Ayoade came out of the Amala joint, fully contented. He was with a toothpick as he sauntered home. The ogunfe (goat meat) and ponmo ( goatskin) were so sweet and there were patches of the meat in between his tiny teeth.
He felt exhausted all of a sudden as he strolled and he stopped a bike to take him home.
He alighted from the bike and felt a sharp pain in his abdomen. He tried to withhold the urge to voice out his pain by groaning. He paid the bike man who was looking at him strangely and turned into the compound.
He didn't bother to look in the direction of Raliat's apartment because he knew she won't be back till the next day. He inserted his key into the keyhole, opened the door with his left hand on his abdomen and, went in. He quickly locked the door from inside and flopped heavily to the bed.
The pain he was feeling wasn't new to him. He knew what it signifies. It was overwhelming.
His stomach aches and urges were back and stronger. It was 2 years already since he last felt this way. He groaned again and laid on his stomach. The only solution to the pain was to make sure he discharges. It will help relieve him of his pain and there were two ways to doing that; having intercourse or masturbating.
He already made a vow never to do any of these again, until it becomes legal and halal. He felt he needed to get married to Raliat as early as possible to avoid fate repeating itself.
Now that the pain was back, he knew it will become frequent. Coping with it will take the grace of God for someone like him who already knows and had experienced the pleasure derived from sleeping with a woman.
He needed to call his parents and let them know the situations of things. But first, he needed to call Raliat, his love. Maybe hearing her sweet voice will soothe him and calm his nerves.
He brought out his phone from his back pocket and dialed her number which he saved as "Soulmate".
It rang continuously. She didn't pick. Then, he sent her a message, dropped the phone and, relaxed his whole body on the bed. Before he knew it, he slept off.
*****
Ayoade woke up 2 hours later to the loud bang of the toilet door. He could feel the presence of someone. He rolled onto his back and opened his eyes, slowly. His eyes roamed the entire room but there was no one in the room.
He closed his eyes and was about to slip back into dreamland when the ringing sound of his phone jerked him back to life. He felt a sharp pain as he sat upright.
The ache was gone now but the effect of it was still lingering and he felt horny.
The caller was his mother.
"Ayomi (My Joy)", she said.
"Yes, mummy", he replied with a smile.
He was closer to his mother than his father. He considers his father too strict. But he couldn't help but admit that his mother was his father's accomplice and partner-in-crime. He knew the disappearance of Chidinma was the work of his parent.
"How have you been?"
"I've been good."
"You did not even bother to call me."
"I'm sorry mum."
"Eh..eh", his mother stammered.
"When are you coming home?", she said after a minute of silence. That was evident enough that something was on his mother's mind. He knew her in and out.
"Is anything the matter?", he inquired.
"No...nothing", she stuttered again. " I just want to know when you are coming back home."
Ayoade laughed. "Do you miss me that much, mum? I thought dad said uncle will get a job for me here."
"Eh... I think it's better you come home."
"What rubbish are you saying? Is that what I asked you to do?" His father's voice boomed into the phone.
"What is this I am hearing about your intention to get married to a girl from the North?" He questioned his son who sighed loudly.
"Dad, I have been meaning to call you..." He started before he got interrupted by the bang of the toilet door for the second time.
It was Bimpe. She came out of the toilet in a towel only and she passed him without sparing him a second glance.
Then, it dawned on him. Bimpe had informed his parents.
'My people are not making things easy for me', he thought to himself.
"I don't have all day" his father thundered, jerking him out of his thoughts.
"Dad, it's high time I got married."
"And you decided to go Up North just so you can get married? What happened to all the beautiful ladies here in Abeokuta? What the hell is wrong with you? Why are you so unreasonable? Must we always point out the rights from wrongs for you all the time? Bimpe doesn't give your mother and I much problem as you do. You are a man for crying out loud. When will you start behaving and thinking like one?", his father yelled over the phone.
Ayoade was infuriated and he replied, "I will become a man the day you and mum stop interfering in my affairs and allow me to make choices on my own. The day you and mum get to know my reasons for doing this and that I am doing the right thing. Dad, I know I am not supposed to say this but I think it's high time I gave you a piece of my mind."
"She emi lon basoro bayen ( Is it me you are talking to in that manner)?"
"Dad, it's the truth....", he started, before his father cut in.
"Shut your trash, you silly boy. What do you know? I am your father and I have the right to tell you what to do and what not to do. Why am I even arguing with you? I want you in Abeokuta before Wednesday, if not you will blame yourself for being my son."
"Dad, I am not coming to Abeokuta. I will get married to Raliat with or without your blessings."
"Really? Just try me and see", his father uttered with finality. Then he hissed and disconnected the call.
Ayoade was furious. But he was ready to defy his father. He needed to be married. He knew he was doing the right thing. He got up in anger and turned to face Bimpe who was rubbing Zulijay's butter on her caramel body.
He moved close to her. "Bimpe, what did you tell mum and dad about Raliat?"
She put on an innocent face and said, "Nothing."
"You better talk before I bounce on you", he yelled at her.
"You must be crazy", Bimpe retorted. "You think you can scare me?"
"How dare you talk to me like that?" He shouted and gave her a resounding slap.
Bimpe held her cheeks and was about to return hers when he held her hand. She struggled to get out of his hold when her towel came off, revealing her beautiful nude body. Bimpe didn't care about her naked body as she kept on struggling to get out of his hold, with the intention of giving him a slap too.
Ayoade pushed her away and she fell to the bed. He moved threatening towards her and gave her another slap. Bimpe cried out aloud and he pinched her nipples as he got aroused by the action. She tried to move out of his hold as he climbed on top of her, but as always, his hold was stronger.
He got off while pinning her down with his two legs and quickly removed his belt and shirt, forgetting the vow he made to himself.
The vow of staying away from sinful acts such as this. Bimpe had pushed him to the edge and he needed to punish her without giving a care for the consequences. He knelt beside her and took her lips forcefully, pinning her down his hands.
Then, he made love to her as she wept silently.