Sisterhood episode 39

TITLE: SISTERHOOD

AUTHOR: OGECHI ALABI

CHAPTER 39

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Esther was cruising in her final year. She was living the life. She moved back to the hostel in her second semester so it would be easier for her to attend extra classes and night classes. She was very happy with her life at that time.

One day, she went to Yaba market to buy her cosmetics. As she was walking to where she could get a bus to take back to campus, she heard her name. She was surprised. She turned to see who was calling her. It was Odion, a close friend of Jake. He seemed excited to see her. She looked different and he was impressed.

“I knew it was you by your walk. Girl, you have taken very good care of yourself. You look beautiful.”

“Odion, you don start. Thank you o. How you dey?” Esther asked him so he wouldn’t dwell on the topic.

“I dey. Your guy travel go outside. E tell you?”

“E tell me. Me and am no dey again.”

“I talk am. I know say something happen. Jake go down well. I wan come see you. Make we talk. E dey important.”

“Wetin happen? Wetin you wan discuss?”

“We no fit talk for road. If you dey free, we fit go sit down somewhere talk.”

Esther was curious. He sounded funny to her. She didn’t want to go but then he assured her they would go to a place of her choice. She agreed. They went to an eatery close to her university. She refused to order anything except a bottle of soft drink. Odion ordered and they talked.

Read – Sisterhood episode 38

“Your guy just come out of prison. Na long story. Jake no get sense. I tell am na you wey sabi take care of am. Why he go dey pursue other girls when him get gold. He no gree listen. Anyway, he is working on one or two things so he can come back to Nigeria.”

“How that one take affect me? Wetin concern me?”

“E wan follow you talk.”

“Talk about wetin?”

“Make I call am. Follow am talk. As I see you I remember say e talk say him lose your contact. That’s why I wan call am so both of you go talk.”

“Odion, tell Jake this ship sailed a long time ago. Na husband I dey find now no be boyfriend.”

“See me here now, I go marry you now now.”

They both laughed. She understood Odion was looking out for his friend. Before they left Odion asked for her phone. She gave it to him and he confirmed it was the number by calling her.

That evening, Jake called with a private number. He begged Esther not to end the call and asked her to please see him. He said he was flying back into the country with some ‘merchandise’ and if Esther agrees to see him, it will be successful.

“Why are you getting yourself involved in only illicit businesses? Why not something legit and you grow with it?”

“You are right but for me to do a legit business, I need capital. Just this trip will give me that but baby, you are my good luck charm. I can’t make this trip if you don’t give us a chance. I have changed, I am a different person. What I did to you and you handled calmly, I did to someone else and she made sure I suffered. It was by the grace of God that I survived. I will tell you everything when I get back. I am going shopping for you if you give me the go ahead. I am ready to take a blood oath with you. I swear, I will never treat you badly. I will be faithful to only you. You are the one that makes everything right with me. Please forgive me and give me a second chance. With this trip, I am set to be a billionaire. Just this trip and I will not need to work again. We will set up businesses and run them together. Think about it. I want to marry you. It is you I want.”

Esther was quiet. She had been celibate and had enjoyed being single. She missed having a lover but she had conditioned her mind to focus. Why then did Jake want to come back to her? What was special about her he didn’t find in other girls? Some of the ladies he dated were more beautiful than her so why did he keep coming back to her? He was her first and sometimes it confused her. It was only Efe she had an electrical sexual connection to and she never got to hear from him again. It hurt her to think Efe made peace with her and forgot about her.

“What do you say?” Jake asked.

“Jake, I’m not sure. If you come back successfully, we will talk.”

“I love you. I can never love another girl like you. I will be a billionaire and the girls that don’t deserve the wealth will come my way. You deserve it. I want to give everything to you. Please, forgive me. It is you I want.”

“Until then. Let me think about it.”

“I will call you tomorrow. I love you.”

Esther went through so many emotions as she sat where she was. Why did Jake come back? And now he was talking about marriage. He sounded serious. She felt good being desired by Jake. He always desired her.

Jake didn’t relent. He called her almost every blessed day. He even credited her account with a large amount of money that made her check three times to be sure. She believed he truly had bounced back. The tone of the conversation changed.

“I don’t want illicit businesses, I am uncomfortable with it. I would rather you come back with what you have and start over.”

“What I have isn’t much to start at that level. Baby, I sold the house. I didn’t want to but I would have spent a long time in jail. Now I need to return to Nigeria. I need money. If you support me on this one trip, I swear to you, I will go legit.”

“When are you coming back?”

“When are rounding up?”

“By July I should be through with everything.”

“Ok. I will come back about that time. It is just two months away. Can I ask a personal question?”

“What?”

“Do you have someone? If you do, end it with him before I come back. I don’t want to drag you with anyone.”

“What of you? Don’t you have over there?”

“Baby, it was a woman that set me up. I betrayed her by dating someone else. My pastor reminded me how blessed I was when I was with you. I have used the months since I came out to pray and free myself from the nonsense I was doing. I have changed. It is just you, baby. You haven’t answered my question.”

“There is nobody for you to be worried about.”

“No one?”

“Does it surprise you? I have what you lack, self control.”

“I am learning it. We will meet your family immediately after I return so I can declare my intentions.”

“Immediately? I have to serve first.”

“You will do that from my house and work in my company, our company. I am serious, you are my wife. I don’t want to hear stories when I get back. We have reconciled so we will respect each other.”

“I have heard.”

### read – Sxy house maid and the Dons episode 11

Immediately after their last papers, the four friends went out to celebrate. They had successfully passed through the university and had weathered the storms together. They had individually succeeded in their academic pursuits and their personal lives.

Funke was graduating with a first class and would get married in December. Ebuka couldn’t wait anymore. They were ready to tie the knot and face the future together. They had grown past their mistakes and ensured it would not happen again until they were married. Funke was confident about her success because she worked hard at it from day one.

Zainab was graduating with a second class upper. She was happy she could attain such academic height. Bashir was also very proud of her, he told her this every day they spoke. Their love had grown over the time they had been apart. He had constantly shown her he loved her. He also sent her money and other gifts. He sent it with love and she accepted them. He wanted them to get married immediately but she appealed for her to go for service before they tie the knot. He accepted.

Nkem clinched the title of the best graduating student in her department. She couldn’t believe it. She was able to achieve this because of her outstanding project. She chose a project topic which was untapped and with Demian’s help, she was able to gather materials to work with. She had an A on her project. No one had ever had such a high score in her department on a project for many years. It was amazing. She remained very close friends with Demian. He was coming back in December and he intended to stay longer than he did the last time. He planned on staying for a full month.

Esther graduated with a second class upper. She jubilated when her results were computed and she made it. She was so happy and proud of her achievement. She had grown and had been able to discover herself. She had shared Jake’s comeback with her friends and in the end, they advised it was her choice to make. For months, they had talked and he had been open and honest with her. He was still pushing for the marriage and she was considering it. Her only fear was his mission which she didn’t disclose to anyone.

After the beautiful dinner celebration, they submitted their details for NYSC posting to Funke who was to send them to uncle Tobi. They made a pact to remain friends forever and to always help each other whenever they were in need. They agreed to share each other’s joys and sorrows and do everything within their power to succeed to ensure they are all success stories.

As they left the university, they knew a new phase of life awaited them. They looked forward to it and were ready to face it.

TBC