14

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NNENNA'S POV

Rubbing my eyes vigorously using the back of my palms, I blinked to ascertain that I was not imagining things.

What was Helen doing here, of all places?

"Helen?" I started; mouth agape.

"Uh..." she hesitated for a short while, and I saw the expression in her eyes, she was confused on whether to pretend that she doesn't know me or just tell the truth about why she was half-naked in a hotel room.

"What are you doing here?" I said eventually.

"Business..." she replied.

I quirked a brow at that. Until gradually it dawned on me.

Was Helen into this?

"What kind of business exactly?" I asked, since I couldn't bring myself to say the words.

She stared anxiously around the room. With the sounds coming from the bathroom, I knew that someone was having a bath.

Did she not want whoever it was to know she was talking to someone?

"Let's just talk about this later, okay?"she pleaded.

I remembered Joy's warning to mind my business so I didn't query her further. But while I changed the sheets, my mind kept raising questions that I had no answers to.

Was this how Helen raised the money she squandered like they were nothing?

How did she do something like this yet move around like she lives a normal life?

All my life I've been made to believe that was a despicable way of living. Women don't trade their bodies for money to just any man. It had to be her husband. I couldn't believe I've been living and dining with such a person.

As soon as I was done with the sheets, the shower in the bathroom stopped running. A few seconds later, a man stepped out.

"Good evening, sir" I said to the man, curbing my detest.

"Ehn, have you finished?" He ordered; his voice void of empathy.

"Yes, sir..." I responded, taking that as my cue to leave.

I passed one last glance at Helen. She still had a pleading expression on her face but her gaze couldn't stand mine.

I gathered the sheets in a basket and left the room; heartbroken and angry at the unexpected revelation.

So, Helen was a call-girl?

Just thinking about the fact, had chills running down my back. For the rest of the night as I did my job I could hardly coordinate myself. It was as if my hands were working on their own accord. Even when I had the chance to lie down at about 2:15am; it was difficult to sleep without imagining the things she was doing in that room.

'And what about HIV?' Was the thought that inevitably had me on my feet the next morning.
Thankfully, there were no more jobs for me to take on so I snuck into one of the rooms and had my shower, discreetly.

Since I came with the clothes I'll be going to school with, I simply changed into them before I left the hotel. I didn't want to go back to the hostel for fear of bumping into her. I wasn't ready to face her yet let alone hear the truth.

By the time I got to school, I realized that I was too early for the first lecture. Checking the messages on my Whatsapp further confirmed my doubts that the first class had been postponed. It was after this I noticed that I was hungry.

I've not eaten anything since last night and I failed to realize because I was upset. This morning, my thoughts were preoccupied and I couldn't plan out my meal for the day. Surely, none of the restaurants in school had prepared food for sale and if there was any, my money wasn't enough.

After enduring and salivating for God-knows-how-long, a few students joined me inside the empty hall. Gradually, the hall became filled but the lecturer was no where to be seen. An hour later, Bolanle announced that the class wouldn't hold.

Many grumbled and even cussed at the lecturer but that was the limit. They would probably consider giving me an award if they found out how long I have waited. The intestines in my stomach were almost entwined thanks to how famished I was.

I managed to trek to the gate but I had to buy a sachet of cold water on my way before I fainted due to dehydration. Since there were no further classes for the day, it was best to get home in time. There were clothes that needed to be washed plus I had to review my notes.

Trekking to the hostel seemed to be the best option since I didn't want to talk to Helen, I didn't feel ready.
But I couldn't retrace my steps neither could I stop them from moving forward. So, I trudged on until I got to the hostel gate.

"How far, madam?" The Hausa petty trader at the gate, greeted me.

"Oh! Oga Musa, good afternoon" I responded and felt bad for not acknowledging him earlier. My thoughts were only on how I'd react once I see Helen that I didn't remember to greet the nice man who usually gives me foodstuffs on credit.

The door was still locked when I checked. Then I unlocked with my key. What relief to find out that Helen wasn't around even though it meant I've been fretting for nothing.

When I looked through the cupboard in search of what to eat, it occurred to me that all the provisions available were purchased by Helen. I didn't come back with anything except the sack of garri and raw rice that remained in our house; as par her instruction.

The thought of consuming anything purchased with money that came from such source repulsed me. It felt like I was her partner or that I was okay with the life she lived, but I wasn't. Therefore, I decided henceforth to not have anything she offered.

I dozed off on the bed after the heavy plate of soaked garri and groundnut I had. When I opened my eyes, I'd drooled over the pillow with the empty plate lying on the floor; just above my head.
I glanced at the clock which said 11:34; so it's still morning. There was enough time to drag my feet off the bed and be active.

I would start by washing my clothes, then I will review my old notes with what's in the textbooks I have; thanks to Bro. Joel from the ministry. I have been able to understand some of the topics taught during my absence in school. I still needed to complete buying all my textbooks for the semester including the fees and taxes to be paid but it was two weeks away before I received my first salary.

