***Rebellious Daughter***

Ruth wasn't that kind of girl who you think has her life figured out. She was clueless, break down as soon as she was alone. There were days she didn't leave her bed nor showered. Some nights, she didn't sleep at all. She yelled whenever she's mad and quiet when she's sad.

She came from a good Christian home, where everything was done according to "God's will" Yes, that kind of home where you seek God's face before doing anything.

Her parents were members of the workers in one Pentecostal church in the neighborhood, but Ruth was just opposite of her parents. Despite both parents being devoted believer, she had this negative mindset about Christianity and religion entirely.

For her, Christianity was brought to Africans by the whites, and the bible too, was a product of mere man and wasn't inspired by any holy spirit.
Sundays were her worst days, because she would have to be in the church to hear the usual "Repentance" message from the preacher. She hated to hear the pastors condemn the things she secretly admired and desired to do. (If only she had the opportunity but her parents were extremely strict on her).

Oftentimes, Ruth would pretend of having cramps on Sundays just to miss service and her mother would be kind enough to consider her unlike her father who would insist she come and receive healing from the Lord.
This was mostly the reason she preferred her mother to her overprotective father. She neither hated her father, she detested how much of a religious person he was.

One fateful Sunday in the church, her father watched her from the men's corner and was baffled while others came out to drop their offering in the box, Ruth was seated instead.
When finally he got home, she queried what she used her offering money for.

"I gave it out to the beggar at the street while I was coming," she answered, staring into her father's eyes. He was furious but couldn't say anything further. He only hissed and walked away. She felt she did the right thing and wouldn't mind repeating it again and again.

Ruth is 21. The only surviving child of her parents. Two had come and gone before finally she came into existence. Ruth lived with her parents in Uyo.
Physically, Ruth looked boyish. She was what you describe as being chubby. Though her boobs were smaller, which made her appear like a boy.

She had written Jamb twice but never got the course she applied for. Her father was of the opinion she writes one more time and see the wonders of God. Things like this pisses her off — like what if the third time nothing changes? At her second attempt, she wanted to go against her father's wish but she slept over it and found out she really didn't like the course she was offered, so she kept her cool.
The thought of knowing most of her classmates were already at various higher institution of learning always made her feel her life was messed up.

Right from childhood, Ruth was that person among the crowd who was always invisible to others. Her parents being overprotective and scared of loosing their only surviving child to the "World"

Ruth would always lock herself in her room. Her social media accounts were boring too, with no messages coming in.
So, one fateful day, something unexpected happened, and what looked like sweet experience suddenly turn into a nightmare. Ruth decided to take a picture of herself revealing her cleavages and some part of her skin.

She went ahead to post them on Facebook— and she was amazed by the lots of folks that complimented her look. Messages came in too, and she felt special for once. The pictures attracted folks who never chatted her before, she gladly snubbed them while accepting new friends. That was when he accepted a friend with the username, Tobenna Okorie.

Tobenna went through her Facebook wall before hitting her inbox. He equally noticed she lived in the same city (That's if her profile is same as reality).

Ruth saw his messages but left them unread. Two days later, she went back to reply, and that was how they got talking.

Tobenna introduced himself as a model and a photographer. He made mention of Ruth's recent uploads while he told her she could do well in modelling.
That word 'modelling’ got into her head, and she felt special again. She was getting hooked as they conversed. She hadn't engaged with the opposite sex on media like she was vibing with Tobenna.

They chatted for good three hours and she was able to tell him the kind of family she came from and how his father would beat her up if eventually he comes across those pictures. She prolly uploaded them because her parents were not social media kind of people and she never accepted friend requests anyhow. Hence, most of her Facebook friends were mere strangers.

Tobenna could hold conversations for long without getting to bore her, more reason she didn't hesitate to give out her WhatsApp number when he kindly asked for it.
Gradually, they became close friends–texting each other every day on the green app.

