Agony of beauty episode 3

Agony of beauty
Episode 3
Since that time, Mr Badmus started being very nice to me. He would shower me with lots of gifts ranging from clothes to shoes, bags, earrings and hair accessories, etc all in a bid to silence me. I always refused the gifts but he would insist and would dump them on my bed. I kept every single item of the gifts in the wardrobe in my room. I know a time would come, that those gifts would serve as an evidence that will make people believe my story.
Three weeks later, I noticed that I didn’t see my menstrual flow . At first, I thought it came a bit late but when it was about eight days after, I was alarmed. Could I be pregnant? I was so scared. I had no one I could confide in so I waited for an opportunity to tell Mr Badmus one on one. My Aunt had bought me a phone already, so that I could use in communicating with them when I resume fully at school but I didn’t want to risk calling or sending Mr Badmus a text so as not to ar-use suspicions from Aunty Tope if she ever stumbled on my number on her husband’s phone.
The chance to talk to him finally came two days later. We all just ate dinner and were watching a programme on the T.V in the living room. Aunty Tope said she was tired and would like to go to bed. Her husband told her he would join her in some minutes. I said good night to Aunty Tope as she made her way to the bedroom.
I waited for some minutes to be sure my Aunt was out of ear shot, then I whispered fiercely to Badmus.
‘I missed my period’ ‘What!? He nearly shouted and quickly kept his voice down.
‘How did that happen?’
‘What kind of question is that?’ I snapped.
‘I am 16 years old and I know what it meant to miss one’s period, you see what you have done to my life? I started sobbing.
‘Ssshhhhhhhh! I will take care of that’, he replied.
‘What is your plan?’ I asked. ‘We will get rid of it.’ He announced effortlessly. ‘Get rid of what?’ I nearly scre-med. ‘The pregnancy of course’, he affirmed. I looked at him and I felt like tearing him to pieces. ‘I hate you!’ I cried…
And that was it. Badmus succeeded in terminating my pregnancy. He gave me two pills to swallow the next day. Hours later, I had a flow of fresh red blood accompanied with pains. That was how I had an abortion at 16 years.
I gradually lost my self esteem and all the confidence I once had in myself. All my dreams seemed to be fading away. I became a shadow of myself day after day.
I toyed with the idea of running away but to where? I had no clue. I thought about the Pastor of our church, the church which I did attend with Mr and Mrs Badmus. Will the Pastor believe me? Mr Badmus was a fervent Sunday School teacher in the church. I dismissed the idea outrightly and concluded that I would endure till I earn my first degree.
Day after day, I lived with the pain and regret of the abortion I committed. I w-t my pillow with tears every single night. I felt my life diminishing before my very eyes.
I thought about my Mum. Poor mother, she would be sure her darling daughter is still a V-rgin till now. I shivered at the thought of my Mum coming to know the truth. Would she survive it?
About nine days later, I resumed fully at the University. Aunty Tope took me in her car to the motor garage where I boarded a bus. She helped me load my belongings into the back of the bus and waited till the bus was ready to move. I baded her farewell as tears clouded my eyes. I had a mixed feeling of joy and pain. Joy, because I would no longer have to see Badmus day after day, and pain, because I would miss Aunty Tope. How beautiful would it have been if Aunty Tope had married someone else. I would definitely always look forward to coming home from school. We waved to each other continuously till she was out of sight….
 
