As the doctor said I wasn’t pregnant, I opened my eyes in
shock and then sighed in relief. I wanted to express how
happy I was but not in front of the men with me. I looked
at uncle cheatmaster who looked like he had just
managed to escape death. I was so happy I didn’t know
what to say. I finally muttered a “thank you Jesus” before
turning to the doctor and saying a ‘thank you’. He just
smiled at me and told me it was all the result.
He explained to us that I had something called
Pseudocyesis, the belief that I was expecting a child
when really I wasn’t. He also said this belief caused me
to have symptoms of pregnancy as It was a
psychological effect. Because I knew the signs and
symptoms of pregnancy and assumed I was pregnant, I
began to have actual symptoms of pregnancy. He
mentioned a lot more that got uncle cheatmaster and I
overwhelmed but relief at the same time.
After a while, uncle cheatmaster thanked the doctor and
exchanged a few more words before we left the office. As
we got into the car, Uncle cheatmaster looked at me as I
was seated beside him. He smiled at me, saying how
happy he was and apologized for everything over again. I
smiled, nodding at him. He said I hadn’t said much since I
got back from school and asked if I was hungry. Without
even giving me a chance to reply he said;
“I’m sure you’ll be so hungry, let’s go and get something
okay?”
I just nodded as he drove off to a restaurant where we
got a takeaway package and headed for his house. As we
got home, I went straight into the room after saying a
thank you which when I look back, I ask myself why I did
so. I thought of home and wondered if they had tried to
reach me. I knew that if my parents eventually found out I
was with uncle cheatmaster, he would cook up
something to say. All I needed was to think of the whole
lie I was going to tell Anabelle.
That Saturday evening, uncle Cheatmaster asked If I was
ready to go back to school and I said yes. We were
supposed to leave the next day but I had told him that I
wanted to go back to school and catch up with a lot of
things. We left the house and got to school in no time but
just before I got down from the car, he brought out some
500 naira notes from his wallet. He stretched his hands
towards me, gesturing . I didn’t want to collect it but he
insisted I collected it, so taking it and putting it inside my
school bag, I thanked him and headed for the hostel gate.
As soon I as got in, I signed in and went up to my room.
The first person I saw was Anabelle who screamed and
ran to hug me. I was so happy to see her even though it
wasn’t up to a day since I last saw her. My other mates
also ran to hug me, welcoming me and asking a lot of
questions. I just gave them one excuse and they didn’t
ask further. Anabelle hugged me one more time and
asked if I was okay. I told her I was fine and mentioned
the same excuse I gave the rest. I really made up my
mind not to tell anyone even Anabelle, my very close
friend. We talked and later that night, did our
assignments together during prep. She even mentioned
that senior Daniel had been looking for me. I actually
couldn’t wait to see him.
The next day, we all got up as we heard the morning bell
to prepare for church as all the declared Christians were
to meet up at the school’s chapel by 9:45am. We usually
had breakfast early on Sundays so I and Anabelle finished
our meal on time and headed for the school’s chapel.
When we got there, we decided to sit down while we
waited for the service to begin.
There were a few students in the chapel as well and I
thought I saw senior Daniel but it turned out it wasn’t
him. I was looking around to see if I would sight him but
he was nowhere to be found so I turned to face Anabelle
who had been ranting over and over about random things.
When the service was over, I was walking with Anabelle
back to the hostel when I heard someone call my name. I
looked back and saw that it was the errand boy, the same
junior boy senior Daniel sent to me whenever he wanted
to pass a message. He told me I was called by senior
Daniel who was at his usual spot waiting for me. I looked
at Anabelle when he said this and she gave me the
gesture that I could leave and so she said to meet her at
the hostel. The junior boy went his way while I went to
look for senior Daniel. As I got towards the quiet place I
usually met with him, I could see him leaning on the tree
as usual and just playing with a stick or so.
As he looked up and saw me, he smiled at me warmly but
then squeezed his face. I was trying to figure out what he
would say this time. I got closer and we hugged before
he asked;“what took you so long?”
“I came immediately now,” I said to him smiling.
“Why can’t I just get mad at you. You’ll be deceiving
someone with your charms.” he replied rolling his eyes
jokingly.
“I’m sorry now”
“Don’t mind me. I was just pulling your legs.”
“I hope you’re fine, this one that you’re always looking
skinny. Ehen! when I asked Anabelle to call you for me
when I wanted to speak with you. She told me you
weren’t around. Where did you go?”
“Oh! I went home.”
“Home? Why? Was something wrong?….I know, I’m
asking too many questions.”
I gave him the same excuse and he believed me. We
talked for a while and then he said he had to go. He
handed me a nylon that was quite heavy and when I
opened it to check what was inside, they were filled with
cookies and Lucozade. I asked why he had fetched all of
this and he said;
“You that if they should touch, you’ll just break. I know
you complained that you were feeling weak the night I
spoke to you so I went to get this to give you strength
like mine, I got them from the tuck shop so don’t worry,”
he said, winking at me.
I just smiled and thanked him before saying our goodbyes
as I headed to my hostel.
To be continued…..
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