Tobenna kept pressuring her for a photoshoot but she would always remind him the kind of home she came from(Not like she wasn't interested in trying out something new, but the fear of her parents kept her away from so many things, and she she couldn't wait to leave the house when finally she gets her desired course).

Ruth got busier with her phone and her father soon noticed how engrossed she suddenly became with it. But when asked, Ruth said she was always practicing past questions online.

________

To some people, Tobenna was a spoilt son who had been over pampered. To others, he was simply a sassy fellow that was fun to be with. He was good with words and got a sugarcoated mouth too. He had his own photo studio and he eventually did everything possible to bring Ruth to his studio for a crazy and naughty photo shoot at Uyo.

Ruth was glad on meeting Tobenna after weeks of chatting. They embraced each other, and after having a good time, they went into the studio for shots. Not the usual kind of pose, but tempting and striking ones. The type that would cause more traffic on her Timeline. Tobenna equally did some collaborations with her, just to update his social media accounts with something crazy. Don't forget, he's a model too.

Ruth and Tobe had a good and memorable time in and outside the studio before she left home.
I'm sure you must be wondering how she managed to leave the house. That was the week her father travelled for a business trip and she was able to convince her mom she was going to see her primary school friend who hadn't been in the country for years. That was convincingly enough right?

Six days later, Ruth was at the backyard washing her mother's clothes. It was a Saturday morning, and Saturdays were her most hated days. There were always lots of chores to do, and it would always remind her of being the only child.
She hoped to do excellently in her next Jamb and post utme, so she could get admission to study her desired course and get the hell out of her father's house. She really couldn't wait.

Back inside the Sitting room of three bedroom apartment, her mother was reading some chapters of the bible. Ruth's father was not back yet, it was just Ruth and her mom in the house.
Somehow, Ruth forgot to pick her phone from one of the seats in the Sitting room after morning devotion with her mom. It was unlike her, she normally goes with her phone to wherever she went, but sometimes, things like this happened.

After some moment, her phone rang. Her mom felt undisturbed at the first time, so she ignored it. The second time, she looked towards the direction of the phone, but yet remained unmoved. It continued to ring, even for the fifth time, and the persistence of the caller got her attention. She stood up and reached for the phone. She saw the caller was saved as Tobe.

"Hmmm... who could this one be, shey it's Tobe abi Tobi? She quickly swiped right to answer the call.

"Hello?" She said carefully and faintly.
"Hello babe, I just sent you the packages on WhatsApp. Go check them out. They're really amazing, and do let me know what you think about it." He laughed briefly over the line and hanged up.

"What sort of package is he talking about?" She was bemused. So, she decided to find out. She placed her forefinger behind her (Ruth's) phone censor and it unlocked. They all have each other's fingerprints registered on their respective devices.

She soon clicked on Tobe's messages on her WhatsApp, and her eyes pooped out in surprise by the contents of what he sent.
"Oh! My Goddddd... is this Ruth?" Sge clicked on the second photo and down to the ones she took with Tobenna in romantic pose. A total of eight naughty pictures of Ruth, exposing her cleavages and skin.

Subconsciously, her hands were shaking as she held the phone. She never saw it coming and didn't look at the pictures again. The urge to read her bible died instantly. She felt the wrath of God was already upon her for raising a child who would not only bring shame but also bring reproach to the family. Lots of thoughts clustered on her head saying this and that. Her heart was pounding faster.

She wanted to go to the backyard and pounce on her but thought it wise to wait for father's arrival.

In less than fifteen minutes, she heard his car beeping outside. She heaved a big sigh of relief and quietly sat down.

"Welcome. How was your trip?" She embraced her.
"It was very fine. Thank you." He kissed her forehead.

She could barely wait for him to settle down before showing him the contents on Ruth's phone.

"Jesus! What on God's name is this? He zoomed the pictures to be sure the faces were that of her daughter.
"How on earth did she get to this stage? Who did you say sent her all these?" He uttered in one breathe.

