But Who?

That night, I decided to do as Esther suggested; to inform some of the girls I had unprotected sex with that I was hiv positive so they can get a check up too. It was a hard decision to make, but I decided to give it a shot. 

Esther had earlier educated me that the incubation period of hiv was four/six months and above. So I was sure I didn’t contact it while at camp. It must have been from my other sex-capades before I got to camp.  But who? I always use a condom when I engage in sex. 

The only girls I had bent that rule for where the ones I engaged in a serious and long relationship with while at school. I tried to make a mental list of girls I had slept with without condom. When I got to 13 and still counting, I had to give up.  

Who could it be? Since I couldn’t narrow it down, I decided to call those that I could remember, and had their contact. Inform them that they are possible carriers of the virus, so they do a comprehensive test and know their status before its late. 

There were few of them I still had their numbers; my extra year girl friend, rita and sonia. I was supposed to call them and inform them of the possibility of them being positive, so they can take care of themselves. 

The next morning, I picked up courage and called Rita. After the usual pleasantries, I told her I had a hiv test and it came out positive. I informed her that if I had the virus earlier, then it was possible she has it too. She told me she just had a test and the result came out last week.

 She had gotten a job with Unicef and they requested for a status before they gave her an appointment letter. “the result came out negative.” She informed me. 

She tried to sympathize with me, but I told her not to. It was making me feel worse. It was not an easy task telling people you have hiv, but I was trying to do the right thing; at least according to Esther. 

Next to call was my extra year girl. She must have lost my number as she asked who was on the line when she picked.  I told her it was me and she informed me that she has been trying to reach me. Why? I asked myself, but waited to hear from her first. “thank god you called. How did you get to know?” she asked even before I could say anything. . .

“Did you see it on my facebook wall?” she asked me again as I was wondering what she was talking about. I held my peace to hear what she had to say before I break the news. 

I later learnt from her that her mum just passed on the previous week. She had been trying to contact me and inform me, as she lost her phone and my number. “I’m really sorry about that.” I tried to sympathize with her, forgetting my own dilemma. I hung up after consoling her.

 I wasn’t going to add to her woes by informing her she could be hiv positive. I would let her mourn her dead mum, we will talk about that later. Next, Sonia. We haven't talked since after she informed me of the pregnancy. 

I contemplated on it for a long time, finally, I decided to call her. “I thought you forgot about I and your baby.” She said. I could sense the smile from the other end, so I took her words as a joke. “I hope you are joking about a baby!” I said firmly to her. 

“Does it sound like a joke to you?” She asked, still smiling. I was a bit confused; I felt she was trying to pull my legs. “Don't worry,” she finally said. 

“I told you I'm a big girl, I took care of myself.” I thought about it for a moment. There was no need trying to get the details from her. It’s either she aborted it, or she discovered she wasn't pregnant.  What one knows doesn't kill him, a quote I've heard so many times that I had forgotten its origin. 

“Its so sweet for you to call and enquire about me,” she interrupted my thoughts.  “I thought you had forgotten me because of the whole pregnancy stuff.” 

“How can I forget you?” I tried to cover up. I made it sound like I actually called to check on her, so I didn't border telling her of the hiv case again. I decided to tell her some other time.

 ______________________________ 

Esther couldn’t come as she promised. She called to inform me that she was very busy at the college of health. She insisted that she wanted to take me out to dinner after work and I agreed. She was the only companion I had, and I was really looking forward to the dinner. 

The dinner was great. She took me to a nice restaurant and we had a nice long talk after the dinner. I informed her of the calls I made earlier in the day. “Does it mean that you can’t remember the number of girls you’ve slept with?” she asked between her smile. 

I told her that I honestly can’t, but had to limit it to the girls I didn’t use condom on, and there were few of them. “I have had s.e'x with just 3 guys all my life.” She said still smiling. 

She explained that one was her first love as a teenager, and then the other two were the ones she met while at school. “well, you’re a girl, and I’m a guy. Guys tend to have more sexual partners than girls.” I claimed, without having any data to back up my point. 

“no, it’s actually the other way round.” She said and we started another round of argument on who generally had more sexual partners between guys and girls. It was hard saying good night to her, she saw me off close to my street and I waited for her to get a taxi before going. She gave me a hug again as she was about to enter the taxi. “I will see you tomorrow” she said as the car drove off.

When I couldn’t sleep that night, I called Esther and she picked on first ring. I apologized for waking her up but she claimed to be awake already. We talked for a long time that night, and when I finally hung up, I felt better. 

The next day, Dr. Sowald called me to come over and help him organize a test for his students. I had to rush to the poly to help him. The crowd was so much that I had to call mike on the phone to come over and help me. Esther called to inform me that she was at my house but I explained the situation for her. I promised to call her when I was through.  

After the test, Dr. sowald gave me the scripts and a guideline for marking and grading.  It was late when I returned. I called Esther and we agreed to hang out. As usual, we talked about relationships and dating. She informed me she wasn’t into any relationship and is actually looking forward to having a guy she could love and who could love her. She was very open to me and I felt we had this connection and spark. Of course, I was still hiv positive, so there was no real chance of hooking up.  

The next day was a Friday, so I had lectures with my students all through the weekend, but hanged out with Esther during the evenings. Finally, when we both were less busy, she came over to my house. We played the game of monopoly. 

She was so smart that she cleared me out within 45 mins. I had gone bankrupt when my piece first landed at her oxford street, where she had erected two houses. I had to mortgage most of my landed properties to pay up. But on the next throw, I landed on a chance. 

I picked the chance and below on the card read “ advance to mayfair. . .” she already had a hotel at Mayfair, so I didn’t border bargaining, I folded up! 

“Now, let me take a look at the hiv test and lets see what is next for you.” She said. “You mean when I will finally die?” I asked, trying to joke about it. 

“you are not going to die!” she exclaimed. She must have missed the sarcasm in my voice. Her eyes lighted up as she said the words.

 “ok.” I said as I advanced to the drawer, where I had tossed the result without taking a second look at it. After that day at the lab, I had thrown it inside my drawer and locked it up like it will prevent the virus in my body from advancing.