MARIE'S HIGH - CHAPTER THIRTEEN

THE BAR CALL

Never in my life did I imagine something as terrible as this would happen to me. I thought my bar call was going to happen then. But unlike Lord Alfred Tennyson, I didn't have the strength and courage to face it. Besides, I wasn't in the position to look at my pilot eyeball to eyeball. I thought all hope was lost till a male figure, opened the door, and turned on the lights in the room. Instantly, I realized it was Loveboy, but didn't recognize the lady standing beside him.

"What the hell is going on here", He pulled Tony to a side and hit him in a bad spot.

"Loveboy, that's enough", I didn't want his violent act to lead to a tragedy.

"He has no right to treat you like this", Loveboy insisted and continued hitting Tony till I stood in their midst.

"It's my fault too. He got drunk because of me", I felt guilty.

"Nife, are you okay?" he carried me with both hands because I was too weak to walk myself. I felt like someone who just got out of a coma.

"That's enough. Does anyone know about this?"

After saying this, we realized neither Tony nor the other lady Loveboy came with earlier was in the room.

Despite what happened, the atmosphere in the house remained lively since no one knew what happened and I didn't think they would have cared if I got raped since most of them weren't saints anymore. Still, I was worried that someone might still leak my secret. My mind wasn't at ease even when Loveboy told me his money could keep lips that knew about the incident sealed.

Deep down, I cared about Tony as well. My heart kept telling me that he was only a victim of circumstances I created due to my foolishness.

"Hi, Doc", Loveboy greeted Doctor Show who we met in the parking lot of his penthouse. We couldn't afford to remain at Roses' beach house after what happened.

"Yo, what's up, occur?"They did the guys' handshake.

"What're you doing here?", He yelled when he finally noticed my presence.

"Relax, doc. Something happened", Loveboy led us inside.

"Again!", he gave a pitiful look and took a seat in the living room", I'm time-constrained so let's make this appointment quick but if it's anything associated with pregnancy, count me out.

"God forbid", I blurted out.

"You didn't even let me explain what happened before concluding", Loveboy accused him.

"I'm sorry. I'm listening", He adjusted his sitting position.

"Why did you even call him here in the first place?" I whispered to him.

"It's because I care about you. I don't want you getting emotional traumas for something that never happened", he looked me in the eye." Listen, it's your life, and you're free to do anything you want. No one has the right to impose their will on you. Except..., grandma".

"Of course", I laughed.

"Seems like you two will do fine without me", Doctor Show patted him on his back and left for the door.

"Sorry for wasting your time", We apologized.

With no drug prescription, hospital visit, or doctor's checkup, I made it through the night. I slept like someone who's never had a wink of sleep. But before going to bed, I made sure my bedroom door and shutters were properly locked.

At six-thirty, Loveboy had to knock on my door since I refused to turn off my phone's alarm. He wanted us to be ready on time so we could go to my home before heading to school. Hearing the word, 'home' made me think of Grandma. I was too happy I didn't fall victim to rape last night, else she would have said," I told you so!". But that didn't mean I could walk home majestically. I was meant to act like a sheep who's just returned from the slaughterhouse alive. Nevertheless, I truly felt sorry for what I did.

Loveboy told me to finish dressing up early, and I did. Besides, I wasn't the type of girl that spends centuries in the bathroom. At the end of the day, he made us late. He wasted time trying to make us breakfast because his housekeeper was absent. His pancakes were both sugary and unfluffy.

"I think you've done enough", I made fun of him.

"I'm still a lot better than you. What can you do?" He laughed in return.

"Whatever!", I removed the peanut butter plastic from the refrigerator, to spread it on my bread slice and toasted it a little. I made one for him too, and we sealed up our breakfast with hot cups of tea.

"Did you say you were better than me?" I said proudly.

"Whatever", he mimicked me.

Before we exited the apartment, I washed the utensils we used and dried my wet hands with a napkin containing a picture of an ostrich. I wasn't as relaxed as loveboy thought while holding his hand after we got down from his car to enter my compound but I couldn't let go of them.

SHOLA'S POV

I didn't want to go back to school. Not after the person I thought understood me more than everyone else stole the only guy I've ever loved in Marie's high. I was in no mood to keep mute when Marie's Angels laughed at my fake Nike Sneakers or outdated school bag. Yet, I had to put the scholarship given to me by Mrs. Adeola to good use.

"Dis one that your mum didn't wake you with a bucket of water, hope there's no problem? "Dad made fun of me.

"Dad! Seriously! "I frowned at him, yet cautious at making his favorite breakfast of Agege bread with groundnut oil stew, beef, and Lipton tea with powdered milk.

"I was just kidding oo, my small wife", He played with my cheek."Oya smile for me now. Lemme see that cute dimples you got from Daddy".

"Stop it!", I blushed and sat beside him in our small dining space.

"Join me, let's eat", he offered his meal.

"No, Dad. I'm not hungry yet ",  I rejected his offer politely.

" Hmm. Abi one of your rich boyfriends wants to take you to Chocolat Royal this morning? ", He teased me.

"No", I said honestly. "There's something I want to talk to you about".

"Really", He raised an eyebrow and abandoned his meal like he was forced to eat it in the first instance.

" It's not something serious now", I laughed."Eti la fi n boro (The ear only is meant for hearing)", I added.

"Don't worry about me. I've filled up already", He insisted.

" Okay. The thing is...", He listened attentively. "What will you do if you have something against your dear friends, that'll be of great benefit to you?"

"What are you two talking about?" Mum came and she was the last person I wanted to learn about our discussion.

A/N
For those who didn't understand the first part of this chapter, what Nife referred to as 'Bar Call' was death and the pilot, God Almighty. For more understanding, you can read the analysis of the 'Crossing the Bar' poem by Lord Alfred Tennyson. It's one of my favorite poems😍😁

Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. If you have any questions about it or this book generally, don't fail to ask me.

Yours teenfictionly,
Eniola Oluwamuyiwa.