Honest Illusions

Episode 3

Elsewhere, at about the same time her younger sister was getting into a relationship, Ruth was getting into trouble. She had left the party earlier with her friend Boye and two boys, Efe and Kene. Efe was Boye's boyfriend and Kene was Efe's friend.
It was obvious that Kene was interested in dating her. She didn't mind that. What bothered her was that Kene seemed to think he was 'Mr World.' He was handsome alright, and she wasn't bad looking herself.

Maybe girls were falling over themselves to date him. Big deal! Boys were falling over themselves to date her too!

Boye, Efe and Ruth were students at the University of Port Harcourt, while Kene was at Convenant University. Earlier on, at the party, Ruth had told Oprah and Chris that Efe would bring her home. Chris had been delighted. It was obvious he wanted sometime alone with Oprah. Ruth had gone off with the other three and here they were at Efe's house.

They were in Efe's bedroom where Efe and Boye were examining some white powdery substance which Efe referred to as cocaine! Ruth was scared. She had known Efe back at school where they'd stayed in the same Pritaso Block B, Aluu but she could never have guessed that he was into cocaine. His father was into some business and was apparently wealthy. Efe drove his own car at school!

"Don't be a spoil sport, Boye, come on, give it a try," Efe's eyes were glazed. He looked funny and he slurred as he spoke. From the way Boye was giggling, Ruth suspected she wasn't a stranger to what was going on. She was however reluctant and hesitant. Perhaps Ruth's presence was deterring her.

Kene was lying on the bed staring at the ceiling. A silly smile playing on his lips.
  
"I want to go home," Ruth announced. She had had enough.

No one paid any attention to her. It was getting dark and Efe's family house was quite some distance from civilization. His parents went to the UK to welcome his elder sister's newborn son to the world. Efe and his sister were the only children their parents had. Ruth eyed Boye who was dancing to some music Efe had put on. It was Sia and David Guetta's 'Titanium'

Suddenly, Kene got up from the bed and started rummaging Efe's wardrobe. Soon, he moved back, clutching a syringe. He took out a plastic wire and tied it tightly round one arm until his veins were protruding. With the same silly smile on his face, he injected himself and fell on the bed again, staring at the ceiling. Ruth watched with disbelief.

Efe got up from the bed and smiled sheepishly at Ruth. "You don't know what you are missing." He went to a table near his bed and picked up a piece of paper neatly rolled. The powdery stuff he had referred to as cocaine earlier on was on the table. He bent over the stuff and sniffed it into his nostrils through the neatly rolled paper. To Ruth's surprise, Boye stopped dancing and followed suit. Ruth was dumbfounded. In a minute, they were kissing passionately on the floor. Ruth decided to leave. She would take her chances and walk in the dark. Efe and Boye didn't seem like they were leaving until morning, and Kene.

What was wrong with Kene?

Kene was on the bed convulsing. There was foam coming out of his mouth. Ruth rushed to Efe and pulled him away from Boye.

"Efe, something is wrong with Kene. Look at him, you've got to do something."

Efe took one look at Kene and collapsed on the floor laughing wildly. Ruth was confused. What was funny? Kene was still convulsing on the bed. Instinctively, Ruth knew something had gone wrong. She tried to open the door and found it locked. The key was at the door. She opened the door and ran outside the room, screaming hysterically all the way out of the house.


(To be contd)