chapter 1

My name is Henry Clement, 6 feet tall, dark in complexion, hazel eyes, pink lips and an athletic body. I hail from Imo state but reside in Lagos mainland. I am 25 years old and I work at an underground nightclub where I get to drag and showcase my talent. Did I forget to mention that I was feminine, actually very feminine.

It was one of those cold nights, I was done with my job at the club and it was time for me to go home. Usually I remove my makeup and every extension I had on, be it my lashes or my hair and dress back like a boy but on this particular night I didn't. I was too lazy to take them off.

I was putting on a pink crop top mesh net on grey short skirt and for my shoes I wore ankle boots that were as high as five inches. I walked into one grocery store to get bread and butter as I knew my roommate won't cook anything. After I had walked into the grocery store, three dark guys and one fair dude walked in. They happened to be in a deep conversation. One had tattoo cover his neck and his hand. It was a sleeve actually and the other just drew random ideas to his body.

"Hey what are you looking at". One of them said, they must have noticed I was staring at them. I quickly removed my eyes and brought out the items I wanted to buy and placed them on the counter. They were checked, I made payment and exited the grocery store immediately.

"Hey I said what are you looking at". I heard someone say behind me. I looked back and I saw the four guys. They were following me. I picked up my pace and so they did, every turn I took they took. My heart began pounding that I swore I could hear it. Who told me to look at them? Now I have put myself in trouble I thought.

"Hey wait up man". One shouted while still following me.

I decided to summon up the courage and wait because even if I ran they were bound to run after me and the streets were lonely tonight.

"Why were you looking at me". The dark boy that had a tattoo sleeve said.

"Who said I was looking at you". I scoffed. The idea was to be bold and sassy so they would shy away.

"See this guy ooo". They all bursted out laughing.

"Him Dey do like girl". One reported.

"Na homosexual him be… u no see how him dress like woman".

"Why you dress like a woman, nah which man house you Dey come back from". The one with tattoo sleeve laughed and the others joined.

"Obviously the man that's more capable than you". I rolled my eyes with hands akimbo.

"Ogbeni take your hands down from your waist nah man you be". He slapped my hands away from my waist.

"So you Dey do man?". He asked. I kept mute not giving a response.

"You no wan talk". He retorted.

"Man Dey shook prick for your yansh". They all bursted out laughing.

"The same yansh you Dey shook prick inside too".

"Wetin you talk". His demeanor and countenance changed almost immediately.

"You heard me right".

The next thing I received was two heavy punches on the face that got me on the floor. He didn't stop there rather him and his friends took turns in kicking me all around my body.

"Die homo". I heard one say through gritted teeth. I used my arms to cover my head and folded my legs to my stomach to shield most of the kicks. When they got tired and saw I was bleeding badly and if they don't leave I might die in the process, they ran away. I could barely pick myself up from the floor as my body was heavily bruised and bleeding. The only strength I had, I used it call my roommate and asked him to come pick me. He was there at the location I gave him in the next 15 minutes with a tricycle.

We rode the tricycle to the nearest hospital where I was admitted immediately and my bruises and cut was looked at. The cuts that were deep stitches were already carried out. I refused when they wanted to stitch one of the cuts on my forehead. That meant I was going to have a scar there which is going to be everlasting and even without the stitching a scar would definitely form but it would have been so obvious with a stitch so I refused.

"Who did you say did this to you". My roommate paced.

"Evans how will I remember them, they're low life thugs". I said barely audible.

A doctor came in to run evaluation on me.

"How did you say this happened?". The doctor asked. He had his notepad with him ready to take down whatever I said.

"Doctor please go away, my head is pounding I can't talk now". I said covering my face from him. I didn't want the doctor to see my face, reasons best known to me.

"Alright we will do this tomorrow". He said and left the room.

"Evans why did you admit me into this hospital"

"In fact why did you take a bed".

"Have you seen yourself". Evans glared at me.

"So I should have allowed you to die".

"No you don't get me".

"The injuries were not serious for you to take a bed". I added.

"Can you listen to yourself talk". He sighed.

"If it's the hospital bills you're concerned about I will foot the hospital bill". Evans said and walked out. He was mad at me for reasons best known to him. If only he knew why I didn't want to be checked into a hospital. Particularly the hospital I was in. The doctor that came in earlier happened to be one of my customers. Not only that I work in night club but I am also a gigolo. I am gay so I only do men and not women, it's one of my side hustle that gives me money. The doctor like every of my customer wanted more but I couldn't do that. He wanted me all for himself but he doesn't know that,

"Once an ashawo always an ashawo".

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