Straight Boys 30 – The Fear The monotonous beep of the hospital machine continued for a while as all of us stood there, confused. Even the girls from our lodge were with us, equally surprised by what had happened. We knew it had something to do with Felix, but we didn’t want to jump to conclusions or start a fight with him. Still, what could have happened to Emma? The confusion was overwhelming as we stood there, waiting—thinking of all the possibilities. Then, the beautiful, elegant doctor walked out and asked: Doctor: "Who among you here is his family, a member of his family, or someone close to him?" No one said anything. Emma was practically a stranger to all of us—except for Larry, who claimed to be his friend but not exactly his relative. Doctor: "All right then… does he have a roommate? Or are you his roommate?" Larry: "Yes… kind of. I used to stay over with him until I got my own room, but we still live in the same lodge. Doctor, please, what’s the update?" Doctor: "Oh no, he’s fine. He’ll be fine. He just got himself into a very, very depressed state, and the truth is, not everyone is built to handle depression. I wonder what a young man like him—he’s barely 25, if I may say—would be doing with depression. You young men need to stop overthinking. Don’t bring old people’s sicknesses upon yourselves when you’re still young. Free your mind and live free. Don’t allow anyone to hold you hostage with thoughts beyond your control." Larry: "So he’s fine? Nothing happened to him?" Doctor: "Oh yes, he’s perfectly fine. Nothing is wrong. However, I was asking for a family member or someone related to him because we need to discuss his bills. Also, we need to place him under observation for at least a week before he can go home. Someone needs to stay with him overnight, bring meals daily, and take care of him. That’s why I asked. Would you be able to do that while we try to contact his actual family?" Larry: "That’s my job. That’s why I’m here. I will watch over him. Thank you, Doctor. Thank you so much." Larry suddenly broke down in tears. The doctor, surprised by his reaction, observed him carefully before realizing what had happened. Doctor: "Wait a minute… let me get this straight—you guys thought he was gone?" We all nodded in unison, confirming her suspicion. Doctor: "Oh my! It’s just depression! In fact, I advise all of you to go inside and check your blood pressure. It’s absolutely free! You have the right to walk into any hospital in this country—private or government—and request a blood pressure check. It’s free. Don’t walk around looking fine when you might not be. Always know your blood pressure readings so you don’t get into trouble. It will help you manage your lifestyle. Do you all understand?" Again, we nodded like cartoon characters, but this time, we were relieved and happy. Tunde: "President, what’s the next step? Are we staying here with him, or should we go get some things ready?" Me: "I think Larry should stay with him. The rest of us should go home, clean up his room, get some clothes for him to change into, and also bring clothes for Larry. We’ll bring food for this afternoon and evening and continue providing meals until he is discharged. That’s the plan." Larry: "Thank you so much. Thank you, guys. You are truly the brothers everyone should have. If I didn’t have you all, I wonder how… I wonder how…" His voice trailed off, and suddenly, he burst into tears, falling into my arms. That was the moment I knew—Larry was truly in love with Emma. It was no joke. A man doesn’t break down like that in front of everyone unless his feelings are real. People around us even assumed he was Emma’s relative because of how close they were. Me: "It’s okay, Larry. Stop crying. We’re here for you. I’ve always been here for you. See, when something great is about to happen, something nasty always comes behind it. You just have to be careful so you don’t lose the grace that’s coming. That money is coming for you—don’t let this situation make you lose the blessing that’s ahead." Larry: "Okay… Thank you. Ask Nat to pack my clothes. He knows the ones I like to wear at night and the ones I like to wear in the morning. Also, I have some laundry to do, and I—" Me: "Just take care of everything you really need for your laundry. We’ll handle it. What’s the point of running a laundry business if we can’t even wash our own clothes? We’ll also take care of the food and everything. Just make sure Emma is fine." Larry nodded, wiped his tears, and then suddenly pulled me into a tight hug, not wanting to let go. The rest of the guys, seeing this emotional moment, joined in for a big group hug. The last person to join was my brother. He was beginning to see just how bonded we were as a group. As we left the hospital together, my brother walked closely beside me. I noticed and instinctively drew him even closer, wrapping an arm around his shoulder. Me: I hope you're fine. Obi: "I was afraid… I’ve never really seen someone die before. I thought he was just… gone… just like that." Me: "No, bro, it’s not his time. And that doctor was right. Tomorrow, when we come back here, we’re all getting our blood pressure checked. I don’t want anyone collapsing out of nowhere. We’re too young for all this drama. I don’t even know how we manage to survive all these things." Tunde: "It’s because we have God. And because we have you to guide us. God is using you to lead us. Just look at how we’ve managed to get through everything." This