Penury

 

I watched the way she smiled. She was innocent, warm, kind hearted. Empathetic, believing, trusting, and chaste. Decently dressed, her bright red lipstick sat idly on her plumpy lips. 

"That would be all... Thank you for trusting us with your taste, I hope we delivered." She said to my friend who sat beside me. The contrast between her pearly white teeth and her maroon red lips made me salivate. 

She cat walked out of my friend's office, where we both sat. 

"Who's she?" I asked, slightly leaning forward, trying to cool down my unease. 

"She's a drop-shipper, but her family is well off. Emily, that's her name. She's from Liechtenstein. Her family has an extension here. A spoilt little heiress craving the lives of peasants because she believes in equality, humanity, and in nature. She's dumb, because tell me why anyone would leave a life of comfort, a bed of roses, and would want to live the life of a commoner?" Jacob was rather irritated.

I gasped. He continued...

"This little brat constantly poses her father at risk, exposing herself, moving around with no security... Acting like a low life here in Canada. I mean, Vincent you know how we hustle from the mud, just to get up there. It's not like I've arrived but I mean... If I go back home I have something to be proud of. So why would this brat, who has everything we could ever dream of... Dish all of that to be financially independent, not as anything in the world but a drop-shipper!?" Jacob waved his hand in the air.

"How can I meet her?" I grinned, half dazed.

"Excuse me?" Jacob furrowed his brows at me.

"Emily... How do I get to meet her?" I asked, now fully looking at him.

"Did you listen to anything I just said?" He lashed at me.

"I heard you, now how do I meet her?" I brushed his annoying tone off with my callousness. 

"Hmm." He turned his chair towards the window of his office. "Maybe you should request a product from her goods and services, and pray she drops it off herself."

"Bro..." I laughed. "You know I don't have that kind of money. I just relocated to Canada to squat with you, get a degree, and start my life. I can't start making unnecessary expenses." I responded.

"And the first thing you see is woman, can't you see your village people are hitting gong over your picture? So that the small sense that you have would jump out of your small head. Because tell me why you just got here and the first thing you are chasing is a woman... It's not like she's even sophisticated, so what is your problem?" He asked, clearly frustrated.

"In fact, carry on. Two mumus. (Two fools)." Jacob reached out for a file and played oblivion on me.

"Look Bro, I don't see anything wrong with a young Lady deciding to forge her own Legacy, neither do I see anything wrong with drop shipping. People start small in life. Don't you remember where you are coming from? You used to grind Casava with your mother, as a graduate. You got a job, then a contract, you saved and worked out your Visa. After five years... You brought your family here. When you initially got here, were you not a security man?"

"That is exactly why it's painful to see someone so callous with the silver spoon I wasn't born with. I get angry whenever I see her dropping packages in this office." Jacob kissed his teeth.

"I don't like people who are not smart. What is wrong with taking a little percentage of her father's fortune... Then setting up an administrative team, then she oversees it? I thought it's only Nigerians who like sufferhead (suffering). But these oyinbo (white) people are really really crazy. Mtcheew (sighs). Every time, she'd walk in with a penciled Mary Amaka skirt... Oversized shirt, we can't even see anything, and she's now tiny, no meat. Bone, bone, bone... 'Good morning Sir, there's a package for you' (in British accent and mocking expression). Please please, I like smart people." He concluded.

"Well, are you helping me see her again or not?" I interrupted.

"I'm helping you... So whatever the outcome, I'll have jist (gossip) for my wife at home." He extends a card to me. "Copy the number here, and call the office. Makeup any story, request for Emily's private line... Since you don't have Money to order any product. Or... Should I give you the address to her family's mansion? Shey you want to pluck flower?" He sarcastically bats his lashes at me.

"Thank you..." I politely received the card with both hands: a sign of respect as Jacob is much older than me. I stare at it. To Jacob, he's doing me a great privilege from the rear, but to me, a sharp Benin-Lagos Boy, I'm holding a ticket. A golden lottery ticket. 

I took three days scheming every move, then I made the call. I was under the weather when I went on a date with her. She seemed very easy, with those shy smiles... I was overconfident and didn't see it coming: her bruising my Ego. She gave me one hell of a tough time and I must say "she's really stubborn." She would politely mock my outfit, as she had high taste in fashion. I soon turned to Jacob's wardrobe. In 9 months I went on only three dates with her. My fine boy privileges could not pin her down. 

