Evergreen Emerald (Episode 2) BY VICKYBON

Kokomma smoothed down her skirt when she stepped on the verandah with Solo.

Etini had been sitting obediently on the pavement.

“Hello Eti, how are you doing?” Solo asked crispily. Etini nodded calmly. “I am okay sir.”

Solo smiled, “Don’t call me sir please. Look,” He dragged Kokomma to himself, “your friend is my girlfriend, so we’re almost on the same level. Don’t call me sir.”

Etini nodded and stood up immediately. “Let’s go Koko.” She said sharply and began to walk away hastily.

“Wait for me…” Kokomma said as she hugged and kissed Solo softly on the lips and ran after Etini.

“First, thank you for your time. I am grateful. Kokomma said as they walked along the road.

“This is the last time I will be accompanying you anywhere. You told me that you won’t waste time, and we wasted more than seven hours there. You have put me in trouble.”

“I am sorry. Solo needed me around. We will lie and cover up.”

“Lie? Are you not always tired of lying? I am not used to this kind of life please.” Etini said bitterly.

“I am sorry.” Kokomma hung her hands on Etini’s shoulders.

“What was that sound I heard you and Solo making?”

“Sex sound.”

“What’s sex sound?”

Sex sound is the sound you make when sex is sweet.”

Etini paused and turned to look at Kokomma, “You had sex with Solo?”

“Of course, I am big enough to decide what I want for myself.”

“Does your parents know that
“Why should they know? Of course they don’t. My father will just kill me. My mother thinks I am still a virgin. I lost my Virginity since two years ago to my first boyfriend.”

Etini widened her mouth. “What? You lost your virginity at sixteen? To whom?”

“My Father’s assistant pastor. He is now the main pastor of Idahaokpo branch.”

“Pastor Jerry? That tall man that has a wife who is almost albino?”

“Yesss! You know him.”

Etini became amazed. ” You slept with a married man? A pastor?”

” He raped me. He was at our house for almost a month. He raped me the first day in the bathroom, and the second time he touched me gently and I began to like it. That was how we started having sex and he started visiting us often. My father would never believe this, even if you tell him. Pastor Jeremiah is my father’s godson. He thinks he is as holy as God himself.”

Etini shrugged.

“God is so merciful, if not, he would have sent his angels to make him confess and die at the podium for being so disgustingly sinful.”

“I liked it. He didn’t force me.” Kokomma said, laughing out loud.

“But you said he raped you.”

“Only once. That’s because I was stubborn.” Kokomma held Etini’s shoulders. “Hold on.” She said and pulled out some money from her tight underwear. “Solo gave me money for the pant, brassiere and lip gloss. I will share it with you.” She said as she counted the money with a gleam of humor.
“I don’t want his money.”

“Why? It’s my money now.”

“I don’t want.” Etini walked away boldly, Kokomma ran after her.

***********************

“Where are you coming from?” Etini’s mother asked. She was sitting on the sitting room couch with a long cane when Etini walked in.

“Chu…church.” She stammered.

Her mother chuckled and shook her head. “Is it the same church your father and I were at some hours ago? Where in church were you?”

Etini became mute as she stood attentively. Heat creep once more up her neck as she looked at her mother.

“Why do you want to disgrace me? Have you not seen the way other children behave in this compound? Have you ever heard your best friend Kokomma making her parents shout the way you make me and your father shout?” Her mother stood firmly. “Is it because I allowed you to perm your hair, that is why you have decided to disobey my orders and break the curfew?

Etini was still mute as she stared at the cane in her mother’s hands. Her pretty young face and her fair skin were filled with coats of sweats.

“I will not tell your father what has happened today. But I will surprise you. I will… When he comes back from church, I will tell him my mind.” Her mother disposed the cane on the floor and walked away.

Etini exhaled. Her beating heart paused as she walked to her bedroom and fell on the bed quietly.

“Eti!” Her mother yelled her name from the kitchen. She jumped off the bed, “Yes mama
“No dinner for you today. I am sure you’d eaten dinner wherever you came from. Make sure you kneel down and pray to God for forgiveness.”

“Yes ma.” Etini said softy as she pulled her clothes and tied her wrapper around her breast.

The next morning she woke up feeling strange and empty, like something had been taken away from her.

She woke up and stood in front of her bedroom mirror and her heart trembled when she saw that her head was bald. She ran out hastily from her bedroom, heading to the sitting room.

Her father’s eyebrows furrowed as he pulled his glasses when he saw Etini. “What happened to your long beautiful hair?” He asked in amazement.

I scrapped them off!” Her mother replied.

Etini was breathing heavily. “But mama why?” She asked in a broken voice.

“Ask me ‘why’ again and watch me burn all the clothes I bought for you in previous Christmases. Go and get your head tie and kneel down here for prayers.” Her mother said.

Etini walked away immediately and walked back with a purple head tie in her hands.

Good morning everyone, Do enjoy today with this episode. Don’t forget to comment, like and share.  Thank you for following.