content is the intellectual property of OurStory TB and the author, Whiteman Micheal. Unauthorized use, reproduction, or distribution without proper credit to the author or the page is strictly prohibited. Permission must be obtained before any use. Me: I don't really see myself as a righteous person, but we give God the glory that he is alive, and we have to take care of him. We left for the hostel to go and prepare before coming back in the evening to spend some time with Emma and Larry before leaving for the night. When we came back, we brought a whole lot of food. We ate our dinner there at the hospital. Even the doctor was so happy and amazed as she saw us eating, and we offered her a plate. She was happy and cheerful as she ate from the plate we had given her. We also offered food to some of the nurses around. We had come with a cooler to dish out the food, and we also discovered that there were some students who didn't have anyone to look after them, stay over with them, or even bring them food. So, we decided to ration our food since we could go home and cook more. We gave out most of our food to the people in the hospital—just all the guys in the ward where Emma was lying and some of the girls in a ward close to that. We did not move downstairs or to different places; we just helped those around. My brother couldn't even eat because of everything, and he offered his own food to another person who hadn't been given food. I was just happy for that moment. Doctor: Hey, you—Emeka, right? They said you are the president. Me: Ah, madam, please oh, before the president of the country will have me arrested—I am just an alternating student. Doctor: Hahaha, 🤣🤣😂🤣😂🤣🤣😂 you're also funny. So, any plans on contacting his parents or blood relatives? Me: Actually, we don't really know who his blood relatives are, but I went to his room and got his ID card. He is a student, and I think he has national health insurance since this is a university hospital. Doctor: Oh really? Give me the ID card. Let's run it through the system. That saves a lot. You should have told us he was a student, but the ID card is even better. We will get his department, surname, all the information we need about him, and also his registration number—that is the most important of all. She took the ID card from me and went into the room to run it through their system while we sat there, looking at everyone in the hospital. Personally, I do not like the smell of hospitals. Sometimes, it makes you feel sick, but then, what can we do? Sometimes, we find ourselves in the hospital. We were there waiting when she came out. She was so happy and told us everything had been sorted out. The hospital bill would be covered by the university. He was truly a student, and his health insurance was intact. It was about 9 p.m., and we decided to leave so that we wouldn't get home late. We left Larry at the hospital. Me: You know, two of us or one of us can stay here with you if you want. You have been here all day. Don't you think you need rest? Maybe tomorrow you can come back and stay all day. You need to go back home and rest. Larry: I'll be fine. Don't worry, I'll be fine. Thank you so much. As I was about to leave, he held my hand, drew me close to him, and gave me a tight hug. I was just afraid—not because of what people would say in the hospital—but because his closeness was getting too much. I didn't know if he was feeling something. I am usually afraid when people get too close to me. I don’t want to break anybody’s heart, but I’m just not ready for anything with anyone—except for one person whom I am with. I let go of him, and we went home that night.. At Martin’s Room As we all got home, those of us who wanted to eat more food did so. There was rice, and some was left in the pot, so it was shared equally. I just went into the room, had a bath, and came out for some fresh air on the balcony. But I was surprised—not to see my usual love, but my younger brother instead. Me: Come, this man, are you okay? You have been awfully silent since we left the hospital. I hope there is no problem. Please, don’t tell me that you are thinking about something too. Tomorrow, we will have to go and check your blood pressure. Obi: Hahaha, 🤣 🤣 😂 🤣 🤣 🤣 not exactly. I wish there was something that was worrying me. I'm just okay, though. I am surprised that I almost saw a dead human being today. I already thought he was gone. Thank God he's still fine and alive. Me: Yeah, sometimes things happen like that. No need to be afraid—you are a man. You will see more of this as life unfolds. We give God the glory for all He has given to us, and we thank Him for everything that He will still give to us. So, are you here for fresh air or to clear your head? Obi: No, just to clear my head before I go into that room to spend time with my naked roommate. Me: 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣😂😂🤣😂🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣! Come on, you’re lying. Don’t tell me that since you have been living there with Martin, he has been sleeping naked? Obi: No, I am not lying. And yes, since I’ve been living with him, he has been sleeping naked. Me: And you are telling me that nothing is happening whenever I ask you? Obi: That’s because nothing has happened, and nothing is going to happen. He’s just a normal guy like myself, feeling himself. Besides, why would I lie? If I had a room to myself, I would sleep naked too. Me: Hahaha 