For a week I didn't spend the money, neither did I call or text her. I was scared and assumed probably the money was cursed, maybe she wanted to use me for rituals. The following week she called me but I didn't pick her calls. Three days straight she kept calling but I wasjust too scared to pick up. To make matters worse, I was becoming broke, all I had on me was 20ghc. Our hostel had gotten almost full as more crazy people moved in, both male and females. lt was becoming more lively by each day. On a Saturday, myself, Ivan and Mark sat in my room really hungry. There was no foodstuff anymore and we had no cash. My dad had told me to survive on my own and that he wouldn't be able to send me anything till two weeks time. We were gisting and talking about different stuffs, when Ivan said "Guys, l'm hungry o". I looked at them both and reiterated the same thing. "I swear, I am too, but what would we do as there is no money or foodstuff boy?" Mark added. I took a pause, sighed and proceeded to talk. "Humm, guys, okay, I need to ask you something and I would appreciate your advice..". They listened with rapt attention.
Okay, remember Mrs Asare? the woman who drove us home two days ago, well i met her two weeks ago when I went to buy my bed in the market. In fact, I dropped my ID card in her car when she dropped me off at the market and she came to return it to me that day.." "Chai, you said it was the Dean that gave you the card?" Ivan asked. "Yes he did, but she was the one who brought it back all the way from Kumasi" l replied. He motioned for me to continue. "Well, to cut long story short, here's the thing, she's a widowed banker and I think she's into me, like she likes me. Well, that's what she said though but I've not been able to decipher what kind of likeness. I looked at their blank faces expecting to get a response. but they both
gave me a deadpan look. Ivan could sense the awkwardness, He was smart but he could be a fool at times. "I still dont see the problem here or the question or even how this all pertains to our hunger" he said, feeling like he made a good point. Well he did, and I had to give him a response to make it look like I outsmarted him. "She gave me an envelope full of money that day, three thousand Ghana cedis. She just gave it to me and drove off without a word" And with that reply, both ofthem jumped up and hugged themselves in gracious jubilee. I was looking at them like idiots and when they finished, Ivan calmed down and spoke. "ehn, wait , that was two weeks ago, how much remains out of the money?" I smiled and replied "I haven't touched a dime out of it, its still with me" "My guy, bring money make we go chop now, so we've been starving ourselves all these while and you had money with you?" Mark inquired. But Ivan still proving smart calmed him down. "Wait, let me get, you've had this money with you for two weeks and you didn't spend it, why?" he asked. "Good question" I responded, "what ifthe money was hexed? with a charm or something?" "Well, true. Have you called her to say thank you though or to get more information as to why she gave you?" he asked again. "Actually, no. I haven't called her but she's been calling me for weeks now and I don't pick her calls, I'm scared guys" Both of them burst into laughter. "Dude, take out fifty cedis out of the money, let's go and get something to eat. In fact, let's use the money to buy some
foodstuff, shey we would all eat it together abi?" Ivan said as he paced around the room. "So if nothing happens to us till tomorrow morning, I think she just dashed us the money, sorry I mean dashed you and then you're safe, she's harmless" he continued as he gave a smile in sinister manner. "And after then you have to call her back and thank her" Mark added as he emphasized on the "thank".I took a deep sigh and I realised they were probably right. I told them to look away as I opened my box with the security combination code and removed fifty cedis out of the envelope. "Who wants to have a proper breakfast?" I said with a huge grin. With that, we set out to go to Shemini shop for a proper nourishing local meal that we had been missing for days. That evening Mrs Asare, sorry, Jane called me like twice and still I didn't pick up. And for the first time she dropped a text message.
"Good evening Stylish, what's wrong? I have been trying to reach you for days
nows. I'm worried, please call me" I knew I wasn't being fair and so I decided to text her back immediately. "Hi ma, I'm fine, I'm sorry my phone has been having issues for a while now, I can't pick up calls, that's why I couldn't call you back also. Its that bad, I'll try to fix it and call as soon as I can". My phone really wasn't bad, even though I needed to change it but I needed a very good excuse to extricate myself from not picking or returning her calls. "whew, that should do it" I thought to myself as I lay to sleep. Few seconds later, I heard my phone beep. I picked up the phone and it was her text. "Alright then, I feel relieved that you're safe. Actually I would be in Mampong tomorrow to worship at the Anglican Church there. I'll text you when I'm through so we can meet. Sweet dreams handsome." I stared at my phone in disbelief as I used my hand to cover my mouth. I was an Anglican and I attended that very same Church she was coming to. "How could she have known or is this mere coincidence?", I didn't know what to think again. "they have get me" I muttered as I closed my eyes to sleep.
