Chapter 1

Good morning ma," Angel greeted trying to clean the two bed-room flat they live in and at the same time preparing breakfast for her younger brother before leaving to school for her lectures.

"How are you doing", Mrs. Vanessa asked rushing out to get ready for work.

"I'm fine ma. Mummy please can I ask you a question," Angel asked promptly putting a stop to her morning chores.

"I'm sorry my dear, I have to rush up to work or else I will lose my job, besides, you know we don't the luxury to staying alive without this job, we can discuss better when I return later".

"Mummy I will be needing some money for some personal things I need to buy", Angel noted abruptly.

"Angel I thought I gave you ten thousand naira just last week, where do you expect me to get another money for whatever you want today again. Do you think I pluck money from some trees, and even so, that tree doesn't supply anymore," Mrs Vanessa stated.

"But mum that money was for my textbooks and handouts," Angel cried out.

"Angel please don't let me start with you this early morning, I'm already late for work." She said hurriedly running out of the house. 'These children will not kill me before my time,' She said to herself while running to the bus stop, 'today this, tomorrow this and that. Am I the only mother in the world?'

"How I wish mummy would just listen to me for once." Angel prayed as she watched her mother run off.

Things weren't always like this with mum. She changed all of a sudden, I used to think it's because of her new job maybe she is finding it hard adjusting to the pressure and stress. My mum used to be my confidant, my role model, my aspirations, and most of all, my best friend, I doubt if I can still say so now. We would sit and talk for hours like age mates, and like friends. Although sometimes, mum can be a tough one, that's when she is trying to discipline us, she never takes anything for granted. So therefore, she takes us seriously like a military officer. But we loved every bit of the disciplinary measures she took and we never took it to heart, because we got to understand the other side of the coin, the bitter side of life. Now mummy is a completely different person, I doubt if she is actually the same person I used to love and cherish every minute I spent with her, of which now a minute with her is worst than a second in hell. Not withstanding the fact that she has a busy job, she should consider that we equally need her full attention. Where did things turn so sour. Now she returns home late on week days and always busy with various meetings on weekends, and when we protest, she would say that these meetings are very important for a healthy communal life. Forgetting that we also need a healthy childhood training and upbringing. She is as though a stranger to us, and a shadow of her former self. Oh how I wish daddy was alive till this day!" Angel lamented.

"I don't know what is wrong with you, why do you love behaving like a child. Don't you think it is high time you start acting like a university babe?" Kunle stated.

"If being an Ashawo, a prostitute makes me a big university babe, I would rather prefer to be a child all my life, and be chaste", Angel rebuked.

"See baby, I love you with all my heart and I don't want what we have to go into shreds all because of some stupid and childish notion to remain a virgin till marriage. Who does in this age and time? That is old school, my dear. Please sweetheart, give me a chance to show you what love is," Kunle pleaded.

"You are calling my principles stupid and childish. I won't allow you insult me". Angel replied angrily and walked out on him.

Kunle and Angel have been in a relationship for almost two years now. Kunle is a student of University Of Illorin like Angel but he is in his third year in the university studying Biochemistry while Angel is studying English in her first year. They met when Angel came to the school for the first time for the Post United Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (PUTME) and she was having trouble locating the exact venue and hall for the examinations. From the moment she accidentally bombed into him in confusion while trying to trace the venue of the examination on her own, he found her attractive and admirable so, he pursued her by volunteering to be her map for the day til she located her exam centre, thanked him for his help, they exchanged contacts. From then onwards, as one thing led to another and they started dating not until this recent these development came up.

On her way back to the lecture hall she bombed into Gerald, one of her stockers. With his gang of friends well known on campus as the tough guys.

"Hey Angel what's up," Gerald signaled trying to be nice.

"Please Gerald, I'm not in the mood for your troubles today," Angel replied quickly, and made to leave.

Gerald's gang blocked her way and refused to give her passage, "G boss referring to Gerald is not through with you yet, and until then, you go nowhere."

"Angel, I understand that your stupid boy friend has upset you, right. I will teach him a lesson he will not forget in a hurry, so he will learn how to treat a lady", Gerald stated.

"No, no please Gerald, don't hurt him. Its not what you think," She pleaded

"Then why are you this angry that you don't even want to talk to me. Tell me, or I will deal with him mercilessly", He said.

"I just have a little problem at home thats why I'm this way please don't blame it all on him, he didn't do anything," She lied trying to cover up.

"If you say so. So tell me, have you considered my proposal?", he asked.

"Ah Gerald! don't say that you know am already with Kunle. I can't double date, please", she stated. '

"You can, It's a free world. Besides other girls do it, so your case won't be different. If you say yes to me, I promise you won't ever regret it." He declared

"I'm very happy you said, 'OTHER GIRLS'. I'm not other girls, I am Angel Williams. As for your proposal, I have already given you the answer, I can't and I won't double date, simple." She explained.

"You see that's what I like about you, that temper of yours is something extraordinary. I must have you at all cost. If it is for that your so-called boyfriend, I will take care of him for you, just say yes to me, please." G pleaded.

"No! You can't force me to love you, please leave Kunle out of this. Angel defended. Whatever.... Can I go now, I really have things to do, and me having this conversation with you is definitely not one of them," she said as made to leave. The clique withdrew only when they saw G wave a signal to let her go.

Gift and Aisha have been Binta's close friends since their secondary education. Angel addresses them both as rice and beans or cat and rat. The two always have conflicting ideas, maybe because of their different line of study, Gift studies Anatomy while Aisha is studying business administration. And now, they were lucky enough to be admitted in the same university. Although in different faculties, they still maintain their close relationship. On sighting Angel, they immediately sensed something wrong.