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😆 😆 😂 😆 Oh, so you too like sleeping without clothes? Why can’t you just take off your clothes and join him in there? Obi: No, when I have my own room or when I am in a room alone with you, yes, I can sleep like that—but not with Martin. Do you know the type of things he would do to me without my clothes on? He has strong hands, and he’s determined. When he is determined—hahaha, ahahaha 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 This content is the intellectual property of OurStory TB and the author, Whiteman Micheal. Unauthorized use, reproduction, or distribution without proper credit to the author or the page is strictly prohibited. Permission must be obtained before any use. ⚠️ Me: I'm not sure anything would happen even if you spend the night with him like that. Obi: Are you sure? You know that guy, like the type of things he can do? Me: Yes, I know him, and I know the type of things he can do. I have done some things with him. As I said that, I looked straight into the darkness of other lodges without staring into my brother's eyes. He turned and faced me in surprise. Through my corner eye, I could see the surprise on his face, but I did not change the expression of my face, which was neither serious nor funny. Obi: Well, that explains a lot because he really likes you. Almost every night, he sings your praises. Maybe I should stop reading the Bible and start listening to him—he will soon write his own Bible. This actually made me laugh, and I drew him closer, and we hugged each other. Me: Why I said that Martins would not be getting what he wants from you is not because I don't know his personality or the type of things he can do, but because I know you. You, yourself—I know the extent to which you can say yes and the extent to which you can say no. So, I believe that nothing has happened inside yet because if you say no, your no is no. Obi: Abi, yes now! I learned from my big bro. You know you’re the source of my masculinity—I want to be big like you. Me: Whatever happens, no matter what you are learning from me, learn only the good stuff. Don't learn the bad stuff. Don't learn in one style that’s going to make you cry later and then come and blame me for it. Just learn what is good enough and be good. Obi: Yes, big bro. Thank you so much. I'm going inside—let me go and meet that madman. 😂 😂 Me: You're calling your brother a madman? Don't worry, tomorrow he will hear about it. Obi: Lol. Was he not first your brother before he became my brother? Are you not the one that made us brothers? You have brothernized us. 😂 😂 😂 😂 Me: Hahaha hahaha! Oya, go to your room now before I deal with you, this kid. Obi: Yes, Daddy. He said that in the voice of a young girl, and I chased him into the room. A short while later, Tunde came out and joined me on the balcony. Me: My younger brother knows that we are always having a secret meeting here. One day, you will just grab him, thinking I am the one, and you will do some nasty things, which we will then have to explain to him. Tunde: Ahhhhhh ahaha hahahaha! 😂 😂 😂 😂 That one no go happen, aje. Me: Okay now, stay there and keep saying it won’t happen. Tunde: Well, I heard some of the things you guys were saying. The guy was afraid, honestly. Me too, I was afraid. Me: Well, thank God that those fears we had were not real. Tunde: I heard what you told Larry in the hospital, and that thing just rang a bell in my head. Me: What was that? What did I tell him? Tunde: "When something great is about to happen, something stupid comes in the way and makes you lose that thing." Me: Yes, I learned that a long time ago. It's not easy, you know. You just have to be careful always and all the time. Tunde: Yes, you are correct. We have to be very careful. Me: Thanks for the meal. The rice tasted different—you actually made it nice. Tunde: Yes, it had a touch of you inside. Me: Come, it’s like your brain has missed direction today. "Touch of me inside"? Be careful, young man! 🤣 😂 😂 😂 😂! Tunde: It’s been long since I had butter inside my bread. And I know you've not had butter inside your bread because you have not even gone to that Martins' room for some time. Me: 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 hahaha! Tunde, Tunde Tunde butter ko hot dog ni. you are crazy. Who is teaching you all this? Butter inside which bread? If I slap you— eh! And who told you that Martin was putting butter in my bread? I was the one putting butter in the bread, and he wanted it badly. He even wants to make my brother put that too. Tunde: Eh! You say what? That your brother that looks like a soldier from the army barracks? He will beat that one! Don't be silly, oh. Are you sure he has not beaten him up like this? Me: I think they are getting along well, but not in that way—just normal friendship. Tunde: So, are you saying that our own friendship is not normal? Me: Hahaha hahaha! 