I would have to make do with the little money I still had access to. At least, that should sustain my transportation to work almost everyday as I worked on Saturdays and Sundays too. Feeding would have to comprise of whatever I got from the hotel, not to mention the garri I'd brought from home.

I opened the door for Helen; she was in her uniform which meant she'd been in school contrast to my thoughts that she was still with her customer. We said nothing to each other while she changed into casual outfits and took her uniform for washing.

Previously, I thought she was lucky to be born in a well-to-do family that provided her with most luxuries of life. She didn't have to carry a particular hair style for long, changed her wardrobe each semester, sent her clothes to the laundry everyday and booked Uber ride to school on some days. I envied her then; thinking my life was worst especially after I lost my mom. Now, I knew better.

Few minutes after she returned from the dry-cleaning shop, another knock sounded on the door. She got up and attended to the person then came in holding a packet of pizza.

Seeing as I didn't make a move to get plates as usual, she helped herself with that. By the time she got around, I gathered my dirty clothes together and took them outside for washing. If I hadn't found out what she did to get the kind of money she spends, probably I would have pleaded with her to take my clothes to the laundry too. But, I still had my self-respect intact.

"Here's your share?" She said as she dropped a plate containing three slices in front of me.

"No, I don't want. Thank you, shaa" I said curtly. I didn't expect her to talk to me since we were keeping face for each other.

"You know your problem?!" She started.

I looked up; eyes bulging in astonishment at her outburst.

"You dey like carry things for mind. Pesin no fit offend you and you go react immediately. Na just to carry the matter for mind dey think stupid thoughts..." she continued.

"That one na your cup of tea," I cut in.

"If you like dey there make pepper-body dey pepper you. I don see you, girl after God's heart. See ehh, you do literally nothing for me and I'm trying to shield you from the harshness of University life yet you feel you can judge the life I chose. Well, thank God you're not God and you're not my mother either, so you can just fuck off!" She fumed and began to stalk off.

I blinked furiously; trying to prevent the tears from falling.

Why were her words so painful? I didn't do anything wrong. If anything, she should be the one who's ashamed.

Yes, she's done a lot of me since the day we began living together as roommates but does that mean I should condone such lifestyle or pretend that it's okay by me.

I shrugged and wiped the tears from my face. At least I had a decent job which would solve some of my problems, I didn't have to rely on her to do anything for me.

Nonetheless, by the next month after I received my salary, I realized that the money from the job might not be able to do much for me.

I had a lot of bills to take care of. Thankfully, I've settled that of textbooks for the semester but it remained the departmental dues, results fee, hostel maintenance fees and the everyday expenses like feeding and transportation. These I calculated and got to know that I'd still have to deal with hunger and probably begin to trek to work if no financial help comes soon.

When I called aunt Zainab to know how my siblings were doing and maybe ask for some money. She told me that they're raising money to enroll them in a standard school as uncle Ikemefula did not appreciate public schools.

"How are you getting on with lectures?" She'd asked.

"Very fine, ma."

"Has your landlady been able to rent the house to another buyer?"

She reminded me about the deal with Mrs Odulapo. I have been waiting for her to call that I'd forgotten.

"Not yet, I'll call her later this evening." I answered.

"Better do, you need the money. Asides that, send me your account details." She said the most intriguing words of the day.

I didn't have an account yet, so I gave her my mom's since I have her ATM card. The next day, I received a credit alert of ten thousand naira. That was enough to pay the departmental and result dues but I needed to manage the little remaining else hunger will kill me.

It was getting difficult to take leftovers at the hotel because the head chef only gave out what she wasn't interested in eating, and such days were rare.

"Ehn, Nnenna bah?" Kingsley stopped me on my way to work.

"Yes?"

"I met Helen yesterday and she said you'll give us your part of the hostel maintenance fees for this month," he related.

I felt like rolling my eyes at his smug face. Yes, it was no longer news that our relationship has gone sour; thanks to Helen's other friends.

"I will pay it, I don't have it now."

"I'm just saying oo, it's not when they ban you from using water or NEPA now, you'll start abusing somebody. Do your part before it's too late." He warned and faced his phone.

I sighed and continued my journey. I could have given him the five hundred they're requesting for but I was owing Musa the same amount and I'd already budgeted to pay him off.

Two hundred naira remaining was my transport fare to-and-fro work. I only hoped a customer surprised me tonight. As I boarded a taxi, I got a call from Nnabuihe.

I didn't understand why he wouldn't leave me alone. He's not helping solve my problems but his constant disturbance is getting on my nerves. I left the call to end and put the phone back in my bag.

♤♤♤♤♤

Thank you for reading this far and for your patience 🙏 ❤ 💕

Henceforth, it'll be constant update 🤐 (from your recent graduate) as no more school work for now.

Amyirechi ✍