Emmanuella: Complicated Affair

By Alpha Dominion

Emmanuella (A Complicated Affair) is the story of a young man's obsession with the search for love and happiness. Disappointments led to frustration. Buko Adonis could not make out an intimate romance with Oliver Soares, a young woman he loved dearly but who rejected him. By a twist of fate Buko and Olivia shared love on a cruise ship. It was his undoing when he met and fell in love with Emmanuella Makamanda. Two women, mother and daughter beloved by the same man Buko Adonis. Death became the high price to pay for this torrid romance. Olivia, Emmanuella and many others died. Buko Adonis survived almost what seemed like a death wish, remarried and lived happily ever after. Find out how.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris UK
• Release date: Nov 21, 2014
• ISBN: 9781499089905

Alpha Dominion

Prince Alpha Dominion holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science and Public Administration from the University of Uyo in Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria. At various times, he studied English at the former University of Ife, Ile-Ife in 1975 and later, Local Government Administration at University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria in 1981. He is well traveled. An avid reader and a prolific writer. Mister Dominion is the creator’s literary gift to this generation. He retired meritoriously in 2013 as a top bureaucrat in the Unified Local Government Service of Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria. He is happily married to Deaconess Margaret Prince Dominion and they are blessed with three children. Mister Dominion hails from Mkpat Enin Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria.

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Copyright © 2014 by Alpha Dominion.

Library of Congress Control Number:    2014919699

ISBN:      Softcover      978-1-4990-8989-9

                 eBook            978-1-4990-8990-5

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Rev. date: 11/03/2014

Xlibris

0-800-056-3182

www.xlibrispublishing.co.uk

645973

Contents

Chapter 1    The Genesis

Chapter 2    Encounter in the Cruise Ship

Chapter 3    A New Life

Chapter 4    Bad Stormy Weather

Chapter 5    Reminiscences

Chapter 6    Debacle

Chapter 7    Vexatious Incident

Chapter 8    Twist of Fate

Chapter 9    Fatal Assault

Chapter 10    Legal Twist

Chapter 11    Twist and Turns. Bends and Corners

Chapter 12    A Damning Conspiracy

Chapter 13    Flight in the Dark

Chapter 14    The Final Onslaught

Chapter 15    The Aftermath

Dedication

To God be the glory, great things he has done.

Words are not enough to express my gratitude to my greatest inspiration, the Ancient of Days, the fountain of wisdom and knowledge, my creator who endowed me with this rare and special gift.

To my beloved wife Margaret, my daughters Margaret and Victory, and my son Samuel. They were for me a bastion of hope when I was afflicted by stroke in 2012, a deadly disease that slowed me down and almost eclipsed my destiny, but I came back up and completed this book project, the second on the line.

May God plant my feet on a higher plain to do greater exploits.Synopsis

When Buko Adonis accidentally ran into Olivia Soares at the Admission’s Office at the University of Lagos, Nigeria, it signalled the beginning of friendship, but that was not to be as Olivia Soares jilted Buko Adonis even before some serious intimacy developed.

From then, bad luck trailed every attempt of Buko Adonis to maintain a healthy love life. Again and again he met disappointments at the hands of female associates. Disappointments turned to frustration, and frustration gave birth to an obsession. From Clarrise who along with her three friends raped and abused him to Candice who back-stabbed him, followed by Emmarine who attempted to destroy him, and then Barbara who had shown a ray of hope that he would eventually find lasting love, get married, and make a home for himself. This early hope turned into a mirage.

Smarting from a legal battle with one of his ex-lovers, Candice and an acid attack by another lover Emmarine, Buko Adonis took another loving ass-kicking from Countess Saphira in far away Norway. He narrowly escaped death at the hands of a devious, vicious wife who unfortunately met a violent death at the hands of Norwegian Drug Enforcement Agents.

In a British cruise ship expedition to West Africa, Buko Adonis fortuitously made a reunion with Olivia Soares resulting in a very intimate relationship, but her second time rejection of Buko Adonis drove him again into an endless search for a love that had become elusive so far. The product of the cruise ship adventure was a bundle of twins born to Olivia and Buko. Yet that in itself did not sway Olivia’s opinion about condescending to marry Buko Adonis.

Buko Adonis’s obsession led him to concede to sheltered love at the hands of Rhoda and Chindalinda, both of whom died leaving him broken-hearted, devastated, and seriously victimised by an unrepentant fate.

Forcibly subjugated by the cruel twist of fate, Buko Adonis returned to Nigeria, met and fell in love inadvertently with Emmanuella Makamanda, daughter of Olivia Soares. Buko Adonis’s marriage to Emmanuella was the most costly mistake ever as it proved a lethal threat to his life.

Emmanuella Buko Adonis made an attempt on her husband’s life not once, not twice, but four fruitless times carrying on its wake the death of her mother Olivia and Zaraphine, leaving Buko despaired, dejected, and emotionally broken.

Buko Adonis sustained collateral damages but won back love at the end in the arms of Barbara Reyes.

