TEMPTED SOUL

“What is the problem? Why are you following me around? I hope I am safe.” I asked the young, pretty girl when she approached me face-to-face. She was smiling. Her hair looked like something that had not been plaited for ages. I could perceive an unpleasant odour oozing out from the blue gown she was putting on. I felt uncomfortable standing with her, but then I didn’t have a choice.

“Yes, you’re safe,” she whispered.

“So, what is the problem? How may I help you, please?” I inquired. She kept smiling. I didn’t know what was really funny, though, and the reason she was smiling.

“I just want to... I just wanted to..to..” She stammered and started biting her fingernails like a village champion. One of those village champions who they just brought to the city recently. To me, this wasn’t funny at all.

“Please, speak up. I need to go home quickly and I do not have much time to waste.” I muttered in curiosity.

She finally spoke up: “I just want to let you know that you are beautiful. I like you, and I will like to be like you.” At that moment, a smile escaped from my lips. I could feel my heart dancing in joy again.

“Thank you for your compliment. That means a lot to me.” I chuckled. We discussed for a few minutes after she mentioned that her name was Chioma. I was like, “Ah, we are from the same tribe. I was even shocked to hear her speak my dialect fluently.

She started begging as tears filled her eyes. “Please, I want you to help me. I really need a job. I am willing to do whatever it takes to put food on the table for me and my mother. We are passing through a lot. We don’t even have a roof to stay on.” When I saw the tears rolling down her cheeks, I felt really sorry for her and her mother.

“So where do you people stay?” I was shocked to hear that they didn’t have a place to stay. “We sleep inside the wood market. As I said, it hasn’t been easy for us. My uncle illegally took away everything that my father ever worked for. He accused my mother of the death of my father and kicked us out of the house.” Her story was sad to hear.

Besides, the wood market was a place the Mallams slaughtered their cows before taking them to the main market. The smell that always comes out of the market is not the kind of smell someone can bear. So I wondered how these people managed to sleep there and feel comfortable while also living a healthy life.

I told Chioma, “I will see what I can do to save you and your poor mother from this situation. I don’t have money because I am still a student, but I will try my best to help you and your mother. First, you need to give me time. Let me discuss it with my elder brother, and I believe with a Godly heart he will listen to me,” I assured Chioma, who was now my new friend in the city.

Since I landed my feet on the soil of the city of Mba, I haven’t made a girlfriend. Chioma seemed nice, and I pitied their situation. I told her I would come back to her within the week for feedback. The following day was going to be a big market day where all the people in the city would go to the big market and buy things in full stock. Every tom and dick had a busy day ahead of them.

Due to the situation, I found in Chioma, I’ve already counted the money which I was going to use for the market the following day. I pulled out some money from it and handed it over to her. I didn’t budget for this. I know I was not supposed to touch the money because it doesn’t belong to me, but I did it because of the act of kindness from my heart. I’ve saved up some money in my account. I was going to withdraw from my account and replace it.

I said, “Use this to get food, plait your hair, get new clothes, and keep some.” She went on her knees, sobbing warm tears and thanking me for what I’d done for her. She was sobbing tears of joy, and I understood her feelings. “Stop crying. If the world seemed to reject you, God will never reject you, and you should be thanking God, not me.” I held her up.

She left and returned immediately, handing me a white piece of paper containing a phone number. “Please, you can reach out to me through the number. God will bless you and keep you safe from evil hands.” She muttered heartily as I took the piece of paper, put it inside my backpack, and left.

When I got home that evening, all I did was think about Chioma and not about my good result or how I was going to buy goods the following day in the market. My mother and elder brother were so glad to hear about my good performance. “I am always proud of you. Believe me, someday you will take over the mantle of power of this great nation,” Brother Okechi commended. My mother, too, was the most joyous person on earth that evening.

Because I was still thinking about Chioma, her condition bothered me a lot. I wanted to discuss it with my brother so that he could provide an apartment for them and she could manage the shop when I finally got admitted to the university. A lot of things flashed through my mind. Unfortunately, my brother went into his room and slept off due to work stress, so I never bothered him anyway.

When I wanted to sleep, a text message popped out on the screen of my phone, and I checked. It was Alfonso, of all people. I was shocked after reading his text message.

“I am deeply disappointed in you. Why did you choose to hurt my heart now? You promised to love me. Why did you choose to show me the other part of you? You are heartless. I am texting you to let you know that I also have a bad part of me. You’ve just stepped on the toe of a lion. Because you’ve refused to grant me my heart's desire, take note that I am coming for you. Remember the meaning of my name, ‘ready’. I am always ready to strike into action and spare no blood.”

I tried to call him so that he could explain the meaning of what he had just texted me, but he declined my calls and blocked my line. What was really wrong with him? I think Alfonso must be going insane to text me such senseless words.

That night left me in awe, and my heart beat like a drum. What will I even do to save myself from this situation? Why would he want to endanger my dream? Was it by force to help someone? Was it by force to love someone? Why all these temptations? What the heck?