I was already schooling in Canada when she agreed to go out with me. She changed her dress sense... She said she didn't want me to get bored of her. I began to genuinely fancy her, she's really attractive. She'd always complain business wasn't going well... Her and her team were almost running bankrupt. I began to believe Jacob... Maybe she's actually dumb. We officially became an item. She was very possessive of me, clung to me, and would proudly show me off. 

I got a Job with a recommendation from Jacob's acquaintance. I worked hard and smart, while schooling. I do have a challenge, I'm a narcissist, and I'm Egocentric. I dated a lot of toxic girls in Nigeria... I was used to being with toxic ladies and the peace in this relationship was getting under my skin. I didn't like the way she was optimistic... Organized, and focused. I needed her to rely on her father... So I could get a fair chunk of his resources through her. 

I wasn't born with any talent... I couldn't sing, dance, write, I couldn't play any instrument or sport. Not even football... But one thing I knew how to do very well is manipulate people.

Deep down in me, I wanted to break her. I wanted to see her cry. Why's she happy all the time? I wanted to know her source of inspiration and destroy it. I felt like she was competing with me, when I'd wake up to leave for school, I'd see she's already up, half ready. The days I stay in, and not go to school... She's up and about... Resilient. She'd do things for me: clothe me, feed me.

I wanted more, so I'd play the victim... I'd Pretend like my friend Jacob wasn't treating me right... Like I'm broke. She said business was bad and she wasn't willing to ask her father for any kind of help. She let me move in with her. I had some help from new friends I made... I proposed to her... In hopes of getting permanent citizenship. We began to save for our wedding and new home. I saw it as the biggest investment ever, I had more financial support from home and abroad. She was all over my social media.

"Our brother has landed Oyinbo o" filled my comment section. 

One day I got back from school... The house was empty. The furniture? Gone. Appliances? Gone. Her clothes? Gone. I called her... Voice mail. I walked into the bedroom and it was very empty. All my designers; gone, my watches, which I heavily invested in... Gone. 

I was dazed. I looked at my phone closely... A notification from my bank... Stating a loan approval of $135,589. How? I opened the account where we both kept money for our wedding... Both accounts transferred all the money to my crypto wallet. I opened my crypto wallet, empty. The money was transferred to an untraceable wallet address. I fell on the floor. Even the rug was gone. 

"Ah!!! Emily ooo Eghian ghi oromwen! (You have killed me!)" I felt air leaving my lungs. The air around me disappeared, the room began to spin. I passed out.

I woke up to my buzzing phone. Jacob had earlier dropped a message:

"Afa, grab a drink with us at The Dome by 11:00pm. There are some business men who can invest in your ideas, and I'd like you to meet them. Don't be late, come with your little Miss perfect. My wife is here." 

"Hei! Osalobua!" (Hey! God!) This girl run me street o... Osanobua, e son uwa!? (My God! Is this reality!? )" I pinch myself. I'm not dreaming. 

I went to the bathroom to wash my face. The water dripped down my shirt, soaking my neck and collar. It hung on my beard. I placed my hands against the wall, looking at the man in the mirror. 

"Who's the mugu now?" I asked him.

A thousand needles pricked my feet. I could barely stand... I could feel my heart rate skyrocketing. I could suffer a cardiac arrest any moment from now. My phone starts to ring again. I step out of the bathroom, that's when I notice a note on the cabinet. It read...

"I could tell from the look in your eyes, you do not love me. I read your chats. Your dirty flirty texts to your Nigerian girls... Telling each of them how you'd come back and marry them. I read your chat with Jacob, how you'd spitefully use awful words regarding me. Calling me a little She-devil, Miss perfect, just to get money from him.

It was all a game wasn't it? Then we have our winner. Cheers to your latest designer clothing; PENURY." 

My heart sank. I could feel tears welling up, but real men don't cry. I blinked it away. I called Jacob, he picked at the first ring...

"Hello Vincent, did you get my text? Are you guys coming?" He sounded cheerful and he sounded like he was having a mouthful.

I hesitated.

"Hello are you there?" He asked.

"Hello Bro... You won't believe what happened..." I felt a tear dribble its way down and it scored a point in my mouth. It tasted salty. "I've been played." I narrated everything to him, and read the note to him, omitting the part where she stated me collecting money from him. 

