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Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 2

THE MYSTERIOUS GUY

I quickly sent him a “hi”. For one week, he didn’t respond. Is this guy real? Does he even exist? I asked myself.

I tried to check his profile. His full name was Yeboah Jeffrey Kwesi. He was 25 years old, a software Engineer, his former schools, hometown and phone number were missing.

Indeed, he was a mysterious guy. I waited and waited for him to say “Hi” but he had not responded. Eventually, I got fed up and was about to unfriend him when suddenly I saw his message on Facebook messenger. Did he know I was about to unfriend him? I was excited.

Finally my mysterious boy had come out of his cover. We introduced ourselves and passed through the usual formalities of getting acquainted.

Jeffery: Hi, how are you?

Me: I’m fine and you?

Jeffery: I’m also managing. You know in Ghana, we are all managers

Me: O.k

Jeffery: I am sorry I couldn’t get to you in time. I was quite busy.

Me: Don’t worry I understand. I’m just happy to finally chat with you. I almost thought you do not exist.

Jeffery: Hahaha, if I don’t exist, how will I be on Facebook?

Me: You know, a lot of people faked their identity on

Facebook. I just want to be sure.

Jeffery: well, I guess you are right.

We chatted and chatted till midnight as if to compensate for the lost times. The more I talked to him, the more the magnet of attraction pulled us together.

Me: You are cute. I like you.

Jeffery: Me too.

Me: I hope you are not fake.

Jeffery: Noooo. I am the most honest guy you can ever meet on Facebook, dear. I can’t chat much. Let’s chat again tomorrow.

Me: Hmmm. Okay, cutie, Bye, Bye.

Jeffery : Chop Kiss, Mwaaaaa.

Me: You too, Mwaaaaa.

We scheduled time and chatted on Facebook messenger every day and said all sort of things, how our days went, what we ate, what we will be doing after the call and all naughty and ‘dirty’ talks.

I was lucky not be caught by our house mother. She was a strict woman who had no room for insolence. She believed in going by the book and if she caught you flouting school rules and regulations, the required punishment will be meted to you regardless of who you were or who your parents were.

I remembered one incident when Marita ran away to her boyfriend in town. Unfortunately, a nightly roll -call was made and Miss Betty discovered that Marita was missing. We immediately knew that trouble clouds were gathering.

As if guided by clairvoyance, we all saw Miss Betty packing Marita’s belongings out of the dormitory. She then sat down and waited for her, after alerting the School’s authority about her escape. Marita returned from her short ‘sweet journey’ only to meet the stern face of miss Betty.

She said, “you spoilt child, I can see you can’t close your thigh and complete your schooling. That is why you ran away to your boyfriend in the town. Well, you will now be given the freedom to stay in his love chamber after you are suspen
ded from school tomorrow.”

The next day, the issue was sent to the School’s Disciplinary Commit
tee and as expected, Marita was given an indefinite suspension. Sadness descended on our faces because we knew every one of us could have been a potential victim. I was not out of the guilty set.

Another student was given two weeks internal suspension because she was caught using a mobile phone during prep hours and resisted the teachers on duty when she was asked to surrender the phone to them.

I was therefore lucky nemesis had not stretched its long hands to grab me and put me in the bad books of the school at that moment. Finally, the month of April had arrived. We waited patiently to go for Easter break. At home, I would have the freedom to talk with Jeffery without restrictions or the obnoxious no-phone – policy by the Ghana Education Service.

Easter Break

Alas! It was Easter break. I went home. As would be expected, we chatted without limit. He did everything just to make me feel happy. Jeffrey was a funny guy. With him , there was no dull moment.

I enjoyed every second spent with him despite the mystery surroun
ding him. It was always laughter and laughter. Fun upon fun.

Jeffery saw fun in even serious scenarios. I felt I knew Jeffrey before I was even born. He was so easy to talk to. I felt lucky to meet him on Facebook.

One day I told Jeffrey to pay me a visit. He was reluctant to come to my house with the excuse that my parents may not like that idea. I got convinced by what he said but I still wanted to see him.

I suggested paying him a visit , but he declined. He said his younger brother was living with him. I doubted his words but decided not to push it. I hardly see any nexus between my visit and his younger brother sharing his apartment with him, unless he was thinking of ……” that”

Jeffery eventually made a suggestion that suited both of us. He suggested meeting me at Paradise Ocean Resort in Cape Coast. It was situated nine (9 )km from Cape Coast Castle. It featured accommodation with a restaurant, a free private parking space , a bar and a lounge.

Jeffery said we could lodge in the resort for two days. I wasn’t really comfortable with all his arrange
ments and secrecy but as the saying goes, love is blind …..

His reaction whenever I asked him about his personal details always mesmerised me. He felt uncomfor
table whenever I asked of his hometown. Most surprising of all, he only called me on a telephone and sometimes on a private number with no visible digits. When I asked him to give me his phone number, he managed to ignore my request.

His ability to hoodwink me was rather on a subtle note, usually hidden under a pile of jokes, which I can’t help but laughed at.