Loretta Eziuloh

is Reading A story titled my boyfriend - the Keke driver

2025-04-08 13:39:02

My boyfriend, the Keke driver
(Episode 2)

Papa shot his eyes for a moment, as if composing himself before he spoke. “Teyeabasi, as I am giving you this money to pay your fees,” he said as he unfolded the naira notes in his hands, “I want you to make your mother and I proud. We didn’t have the opportunity to reach the university level, if we did, we would have done better for you. I am just a security man, my salary is ten thousand naira in a month, and your mother and I have been saving this money for your education.” He said as he placed the money in my hands, I held it firmly and knelt before him.
“Papa, thank you.” I said.

“You should greet your mother when she comes back from work too.”

“I will.” I said as I hurried up on my feet.

He was ready for work, and I was ready for school. I gave him a light hug and ran out of the house.

Running into my street, I could see myself in the classroom already, sitting upright and listening to the lecturers.

“This girl, you like running too much. You be athlete?” The man who repairs generator on my street said. I ignored him and ran faster. I was wearing my black trainers with the pink laces, the only shoes I had. It was given to me by my former Neigbor aunty Imayen.”

Arriving school I was perplexed by the crowds of students who were lined up to pay their fees. There were murmurings as I joined the queue. One of the girls who had a long braided hair stared at my trainers disgustingly. Then she murmured something into her friend’s ears and they bursted out laughing so loud. I stood there as they spoke as if I wasn’t there.

A banker appeared in a black suit and a red tie that had the bank logo pasted on it. The girls squeezed some naira notes into his hands and he walked away. They walked out of the queue, laughing loud.

“What sort of nonsense is that, en? We have been standing here for long a long time, waiting, just like the others, and you walked in here ...and... see, I don’t want to get angry o.” The young man standing behind me said with anger in his tone. I turned to see the person who was bold enough to address the banker, and my heart trembled at his site. He was a tall and handsome, dark skin young man, and he had dreamy eyes too.

“Come and beat me now. Come and beat me.” The banker muttered and walked away.

He gave a loud sigh and his eyes met mine.
“Why are you looking at me? Do you like me?” He asked as he winked at me. I turned my face to the front and giggled shyly.

“Are you upset that I spoke to that rude banker in that manner?” He asked, whispering into my ears.
I rolled my eyes, “why should I be upset?” I asked.
“Oh well,” he shrugged.

It took another one hour to get to my turn, and for the first time that afternoon, I wanted to cry. My legs were hurting me. The guy watched me with his dreamy fine eyes and silently handed me a bottle of water.

“Thanks,” I said and gulped down the water. Immediately.

“What’s your name?” He asked as I moved forward.

“Teyeabasi.” I said softly and gulped the water again.

“I am Udoma.” He said as he handed me the half soggy biscuit he had in his hands.

“Thank you,” I mouthed silently and ate it.

After my payment of my school fees, I waited for him at the counter. “I am done.” He said as he dragged my hands out of the bank excitedly, with a familiar bond.

“So, you’re a student here?” He asked. I nodded with a smile, “I just got admission, I am new. You don’t look like a newbie, which department are you?” I asked.

“I am not a student.” He said calmly, looking embarrassed.

“You’re a graduate?” I asked.

“No.”

“So what are you doing here?”

“I drive a Kekenapep. That’s my Keke over there,” he pointed at a yellow painted tricycle. “ I drive in campus. I came to pay in money into my account here.” He said. I nodded and smiled at him.

“So, where are you heading?”

“I don’t still believe you aren’t a graduate, you speak really cool English.”

“I own SSCE. I went to a good secondary school until I lost my father.”

“I am sorry about that.” I said.

“So where are you heading? I can drop you for free, don’t worry, you won’t pay.” He said.

“Department of petroleum engineering.” I said as I walked to where his tricycle was parked.

“Wow, very few women are in that department.” He said.

“How did you know?”

“Because I have passengers I pick from there often. They are mostly guys and a few ladies. So, tell me, you wanna work offshore, oil company?” He asked as he got inside the keke. I carefully sat on the passenger’s seat and listened. “I like you. You’re calm, naturally beautiful and there is this beauty that is rare in you. I can’t really say.” He said. He talked all along about my beauty as he drove me through the potholes and bumps.

When he stopped at my department I alighted from the keke and stared into his eyes with a smile. “How much is my money?” I asked.
He laughed, “are you sure you really wanna pay? That was a drop o. Did you see me carry any other passenger?” He asked.

I smiled down at him. “Thank you.”

“So what time will you be done? I can come take you to wherever you would want.” He winked at me, I giggled. “Em, I want to copy my timetable.” I said shyly. He ran his hands over my Afro abruptly. “Is this your real hair?” He asked. I nodded. “Wow, it is so big!” He exclaimed, “you’re the most beautiful girl I have ever seen.” He said, his brown eyes were admiring and bewildered.

“I have to leave now.” I said. He held my hands softly, “let me call you. Please let me have your number.” He said.