"Ahhhh!" He laughed. "I have jist for my wife...!"

I remained quiet, he sobered up. 

"Where are you at the moment?"

"I'm home."

"Can you come over?" He asked.

"Bro, I can't drive. Not in this state." I responded 

"Okay, I'm coming to pick you up." He hung up.

He was there in a couple of minutes... About 20minites precisely. I sat on the floor with my palms on my forehead, and elbows on my knees. He walked in with his wife, he burst out laughing and his wife pinched him. 

"Shey I warned you? Did I not warn you? You just came in... Instead of you to face your academics, and hustle... The first foreign Delilah that passed by you... You hopped!" He walked up to me and stood beside me.

"So what would you do now?" He asked. I simply shook my head in the negative, sorrowfully.

I walked out with him, with nothing to take along with me, I spent the night at his. The next day he skipped the office, and I skipped school. We both went to the police station. The policemen stared at me like I had a horn on my head when I got there, I was shocked...

"You are under arrest for defrauding a Mr Aldo of the sum of $500,000. You impersonated a real estate agent and lured your victim into making a purchase. You have the right to remain silent, because whatever you say, may or may not be used against you in the courtroom." They grabbed me and pinned me down.

"Excuse me! You have the wrong person..." I called out. "I'm here to file a case for fraud!" I looked at Jacob and his wife for help. Mrs Jacob looked away, believing their statement. Jacob's mouth was left wide open. That's when I sighted her. Emily. She was across the street in a public cab smirking at me. She said something to the driver and he zoomed off.

"This is crazy!" I retorted. 

"Isn't this you? " They showed me an account with my profile picture. Then showed me screenshots, and receipts of my transaction. Indeed, I had met my match, no. My superior. They led me away in cuffs.

"I'll get to the bottom of this, you know this rich people are masters at framing innocent folks. Just calm down okay!? I have her family's address." Jacob called out to me.

The next morning, by 10:30am he was at the station. He looked distraught. 

"What's wrong?" I asked him when he came close enough.

"She's a fraud. She's not the daughter of the family she claimed, she impersonated their daughter. They actually have a striking resemblance. You know how two people could look like twins separated at child birth?"

I nodded. "Are you sure they aren't covering up for her?" I asked.

"Yes, I saw the real daughter. They aren't the same."

There was a moment of silence between us. "There's more isn't there?"

He nodded. "We aren't the only ones who have come looking for her, that's what they said. She's a thief. She's wanted, and she's on the run. The items she drop ships are stolen items, that's why they are sold online. After a major sale, they change to another means. They use a fake website to sell real items, and can't be traced. It's just too perfect... And there's a master mind behind it. They are a team." 

I sighed. I was the victim all along. I took a bait that day in the office, she deliberately caught my attention, did she not? Jacob passed an envelope to me.

"What's this?" I asked... Receiving it.

"A mail, from Emily. She dropped it off and it's directed to you, she knew you'd search for her supposed family." Jacob gnashed his teeth. 

"Dear ex.

How do you like the prison food? Are they better than my half-baked beans you always spat underneath the dinning table?

Well well, for what it's worth, I really loved you. I was trying to be a better person you know? My Grandma took me to a father, I confessed my faults and decided to be a better person. But you reminded me why I went rogue in the first place, so I had to step back in the game.

I got your mail, all your passwords... And I have more things that could ruin you if you ever try looking for me.

Relationships are not investments, and the hearts of people are not coupons. 

I genuinely hope you come out of this mess, and when you are done clearing your debts, please don't look for another victim. You never know what it'd cost you. There are no fingerprints on this paper, except yours. So don't try turning it in as evidence... It's futile.

I love you V."

I gasped. "Bro, she's a criminal! How could she have plotted all these!?"

***

ORATOR:

Penury does push people into crime, especially when one member of the family is trying to be the Messiah. In Vincent's case, he wanted to secure wealth for himself first, before thinking of his family back home.

Starvation; it disables one's thinking processes and places him or her in survival mode.

Some individuals are born into penury, some families fall into penury due to the ever rising inflation. 

Poverty is man made, but with meeting the demands of value in one's environment... It can be relinquished.

All the homeless persons who sleep on the streets have families, but circumstances went south. Such circumstances can be curbed if the family members rise as a team, and decide to do something about it. It's the family growing together that stays together.

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