… by Ruth Aluko
By the time Sarah rushed back from the bathroom, Joy had laid a sexy green gown on her bed. Joy then assisted Sarah in getting dressed and even did her makeup, before helping her pack for the weekend. Their roommates complimented Sarah, even though they didn’t know what was going on.
Suddenly, Sarah’s phone beeped while she was in the middle of her preparations. It was Emerald, asking after her and giving a silly excuse of being out of town, so he couldn’t message her. Nevertheless, Sarah was delighted. She informed him of her plan to stay at his place for the weekend, and he agreed. When she was ready, Joy said she would see her off, claiming she was going out to meet a friend and that she was going in the same direction. It was a made-up lie, as she wanted to ensure the naïve girl didn’t change her mind along the way. They walked out of the hostel and towards the school gate. Along the way, the stares from men made Sarah feel more confident, and she proudly flaunted her good figure. They reached the school gate, and although they were supposed to cross to the other side, the road was busy with cars, so they waited for the traffic light to change from green to red.
As they waited, Sarah heard a preacher man who was standing a few feet away from her speaking. “I have a message for someone here,” the man began with a smile. “Sex is a mystery, and unfortunately, the majority of those who engage in it do not fully understand the mystery behind it. Most people only understand the pleasure derived from it and the potential for procreation.”
Sarah frowned as she listened to him. Was there more to sex that she didn’t know about? How was sex a mystery? Wasn’t it just about two people making love? The traffic light changed from green to red, but then suddenly went back to green. They were confused but still waited. The man continued, “Apart from the fact that premarital sex is dirty and unhealthy, it can also result in contracting numerous contagious and dangerous diseases, and it can automatically erode your self-respect. Your sex partner may see you as cheap and easy to catch, and you may lose the trust they could have had in you, which is why most relationships don’t lead to marriage. Let go of the man who insists on sex before marriage, lest you end up being added to the list of those he has slept with.”
Joy snorted, “Fake preachers! As if they know anything.”
Sarah didn’t say anything, as her mind raced with what the man had said. Was he right? Was she cheap?
All of a sudden, the man turned to her, and her heart skipped a beat. He stared into her eyes, smiled, and said, “Sex is a mystery, and unfortunately, the majority of those who engage in it do not fully understand the mystery behind it.”
The light turned red, and as the cars stopped, Joy grabbed her hand leading as they crossed the road. Sarah turned back to look and still found the stranger staring at her, but this time solemnly. Her heart raced with fear, and she quickly looked away and walked closer to Joy. They walked silently to Emerald’s house, both of them quiet.
“Are you okay, Sarah?” Joy asked, looking at her with suspicion in her eyes.
Sarah smiled and nodded, but her heart was in a twist. Were the preacher’s words true? And why was he staring at her as if he knew what she was going to do?
“I’ll see you tomorrow then, have fun,” Joy smiled and waved. “Go in.”
Watch out for next episode on Saturday, 6 May, 2023 at 3pm