KOJO'S ASSAULT

I nearly screamed what!. Thank goodness for self control.

I was Ms. Chielo.

I couldn't imagine myself working with the guy. I was going to speak with Mr. Palmer after class, that was for sure.

"Ms. Chielo?" The man called. I raised my hand. I heard someone say 'wahala dey'. There was no doubt about that.

"Nairobi, you're working with Vincent," Amanda said her voice laced with excitement.

"I know," I said curtly. I could hear murmurs around me.

When the bell rang for the end of class , I quickly walked up to the chemistry teacher before he could go into his inner office.

"Good afternoon sir. I'm Nairobi Chielo," I started.

The man smiled at me. "Ah yes I know you. You were one of the best in the scholarship examination. What can I do for you young scientist?"

"You see sir, I really don't want to fail chemistry. It's one of my core subjects."

"Okay?"

"I need favour from you. I really need a change of partner. I can't work with Vincent Ade–whatever."

"It's Adebayo. And sir I can't work with her either. You and I know that I really need a good grade in chemistry. If I have to work with her, I'm doomed to fail," he said.

Well, that was an insult.

"What do you mean? You should be lucky you have to work with me," I said proudly which was half the truth. I was very good in chemistry, yes but I had never done any practicals in my life.

"This is very interesting," Mr. Palmer laughed. "But I can't change the pairing. You two have to figure out a way to work together."

"But sir–"

"That's final, Naomi." I froze for a fraction of a second when he called me that. I had registered into the school as Nairobi Naomi Chielo but I didn't expect anyone to call me that.

"It's Nairobi sir," I corrected.

"Sorry Nairobi. I can't change it," Mr. Palmer said. "Oh and please announce to the class that we'd have a practical class tomorrow so that they don't forget their lab coats," he said before retreating into his office.

I turned to face Vincent. "You better don't ruin this for me," I told him before walking away.

School was over and it was time to go home. I think I preferred school to my home. Even though I had Chijioke and Jessica kind of frustrating me and Vincent with Olamide annoying sanity out of me, it was better than going home to work in a hotel full of horny men and sleeping in the same house with my aunt doing gross things under that same roof. The mere image of it is horrifying.

"Bye Nairobi. See you tomorrow," Jessica bade, when she was leaving the class with a group of girls I didn't bother to get acquainted to.

"Bye."

"Naya-bear," Chijioke called coming over to where I was arranging my books in my locker. I wasn't assigned a locker yesterday because the staff with the keys wasn't on seat.

"Eww! Don't call me that. Ever," I told him pausing what I was doing.

He laughed hard before speaking. "The look you had on your face definitely worth a million bucks," he said before laughing again. He removed his glasses and pretended to wipe tears.

"Get out," I told him holding back a smile.

"Just let it out. At least it gives me hope that your facial muscles are not stuck as a scowl."

"Chijioke leave me alone jor. Go home. Good bye," I told him pushing him away.

"Sayonara Naya-bear. Don't forget to call oh," he reminded me before leaving the class with Israel and another boy. I shook my head and packed more books into my locker. I made a mental note to bring my sport wear and blazer to school so that I could store it in my locker.

I was about to leave the class when someone called me.

"What?" I asked turning to face Stephen.

"Hey calm down, I just wanted to say goodbye," he smiled. I have to admit, he was really cute when he smiled.

"Alright. Bye," I told him and wanted to leave again.

"Nairobi can I have your number?" He asked.

"Nope. I don't know it by heart." I'm a quick learner.

"Please," he begged.

"See I have to go. See you tomorrow," I said and left the class.

*

After my shift ended at nine o'clock, I headed home really tired. I went to take a long bath in the public bathroom so that I could wash off the stress and filthy touch off the men at the restaurant, I hoped.

I was wrapped in my towel and heading to the room when I spotted Dinma coming out. I ignored her like she did to me and went in.

The first thing I noticed was that the room had the scent of beer and cigarette. That meant she had brought a man to the room. Little did I know that the man was still there and he was for me.

Since the room was dark, I searched blindly for a torchlight. When I put it on, I found myself facing the devil in human skin. No matter how tough I was, I couldn't deny the fact that Kojo scared me.

The man had tried to assault me when I was twelve. I hardly escaped him but at a point I got strength from nowhere and hit the place where the sun doesn't shine and ran away. Well after that he cornered me, beat the hell out of me and fortunately left me.

Now he was here again. For me.

My heart started racing. I hugged my towel tighter and wanted to run out when he grabbed me with lightning speed.

"Leave me alone!" I screamed. I didn't know if that was useful. The people here gave deaf ears to screams. They simply didn't care. If it was possible they would even come and watch Kojo and I.

He gave me a hard slap that made me feel blood in my mouth. "See I don pay your sister. So if you like your self just shut up."

I couldn't believe Dinma would sell my own body to Kojo. Who was I kidding? It was possible. I did the last thing I never thought I'd be doing to Kojo.

I begged him.

He responded with a laugh. "Abeg remove this thing," he said grabbing my towel. I wasn't a virgin quite alright but I wasn't ready to get raped. . .by Kojo.

"Kojo abeg," I pleaded trying my best to keep my towel to my body. He slapped me again that I fell to the floor. He yanked my towel from my body and threw me on the mattress.

I trembled in fear as I watched him unbuckle his belt. My worst fear was coming true. I tried to make a plan but I was too disoriented to do so. I hated myself. So weak and helpless.

As I sat on the bed, I made the what I believed was a deadly plan. As he concentrated on his trousers, I charged from the bed and pushing him down. He hit his head on the table that was just behind him.

He didn't make any sound. No grunts of pain. No curses just silence. It surprised me. I was thinking he was tough and he could survive the pain. My original plan was that as he tried to deal with the pain, I'd make a run for it.

I didn't care if he was dead but as I stared at his unconscious body, I started panicking. With the remaining strength I had, I dragged his body out of the room and towards the backyard. My heart kept doing stunts in my chest. If anyone should find me dragging an unconscious body, I would become the talk of the century.

Please don't die, I surprisingly found myself pleading.

I knew some people were still awake but I risked it. There was no way I was leaving him in the room.

I heard footsteps approaching. I was tempted to run. I could hear that Nollywood background music they used during those scenes that kept someone on edge. "Naya?"

I breathed a sigh of relief. It was Bolaji. Only my creator knew how grateful I was for that.

"Please help me move the body." I said amidst tears. "I swear he's not dead." I hope.

Bolaji didn't ask any questions but helped me take the body to the backyard. Luckily there was overgrown grass there so we dumped Kojo's unconscious body there.

I started crying again, shaking furiously as my tears poured out.

Bolaji tried to hug me and I unconsciously flinched. He knew the reason so he just took my hand gently. "Babe let's go to your room," he suggested. My favourite thing about him was that he knew when to be a brother unlike most boys I had encountered. Too bad I didn't consider him friend enough. It was his fault after all.

"Dinma give Kojo money make him rape me," I lamented still shaking in tears. We were already in the room.

"Chai. No dey cry abeg," Bolaji said. He opened his arms for an embrace and I embraced him this time.

In broken English I said, "But why she go do that kind thing na. I no want be olosho like she. Just imagine that guy touch me."

I didn't want to show my weakness to Bolaji but I couldn't hold it back anymore. Besides it was not the first time I was crying in front of him.

Bolaji hugged me till I slept off. And well Dinma didn't come back that dreadful night. Maybe her creator knew I might have stabbed her in her sleep.