Sister Deborah. - Season 1 - Episode 5

Episode 5 years ago

Sister Deborah. - Season 1 - Episode 5

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I returned home that night with a troubled, weary mind. I wasn’t able to sleep regardless of how hard I tried.


Images of the incident that happened between Deborah and Annabel kept flashing into my head persistently. I was downhearted and utterly disappointed with the turn out of events. I didn’t know whether to blame Deborah, myself or Annabel; but I solely took a sizable portion of the blame upon myself.
Normally, on a usual day, I would have obviously pleaded with Timi to accompany me to Deborah’s hostel so as to sort things out and probably plead with her, but unfortunately for me, it was already quite far too late around the time she chartered the taxi and left in annoyance. It was part of our rules and ethics in the campus that after a particular hour in the evening, no visits between the male section to the female section of the hostel was welcomed — likewise the same rule as applied to the female category, too. So, I couldn’t see that idea working out for me.


I made up my mind not to tamper with the Infinix Hotnote mobile phone Deborah had annoyingly given to me until I see her the next day and settle things with her, amicably.
Slowly, fatigue took over my weary mind and I fell asleep, hoping for a better tomorrow.
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First thing the following day, I rose up by 06:00 on the dot. Being a Friday morning, unlike every other usual day, we had limited lectures in our departments and faculties today. Timi and Fatai were still asleep when I looked over at their bed, while Hakeem on the contrary, was awake; standing next to my wardrobe. He was oblivious to know that I was also awake and watching him. Slowly and gently, he opened my wardrobe and took out the polythene nylon which contained the cellphone.

“Well done!” I said loudly. Loud enough to make him shiver in fright.

“Chineche good mo…mo-rn-ing!” Hakeem stuttered as he turned backwards to face me, still frightened.

“What are you doing at my wardrobe?” I stood up from the bed and walked towards him.

“I was looking for…comb…my comb!”
“Since when did your comb start lodging in my wardrobe? Hakeem, better respect yourself. Don’t let us start again this early morning.” I hissed and collected the nylon from him, then I placed it back into the wardrobe, took out some clothes and then bolted it shut with a padlock.

“Who even dash you phone…? For your mind now you don hammer!” Hakeem babbled tauntingly. I ignored him and took out a bucket and my clothes as well and went outside.

One minute I was in the bathroom freshening up, the next minute I was back at the hostel room fully dressed. I clutched my bag across my shoulder and checked the time — which was now 06:32. I still had time.

Without wasting further time, I sprinted out of the room and walked as fast as I could to make it earlier to my faculty.

Along the way, I caught sight of a familiar handbag and a butterfly designed dress worn by a lady from afar. I squinted my eyes slightly to have a clearer view of her distant figure, and true to my expectation, she was indeed the actual person whom I had in mind.
I increased my pace and walked faster at first, until I started jogging, which then resulted into a faster sprint. In no time I was able to cover the distance and catch up with her.

“Deborah!”
I was behind her and her back was facing my direction as she continued walking. I realized she had earphones plugged into her ears. Divine on the other hand, who was also walking beside Deborah, heard my call clearly.
“Debbie, someone is calling you joor.” Divine tapped her hand and unplugged one side of the earpiece from her ear.


“What is it?” Deborah asked, annoyed.
“Didn’t you hear me? I said someone called you.”

“Who?”
“Look behind you.”
Deborah turned and looked back and our eyes met each other’s gaze, and immediately, her countenance changed.

“I can’t see anybody.”
“Deborah, please wait, let’s talk.” I said silently.

“Who is talking? Is anybody talking? I can’t see anyone.”

“Debbie stop this, the guy wants to talk to you.” Divine intervened.

“Which guy?! But I still can’t see anybody!”

I was getting fed up with the attitude she was putting up, and so I did the only thing that crossed my mind at that moment. I went on my knees.

“Just so you know how serious I am.” I exclaimed bluntly.

Passers-by were staring at the scene I was creating, but I cared less.

“He wants to propose to her!” I heard someone say among the crowd of onlookers.
I returned my avid focus back to Deborah. Embarrassment — in its fullest degree — etched across her face with her eyes wide open.

Then, to the least of my expectation, she turned around and started walking away.
“Oh my God, she turned him down!” The same person spoke again.

“Bros take heart, sorry oh!” another voice said.

Divine was still standing there, baffled. I stood to my feet as well. Something in my mind kept urging me to run after Deborah but I shrugged it off. I decided to let her go.
“I would talk to her…” Divine said and patted my shoulder reassuringly, then she turned around and walked away, too.
Embrassment, in all honesty, was the least of emotion I felt as I left the scenario of passers-by and onlookers. I continued to walk to the lecture hall with a clouded, worried mind.
What have I done? I debated within myself. Was it even necessary? What prompted me to act that way? How did it cross my mind?!
More and more thoughts and questions piled their way into my head as I walked further, only for me to realize that I had arrived at the entrance of the lecture hall. I went inside, situated a vacant seat and sat down.
“Is it that you don’t usually see clearly during the day or what?” a voice startled me from behind. It sounded feminine.

I looked back and, true to my assertion, she was the very person I thought it would be. Within a second, she stood up from her seat and crossed over to join mine.

“Chineche, I hope you know that today is valentines day. What do you have for me?”
I ignored her.

