SACRED_OATHS

Author: Samuel Frederick

Episode 32: BIG TROUBLE.

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“How do you mean I am pregnant? It’s impossible!” I exclaimed curtly, unwilling to accept the blatant fact that was right before me. I could see the two colored lines on the test tool, showing positive.

“Fifi I can’t lie to you. Can’t you see the result by yourself? You are pregnant!” Nancy confirmed it again, showing me the test result clearly, but I still couldn’t believe it. I couldn’t agree with it.

A few hours earlier, after I had experienced that sharp persistent pain from my stomach, Boma had managed to lift me up with the help of Nancy and Rita who had rushed to the scene on hearing my screams. I kept vomiting from time to time, over and over again as they walked me into the house.

The first thing Nancy suggested was for us to take two tests; one for pregnancy, and one for malaria. I agreed to take the malaria test, but as for the former, it sounded rather stupid to even think toward that direction. It was probably symptoms of malaria, typhoid or even fever, as I’d assumed, but the test proved otherwise.

Nancy and I were still in the bathroom in Boma’s room, arguing. The door was locked while Boma, Simon, Kingsley and Rita waited in the room for us.

“Nancy don’t you understand? I can’t be pregnant! It’s impossible! No way!” I persisted, disturbed. “No way!”

“Fifi, whether you like it or not, this test result shows positive. I have spent more than five years in this medical field so I know what’s up.” She said, upset. “I won’t argue with you anymore.”

“Oh God! What do I do now? I’m not ready for this!” I scratched my hair rigorously, almost lost in thought and confused.

“The pregnancy is still early, it’s just a week old.” Nancy said. “I have a suggestion that could help.”

“What is it? Please tell me!”

Nancy shifted closer to me and whispered something in my left ear. I literally bulged my eyes out of their sockets instantly.

“What?! I can’t do that!”

“Well, it’s just a simple suggestion.” She shrugged. “Do you have a better idea?”

“No, I can’t do it. It’s too risky!”

“I have some pills you can use. They’ll flush it out smoothly,” she urged me on, “like nothing ever happened.”

“I’m serious Nancy, I can’t do it.”

“So what do you intend to do, then?”

“Honestly I don’t know. I’m confused to the core.” I admitted, leaning against the wall.

“If you don’t want to flush it out, then I guess you have no option but to tell him.”

“How do I even tell him? I don’t even think he’s ready either!”

“You just have to try,” she said. “Come on. Let’s go.”

We exited the bathroom, and just as I’d predicted, the others were all tensed from waiting too long.

“How did it go?” Boma asked on seeing us. All eyes were on us, staring intently to know my response, waiting eagerly to hear what I had to say.

I looked at Boma’s face in particular; the way he gazed at me with grave concern to hear me speak. I couldn’t bear the burden of breaking his heart! I couldn’t tell him.

“It went very well,” I said instead. “I am just having a severe fever, that’s all.”

Immediately I said that, Nancy’s jaw dropped and she faced me, but I quickly winked at her, signalling for her to be calm.

“So you mean you only have fever?” Rita asked from the corner she stood, sounding suspicious.

“Yes, and it’s very severe!” I answered.

“You mean you have just fever, that’s why you have been vomiting all over the place all day?” She asked again, rolling her eyes at me and Nancy. She then eyed Nancy from her head to her toes, before serving me the same treat.

Judging by Rita’s odd attitude, I could tell that she didn’t fall for the cheap lie. She wasn’t someone that could be deceived easily, so I had to quickly wink at her to play along—hopefully.

“Rita, what exactly are you insinuating?” Kingsley questioned, sounding annoyed with her.

“Don’t mind me. I’m just surprised about this whole thing, that’s all. And I’m sorry for being too curious.” She pleaded, joining both hands for emphasis. “Am I forgiven?”

She was referring to me, so I nodded in the affirmative and answered, “Yes. Sure.”

“So Nancy how far, what do we do now?” Boma piped in.