Chapter One

The Genesis

When Olivia Soares came from Liberia with her father Charles Soares, fleeing from the brutal and vicious civil war in that country in the late 1970s, Nigeria was like a temporary sanctuary, but with the coming years, things were to change in a way that made her and her father have permanent residence in Nigeria, her new home.

Olivia took solace in the fact that although she had lost her mother and four of her siblings to the civil war, she still had her father to guide and care for her and provide for her needs, so she was better off than others and very soon her refugee status changed by a stroke of luck.

It was not long before Charles Soares, a construction engineer with RCC – Liberia, soon located Reynolds Construction Company (RCC) in Lagos, Nigeria. He was at their employment office, and after checking through their International Data Bank and ascertaining that he was one of theirs, they wasted no time in re-engaging Charles Soares, and that provided him and his daughter a lifeline.

Olivia Soares was to resume her University education at the University of Lagos, Nigeria, after being offered a provisional admission. It was here she and Buko Adonis met on the very first day she had called at the Admission’s Office to make initial enquires. It was Buko who acted like a chaperone, answering most of her questions and guiding her through the registration formalities. It was a coincidence that her initial documentation revealed they were going to belong to the same department and faculty.

‘So you intend to become an economist?’ Buko asked inquisitively as he watched her write some information in her forms.

‘I hope so,’ Olivia responded with a smile, and he loved the way she smiled; it was very heart-warming.

‘I belong to that department too,’ Buko Adonis revealed excitedly.

‘You are kidding me … You can’t be serious.’

‘I am, on a very serious note. Welcome to the department. I am a fresher just like you, but I had already concluded my registration about two days ago.’

‘Thank you for seeing me through the processes.’ Olivia was appreciative, and she did that with a warm inviting smile that left no one in doubt that she was becoming to like his company.

‘You are welcome. It’s my pleasure,’ Buko reciprocated the pleasant gesture.

When they were about to part ways, she offered a handshake. He looked into her eyes and what he said pleased him as he took her hand.

‘You are a very pretty woman. If wishes were horse, I would like to have you … Buko Adonis is the name,’ he said with a wide cheery smile.

‘Thank you for the compliment. I am Olivia Soares, a Liberian immigrant.’

‘Welcome to Nigeria. I hope you will like it here.’

‘I am looking forward to.’

‘I hope to see you again soon.’

‘Thank you, Mr Buko.’

As they parted ways, eventually, he left with a picture of her on his mind – she and her memory lingered on, especially her smile which was unforgettable.

That was how Buko Adonis angled himself into Olivia’s comfort zone, and soon the two had become not only casual friends but also study partners. They enjoyed each other’s company, and their friendship was getting closer to deep intimacy, and it was soon noticed by their close circle of friends.

‘Man … you are lucky to have that dame. Keep her at all cost and hold her down effectively,’ Odessa admonished.

‘Here’s the issue, Buko. Olivia is too pretty … Do everything to make sure no man takes her away from you,’ Juba advised.

‘Odessa, Juba … what can a man like me do to make a woman like Olivia wait for him. I have never been in love before. In fact, she’s my first girlfriend if I may say so.’

‘Buko, let’s just say it would be better if you tried to psyche her up a little bit and find out how she really feels about you and your continued friendship.’

‘Odessa … I’ve not thought about rushing her into any serious relationship, but I consistently let her know that I was gradually getting used to her.’

‘And what has been her response?’

‘Juba, she has all in all been very evasive. She tells me that our age difference has a lot to do with any thought of a future arrangement. I keep reminding her that where love is concerned, age is only a number.’

‘Let me ask you, Buko, has she even let you kiss her at all?’

‘A lot more than kissing, Juba. She lets me kiss her and caress her, and we do a lot of funny things together but no sex so far, and I seem to be okay with that … if only in taking it coolly with her, I will win her heart at the end.’

‘Buko, don’t let Olivia take you for a ride. Remember what Mr Hanson taught us in the Marketing Course? He said something about adopting an aggressive marketing policy, so you have to change your style and tactics. She’s a big girl, and she’s not going to tell you that she’s a virgin, after all.’

‘Odessa, sex is not love, and sex is of no consideration here in this matter. I believe in this thing call love. I just want to prove to her that my intentions are pure and not ulterior.’

‘Whatever! You expect her to give in to your jelly-jelly loving that easily. Wake up, bro, and put on some worthy manly action, or else before you know it, somebody you least expected will be licking her juices.’ Juba made a well-defined charge.

‘You are tripping, Buko. Even if your motives are not ulterior … it’s a threat to your lofty plans if somebody else gets to bed her on a very serious note.’ Odessa shared his views emphatically.

‘Well, I trust that one day, Olivia will see good reason and accept me as her future partner.’

‘Don’t live on vain dreams, Buko. All right, I know what to do … I’ll talk to Olivia on your behalf.’

‘Juba … you’ll do no such thing.’

‘Buko, you can bet on that. I don’t want her to break your heart. She could as much be eyeing one or two rich guys, and before you know it, she’s spirited away by a better man, zap! Don’t get me wrong. You are very handsome, rich, and intelligent … Any woman would want to have you, but let me tell you, Buko … that woman Olivia is only bidding her time to play in the big leagues. Why not take her friend Candice instead? She’s a great chick,’ Odessa jived humorously.

