Plus Plus

CHAPTER TWO

I've been restless since I returned. On one hand, I'm pissed at Chibuzor for making advances at my sister. On the other hand, I'm amazed at how much wealth he's been able to accumulate for himself. After tossing and turning, I open the internet on my phone and insert the words "Yahoo Yahoo" into my search engine. The results appear on my screen and I read through. I'm shocked at my findings. "Yahoo Yahoo" is a type of Cybercrime or Cyber Fraud that is used to defraud people. Cyber fraud is when trickery is used to gain a monetary advantage over someone online, while cybercrime is any criminal act dealing with computers and networks. Their sub-names include con, scam, hoodwink, confidence trick and so on.
Some Yahoo boys employ the use of Love Scams, where they go into dating sites, and search for white women- some widows, some divorced, some rich and some unmarried. The white women have a 'craving' for black boys and are easily lured until the boys rip them off in the long run, close their accounts on the site and move on. Now, this type is what they call Yahoo. There is the Yahoo Plus which is on a higher level and the Yahoo Plus Plus which is on an extreme level.
I exit my browser, unable to read anymore. This is beyond insane, it's Maleficent, it's inhumane. How could anyone do this to another human being? I suddenly have a feeling of disgust. My feelings for Yahoo boys have morphed from anger to full-blown hatred. I lay asleep in bed until I drifted off to sleep in the wee hours of the morning.
The weeks come and go, as I struggle to find something substantial to do before National Youths Service. I try to create applications, but I'm unable to do anything productive. I've been having a gnawing feeling that I can't place. It reared its head on my graduation day after I spoke to Osas. Izuchukwu, my roommate, has tried to uplift my spirits to no avail.
"What's happening to you lately?" he asks today. "You've not been your usual self, and you're not one to sit around idle mulling over something. Whatever it is, we can sort it out. That's after all, what friends are for."
The irony is that, I have not the faintest clue what I'm mulling over. He tries to lift my spirits by inviting me to a club.
"I have a friend there," he tells me. " He just returned from Malaysia and has asked that we meet up."
I loathe the idea of clubs. It's too much noise for me. And especially Fridays. The number of people clubbing will increase.  But today, I need a remedy for my dampened spirits and so I agree to go with him. I take a quick shower, put on my clothes and head out with him.
Play House is a renowned bar. Known for its high-profile attendees and its glitz and glamour, I'm wondering how Izuchukwu knows this 'friend' we're going to see. Play House is located at 72, Okoro Road Benin, in a very prestigious and reserved area of the city. We arrive and are halted by bouncers stationed at the entrance. A card Izu shows them paves the way for our entrance. Soon, we're inside the club.
It's like I'm on a different planet. Everything here is different. The air is filled with the smell of cigarette smoke, the stench of alcohol, and the odour of sweat emanating from the crowded bodies. I scrunch up my nose in disgust. It's all I can do to not run away. But of course, I no fit fall Izu hand.
We're directed to the VVIP section. This section is secluded from the general public, quieter, more organised and classier. Izu scans the room for his friend and upon sighting him, begins to walk in his direction. I follow suit and only when I reach there do I fully see this friend.
"Tobi my guy" I exclaim.
"Efe the biggest guy" he retorts.
He pulls me into a bear hug, and seconds pass before we release each other. Izu stands aside, looking lost. I decide to put him out of his misery.
" Tobi is my 'manest man'. He was my coursemate while I was a student at UNIBEN. He left in our second year."
Tobi was the closest friend I had in school. While I pursued my education with the utmost diligence, he pursued his with nonchalance. I wasn't really surprised when he relayed his intention of dropping out to me. "I've discovered a better path," he told me. And that was the last I heard from him. Looking at him now, I can see that that better path favoured him. He has outdone himself! It's a small world, given the fact that Izu had no idea I knew Tobi. Tobi left before Izu became my roommate, as he is currently undergoing his Master's programme. Izu and Tobi grew up in the same neighbourhood as kids.
"What are we all standing for? Let's sit." Tobi says.
We sit, and the waiter brings wine. I'm not very knowledgeable about wines, but I know from the look and taste of this wine that it's very expensive. Scantily dressed girls bring more wines, carrying sparklers and dancing to the 'Dorime' track being played by the DJ. I learned from Tobi that they do this whenever someone buys an expensive wine. From our position, we have a very good few of the club. Strippers in unclear bikinis and pants dance on a pole to whatever the DJ plays. I shake my head in pity for their poor parents and family members. I'd weep if I saw Osas doing this. Of course, she knows better than to debase herself in such a manner. Tobi asks how I'm doing and I give him a rundown of my life for the past few years. When I ask about him, he tells me it's a long story to be told another day.
The night drags down and by 2 am, I can no longer keep my eyes open. We part ways after exchanging numbers, with Tobi promising to reach out.