I woke up by 6am and got dressed for church. I contemplated not going but Ivan had told me he wanted to attend where l worshipped and I promised taking him there today. We took a bike to church as I didn't tell him Janee might be there. Service went well, it was a filled up church. I tried searching for her amidst the crowd but I couldn't see her. When it came for Thanksgiving, I saw her walking to the altar with a family. Apparently it was churching, a thanksgiving after birth, I guessed the wife was her friend. She was
dressed in a lace attire and head gear. Her make up was moderate and her appearance alone was more alluring than all the women there combined. I snapped back into reality as I knew I was already lusting in the wrong place. Service ended and we went outside. Ivan asked us to go home but I told him to wait that I wanted to see someone. He asked who it was but I told him to wait that it was a surprise. And suprised he was when he saw Jane walking towards us. "Oh my" he gasped as he saw her and smiled. "Good morning ma" he tried to prostrate as if he was courteous fellow. "Jonkey" I thought to
myself. "No, no, no, get up" she said as she brought him up.
"Good morning ma, sorry Jane" I said with a smile. She flashed me her dentition as I could feel a soft chill breeze blow on me.
"How are you both doing? you really got me worried Stylish" I smiled and gave a look to Ivan to excuse us. Remember I told y'all he can be a fool at times? well the idiot didn't move. He just kept staring at me and when I noticed he was not getting my eye signals, I decided to use my head. I nodded my head to the left direction telling him to walk away while looking like a person with a stroke. He just smiled and was looking.Jane was laughing mildly at the drama before her. And out of no where, he burst into audible laughter. "If you want me to excuse you, all you have to do is talk, monkey" and
with that he walked away majestically. I knew he won that round and I felt like the idiot. "Your friend is really funny" Jane said as she brought me back to reality. "l'm so sorry about that, you didn't have to see that, he's an idiot" I smiled as l replied. "I didn't get to thank you for the money you gave me. Thank you so much ma, but why did you zoom off without saying a word?" I asked. "Well, I didn't want to give you a chance to refuse it" she chuckled. I let out a laugh and spoke "Honestly, I actually would have refused it. I didn't even touch the money till yesterday morning". She looked at me with a confused face. "Why?" she asked. I took a deep breath. "I was scared the currency notes were hexed so I kept it to see if it would disappear or something supernatural would happen to it. To be honest, that was why I didn't pick up your calls or return them, I was scared". I looked away as I didn't want to see her facial reaction to what I just said. She took my right hand, told me to look at her and spoke slowly. "Look at me Stylish, are you still scared now?" her eyes were lovely and my legs were shaking. I could feel my heart pounding fast and a sweat rolled down my head to my cheeks. "No, I'm not scared anymore" I replied. I felt like a child with her. I felt vulnerable but I loved the feeling. She was in charge and something in me felt I needed her. "Better" she said as she wiped my sweat away from my cheeks with her hand slowly. With her touch, I almost melted as I closed my eyes and gently let out a silent gasp. "I have I go now" She said, "Some of my friends came with me from town and I have to take them back. "Alright then, no problem" I replied.
She opened her bag, brought out a white nylon and gave it to me. I took it from her and asked what it was. It felt like a box of some kind. "You'll know soon enough when you open it" as she gave me a kiss on the cheek and walked away. I blushed
instantly. I looked behind to see Ivan and noticed he was looking at me. l was so sure he saw everything. I went to him and we began to walk home. While walking, he told me to open the nylon and I did as I brought out the box. Ivan let out a manly scream and shouted as he hugged me
tightly. "Stylish my guy!!! Stylish my guyl! Stylish my guy! walahi, you are the man!!!"
I stared at the box and l was lost for words, and the same time scared.
What could this be???
Hmmmm....find out in the next chapter!!!