‘Don’t be funny, Odessa. How would Olivia feel about it?’

‘Candice has a crush on you, Buko. Candice is my sister’s friend, and she’s confided in my sister that she is dying to have you between her thighs,’ Odessa talked trash.

‘You are very corrupt-minded, Odessa. Sex is not everything. I have told you that before. Now, can we change the topic,’ Buko sort of protested.

‘Let’s go eat outside for a change,’ Odessa volunteered.

‘That would be cool,’ Juba supported the idea.

‘Buko, don’t forget to invite Olivia to the Kajetan’s party this weekend. The twins are having a great birthday bash, and you and your woman must not miss it. There’s going to be a show down of some sort.’

‘I don’t understand what you are talking about, Odessa, but we will be there all the same.’

Buko Adonis was not going to be the one to play foul and hurt Olivia. Factually, Buko simply adored Olivia and sought to please her with a passion. Buko was not the kind of guy who would double-deal, so any talk about him having to date some other girl because Olivia would not let him past her iron curtain was absurd. Buko believed so much in Olivia and was prepared to shield her from the vituperations of his friends Odessa Amba and Juba Jokolo.

One of those days while Buko was still in his first year, a girl named Clarisse Johansson, a black American student on exchange programme from the Music Department, met Buko Adonis at a musical concert during the student’s week and fell head over heels in love with him at first sight. It was a musical rendition from Buko Adonis and his Accapella Group – New Age Gospel that made an instant impact on Clarisse. The programme was not yet over, when she walked up to him and congratulated him in a very unusual manner. As soon as she introduced herself and gained his attention, she grabbed his face smartly and kissed him straight away without leaving him any moment to rebuff her. And then she went on to pour encomiums on him. Buko felt embarrassed because Olivia Soares was backstage waiting for him to come to her and perhaps was watching the whole episode.

His suspicion was rife as Olivia was certainly watching.

‘Come on, Clarisse, let me introduce you to my girl,’ he said loud enough for Olivia to overhear him. They both walked up to where Olivia was standing, and on getting there, Buko took Olivia’s hands into his.

‘Sweetheart … someone I don’t know from Adam but who happens to like the way I sing.’

‘You are funny, Buko,’ Clarisse observed.

‘Clarisse … meet my girl Olivia. Olivia, meet Clarisse.’

‘Hai, Olivia.’

‘Pleased to meet you, Clarisse.’

‘Forgive my rude behaviour, for kissing your man … He deserved it, especially coming from a pretty American girl like me.’

‘Did you plan to come here and steal the spotlight from me knowing I am in his company?’

‘My mistake and my apologies.’

‘Really, really. I don’t blame you, Clarisse … I can see how your heart throbbed with excitement, and you equally kissed him without giving any thought to it. If you are trying to steal him away from me … I give you a fair warning … don’t even try it.’

‘Is that so? I can see through you, Olivia, or whatever you call yourself … you are a fake. You are a pretender. Why don’t you leave the art of real loving to serious-minded people like us and stop wasting this gentleman’s time?’

Olivia instinctively gave Clarisse a dirty slap across her mouth, and Clarisse retaliated with a slap on Olivia’s face. Buko Adonis jumped in-between, stopping further affray.

‘Clarisse, who sent you to come and embarrass us like you’ve done? Stay away from me and my girl if you know what’s good for you.’

‘Oh no, Buko, you have become the cocoyam soft bottom for this girl Olivia. The truth is, I know her …,’ Clarisse said with some hesitation.

‘Know her from where … how?’

‘Me and her, we’ve met before … We’ve partied together,’ Clarisse said with an affront.

‘I don’t know where you’re coming from … you bitch,’ Olivia reacted.

‘All right, I’ll refresh your memory, b-i-t-c-h. Elite Club downtown … Does that sound familiar? Deny it if you will, but Buko deserves to know the truth.’ What Clarisse said hit Olivia like a deadly blow below the belt. It was a stark reality staring her right in the face.

‘It’s none of your business. Is that why you came purposely to cause a stir? Sorry about your damn luck,’ Olivia managed.

Three more girls pulled up and joined issues.

‘Clarisse baby, what’s she got to say?’ one of them asked, and the others with her burst into a snaring laughter.

‘Come on, Olivia … this certainly is a set-up. From the way they are acting, you can see that they are acting out somebody’s script,’ Buko said and pulled Olivia away.

The two left for a house party in one of their lecturer’s house who was holding a house-warming ceremony, having just packed into his newly acquired duplex. With that, Buko and Olivia never talked about that last incident for a long time until the girl Clarisse trailed Buko Adonis to where he was meeting with his friends Odessa, Juba, and Harry. It was at a joint where the quartet usually met on Saturdays in the cool evening to drink fresh evening up-wine accompanied by goat meat pepper soup. Clarisse went along with her three girlfriends and asked to join the male counterparts.

‘We meet again, Mr Buko Adonis.’

‘Why are you trailing me? You caused enough havoc the other day, and for today, what do you have up your sleeves?’

