Even before she could speak, my heart was pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears. I told myself to stay calm, but I knew the fear was written all over my face. She must have noticed.
“Are you okay?” she asked.
“I’m fine,” I lied, forcing a weak smile.
She began to talk, and I sat quietly, listening with rapt attention.
“KD, I know you’re a good boy, that’s why I’m telling you this. But what I’m about to say must stay between us. Have you seen Lucy?” she asked.
“No, ma,” I replied.
“Something happened to her yesterday that—” She stopped. Her phone rang. She excused herself and stepped outside to take the call.
By the time she left the room, my stomach had tied itself into a thousand knots. How could she throw me into such suspense? I was sweating. Did she know about Lucy and me? Was she the one who sent those guys to beat me up? Was this whole thing a trap? The questions kept hammering in my mind.
She came back in.
“Sorry once again,” she said briskly. “I have to rush to Accra, so let me make this quick. I’ve heard Lucy is dating a boy in your class. I want you to find out who he is. I heard she was with him last night in the dark. I sent my boys to bring them both, but the boy ran away when he saw them. I was furious they couldn’t get him, so I’ve put my boys and Lucy under house arrest. Until I find that boy, no one leaves. I trust you, KD. Do this job for me and I’ll reward you handsomely.”
My hands went cold. I looked at her with wide, frightened eyes. It felt like I was sitting with the devil herself. I asked politely to leave.
Before I left, I thanked her and promised to do my best to “find” the boy. She offered me money, but I refused. When I finally stepped out of that house, I let out a deep sigh of relief. I had been to hell and returned without getting burnt.
But even though I’d left the house, the trouble wasn’t over. Lucy’s mum was hunting for the boy dating her daughter—and she didn’t know that the “wanted” boy had just been sitting under her roof.
By the time I reached home, I was exhausted. I wanted to lie down and rest, but barely had I entered my room when someone knocked at the door.
I opened it. And there he was. The one person who never seemed to leave my neck: JK. Of all people, I wasn’t expecting him.
“What are you doing here?” I asked sharply.
“Won’t you let me in?” he said, tilting his head.
“No. Whatever it is you came to say, say it here. And be quick—I have something important to do inside,” I replied.
“Oh really? I knew you were a rascal, but I didn’t know you were also rude to visitors in your house,” he said, smirking.
I could tolerate a lot of things, but not being insulted in my own house. I shoved him back toward the gate. As I was pushing him away, an envelope slipped from his pocket without him noticing.
I picked it up after he’d left, but my anger was too hot for curiosity. I clenched the envelope in my hand, staring at it, not yet ready to open it.
No comments:
Post a Comment