I didn't do it!

THE UNCLE'S WARNING

*CHAPTER 4: THE UNCLE'S WARNING*

The afternoon sun hung heavy over the village road.

Dust rose with every passing bike. Sweat stuck Reuben’s shirt to his back. But he didn’t care. He was walking beside Julie.

Just Julie.

For the past two weeks since they both got admission, it felt like the whole world was against them. Her father didn’t want her talking to boys. His uncle didn’t want him distracted. But here they were, side by side, on their way to buy handouts.

Reuben glanced at her. She was chewing her lips, eyes forward. She looked good in that simple blouse and skirt. Too good.

“Uniben and Delsu,” Reuben said suddenly, breaking the silence. “Same course. Different schools. This your papa wicked.”

Julie almost smiled. “Don’t start.”

“I’m serious. Which kind father separates two future lawyers like this? You dey uniben, me dey delsu. How we go dey gist during break?”

Julie shook her head. “Reuben, focus. At least you have someone to pay your fees. My own father is already complaining.”

Reuben was about to answer when the sound of tires on gravel made them both turn.

A black Camry was slowing down beside them. Tinted windows. Clean. The kind of car that didn’t belong on this dusty road.

The front passenger window slid down.

“Reuben!”

Reuben froze.

Standing in the car, half leaning out, was Uncle Ben.

Late 40s. Gold chain. Polo shirt stretched across his stomach. Sunglasses on his head. The man who had just yesterday on phone said, _“I will see you through school. Just come on Saturday so we talk.”_

Reuben straightened up immediately. “Uncle! Good afternoon, sir.”

Uncle Ben looked at him. Then his eyes moved to Julie. Up and down. Slow.

He frowned. “Reuben! You didn’t come as we have discussed.”

Reuben blinked. “Uncle, you told me to come on Saturday. You said it after church.”

“Did I?” Uncle Ben scratched his head like he was genuinely trying to remember. “These meetings are too much. My brain is scattered.”

Julie curtsied quickly. “Good day, sir.”

Uncle Ben turned to her fully now. The frown was gone. Replaced with something Reuben didn’t like.

“Ah. And who is this beautiful young lady?”

Julie answered before Reuben could think. “I’m Julie, sir. His classmate.”

Uncle Ben hummed. “Classmate, abi?”

The way he said it made Reuben’s stomach drop.

“Your girlfriend?” Uncle Ben asked directly.

“No!” Reuben cut in too fast. “No sir. Just my classmate. From school. We dey buy handouts.”

Uncle Ben leaned back in his seat. He took off his sunglasses and cleaned them with his shirt.

“Hmmm,” he said. The sound was long. Heavy.

“You are lucky she’s just a classmate,” he said finally. His voice had dropped. No more friendly uncle tone.

Reuben felt cold despite the heat.

“Let me tell you something, Reuben,” Uncle Ben continued. “Any day I see you near a girl, that day I stop being your uncle. You hear me? No school fees. No accommodation. No support. Nothing.”

The words hit like slap.

Reuben looked down at his shoes. “Yes, sir.”

“Face your studies!” Uncle Ben snapped. “Leave girls alone. Girls are distractions. They will spoil you before you even start. I didn’t suffer to send your father to school so that you will come and be following girls up and down. Is that what you want?”

Reuben shook his head. “No, sir.”

“Good.” Uncle Ben’s voice softened again. Like a switch. “That’s why I like you. You’re a sensible boy. Not like those ones wasting my money.”

He glanced at Julie again. This time longer.

“So,” he said casually. “Hope she will come with you to my place on Saturday?”

Julie spoke before Reuben could open his mouth.

“No, sir.”

Silence.

Even the driver looked back.

Uncle Ben raised one eyebrow. “No?”

“No, sir,” Julie repeated. Polite, but firm. “I have lectures on Saturday.”

Uncle Ben stared at her for two seconds. Then he laughed. But it wasn’t a real laugh.

“Ah. Strong girl.” He turned to Reuben. “Convince your friend to come with you, Reuben. It’s good for her to see where successful people live. Maybe she’ll learn something.”

Reuben felt trapped. On one side was Julie, whose face had gone hard. On the other side was the man paying his fees.

“I... I will try, sir,” Reuben managed.

Uncle Ben nodded, satisfied. He wound up the window halfway.

“Saturday. 10am. Don’t be late. And remember what I said about girls.”

The car roared and pulled away, leaving them in a cloud of dust.

For a long time, neither of them spoke.

Julie coughed and waved the dust away. “Nice uncle.”

Reuben didn’t laugh. “I’m sorry.”

“For what? You didn’t do anything.” Julie kicked a stone. “Except lie.”

Reuben stopped walking. “I didn’t lie.”

“You told him I was just your classmate.”

Reuben ran a hand through his hair. Frustration. “Julie, if I had said ‘this is my girlfriend’ he would have ended it right there. No school. No help. Nothing. You know how he is.”

“So you denied me.”

“I didn’t deny you! I protected us.” Reuben’s voice rose. “He has never helped me before. This is the first time. I can’t ruin it.”

Julie crossed her arms. “And what are we then? If not girlfriend and boyfriend?”

Reuben stepped closer. Lowered his voice. “You are not my girlfriend, Julie. You are my world. You are the reason I even applied to law. You are the person I want to marry after law school. But I can’t tell him that now. Not when he holds my future in his hand.”

Julie looked away. Her jaw was tight.

“So what do we do?” she asked quietly.

Reuben sighed. “Let’s do it this way. We go to your house today. You introduce me to your father as your friend. Just friend. Then next week I’ll take you to Uncle Ben and introduce you properly. As my world.”

Julie stared at him. “You want my father to kill me? You know what he said last week. ‘Any boy that comes to this house will meet my cutlass.’”

Reuben deflated. “Okay. Fine. You win.”

“I always win,” Julie said, but there was no smile.

“You’re only winning because this is not court,” Reuben shot back, trying to lighten the mood. “Wait till we’re called to bar. Me prosecuting, you defending. Then we’ll see who wins.”

Julie finally cracked a small smile. “And I will win the case.”

“And after you win,” Reuben said, grinning now, “you’ll come home and I’ll win you in bed.”

“Ashawo!” Julie hit his arm.

“No na! By then we’ll be married now.”

Julie rolled her eyes but she was smiling. “Wait. If I win you in court, will you take it personal when we get home?”

Reuben thought about it. “Hmm. If you win clean, no bribe, no nonsense... no. But if you cheat to win me, then yes. I will take it very personal.”

They both laughed. The tension broke.

But as they continued walking, Reuben couldn’t shake the feeling in his chest.

Uncle Ben asking Julie to come on Saturday. The way he looked at her. The warning about girls.

Something was off.

“Julie,” Reuben said. “Don’t go to his house on Saturday. Even if I beg you.”

Julie looked at him. “I wasn’t planning to.”

“Good.”

They reached the junction. Julie’s house was left. Reuben’s was straight.

“See you tomorrow,” Julie said.

“Yeah.” Reuben watched her walk away.

He pulled out his phone. 3 missed calls from Uncle Ben. A text: _Come Saturday. Come alone._

Reuben deleted the text and put his phone away.

The sun was still hot. But Reuben felt cold.