Usman Bolaji 1 year ago

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The Sojourner (chapter Eight )

I came back late in the evening; I had purposely gone out after my lecture period, so the office complex was almost deserted when I got there, my secretary had packed already, and her frowned countenance when I arrived conveyed her message to me that she was late already, immediately I told her she could go home, after some few minutes Tina came in, she claimed she had been waiting for me since I wasn’t around. Still, when she saw my car in the parking lot, she knew I had arrived.

I sensed she was feeling uneasy because the place was deserted, but I calmed her and went straight to the point; I tried brainwashing her that she was one of the few students I chose to assist so as for her to attain academic excellence, I assured her that with my assistance she would perform excellently in her academics and other areas, her countenance which had been gloomy before lightened up a little and she expressed gratitude for my assistance, then I told her I hope she would reciprocate by helping me also, she was startled, and immediately her countenance changed.

“How can I help you, sir?” she asked. “I don’t have a wife nor any woman in my life, but immediately I saw you in class, I knew you were different; I would really appreciate it if we could go into a relationship that will lead to marriage; I can wait for you to finish your tertiary education then we can both walk down the aisle,” I said smiling, that should work the magic on her I thought. I have never used that approach on any lady before, but I sensed Tina was different; even her dressing conveyed the message that she was one of those ladies devoted to God, but the way she dressed in no way diminished her beauty; it was mesmerizing.

If I wooed her officially, she might consider my request as a proposal, not that I wanted to take advantage of her nor merely use her. Tina politely denied my request, claiming she wasn’t ready for marriage or any relationship and that even if she were to venture into any relationship, she would have to seek the face of God for confirmation, I got furious at her reply, but I kept my cool “What was always wrong with this so-called SU (Scripture Union) sisters, their problem is always too much, I told Tina to go home and give my proposal a deep thought and also consider all the benefits attached to having a relationship with me then I dismissed her.

The fact that she turned down my request made me yearn for her the more; I knew the majority of these Christian sisters don’t fall easily into the trap of sexual immorality, but once in, they try every means to cover up tracks of whatever they have done except for some few among them who are courageous to confess. That’s exactly what I plan to use against Tina once I get her; she will have to cooperate with me to make it a secret. I checked their class list and copied her mobile number; I texted her that I would be expecting her response as soon as possible, but she didn’t reply, and I expected that.

After two weeks of waiting, I was running out of patience. To further worsen the situation, I noticed Tina started avoiding me. I called her number she didn’t pick up my calls then I called her class representative to tell Matric number: 01228 to see me in my office immediately; I pretended not to remember her name, at last, she came. I asked about her welfare and what her final conclusion is concerning what we discussed the last time? “I had told you what was in my mind, and I didn’t bother thinking about anything,” she replied with defiance.

Her words and posture erupted anger in me, but I decided to calm down; I stood up from my seat and sat down at the edge of the table to get closer to her, “if you don’t want to spend more than the required number of years for your course in this school, then you had better wise up and play your game well” I whispered into her ears. I stood up and went back to my seat, then dismissed her, giving her an ultimatum of three days to get back to me. She left my office with a despondent look; I knew she was the timid type, and I believed threatening would make her think twice before making any rash decision.

I expected her to come back in a few days begging, but she didn’t, and after some few weeks of not getting any response from her, I thought within myself, “this lady would regret her decision” I have never purportedly failed any student before since I started my lecturing career partly because no one has ever turned down my request and I never had any issue with anyone but this time around I was ready to do so. I must teach this girl a lesson, a hard one at that.