Sweet Dreams

“Kosi, I know I cheated but please take me back!

“I’ve apologised several times. How many times will I say I’m sorry? I didn’t mean to cheat.” Tina begged with tears in her eyes. “It’s your fault, you know? You don’t give me attention, you’re always busy and never reply to my texts. What else was I supposed to do, Kosi? WHAT ELSE?” She screamed at him.

Looking fed up and over with this recurrent conversation, Kosi wanted nothing more than to be done with this so he could get ready for his next class.

“You think it’s my fault abi? I replied to all your texts, watched all your reels and forgave you for cheating several times.” He retorted.

“You know, you have some audacity coming here to beg and accuse me at the same time. You and accountability are like the north and south pole. FAR AWAY FROM EACH OTHER.” Taking a deep breath, he said “When you’re ready to take responsibility for your actions, we’ll talk. Until then, please get out.”

“You think you can just call things off abi? No wahala but mark my words, You’ll pay for what you did, Kosi.” She walks out.

Good riddance, he thought as he prepared for his lecture.

A few hours later in a lecture hall.

“Guy wait, shey people dey look me one kine abi na my eye dey pain me? Kosi asked his friend, Chidi, while looking around confusedly. “Na because of this your mumu shirt wey you wear. You don wear am hundred times this semester.”

“Idiot. But guy, just look. They keep pointing at me o. Maybe na my shirt true true.”

Mid laughter, a girl walks up to him and gives him a note “Tina sends her regards, you never should’ve broken up with her. Enjoy your new life as a convict” Then she walks away.

Confused and a bit spooked, he turns to his friend who’s looking at a post on the class group chat “Tell me it’s not true, Kosi. Wetin be this guy?” Chidi asked, his voice strained.

“Tell you wha- what’d you mean? Give me that phone.”

He took the phone and, as he read the message and looked at the photos attached, his heart sank.

Jesus. Tina has finished me.

“Bro, it’s a lie. I have never touched this girl before. I swear on my late parents’ grave. I said I was going to wait till our marriage!”

“So what is this then?? She’s said you sexually abused her and she has proof!” He retorted angrily.

Kosi was desperate now “Chidi, I didn’t do this! You have to believe me.”

Chidi shook his head, standing up. “I can’t be associated with this, man. You’re on your own.”

“Who is Kosisochukwu Allison?” A voice interrupted

“I am sir but I’m innocent. Guys, please stop recording. Sir, I didn’t do anything.”

“You’re under arrest for assault against Miss Tina Alakija. You have the right to remain silent…” the officer’s voice trailed off as Kosi’s world crumbled.

His dreams of being the first graduate in his family are gone.

His goal of becoming the best graduating student in his department. Poof!

Getting married and having a big family… Gone.

Tina was well-connected, he wasn’t.

His only friend just deserted him.

Why is this happening? Is it a crime to leave a cheating partner?

Should I have just stayed with her and endured? These thoughts kept running through his head as he was driven to the station, stripped of his belongings then placed in a dark cell.

“All these young boys wey no fit control body ehn. Na wa o. Why you no go carry ashewo? Idiot. Na here you go die put.” The warden said to him, jolting him out of his thoughts.

I’m finished. I am really finished. Tina..

The Trial.

Kosi stands in the dock in prison clothes, sweating profusely as his legal aid maintains that the evidence provided was circumstantial at best.

The judge, however, wasn’t having it and with a stern expression, he delivered his verdict.

“Mr Kosi, people like you who violate and betray the trust of others in the most evil way do not deserve to walk free. After reviewing the evidence and hearing both sides, this court finds the accused, Kosisochukwu Allison, guilty of the charges. This court hereby sentences you to ten years in prison. May this serve as a deterrent to others who might consider such actions”

He slams his gravel and then,

Kosi jolts awake!

Jesus Christ. What kind of dream is this? See as I dey sweat.

Still shaken, he picks up his phone to check the time when a message enters “Hi Kosi! it’s Tina. How are you?”

The End.