Chapter 23: Chapter 23

I rushed to my room, everything was just the way I left them that Sunday afternoon when Juliet and Hannah called me out. I brought out all my documents and laid them on my bed, carefully arranging them into an A4 size envelope. Something caught my attention, it was my examination slip, the time for the exams was not 8 o'clock as I assumed, instead it was 9 o'clock. I checked it again and it was the same. This meant I had an hour to take my time in preparing, I felt a bit relieved.

I took out the cloth my sisters chose for me to wear, it was an Ankara jumpsuit, and a pair of white sneakers. I took a 15 minutes hot shower, taking my time to scrub dried blood on my body and if possible, the stench of hospital.

I'm not much of a makeup person, I only put on makeup on special occasions and it was my sister that usually do it for me. If I attempt making up on my own, it'll be a facial disaster. So I did what I could, I applied brown powder on my face and neck region, a little mascara and clear lip gloss.

I loosen the bandage around my head a little bit and pulled my hair up and made a tight bun at the top of my head and then tightened the bandage again. As I was putting on my shoes, the door to my room opened and a shrieking Juliet ran in, "mommy, mommy, you're back" I went on my knees and hugged her, I never knew how much I missed seeing her cute little face. "Yes, I'm back, but I need to hurry up and write my exams okay?" I told her and she nodded.

Hannah came in with a tray of food, I think you'd want to have this, instead of coffee and bacon. It was a plate of jollof rice and fried fish, she even made a plate of salad, thoroughly mixed with salad cream. I tasted the rice, it was good but not spicy enough, not bad for a first trial. The fish was perfect, spicy, not over fried. I tasted the salad, "oh my God Hannah, this is so good, this could make me forget my exams," I said. "Want some honey?" I asked Juliet

"mommy, my stomach will explode if I eat any other thing right now." she said.

"What means are you using to the exams centre?" Hannah asked, "I'll take a taxi, my examination centre is at School of Visual Arts, it'll be a 15 to 20 minutes drive. No biggie," I replied, stuffing my mouth with salad. "mommy, you've got salad cream around your mouth and chin," Juliet said giggling, "oh thank you honey," I said dabbing my mouth with a napkin, "I'm in a haste and this salad is so good, I can't help myself."

"Why not let Max take you with the other car," Hannah continued. "who's Max?" I asked, "he is one of the new bodyguards Jade employed to be at home whenever he's not with us," she replied. "There's no need for that, you know Jade still thinks I'm in the hospital, I don't want anyone reporting my every moves to him. I hope you understand," I said. I checked the time on my wrist watch, "7:48 I really need to go now. Thank you for the food Hannah." She and Juliet left the room, I was cross checking if I've carried everything with my when my mom called, "good morning ma," I greeted.

"Ukpono I've been trying to reach you but you've not been answering, is everything alright?" she asked. "of course ma, I've just been a lot busy, preparing for the exams and everything" I replied. "Alright, are you on your way now?"

"yes, I was about leaving when you called."

"okay, take care of yourself, good luck."

"thank you ma"

"and don't forget to talk to your Father before leaving"

"of course ma, how can I forget. talk later, bye bye"

I dropped my phone in my purse and knelt beside my bed, it's been a long time I did this. I clasped my hands together and closed my eyes shut, "Heavenly Father, I thank you for the life you have given to me. I thank you for the free air that I breath and for the wonderful family you've made me be a part of. I thank you oh Father for seeing me through everything that happened this past few days, for not letting it end my life, may your name continue to be exalted. Father this day I come to you with a contrite heart and beg you that whatever thing I may have done or thought or said, knowingly or unknowingly, which does not bring Glory to you, I beg you to forgive me. Use the precious blood of your son, Jesus Christ, who died on the cross of Calvary and wash away my sins so that they may not stand as a hindrance to my prayers. My Father and my God, I beg you to help me as I'm going to write my exams, take away any form of obstacle that my be on the road and let me arrive safely at my centre. When I write, please let me remember all that I studied, so that when the results are out, I will pass in flying colors and all glory will be accorded to you. I know that you will answer my prayers, do this and many more I pray, through the name of your son Jesus Christ, Amen."

I got up and saw Jade leaning on the doorway, looking at me "I never knew you were the religious type," he said. "There are a lot of things you don't know about me," I said "you're right, like tricking the nurse and bypassing my guards. Anyway, come let's go, I can help God answer one of your prayers. I'll take you safely to your centre and wait until you're done with your exams," he told me.

