.
“Okay expect me tomorrow and I hope you brou-ght something for me? She asked.
“I’ll be there tomorrow okay, welcome, she said and dropped the call.
“Who’s in town? I asked.
“My cousin o my very favorite, she just landed from c@mĀ£roon, Favour replied.
“Really, so you’ll be seeing her tomorrow? I asked.
“Sure and we are going together, Favour replied.
“With my face? Oh no, I said.
“Why nau? Is it not the same face you are using to walk on the road? plea-se you will esc-rt me o or else I won’t go, Favour said with a frown that made me laughed.
“Okay fine but I won’t stay long okay, I accepted and she smiled crossing her hands on me as she talked more of her cousin.
I got home, and the first thing everyone saw was my eyes.
My mom practically stood up from where she sat to tĀ©uƧh my face as I walked in,
“Joan, what is this na? My mom asked turning my face clockwise and anticlockwise.
“Mom easy plea-se, it hurts, I said keeping her hands down and sat down.
“What do you mean by that? Who did this to you? My mom seriously asked.
“Mom it was an accident, I replied.
“Acci what? You got hit by a car? My sĀ£nior brother asked.
“No, but got into a fight…….. “What! My mom cut in.
“No let me finish, it wasn’t me… Like i wasn’t fighting I only wanted to separate Favour……. “Favour again? My mom asked interrupting me and I heaved.
“Joan are you counting at all? How many times has this girl put you in the face of danger? My mom asked.
“Mom what face of danger are you talking about? Aren’t you happy i only have one friend? It wasn’t her fault anyway I gat this black eye, I replied.
“But you went into the fight because of her, my sĀ£nior bro said.
“I am the school prefect, I am to stĀ©p the fight, I said.
“Oh tell me about It, did they also have a black eye? Sweetheart if this your prefect of a post will make you lose an eye then to hell with it! My mom shouted and i rolled my eyes.
“Mom I’m seriously having headache, your shouts isn’t helping matters here, I said.
“And you are not helping matters too, stĀ©p going out with that girl! My mom shouted on my face and i closed my eyes and nodded.
“I’ll be in my room, I said taking my bag and slowly left…………..
BETRAYER IN DISGUISEš½š½
Story by Miriam Edem
Episode 2.
The door opened as I la-id on my be-d and my mom slowly walked in,
“Sweetheart, she called out but I didn’t reply.
My head was badly aching and my eyes so teary. I felt the effect of the hit now and was having fever alre-ady. My mom held me up and dropped a first aid box on the floor,
“Sweetheart you know I want the best for you, but as your mother I don’t like that girl, she said and I sniffed.
“Why mom? What has she done? Or maybe its a crime for me to have a friend right? I asked.
“No darling, just that when I remember what that girl you called a friend did to you I don’t just trust anyone else because I don’t want my baby to be hurt again. Honey there are no friends, my mom said tou-ching me.
“Mom not everyone is the same, Favour is like a sister to me and she’s definitely not like Esther. Mom can we just end this discussion alre-ady? I’m so sick, I said and she nodded.
“Okay but plea-se in the name of God I am begging you, avoid anywhere fight is going on whether Favour is involved or not. And I don’t think you’ll be going to school tomorrow, my mom said opening the box and I suddenly remembered Favour cousin.
“No mom I have to, we are having test tomorrow, I lied and my mom heaved.
“So it can’t be missed? She asked.
“Mom I can manage, but I think I nee-d drugs and not this. My clas-smates treated it alre-ady in school, I said as she cut a cotton wool.
“I know but their treatment is not good enough, and don’t worry your brother left alre-ady to get drugs for you. plea-se try to be careful so you won’t ruin your face for me, my mom said………..
The next day I woke up checking my face to see the bruise so obvious. I tried falling my hair to my face but it couldn’t cover it up and my mom walked in.
“What are you doing? She asked.
“Trying to cover this up, but I can’t, I replied very frustrated and she smiled dropping makeups on the table.
“Seriously? I asked and my mom laughed.
“Just a little makeup there common, she replied.
“Mom I’m going to school, I said.
“I know but its just on the affected area, I won’t let you leave the house with this face no way. So sit down and let your makeup artist do the job, she said and I rolled my eyes and sat down.
The door opened and my brother walked in,
“When will you ever knock before entering a lady room? My mom asked.
“Who is the lady? Is she going for a pageant? My brother asked.
“Just shut up, my mom replied concentrating on what she was doing.
“Well your Favour friend is waiting outside, he said.
