Wrong Start

by Daisy Yawson

Twelve

“Ouuu, we’ve waited for so long. C.mon sit down,” the men cheered.

Ibrahim took a seat in one of the armchairs close to Felix.

They loved the feeling of being in a club, an expensive club. Where the girls only danced and not whore. Sean Paul’s music played on the dance floor. Each, bobbing their heads to the tune as they sipped drinks displayed on the large glass table.

“Tshhh…ahhh,” the alcohol burned his throat.

“Take your time with the alcohol man.”

“Says the man who almost drunk himself to death a month ago?”

Ibrahim chuckled.

“I mean, how many weeks has it been? Four fucking weeks and when we saw you again, you were lying in your own vomit…Eyram did a number on you man.”

The men nodded at what he said as it was the truth.

“I don’t want to admit, but I was hurting guys. The child. The mother. None were really mine all this time. It’s something I wouldn’t even wish on my worst enemy.”

He shook his head in disbelief.

“We got you, man. Seeing you like that man, just confirms how cruel women can be. You and Eyram, narh. I never would have believed.” 

Clicking his tongue.

“Seriously, I never imagined you two splitting up like that.”

“Same. Same, but you know what? Nothing is impossible to me now. You will be fine, mate,” Prince joined in on the conversation after getting his hands off his phone.

“Of course I will be fine. It took some time and now I’m getting back on my feet.”

“Good. It’s what we prayed for anyways.”

Girls, swayed their hips to the beat of the song, mostly college students. Ibrahim wondered if she’d ever been to places like this where the girls would party till daybreak. His eyes darted to each one of them. Some were from the working class. Others, well, he couldn’t tell. It just felt normal looking at people take a break from the cooperate world. He’s just like one of them, looking for something to take away the stress except, he had the issue of a broken heart.

“Would you like company?” a pretty lady interrupts, showing a part of her thick thighs.

“Damn…” Prince’s eyes travelled down the lady’s thigh.

“Go for it, man,” he encouraged, urging him to do something he had no strength or eyes for. At first, it would have been much easier taking the bait but now, it all seemed like Mimi was all he thought about. And the child in her belly.

“I’m good, guys.”

Squinting his eyes as an act of questioning his action, Prince gave up trying to convince him.

“So?”

“So what?”

“So who do you have your eyes set on for you to deny your sexual urges?” Felix inquired.

“I never said I wanted sex. It’s Mimi. She’s pregnant and that’s all that matters right now.”

Disbelief and awe filled their faces. Wasn’t he the one disgusted with her? Now, what could possibly have happened? Similar thoughts filled their heads and for the first time, none of them could speak.

“She’s on my mind 24\7, guys. I won’t kid you. Not for the sex but how we clicked despite the age difference.”

“That’s crazy, man. I think it’s normal though and It does happen for real.”

“Yes. Fine but what about her studies? How is she coping with having to carry your child and study at the same time?” Felix threw the question at him not because he wanted to attack him but a similar thing happened to the mother of his son. Stopping her from going about her duties not as a student with ambitions but as a human with ambitions.

“Relax, man. I know I have been selfish, thinking about what I want. I want to fix that okay? I really do but now she’s pregnant. I know what I have to do so don’t come for me.”

“I apologise if It came out harsh. Couldn’t help voice out my concerns about her…congrats, man.”

“I totally understand you but we all think and act differently and if they are wrong, we learn from our mistakes. I have learnt from mine.”

“You’re right.”

The boys took turns to congratulate him.

“It calls for a celebration, losing to gain another.”

Nodding in unison, Alex called over a waitress.

“You got to make sure the child is yours alright?” Gideon suggested.

“What do you mean?”

“DNA my friend. DNA. It happened once. Don’t let it happen again.”

“C.mon, you’re trying to say it’s possible Mimi slept outside her own marriage. Think, man. The girl likes and respects him. And before she entered the marriage, she was a fucking virgin. Think about it.” Alex pitched.

“That’s fair but one can never be sure until they do the test.”

“Keep the change.” Prince had dropped a wad of cash in a waitress’s hand.

“I wonder why such a place refuses to take cards instead.”

The lady with a curvy backside excused herself.

“Let’s not think of early days, guys. I need to see to it that she comes out alive and well after childbirth.”

“You’re right.”

Thinking about it, he did not like letting them know of his encounter with Akua, someone who’s been missing in his life. That might seem a little over the top considering dealing with one problem which almost destroyed him.

A little after 11, the men went their separate ways discussing all the topics they desired to talk about.

If it were a month ago, Ibrahim would have crushed at a bar with alcohol in one hand while the other made silly gestures. It wasn’t completely gone. The hurt, betrayal and pain from the woman he’d loved. Someday, he might forget the pain but now, he seemed in control of his life again.

