Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 30
NB: [This is not the last episode. I had to split it into two]
Biola didnât utter a word, instead, she hung up. I was going to call her back, but then Seun was calling.
âHello, how long will it take before you come?â
âPlease, Iâm coming. Just wait for me there.â
I hung up speedily.
If only she knew I wasnât cut out for any of those things she was looking for.
My heart was racing. Biola seemed to be in danger. I quickly dialed her number but she didnât pick up. I called again, and the same result. And that scared me more.
I was walking reluctantly down the love garden where Seun said she was. Meanwhile, a lot was going on in my mind. What could have happened to Biola? I just hope itâs not something bad. I was lost in my thoughts until I heard someone scream my name from a distance, and when I looked up, it was Seun. She was also approaching in my direction while I walked towards her.
Seun was on black jean trousers and a yellow crop top. Smiles were wreathed on her face as she approached.
âFemi, how are you? You donât look happy.â She asked when we finally stood before each other.
âUm, Iâm fineâŠâ
âNo, youâre not. Whatâs the problem?â
âYou donât have to bother yourself. Iâm good. Just a minor challenge.â
âWell, if you say so. Howâs school treating?â
âNot bad.â
We walked to a spot and sat on the molded seat there. The weather was inviting. The sun had gone down. Few other students hung around there too. Some in groups and others in twos, three, and so on.
Then Biola called back. I quickly swiped right on my phone screen. This time, Biola wasnât crying again. When I asked what happenedâand why she was crying. She announced that the doctor told her she will put birth to twins after she underwent a scan.
âWow! Twins? Iâm so happy.â
âYou are happy?â she asked speedily.
âYes, Iâm very excited to hear that. Donât tell me that was why you were crying. You should be happy.â
âFemi, you think itâs going to be easy to push out two babies for the first time?â
âCalm down. You worry too much. In the end, youâll overcome. Just pray.â
âOsheyy.. Pastor Femi.â
We both laughed.
âFemi, Iâm scared.â
âRelax, you donât need to be. Iâll call you back later tonight, we will talk.â
She hung up.
âWho was that?â Seun turned and asked when she noticed the sudden change of mood boldly written on my face.
âMy sister,â I lied.
âShe gave birth to twins?â Seun asked.
âNot yet. Very soon.â
âThatâs great. Congratulations to your family in advance.â
âThank you. You havenât told me why you are in my school?â
âOh! Thatâs true, I came to deliver goods for a few students and decided to say hi.â
âNice. That was so thoughtful of you. So what do you sell?â
âWomenâs clothes and shoes.â
âThatâs good.â
Seun and I sat for some minutes, having random conversations until she decided it was time for her to leave. I walked her down the school gate. She jokingly added, âIâd have love to spend the night with you if not that you live in the school hostel.â
We both laughed over that. Seun eventually left and said she would call me when she gets back to her school.
Later at night, I called Biola back, she picked up and seemed to be fast asleep already, but after a few seconds, she cleared her throat and we got taking. I told her how excited I felt knowing we were expecting twins. I was happy that I started thinking about the names we would give them aside from the Taye and Kehinde which had been unique for every twin in Yoruba land. The first to come out of the womb is called Taye while the last is called Kehinde. Biola jokingly said we would call them Daniel and Danielle.
âHow did you know they would be a boy and a girl?â I asked, laughing.
âMy instincts.â
âYou lied. I bet the doctor already told you.â
âNo. He didnât tell me that aspect.â She laughed.
I wasnât convinced. I kinda felt she was lying.
It was a long call with Biola as we had a heart-to-heart conversation. She kept telling me she always feel weak and exhausted.
Biolaâs POV
Pregnancy symptoms with twins are definitely worse than with a single baby. I had assumed because of the swelling, discomfort, and shortness of breath sensation. Itâs mentally and emotionally exhausting to be pregnant in school.
Mentally, I was exhausted from having to split my attention between school and taking care of myself, and going for antenatal.
At that moment I knew that, despite the adversity that was to come, there was no way I could go through getting an abortion. It was already too late to think of such. I debunked that thought from my head.
After all, it was not my childâs fault that I couldnât control myself or had unprotected sex. It was my irresponsible actions that put me in this situation and it was not fair for my babies to suffer.
I have owned up to my mistake and was ready to love my unborn babies with my whole heart because I am a true believer that everything happens for a reason.
Now, I want to know what my twin babies would look like, and who each of them would grow up to resemble.
After seven months of pregnancy, then I was writing my exams. I found myself isolated from the things that I loved the most. Track was put on hold and it was as if I didnât exist anymore.
I was known as âthe pregnant girlâ in the exam hall. And a day didnât go by that someone didnât awkwardly stare at my stomach. In the eyes of others, I was another stereotype.
Though I had the support of Kemi, Femi, and his mom, but there was always a piece missing. I have always looked at pregnancy as something you go through with your partner.
Some days the support and love were there and other days it would seem it was nowhere to be found.
Oftentimes I wasnât sure what to do or if I would be able to go through these bumps on the road.
I found myself wondering if the light at the end of the tunnel would be worth it. I found myself getting lazy, not wanting to study for exams, and settling for a C instead of pushing for that A or B.
