ZADIRA (goddess of night) Another love journey

"Bright! " he called out after closing the black gate behind him, Bright sitting on a bench with Ken., with just boxer and singlet.

"Michaeloooo, my guy" he got up and shake his friend, he asked him to join both of them in playing the ludo but he shake his head.

"I am here to take my biology note with me, don't give me excuses like you ain't done with it"

"No problem, sit with Ken let me go in and get it for you" he lied, he didn't want to return the note 'cause he isn't done with it, and the biology master has threatened them of serious punishment to those with incomplete note.

"See Michael, I like Angel, you fit arrange the babe for me?" Afer Michael has settled with him on the bench, Ken. asked. Angela a female friend to Michael.

"You should meet her yourself, am not your messenger" he retorted, he got up from the bench walk up to the house that Bright disapeared into.

"See Bright, open this door" when he turned the door knob and the door refused to open, he knock and call his friend's name but no respond, on the other hand Bright is inside copying his note.

"I will talk to Angel if you will make, Bright open the door" afer he had knocked and got tired, he met Kennedy who has been watching the drama.

"You sure?" Ken. asked with big smile on his face, he imagine himself being the boyfriend of Angela who is beautiful and smart. Michael nodded in response, his eyes widen with great happiness, they both walk to the entrance door, Ken. Signaled him to hide beside the door.

"Bright, come out na lets continue our ludo, Michael don go" he said and waited for some minutes, the door knob turned, Bright pop his head to confirm if truly his friend is gone. after confirming they both march to where the bench is.

"Idiot!" Michael cursed under his breath, he went inside the large sitting room, pick his note on the table and returned back to were his friends are.

"Michael, am sorry, am not done with the note and it was the hand work of the devil" Michael didn't reply him, he hissed and opened the gate then left afterward. Bright glared at Ken.

--–

"Good afternoon, sir" Michael greeted the man who is busy reading from newspaper, with singlet and wrapper tied around his waist. At the entrance passage.

"Aahh.. my boy Michael, Angela is inside the house, you can go in and meet her" after he had adjusted his eye glass. Michael sighted the juice glass on the side table beside him and swalled, he hasn't eaten since morning.

"No sir, my aunty sent me to your wife" he said.

"She isn't yet back from Port Harcourt, go inside and wait for her" he thank him and went inside the house.

--

"Nonsense programme" she hissed and changed the channel, she has been doing that since she returned from school. The thought of Michael filled her mind, she didn't understand why he rejected his proposal. She bite her nail.

"Angy!" He called out to her, immediately he step into the room, she ignored him and acted like someone who is interested in whatever is showing on the television.

"Jesus!" He shouted when he glance at the time on the wall clock, he would have gone home to prepare what to eat if his aunty didn't asked him not to return home without what Angela mom is returning with from Port Harcourt.

-

"Help me Lord" he prayed, as he walk on the road that has no street light or tarred with heavy heart.he is so terrified as he hold the nylon on his hand and the book to his chest strongly.

"Stop there!" He ordered his victim, Michael nearly fall down due to fear of being robbed, he mind up 'cause if they left with what his aunty asked him to bring home with he is good as dead.

"Stop there!" He shouted after Michael who refused to stop, one of his guy jump out of the bush and push Michael down.

"Leave him alone" an angelic voice said behind them, she look so beautiful and grace with beads ad bracelets, she suck breath out of them 'cause of her beauty.

"Or what!" one of the thief removed his knife from his pocket smiling and walking towards the beautiful creature who is unmoved by his threat, the other thief give a light squeeze to his c–k when the thought of rape cross his mind.

"Fight yourself" she ordered, her eyes color up with blood and her mouth moves with incoherent words. They both attack each other with venom of death, Michael quickly walk upto her.

"Who are you?" He asked, as he watch her in awe. he felt sorry for both thieves who are best of friends now fighting each other to death.

"Am Zadira, the princess of the Ikoro the spirit world" rumbling of thunder as she speaks, Michael took to his heels, she laughed and disappeared leaving the thieves who are not with their mind fighting against themselves.

"My Zadira"

To Be Continued....

"Where do you say he went to?" After he glanced at the wall clock several times.

"I sent him to check if Angela mother is back, if she is not back, he should return" she lied to increase his punishment.

"Because of that Angela of a girl, he decided to stay back, I will surely deal with him" he clench his fists, rest his head on the chair. Escaping the outer world to think of a perfect punishment.

---

"Uncle and aunty, good evening" his body shake with freight as his uncle continuely hit his right foot on the floor, his wife stretch her hand to have what he brought.

"So Michael you want to impregnate a girl at this age" he took the whip lying on the floor, flogging him mercilessly without pity.

"Shut up and kneel down there, your hands on the air" Jackson ordered. He did what he ordered him to.

"So who gave you the audacity to stay back?" He asked pulling his belt from his belt holes, to start another round of beating.

"Au...nty said I should wait till she return" Jackson landed his belt on his body, kicking and punching him too, to his satisfaction.

"You dare called my wife a liar, you won't eat to Night" he left the sitting room fuming with anger.

"Is better you die and join your useless parents, cursed child!" She spit at crying Michael and left him in the parlour alone to nurse his bruises and broken heart.