‘If I am trailing you, it is because I am interested in you, period.’

‘You must be out of your mind,’ Cervantes responded with displeasure.

‘Well, in a lighter mood, we came to enjoy ourselves with you guys. We’re glad to make your acquaintances.’

‘You girls came at a good time. Sit down and make yourselves comfortable … Forget Buko. By the way, Buko … do you know these girls?’ Juba teased.

‘I have issues with this one who calls herself Clarisse.’

‘Clarisse looks nothing short of take away, and you don’t like such a beauty dropping on your laps like manner from heaven?’

‘He’s not looking my way because of that two-timing bitch of a girl who calls herself Olivia.’

‘What did you just say? You better watch your tongue.’

‘Ask your friend Juba … We’ve talked about it before.’

Buko waited until the girls were served before he made any commentary.

‘Clarisse claims that Olivia’s been meeting a man at the Elite Club in downtown Lagos metropolis.’ Juba took the initiative before Buko had anything to say.

‘It’s not once or twice or thrice.’

‘Are you sure, Clarisse? Because if you are deliberately trying to run down Olivia for your very own selfish reason, you and me will share words,’ Buko disposed.

‘I am sure, and another thing I am sure about is that Buko has not confronted her because he’s blinded by his fantasy love for her.’

‘Buko … who’s this girl?’

‘Odessa, believe me, I don’t know her from Adam, but she claims to know Olivia so well without Olivia haven’t ever made her acquaintance.’

‘And like she’s said, have you confronted Olivia about it?’

‘There’s no point. I know what she will say. She will say I have no right to control her nor was she expected to obtain permission from me to associate with whoever she chooses,’ Buko Adonis explained.

‘Hear him … Just listen to your friend. Buko Adonis, I dare you to confront her if you have the balls.’

‘My friend Buko does not want to hurt Olivia. He adores her for all I know,’ Juba noted.

‘And how does that make sense? Did you hear him? He makes me sick.’

‘Clarisse, I know for a fact that the day I confront her, it will witness the end of our relationship,’ Buko bared his mind.

‘And you don’t want that to happen,’ Odessa opined.

‘Let’s just say I love Olivia a lot.’

‘And how’s that working out for your tomorrow with her?’ Harry Harry interjected for the first time.

‘Buko, I am just concerned,’ Clarisse interrupted.

‘Don’t be because I am pretty confident you wouldn’t fair better. You should just be concerned that I am not interested, so don’t try to implant yourself somehow by substituting yourself in place of Olivia,’ Buko warned.

‘There you are. Well, it’s not that it is without consequences.’

‘What are you talking about, Clarisse?’

‘Just mark my words … Olivia will break your heart, and I will be right here waiting for you.’

‘Thank you. Please don’t make me lose my appetite.’

A note of finality had been struck, and from then onward, they ate and drank in silence. When they resumed further conversation, the guys and the gals were getting real acquainted. There was no good reason for Buko to bluff Clarisse if indeed what she alleged was true. If it came the way his friends expected, sooner or later, Buko was going to get hurt and pretty badly too.

Buko Adonis and Olivia Soares were home in his apartment for the weekend without the disturbing presence of his friends. Olivia had elected to spend a quiet time with him, so he pleaded with his friends to spare him the hassles and their intimidating presence.

She wanted to cook for him her favourite Liberian dish, and he was enthused to experience a different cuisine for a change. As they were sitting at a table enjoying the delicious meal, Buko found it the most befitting moment to pop the unusual question.

‘Olivia … will you marry me?’

‘I guess not. Frankly speaking … you are intelligent … almost a first-class material. You are smart, handsome, and generally very liberal-minded, but you are not my type, Buko.’

‘Never heard anything like that before. What type do you like … a scientist or a marine?’

‘I want a real man and not a grown boy.’

‘Olivia, you are not bigger than me.’

‘Agreed but by age …’

‘Olivia … when it concerns the things of the heart, I told you before and I mean to say it again … age is just a matter of numbers. I can take you down like a man and roughen you fearlessly.’

‘You talk stupidly like a spoilt child.’

‘Prove that you are my better, Olivia. I could smack you in a bitchy way that would make you lose control.’

‘Me! Lose control? Perhaps but until that day comes.’

‘Olivia, if you continue treating me the way you do … you’ll make me love somebody else.’

‘Really! Oh … you want to take the initiative.’

‘Not exactly, Olivia … it’s just that I don’t understand even why you still stick around with me. My friends say that when you are ready to play in the big league, you will dump me.’

‘I don’t like your friends even though I pretend to. They are a nuisance. They know that you like me a lot and I like you too … so why are they trying to separate us.’

‘My friends like you a lot, but they want something more for you and me, if that is not asking too much.’

‘I wish they would mind their own bloody business.’

‘Olivia … don’t you want to know my expectations for you?’ Buko was trying to entice Olivia into a sweet surrender.

‘Am all ears.’

‘Bonding with you would mean a significant investment.’

‘What do you mean, Buko?’

‘With a woman like you in my life would assist me to make remarkable achievements all around. I don’t mean to inconvenience you in any way. I have my own modest financial outlay to take good care of you and make life a little less laborious for you.’