“I don’t have a phone.” I said.

“Kidding?”

I laughed, “ I am serious, I don’t have a phone.”

“And If I get you a small phone?” He asked, blowing incredible kisses at me.

“Phones are expensive, where are you going to get the money from?” I asked.

He bursted out laughing, “I drive keke, I have money to buy you a Nokia torch light phone that we could be using to talk to each other at night. You do midnight call right?” He asked. Looking straight into my eyes as he held the keke handle. He was was tall that his head almost hit the top of the keke.
He suddenly stalked toward me like a lion about to attack a beautiful gazelle.
My chest began to rise and fall, harder when he got out of the keke and stood in front of me.

“I can get you a small phone and a SIM card on my way back to pick you. Just give me time.” He said.

“5:pm is fine. I will be standing by the hibiscus flower over there.” I said pointing at it. His eyes never left mine as I made my way to the department.

Shyly at first, I wasn’t used to the people around me, my new course mates. Udoma was right, they were lots of boys than girls in the department. As I Introduced myself to more of my course mates, I realised that I was the one out of six girls in my set.

I wrote my timetable at the back of my notebook, I attended my first boring lecture. It was just 4:57 pm when I headed outside and met Udoma’s keke Parked by the hibiscus flower.

“Hey,” I said quietly.

“Hey. How was your first class?” He asked as he handed me a small bag. “I got you a phone and a SIM card.” He said with a smile.

“You were serious?” I asked, looking bewildered.

“Of course.” He retorted. Laughing to himself, he took the bag from me and took out the phone from it box, then he quickly fixed the sim card in it. When he put it on, he showed it to me, “see? It’s ready for use. You have to charge it for over six hours so that you have battery issues.” He said.
I nodded smilingly as I took the phone from him. “I have copied your phone number from the sim pack.”

“Okay,” I said softly. He held my hands and led me into his keke.

“Are you thirsty? Name your poison.” He said as he handed me two bottles of coke and sprite.

“Coke.” I said. His eyes widened in delighted surprise as he handed the coke to me and then packs of biscuits. Laughing to myself, I glanced down at the tiny sized biscuits he’d placed by my side.

I was shy to lead him into my street. But he wasn’t. He wasn’t ashamed. He wasn’t embarrassed to drive into the dark street that will take another ten years for the government to recognize.

“What time is your lectures tomorrow?” He asked.

“By ten in the morning.”

“I will come pick you up.”

“Can you not come near my compound? My father is very strict, and might not condone seeing me near a man.” I said. He nodded.

“I understand.” He said with a husky voice. When he winked at me for the last time. everything inside of me stilled.

