CAMARADERIE TROUBLES

Amanda crossed her feet on a footstool. She sat aback majestically on the big Chesterfield sofa, watching a Nollywood break-up scene. She was moved to tears by the words from the lead character in the movie.

"Girl, this can't work. NEVER! it wouldn't. No man would ever want an orange that has all its juice squeezed out. If I as a man could keep myself pure and not have any immoral thing to do with any lady, how much more a lady. There's more pressure on me than you. Do you know how my hormones drive me nuts? yet, I had to subdue my desires and do what was right." The guy busted out.

The girl pleaded on her knees. Tears shimmered in her eyes.

"Baby, don't do this to me. I love you. All that is my past and I'm a changed person now. All of that was when I was in the world. I am renewed now. Please, don't make my past haunt me. Please baby.. please." She wailed.

"Hey, woman. Don't 'baby' me! What rubbish! The doctor said you would never conceive again due to the numerous abortions you had. Countless men have had sex with you, you know what that means? Do you know the demons that have been transferred to you? Do you know how many blood covenant you have made? You killed innocent babies in the name of 'When I was still in the world' Who knows if any of the men you slept with hasn't carted away your glories and virtues, leaving you behind to be an empty can or a walking-dead on earth?" He turned his back against her with a pouting face.

"Please darling, if you leave me, where would I go? I would go and hang myself. Don't put me to shame. The doctor just said his own, I believe in miracles. I believe I can still have children. You'd break my heart if you do this. Please let's continue this relationship." The lady continued to beg for mercy, she held the guy's ankle and sobbed at his feet. The guy kicked her in annoyance and exited from the scene.

Another lady came in.

"You see you see your life? That's what we were telling you. Auntie SPEC, always craving for young boys in multi-colored socks, cross bag, and iPhone. 'I LOVE GUYS WITH BEARDS' Just take a look at your aftermath. You said you wanted to 'chop' life. I hope you have enjoyed it to your fullest. It definitely gave you more than you bargained for. Werey (Madwoman) You also wanted to feel among and 'oppress'. You finally ended up being the one oppressed. Do you think that a well-to-do guy would marry a liability like you? After living your life recklessly, you think you can lift the burden of your deserved consequences and put it on his head? No way! A man shall pay for his sins. The soul that sinneth must surely die. OLORIBURUKU (unfortunate fellow)".

The mocker exited the stage, leaving the 'dumped' woman in a remorseful state.

Amanda paused the movie. she sank into deep thought. The movie matched to her situation.

"There's always something to reap after the exotic lifestyle I've been craving for. Oh, what do I do now? I have so many pressing needs as a student. I would soon be writing my thesis. This requires funds. Folashade told me countless things I need as a student. I just can't keep calling my parents for every need. Besides, my father is a miser. He doesn't know more than to flirt with different women and spend money on beer. alcoholic! He would never attend to my requests. He believes spending money on me is a waste because I would finally end up in a man's kitchen... I think I have to sort things out myself." She brooded and had reminiscences of the scenes in the movie she just watched.

"I can apply wisdom! Amanda, you can do this just once, get what you need, sort out your bills, and ask for forgiveness."

She remembered she was still a virgin. Her mind flashed back to when Folashade, Bimbo, and Halima made a jest of her.

"It's your virginity that keeps making you wallow in the anguish of menstrual pains!" Halima had said.

She reflected deeply on her friend's words. It got her.

"God I'm leaving you!" she said, slamming her hand on the center table.

"I've had enough, and it's time to do things my way!" she finalized and flounced out.

***

Amanda's eyes glistened with tears. She sobbed in pain as blood dripped from her privates down her leg in the hotel room Prof Anikulapo had brought her.

"I thought you were a champ at this. I never knew you have never been de-flowered. Anyways, it was nice having you. It's a great feeling to be the man that broke your hymen, and I enjoyed every bit of doing that."

He drew near her and patted her shoulder, zipping up his trouser.

"I know it really hurts in the first attempt, but you will get used to it. Get to the bathroom and get yourself cleaned up."

Amanda cried uncontrollably.

She remembered when she promised her mother when she was nine that she would never be wayward. She also promised her promiscuous dad that she would remain a virgin till marriage. This was after several counseling sessions from this same father. INDEED, PROMISCUOUS PEOPLE DON'T WANT THEIR CHILDREN TO BE LIKE THEM.

She remembered when Pastor Jay - her Sunday-school teacher preached: "Fornication defiles your temple. It pollutes your body and makes you unfit for God's use and glory. Any man that commits fornication sins against his own body. Regardless of whatever slang they use to cover this act up. Be it 'fuck, knacks, make-out, hammer' or whatever. It is fornication!"

These words tormented her.

She sat on the bed and wrapped herself with a big white duvet. She lost the feeling of pride she had always been feeling. It seemed to her as if someone had snatched a treasure from her. Gradually, the emotional pain she felt overclouded the physical.

Prof Anikulapo threw a lump bale of dollar notes at her, to the bed.

"That's for a big performance. It's been long I've enjoyed a woman this way. I see this potential in you that... you would be good in bed." He tickled her and laughed loudly.

"Also, consider your project successful. You'd surely graduate from this polytechnic with great grades. I would love to keep seeing you. I'm off. I paid for an extra night, in case you still want to remain here and sort yourself out. Bye Gelato." He sauntered away. Amanda remained mute.

"Give me a high five." Folashade giggled at Amanda. Her three friends hugged her warmly. They showed her love and approval because she had finally yielded to their wish.

"It's nice you manned-up and took the courage. Well done, real men don't chase titles they follow courage. Welcome to the bevy of 'big' girls. How was it when you were doing it? Did you enjoy it?" Bimbo asked, smiling all over.

"No, I didn't. It was pain-freak." Amanda replied half-consciously. She hasn't gotten back to her normal state of mind.

"I know right? I can imagine. I felt the same way when Michael my first boyfriend did the same to me in our secondary school toilet on Valentine's day. It was a hell of a painful time for me. But.. yunno.. Michael and I conceived our little secret throughout the school." Halima narrated.

"Now there are many things to know in this new journey of yours." Folashade cleared her throat.

"You can't afford to be naive or ignorant so men don't take advantage of you. The ball is in your court and you've got to be on top of your game like a queen. To extort good money from these men, there's quite a lot you would do. Tomorrow, we'd take you out to go see a Baba. He is a very powerful man. He was the one who gave Bimbo, Hali, and I some materials. This is the reason why we are on top of our game. Men bow to us in asterisk wonder and anyone who 'mounts' upon us has fallen into our snare.

Welcome to our world baby... Hahaha!!!"☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