Chapter 10. Desperation

At midday, Akwa stopped by a superstore to purchase a few things. While roaming around, there was a sudden raise of cheer within the store. Out of curiosity she abandoned her project to sought about the influence behind it. Suddenly, she heard the 'happy birthday to you. . .' being sang by the workers there. From her observation, it was a surprise birthday celebration for one them. However she took her time, leaned beside a pillar and watched carefully as they were in a pool of joy. She at that moment wished she'd been partly involved in such an occasion, either the celebrant or the organizer. Being staring for a while, she suddenly smiled and headed for the exit. It was as if she learned one or two concepts from the occasion which would benefit her. 

In school, Akwa sat in hall desperately going through her mobile phone. From the look of it she was so dedicated to whatever she was doing and it must have been of great importance to her. Nanklin walked and sat beside her, yet she kept to her occupation. 

"What's up babe, why so serious?" Nanklin inquired. 

"Business," she replied sight still in phone. 

Nanklin snatched the phone from her and she aggressively rushed at her. 

"Take it easy, Akwa," Nanklin urged. 

She calmed and Nanklin returned the phone back to her with the look of 'now tell me what's going on'.

"I need money, Nan, real money," Akwa opened up. 

"What for?"

"Olie is passing out in a month time," she rested then continued. "I want to for the first time do something great for him, something memorable. I just want to surprise him."

Nanklin redressed her sitting and asked, "How about me? In case you forgot, I too am passing out."

She chuckled and replied, "Don't worry, I didn't think less of you. Right now I just need a huge capital to make this work."

"So why were looking in your phone so lost? Were you trying to download money there?"

Once again Akwa laughed and Nanklin joined up. 

"I was checking for a reliable online business that pays quickly."

"Don't be ridiculous, that's so ridiculous of you to think you'd find your way there," Nanklin dissapointedly said. "I don't believe in those bull shits."

Akwa frowned, reluctantly tossing her phone in her bag. 

"Go stand on the road at night, believe me, one night, one single night you'll get it done," Nanklin further teased. 

"See your big head," Akwa punched her on the shoulder. "U go do am na, after all, u no get guy."

They both laughed but Akwa instantly switched moody just seconds after Nanklin left. She thought of numerous possibilities to make it through but none helped. Especially with the fact that the obsession came late to her, and time of course was short. She before never thought of such until the brief witnessing of the incident in the superstore, and like a gun, it triggered her obsession. She was totally restless over it, the itching need to perform a great some for the love of her life was no thought she was willing to trade for another. 

"Hey," a lady in the hall tapped her, she probably have been observing her for a while. 

"Hi," she shrieked. 

"Are you alright," the lady asked. 

Akwa stared at her for a while to get at least a little closure of firmilarity, but no vibe. 

"Fine, just stressed."

The lady sat herself down. Akwa nevertheless couldn't take her eyes off her. The lady was looking fancy, pretty and perfectly fitted in the her outfit. You wouldn't need a magician to disclose to her how expense she appeared, ranging from her outfits to her skin and hair, she was looking like a diva. 

"I'm Vanessa, call me Nessa," she offered a hand shake. 

"Akwa," she shook back. 

"I know. Who doesn't know you and that Prince Charming," Vanessa revealed. 

Akwa briefly smiled.

"Well, didn't intended for it to be so open, but what will we do?"

"Just ignore and flex," Vanessa suggested and they both chuckled softly. 

"Boys don't know what we girls go through just to make them proud of what they've got," Vanessa raised. 

"I don't get your point," Akwa stared ignorantly. 

Vanessa exhaled, then exhibited a serious look. 

"I over heard you and your girlfriend chatting about what you want to do for your boyfriend," she clarified. 

"Oh, that," she breath in. "Actually it's nothing to worry about, pesin no go kill im self na."

"Come on girl," Vanessa brushed her a slap on the knee. "You're kidding? That's cool. It's going to be great to do something awesome for your boyfriend. I doubt he would ever look at other girls after that."

Akwa feeling the bolsters her taste replenished, therefore looked forward for the audience. Not like Nanklin gave her any hope or averred to it anyway, she only played around with her nostrums and left. 

"I would want nothing more. But I don't have money on me, I can't ask him for help cus this is for him and I wouldn't want him to know. I just love him so much and would do anything."

"Awwn, so touching," Vanessa lamented with emotions. "Wait, that last part, can you repeat it again?"

"Yeah, I would do anything," she looked confused. 

"I might have a way to help you, but you really gotta be willing," she said without a sense of humor. 

Akwa's mind hyped at the sound of the first emphasis, but listening to the end she mellowed. She however stared consciously on Vanessa to get at least a muscle of expression, probably read anything from her body language. She hoped it could give her clue whether or not to further with the conversation on her terms. She however got nothing but desperate she was, and judging from Vanessa's nice approach and sentiments, she kept her thoughts still nuclear from negativity. 

"Tell me what I have to do," Akwa said softly, with bit of fear. 