‘I enjoy the friendship, Buko.’

‘Is that all … that is it? And you advertise me everywhere and give people the wrong impression that you are in love with me when you are not, haba! Olivia.’

‘Let me confess to you, Buko. I wish it could be that easy to fall in love with you.’

‘Is it because of the other man?’

‘Who told you there was another man? Did you believe that slut Clarisse?’

‘My friends think she was telling the truth about you.’

‘And what do you think about me, Buko?’

‘Your guess is as good as mine. I think you are playing me for a fool. But let me say this, Olivia … once I find out that you have another man that you are in love with, I’ll leave honourably. I don’t think you are worth fighting for.’

‘You don’t think I am worth dying for, Buko?’

‘No, Olivia … you are not. Prove your love for me, and I will take you more seriously. From now onwards, I will give myself the benefit of the doubt. You cannot eat your cake and have it, Olivia.’

That weekend ended on a very terse note filled with oddities, and Buko rued the day he met Olivia. As it seemed, he was about to lose out of the bargain. Buko Adonis had wasted his time with Olivia, and he was discouraged having put in so much to please her and got nothing tangible in return. Had she agreed to love him in return, it could have pleased him to do anything for her.

One day, Buko Adonis after a long while got the services of a young man and paid him handsomely to trail Olivia Soares on a certain rainy day when traffic was thin and not many people were outdoors. From all indications, Olivia and her secret lover had changed their rendezvous, but like the old saying has it, what goes around always comes around.

Olivia met with her lover at Caciques Suites and Gardens on Allen Avenue. When the pictures were brought in by the hired hand, it had Buko Adonis stunned. It was plain truth that Olivia was in an affair with a middle-aged man. Pictures tell no lies. It was this conclusive evidence that Buko needed to confront Olivia with. He took exception to the continued romance existing between his girl and another strange man whom he was yet to identify.

Another week passed before Buko Adonis had the courage to share the evidence with his friends, and when he did, it was a very emotional moment with vile content.

‘What did I say to you some time ago? You did not want to believe me when I said Olivia was keeping you as a plaything while harbouring another man in her comfort zone. Did I not say she was wilfully deceiving you? Now what are you going to do … break up with her?’

‘Most unlikely.’

‘Most unlikely? Are you crazy or what? Are you under some kind of spell, or has she given you any love portion? Get over it, man.’

‘Odessa, look at it this way. It’s too early in the day to start throwing tantrums at each other. Let me go a little soft on her. Maybe somehow along the way she’ll come to reason.’

‘She will come to reason as to whatever sort of plaything she has made out of you,’ Juba jived.

‘Juba, you don’t seem to understand.’

‘No, Buko … it’s you that doesn’t seem to understand. Let her love you truthfully or let her set you free. We, your friends, don’t like Olivia taking you for a ride. Don’t think we are interfering in your personal matter, but as a matter of fact, Olivia sucks, and you better get on an even page with us.’

‘Buko, do you really want to let all these go for nothing? If you don’t want Clarisse … what about Candice? Any of the two girls could provide a comfort zone for you.’

‘Harry Harry, don’t forget the main passion, why we are here. It’s for education and that comes first before any other extraneous activity.’

‘Okay, if that’s how you put it … me … I like love and love issues a lot but blame yourself if things don’t work out fine eventually. Remember, it’s dirty Harry that said that.’

‘I knew you guys would go on some ego trip.’

‘Buko … ego trip you mean? Who has a bigger ego than you amongst us all? Olivia is bad news, whether you accept it or not. Which good friend truly does such a thing to a beloved friend? If you are preparing to accept the definitive final breaking-up statement from her, try confronting her with the evidence at your disposal and see what happens.’

‘Why are you behaving like some kind of a castrated bull?’

‘What did you call me, Odessa?’

‘You heard me.’

‘You are a bad influence, my friend.’

‘Then quit our company if you don’t mind,’ Odessa read the riot act to Buko Adonis.

‘Meaning what exactly?’ Buko was on the defensive so confused.

‘Meaning that we will not be keeping you company any more unless you dump that worthless two-timing cheat called Olivia.’

‘Juba, are you guys serious? Is this how much you people hate Olivia, and are you not going to give her an opportunity to make up her mind eventually?’ Buko tried to make a case for Olivia Soares.

‘Go to hell,’ Odessa slammed.

Buko Adonis’s friends walked away from him and never looked back. He was piqued by their audacity. But all the same, he went home in shame with his tail tucked in between his thighs, and more dumbfounded than ever.

Some days later, Buko Adonis had a heart-to-heart talk with Olivia.

‘What is really your reason for not wanting to get intimate with me, if I may ask? Because my motives are genuine and nothing ulterior about my passion for you.’

‘Buko, to tell you the truth, I don’t want to send you the wrong signals. Loving you the way you want would not eventually amount to anything. I am about three years older than you … and that is a minus for you.’

‘And that is extremely doubtful, but I look three years your senior. I am stronger … bigger and more of a macho man, isn’t that correct?’