“You don’t want to talk to me?”
Again, I ignored her.

“In case you don’t know, almost half of the class are on red and white clothes. Check me out, how do I look?”

From the corner of my eyes, I stole a quick glance at her dress code. She wore a short-sleeved T-shirt with red and white stripes imprinted all over it, and a pair of plain white leggings to match.

“Won’t you say something?”
“It’s alright.”
“It’s alright? Is that all?”
“Annabel, what else do you want me to say?”

“I don’t understand you today. Is it about yesterday’s minor issue?”
“You call that minor?”
“Yes, it really is. I called you sweetie. It’s a normal thing.”

“I told you to stop, didn’t I?”
“Why are you making a big deal out of this? Is it because of that girl?!”

Right there and then, I stood up from the chair, took up my bag and vacated the seat. I went to the front row and secured another seat amidst people. In this way, I was able to avoid Annabel’s pestering attitude.

Later that day after lectures, I wasted no time to dash out of the lecture hall partly because I wanted to boycott Annabel, and secondly because I wanted to meet up with Deborah before she leaves her faculty. Unfortunately for me when I eventually got there, I was told that she had long gone by Divine, who still remained behind in class.

Divine assured me that she had spoken with Deborah on my behalf, and that I could trace her back to the hostel to sort things out properly. I heeded to her suggestion and turned back again.

In no time, I eventually arrived at the female hostel and located Deborah’s room. I had intended placing a knock but surprisingly, the door was left ajar.

Out of courtesy, I remained rooted to my spot and called her name instead.
“I can see you. Come in.” a voice beckoned to me.

I walked inside and — truthfully speaking — in all honesty — the scent I was ushered with was more than exotic. It was best described as pleasantly enchanting.


I looked by the side and saw Deborah seated on the bed with her legs crossed, a pillow engulfed in-between her laps, and her phone in her hands.

“How may I help you?” She said, without sparing me a glance. She had her avid focus on her phone.


“Deborah I want to talk. I want us, as in me and you to talk.”
“About what exactly?” She queried, still keeping her focus on the phone.
“It’s about yesterday and today’s issue.” I said.
“Ok . . . go on. I am listening.”
I went closer to her and with a beating, trembling heart, I sat next to her on the bed. She didn’t seem to mind, however, being that she didn’t say anything or spare me a glance whatsoever. So I advanced further by placing my hand on top of hers. I was determined.


“Deborah, I am sorry.” I said wholeheartedly. “I know I fumbled and I messed up but please, just this once, let me make it up to you.”


This time, after I finished my words, Deborah raised up her head and faced me properly.
“I have forgiven you, Neche. I just didn’t like what you did. It was childish. You and your girlfriend embarrassed me yesterday and as if that wasn’t enough, you still went further to humiliate me today again. It’s really annoying!”

“Deborah, Annabel isn’t my girlfriend. Besides, I really want to make it up to you.”
“How do you intend to do that?”
“I heard today is valentines day. If you don’t mind, we could stroll to somewhere, hang out together and talk things out.” I suggested.

Deborah fixed an intense stare at me for a moment, almost as if she was thinking deeply, before answering “I’ve heard you.”
“Seriously?” I exclaimed doubtfully.
“I am serious.” She affirmed, smiling.
I couldn’t fathom what came over me at that moment, but the excitement in me pushed me to hug her tightly. It was a quick, slight hug.
“Chineche, you are something else entirely!” She laughed after I pulled from the hug.


“But mind you,” she continued saying, “we can’t leave exactly now. I still have to take a shower and freshen up. Is that okay with you?”

“It’s perfect.” I answered. “In fact, I also have to rush back home now for something. So let’s just make it in about an hour time, at the same venue we met yesterday. Is that alright?”

“Iʼm fine with it.” She answered.
“So . . . I better be on my way then.” I said and stood up from the bed, heading towards the door. Deborah stood up as well and followed closely behind me.
“See you later!”

“See ya!” She said with a smile and closed the door.

Immediately, I jumped up excitedly, full of ecstasy. I couldn’t contain the excitement to myself as I strolled back home with joy.

In a brief moment I arrived at our hostel room. Timi, Fatai and Hakeem were all seated inside, playing a game of ludo. I wasted no time to inform and gist them about everything that transpired between I and Deborah after we shared pleasantries. They began hailing me with praises and eulogies.

“Is this supposed to be a date or something?” Timi asked.

“I don’t even know…” I responded.
“I think she actually sees it as a date. If that is what she thinks, then you seriously need to impress her.”

“I know.” I affirmed. “But you guys have to help me. I need a favor.”

“What favor?”

“Timi, I need to borrow your suit. Fatai, abeg I would need your sneakers among. Hakeem, that your wine you kept in your bag, I go need am too.”

“I should give you which wine?!” Hakeem cut in. “It’s like something is doing you…”
“Hakeem abeg na! I won’t open it, I promise. It’s just for show off.”

“Are you sure?”
“I promise, walahi!”
“No problem, I’d give it to you.” He agreed.

Right there and then, I borrowed Timi’s suit and Fatai’s sneakers followed by Hakeem’s wine. I still borrowed Fatai’s perfume to spray on myself, after which I borrowed Timi’s dark shades to match my outfit exquisitely.

I needed to impress Deborah by all means!