Fast forwarding, the exam finally ended and I was quite relieved from the stress. I called Femiâs mom to inform her I was through with my OND, she congratulated me and encouraged me to be strong. Then she suggested I travel back to Ibadan and stay with her sister, Aunty Bose. (My late brotherâs wife).
When Femiâs mom noticed I wasnât comfortable with that idea, she further explained it was the best option for me since my pregnancy was almost due for delivery. She promised to come around once I put to bed, meanwhile, she said she would talk to her sister to be kind to me and help me out with some tips once the drama begins. I donât know what I would have done if not for Femiâs mom. She sent me some money the following day while I was left to decide when to visit Ibadan.
Femiâs POV
I was preparing to attend AFAS press on Friday evening when my phone rang. I looked at the phone screen and it was Biola. When I picked up, she told me she just arrived in Ibadan. She further explained it was my momâs idea, so her sister (My Aunt) would assist her, Biola during labor.
âIâm really surprised. How did you do it?â
âHow did I do what?â
âI mean, you entered public transport with that your big tummy?â
âNo. I boarded flight ni.â
We both laughed at her silly joke.
âWelcome. I donât know when Iâll come around shaa. We will soon start exam.â
âHmmm. When are your exams starting?â
âI think in three weeks.â
âYou still have time. Come and see me jare,â she said.
âHowâs my Aunty and everyone?â
âThey are all better than me.â
The call ended. I guess her airtime was exhausted.
I went to my auntâs apartment the following weekend. It wasnât that far from the University of Ibadan. It was about thirty minutes trip. I met Biola, my aunty, Aramide, and Segun, my auntyâs son. They were all glad to see me again. The feeling was mutual. I had a good time with them, mostly Biola who had missed me. She still lured me to have some quickie with her when we had the chance. Yes, we still did some silly but Iâm not going to tell you in detail. [Winks]
On 12th September, yes, I still remember vividly the actual date. Biola, my aunty, and I arrived at Queenâs hospital in Ibadan; a private hospital. Biolaâs due date had passed and an appointment had been made to induce the birth. She was booked into the hospital at 10:25 am and, a little over two hours later, she was given drugs to bring on contractions. She was told she could walk around.
I called my mom and informed her about the current situation. My father too was aware. He said he would be praying for her safe delivery.
Around 4 pm, Biola had begun to have strong contractions. She told the midwives that she was experiencing acute pain and at 6.30 pm, she was given a pill for pain relief. I wasnât myself as I was witnessing all of these. My exams would start barely in two weeks. My mental health was unstable.
By 7 pm, she was in established labor. She should, given her history and her condition, have been regularly monitored, but for the next two and half hours, she was not monitored at all.
Aunty Bose was increasingly concerned and went to see the midwives three times. âThey were treating me like an animal,â she said bitterly. When I asked if anyone was going to attend to Biola, they said they were about to change shifts.
She said that one midwife came after the shift change and declared that Biola was fine. âI knew something was wrong,â Aunty Bose added.
âThe way her eyes were rolling backwardâ but the midwives made sarcastic comments saying she was a drama queen and suggested that Biola have a shower.â
Meanwhile, Biola was delirious, non-responsive, and sweating. As my aunty and I tried to lift her out of her bed for the shower, she collapsed into my arms. I couldnât believe the voice coming out of her throat. She was not screamingâit was like she was being slaughtered.
I started screaming to the midwives, âPlease come.â
The midwife said, âSir, donât worry, she will be fine.â I yelled that she was in pain and I pressed the emergency button.â
The emergency team came and immediately put an oxygen mask on Biolaâs face not realizing until my aunty pointed out that the mask was not connected to the oxygen. The medical team conducted an emergency cesarean, but because there was no equipment for the baby, one of them had to run with her to the nearest special baby unit. I was overwhelmed over becoming a father.
Long story short, around 11 pm, Biola was delivered of a bouncing baby boy and a girl. I couldnât contain my joy. I was overwhelmed with joy when I heard the baby cry. My aunty was with her inside while I waited outside. I reached for my phone and dialed my momâs number.
âHas she put to bed?â she asked excitedly.
âYes, mom. Ibeji! Twins!
âWow. Thank God for being faithful.â
âYes, mom, God did it.â
âIâll be coming tomorrow.â
âOkay, mom.â
I hung up.
My aunty came out to meet me. âEku orireâcongratulations,â she turned in my direction. I was all smiles while thanking her. We later went in to see her and the babies. Biola lay on her back and her eyes were completely shut. She must be feeling so exhausted. The baby clothes were folded into neat piles and other pieces of stuff which we came with.
Then the doctor finally came, he said Biola was brain dead. That was a piece of bad news after a safe delivery. And that got us worried. I called my father and he said he was praying for her and that nothing would happen to her. I believed him since he prayed and she delivered safely.
My mom arrived in Ibadan the following day, so my aunty had to go home while my mom and I stayed with Biola in the hospital. While my mom and I sat around her bed in thr hospital, we suddenly noticed the change in her breathing; it was pacing faster as she lay on her back. A shallow rasping breath: loud exhalation accompanied by a low moan.
âDoctorrrrr,â my mom yelled.
I quickly ran out to call the doctor.
To be continuedâŠ
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