‘Don’t make yourself a headache for me because you want to … why don’t you rather find some other girl for yourself? In fact, Buko, get a life.’

‘Olivia … what an affront! Do you know that I could be more of a headache if you keep on treating me the way you do? Some of my friends say you suck, and I couldn’t agree with them more. Listen to me, Olivia, and listen good … someday, I think we are going to have to redo this conversation again, and when that time comes … the tables will turn, believe me.’

‘There is nothing in it, Buko. I want a real man whom I can depend on … a man who can help make my dreams come true. Let me ask you, Buko … do you really know the sort of dreams I am chasing after?’

‘You tell me, Olivia.’

‘Life has been rude to me of late, and I swore not to give into an awkward fate so easily. I want the best out of life and any man who can turn this twisted fortune around and make me feel a good sense of belonging … I need such a man, not a boy.’

‘You stop minimising me forthwith. I am a big boy, and I can even handle a big girl like you and your betters. I can effectively do what a woman wants and more … any how you want it.’

‘Typical macho ego. You think you can handle me?’

‘Olivia, believe me, I can handle you any how you want it … any time, baby.’

‘How pathetic that your whole thought is messed up about this love thing. Was that the real reason why you helped me all at first time because you wanted to get a leeway into making out a relationship with me?’

‘Listen, Olivia, you have to change your whole bad attitude towards me because I am not going to continue tagging along. I know for certain that you can’t stand the fun of another woman loving me.’

‘Are you planning to dump me?’

‘That’s a poor use of English. We haven’t got anything started, and you are talking about dumping. Nothing exists between us, Olivia.’

‘What exactly are you talking about, Buko?’

‘These …’ He handed her the pack of pictures.

For a moment, Olivia was startled as she browsed through the photographs.

‘Where did you get these?’

‘Where you were found nestling … isn’t it familiar?’

‘What’s your problem, Buko? You couldn’t have done this on your own, so you paid somebody to follow me everywhere … Are you for real?’

‘Olivia, I don’t intend to have a nuisance value. That’s why I am cutting through the chase. Is he the reason for the way you treat me? Are you in love with him?’

‘Buko, you know as well as I know that I could never really love you even if I wanted to.’

‘What a pathetic confession. What a gloating way you put it. So you willingly played me and were deceiving me all along. Thank you for finally being shamefully honest for once.’

‘Don’t blame … I didn’t know how to tell you. I didn’t know how to face the truth.’

‘Who is he, Olivia … you mind telling me?’

‘He’s my father’s friend. He is Brigadier General Makamanda,’ she responded tersely.

‘Oh, quite a big shot! Why did he stay so late before getting married? Ain’t he a little bit much older than you? Is he the kind of dream man for you?’

‘Oh! Gracious me … if I would like to borrow your very words, Buko. Age is only a matter of numbers. Love is the real thing. His first wife died at childbirth, and he has remained for that long before deciding to remarry.’

‘I won’t give you the satisfaction of having you as my battleground because I wouldn’t want to have myself killed by a frustrated jealous lover with a propensity to go insane over the issues of the heart.’

‘Buko, don’t make any trouble for me. If you claim you love me like you say … ease off quietly,’ Olivia pleaded.

‘Does your father know you are going out with him?’

‘I suppose so. He takes me out with his tacit approval.’

‘And he has said nothing about it?’

‘My father thinks he’s going to marry me, so I don’t think otherwise.’

‘But you know that I really love you, Olivia. I have never fallen in love like this before. Do you want a confession? I am a virgin, and I want you to be the one to love me for real, and if you think you know what I mean, you’ve got to lead the way.’

‘No, no, no, Buko, I … I don’t need a virgin. If I did, I could have gone to the maternity ward to get me a baby boy. I would watch him grow … I would groom him into what I want him to be.’

‘Olivia, I am giving you my whole heart on a platter of gold. For the last time … love me, Olivia, or set me free. We won’t go beyond here and now. All of the foolhardiness ends here. Tonight is the night when we tell ourselves the truth.’

‘I am sorry, Buko. There is no place in my heart for you, and now that you know the truth that I cannot really love you … don’t be a nuisance.’

‘This is betrayal, Olivia. You stab me in the back, and it’s frustrating to say the least. A day comes and I will remember all of these. I hope it will never be a backlash. You know when one spits in the face of the wind, chances are that it will come blowing back in the face.’

‘There will never be a day like that in this lifetime, Buko. I can assure you of that.’

‘Don’t bet on it, Olivia, you know what they say … revenge is sweet. You shall see, sooner or later … a moment comes and you are going to cry for me and I will watch lonely tears of regret bath your weary eyes and lonely face.’

‘Are you threatening me, Buko?’

‘No, it’s a promise. But for now, let’s remain friends … my dear Olivia.’

‘Buko, suit yourself, but I am done with friendship with you because it won’t take us anywhere and it won’t do us any good.’

‘So this is it … is this goodbye?’

‘Am afraid so, Buko. Let’s just kiss and say goodbye because this is the last time we are meeting here like this.’

