Secrets #Episode 1

What are you hiding?

We all have something we are hiding. I have lots of them and so does the person playing in front of me; across the table, in the next building and even the person sitting right beside me.

we all have secrets!

"I can't help you if you don't talk?" Mama said, I sat beside her peeling melon on the verandah

"Where were you last night?" She asked

"In bed... Sleeping"

"Whose bed?" She looked at me

"Mine, who else?" I shrugged

"Really! So why didn't you open the door when I knocked?"

"You knocked..." I was alarmed "I didn't hear"

"Really?" Mama nodded.

My younger sister, Shikemi, sat few feets away playing with her dolls.

"I banged your door really hard o, Titi"

"I really, didn't hear. I was very tired yesterday"

"I thought so too, but I was scared something else might have happened"

"Ah-ah, why... Nothing happened" I cut in

"Really? Thank God, but something weird happened?"

"Ehn-en, what?" I shivered within

“I got the spare key and entered your room”

“You did?” I rose in shock, turning over the tray of melon shells, uncoated ones and the melon itself to the floor.

"Look what you've done!" Mama shouted

"I'm sorry ma" I curtseyed

 "what's wrong with you ehn? Your body has been shaking since"

"I'm sorry ma" I curtseyed again

"Shikemi, come and help me pick this Melon" I Beckoned on my sister.

"No, leave her alone... You will pick it alone and that's after we are done talking"

My hands became moist with sweat, my forehead beaded with the drops as I shivered within

"Why are you shivering?" Mama asked, looking really calm

"Oya sit down" she instructed.

And I promptly did

"As I was saying.... I got the spare key and entered your room..."

I started to bite my nails. My head sampled thoughts, excuses and alibis. I couldn't just tell mama were I went.  She'd kill me.

"Titi!"

"Ma?" I startled

"Did you hear my question?"

"No ma... I wasn't paying attention"

"Hmm..." Mama chuckled, stamping her right foot

"I will ask you this last tine and you'd better not lie to me. In whose bed did you sleep last night?"

Last night I was in no one’s bed. Jay-jay's birthday was last night. All the girls were going. Nana said Sadiq will be coming too.

Sadiq the most handsome boy in the class and the whole school.

I have always liked Sadiq, he was just too perfect, his nose narrow, with a fair spotless skin. He was every April Flower school girl's dream.

If Sadiq would be there I have to. 

Sadiq never paid attention to me, despite my many efforts to get him. He was always serious in class with his books. A favorite of the teachers. Did I mention he's the top student in SS3?

Since everyone was going. I never thought twice why Sadiq wouldn't. Yes, he was a book worm, so? Every worm has a wee period.

I agreed to meet Nana at the bus stop closest to my house at 9:15pm. So last night, I ate early, did my chores and feigned to be having a headache. 

Mama gave me paracetamol which I chewed as usual to convince her of how much my headache.

Baba was not home, he always comes back late and sometimes not at all.

We were used to not having him around even though mama makes excuses for him that he was very busy with work.

I stuffed a green glittering short gown, I had bought after school in my bag, I put my shoes and make up in. All this mama must not know I have. She wouldn't even let me use lip gloss.

The moment I heard her footstep coming up the stairs and I heard her room door close, I quickly locked my door and left through the back door.

Mama wouldn't know, she usually leaves it open in case Baba comes home late.

The party.

Nana and I arrived 10 minutes past 10pm. 

The music in the hall was very loud and the disco lights gave room for nothing to be seen.

Nana and I walked to the bar and I asked for coke. Nana laughed as the bar man looked at me in awe.

"Nah chapman dey?" He said, his face stern with a deep scar on his forehead that extends to the bridge of his nose

"Give us" Nana said.

I only took one gulp and I knew I had taken something that was neither chapman nor appropriate for my age... I couldn't remember the rest of the events.

I know I managed to get home before dawn and lucky for me it was a weekend mama let me sleep in maybe cause of my supposed headache

"Are you deaf?" Mama rose in anger, as her wrapper loosen.

I started to exhale at intervals, my knees felt weak.

"I... I... I..." I stammered.

"If you don't talk now, I will call Baba Ruka for you".

Baba Ruka was our neighbor, a retired military man. When mama needs someone to discipline myself or my other siblings it was him she called.

 We literally grew up knowing Baba Ruka as a father.

"I... I slept at Nana's place..." I Muttered.

"Nana's place right? Good."

"Why didn't you tell me you would be? Instead of sneaking out" Mama calmed down,

I couldn't believe she bought the story. "How easy was that?" I thought.

"I'm sorry mama, I thought you won't let me, and I wanted a sleep over" I apologized

"So? even if I didn't agree yesterday, I Would have done so another time, instead of sneaking out late at night alone. What if something had happened to you...?"

"I'm sorry ma" I knelt down and apologized.

My mother was a gentle woman, she rarely spanked us. She played more of the good parent than the disciplinarian. 

I wouldn't blame her she was both the father and mother. Actually Baba was not there.

Monday.

"Titi, you this girl? How are you?" Nana greeted as we hugged

"I'm fine, I didn't know you have experience o" She remarked.

"On what?" I looked puzzled

"Don't pretend jor, you're officially the most talked about student in April Flower School. Na you dey reign now" she hailed, I could see students pointing in my direction, some looking disgusted

'What do you mean?" I stamped my feet in eagerness to know

"Don't tell me you don't remember the details of Friday night?"

"I don't... I said I'd ask sef?"

"Ow!" She said in amazement

"Then you don’t need to know anything" she added

"What do you mean...?" I snapped. 

"Tell me?"

She pulled out her phone and showed me something that still puzzled me, up until I was surrounded to the principal's office the following week.

I had gotten drunk from the one drink and I stripped to my skin, dancing on a table while everyone watched and videoed me.

Mama was called to school, she was so embarrassed and disappointed.

 With pleads from mama and Baba Ruka who drove her over, the principal gave me 30days suspension.

To be continued...