STORY TITLE: Trap
AUTHOR: Kelvin Jasi
CHAPTER 8
I picked up the phone and it was my HOD. He informed me that the panel will no longer meet with us, instead, we should prepare to appear before the University Council. That did not come as a surprise, because we were earlier briefed.
I left the bed and went out to find Charmaine. One of the guys I met in the house told me she went out early that morning. I dialed her number only for her to tell me she went back to school to get a few things from her house.
‘Why would she leave me here lonely?’ I wondered.
I went outside to catch a full glimpse of the compound. The kind of guys I saw stationed at strategic points in the compound confirmed my earlier suspicion that those people were ritualistic. I quickly rushed back to my room and ensured the door was well locked. I became alert.
‘What if these people come to kill me now and use me for money ritual?’ I soliloquized.
‘I will fight for the last time before they take me’. I assured myself as I bit my
I sat on the bed starring at the door to see when it would be opened. About an hour later, someone knocked on my door. I was startled.
“Who is there?” I asked.
“I’m the one”, said Charmaine.
I recognized her voice and opened the door.
“Good morning”, she said.
“Good morning. You left without informing me. I was not comfortable being alone here.”
“I’m sorry about that. I didn’t want to wake you because you slept late last night. Besides, you weren’t alone. There are many people in this house. If you need anything, just ask any of them.”
“Who are those people stationed outside?”, I asked.
“Those securities?”
“I see.”
“Please stop asking questions. Freshen up and come out. Breakfast is ready”, she said handing me a small container consisting of toothpaste and brush.
After taking my bath, we had our breakfast together and talked about a few things.
“Why did you have to stress yourself going to school when it’s obvious we’ll be going back today?”
“I went to get my laptop. I can’t leave it there. That reminds me, the mother will be coming this morning and she will have some guests.”
“Okay? So how is that my concern? Are we going to wait until she comes?”
“Yes, we’ll have to wait”, she nodded her head.
“By the way, the HOD phoned to inform me that we are no longer meeting the panel tomorrow as scheduled”, I said.
“Yes. I got that too.”
“I don’t even know most members of the Council. I was told most of them are Professors. I am dead scared. But why would your mother and her friends come in? What are they seeking to achieve?” Curiously, I asked.
“They are seeking to ensure we are not expelled from the school. Stop getting scared. Be a man that you are”, she said shaking my shoulder.
I became more tensed, but I tried to be a man.
“Let’s go to my room”, said Charmaine. I followed her to her room. We talked about many things till I slept off. I was still asleep when her mother came back.
About an hour later, Charmaine woke me up.
“Somebody wants to see you”, she said.
“Who is that?” I asked forcing my eyes open.
“Come downstairs.”
I followed her downstairs. I met her mother and four other men chatting.
“Good day Madam. Good afternoon Sir”, I greeted as I sat.
“Good afternoon young man. What is your name?” asked one of the men.
“My name is Jeffrey Maroto”
“The Holy Book says, ‘from the mouths of babies’”, Charmaine’s mum said. They smiled.
“My son”, the mother called. “Charmaine will do the talking all through at the Council. You will be there to support.”
“Okay, madam. But how will I support?”
“Simple! Just be by her side. You’ll know when to talk and when not to”, she said smiling.
“Yes madam”, I nodded.
“So are these the pawns you intend using to get to the king?” Asked another man.
“Yes. My own daughter.” she nodded.
“ And what measures have you put in place to ensure their safety, owing to the fact that the king is not going to allow them to get close?” asked another man.
“I have my Knights, my Bishops, and the rest. But most importantly, I the Queen am ready to go any length to ensure nothing befalls my precious pawns. Meanwhile, they won’t be going to that varsity anymore. I have concluded plans for both of them to seek a better and quality education outside the shores of this country.” She said.
They all laughed, and then she continued, “Tatenda Gomba will be there to give them a legal backing”.
“Which Tatenda Gomba? Is it the dreaded activist that even the government is afraid to touch?” That man asked in awe.
“Yes. Advocate Tatenda Gomba . That’s our man.”
“Then he is our Rook”, the man said as he raised a thumb.
They busted into laughter again.
“But what if Dr Kuma decides to use castling?” asked the last man.
“There will be no need for that. That will be efforts in futility. Sooner or later, we will have him checkmated”, said Charmaine’s mother.
“And the game will be over”, another man added giving a clap.
“That is the price he will pay for robbing me of my Senatorial seat. I won the election, but he refused to announce me as the authentic winner. Instead, he announced my opponent. I started working on him after the last general elections. When my daughter reported to me that one Dr Kuma has been sexually harassing her in school, I went mad. I wanted to arrest him, but my people said the press will put it as a personal vendetta on him. Thank God he trapped these children up. Now he will be coming home to roost”, Charmaine’s mother said.
“So he is that returning officer!” said another man.
“Cheers! Please Cheers”, Charmaine’s mother added.
As they were cheering, we returned to Charmaine’s room.
I have been a skilled player of chess game, so I understood exactly what they said.
“Do you understand what Bishops, Rooks, Knights, Pawns and others are?” I asked Charmaine.
“No. I was lost at that point”, she answered with a confused face.
“Do you play chess?” Charmaine asked.
“No no no. I don’t like the game.”
“I see. Your mother said we are no longer studying there. Are you aware of that?” I asked in confusion since Charmaine once told me that her dad doesn’t want foreign universities.
“I just heard that for the first time as you did. I will ask her later.”
‘So these people want to use us to pay back‘, I thought. But it was fine, as long as Dr Kuma was dealt with. We stayed there for a week.
By the end of the week, we got text messages from our HOD ordering us to appear before the Council in two days.
END OF CHAPTER 8. Read the next episode, Chapter 9 here, now!
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