I LOVE YOU – episode 16

That day I went back to my room, disorganized – mentally, physically, academically, spiritually, psychologically, name it. “ the thieves caused it all” I thought.

I went  to class the next day, and she wasn’t in class. She must still be resting at health centre.

Few days later, my dad called. I wasn’t sure if he was aware of the situation yet, so I didn’t pick up, as I cant bear to hear the words he’d  say, but sooner or later we’d have to face off.

I tried to concentrate in classes, but it was all to no avail. Even sometimes I skipped classes.

My roommates noticed, and asked what had happened, but I just wont tell. I only spoke to ‘D boy' my school father, “calm down” he said. But how do I calm down when danger is surely looming, its imminent I would be disowned by my father if he heard.

“ah! A child that impregnates or is impregnated under my roof, will have to leave, two generation parents can’t live under my roof. Kelvin, you are a man now o, if you near a girl, she’d get pregnant oo” he had jokingly said during the period I was writing my WAEC. I knew him, he was a disciplinarian.

The following week, the HOD of my department called me, and told me the school’s PRO would like to see me by two that day.

I got to senate building, entered( my first time of entering the senate building)).

As I got to the PRO’s office, I was taken aback to see my dad, my mum and hadizat’s mum. “ good afternoon sir” I greeted, as courtesy. I knew ‘ gobe ti sele’

My mum already had grieve written boldly on her face, my dad looking fierce

PRO: you are Kelvin right? How are you
Me: fine sir (abi I don fine ni)
PRO: yes, I called you here in view of what happened between you and hadizat. Mr. Adegbolahan here has accused you of raping his daughter. Is that true?

 I couldn’t believe what I just heard, rape?!

Me: “no sir, I didn’t rape her oo”  I said, with my eyes wide open, and neck stretching forward.
Hadizat’s dad: yes you did, how else would you explain what had happened?
Me: “but sir…… did hadizat say this?”, I asked, trying to prove him wrong
Hadizat’s dad: yes, she did.

My mum sat down , wailing.

Me: but that’s not true, hadizat is my girlfriend (my dad turned to look at me as I said this) how could I rape her?
Hadizat’s dad: no need to argue about this, by tomorrow afternoon, you should receive a summon letter from the court.

Here my dad came in, in the converstion.

Dad: sir ( facing hadizat’s dad), please cant we solve this amicably out of court? As the boy had stated, they were dating.
Hadizat’s dad: no! we wont settle anything amicably, the boy must be jailed!
Mum’s wailing became more, more loud. I soon stated crying. It was like a drama to me.
PRO: Kelvin, in view of this the school will be given you leave of absence for the time being, and if found guilty, you will be rusticated. Take this letter to the dean of student affairs.

I got the letter and went out dumb founded. I later went to the health center to ask hadizat if she truly said those words, I got there and was told she was discharged already, her number wasn’t going through. I went back to the room, wishing for the ground to just swallow me. I lay on my bed, looking like a prisoner whose execution day is tomorrow.

 I got myself thinking “ what have I gotten myself into, I should have resisted the devil, I should have fled from the appearance of evil. Would I survive this, would I be a able to return as an OAU student?”