SKIRT OF IMMORTALITY

Chapter 31

It was meeting day and my parents were in my school as early as possible. I also woke up as early as possible but there was no sign of missed call or text message from Eric.

He normally call or text me every morning but that morning was awfully quiet.

And then my phone rang. I checked it, it wasn't Eric rather it was that bastard of a lecturer. I decided to receive the call.

"Hello baby girl. Real quick, remember I told you I can cancel everything you will go through if you will agree to give me what I've been requesting for? Well the offer is still on the table. What do you say?"

I remained quiet because I was so angry.

"Well, it's your choice but know one thing, you won't survive the meeting today I bet you"

And so he ended the call.

Not because of what he said but I knew it was going to be a tough day for I and my parents.

I met my parents outside the hostel because they refused to come into the hostel.

"Gina, I want to hear the whole story from you and please don't leave out any detail because I believe you" My dad said

And so I took them to sit under the big tree. I explained everything that had happened to me.

From their actions, I could tell that they believed me but were disappointed in me as I couldn't tell them about my terrible ordeals in school.

I apologized and then I showed them the way to the meeting hall and then they left.

I went back to the hostel and met my good friends. They all stood up when saw me and then they both hugged me. I felt shy but had to be strong.

"Why the sudden hug?" I asked

"We just felt like to comfort you because we know you will go through a lot today" Philomina said

"Thanks you babes. Thank you so much" I said with tears in my eyes

"It's nothing, you can count on us" Jessica said

"We are always here for you. In fact we don't mind following you to the meeting hall" Philomina added

"You know you can't except if the talk comes around some kind of witnesses" I explained

"Well, we know. Come here and sit" Jessica said

We all sat and then we prayed, ate, I got dressed and then they escorted me to the meeting hall.

I and my parents were there together with the Vice Chancellor, the lecturer and some other authorities.

It wad a really big hall. I was scared, very scared but my mother kept signaling me to calm down.

And so the meeting started with pleasantries from all of us and introductions.

"Please can we watch a little bit of the video just for discussion sake because it isn't a nice thing to watch" the VC said

And so the video was played. I was so disturbed not because I was the one in the video having sex with three guys but because of the angle to which the video was taking.

It was as if it wasn't rape. The angle to which it was shot made it look as if we were all having fun.

"Now that we've watched it, what can you say about it Miss Gina?" The Vc asked

"I stood up and greeted again and then I lost my confidence. Tears filled my eyes as I struggled to organize my words together.

" Please, remember we don't have all day here" the VC said

"The video didn't show the whole truth Sir. I was raped and not that I was having fun with them. I'm not that kind of person" I finally said with my face covered with enough tears

"You can sit down" the VC said and then I sat down gently while looking at the lecturer but he was just smiling

"Mr. Richard, where are the boys involved in this case?" The Vc asked

"They are outside Sir" the lecturer said

"Bring them in" said the Vc

In some seconds, the three boys came in with heads down and without shame.

They were asked to tell the story and then they told the story which went inline with the video.

The story they told made me smile. They said I came to them drunk and was threatening them to all sleep with me if not I will kill myself with a knife that was in my hand.

I smiled because I wasn't even holding a knife. For Godsake, I was coming back from night lectures!

"Was she really holding a knife?" The Vc asked

"Yes Sir! Watch the video well again" one of the boys said

And then the video was played again. Guess what? A knife was beside me as I was laid on the ground.

Confusion wan kill me! My parents face said it all. It was not looking like an intentional plot against me.

The Vc and his members began to whisper to each other and then the three guys were told to wait outside.

"Miss Gina, Why were you holding a knife that night? And why were you drunk that night?" The Vc asked

"Sir to be sincere, I wasn't drunk and I wasn't holding a knife. This is all a plot against me Sir. Since they brought in people who stood as witnesses or should I call it wickednesses, let me also be allowed to invite my room mates so that you can ask them how I was when I came into the hostel that night"

The Vc and his people whispered to each other again and then I was asked to bring them in. Luckily for me, they were right outside.

Philomina and Jessica came in and told the everybody that I was normal but wasn't responding to them that night but then I kept asking them questions regarding rape on that night.

"Was that all?" The Vc asked

"Yes Sir" my girls chorused

"You can wait outside" the Vc said

"Sir, they are her room mates. They may not be telling the truth" the lecturer said

"What do you mean Mr. Richard?" The Vc asked

"Well, we knew she may talk to them into saying things to favour her and that was why we made sure we got on of her room mates to tell the truth" the lecturer said

"Is that person around?" The Vc asked

"Yes Sir" replied the lecturer

And so Gina came in.

She said the very opposite of everything Philomina and Jessica said. Her story went in line with those of the three boys.

"At this juncture, let's take a 10mins recess" the Vc said

We all went outside and then my parents began to table down their worries.

I told my friends what Gina said and they were ready to beat her up for the lies but then I had to stop them.

"What of Eric? He said he would help" Jessica asked but I couldn't reply because I haven't heard from. I tried calling him but his number was busy.

We were standing outside the hall when Gina and the lecturer walked passed us. She kept looking at us and was shaking her head but we ignored her and then they called us in again to continue the meeting.

Tbc

Thank you Omot Olut and Pace Michael. Your pockets will never run dry. God bless you both.