Nkemdili

“Did she love you more than I did, was it worth it Nkem?”

Mother whispered to her lifeless son hanging from the ceiling.

Two years ago, on that beautiful Friday night, Nkem walked into the lounge and was immediately struck by the beauty of the bartender. She had beautiful eyes and a dreamy voice, she also wore a contagious smile that could charm any man and truly, Nkem was charmed.

He quickly drew a seat and sat in front of the bar, and asked her to pour him her favourite drink. She laughed and asked him why he was so trusting, her favourite drink could be a love potion or poison. Nkem smiled, revealing his well-set gap tooth and caught the glimmer of admiration in her eyes as he spoke. “I am certain that whatever your favourite drink is, I’ll gladly drink from the cup”

She made a throaty sound, walked away and returned with two bottles and a glass cup, threw in some ice and squeezed lemons, and then poured in both contents of the bottles simultaneously. “If you don’t mind, I’ll do the first safe, just so you don’t take that poison talk seriously” – Nkem laughed out loud because of truth, he didn’t mind, not for the poison or potion, for he was certain that except she’s married, which he hasn’t spotted a ring on her finger yet, there’s nothing stopping him from taking this beauty home and possibly keeping her home. For in his mind’s eyes, he had already played an entire movie of what his life would be like with her in it - he was loge struck.

After a few minutes and too many shots later, she told him her shift was over, so he should clear up this bill and start afresh with the new bartender as she had to turn in her sales before leaving. He hurriedly did as he was told and asked her to please do him the honours of letting him take her home. She looked at him for a minute through narrowed gaze without saying a word, as though she was assessing him and his request, then went back to counting the money, making sure to remove all the extras she received as tips for the day. Went into an office through what seemed like a moving shelf and came back empty-handed, looked up to Nkem and said she was ready to go, but first, she’ll like to make a stop to get something to eat. For Nkem, this meant spending more time with her and he was super glad.

As they drove, he introduced himself as Nkemdili, the only surviving child of his mother. Immediately, her smile vanished and a certain kind of darkness filled her eyes, one that he had seen before but couldn’t understand. He asked her if she was okay and she nodded her head in affirmation. After a few seconds of eerie silence, she spoke “I am no good for you Nkem. I see how you look at me and I can tell your intentions already, but I am not the girl you seek. Please don’t pursue me any further. All I can offer is pleasure in exchange for money.”

Nkem kept quiet for a few minutes before speaking, he parked the car and told her in plain terms that he knows what she is and he doesn’t mind. That he believes if she lets him love her, he wouldn’t ask for anything else. “You don’t understand Nkem, this path I have chosen is not something to turn back on. The things I have done – life as I have come to accept it too, I cannot live another way”, she said to him but he cut her short by placing a warm kiss on her lips. They were wet, subtle and inviting, so, he kissed her a little more deeply and when she didn’t object, he kissed her some more, savouring the tastes of her.

A few moments in, things got a bit intense. Nkem pulled back his seat and they started making out. “You should use a condom” she said but Nkem was too lost to even listen. His mind was drowned in the intense pleasure he was getting from his lips around his manhood that his senses have gone on a sabbatical and he was throwing all caution to the wind. “I don’t need one. It is you I want, on top of me, right now”, he said in a husky voice laden with invitation and desire. For a moment again, she paused and made to speak but he hushed her with a kiss, “c’mon babe, don’t hold back” he said.

“The consequences of what you’re about to do, are you sure? We could go to a nearby pharmacy and get one. I usually have carry-ons but not today as I wasn’t expecting to bump into anyone.” Nkem nodded his head, like a child who has been starved for a long time, he lifted her, hunger in his eyes and placed her on his thighs. Let out a loud groan from deep in his throat as she sat on him, filling him with her warmth. For she was already wet with warmth, she hadn’t felt the warmness of a man’s throb in years, not since she was diagnosed with HIV and Hepatitis B, and this felt good. For a moment, she forgot all her worries as he buried himself in her deeply. They both rod themselves to oblivion, crying in passion as they both climaxed. Nkem convinced her to come home with him and there, they had two more rounds of passionate sex, one that left their whole body trembling and fell asleep in each other’s arms.