Must Read: It Is Teenage Love

Episode 6 years ago

Must Read: It Is Teenage Love

SATURDAY MORNING. Segun was in his room
listening to music from his mp3 player. He was
humming to rythm of the song and dancing. There
was a knock on the door. He stood up and met Mary
at the door.

“Can i come in?” Mary asked.
“Yeah.” Segun replied stepping aside and opening
the door wider for her.
She walked in and sat down on the only available
chair near his reading table.
“Bro, am not happy with you.” she broke the silence.
“Why?” he asked.
“Why are you treating your girlfriend this way?” she
asked.

“Girlfriend?” he wondered.
“Yes, sister Jummy reported you to me. She said you
no longer have time for her. Is that true?” she asked.

“She told you all these?”
“I know you are treating her bad because of that girl
Nike.” she said irritatedly.

“And what gave you the assurance that i’m seeing
Nike?” he asked.

“Never mind but just have it at the back of your
mind that the law of karma will act very soon.” she said and stood up.

“What has karma got to do with this?” he asked.

“I know you won’t want any guy to treat you daughter or even your sister the way you are
treating Jummy.” she said and left the room.

Segun sat down and pondered over what Mary said
and shook his head.

“No doubt, this people are working together against me. But wait o, i am not in love with Jummy now.”
he thought.

“Then i’ll have to iron things out with her.” he said loudly as he stood up and headed to the bathroom.

He came out a few minutes later and got dressed in a native attire and a black shoe to match.

He hdaded out for a wedding ceremony he was
invited to by one of his classmate.

He met Jummy on the stairs coming up to meet him.

“Where to?” she asked.

“Bunmi’s sister’s wedding.” he replied.

“Oh! Thats true. I was thinking we should go
together.” she said.

“I’m sorry we can’t go together.” he said.

“But why?” she asked.
“Because i don’t want to be delayed. Infact i don’t want to go with you.” he said.

“Ah!” she exclaimed.

“You must wait for her to that you two can go together.” a voice thundered from the dining. As they both turned to look at the owner of the voice.

They both turned their heads to see who the
intruder was.

Alas! It was their mother.


“You must go to that wedding together.” she stressed.

“But why?” segun asked.

“Who invited you?” she asked.

“A classmate.” Jummy cuts in sharply.

“Since its a classmate of yours, and you two are familiar with him/her. I guess, its more proper if you go together.” Mrs Akinola said with a tone of finality.

“But mum……” Segun was saying before his mother
cut him short.

“My daughter please go and dress up jare and stop
looking at me that way.” Mrs Akinola said.
Segun seeing that he had been defeated walked
dejectedly back to his room in order to wait for
Jummy.

Jummy re-emerged twenty minutes later dressed in
a native attire the same as Segun’s.
“That’s my beautiful daughter.” Mrs Akinola
complimented.

“Thanks mum.” Jummy said.

Segun walked out on hearing voice to check if
Jummy was set. He stopped in his track and could
not help but to admire the beauty before him. He
was carried away to the extent that he didn’t know
when he whistled out in pleasure.

“Won’t you compliment her looks?” Mrs Akinola asked facing Segun.

“She’s not dressed to impress me.” Segun replied
and headed for the door.
.
Jummy and his mother giggled and Jummy ran after
Segun.

They both walked to the bus/stop where they’ll
board a cab to the wedding reception(brights
comprehensive college hall).

Ten minutes later they were at the entrance and they need to be walked in by a guest who was already in.

Segun brought out his phone and dialled Wilsons
number. He requested him to come walk them in.
Wilson came and walked them in.

“But i thought you said you won’t buy the cloth?”
Jummy asked after exchanging pleasantries with
Wilson.

“Yes, but my mum gave me the money to buy some yards for myself.” he replied.

They all walked to a table where members of the
class were seated. They exchanged pleasantries and complimented their looks.
Bunmi came and greeted them.

“Do you guys care for more foods and drinks?” she asked.

“Yes.” Chioma said.

“Igbo people too like food.” Segun said as everyone at their table bursted into laughter.