I did very well in my academics right from my first semester in 100 level. Becky and Wuraola were the only friends I had. I was very serious with my lectures. I joined a fellowsh¡p on campus and was so devoted to God’s service. My Aunt was very supportive all the way. She sent me money for my upkeep at intervals.Each time I came home to spend the holidays, Mr Badmus always seized every single opportunity he could get to have s€× with me whenever my Aunt wasn’t around but he never succeeded.
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We soon got through with packing my luggage after my friends lent me a helping hand. Becky lifted my mattress and found my Diary underneath.
‘Here, take this, you will need it during this holiday, make sure you take record of every fun you catch and share the gist with us when we see again’ . I hastily collected the diary from her.’ Thanks Becky.’
Of course, I need the diary, it contains every of my secrets. That was where I recorded each encounter I had with Badmus. None of my friends had ever read it before because I kept it where no one could easily have access to it.
We got to the park, bade ourselves goodbye and we each entered the bus that would take us to our different homes to spend a jolly holiday. I got home at about some minutes past seven in the evening. I knocked on the door and Mr
Badmus opened it with a broad smile on his face.
‘Welcome home Beauty, it’s good to have you back.’
‘Thanks’, I grumbled. ‘Where is my Aunt? ‘
‘She is still at the market.’
I lifted my luggage and went straight to my room.
I was at alert in case Badmus wanted to make a move as usual. I sat on my bed and said a few words of prayer, thanking God for journey mercies. I was removing my shoes when the door was suddenly opened. Badmus of course, I knew he would come, so I was ready this time.
I have gathered enough courage to fight back. He came in bearing a plate in his hands which contained peeled oranges. ‘Take this and relax while I go prepare dinner. ‘Since when did you start serving me in this house? Please leave my room!’ I thundered.
Heeeeeeeenh? So, you have grown wings ehn? Are you really talking to me?
‘Yes you! Please leave right now!’ He placed the plate of oranges in his hands on the stool beside my bed, then grabbed me by the neck and flung me to the bed. I didn’t scre-m this time around, I was ready for self defence. I fought back fiercely and got free from his hold. I immediately reached for the glass plate which contained the oranges and hit him on the head with it. ‘Yeeeeeeeeeee! My head, he shouted and sank into the bed.
I quickly picked my shoes and hand bag.
‘This time, you have had it to the fullest, I must speak to someone about this’ I scre-med as I ran out of the room.
‘You will regret it’, he shouted after me. I didn’t answer him. As far as I was concerned, an end must come to this victimization tonight. I ran out of the house and headed straight to the Church building, which was about three streets away from our house. ‘I must see Pastor tonight’, I reassured myself as I ran along…
 
Luckily for me, I met one of the Ushers in the Church premises. I told him I needed a description of the Pastor’s house because I must see him urgently. He gave me the description, thank goodness the house was not far away from Church. I also collected Pastor’s phone number from him in case I didn’t meet anyone at his residence. I thanked him and off I went.
I arrived at Pastor’s house some minutes past eight that evening and fortunately for me, I met both the Pastor and his wife . I did a brief introduction of myself as Mrs Badmus’s niece. They both welcomed me and I went straight to business.
I narrated my story from the beginning. How Badmus defiled me when I was 10 and all my encounter with him since I arrived at Jos till that very evening. I dipped my hand into my bag and brought out my diary which contained every single detail of what happened with dates and time. I also told them that I still have all the gifts he bought for me in,side my wardrobe as evidences. I kept them all, I didn’t tamper with any of them.
Pastor and his wife were both astonished. They kept shouting Jesus! over and over again. ‘Why did it take you so long to speak out?’ Pastor’s wife asked.
‘I was so much afraid of his threats ma and besides, I thought no one would believe me, I cried.
‘It’s alright daughter.
All will be well’, Pastor consoled me and told me to go home that they would join me in a jiffy.
I went home and just as I was about to knock at the door, I heard the following conversation between my Aunt and her husband.
‘Where is Beauty?’ Aunty Tope asked.
‘She came home not quite long and later went out without telling me her whereabouts and besides Honey, there is something I have always wanted to tell you about Beauty’
‘Yes Dear, what is it? I hope she didn’t offend you’
Mr Badmus continued, ‘In fact, it is a real offence. Do you know that Beauty has been sed-cing me since she entered this house? I just kept silent about it because I do not want to ruin your family ties. When she came home this evening, she demanded that I must sleep with her today before you return from the market. When I refused, she left the house angrily.
‘What?!’ Aunty Tope scre-med in horror. I threw my two hands on my head where I stood outside the door and wept quietly. Human beings are so wicked! I silently prayed that Pastor should arrive on time.
‘You don’t mean what you just said Badmus’, my Aunt countered him.
‘I know it will be so hærd for you to believe Honey,’ Badmus continued. But did you notice that we two hærdly talk in this house. I mean myself and Beauty?
I never liked her. That girl is wayward. I do not want her to take me away from my wife and destroy my marriage, so if you value this union so much, it’s better you send her back to wherever she came from.’
Jesus! My Aunt exclaimed, it is true that I noticed you both hærdly talk in this house. Ha! I am finished…’
I could not bear it any longer, I bit my l-ips hærd and knocked at the door.
‘Who is that?’ Aunty Tope shouted angrily. I have never heard her sound that way before.
It is Beauty, I responded and opened the door. I stepped in and greeted my Aunt. Before I could say anything further, she landed a hot slap on my face…
 
Tbc