Deciding to drop by the office to get his mind off things, he got into his car and in a flash, left the clubhouse with eyes of sexy ladies feasting on him.

In 45 minutes, he arrived at his office. A young person lay at the security post. But she was in rags. That’s what people in that status will call the dress she wore. He was surprised to have seen someone at the place at that hour. And sleeping on the cold metal chair with her arm supporting her head.

The woman woke up from the sound of footsteps climbing the stairs into the main entrance. She’d been there to wait for Ibrahim but he’d never showed himself but the person who walked the stairs looked so much like the man who had visited her months ago.

In a rush, she grabbed an old looking purse from the chair she slept on.

“Sir, wait.”

She followed the figure up the stairs. Ibrahim had to stop due to her frantic calls. He thought it annoying though the voice sounded familiar.

“It’s me, Akua.”

The panting Akua took careful steps back to take a look at him in his casual outfit and wondered how he ever fell for someone like her.

“Akua…to what do I owe this visit?”

“Our child did not die, Musa. You want to see him?”

Mouth flew open. He had to play along. He knew this day will come when she will come begging, if not, ask for money from him. But he’s been too smart enough to ask his mum. And thankfully, she spilt the beans on how their child died just after birth. It was not nice hearing it but to confirm what Akua said, he needed to ask. And as he’s thought, she’d come back.

“Where is he?”

The skimming woman laughed in his face, scratching the hell out her left arm like it was diseased.

“You ill?”

“Forget about me, Musa. If you really want to see him, you will have to give me some money.”

With arms folded, he shook his head at the nonsense she was spewing.

“Akua, I know he died.”

It took her by surprise but quickly recovered from it.

“I told you that and it was a lie. He’s alive.”

“You know what? I’ve been through shit and I really don’t want you adding to it. I would appreciate it if you left and never came back.”

“What is wrong with all these rich guys, huh? Shouldn’t I be compensated for sleeping with me?” The anger in her voice was evident as she stood with her hands on her waist.

“I never knew I was sleeping with a prostitute 10 years ago…is that what you’ve been reduced to?”

“…….”

Everything seem blank at that moment. And in a blink, she was in tears, crouched on the floor like a lost puppy.

“Akua, Akua please don’t do this. Especially not at my workplace”.

He fetched her off the ground into his arms.

“Let’s go out.”

The two left the entrance to the gate of the big company. No one was around at that time which seemed okay to be helping a lady out.

“I don’t know what you’re going through Akua but we all are. One way or the other. We just have to keep going. How will you get back home?”

Peeling her body away from him, he stood a few feet away from her.

“It’s late now. Sleeping here won’t be bad.”

Her tears were wiped clean with the back of her palm.

“What of your kids then?”.

“They’re with their dad.”

“Fair.”

After seeing this woman, he had the urge to go back home and sleep in till the next morning.

“I should go back home, Akua. But you should stay put till tomorrow. It’s quite dangerous for a lady walking around in this place.”

He turned to leave.

“I’m sorry…I lost our child.”

This time, his legs moved on it own into his car. Apologising for a lost child, won’t bring it back. And he was quite pissed she will not keep quiet about it especially when it was not something nice to talk about.

In a rush, turned on the ignition and he was on the road  without taking a glance at the pitiful figure.

Surely giving her money was simply not the issue. But he believed that few drops could become an ocean that was to say that if he should give her money, she would come back on all fours for more and it might become an issue. He didn’t want any of that. 

Right now, the only thing he wanted was to get away from everyone to avoid going insane. A vacation would do him some good. To take a trip to the mountain, do whatever will get his mind off stuff, go to therapy and be better. Work came first but not anymore. Not when his child will be born soon. Not when he needed to get better for his wife, Mimi. She deserved that at least for how bad he’d treated her in the past. Putting a call through to the assistant manager, he waited eagerly.

“What the hell, man! It’s like what, 12:00. What is it?”

“I’m sorry to disturb your sleep, man but it’s urgent”.

“Hurry up before my wife finds out that I’m missing from bed.”

“Right. Do me a favour and sign up papers for my leave for 3 months. Starting from tomorrow. You know I’ve been through so much.”

“Yes, yes. You have nothing to worry about, yeah? Have a nice three months leave. Now bye.”

Dickson hung up before Musa can say anything. He heaved a sigh and relaxed in his seat while he drove home. At least this was the first step to take towards healing.

[insert-comment-form]

[stextbox id=”info” caption=”JOIN US ON WHATSAPP“]

Join the Kleva Whatsapp family with the link below

https://chat.whatsapp.com/91Sg5eGo6sLIAQlIvR7gnv