It was during the course of their laughter that
Jummy mistakenly hit the table and a bottle of juice spilled over and it poured on Segun’s cloth.

“Oh my God! Are you mad?” Segun asked angrily.

“Aw! Am very sorry dear.” Jummy stood up and tried cleaning the mess.

“Take you hands off me.” Segun yelled and walked out of the hall.

Other guests were looking at the student’s table with keen intrest.

“You better go and apologise to him.”
Odunayo
advised.

“No don’t go yet, let him calm down first.” Titi
advised.

Jummy left the hall and went in the direction where Segun headed to.

She saw him leaning on the water tank base. She
walked towards him fidgeting.

“Baby please am sorry.” jummy said.

Segun kept mute without looking her at all. He
concentrated on whatever he was doing on his
phone.

“Segun, it is you am talking to.” Jummy said trying to win his attention by touching him.

He responded her with a thunderous slap.

“How dare you slap me.” she said holding her cheeks as tears rolled down.

Segun looked at his hands to confirm maybe it was the one he used in slapping her. Yeah it was.

Segun looked at her with an apologetic face but
couldn’t apologise because of his pride.

Jummy walked out on him and went back to the hall to pick her purse and phone. Then she left for home.

Segun cleaned his cloth with water. Even though the stains were not completely removed, the stains were reduced that you wouldn’t notice unless you move closer..

Segun walked back into the hall bade everyone
goodbye, left without answering any of their
questions about why Jummy came out crying, if they had settled it to mention a few.

Segun left the wedding reception and went home.
He entered the house and saw his mother reading a
newspaper in the living room.

“Goodday mum.” he greeted and waited for no reply
before walking to his room.

“Come back here.” his mother shouted. At once he knew he was in trouble.

Jummy and Mary came outside with tears in
Jummy’s eyes which means she had been crying and Mary had been consoling her.

“Why did you beat her in public?” his mother asked.

He kept mute and looked at the angry faces before
him.

“Are you a bastard? Did you ever heard that you
father la!d his hands on a woman?” she asked.

“Am not a bastard. She spilled……” he was saying before he was paid in his own coin by his mother when a more thunderous slap landed on his face.

Segun held his cheeks as he stared at his mother
with a look of disbelief.

Its been a while his mother beat him last.
“You father never for once la!d his hands on me.

So where did you get that trait of yours?” she asked as
she moved towards him.

He retreated and moved towards the dining area.
Just then the door to the living room opened and Mr Akinola walked in.

“Welcome dad.” Mary and Jummy greeted in unison.

“How are you girls?” he asked.
“Fine sir.” the chorused.
“Welcome hon.” His wife greeted.
“Yeah, thanks dear.” he replied.
He looked at Segun angrily.

“Are you dumb? Or don’t you know how to greet?”
He asked as he walked towards his son.

“He has grown wings, he now has the ability to beat a woman in public.” His mother cuts in.

“Who did he beat?” his father asked as he looked at
Jummy. Then he concluded she was the victim.
“Were you the one?” Mr Akinola asked facing Jummy.

“Yes. But its not in the public. We were…..” she was
saying.

“Hold it there.” mrs Akinola cut her short.

“But where did you go and what made him slap you?” Mr Akinola asked.

“We were in a wedding ceremony, then i mistakenly spilled a drink on his shirt.” Jummy explained.

“The ceremony i gave you two the money to buy the cloth?” Mr Akinola asked.

“Yes sir.” Jummy replied.

“Segun is that true?” His father asked him.

He kept quiet and looked down at his feet.
“Go and wait for me in my room.” his father commanded.

He walked out of the living room and headed for his father’s room.

Segun came out of his father’s room with marks on his body. He was beaten like a thief. It took the intervention of his mother when the sound of his beating became unbearable for her, before he was released.

He walked to his room in pains. He got inside
removed his shirt and looked at himself in the
mirror.

“Beaten like a gladiator.” he said and smiled.

There was a knock on his door. He pretended like he didn’t hear. The person at the door made the knock more persistent

.