"His name is Tobe abi Tobi? He sent it through her WhatsApp. This girl has killed me." She said like one sobbing.

"And where is she?" He thundered. He was brimming in anger.

Ruth inaudibly heard the slight commotion going on in the Sitting room and she decided to find out what was going on.

"So, you've been messing around," her father said, upon sighting her.
"Who's Tobe you have been committing all kinds of nonsense with?"

"Which Tobe? I don't know what you're talking about, " Ruth tried her usual tactics but it seemed it would fail her today.

"Oh! Wonderful. You don't know Tobe? How on earth can you deny this?" He shoved the phone to Ruth.
"Explain these pictures."

Her mother was dumbfounded. He just stood there and watched the duo.
Ruth collected her phone from her father and it was finally dawn on her she had nothing to hide anymore, but instead, she just scrolled the pictures like they were photoshopped and she probably knew nothing about it. Her father still glared at her.

"Stop pretending like this is your first time of doing this kind of stuff with that boy!"

"It's my first time," she replied speedily.
"And you think I will believe that? And what is the purpose of these Godforsaken pictures?"

Silence.

"Who paid for the pictures? I'm sure you did?"

Silence.

"I see you don't want to talk. I know what to do too."

"You are going to delete those pictures and delete that son of a devil from your phone. Henceforth, you must further stop this ungodly relationship with him. As for your phone, I'm going to seize it till you finally gain admission into the University.

Ruth suddenly looked up and gave him that uneasy look. Their eyes got locked in contact, but she quickly averted hers.

"Have you deleted the pictures?" Her mother finally broke the silence.

"Give me that phone!" His father grabbed it off her hand and walked angrily inside the bedroom.
"See what you have done to yourself," her mother added and stalked off.

Ruth felt terribly embarrassed. She wished she could wake up to realize she had been dreaming all day. She was mad at herself for leaving her phone behind. And she badly wished she could beat her father up and get back her phone. If only wishes were horses, beggars would surely ride.
Angrily, she went into her room, slumped on her bed. The thought of not getting her phone brought tears to her eyes. She knew her father wouldn't change his mind. She had known him for years.

____

Tobenna noticed Ruth had read his messages, and obviously, she must have downloaded the pictures too. So why didn't she say anything? He grumbled. He dialed her number and was surprised when the service provider informed her phone was switched off. "It could be her phone is flat," he said.
He redailed after an hour, still same result. Hope there's no problem shaa? He shrugged.

The following day, same result, and it continued like that until he got tired of calling.

Ruth stayed without her phone for months and it did affected her mental health. Her life alone was boring. You could imagine her life without a phone. At every slightest thing, she gets provoked.

Fast forward to when finally her Jamb result came out, she performed woefully. One of the worst thing that ever happened in a short time. Her parents were disappointed at her. They blamed it on her for having a fruitless and ungodly relationship with Tobe. Ruth got mad at both for thinking she failed because she met Tobenna while her father had been the cause of her failure.

She fearlessly blamed it on her father for being overprotective, and for being the one taking decisions for her, and while she screamed on top of her voice, tears trickled down her cheeks. She ran back to her room and cried. Her mother came knocking, but she refused her in by not opening the door. At this point, her parents suddenly became lenient and caring but it seemed late already.

Every day, Ruth would wake up with regrets and pains. Her dreams of furthering her studies seemed like a big mountain for her; the shame of having written Jamb over and over again. She couldn't help it.

The concept of freedom varies with a lot of people. To Ruth, it was having who wouldn't query her at every slightest thing, going out and coming anytime she wanted. She felt she was no longer a child to be treated the way she was raised. Seeing her parents every day worsened her trauma and that made her took a deadly decision.

One night, when her parents had gone to bed, she took few of her belongings and zoomed off.

Who marred Ruth’s life?



©️ 2021
FrankWriter
#storyteller