16/08/2024
EPISODE 5
(THE CORPERS'S BRIDE)
School had resumed now because holiday was over. Three things had happened during the holiday. The first one was that I had moved to a new house. The second was that I was now in a relationship with my own student, Emma, and the third was that her parents had complete and total trust in me.
She and I were so much in love that we found it difficult to even keep it a secret in school, though it was a serious offense to have any illicit relationship with a student. So, for the sake of our relationship, Emma had to make a serious sacrifice. She asked that her parents to send her to a different school, and because she was their only daughter, and they had a great soft spot for her, they obliged.
Now that she was in a different school, I became more relaxed. I had always been afraid that my two enemies, the dean and the principal were going to find out some day and use it to nail me.
Going to a different school too had its own downsides. I was no longer able to see Emma constantly and I couldn't even go to her house to look for her since I was no longer her teacher. She was now the one who had to look for a means to see me, something which wasn't easy.
One day, she did what she had never done before. She came to my house at 8:00 PM at night and didn't want to go back. She insisted that she was going to spend the night. I was confused because I didn't know what to make of that proposal.
"You know you cannot do that, right?" I told her.
"But I can. I mean I must." She was firm.
"Why?"
"Because it's not safe for me to sleep at home tonight. It's not safe at all."
"What are you talking about? How can it not be safe to sleep in your own house?"
"My father."
"What about him?"
"He has been trying to sleep with me. Whenever my mum is not home, he comes into my room and tries to force himself on me." She revealed.
"What? How can your own father be doing that to you?" I was shocked.
"I don't know. Actually, I didn't grow up with him. Maybe that's why he doesn't feel that fileal love for me. Instead, what he feels for me is erotic."
"Tell me more."
"It is said that he and my mum broke up after they had me. So, for a very long time, I grew up only with my mother, who didn't allow me go close to him. It was only two years ago that they reconciled."
"I see, that is why your parents have only you, right?" I asked.
"Yes, Sir."
"So, have you told your mum about it?"
"Yes, I did, but she didn't take it seriously. She thought I was joking. But what I feel is that my mum is trying to protect her marriage. It is a miracle that they managed to get back together after so many years apart. So, she is afraid to annoy him."
"So, that means you have to be sacrificed for their marriage to work? Your body has to be put on the line for them to remain happy in their marriage?" I was terribly vexed.
"So, it would see, Copper Eyong. But whenever my mum is around, he behaves himself. He only tries to have his way when my mum travels, just like now."
"Your mum is out of town now?"
"Yes."
"That's why you are scared to go back home."
"Yes. I am so afraid. One day, he almost succeeded. I had to hit him hard on the balls before I could manage to escape."
"You know what? We could have him arrested." I proposed.
"What? Do you know what you are talking about? Haven't you been to our house before to see how affluent we are? My father is rich and well connected. If you try such a thing with him, you will be dead." She was serious.
"I will take my chances." I spoke.
"You will do no such thing."
"I will. When I was in secondary school, there was a female student who was going through the same thing as you. Her father was ravaging her everyday. One day, she confided in me because we were friends. I reported the matter to one of our teachers, who told the principal. The man was arrested immediately."
"Yes, I believe you. But I don't think the man was as rich and as influential as my father."
That night, against all odds, in spite of all the risks, I allowed her sleel in my house. I could not allow her go back to her own house when I knew what awaited her there. I decided that I would put my life, job and safety on the line for her.
When she woke up that morning, she started cleaning up the house. I stopped her and told her to go home, but she refused. She said her mother had not yet returned from her trip, and that she would only go back home when her mum returned.
It now dawned on me that I had just dug a hole in the ground for myself. Why did I even allow her stay the night in my house? Now, she was refusing to leave. If her parents found out that she was with me, I was doomed. As I was thinking and lamenting about my recent predicament, my phone rang. I checked it and it was Emma's mum.
"Good day, Mam." I greeted.
"Good morning, Copper Eyong. How are you doing today?"