"I thought you didn't want me to write?" I asked "didn't you want me to lie and rest till the doctor deemed me fit to move?"

"You're here now aren't you? And you're perfectly fine, I wouldn't want you to hate me. I still want to marry you, remember." I laughed, he breath out in relief. "come on, you don't want to be late."Jade stopped near the school premises and told me to go in, ‘‘hold on," he said as I held the door knob to step down. "Huh!" He cupped my chin and kissed me, my brain went numb, butterflies danced inside my stomach, if not that I was sitting, my legs wouldn't have held me. This particular kiss was much better than the first, he used his tongue to spread my lips, my hands moved to his head, holding him to myself. He broke the kiss chuckling, I was breathing heavily, "you like it don't ya". Realization of what I did made my cheeks heat up in embarrassment, "you really are a naughty little devil. All I wanted to do is give you a good luck kiss, now look at what you've done to me," he said and I looked away.

"UK, take…a…look…at…me" he said taking time to pronounce each word. I looked at his face, "I know my face is pretty but I don't want you to look at my face, look down," he said, I raised a brow. He took my hand and placed it on his crotch, "what do you think you're doing?" I tried taking my hand off but he held it. "Can you feel it? Feel what only kissing you has done to me?" I gulped, "I…I…I have no idea what you're talking about. Let go of my hand I need to go in," "ok, I'll let you know what you did to me. You girly, you've made me hard and horny. You have to do something about it," he said

"What do you want me to do?" I feigned ignorance

"I want you to get rid of it," he replied, his voice dropping

"I can't do that because I have no knife with me, it would have been easy to cut it off"

"Are you out of your mind? You want to cut off my warrior?" he was shocked

"But you said I should get rid of it,"

"I said you should get rid of this hard on, make the standing warrior go back to sleep"

"oh, is that so? How do I go about it." I knew what he was driving at but I pretended I had no idea an played along with him.

"Your exams is in an hour isn't it?" I nodded, "perfecto. You know I saw a motel somewhere, very close to the centre. How about we go there and see what we can do, right now you're very tense and anxious to write. A little workout with me will do you good, it'll calm your nerves and I can get rid of this beast you woke in between my legs." Jade said.

"Mr Kale, are you really asking me to have sex with you an hour before my exams?" I asked folding my hands above my breast.

"That was uhmm... very straight to the point. If you put it out that way, yes, I am actually asking you to have sex with me. so, what do you say?" he smirked

"I say capital letter 'N' and capital letter 'O'. Now let go of my hand before I scream 'rape' and all of New York will descend upon you." I said pouting.

He didn't let me go immediately, he took my hand to his mouth and rubbed his lips at the back of my hand, "good luck UK, go in there and shine" "thank you," and off I went.

I went in with only the envelope containing my documents, 2 blue ink pens, 3 HB pencils, a pencil sharpener and an eraser. I left my phone and purse in the car.

I was trying to locate my examination hall when an Asian girl approached me, "hello, excuse me please," she said, "are you writing this exams or you are part of the invigilating team?"

"I'm writing the exams," I told her

"Hope you don't mind me asking but what subjects are you writing?" she asked

"I'm writing English language, literature in English and History," I replied.

"oh thank goodness, finally I've met someone who happens to write the same thing as I am. It's a bit confusing in her, if you don't mind I'd like us to hang out together. It'll be a lot comforting talking with someone that who shares something in common with me. Sorry if I wore you out with my blabbing. I'm Xiao Ling, I'm from Beijing, China," she said

"Ukpono Udofia, I'm from Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria."

We talked about ourselves, New York, the exams and many other things. It seemed we were old friends. I felt much at ease, laughing and chatting with her. We saw a spot with "ENGLISH LANGUAGE, LITERATURE IN ENGLISH AND HISTORY" written on a cardboard, there were about 50 candidates sitting there and we joined them.

"Sorry, is this seat taken?" A voice asked, we turned to see a handsome looking guy standing there, "no it's not, you can have it," I told him, Xiao Ling was still staring at him like a starved wolf looking at a healthy looking bunny. I jabbed her with elbow and she came back to reality, "you know it won't be bad if I write my exams and go back with a beau," she said in a way that the guy heard.

He looked at her and smiled, "that doesn't sound bad but my heart is racing for a particular black girl here," the guy said looking at me.

"You mean UK?" she asked him

"is that your name?" he asked me

"Yes, short for Ukpono and I'm taken"