THE CHAT ROOM EPISODE 9

Min Precious Iroegbu

By the timeI resumed, I was in NCE 2 and lectures had already begun. Frank called me to inform me that he has graduated and that due to his good grades, the school retained him as a lecturer.

The day I went to his office to visit him, he was elated. He even drove me back to the hostel in his small Toyota Corolla. He claimed his father had gotten it for him as a gift.

But I was about to leave his car when he made a disturbing comment. “You are getting fat. What have you been feeding on?” He laughed but I didn’t because it wasn’t supposed to be a joke.

It was more like a scare to me because I had read the other day that one of the symptoms of pregnancy was additional weight gain.

“You should be happy that you are growing fat because you look prettier now.” He teased.

I grabbed my purse and bade him farewell. For the next three days, I couldn’t attend lectures so I decided to call Bose who urged me to buy the test kit and save myself from fear.

“You may end up not getting pregnant if you check.” She said.

Like an obedient lamb led to its slaughter, I went. I didn’t go to the large bustling pharmacy located right in front of the gate. I used the one by the corner of the campus.

A small chemist store. Owned by a middle-aged woman even though I couldn’t tell if she was young or not due to the multiple colour of facial patches she had.

I concluded that she must have been a dark person who tried to bleach her skin in the past and got a discoloured face in return.

“Welcome student.” She chewed gum noisily. She had a missing tooth on the upper first two rows.

I was discouraged and irritated but I asked for what I wanted.

I was embarrassed. I quickly glanced around to be sure that we were both alone in the small shop. “Please get me a test kit!” My tone was hard but it bore no effect on her.

She grabbed a carton and removed something that looked like a thermometer and tossed it to me. “In case if you want do ab©rtion.

I dey do o it’s very cheap.” I grabbed it and used the restroom as she told me to. I peed on it. My heart slammed into two as I waited to see if the two stripes would appear.

But it didn’t! Finally, my heart slam stopped. I was free! God had given me a second chance! At least that was what I thought.

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