‘Olivia, did you plan it this way? If so, I don’t need your kisses. Even though tears come to my eyes watching you leave, I’ll be strong and take courage in the fact that if you don’t love me, somebody else will. Maybe in the afterlife we may meet, and you and me would still meet again and fall in love … after you might have learnt the cruel lessons of this lifetime.’

‘Buko, do you really believe there is an afterlife?’

‘Something like that and how perhaps do you hope to live with the possibility that in this life, the tables could turn and you’d be looking up to me for one thing or the other?’

‘Perhaps it could be incidental some ways, but certainly not in the issue of love.’

‘Olivia, don’t be too sure of that.’

‘I can bet my life on it. You are handsome, intelligent, and macho, and any woman would want to have you but honestly not me.’

‘You really hate me, Olivia. You think I am an opportunist. If I had known it would finally amount to this, then I wouldn’t have wasted my time, my money, my love, and devotion on you.’

‘What do you mean by that?’

‘I mean goodbye, Olivia.’

‘Just like that?’

‘Yes, just like that. It is time for me to go because I heard you say there is not much for us to do together anymore. But I will say this to you … if I had my life to live all over, I’ll like to live it all over with you and that’s for sure, because in my heart, my love will remain for you when all is said and done.’

‘Buko, just as you have said … when all is said and done … I will always remember you as a friend. Goodbye, Buko Adonis.’

Buko Adonis swallowed his pride and left in shame. Thoughtlessly, he walked straight into Clarisse Johansson’s arms and that seemed like another awful mistake. Being that this girl Clarisse was all out to win him for herself, he should have exercised some caution and acted circumspectly instead of jumping from the frying pan into the fire.

That evening after Buko left Olivia Soares, he met his friends and told them he was done patronising her and told them all what she had said to him which forced his hand to do the unthinkable.

‘Now for once you have acted like a man. There is no shame in losing a beloved friend, so don’t gloat over it,’ Juba Jokolo encouraged.

‘Olivia Soares from now on is just like a fleeting memory, perhaps a bad dream so to say, and I am moving on to live my life to the fullest.’

‘That’s my boy. You are talking like a man … Welcome to freedom. Say hello to sanity.’

‘Let’s go on and get soaked, Buko,’ Odessa volunteered.

‘I love it … I am with you all the way. How about the girls? Are they handy?’ Buko asked with excitement.

‘Honestly, Buko, if you need Clarisse, you can call her and she’d happily come running.’

‘I guess our friend Buko now needs genuine company, so I will call Clarisse … or would you prefer Candice?’ Juba teased.

‘I don’t really have a choice, do I?’

It was a bad evening. At the back of his mind, Buko remembered a familiar Bible portion which states thus: ‘If sinners entice you, do not consent.’ Buko Adonis consented, and that night, his friends got him astray. He ended up having too much to drink and was led by Clarisse to do the unthinkable. He went home with Clarisse, and guess what happened. The four girls with Clarisse inclusive viciously raped the living day lights out of him. It was a hellish, harrowing experience that words cannot easily describe.

When they were done, they left him as miserably drunk and abused. He was more devastated than he first nursed the idea of a nightcap with his new girl Clarisse. He could not undo what had already been done, and his friends blamed him for being overexcited. He adjudged they purposely made him look stupid because they surreptitiously made him have his first baptism of fire in a foursome sex orgy such that he had never experienced before. That night, he lost his virtue and innocence. Buko Adonis rued what had happened to him. It was like an axe mark of ruination, and he felt a thousand times like a castrated bull.

From that day, Buko Adonis kept a little distance from his friends and especially Clarisse. It was not long before Buko Adonis discovered that Clarisse, his Afro American beauty, was a complete bad ass layabout. It pained him that he had made a bad judgement at a time that it mattered most. He could not help but blame Olivia Soares for the misadventure. Come to think of it, those oversexed bitches could have raped him to death judging by the merciless and vicious way they took him out. He would eternally blame Olivia for exposing him to misery by letting him walk eyes wide open into harm’s way.

Somehow Buko Adonis blamed himself for not being thoughtful in his dealings with the opposite sex. This certainly was not how he planned for his life. He had thought that from the very religious, God-fearing background of his, he would have loved to find for himself a good female friend with high morals and as they courted respectfully and in sincerity, they would end up being engaged and eventually get married, but now all that had changed and he was going through life learning the hard way.

Buko Adonis still kept his distance away from his friends, and try as hard as they could, he had not changed his attitude towards them. Even though he was lonely in the real sense of the word because he chose to walk alone and attain to his everyday maters all by himself, he was not in a hurry to find himself a new companion, be it a man or a woman.

After a long lull, he was beginning to get used to life on the lonely lane. He comforted and encouraged himself, especially that he had set out a path for himself, he was prepared to follow even without the help of any personal friends, man or woman.

Not too long, on a rainy stormy day, he was to ask a favour of sharing an umbrella with a girl to enable him to get to his car parked a distance away from the lecture hall. What an awkward surprise! The girl turned out to be the one he deliberately tried to avoid, and as he clasped his hand around her shoulders to tuck himself into the comfort of the small umbrella, she startled him with what she said first to him, ‘Oh blimey! It’s you Buko Adonis … what an awful surprise!’