“Nothing much,” Nancy answered. “She just needs to eat well, take some drugs and rest and she’ll be fine. I have some pills with me but we’ll need to get a few more. I can help you get them.”

“No, don’t bother yourself, that’s not a problem. I’ll get them myself,” Boma said.

“But it’s getting late. Maybe tomorrow?” Nancy suggested.

“I said don’t bother yourself. I’ll get it at the pharmacy in the next junction.”

“Alright, let me write them on a paper for you.” Nancy said, walking to Boma’s small shelf to grab a pen and paper.

Boma edged closer to me and placed his palm on my forehead.

“How are you feeling?”

“Um, I feel very weak and tired, but I’ll be fine. I guess?” I managed to smile.

“Don’t worry, you’ll get well pretty soon.” He said and pecked me on the cheek. “I promise.”

Nancy returned with the sheet of paper she had written the list of drugs on and handed it to Boma.

“Please tell them that the last one I wrote there should be two sachets,” she said. Nancy was a very clever lady. I admired the way she played along with ease.

“No problem,” Boma answered. “We’ll be back in no time.”

He pecked my cheek one more time, and then walked out with Simon and Kingsley, while Rita stayed behind.

“I want you both to meet me outside that corridor, now!” Rita ordered, hissed, and brushed past us. Nancy looked at me, surprised. I also looked back at her. It was quite unusual for Rita to talk to us in that manner, but I knew we had to obey her regardless. I knew she was very much aware of the issue at hand, so I grabbed Nancy’s hand and dragged her hurriedly so that we could catch up with Rita.

We got to the corridor and met Rita there, arms crossed and legs rooted to the floor with an intimidating pose, waiting for us.

“You girls should better start talking. I need answers,” she demanded.

“Thank you for covering up for me back in there,” I gestured with my hands laced in gratitude. “I appreciate it a lot.”

“My sister I didn’t ask for your thank you and blah blah blah. I want you to start talking. I need answers.” She asked, keeping a straight face.

“At least calm down a little bit. You’ve got some attitude, girl!” Nancy sounded annoyed, but Rita just faced her and eyeballed her roughly.

“I am waiting jare, Fifi.” She pushed on, facing me, after hissing at Nancy. “Go on. Say something.”

“Fifi is pregnant!” Nancy revealed before I could even speak, also shooting daggers at Rita. “Are you satisfied now?!”

“I said it! I talk am! I knew you both were hiding something! I just knew it!” She was almost screaming at the top of her voice.

“Wait, Fifi, are you truly pregnant?” She asked again, wide-eyed, just to be sure.

I nodded affirmatively.

“Why then did you lie to Boma?”

“I don’t know… I just couldn’t tell him…” I answered.

“Tell me about what?” Boma’s voice suddenly rang out from nowhere. Trust that I hadn’t been that startled before in my life!

It shocked us all as we turned around and saw him coming towards us, walking slowly.

“I thought you had . . . you had gone?” I stuttered, frightened.

“No, I forgot my wallet. Why do you look scared though?” He asked, looking confused. “Anything wrong?”

“Nothing actually, I’m just surprised!” I tried to cover up with a forced smile. “Do I look scared?”

He ignored my question and looked deeply into my eyes for a while, then he turned his gaze to Nancy, and then over to Rita. He then shook his head and passed us without saying anything else.

I heaved a sigh of relief the moment he went into his room.

“Omo na God save you o!” Rita said amid laughter, dropping against the dry wall. “That was so close!”

I was about to respond when—all of a sudden—Boma shouted my name from his room. His voice was extremely loud! I was still exchanging glances with Nancy and Rita and contemplating on what to do when he shouted my name the second time, even louder than the first.

So I took to my heels, heading straight for his room. When I entered, the very moment I closed the door and turned around, Boma’s bloodshot eyes met mine and stuck fear in me.

“Fifi, what is this?” He held a container containing a syringe and some used injections on one hand, and on the other hand lied the small test strip which I’d used earlier.

I practically froze on that spot, unable to talk or look back at his bloodshot, soul-piercing eyes that suggested one thing—trouble.

Big trouble.