CAMARADERIE TROUBLES novel Chapter 3

Solomon heard a thud from the door.

He woke up and swabbed the saliva that dripped from a corner of his lips. He glanced up at the clock. "Goodness me! 10:00 pm." Selena wasn't back yet. He fitted into the flip flops beside the large Chelsea armchair. He edged towards the door.

"Baby, is that you?" He asked, quite drowsy.

He got no response.

He opened the door.

"Darling!!!" Selena staggered. She hugged her LOML.

"Seline, this isn't fair and you know that. I mean look at the time, it's 10 pm. Why are you doing this to me?"

"Honey, I'm sorry.. I never planned for all these to happen. I got to go check on Amanda; my lil sister. She called a few minutes after I was through at Akorrs. I was making my way home already"

"And how about her, she good?" Solo asked with hands akimbo.

"She isn't fine" she raised her eyebrows

"I woulda spent the night at her place but I knew you definitely could'nt take that. You are always muddled any moment I'm away. As a matter of fact, I had a flat phone battery. It would be wrong if I hadn't got you aware of it" she paused and dropped the heavy shopping bags.

"She's got a feud with one of her lecturers lately".

"What feud?"

He led her from the doorway with his hand on her waist.

They hugged deeply again.

"Honey, I missed you so much. I had a bad Friday and that's because you were away. Don't kill me please"

Selena burst into laughter.

"So what if I had slept at Amanda's place?"

"That would have gotten me utterly stumped. I can't imagine what I would have done." He smiled, shaking his head.

They both made way to go drop the grocery stuff in the store. They put the house and every other thing in order.

They walked to the bar and sat on the long tall barstools. Solomon drank the remaining wine he had drunk halfway in the afternoon. He cocked it up.

"Darling, you still haven't gotten over Tequila?" Selena chuckled. She also sipped from a glass of the drink.

"You and I know I can't get over this shii....

Tequila till the end of me. I think you were talking about Amanda. What about her?" He scratched his head.

"Yea, yea... What was I even saying?" She asked, probably lost her line of thought..

"That she's worried or something?" His lashes fluttered.

"Yup, it's a whole long story."

* * * *

Amanda struggled to rise from her knee. She had prayed for a long time. She was pouring out the agony in her heart before her God. She had to do this quickly before other roommates return from their various lectures. She had just a lecture that day; MTH107, which she decided to forgo. "Of what use?" She said. It's been long she prayed serious prayers like this. Prayers where she would sweat profusely, blast in tongues, and even weep. This was obviously prompted by something. Amanda would never have gone days fasting and praying at the expense of her 'precious' lectures and reading time. She also had to forgo time getting along with friends, catching vibes.

She sat at the edge of the lower bunk and reached out to her Bible, she flipped through the pages.

"Oh Lord, you are my help in times of trouble" drops of tears ran down her cheeks. It gradually became a river of tears.

"God that keepeth Isreal neither sleeps nor slumber" she stood up, continually snapping her fingers with her eyes closed and so much fervency.

The door bulged open suddenly.

She reduced the tension in her prayers, opened her left eye to peep.

It was Folashade. She was in a skimpy red armless gown that barely covered her thighs. She was necking with a guy. The guy stood behind her, grabbing her waist and she romantically grinded on his crouch. They kissed.

Amanda was disgusted.

Folashade tossed her purse to another bunk some distance away.

"Babe, I guess this means it can't be today anymore" the guy grinned.

"I guess so too" she replied, a little bit agitated. Her plan was messed up. It was a time she least expected a roomie around.

"Cos this S.U, or Mary Magdalene just killed my vibe. She makes me feel like a sinner. I'm gonna leave here before I begin to confess my sins. I'm getting consumed by guilt and all of that shit." His face contorted.

"Its okay baby, I'll catch you in front of your hostel in the evening"

"And we gonna have a nice time?" He smiled and spanked her butt.