‘Hai, Candice, it’s not as if it is doomsday.’

‘So why have you been deliberately avoiding me? I’ve done you no wrong. You were a friend to my girlfriend, so when your affairs with her broke up, should I be the one to be blamed for it?’

‘No offence meant. We came to the university from the same neighbourhood, so there shouldn’t be any animosity between us even in the least.’

‘So watching you come and go, it’s a kind of lonely feelings I would say. What are you doing to yourself, Buko?’

‘This is not the time and place for that line of conversation, Candice.’

‘What about your friends?’

‘Don’t push it, Candice. They did me a worse turn. What am I supposed to do? Go crawling back to them on all fours? That sort of touchdown would be grievous … you feel me, Candice?’

‘I feel you, Buko. I know my friend Olivia also did you a bad turn, so is that the end of life for you? Don’t you think you can still walk out into the sunshine and smile through life once again, to the chagrin of anybody who does not wish you well?’

‘How … how, Candice? Truth is, I tend to run and hide when life seems so insecure like it is at present.’

‘Buko, I feel your sadness … and through all the madness and disappointments, let me be the one desolate island you run to for solace.’ She offered herself to him willingly.

‘I have been hurt, abused, battered, and bruised inside out.’

‘Then let me please be the balm of Gilead, to soothe the bruises. Let my love be a cure for all of your wounds if you still believe in this thing called love.’

‘Candice, you make it sound not only very emotional but also very poetic.’

And they walked up to his car. It was time to say goodbye, but that was not to be because she stuck to her guns, and despite his cynicism, she was willing to take it a step further.

‘This is it, Candice … I think I better go home.’

‘No, Buko, this isn’t goodbye. Let’s go home.’

‘Are you sure you want to do this, Candice?’

‘This is our special moment. Why waste it? It’s been a long time coming. I have the honour and privilege to share your evening. Let’s have a good laughter and relive the memories of the bad yesterdays of our childhood. I’ve got something to tell you, Buko.’

‘Candice, it couldn’t have come at a better time than this. Let’s go home.’

‘Thank you, Buko, for not pushing me away from you. It’s time to make friends. Don’t you think so?’

‘It a good thing you came along. Thank you, Candice. I appreciate your sincere effort to start this friendship with me.’

That was the surprise package, and as the two known friends started on the uncertain road into the unforeseen future together, the mutual respect they had for each other and the willingness to experiment on something new and walk through ruggedly dangerous terrain and frontiers meant their hearts were set to find lasting love. That was exactly Candice’s expectation, which was to make the best out of a bad situation.

Buko Adonis welcomed Candice Stratton, the beautiful South African girl, into his off-campus apartment and, by hindsight, into his life as invariably he had opened the door of his heart to her. It was a merry, cheery evening for the two as they relived their past. They shared pleasantries, and by the shortening of the evening shadows, the two having had much red wine to drink in celebration of the unexpected start of their union, they slept off.

It was a big promising move, and it was a worthwhile experiment. When morning came, the two were doubtful if they had started well or badly as perhaps they had different expectations, inhibitions, and all that fantasy stuff.

‘What a night that was!’

‘You slept like a baby, Candice. I watched your eyes closed, and your face looked peaceful and quiet in sleep.’

‘What happened to us? Did you touch me?’ Candice was doubtful.

‘Touch you how and why? … I also fell asleep after you. What did you expect?’

‘I was thinking if …’

‘If I took advantage of you? No … that would be not only impolite but ungentlemanly. I have not and will never take advantage of you nor any woman no matter the circumstances. I didn’t consent to bring you to my apartment because I thought you would be an easy lay, but rather I wanted us to explore the possibility of a lasting friendship, and as far as I am concerned, that should not be based on a foundation of falsehood or betrayal,’ Buko explained.

‘I am surprised there are still men who think the way you do. Most men could have snatched the opportunity which made itself available and deal with the woman. After all, they would say that the woman willingly followed the man home.’

‘No, not me, Candice. Why would I rush into you like a bird-brained fool … I mean, I should not repeat the same mistake over and over. Otherwise, it would mean that I am not learning anything. I had a terrible experience with Clarisse and would loathe such to repeat itself.’

‘Do you like me at all, Buko?’

‘Frankly, for now, I think I like you.’

‘You think?’

‘What else can I say? Even though we have lived next door, we have never really befriended each other, and we have only been acquainted for a few hours. Who knows, by a few more days, we can get to really like each other more, and that’s the truth, Candice.’

‘Well, thank you for being so candidly honest. I think I like you too and want to get to like you more.’

‘Exactly. I can say that in spite of myself, I would like to be your friend, Candice.’

‘Oh, Buko, that sounds so sweet … I accept.’

‘Shall I shoot from the hip, Candice?’

‘Buko, take your best shot if you care.’

‘Don’t want to love me if you will break my heart. Don’t even start giving your love to me if you hope to mistreat me and have me hate you in return just like Olivia did.’

‘On the platform of love, I personally think nothing could be simpler than the truth imparted from the heart in a very understandable manner. I won’t make any promises because that