Must Read: The Devil Who Loved Me

7 years ago

Must Read: The Devil Who Loved Me

As instructed, nobody disturbed me in the
room, I was curled in bed like a cat. I wondered
what they were doing with the corpses lying in
the parlor. Eli’s face was still haunting me. In as
much as I hated him and was glad that he was
dead. Murder was best imagined and not seen,
from how loud the gun was, to the tongue and
eyes…the brain matter on my body ,grey with
flecks of blood. The only thing Toun said after I
finished narrating my tale was “Thank God”..
Jafar’s house was isolated at Aiyegbami, so
whenever cars approached, they were clearly
perceptible. There were a lot of cars that
approached the compound that night. Then the
sounds stopped, I started hearing people
hitting objects on bottles. Out of fear I ran
outside of the room, the corpse was still there…
the guys could here the bottles too…but they
weren’t perturbed. I saw Jafar sit all alone, I
ignored him and went to look through the
window. The guys I saw outside were more than
fifty, around their head was a white piece of
cloth..Soon divided into two columns, then
Orisa walked to the front..
Orisa: Jafar!
Jafar walked outside to meet him..
Me: are you guys crazy! Wont you go and
protect him?
They did not answer me, so I ran outside to
stand beside Jafar…
Jafar: Orisa!…

Orisa walked up to Jafar and brought out a
bottle of Schnapps and two tiny cups…
Orisa: we come in peace…
They both took two gulps with the cup…
Jafar : you are welcome…
Orisa: the bodies?
Jafar: well and Gallant…
Orisa: thank you.
Jafar’s men had formed two files from the parlor
to the edge of the veranda. Orisa’s men
continued the file to a bus that was parked.
Then one after the other, the three bodies of
Eli’s fallen men were carried between the files
to the bus. Eli’s body was the last to be carried,
Jafar and Orisa were the ones that carried it. As
they passed through the file, Jafar’s men on
each side bowed down, when they got to where
Orisa’s men were, they started hitting their
bottles again…they continued until the body
was dropped in the bus..
The guys on both sides exchanged drinks, and
in no time…they were gone..
For three days I kept to myself, I only left the
room when I wanted to eat. The house had
been cleaned, even the parlor was re-painted.
Uche came back earlier than expected, with a
sling on one hand though. We all spent time
with him in his room.
A carpenter came around to fix all the locks and
replaced the broken windows, so I had all the
privacy I asked for. Jafar stayed in the same
room with Uche.

It was Monday and Toun was travelling out,
after calling her to wish her journey mercies
and all, I called Timi.
Timi: Hey
Me: how are you?
Timi: I heard about Eli, guess we have some
closure now..
Me: how about we hang out?
Timi: sure..i will be in town tonight…lets meet
at Belle..
Me: thanks..
My face was back to normal, the bluish red
marks had disappeared, I still had bouts of
headache but it was more manageable.
While Jafar came to take his bath, I told him
about meeting Timi..
Jafar: you don’t need to tell me, if you are
strong enough to go out, it is fine by me..
Me: How is Uche?
Jafar: He is good, he is grateful for the meals..
Me: that’s my pleasure..
Jafar: I heard school will be resuming next
Monday…
Me: that’s nice, I am glad this episode is over…I
will be going to Lagos on Thursday..
Jafar: that’s good..
Me: how are you, Jafar?

He put on the shower which put a premature
termination to our conversation.
Since he killed Jafar, my feelings for him had
changed, whenever I had a soft heart for him,
the images of Eli and the other guy’s flood my
brain and I just check out.
Timi was waiting in Belle when I got there, some
of the students who didn’t travel because of
violence where around too, things were getting
back to normal. He hugged me, after which we
climbed the atop the booth of his car…
Me: how have you been?
Timi: I have been fine..
Me: moved back to your house?
Timi: yes, so you actually saw the killings?
Me: I don’t want to talk about it..
Timi: excuse me lemme go and get our drinks
and two plates of Asun..
Me: I miss Asun!..Yay..
I saw Acho from a distance; he greeted me and
continued his discussion with the guys he was
with…

Timi: so how is Jafar?
He handed me the a cup and a plate of Asun..
Me: He is good…
Timi: how are you guys?….the relationship…
Me: we are having some issues now though, I
rather not talk about that one too..
Timi: It’s okay, whenever you want to talk about
it, I will be around..
Me: thanks..
Timi: I am going to miss Toun..
Me: me too, I hope she gets back soon…
Timi: I miss you too Nkem…
Me: Awwwwww…
Timi: I am still inlove with you…
Me: oh..Timi..
Timi: Let’s work it out, you belong with me..
Me: Timi don’t start…
He moved closer to me and threw his hand
around my shoulder..
Timi: I know you have started missing me and
you want us back…stop forming o…
He smiled as he spoke, exposing his beautiful
dentition. There and then, I thought of Jafar,
the ugly images came but so also the fact that
he was there for me always. And even as I was
shutting him out of my life, he was still there for
me, taking care of me. Risked his life for me…

shared things with me that he wouldn’t have
shared with anyone…
Me: I am not forming o…
Timi: you mean you also want us back
together?
Me: No, I mean I am still inlove with Jafar..
Timi: hmmmm
Me: I think I should leave now, we didn’t part
well this morning…
Timi: finish your Asun..
Me: I can’t..i am filled…
Timi: can I drop you off?
Me: don’t worry Timileyin, I will fly a bike…hang
out with your guys around…
He hugged me as we said our goodbyes..