--

"Mama and papa, why do you leave me all alone in this wicked world?" He clean the incessant dropping tears with back of his hand, he covered the wrapper on his body and lie on the mat.

"My stomach" he groan, the worms in his stomach are demanding food.

-–

"Where is this useless boy?" Felicia glance at the wall 4:25am, she stroll through the passage and open a door that faces the kitchen, the storeroom.

"You will see today" she snap her finger on seeing sleeping Michael on the mat, she picked up a long cane and a bottle of water.

"Aaaahhh..." he winced in pains, as his aunty poured him water then followed by hard flogging.

"You want to beat me? Ewooooh!" Felicia screamed when she notice that his screaming have alerted everyone in the house.

"Beat who?" Jackson asked, joined his wife in beating poor Michael, this is another trouble morning for him, no food for him till he returns for school.

-–

"Michael, can you help us out of your incessant yawning, you want to swallow everyone here?" Badu, the biology teacher warned sternly, the fourth time Michael yawned in his class, the class roared with laughter when his joke register in their mind.

"If you know, your note isn't complete. Kindly march out with your matchet" he ordered after the bell ring has jingled the bell for change of lesson, Kennedy and Bright march out with their matchets surprising Michael who have given each of his friend his note for good two weeks, they followed the teacher out of the class.

--

"Take" Becky who woke sleeping Michael, gave him 50naira to buy what he will eat during the break, everyone is aware of his aunty cruelty.

"Thank you, Beck" he took the money and thank her profusely, he ran out of the class jumping and dancing happily.

--

"See the mumu there" the short albino among his three friends pointed to where Michael is eating biscuits and pure water hungrily, three of them walk to where Michael is.

"Good afternoon, seniors" Michael stood up and greet three of them, the older one who is not meant to be a student in sss3 anymore gave him a hot slap that he staggered backward.

"Girlfriend snatcher" he cursed Michael, he wanted to slap him again instead of him, he slapped his albino friend. The three friends start slapping each other to the amazement of Michael.

"So is you?" Michael asked foolishly as he sighted Zadira sitting and swinging her legs on a class window.

"Gracious Zadira"

To Be Continued.....

"Can you please, release them?" Michael begged when the random slap seem to have no ending, their cheeks is redden already due to the slaps and the punishment is enough already. Where ever they see Michael they will surely take another route.

"Sure?" He nodded, she joined her hands together thick dark smoke emanate from the joined palm, they stopped slapping themselves and run away without knowing what is after them.

"Hahaha!" Michael drop to the pavement due to the directionless run they took, he shakes his head in pity. Zadira gave him a food flask.

"Thanks, am not hungry" he shyly said looking down at his feet, she didn't say anything and disappeared without letting him say the next words in his mouth.

-–

"Is that not your bestie?" Cherish tapped Angela who is not looking at her direction, Angela turned to see Michael, she nodded and wanted to avert her eyes but her friend's words caught her off guard.

"Do you see who he is talking to, hunger don make person mad oohh.." she rub her two palms together. Angela glared at her. She drags her away from under the mango tree they were standing.

-–

"Aunty, good afternoon" Michael greeted the lady at her 30s wearing wrapper and a white polo, she look up and nodded then continue washing the 5 heads of pawpaw fruit.

"Michael oohh.." she called after him after some minutes, he rushed out wearing trouser and blue shirt. Her eyes hovered all over him and noticed that all the bruises are gone. she was scared at first but she didn't want to shoe it because of her pomposity and hatred for Michael.

"Weeks ago you said you want to pay for your exam fee, since your exam is starting tomorrow. Sell off these pawpaw heads" she instructed with her hand dragging her left ear to show seriousness.

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

"Come and buy your pawpaw! " he carried it on his head without complain, he is determined to sell all of it, because the returns will be will be used to pay for his promotional exam fee. His uncle is capable of paying it but his wife and him are determined to make life a living hell for the poor boy, the thought of it alone brings tears to his eyes

-–

"Come and buy your sweet pawpaw!" He left Abuja street to the T junction leading to mechanic road and federal road, he decide to go to his right which is federal road.

"Pawpaw, come oohh!" The mechanic man whose shop is close to the T junction wave him over, he intend to purchase.

"So how much is for one?" The man asked weighing the weight of each pawpaw that seems big in his eyes.

"100naira, sir" Michael informed him, they argue price but each of them stand on his aforementioned price, the man insist on buying it 70naira, while Michael won't bulge cause if there is any form of reduction he won't be able to pay his exam fee.

--

"Your pawpaw is going" he is now in the new road leading to Port Harcourt road to sell the fruits to passengers going to Port Harcourt city.

"The sun is so hot" he complained, his legs hurt already because of the load and the distance he has covered. He went under a tree to rest, he look at the 5heads of pawpaw fruits that no one has bought from it on the tray. He sighs in frustration. It seems like luck is not on his side.

"Help me Lord" he prayed before putting the tray on his head, he walk some distance before having intuition that the tray is empty. He brought it down from his head and his suspicion is true.

"Come and buy your pawpaw" Zadira mimicked his voice, as she catwalk as a princess she is in front of him. Her long hairs stopped at her waist and her long legs adore with gold, her beauty ceased the breath of nature.

"Beautiful Zadira"

To Be Continued......