Vanessa as well noticed the rise in tension in Akwa's a bit let opened mouth, still eyes which had not blinked for quite seconds. So she melted her serious look to a normal, sincere one. 

"It's nothing much, but promise me first you'll never tell anyone, not even your boyfriend."

"Yes, I won't," she rapidly nodded. 

Vanessa took her face closer and said, "Heroin, you'll deal heroin."

She did not see that one coming, her mouth left widely open and a hand placed on her chest. 

"Drugs?"

"Yes," Vanessa whispered. "It's just for a week, and you'll get double what you're looking for. And it's not dealing, you'll be smulggerling heroin only. I got this supplier somewhere in town and he told me to get a temporal recruit that would help me safely deliver the stuff at various locations all over town. And maybe if we do it fast enough, it will take less than five days, and then you hit jackpot and make it superb for your boyfriend."

"That is illegal, what if we get caught?" Akwa voiced out after a long mute. 

"You look gentle and innocent, what could possibly go wrong? Just play cool and soon you'll be a go," Vanessa continued in whispers. "It'll be quick and easy, we go there, get the stuff and start delivery. Think about why you're doing this and what it'll yield later. This is an opportunity for you, I've never involved anyone in this thing before."

"Then why me?"

"I don't know, you got a thing about you that drew me to you and wanna help. Maybe enchantment or whatever, it doesn't matter, guess you're just lucky."

Taking note of her reply, especially the conclusion part, she linked it to one of her favors. Although it was a had decision to take, but she wasn't going to consume the substance, produce it or be an active member, so what could after all possibly go wrong?.

"I'll try, but please I will only deliver for a few times, maybe a day or two."

"Chop knuckle," Vanessa issued her fist.

Akwa clanked her fist against hers softly and they both smiled in harmony, concealing an agreement. 

She have been sitting in the parlor for quite some time, been three hours since they left school to that house ever since. Vanessa on her arrival was escorted to an inner room by a young man, definitely one of the dealers. Akwa soon got tired of staring at the painting of a lake hung on the wall, she constantly stared at the wooden ceiling and then back at the painted green walls. A fat, black cat surveilled the room aimlessly, it would at times sit somewhere and lick it's toes, but what interested Akwa and gave her the urge to stare more was how it would roam around but return back to play with a small neon ball. She however got faded with everything, she wondered what was the delay, could they be conspiring against her and above all, how heroin really looked like. Nevertheless, she couldn't get rid of the fear in her, no matter how tight she clenched her fist, her hands still shuddered. Soon, she couldn't feel any less guiltier, first agreeing to that, then coming there and what she was supposed to do next. She thought of her family, how she would be letting them down, Jason, how she would hold that on him as an excuse for the illegal act. Of course, how unfair that would be of her, nothing he knew of and would probably forbid her if he does. She began feel thankful for letting her out in the parlor for so long, giving her time to revolve over her decision, apparently a second chance to rethink. She began seeing it as the possibility of how they run things there, when you had reach there and you don't have the mind for it you turn back. At that point she carefully looked around the walls once again to see a clue or insignia to back her claims, maybe a list of rules hung somewhere. But who cares, at that point she'd revoked her decision, wishing she would've done that earlier while in school, and she hoped it wouldn't be too late either. 

"I'll be with you in a second, they're packaging it," Vanessa forced her face through the thick, black curtain and announced. 

"Psst!" Akwa hissed as Vanessa was retrieving her head back in. 

"What?" Vanessa came to her standing up right. 

Akwa as well stood up to her, well, a bit nervous from the look of it. 

"I'm so sorry Nessa, I can't do this."

Vanessa feigned and laugh briefly then stabilized with a grim look face. 

"Look, we're here already, no going back. Stop jerking around let's work."

"No!" She responded boldly. "I don't want to have anything to do with this. Following you here was a mistake as well as saying yes to it."

"Akwei damoa ne? (Hausa: Is there any problem?)" A man interrupted. 

"Ka tambei ta. (Ask her)" Vanessa hands akimbo responded. 

"Ke ne ki ka cawo ta anan! Enaa tambayan ki. (You brought her here! I'm asking you)" the man yelled. 

"Ta chee bazaa ta e ba kuma. (She say she won't do anymore)" Vanessa replied, blasting gum."

The man turned to Akwa with a clenched face, she however repaid the gesture by looking densely back at him. 

"U fit go," the man said. "Buh if u tel anybody dis thin, na u, ur frends, family go hearam. Comot de go."

"Next time, you think better before stepping," Vanessa added, tapping her cheek. 

A thing seemed puzzling about how easy they let her go. As she walked to the gate, she couldn't help but wonder which time will they pull the trigger at her, just as seen in the movies in such instances. As she successfully made it through the gate, she partially knew she was saved especially seeing the presence of people around. She still fastened her footsteps not taking any chances. The dealers didn't forced her nor hurt her, therefore she at least owe them the favor of not out shelling their illegal activities, but deep down in her she knew sooner or later, Jason would have to know about it. Either way she thanked the Lord as nothing happened and how she'd learned something new. She realized as well the truth in Nanklin's advice not to allow help from everyone.