IN THE DEN

 Episode 4

(FACTION. ALL CHARACTERS ARE FICTION)

In our what’sapp group, some days later when our conference registration was about to start, Emmanuel wrote:

‘Before I forget, you people should be very careful how you spend money o, you will have more than enough to spend your money on, don’t waste it.’

I was not online when he sent the information. My data subscription had expired. So when I subscribed, the messages swooped in. comments were as well trooping in.

‘@Obum-candle light: no be you go tell me wetin I go do

@Martinez; my money or yours, guy rest

@Angelic face: oga emma, you don dey do pass yourself oo’

There were several of such messages that I just scrolled down without reading all. I had no much money so I was not disturbed by that, I knew I was not extravagant.

Should I say Ebuka did not read that advice or that he was just indifferent about it? Whatever, he soon had no choice than to pay for his negligence. The first Meshai I ate at SUB was bought by him. He had asked me to escort him there to see a friend-a girl to be precise. That was few days before clearance started. 

Before then I had heard of how he spends money on everyone. Mark had told me of how he took him to Chitis and paid for his meal one certain time. He would, at any slightest moment, buy things even without thinking. We were friends although not too close so I could not tell whether they were telling the truth or not. However, that evening at Sub, he had spent five thousand naira just for the night; he bought all the things we ate that day-five of us. 

‘Aren’t these expenses too much, must you buy these?’ I had called him aside when he ordered for what we would eat. ‘Is that why you called me out for?’ he asked me, furiously raising his brows. ‘Are you trying to teach me how to spend my own money?’ he continued, appearing more angered than he was. ‘Guy make no be say I wan buy you sometin you go dey insult me, make today be the first and last you go do that one, wetin that one come me na? If you no wan eat the meshai abeg go, na me wey buy for you fuck up.’ He concluded and walked back to the girls that had rounded the table.

I felt a little embarrassed; I guessed the girls noticed what happened although I wasn’t sure. I went back at the table and joined them, what do I know, if someone wants to spend on me, who am I to stop him?

Kenerites