"How did it go love birds?" Aisha asked.

"Obviously not well silly," Gift replied jokingly.

"And who asked you talking drum," Aisha lashed.

I beg, not today, not now. I don't need you adding to my problems, Angel defended, stand up lets go home.

"Can you share these problems with us before you explode?. Girl you are slowly loosing it," said Gift.

"It is my mother o, with this her recent behaviours and phenomenas that is making me go crazy. She no longer talks to us only talks at us, she blows off at every slight provoking mistake, like a volcano waiting for explosion. I'm afraid I'm loosing my lovely mother and home. I fear the person she has become over the last few weeks", Angel complained.

"It's okay, Angel, why not trying talking to her calmly, try make her understand your point," suggested Aisha.

"How do I do that, when everything I say pisses her off?" Angel inquired.

"Why not you try talking to her when she is in a good mood or call her attention in the night when everyone is asleep then you can address this issues together as you normally do, mother and daughter talk, try it lets see." Gift stated

"My mother is scarcely around the house like she is avoiding someone or something, plus I hardly see her happy these days." stated Angel

"You can not give what you don't have, perhaps the reason you are not reaching her is because you yourself is disoriented, tell me what is going on that big head of yours?" Gift said inquisitively

"It's Kunle and this his pre-marital sex issue, I don't understand him anymore. We used to be very happy until he came up with this sex stuff and I will never give-in. I can't give up my pride, all for any relationship before marriage, the earlier he grasps this fact, the better for us", Angel stated clearly.

"What is there in pre-marital sex? It's a normal thing na, please stop all this hide and seek games for God's sake. Are you not the one that said yes to him, what were you expecting, or do you think he is father christmas that will be showering you gifts and flowers for nothing? Aisha asked rhetorically. It is high time you understand that relationship is a give and take thing, money for sex."

"Please o, can't somebody just have a happy relationship without this sex stuff coming up? What is this world turning into? How can you advice her to do such a thing? Don't you know its a sin. Besides, we are just in level one in the university, our first year for that matter, we are just beginning to build our future and you want her to destroy her chances so prematurely," Gift cautioned.

"And who says she is going to get pregnant, contact HIV and AIDS or do something that will destroy her future. See, there are many ways to do these things these days, and you will be 100% save and sound," Aisha defended.

Tell me something! Gift and Angel exclaimed almost stimuteneou sly.

You see, now there are various kinds of contraceptives which you can use to protect yourself from these infections or diseases before and after sex with or without the consent of your parents, Aisha noted.

"Like the Condoms, I heard they are not 100% sure and trusted, abstinence is the only safest way to avoid all these nonsense," criticized Gift.

"Well stated primary school students of one ancient village school, you did your assignment well. Only God knows where you got that twisted rumour from. I'm very sure one of those that spread those dirty rumours and misconceptions about the contraceptive authenticity are your church members. This is the 21st century dummy, and things have changed, this is the reigning thing in town and you better join the moving or be left behind in the bench," Aisha stated.

"Aisha please continue with the jist and leave Gift, we all know she is the virgin Mary of our time, this is getting more and more interesting," Angel said.

"As we were saying before the mosquito interrupted; referring to Gift. Condoms are just one of these contraceptives. There are other before and after sex pills you can take, there are in form of tablets, injections, and the rest of them. It all depends on the one you prefer," Aisha illustrated.

"And there is abstinence o!" Gift reminded in disgust as she walked to her hostel.

"Shut up jare!" Aisha demanded.

"I'm already on my way", she said while biding Angel farewell.

"It's okay, I will think about everything you guys said; thanks", Angel appreciated.

"Angel, it is not like I want to teach you what to do. I just need you to understand me, Is it not better for your boyfriend to deflower you and you enjoy it than for a stupid rapist to do it and contaminate your womb? In this present day and age where rape is rampant everywhere despite the law enforced against such acts. The last I heard, rape consequence is 21 years in imprisonment but, is that punishment equivalent to your lost pride and dignity? Okay, think of how nice Kunle has treated and given money anytime you are in need, and this simple favour he is asking you cannot give him.Ah, it will be very selfish of you not to give-in to his demand.Trust me, if you give it to him on a plater of gold, he will be respect and above all be faithful to you and you alone. In addition, all those stupid girls that are trying to snatch him away from you will no longer succeed again because you would have secured him for yourself. You should be thanking God that he has been patient with you all this while, if not he could have just picked another girl and tell you it is over, then you will come and be crying your eyes out. Be wise and stop acting like a child jare," Aisha explained.

"Am I really that childish that everyone sees me, says the same thing, I must prove to them all that I'm not a child." Angel murmured to herself.

"Thank you so much for your advice Aisha, that's why I like you, you always tell me the truth and keep me updated. I guess we part ways here, I will see you in school tomorrow." said Angel

"Tomorrow is weekend or will you be coming to school tomorrow for something else because I'm sure we don't have lectures, so which is it?", Aisha reminded.

"Oh silly me, I forgot today is Friday, okay then see you Monday morning", Angel replied.

"Hell no, I will be seeing you later in the evening. One of my coursemate is hosting us for her birthday party happening in town this evening. You need to be there to cheer up and forget these problems that is weighing you down. We all need to chill and relax every once in a while, you know say body no be wood." Aisha noted

They both laughed. "See you later in the evening then", Angel agreed.