-THE WHITE BIBLE-

THE WHITE BIBLE

I met Femi on my way to work February 2017. I was running late so in desperation I joined Palmgroove/Onipan bus. My office is at Surulere. When it was time to pay I stretched my hand to pay but the conductor said someone at the front has paid for me, I looked and saw a handsome dark skinned man turn his head and smiled at me, I didn't know whether to smile back at him or say something, instead I nodded my head like agama lizard.
I came down at Palmgroove instead of the last bus stop because I felt I have a better chance at getting Ojuelegba bus from there, I noticed the man at the front seat also came down from the bus, I walked towards him and said THANK YOU!
I felt uncomfortable after all I can afford to pay for my fare. He introduced himself, I did same, he told me what he does for a living etc, a bus came and we both entered, he paid again, at Ojuelegba we alighted, exchanged numbers and went our separate ways as I proceed to Bode Thomas.
He called me a day later, we talked for hours, that was the beginning of his daily calls. Weekly we meet for lunch at a fast food joint along Adeniran Ogunsanya street, he seemed like a nice guy so a month later I greed to visit him at his house in Ogba. His apartment is so neat I was impressed, I stayed for 2 hours then we decided to go have pepper soup at a nearby joint then I left for home.
My third visit I insisted I cook he agreed so I made him Jollof rice, chicken and fried plantain, we enjoyed it. We watched a comic movie, played Scrabble and laughed all through. He insisted I sleep over, after a little argument I greed. A few minutes to 10pm I told him I need to wash the dishes in the kitchen, he said okay. As I walked to the kitchen I noticed that there is a door on my left close to the kitchen, I grabbed the handle to open it asking 'Is this a store room?' in a flash he rushed from the living room and pushed me so hard I fell on the floor. He knocked me down before I could get to the door on the left on my way to the kitchen, I fell belly down but quickly I turned to see his face twisted in rage or was it a worried frown? I wasn't sure but I was very scared.

He told me to get up and meet him in the sitting room area for talk, I got up from the floor and followed cautiously, he said sit down I told him I was okay standings up. Femi what was that I asked, why did you pounce on me like that? He stammered an apology then told me to sit down or else we can't have a meaningful conversation. I walked to the opposite chair and sat, folded my arms looking him in the eye.
He said you see that room, it is my prayer room no woman is allowed in there, sorry I should have told you earlier but it slipped my mind, I usually keep it locked but forgot today hence my rush to stop you. I looked at him and laughed, your prayer what? Why can't a woman go in your prayer room, he responded by saying I wouldn't understand it so let's forget it. He got up, picked the remote from the table, gave me the remote and walked to the kitchen, he said I shouldn't worry he would do the dishes that if I don't feel like watching TV I can go in the bedroom take a shower and change for the night. I didn't say anything I just played with the remote wondering what the heck is wrong with him, I could hear him washing the plates and pots.

As I stretched my hand to tune the TV channel I noticed a white book sitting on a small stool just almost behind the TV stand, I haven't noticed that before, folded by the book is a white clothe or robe or some white fabric, curious I stood up to see what book it was, getting closer I saw it was a white Bible, it looked so immaculately white, I haven't seen a very white Bible before so I picked it up so I can admire it, just then he walked out of the kitchen and saw me, I heard this blood curdling scream from him it startled me so bad the Bible fell from my hand as I clutched my chest, I turned to stare at him only to see him shivering like he was having a seizure while standing, I was scared, after a few seconds he recovered then rushed at me, grabbing my neck asking why why!!!

.....why did I touch the white Bible,  I called his name twice asking him to let go of my neck, just then he snapped out of whatever possessed him and apologized, explaining that a woman is not allowed to touch the white Bible because it will ruin everything, everything like what I asked, he didn't respond, I said sorry I didn't know that, I wanted to pick it up and place it back on the wooden stool but he stopped me, he told me to leave it there, I noticed too that he wasn't willing to touch it too. He told me to go in the bedroom, shower and sleep that he would join me later. At this time it was getting to midnight, is this man going to do something to me tonight, if I scream would anybody hear me? I decided I wasn't going to argue so I moved quietly and slowly into the bedroom, I sat on the bed couldn't sleep all night waiting, he never came to join me, I couldn't hear a thing from the living room, I was afraid to go check what he was up to. I got my bag from where I kept it, wore my flat shoes I left close to the bed, sat still on the bed until 6am when I started hearing noises from vehicles and people passing outside the fence. I tip toe to the door, opened it slightly nothing happened, I opened wide peeked nothing so I stepped out, walked quietly towards the living room, then I noticed him on the floor in white flowy garment clutching the White Bible snoring. I moved quietly to the kitchen because there is a door that also leads to the backyard from there, I didn't want to open the big door close to the living roon, also the key to the kitchen door is always left in the keyhole, the bunch of keys has the gate key too so I turned the key slowly it open, turned the handle it opened then I stepped out, walked around from the backyard to the front gate then let myself out. I ran to the bus stop not looking back and took a bus home. I never went back, never picked his calls again, I changed my phone number and forgot about him. I still don't understand what all that white Bible and secret room means. *END*