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 Ahhhhhhhhh, Tunde, it is you that is not normal! You, like this, no normal! Hahaha! Tunde: Exams are coming, and I need to do some midnight reading to keep up my scholarship grades. I hope you are also reading too—we have had so many back-and-forths lately. Me: Sure, sure. I'm also studying. It's not been easy, you know, but we’ll push through. I need to take a full day for studying now—go to the library or something. I have a particular course to cover. Mustafa and I, we need to study hard. Tunde: Let's plan it together. Let's take a day and say we all go to the library or find a quiet place inside the school. We take our lunch with us, have breakfast, and all the guys—we have to carry everybody along, not only in our problems but also academically. It doesn’t make sense that some of us will graduate and others will still be in school. Me: Saturday will work. We are going to do a straight-up seven-hour reading session. But we’ll need more than just lunch—even if we have breakfast and eat lunch there, we’ll need some snacks. Reading for a very long time makes the brain consume a lot of energy and makes someone go very hungry. Do you know about that? Tunde: Ogbeni, carry your machine inside and go sleep! See you speaking English because it's related to your course. You want me to start teaching you my own course? 🤣 😂 😂 🤣 Hahahaha 😂🤣😂🤣😂 Me: Okay, since you say I should go in, I’m going in. This content is the intellectual property of OurStory TB and the author, Whiteman Micheal. Unauthorized use, reproduction, or distribution without proper credit to the author or the page is strictly prohibited. Permission must be obtained before any use. ⚠️ As I was going in, he grabbed me by the waist and started humping from behind, and I ran to my room. Nathaniel was not around. We had taken permission after the hospital visit. He left to see you-know-who, and I allowed him, but caution came to me—to be very careful and stay safe. I wanted to see him first thing in the morning. Like his father, he answered, “Yes, sir.” Then I asked him to drop the address of where he was going and the phone number of the person. He sent it all to my phone, and I confirmed before he left. At the Hospital Everywhere was quiet as everyone was finding some place to lay their head. Even the nurses had prepared themselves somewhere in the reception room where they could rest a little. The whole place was getting quiet. The only thing making noise was the television sound coming from downstairs, where the nurses had gathered to watch some African Magic all night. You could hear the sound of tragedy about to happen or the voice of a woman singing to pity someone suffering in the movie. As this was going on, Emma opened his eyes, and the first thing he saw was Larry holding his hands. Emma: "I'm sorry I had to die like this. Even if it's your face I'm seeing, I know you're still alive somewhere down there. Please be alive." Larry kissed his hands and allowed the tears on his face to fall onto Emma’s hands, making them grab his cheek so he could feel the warmth and his presence there with him. Emma: "Wait, Larry, is this really you?" Larry: "Yes, it's me. And you're not dead. I wonder why you wanted to leave me. We saw you in the room and rushed you here." Emma: "If I am still alive, that means I have a chance. Larry, I have something to tell you." Larry: "Think about Felix. Did he threaten you? Did he poison you? I am ready to let you be with whoever you want. I don’t mind, as long as you are alive. Look, I cannot monopolize you. I cannot keep you only to myself. You’re a man, and you need to be out there for yourself at times. "I know how all these things work; I've been in this for a very, very long time. I just wanted, for the first time, to see if I could find something nice and be happy with just one person. I’m not forcing you to quit whatever you are doing with Felix, just…" Emma: "It is not about Felix. It is about me. I have a secret to tell you. First, I must start with my story…" Morals Be careful. When something good is about to happen, something may try to come in the way and make you lose it. So, when facing great difficulties at an important moment, don’t be hasty in making decisions that could hinder your progress. Finding a group of people who understand your ideology or genuinely want to help—especially in the situation of the country—is very hard. It is not written on faces. It doesn’t mean they don’t have problems or that they don’t fight. But if you can fight and still choose to be friends afterward, that is true friendship. Keep your friendships intact; don’t ruin them with trivial matters. If you are a student or a young man/woman living alone, ensure that at least one friend checks on you. If no one can come to look for you, always have someone you check in with regularly. That way, if something happens, someone will know. Even if you don’t want to tell your family, tell a friend. If not a friend, tell a neighbor. If not a neighbor, tell an online friend you’ve known for years but haven’t met in person. Keep someone informed of your whereabouts at all times. In Nigeria, you can enter any hospital and check your blood pressure for free. Don’t be afraid or shy to do it. It doesn’t involve needles or anything that removes blood. It’s just a way to monitor your health. Knowing your blood pressure helps you track your heart health and identify if stress or overthinking is affecting you. High blood pressure is dangerous—it can cause sudden death without warning. Even as a young person, check your blood pressure regularly. Life is tough for everyone, especially the youth, and taking care of your health is important. By Whiteman Michael Thanks 🙏 to our anonymous sponsor we are grateful 💕 for this show of kindness. It really shows love and encourages me to write more. Try to encourage the author appreciate good things. And good things will come to you. Please like, follow and share. Thanks. This is a story to relax from work every day.