"I am fine, Ma."
"That's good. I am just calling to let you know that your friend, Emma, didn't sleep at home last night. She hasn't returned this morning. We are afraid that something must have gone wrong with her. We cannot make a police report because it is not yet up to twenty four hours. So, please, if you find her, let us know at once."
"Ok, Mam. But have you tried to call her?"
"Yes, I have but her number has been switched off."
"Ok I will try to ask around."
"Alright, thank you, my son."
When the call dropped, I looked at Emma who had been listening to the entire conversation between her mother and I.
"That was your mother." I told her.
"I know."
"So?"
"So, what? Did she say when she would be in town?" She asked casually.
"No. See, Emma, I am scared. What if they found out that you are with me?"
"How will they? Calm down, young man. As soon as my mother comes back home, I will go back home, alright?"
But tree days later, when her mum came back, Emma refused to go home. I kept begging her everyday to go home but she always refused. Finally, she spent a whole week in my house and during that period, she had been missing classes.
Her worried parents were very troubled. Several times, they had invited me to their house for us to talk about the matter. Little did they know that she was in my house. They even went to the radio and television to make announcements.
One day, we has just finished making love when we saw her picture on TV. She was described as a missing person. The news anchor was begging anyone who had seen her to help her find her way home. She burst into laughter.
One night, on the tenth day of her living in my house, I could no longer take it. It was around 11:00 PM and she was already asleep when I woke her up and told her that she had to get going.
"Why na? What's the emergency?" She asked in a sleepy voice.
"The emergency is that your time here has expired. In fact, it had long expired. You have to go back home now." I was furious.
"But it is late." She protested.
"Yes, it is and that is why you have to go. You cannot spend another night here. I have a premonition that something bad is going to happen. I have a feeling that your parents are beginning to suspect me. Please, wake up and let's go."
"You will take me home? I cannot go home alone. It's risky." She asked.
"Yes, I will."
That night, we got a bike and headed to her neighbourhood. We asked the bike rider to drop us about fifty metres from her house. Then, we walked the rest of the way.
It was around midnight when we got to the gate of their house. She moved away from me for a few meters and was about to ring the gate bell when she halted herself and rushed back to where I was standing. She looked apprehensive.
"What is the matter, Emma? Why don't you ring the bell." I was perplexed.
"Eyong, let's go. Let's leave this place immediately."
"Why?"
"Something is not right. My instincts tell me that we are being watched."
"Watched by who? Every is dark and quiet." I was slightly irritated.
"Yes, but it seems everyone is watching and waiting. Let's go. I will explain later."
"Okay, if you say so." I reluctantly agreed.
As we turned around to go, I heard a loud and clear voice gave a command. It was her father's voice.
"Don't let them escape." He shouted. "Get them now."
Then, from nowhere, about fifteen of her father's thugs suddenly appeared from where they had been hiding and started chasing us. Emma had good instincts. She had been right all along. We were being watched.
I grabbed her by the hand and we took off at top speed. The thugs gave chase but they couldn't catch us. The chase lasted for about ten minutes, then the worst happened. Emma tripped on a stone, fell on the ground and hurt herself badly. She sprained an ankle and couldn't run anymore.
I was at a dilemma. Should I save myself abandon her? After all, it was her father's thugs that were chasing us. They weren't going to hurt her. But how was I sure they wouldn't? I was confused. I looked behind me and the thugs were closing in. They were just about forty meters from us. Any moment now, they were going to get us.
Then, a miracle happened. A bike suddenly appeared from a side road. Desperately, I hailed for the rider to stop. He did.
"Please, help me." I begged desperately. "My woman is hurt and we are being chased by some bad people. Please, give us a lift."
He looked at me, then at Emma. Then, he looked behind and saw the mini mob closing in.
"I am so sorry, bro. I cannot help you. I have already closed for the day." He spoke firmly.
He started the engine of his bike and sped away.
TO BE CONTINUED...
