Destiny Flat (Episode 4)
Orator: Trauma - - - trauma redefines you, it shrouds your soul in shame and embalms your entire body in sadness. One doesn’t understand the gravity of trauma till it begins to pull you down slowly. Thus, with great trauma comes great guilt which buries.
Valentine’s Day 10 years ago.
Adelana was excited. Everything was set for tonight, he already made plans with Shade, he would visit her at home at exactly 5pm. Her parents already left for a relative’s burial ceremony in village taking her younger siblings with them, so the whole house will be theirs. Adelana had dreamt about this very day for weeks. Today will be the day he’d finally express himself to Shade. After-all, they’ve been friends all their lives and he’s got a massive crush on her. He had seen her grow through all the ages and the more their friendship blossomed the more his feelings towards her intensified. Armed with nothing but a vase of flowers and his feelings Adelana, left home that late afternoon to profess his feelings. He quickly found an okada man and jumped on his bike.
The closer he got to her house the more his excitement grew. He couldn’t help himself, he felt jittery as he rode with the bike man. Occasionally clutching the man’s shoulders as they entered deep potholes. The road might be rough, but I’ll be there no matter what, he said to himself. After what seemed like forever he eventually arrived at her house at exactly 4:59pm. It was a communal compound filled with individual bungalows. Her’s was the first, once you opened the gate. The plan was that she would leave the door open, so he didn’t need to knock or wait around, so as not to attract the prying eyes of the neighbors. So, as it was planned the doors were open. But he noticed that she wasn’t alone. He could hear voices. At first his mind told him it was probably a movie playing, Shade loved movies, he shrugged. But the parlor was empty. Then he proceeded to her room, the door was slightly opened. There he saw what he never expected to see in his wildest dreams. Senior Bode was naked, on top of Shade, while she laid there struggling, beneath him. Then he blanked out.
The journey back home was the longest in his life. He couldn’t even remember what happened to the flowers he took with him, but he assumed that together with his feelings those were crushed too. That night, he made a promise to himself never to fall in love with anyone. He could never understand why he made that decision, whether it was out of fear Or just simple cowardice, he couldn’t bring himself to explain.
Scene One
Present Day
(In Lana’s room: Himself and Benson are seated on the mattress).
Benson: Man, I think you need to talk to Shady about that evening. I mean, there could be some explanation about what happened or what you saw.
Lana: (Brooding) I feel you, bro. I suppose there was an explanation, I’ve been calling her phones all week to even get her to speak to me but that her stupid flat mate Caro, wouldn’t even let me talk. You know I hate that I zoned out that day, ten years ago. I just saw senior Bode and then I assumed the rest. I allowed my mind fill up the blanks.
Benson: I totally understand you man. These things happen especially when trauma is concerned, it’s the body’s way of protecting us.
Lana: I’ll try to risk it and visit her you know. But bro I have a confession.
Benson: (Taken aback) What is it?
Lana: I kinda told Shady, you liked her. More like you had a crush on her.
Benson: (Laughs) Well now the cat is out of the bag. I just have an aimless crush on her, but you, you’re in love with her. You’ve always been.
Lana: I don’t think so. Yes, I care about her a lot. But I think love is far fetched.
Benson: (Chuckles) Well we shall see….
(A loud bang is heard from outside the room; both Benson and Lana rush out to see what happened).
Clay: (His hands on Cabo’s neck) Walahi, na today I go kill you.
Cabo: (Choking) Wetin I do?
Clay: Why you thief my meat?
(Benson quickly rushes to separate both of them; Lana leans on wall watching both of them, a smile on his face).
Benson: (A disappointed look on his face) Aren’t you both too old to be behaving like this?
Clay: Omo na God help this boy today, I dey on my own dey chaw na so this guy go carry my meat.
Cabo: I been think say you no dey chaw anything way get blood today na. As per Easter celebrations.
Clay: Na me kill Jesus? If I no Dey chaw am, Shey I go put am for my food?
Lana: (Laughing) You guys are pathetic. I’ve got somewhere to be.
Benson: You two (pointing at Clay and Cabo) need to grow up.
(Lana went back into his room to prepare himself).
Scene Two
(The Girls Sitting in their parlor, a movie playing on the Television).
