It was a set up episode 6
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IT WAS A SET UP (EPISODE 6)
The guy took a keen look at me as he and his friend walked to Dr Mike’s office
“I wonder when he will graduate” I said
“I learn he has been here for more than fifteen years”
“Fifteen years? Maybe he is being paid for being a student”
We both laughed
Days later, we started hearing rumors of how Dr Mike was planning to deal with us
I was scared
Two weeks later, we had a call from our Head of Department (HOD)
There was a letter ordering us to appear before the school’s disciplinary committee in two days time
“Linda, I am finished. What will we do?”
“Happy finishing”, she said
We went home that day before the end of lectures
On getting home, Linda locked herself in the bedroom for hours
She was making calls, though I did not hear what she was saying
The number of calls Linda received within those two days were amazing
Later that evening, a man came in a Toyota Prado SUV and handed Linda a big brown envelope
That was the first time I saw someone coming to look for Linda
She collected the envelop and went to her room without saying a word
I wanted to ask who that was, but she did not even look at me
Linda can be so mean sometimes.
Whenever she entered ghost mood, she would say nothing to anyone.
So I respected my boundary.
After we had dinner that night, I asked her about that man.
“Who was that man and what did he give you?”
“He is a friend and whatever he gave me was mine”
“Ok. Can we talk about this case? How are we going to handle it? I am scared”
“Well, I am not”
She went to her room and brought a bottle of wine.
“This will go well with the discussion” she said.
She dropped the bottle on the table as I went for glasses.
When I returned, she was on call.
I picked few lines from the call.
The caller was her father, or supposedly her father
She was smiling and calling him “Daddy”
‘What a lovely family she had’, I thought
“Was that your father?”, I asked as she dropped the call
“How well do you know me?” she countered my question
“Not much. I know you’re from Rivers State”
“I am not from Rivers State. My mother is from Rivers. I grew up with my mum in Rivers. I am from Ekiti”
“Then I don’t think I know you much. How can I know you when you hærdly talk to me?”
“I’m sorry about that. The fact is that I don’t like people to know me much. I don’t like drawing undue attention to myself. But your Dr Mike will not let me be”
“So Mike has now become “my Dr Mike”. No wahala, but na your Sugar Daddy oo”
We both laughed
“Sugar Daddy that cannot buy an iphone, is that one a Sugar Daddy?”
“That reminds me. The other day you said you can pay Mike’s salary with ease for ten years. How”
She smiled and took a sip of her wine.
“Please drink. Forget Mike. He is not worth discussing here”
“Ok. So how do we handle this case? I am scared”
“Stop getting scared lest you pee on the couch” she burst into laughter.
“Stop scorning me. It was not intentional”
“I am not scorning you my dear. I am just saying you should
locate the restroom next time. I can’t imagine you actually peed on your p-nts out of fear. A man like you”
“This one no be man matter ooo. The wh0le school now thinks we stole the phone”, I said
“There is no point being scared here. As long as we did not steal his phone”
“So what are we going to say at the panel?”
“I don’t know. We will just say what they want us to say. Just be bold and answer whatever you will be asked. That’s all”
She took another sip, then continued
“By the way, I think you should keep staying here till this wh0le thing is over”
“Thanks. But have you told your father about this?”
“Yes I have”
“What did they say?”
“Nothing”
At that point I became more confused.
Linda did not want me to know much about her family and I stopped bothering.
“This is a Federal University. It belongs to the Federal Government. So nobody has the monopoly of intimidation”, she said
I was no longer interested in the discussion
I was thinking of the kind of person Linda was
‘Why was she not moved?’, I thought
“I must graduate from this school, and there is nothing anybody can do about it. Not even the so called Dr Mike”, she concluded as she poured more wine into her glass and went to her room.
I was left alone in the sitting room
My mind took me to the imaginary panel we were going to face in two days time.
Naturally, I am not an outspoken man. I still remain an introvert
I don’t like appearing before a crowd, even till now
The thought of standing before those people made me lose weight
I did not know when I went spiritual
“Father, I know I am a sinner. Please don’t hide your face from me. I have tried to live a life in accordance with your word. Please, I beg of courage. Even if it is a quarter of the one you gave Linda. You know I did not do it. I am not a thief. Remember my sick mother at home. I cannot afford to go back home either from school or from jail. Please grant my request as I come to you through….”
Before I could conclude the little prayer, Linda came out from the bedroom and said: “Dress up, we are going out now”, and returned to her room almost immediately
“To where?”, I asked
“Don’t worry, I am not Dr Mike. You are saved.” She echoed from the bedroom
“But it’s getting late”
“I said you should not worry”
I got confused, but part of my mind told me to trust her
I put on my shirt sluggishly and waited for her
About ten minutes later, she came out from the bedroom
“How do I look?”, she asked
I turned to look at her, but I could not recognize her any longer.
I lost my voice.
Her beauty that night was more than enough to cause a serious war between two countries.
I had never seen such beauty in her.
Maybe Dr Mike did.
She looked like a mermaid in her full glory.
Her wrist watch was pure gold with a few diamond stones.
Her gown cost so much fortune.
She had a diamond hand bag and a pair of shoes to match.
Her weavon was close to her wa-ist.
I was wondering how rich and beautiful she was, yet so humble.
“Hello ooo”, her voice broke my reverie.
“Yes, you are very beautiful”, I muttered.
She smiled and added: “Let’s go. Someone is waiting outside.”
© Ezekiel Umoren