Must Read: The Devil Who Loved Me

Episode 7 years ago

Must Read: The Devil Who Loved Me

I realised what Timi had been telling me was
the best thing to do. I couldn’t just shack up
here with this guys, so I packed my things and
planned to tell Jafar that I would have to leave
his apartment and remain incognito till he all
these sorted out. Since most students had left,
the Town sounded a tad quieter. So when the
volks-wagon with loud speakers on it that
advertised local herbs around Ago-iwoye was
passing by, it was pretty loud…when it came
closer, I realized I was wrong. My heart started
beating fast, it wasn’t a volks-wagon, and the
speakers were blaring something I was very
familiar with…


“TANA…..TOLO…..TANA….TOLO….TANA….TOLO”
I locked the door in the room, I could hear the
guys in the living room but that gave me little
solace. I picked up my phone to call Jafar, but
he didn’t pick up…I called Timi..
Timi: whatsup…?
Me: I am fine..i think Eli is in Ago..around the
house
Timi: How did you know that?
Me: I just know!…i am scared..
Timi: I am in Ijebu-Ode now, I will come to town
very soon..
Me : thanks, hurry!..

I could still hear the sound, I hoped I was
getting crazy. My phone rang, it was Jafar.
Jafar: sorry, I missed your call..
I explained everything to him, he told me the
lock myself in and not open the door for anyone
except I hear his voice or Uche’s.

After he hung up, I dashed to the kitchen and
picked up the sharpest knife I saw, I went back
to the room and locked myself in.

When I heard someone knocking my door, 20
minutes later, and my heart was almost in my
mouth. Then I heard his voice, telling me he
was the one.

As soon as I saw him, I jumped at him, he was
quick to carry me and regain his balance or we
would have fallen, I caught a whiff of brandy
under his breathe.
Jafar : I brought supper, fish and wine…would
you like to eat with me in my room?
Me: yes..

He carried me inside his room, I was a frown
woman and all, but I didnt mind being carried.

Not even with the other guys staring at me.

He la!d me down on his centre rug and lay
down beside me, we were both facing his
ceiling with our backs to the ground.
Jafar : if you are scared, you can sleep in my
room tonight, are you scared?
Me: will you be sleeping here too?
Jafar: yes..
Me: I am scared..
Me: tell me how it started
Since the fish was peppery, we sat up and
rested our backs against the wall. The air-
conditioner was on, so he tossed me a blanket
to cover my folded legs. I had earlier sent Timi a
text not to come for me.
Jafar: how what started?
Me: how you joined a confraternity
Jafar: you really want me to bore you?
Me: I can’t ask you about how the thingy with
Eli is going, at least I can ask you this one..

He looked at me, I looked back with an
encouraging smile.
Jafar : I was approached by some guys while I
was shooting pool in the permanent site, one
guy and Eli, they said I should leave the
snooker table for them. The friend I was with
left me there, he didn’t want their problem. Eli
and his friend asked me if I was mad and didn’t
know I should do as I was told. I wasn’t just in
the mood for rubbish that day, so once again I
ignored them. After threatening me for a while,
they asked me for my number, I declined. Eli
gave me his and said I should call them
whenever I wanted to, that I was the kind of
person they were looking for. I forget about the
encounter until one evening like that. There is
this girl I had been seeing, a Jambito like
myself. I didn’t know she was dating another
guy that was a spirit-man. I was with the girl, a
200L student, when my door was forced open
kicks. Five guys entered the room with sticks.

They beat me black and blue that night. The
girl kept apologizing to the head of the team,
that I was just a guy she met at the campus.

After they left with the girl, I checked myself
into a hospital. Few weeks later, I tracked down
the guy. I went to his house and hoped to inflict
pain on him too but as I got in, I was
surrounded by more guys. They beating I got
the first time was nothing compared to this
one..

I couldn’t help myself, I started laughing. It was
the first time I laughed since Abayomi died.
Me: sorry for laughing..
Jafar laughed too, and filled my glass with more
wine..
Me: please continue
Jafar: so I checked back into the hospital, but
this time…I called Eli and explained everything
to him. It didn’t take long before more than a
dozen guys came into my ward. They were
looking deadly, infront of them was Eli. He told
them I would be taken care of, my bills and all.

He also promised me those guys will be dealt
with as soon as I got out.
Me: so when you were out of the hospital, you
guys went for them?
Jafar: Oh, yes we did. And it was a cool day.
Me: you and Eli were close?
Jafar: not really, but for about 2months, he was
my mentor, until he was booted out. The funny
thing is that he joined the group that he had
saved me from.
Me: wow…that was some story..
Jafar : you should sleep now..
Me: do you have any regrets being in a
confraternity?
Jafar: truthfully?
Me : Yes
Jafar : sometimes, when people use their
powers to oppress. But sometimes I am so glad.
We hae perpetual cases were we help people
get justice. For instance, a girl breaks u with
her boyfriend, and she tells him to pay her all
the money he owes her so she can write her
exams, he doesn’t, he beats her instead. She
reports to us, we appear at her boyfriend’s
place, he pays the next week. Or a lecturer is
using s*x as a medium for a pass, we visit his
wife…he adjusts. Plenty cases like that. But we
have bad eggs among us…plenty
unfortunately.
Me: do you have a girlfriend?
Jafar: is that part of it?
Me: just answer?
Jafar: no..though I have girls..
Me : why?
Jafar: because it’s not safe for them. The easiest
way to get to a guy is through his loved ones..
Me: true..
Jafar: how is Timi..?

I suppressed a giggle…the wine was working…
Me: Ijebu-ode
Jafar: good…you might need to go be with
him..
Me : why?
Jafar: Eli knows you are here…Eli is coming…
Me: then let’s leave together, find a new place..
Jafar: I am the leader of my group, I remain
here..