Episode three
Lizzy detests Saturdays. For her it meant washing, cooking and cleaning the house. Her mother, a business woman must go to her shop. The responsibility of everything falls on her.
She struggled to leave the bed. She was tired because she spent the night browsing.
Tunde had given her his phone to use. She had switched it off then tied it in a nylon before hiding it in the bag of rice in the kitchen, waiting for her parents to sleep.
There was no way anyone would suspect that a phone is hidden there.
The moment her parents had settled for the night, she retrieved the phone and started browsing till 5am when the battery died, then hid it under her pillow.
That morning, as she stepped into the sitting room, she found her parents and siblings waiting for her. The phone was on the table. Lizzy opened her mouth wide, in surprise. Her parents didn't wait for her to greet before questioning her.
"I didn't buy a phone for you. So tell me where you got it from?" Patrick asked showing her the phone.
"From my classmate. I...I ...needed to do an assignment"
"Did you ask for our phones and we didn't give you?"
"No dad"
"Alright. Go back to your room, dress up and take me to that friend that gave you the phone"
"No daddy!. Please dad, I will return it myself".
"Don't worry. We will return it together. I want to see that your friend's face".
Lizzy went to her room and sat on the bed trembling. She was afraid of what her father would do to her or her friend.
"I am waiting" She heard her dad say.
She changed her clothes and returned to her parents in the sitting room.
Tunde's house was a 20mins walk from her house. As they walked, Lizzy prayed she just handed over the phone to him without any squimirsh from her father. She saw some of her friends on the way, but she could not wave at them.
It was at the front of Tunde's compound they met him about to go into the compound. He was holding a big nylon containing loaves of big bread.
"Tunde" Lizzy called.
Tunde paused and greeted Patrick.
"I learnt you gave Lizzy a phone"
"Yes sir"
"Alright. Please don't ever give her such again"
"Okay sir"
"If you try it, you won't like what I will do to you. I will prefer if you stay out of her way. Even if she ask for your phone or anything, don't give her."
Turning to Lizzy, he said:
"Of all students in your class, you prefer a boy abi?. So there are no girls in your class that you can play with. If I ever see you near him again, you will be in trouble " he warned.
The phone was handed over to Tunde who quickly opened the gate and rushed in.
At home, Lizzy's parents reprimanded her again.
"And if such repeat itself, I will deal severely with you. Why is it difficult for you to obey simple instruction. Do you even know if that phone was stolen?"
Lizzy apologized and promised never to disobey her parents again.
Throughout the day, she threw tantrum when her parents left home. She transferred the aggression to her younger ones. She blamed herself for not hiding the phone in a more secured place after using it.
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It was Monday, Tunde was angry with Lizzy and so he refused to talk to her. Lizzy tried all means to get his attention but she couldn't.
"I am sorry. I didn't know my parents will see it. I hid it under the pillow" She had told him during break.
For the first time in months, Tunde was mad at her. He didn't tell her she was beautiful as usual. He didn't buy her snacks or sit with her during break. She felt all alone. Everyone in her class noticed Tunde was angry with her. They wanted to know but she refused to tell and Tunde too kept a sealed lips.
When she got home, she felt bad and couldn't concentrate. She did her house chores clumsily and them told her siblings she was coming.
"Where are you going to?" Oghenemine asked.
"It's none of your business where I am going to. I just want to rush out and rush in,"
"Ese, you didn't tell dad or mum you will be going out when you return from school. What if that finds out? You know he will be unhappy with you."
Lizzy smiled.
"Of course I will be home before our parents return."
She left her siblings at home and rushed to Tunde's house. Tunde wasn't home.
"He will be home soon. He went to get a haircut" Tunde's elder brother told her.
Lizzy contemplated whether to wait for him or return home. She didn't want the friction between them to linger, so she decided to wait for him.
"Come in then" Tolu said.
Lizzy had never entered inside the compound before. It was the first time she saw the beautiful flowers in the compound.
Tunde had always told her his parents are rich, but now she believes. The house itself was beautiful, well decorated and furnished.
"Make yourself comfortable" He told her. I am his elder brother.
"Alright,"
Lizzy sat on one of the chairs and settled her gaze on the program on the television.
Tolu returned with a glass and five alive juice. Lizzy thanked him and poured it in the glass. She sipped the juice without noticing that Tolu had locked the entrance door and removed the key.
"Do you like the film?" Tolu asked.
"Yes" She said smiling.
"How long have you known Tunde?" He asked.
"About eight month now. He is one of the best in the class. He is really helping me in some of my subjects"
"Wow!. Good to hear. He has never told me that he has a beautiful classmate" He said leaving his seat and taking the seat nearest to her. Lizzy only smiled.
"You are really beautiful"
"Oh thank you. Tunde always say so"
Tolu laughed.
"My brother has eyes for good things"
He left his seat and joined her on the long settee. He placed his hands on Lizzy's lap and started caressing it. Lizzy removed his hand quickly and stood up abruptly.
"I...I.. can't wait for him any longer. It's getting late. My parents will be home soon" She said.
"Alright"
Lizzy got to the door and discovered it was locked.
"Please come and open the door"
"I can't do that!"
"Why?"
Tolu would not answer. He took the remote control from the table and increased the television's volume. Lizzy's heart began to pound.
"I really need to go now" She said again.
This time she began to panic.