Abike (Part One) The story of a beautiful, hardworking teenager who got into serious trouble.

Abike woke up that morning feeling truly funny. She had had a fairly rough day previously assisting her aunt at the market. The aunt, Mrs. Folorunsho owns a big cosmetic store on the Lagos mainland. During holidays, Abike helps out; this ensures that the aunt gives her some pocket money when school resumes. This has been the routine since she got into secondary school.

But this was no ordinary feeling Abike is having this very morning. While yet a Junior secondary school student, she remembers her class teachers' teachings about puberty, pregnancy, and the dignity of virginity. She remembers vividly the common symptoms of pregnancy. Of course, she has experienced all the signs of puberty and had recently begun exploring sex. The fear of being pregnant suddenly overwhelms her. If that's the case, then she is in grave trouble.

Her mom and dad were divorced and both of them had remarried, Abike had to stay with her paternal aunt - Mrs. Folorunsho. She is the only person capable of looking after her as she herself, had been struggling with conceiving. She had been married for over eight years now and was still not lucky getting pregnant. Her husband, Mr. Folrunsho, a banker and a pastor has been very understanding and supportive. He always assures her that God will someday answer their prayers; that his beloved wife should be patient. Aunt Folorunsho loves him so much and wishes to make him happy soon with the cry of a baby.

Abike knows something is definitely wrong with her body. She knows the symptoms she is having are those of pregnancy. The sudden tiredness and nausea, coupled with the change in appetite were truly suspicious. And she had even begun to feel the tenderness of her nipple. At just 15 years of age, Abike looks very mature. She knows she needed to be certain before anyone else begins to suspect. And by anyone, she meant Aunt Folorunsho. Her aunt is very informed and inquisitive. She had constantly advised Abike against misbehaving with the boys. She tries at every opportunity to teach her about becoming a woman and the dignity of being reserved. 

Well, so much for trying to blend with the pears. The worst may have happened. She could not risk stopping her education for any reason. Abortion does not seem appealing either as she has also read so much about death associated with the practice. Who can she trust with the dark reality that has awoken her this morning?

She quickly rushed to the bathroom; takes her bath and dressed up for the day. She must arrive on time at the store today as her aunt had instructed her to be there early to receive some new goods arriving. The time is already 5:30 am and the traffic in Lagos had begun. Lagos is that city where the morning rush is critical to beat. It seems everybody wakes up at the same time. 

Usually, Abike gets to the market before the aunt, as Mrs. Folorunsho needs to make other arrangements before joining her at the store. As she was coming out of her room at Mr. Folorunsho's residence, she meets her aunts' husband (the banker and pastor) coming out of their room. He was already dressed for work and Abike could see through the slit in the door that her aunt was still in bed. Often, the husband would drop both of them off at the store before heading to work. But today, he would be taking only Abike since the aunt wouldn't be coming so early.

"Good morning, sir," she says. He answers casually and walks toward the door to exit the apartment as she follows him. Abike is scared he might notice something about her mood, and she wishes that she could go to the store on her own using commercial transport. If Mr. Folorunsho suspects anything, he might relate it to his wife and the whole world could begin to crumble under her feet. Abike begins to pray silently. If she is going to survive the drive to the store, then she has to be very composed to deflect any suspicion. 

Even right now, she feels like throwing up. She could feel her salivary gland beginning to swell with spittle. 

"God help me" she murmurs under her breath.

The walk to the parking lot seemed like a journey too long. But finally, they arrived and she takes the passenger seat beside her aunts' husband. He gestures to her to strap on the seat belt while he turns on the ignition and the engine roars to life. Abike made sure she did not make any eye contact with him, or else he sees through her. 

"Be calm" she kept thinking to herself. 

And he drives into the already active Lagos traffic; they had become part of the typical street bustle. As they drive along, approaching the turning that leads to the street where the store is located, Mr. Folorunsho deeps his hand into his breast pocket and hands Abike some notes. "Manage this pocket money while you are in the shop before your aunt joins you". "Thank you sir" she utters, as she stretches to collect the money with both her hands...respectfully. They were soon in front of the store and she alighted. 

"Thank you, sir!" she says as she hurriedly leaves the vehicle and rushes to start the day at the shop.

After cleaning and having received the new arrivals, Abike heads straight to a clinic to ascertain her status vis-a-vis the pregnancy suspicion. She also requested that other tests be done on her. She suspects also malaria, typhoid or perhaps she just has stomach inconsistency.

 As she sat waiting for the outcome of the tests, her mind roams back to the memory of all her sexual encounters during the last festival celebration. She agrees that she had been really reckless despite all the advice she had gotten from concerned relatives, especially her aunt. She began to hope that the tests come out in her favor. A few minutes later, the laboratory clerk calls her to the desk and issues her the results. She smiled and said, 

"Congratulations, dear", "You are pregnant". 

Abike could not be more devastated and confused as she sits at the shop staring into space when her aunt walks in. Mrs. Folorunsho has known Abike since when she was just a toddler. She knows her to be energetic and full of life and imagination, especially in the mornings. She just couldn't help but notice that her little niece was in some deep thought. Perhaps, the pressure of preparing for the next academic was weighing on her mind. Or could she be missing her parents? 

"Abike, how are you?", "Sorry, I am just coming jare, I needed to go see Mama Julius before coming. You know that she delivered her baby last week.". 

"Welcome Aunty," Abike mutters, forcing a smile. "It is fine, ma. Perhaps I shall go check on her before we close today. She has been so nice to me". 

"Oh, that would be good" the aunt responds.

"Abike, are you alright?" "You don't look good. Is it your period?" "You seem to be dampened a bit". "Or, are you in need of anything?" "You know you can always ask me for anything, dear!"

Those words and questions came as deadly to Abike. Her whole system froze and she could not breathe. She felt sour all through. She knows she needs to come up with a good response, otherwise, her dear aunt would have her go to the family hospital. That would mean doom. 

Abike knows she has to say something... but what?

...to be continued