STORY TITLE: Trap
AUTHOR: Kelvin Jasi
CHAPTER 6
The guy took a keen look at me as he and his friend walked to Dr Kuma’s office
“I wonder when he will graduate”, I said.
“I learned he has been here for more than fifteen years”, Charmaine said.
“Fifteen years? Maybe he is being paid for being a student”, I exclaimed and both laughed.
Days later, we started hearing rumors of how Dr. Kuma was planning to deal with us. I was scared.
Two weeks later, we had a call from our Head of Department (HOD). There was a letter ordering us to appear before the varsity’s disciplinary committee in two days’ time.
“Charmaine, I am finished. What will we do?”
“Happy finishing, Jeffrey”, she said.
We went home that day before the end of the lectures. On getting home, Charmaine locked herself in the bedroom for hours. She was making calls, though I did not hear what she was saying. The number of calls Charmaine received within those two days was amazing.
Later that evening, a man came in a Toyota Prado and handed Charmaine a big brown envelope. That was the first time I saw someone coming to look for Charmaine. She collected the envelop and went to her room without saying a word.
I wanted to ask who that was, but she did not even look at me. Charmaine could be so mean sometimes. Whenever she entered a ghost mood, she would say nothing to anyone. So I respected my boundary.
After we had dinner that night, I asked her about that man. “Who was that man and what did he give you?
“He is a friend and whatever he gave me was mine”.
“Okay. Can we talk about this case? How are we going to handle it? I am scared.”
“Well, I am not”, she answered like she don’t want want to talk.
She went to her room and brought a bottle of wine. “This will go well with the discussion”, she said. She dropped the bottle on the table as I went for glasses.
When I returned, she was on call. I picked few lines from the call. The caller was her father, or supposedly her father. She was smiling and calling him ‘Daddy’.
‘What a lovely family she had’, I thought.
“Was that your father?”, I asked as she dropped the call.
“How well do you know me?” she countered my question.
“Not much. I know you’re from Mashonaland East”.
“I am not from Mashonaland East. My mother is from Mash East. I grew up with my mum in Mashonaland East. I am from, Chinhoyi, Mashonaland West.”
“Then I don’t think I know you much. How can I know you when you hardly talk to me?” I asked.
“I’m sorry about that. The fact is that I don’t like people to know me much. I don’t like drawing undue attention to myself. But your Dr. Kuma will not let me be”, Charmaine said looking into my eyes.
“So Kuma has now become ‘my Dr. Kuma’. No problem, but now is your Sugar Daddy”, I fired back jokingly. We both laughed.
“Sugar Daddy that cannot buy an iPhone, where is the sugar now?” She said laughing.
“That reminds me of the other day you said you can pay Kuma’s salary with ease for ten years. How?”
She smiled and took a sip of her wine. “Please drink. Forget Kuma. He is not worth discussing here.”
“Okay. So how do we handle this case? I am scared, it’s not a joke”, I asked.
“Stop getting scared lest you pee on the couch”, she burst into laughter.
“Stop scorning me, dear. It was not intentional.”
“I am not scorning you my dear. I am just saying you should locate the restroom next time. I can’t imagine you actually peed on your pants out of fear. A man like you?” She laughed lying on the couch with her side.
“This is not a man matter. The whole school now thinks we stole the phone”, I said.
“There is no point of being scared here. As long as we did not steal his phone”, she said tilting her lips.
“So what are we going to say at the panel?”
“I don’t know. We will just say what they want us to say. Just be bold and answer whatever you will be asked. That’s all.” She took another sip, then continued, “by the way, I think you should keep staying here till this whole thing is over.”
“Thanks. But have did you tell your father about this?”
“Yes I have”.
“What did they say?” I curiously asked.
“Nothing”.
At that point, I became more confused. Charmaine did not want me to know much about her family and I stopped bothering.
“This is a State University. It belongs to the Zimbabwean Government. So nobody has the monopoly of intimidation”, she said
I was no longer interested in the discussion. I was thinking of the kind of person Charmaine was.
‘Why was she not moved?’ I wondered.
“I must graduate from this school, and there is nothing anybody can do about it. Not even the so-called Dr. Kuma”, she concluded as she poured more wine into her glass and went to her room.
I was left alone in the sitting room. My mind took me to the imaginary panel we were going to face in two days’ time.
Naturally, I am not an outspoken man. I still remain an introvert. I don’t like appearing before a crowd, even till now. The thought of standing before those people made me lose weight.
I did not know when I went spiritual. “Father, I know I am a sinner. Please don’t hide your face from me. I have tried to live a life in accordance with your word. Please, I beg of courage. Even if it is a quarter of the one you gave Charmaine. You know I did not do it. I am not a thief. Remember my sick mother at home. I cannot afford to go back home either from school or from jail. Please grant my request as I come to you through….”
Before I could conclude the little prayer, Charmaine came out from the bedroom and said, “dress up, we are going out now”, and returned to her room almost immediately.
“To where?” I asked.
“Don’t worry, I am not Dr. Kuma. You are saved.” She echoed from the bedroom.
“But it’s getting late, Charmaine”.
“I said you should not worry”.
I got confused, but part of my mind told me to trust her. I put on my shirt sluggishly and waited for her. About ten minutes later, she came out of the bedroom
“How do I look?” She asked.
I turned to look at her, but I could not recognize her any longer. I lost my voice. Her beauty that night was more than enough to stop a serious war between the two countries. I had never seen such beauty in her. Maybe Dr. Kuma did.
She looked like a mermaid in her full glory. Her wristwatch was pure gold with a few diamond stones. Her costume cost so much fortune. She had a diamond handbag and a pair of shoes to match. Her weave was close to her waist. I was wondering how rich and beautiful she was, yet so humble.
“Hello-o”, her voice broke my reverie.
“Yes, yes.. you are very beautiful”, I muttered.
She smiled and added, “let’s go. Someone is waiting outside.”
END OF CHAPTER 6. Read the next episode, Chapter 7 here, now!
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