My boyfriend, the Keke driver (Episode 2) Papa shot his eyes for a moment, as if composing himself before he spoke. “Teyeabasi, as I am giving you this money to pay your fees,” he said as he unfolded the naira notes in his hands, “I want you to make your mother and I proud. We didn’t have the opportunity to reach the university level, if we did, we would have done better for you. I am just a security man, my salary is ten thousand naira in a month, and your mother and I have been saving this money for your education.” He said as he placed the money in my hands, I held it firmly and knelt before him. “Papa, thank you.” I said. “You should greet your mother when she comes back from work too.” “I will.” I said as I hurried up on my feet. He was ready for work, and I was ready for school. I gave him a light hug and ran out of the house. Running into my street, I could see myself in the classroom already, sitting upright and listening to the lecturers. “This girl, you like running too much. You be athlete?” The man who repairs generator on my street said. I ignored him and ran faster. I was wearing my black trainers with the pink laces, the only shoes I had. It was given to me by my former Neigbor aunty Imayen.” Arriving school I was perplexed by the crowds of students who were lined up to pay their fees. There were murmurings as I joined the queue. One of the girls who had a long braided hair stared at my trainers disgustingly. Then she murmured something into her friend’s ears and they bursted out laughing so loud. I stood there as they spoke as if I wasn’t there. A banker appeared in a black suit and a red tie that had the bank logo pasted on it. The girls squeezed some naira notes into his hands and he walked away. They walked out of the queue, laughing loud. “What sort of nonsense is that, en? We have been standing here for long a long time, waiting, just like the others, and you walked in here ...and... see, I don’t want to get angry o.” The young man standing behind me said with anger in his tone. I turned to see the person who was bold enough to address the banker, and my heart trembled at his site. He was a tall and handsome, dark skin young man, and he had dreamy eyes too. “Come and beat me now. Come and beat me.” The banker muttered and walked away. He gave a loud sigh and his eyes met mine. “Why are you looking at me? Do you like me?” He asked as he winked at me. I turned my face to the front and giggled shyly. “Are you upset that I spoke to that rude banker in that manner?” He asked, whispering into my ears. I rolled my eyes, “why should I be upset?” I asked. “Oh well,” he shrugged. It took another one hour to get to my turn, and for the first time that afternoon, I wanted to cry. My legs were hurting me. The guy watched me with his dreamy fine eyes and silently handed me a bottle of water. “Thanks,” I said and gulped down the water. Immediately. “What’s your name?” He asked as I moved forward. “Teyeabasi.” I said softly and gulped the water again. “I am Udoma.” He said as he handed me the half soggy biscuit he had in his hands. “Thank you,” I mouthed silently and ate it. After my payment of my school fees, I waited for him at the counter. “I am done.” He said as he dragged my hands out of the bank excitedly, with a familiar bond. “So, you’re a student here?” He asked. I nodded with a smile, “I just got admission, I am new. You don’t look like a newbie, which department are you?” I asked. “I am not a student.” He said calmly, looking embarrassed. “You’re a graduate?” I asked. “No.” “So what are you doing here?” “I drive a Kekenapep. That’s my Keke over there,” he pointed at a yellow painted tricycle. “ I drive in campus. I came to pay in money into my account here.” He said. I nodded and smiled at him. “So, where are you heading?” “I don’t still believe you aren’t a graduate, you speak really cool English.” “I own SSCE. I went to a good secondary school until I lost my father.” “I am sorry about that.” I said. “So where are you heading? I can drop you for free, don’t worry, you won’t pay.” He said. “Department of petroleum engineering.” I said as I walked to where his tricycle was parked. “Wow, very few women are in that department.” He said. “How did you know?” “Because I have passengers I pick from there often. They are mostly guys and a few ladies. So, tell me, you wanna work offshore, oil company?” He asked as he got inside the keke. I carefully sat on the passenger’s seat and listened. “I like you. You’re calm, naturally beautiful and there is this beauty that is rare in you. I can’t really say.” He said. He talked all along about my beauty as he drove me through the potholes and bumps. When he stopped at my department I alighted from the keke and stared into his eyes with a smile. “How much is my money?” I asked. He laughed, “are you sure you really wanna pay? That was a drop o. Did you see me carry any other passenger?” He asked. I smiled down at him. “Thank you.” “So what time will you be done? I can come take you to wherever you would want.” He winked at me, I giggled. “Em, I want to copy my timetable.” I said shyly. He ran his hands over my Afro abruptly. “Is this your real hair?” He asked. I nodded. “Wow, it is so big!” He exclaimed, “you’re the most beautiful girl I have ever seen.” He said, his brown eyes were admiring and bewildered. “I have to leave now.” I said. He held my hands softly, “let me call you. Please let me have your number.” He said. “I don’t have a phone.” I said. “Kidding?” I laughed, “ I am serious, I don’t have a phone.” “And If I get you a small phone?” He asked, blowing incredible kisses at me. “Phones are expensive, where are you going to get the money from?” I asked. He bursted out laughing, “I drive keke, I have money to buy you a Nokia torch light phone that we could be using to talk to each other at night. You do midnight call right?” He asked. Looking straight into my eyes as he held the keke handle. He was was tall that his head almost hit the top of the keke. He suddenly stalked toward me like a lion about to attack a beautiful gazelle. My chest began to rise and fall, harder when he got out of the keke and stood in front of me. “I can get you a small phone and a SIM card on my way back to pick you. Just give me time.” He said. “5:pm is fine. I will be standing by the hibiscus flower over there.” I said pointing at it. His eyes never left mine as I made my way to the department. Shyly at first, I wasn’t used to the people around me, my new course mates. Udoma was right, they were lots of boys than girls in the department. As I Introduced myself to more of my course mates, I realised that I was the one out of six girls in my set. I wrote my timetable at the back of my notebook, I attended my first boring lecture. It was just 4:57 pm when I headed outside and met Udoma’s keke Parked by the hibiscus flower. “Hey,” I said quietly. “Hey. How was your first class?” He asked as he handed me a small bag. “I got you a phone and a SIM card.” He said with a smile. “You were serious?” I asked, looking bewildered. “Of course.” He retorted. Laughing to himself, he took the bag from me and took out the phone from it box, then he quickly fixed the sim card in it. When he put it on, he showed it to me, “see? It’s ready for use. You have to charge it for over six hours so that you have battery issues.” He said. I nodded smilingly as I took the phone from him. “I have copied your phone number from the sim pack.” “Okay,” I said softly. He held my hands and led me into his keke. “Are you thirsty? Name your poison.” He said as he handed me two bottles of coke and sprite. “Coke.” I said. His eyes widened in delighted surprise as he handed the coke to me and then packs of biscuits. Laughing to myself, I glanced down at the tiny sized biscuits he’d placed by my side. I was shy to lead him into my street. But he wasn’t. He wasn’t ashamed. He wasn’t embarrassed to drive into the dark street that will take another ten years for the government to recognize. “What time is your lectures tomorrow?” He asked. “By ten in the morning.” “I will come pick you up.” “Can you not come near my compound? My father is very strict, and might not condone seeing me near a man.” I said. He nodded. “I understand.” He said with a husky voice. When he winked at me for the last time. everything inside of me stilled.

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