Love above contract

Chapter 2: Paying back a debt

HENRY POV

My blood froze over and my mouth hung open when I discovered that the officer in charge was the younger brother of my landlord. No wonder he could get officers to get here so quickly. Normally in Betney, officers take their time to get to a crime scene. They are so slow that the criminals would be long gone before they arrive.

The officers took me to a section of the station and asked me to pen down a statement. I requested to speak to my lawyer before writing anything down. It was a bluff!

I didn't have a lawyer to talk to. If I had the money to get a lawyer, I wouldn't have issues paying my rent. I was hoping to scare them into not treating me like trash, and it actually worked. They told me to pen down something, and I would be allowed to talk to my lawyer later.

I would have insisted to speak to my lawyer first, but I didn't want to blow my cover, so I began to write what had happened, totally skipping the part where I had slapped him first, while they asked me a few questions.

“Tell me,” an officer questioned. “Why did you try to hurt Mr Bayo (that was my landlord's name) with a knife?”

“I didn't try to hurt him with a knife.” I responded. “That part was an outright lie.”

“And do you have any evidence to back up your statement?” The officer questioned, looking intensely at me.

I paused for a while, not knowing the answer to give. It was one thing to make a claim, it was another thing to prove it.

“I believe you know that there are witnesses ready to testify against you.” He said, taking a seat opposite mine while the rest gathered round us.

His stare was intimidating. He was looking at me so intensely that I began to suspect I had actually threatened my landlord with a knife. I was close to confessing what I didn't do, but I had to stay strong. They know what they are doing. They are trying to guilt trip me. I am sure they have a body cam recording this entire conversation.

“You are yet to give me an answer young man.” He said again, his gaze still fixed on me.

“I'd present my evidence only to my lawyer.” I replied, my eyes breaking away from his gaze. I couldn't sustain it.

“That's good to know.” He said, giving me a sinister smile. “do you smoke?”

“No!” I replied sharply.

How can he ask me such a thing?

“But you do know someone who does?” He asked again, stroking his chin.

“I don't understand why you are asking me all these questions, and how would I know someone who smokes? I don't have any business with drugs.”

“Ah, so you don't know anyone who smokes?” He replied, his lips curved into a smirk. “Pen it down in your statement that you refused to answer any drugs-related question.”

“I don't understand. Are you trying to set me up or something? How is this related to the case at hand?” I half-yelled.

I don't really get where these people are heading to.

“Just write it down as we said.” He responded.

“No!” I replied sharply.

“Fine, have it your way. You will still have to prove your case in court. I'm pretty sure you have no evidence.” He said, smiling.

What's going on?

Does he really want to set me up with something bad?

My statement was taken, and I was placed in detention, as the landlord himself couldn't forward the case to court because there weren't enough evidence to prove his case.

I was granted bail and released after a friend of mine perfected my bail. Bail should be free, but in a corrupt country like mine, it's free, just on paper.

My friend, David, helped me transport myself back home, a few of my stuff was still outside, everyone was in their room.

“I came as fast as I could, and could only secure a few things. I guess your lodge mates had taken a few for themselves.” He said quietly, as we walked into the compound.

I understood what he meant, but I didn't have the strength to start moving from room to room, accusing people of stealing my stuff. I am just glad that I am at home and not in jail, I'd just have to make do with what's left.

We took the remaining things left outside into my room. Today has been a long day for me, and all I want to do is rest, wake up, study for tomorrow and write the exam.

I thanked David for his help, promising to pay back the money he spent to bail me out, and bid him farewell.

I soaked garri (cassava flakes) in water and drank it without sugar that night, and drifted off to sleep, casting all my worries behind me.

***THE NEXT DAY***

“15 minutes left!” A lecturer echoed as I tried to pen down as much information as I could. David sat a distance from me, and from his expression throughout the exam, I could tell that he didn't know the answer to the questions asked.

“10 minutes left!” The lecturer shouted again.

I was done with the exams, and began to cross-check my work. David began trying to get my attention, fear was visibly written on his face. I looked at him, and he begged me to help him out.

At first I refused, because I knew the consequences of being caught was expulsion. I couldn't risk it, even for our friendship. But he gave me those eyes that said, ‘if not for me, you won't be here.’

I understood what he meant and in a quick move, we swapped our papers cleanly without being caught by the lecturers invigilating the hall. The plan was simple; I'd write as much as I could for him, and swap it back when it was time to submit.

I started writing as fast as I could, trying to answer as many questions as I could in less than 5 minutes. I was scared, but I told myself that he had helped me, and this was my way of paying him back.

“You have 60 seconds to go!” The lecturer shouted again. I turned to look at David to give him his script. I have answered as much as I can, in the best way I can. I have tried for him.

My gaze landed on him, only to get the biggest shock of my life.

David had erased my registration number from my script and written his, stood up from his seat to go and submit.

I froze for a few moments because my brain could not comprehend what was going on. He didn't bother to turn back to look at me. He calmly submitted and walked out of the hall, while the lecturer began collecting the scripts from those still writing. I quickly erased his registration number and wrote mine, before it was collected by the lecturer.

For a few seconds, I could barely move from where I sat. I couldn't believe it, the very guy that I trusted just did this to me.

I couldn't raise an alarm because I would implicate myself, and get expelled alongside him. You understand that moment someone had crossed you, but you can't do anything because you are also on the wrong side?

That's where I was at the moment.

A lecturer's voice yelling for us to get out of the hall brought me back, and I walked out of the hall along with the rest of the students remaining in the hall.

I found David talking to some of our coursemates on how easy the exam was, and I could feel my temper rising slowly. He avoided eye contact with me and pretended as though he didn't see me. I wanted to confront him, to yell at him, to tell him how much I hated him, but I couldn't.

Lecturers were still around and one of them could hear me. I shook my head as fresh tears formed in my eyes and I made my way back home.

I still couldn't believe it.

While walking down the stairs, I got a message from him apologizing and thanking me for helping him, and I shouldn't bother about the payment. The apology felt forced, not like he really meant it. I just wonder what my score would be like if the results came out. Just reading the message alone made me sick.

I nearly threw away my phone, but I knew that I would regret it instantly. So I turned it off, letting the tears flow freely from my eyes. There is no friendship between me and him again.

I hurried home, ignoring friends who tried to talk to me about the exam. I wasn't in the mood to talk to anyone right now. I got home only to see my stuff outside.

Not again!

TBC.