Jessica: Tomorrow is Easter right? We should all go out, maybe visit the beach?
Caro: That seems like a nice idea, we should.
Shady: I don’t think I want to go anywhere.
Caro and Jessica: (In Unison) Why the hell Not???!!!
Shady: I don’t just feel like going out, plus you know I’m water-phobic.
Caro: (Laughs) No you’re not. But what you need to be is Lana-phobic.
(The girls laugh; Caro continues talking)
Caro: I don’t understand why you can’t just let go of that boy. After all the hurt he’s caused you?
Shady: (Bites her lips) It’s not that easy. I’ve known Lana all my life. I don’t think I can be with anyone else.
Jessica: (Hisses) Mehn, this Lana must have gold-platted penis o.
Caro: (Nods in agreement) I tell you sis.
Shady: (Looks at them disgustingly) You guys are naughty. It’s not even about his penis, yes, I’ve heard rumors that they’re quite beautiful to look at. But there’s more to him than that. Although I don’t mind us doing that after you know…but I just want him in a way that a woman wants a man.
Jessica: Wait, you mean, you guys have not done stuff before?
Caro: Our friend is Virgin Mary don’t you know, that’s why the nonsense boy isn’t interested in her. He’s only interested in girls he can enter.
Jessica: No wonder.
Shady: No I’m not a virgin. But I don’t think that’s the reason.
Caro: See my darling friend I know Men. They’re only motivated by the muscles beneath our thighs.
Jessica: Facts!
Shady: You’re wrong, but what do I know?
(A knock rings out).
The girls in Unison: Who’s there?
Lana: It’s me Adelana
Caro: (Hisses) Talk of the devil.
Jessica: Should we open, do you want to speak to him?
Shady: (Nods affirmatively) Yes!
Caro and Jessica: (Sigh!)
Scene Three
(Immediately Lana walks into the parlor, Jessica and Caro walk out of the house, slamming the door loudly behind them).
Lana: (Tries to smile) Your friends aren’t my fans right now I suppose?
Shady: (Smiling) You mean, Caroline and Jessica? They’re my best friends so it’s normal for them to behave protectively.
Lana: Well you’re not wrong. Especially when I’m always about breaking your heart.
Shady: Well, that’s not exactly true. But… (Laughs).
Lana: (Confused) Why are you laughing ?
Shady: (Continues laughing) I’m laughing at you. Well at your past.
Lana: (Further confusion) Me? When?
Shady: Remember the time in senior school, during the open day, and you failed, further mathematics? Then your mum was screaming at you and going on and on about how you don’t follow anyone in your family’s footsteps and instead you’re bent on breaking their hearts?
Lana: (Laughs) Yes, I remember, only if my mum knew why I failed the test. She would’ve had a heart attack.
Shady: (Laughs) Well, that’s where I come in right?
Lana: (Shrugs) Well you were my nemesis, you always caused trouble for me. I was the good boy.
Shady: (Scoffs) Lies, it was the other way around. But who am I to say a boy shouldn’t do his best to impress me, including giving me his test scripts to submit as mine?
Lana: Well I was a philanthropist, helping a damsel in distress.
Shady: You know I’ve always been a big girl, I didn’t need helping.
Lana: I know, but you were beautiful too, I couldn’t help myself.
Shady: (Attentively) You still think I am beautiful?
Lana: Yes, absolutely. You’re always beautiful.
Shady: (Blushes) So, is that why you don’t see me as a woman?
Lana: (Sighs, holds her hand) I do Folashade. I do. I don’t want to be hurt by you again.
Shady: (Sad, squeezes his hands) I don’t understand, when have I ever hurt you?
Lana: (Let go of her hands) It’s nothing, forget I said anything.
Shady: (Puzzled) Adelana, talk to me. What happened? What did I do wrong?
Lana: Remember Valentine’s Day Ten years ago?
Shady: (Disraught) I don’t like thinking or talking about that day. I waited for you. But I saw a broken flower vase instead.
Lana: It was mine. I came, I saw you with Olabode.
Shady: (Silence, followed by tears).
Lana: (Stands up to leave) I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make you cry, I’ll be on my way.
Shady: (With an eyes full of tears) Ten years ago, what you saw was me being raped by Olabode.
(Curtain Closed).