Amanda boiled with annoyance at the whole 'demonic' scene displayed in front of her. He had her eyes tightly closed and started binding every demon.

"I got to go," he said after a peck

"Bye bunnniee"

"In Jesus mighty name I pray" Amanda threw her fists into the air.

"Amen, Amen and Amen" Folashade jovially chorused.

Amanda shook her head in disapproval.

In her mind, she had this 'hypocrite' perception of her friend.

"Wait; don't tell me you're still praying concerning this same matter. You mean despite the fact that I brought big girls and slay Mamas to come put you through it yesterday, you still haven't 'bent'?" Folashade was perplexed.

She drew nearer to Amanda and sat by the edge of the bed, pulling off her heels. She put her hand across Amanda's shoulders.

"Baby girl, give this a thought. Come to think of it, Professor Anikulapo is interested in you. He wants to spoil you plenty. Is it money? He's got it. Is it marks? Influence? Whatever! This man is presenting to you an offer... A bonanza!

Just take a look at the phone you use" She snatched it from Amanda's hand and held it like a piece of trash.

"Who the hell uses this? Babe this is outdated. If you give it a good thought, you would also join the geng of big girls on campus. I mean babes using X, iPhone 12, or even S20!"

The whole room was filled with laughter.

"Like seriously??"Halima laughed hard till spits dripped from her mouth.

"Please, how on earth is this dullard in HND II?" Bimbo smirked, undressing. She blushed a bit to cushion the effect of what she said to Amanda.

"Hey! That hurts bimbo. She's not a pro like you guys. She's not even an amateur. This one is still a virgin." Folashade said.

"Halima and Bimbo laughed hard..

"What TF. She said virgin?.. virgin Mary" They mocked.

"This girl is so odd-fashioned. She has an outdated mentality. Oh.. you are keeping yourself for your husband? Who does that again? I'm sure your future husband would be somewhere, flirting around with some girls and you are keeping yourself for him. All of that is olden days' perceptions. They are primitive. It was in the days of our forefathers' virginity is priced. Right now, nobody absolutely cares about it.

"And I can tell you that you are missing big!" Bimbo added

"Please don't let my girl get discouraged" Folashade pulled Amanda towards herself.

"Let me answer the question you asked earlier. You see about unwanted preggs and the rest, there are so many ways to avoid them. You just need to be smart. If your man is adamant about using a condom or stealth, you can make use of contraceptives, spermicides, or opt for IUD. IUD means Intra-Uterine device. You'll go for a surgical operation that will prevent you from conceiving for a time. And if in case you discover you are in any way pregnant, there's room for an abortion. Just pay the doctor to get rid of it.

" Halima how many abortions have you committed?" Folashade asked.

Halima reflected for some seconds. She raised her head and did some calculations with her index finger. "About... Twenty-two"

"Jesuuuus!!" Amanda screamed.

"Are you guys not even surprised at all? Twenty-two freaking abortions!! She has murdered twenty-two unborn babies indirectly". Amanda said, dazzled.

"Will you keep your mouth shut!" Halima yelled at her.

"There is nothing new under the sun. I have aborted about fourteen." shade said.

Bimbo, how many have you?" Shade asked.

"I've lost count" she replied.

Amanda was flabbergasted. The way her friends were dropping figures, boasting of atrocities they committed baffled her. It was all her fault. She failed to preach to them for the many years she had known them. She didn't share her faith with them till they fell prey to the same deception they are now evangelizing to her.

'Tink tink tink' Bimbo's phone rang.

"Yes darling, my one and only"

The room capsized in silence. Everyone paid rapt attention, there must be something to hear.

"What!! You sent me three hundred thousand Naira? You must be kidding me!!"

Folashade and Halima moved silently towards the conversation. They were excited.

"And a free ticket to the Bahamas for the holidays?... Wow!!"

Amanda kept thinking... "This life is not balanced" This was a real test of her faith.