Edu, dumfounded and speaking nervously, began, "I know what I'm about to say might sound a little bit crazy, but I think it's the right thing to do." He looked into Bassy's eyes with honesty, making her pay all her attention to what he had to say.
"I... I think we should create a bond so we never forget each other," he muttered with a low, crackly voice.
"Create a bond? How?" Bassey asked, dumfounded and puzzled.
"I know I promised we wouldn't have sex until we're above twenty, mostly because of the advice your mom gave you when you were nine, but, you know," Edu flabbergasted, "my own mom told me that sex stands as a strong bond between two lovers, as it makes them never forget each other for a lifetime, mostly it's the person that took away your virginity. We're both virgins, and we can make this happen without having any blood covenant, right?"
Bassy could trace fear amid curiosity in Edu's eyes as he poured out his mind.
"No, Edu, I can't have sex with you," she said angrily, raising from where she was seated and heading to the exit door. "I'm just 16; I'm not that spoiled."
Edu stood up promptly to grab her hand, holding it tightly. "I know it may sound crazy, and I may sound like a spoiled brat, but believe me, my intentions are genuine. I only want to create a strong bond between us, not like I really want to have sex with you. I'm still a virgin as well. Besides, I myself said I'm not doing it until I'm twenty. But honestly, Bassy, I will if I have to. You are special to me, and I want you to forever remain in my memory."
Bassy got convinced as Edu lured her with all he had. She decided to pay attention to what Edu was saying.
"Remember, there is always a first time in everything," that phrase made her find sense in the nonsense Edu was saying, and she gave in.
They both took off their clothes, naive of the next thing to do. Edu considered putting on a sex tape video on their small old modern television since there was power already. And the rest that happened in the room was history.
Well, it wasn't a bad experience for the both of them. They both seemed shy to look at each other's faces as they promptly dressed up, realizing the day was already getting dark.
It took them a couple of hours in the room to create their bond. A grin suddenly appeared on Edu's face after the long awkward silence.
"Did you enjoy it?" he asked her shyly, forcing a smile on his face.
"It was too painful and sweet at the same time," Bassy replied, avoiding to meet his gaze.
"Yeah, That's why they say it's pleasure and pain. But you have to promise me you'll never do it with anyone else except me."
"Like who?" Bassy replied furiously. "Only you hold the key to my heart and body, and only you can unlock."
"I'm happy to hear that, and I promise you the same," he reassured her.
Edu brought out a brand new wristwatch from his tiny abode and handed it over to Bassy with a warm smile on his face. "I've had this for over 5 months now. It was a gift from my dad on my last birthday and the first gift he has ever given to me that I can remember. I actually didn't wear it because it meant a lot to me, and I thought it would be a good idea to continue with my old one since I don't have any special place to wear it to, so it doesn't look old quickly."
"Wow, it's nice," Bassy replied, astonished after a brief glance at the wristwatch.
"Well, you can have it. I want it to be a reminder that I'll always love you, no matter how long it takes for us to meet again, because I'm sure we'll meet again," he handed it over to her.
Bassy was amidst puzzle and bewildered. She thought of what to say for a while but couldn't figure out anything. She slowly took her hands to the back of her neck and unhooked the necklace her aunt bought for her as a result of always coming back home with outstanding grades in school. It was a silver stainless steel necklace with a touch of quality.
She handed it over to Edu, narrowing her gaze and speaking with a very low, crackly tone. "This is my first and best gift from my aunt, you know about that, right? I'm giving it to you from the depth of my heart because I don't want you to forget me either."
"You don't have to pay me back," Edu said, focusing his gaze into her eyes.
"I'm not paying back. I want you to hold on to my memory too. Or do you want me to be the only one holding on to your memory?" Bassy uttered in a jovial tone.
Edu chuckled at the funny gesture she used in saying it. "You're always funny." He collected the jewelry from her slowly, uttering, "I love you," with his voice slightly above a whisper level.
"I love you too," Bassy replied. "I need to start leaving now. I lied to my aunt; I want to go get a note from Zoe, that's why she allowed me to leave the shop," she stood up slowly.
They both stood up and walked out of the room. Bassy wondered what to tell her aunt when she arrived home, as she was now already in big trouble, but Edu asked her not to worry, that he would come up with another lie.
They both strolled to Zoe's house, as it wasn't far from Edu's. Edu begged her to follow them to Bassy's house so her aunt would believe what she had to say, which she agreed to, for the love she had for her best friend.
Bassy's aunt wasn't yet home when they arrived at her home. After a long while of waiting, Zoe suggested she needed to start heading home before she'd be in big trouble also, as it was obviously getting too late.
Edu pleaded she should stay a little longer, but Bassy said it was fine, understanding how parents don't like their girl child to stay out once it's past 8 pm.
"I think you should go with her, Edu. I'll be in bigger trouble if my aunt meets you here. Moreover, you need to see her off," Bassy said with a dim tone, as she was feeling some cramping pain in her lower abdomen but tried to hide it so Zoe wouldn't suspect anything.
Edu agreed to it after a while of hesitating, and they both left. A few minutes after they left, Akpan appeared at the entrance of the yard.
A shiver ran through Bassy's veins as soon as she set her eyes on her aunt; it was as if she had just seen a ghost. She promptly jumped off where she was sitting, holding her stomach.
"Good evening, Aunt Akpan," she greeted with a low and threatened tone.
"Bassy, where are you coming from?" her aunt asked her furiously. "I'm coming from Zoe's house.
"Shut your dirty mouth!" her aunt interrupted, "I sent someone to Zoe's house this evening to fetch you, but they said you weren't there. How dare you lie to me?" She yelled, causing nearby neighbors to start spying, as they were living in a cabin.
Her aunt beat her mercilessly that night out of fury, warning her strictly that she'd kill her if she ever saw her anywhere close to Edu again, as she had warned her countless times to stay away from men.
"I've been taking care of you for years now since your parents died in a car accident. I took you in because of the love I had for my sister, else I would have left you in the hands of your father's prostitute sisters. I know better than you, Bassy. There is nothing good you can gain from a man at this young age. Concentrate on your studies; good men will come to you at the right time. But first, you have to be a good and standout woman on your own. Do you think I would have ended up like this if I had gone to school? I'm giving you the life I've always wished to live as a teenager, and here you are, abusing it. I swear on my only sister's grave, Bassy, that if you bring shame to me, I won't forgive you. I'll make you pay for it," Akpan yelled at Bassy furiously. She was extremely mad because someone already told her that they saw Bassy in Edu's house while she was looking for her. Bassy still lied that she was in Zoe's house, which triggered Akpan's anger to beat Bassy mercilessly and pour out her mind to her.