“Oh tell her I’ll be out soon, I said.
“Tell her yourself, he said and left and I quic-kly took my phone but my mom took it away from me.
“StĀ©p distracting me, she sternly said and I sighed.
Soon she was done and I thanked her and hurriedly took my bag and left first.
I met with Favour outside and quic-kly apologized for keeping her waiting,
“Wow your face is alre-ady healed or? Favour asked checking it out.
“Well my mom used makeup to do the magic, common let’s go, I replied dragging her as we were running late.
In clas-s I reminded Favour about her cousin but she told me there’s a change of plan,
“Why? what happened? I asked.
“Well she said she won’t be around, but there’s a p@rty this night she will like us to attend. And she said I will help in serving drinks there, of course I’ll be paid something, Favour replied.
“Oh I see, sadly I won’t be seeing her then, I said and she looked at me.
“Where is that coming from? plea-se don’t get me upset, She said.
“You know Favour I can’t go, don’t stress it, I said.
“And why? Because you’re mommy girl huh? Tell me about it, she angrily said and I noticed Prisca was looking at us.
“Keep your voice low, I said to Favour.
“No I won’t, and I was thinking you’ll help out in the servings too, looks like I’ll be doing it on my own, Favour said.
‘On your own? But there will be others right? I asked.
“Let’s not be too sure, its a big p@rty and we nee-d hands but you know they won’t want to employ more hands…. Greediness, Favour replied and I looked at her scratching my head.
She nee-ds my help but I have a problem. My mom will bluntly refuse when Favour is involved, and there’s no lie I can use to sneak out,
“Girlfriend plea-se help out na, Favour said tou-ching me and i nodded.
“I’ll try my best but its not a promise, I said.
“I know you will, thanks darling. Let’s eat plea-se I’m starving, She said bringing out a flask.
“Uhmmm what do you have today? I asked as she gave me a spoon.
“Check it out, she said opening the flask………………
I got home after school and saw my mom about going out,
“Where to now I’m back? I asked after greeting her.
“I have to attend to a client now. Its kind of an emergency, fortunately her makeup artist disappointed her and her birthday is today, so I’m alre-ady late. But there’s food for you and your brother, he’s not back from lectures, she replied hurriedly arranging her makeup box.
“Okay, looks like you’ll come home late today right? I asked so happy inside of me.
“Ermmm I don’t know yet, but take care of the house and don’t forget your drugs. Okay see ya, my mom replied and left and i jumped up and ran to my room to change up.
I called up Favour telling her the good news,
“Great, plea-se be there by 4pm. Sorry I won’t be able to pick you up, she said.
“No problem, till then okay, bye, I happily said and dropped the call and went throu-gh my clothes I’ll wear for tonight………
Before leaving the house I called my brother to confirm if he’s coming back soon but he didn’t pick up.
I locked the door keeping the key un-der the foot mat and fled to the venue.
I called up Favour and she c@mĀ£ out meeting me dressed on cooperate,
“Oh thank God you’re dressed on cooperate too, come in there’s a lot to be done, she said dragging me in as i saw many big men and women in the society.
“Why is your cousin in such a p@rty anyway? I asked.
“No questions plea-se, Favour replied as we arrived a table where all kinds of drinks, wine and jui-ce are.
“Okay, work starts now, Favour said and i nodded.
My phone began to ring at past 5pm and i knew my brother is back,
“Favour i nee-d to go now, I said.
“Common you just c@mĀ£ and you can’t leave me now na plea-se, Favour said and I ignored the call.
“Let me have your phone plea-se, Favour said and I gave her the phone and took a tray to go serve.
I didn’t remember my phone or had any call or checked the time, all I knew was I enjoyed the p@rty where I was with Favour p@rtaking in the drink while we served.
But everything got interrupted when a great shout was heard at a corner.
I dropped the glas-s of wine and ran there with Favour and others to see a man on the floor shaking seriously.
“What did you give to him? plea-se help! A lady who was with him shouted and suddenly bouncers began clearing the area and rushed him out.
I was so frightened as the p@rty scattered and i looked at Favour,
“Was he poisoned? I shakily asked.
“Who knows? He may be epileptic or something don’t bother, she replied.
“No plea-se i have to go, where’s my phone? I asked and she gave it to me.
I saw missed calls from my brother and mom and it got me more scared,
“Favour bye my mom will be so worried, I said. “Okay girlfriend, thanks for helping out, she said and I hurriedly left…………
TBC