Tarasha The Brutal Assassin Story Part 1 (Episode 16)

 

**11.11.2030**

John Obiano sat alone, busy with his Ipad as he waited for the Desert Reporters’ journalist. The cafeteria where he sat was the biggest one in school; it was mostly patronized by the rich students and sometimes patronized by the not-too-rich after saving money to spend on a special day.

His yellow designers shirt drew so much attention to him, coupled with the fact that he was fast becoming a celebrity as the first student of the school and the second in the country to manufacture an airplane. He was proud of himself, seeing people glance at him from their table several times, he knew they were referring to him and probably discussing about his exploits with their partners

He took a sip of the fruit juice occasionally and glanced at his wristwatch from time to time, looking up to see if the journalists are forthcoming. In a little while, he saw two people approaching him at exactly two minutes before the interview time.

‘Good afternoon Mr. Obiano’ the chocolate skinned lady greeted, offering him a handshake

‘Good afternoon, Miss…’

‘Samantha’ she completed it for him as he took her hands in his.

‘I’m James’ the guy who accompanied her also introduced himself.

‘Welcome’ He replied with a smile. ‘It’s nice to have you here’

‘Thank you’ Samantha said as they took the seats facing him.

‘Would you like to take something?’ he offered.

‘No, thanks. We’ll just go straight to business’ she rejected politely.

‘Okay, I’m all ears’ he said, sitting up right.

‘We’ll like you to tell us a little about yourself first, your personality and views about life’ she began the long series of questions.

John Obiano replied intelligently to the interview questions, giving answers that’ll convince the listeners that he was truly a guru.

‘So how do you feel? Having the Governor of the state and the Minister of Aviation coming to have a flight in your own produced airplane?’

‘I feel awesome’ he smiled cheerfully, ‘it’s a great honour to have a flight with great personalities like them’

You’re gonna be flying with them?’ She asked

‘Yes, I will be seated with both of them in the plane’

‘Wow! But I thought you’ll be flying the plane while they enjoy’

‘No, I’ll be seated with them, we already have two pilots who are going to fly with us’

‘How many of you are going on board?’

‘Seven; His Excellency, Honorable, myself, the two pilots and two flight attendants’

‘Oh! I see. So where are you flying to?’

‘Just around Port Harcourt, we’ll be flying around for just thirty minutes before we return to the airdrome’

‘I know several media houses have been denied the opportunity to have look and take a picture of the inner view of the plane, when would we be allowed to do that?’

‘Who told you that?’ he frowned, ‘several pictures of the inner view are online already’

‘But there seems to be a notion that the pictures online are not real’ she countered. ‘People say they are pictures of a foreign built plane’

‘They are real, I posted some by myself’ he replied confidently. His interviewer paused for a while and then continued with the concluding series of questions.

++++++

**14.11.2030**

** Port Harcourt School of Aviation**

A CRV jeep sped past, splashing the stagnant rain water on Gloria’s body as she carried out the early hours jogging with several other students. Only few girls could be seen amongst the joggers, and the few girls were with their male partners.

She jogged to the area of the road shoulder close to the drainage, smiling broadly to guy who was also jogging beside her.

‘Hi’ he greeted, panting heavily

‘Hi’ she replied, flashing her teeth

‘I’ve not seen you with us before, it’s like you just made a decision to start exercising your body’ he continued in a cheerful manner.

‘No, I’ve been exercising my body. I just decided to join you guys today’ she said.

‘Well, today must be a very special day then!’ He exclaimed

‘Why did you say that?’ she gave an inquisitive look.

‘It’s not every day I wake up to see such a pretty lady very early in the morning’ he commented, admiring the beautiful eyes on the chocolate skinned face.

‘Oh!’ She blushed. ‘Come on, stop flattering me’

‘I’m not flattering you’ he replied, gradually reducing his jogging speed. ‘I’m only saying the truth’

She chuckled, ‘Thanks anyway’

‘You’re welcome’ he smiled back

‘Why?’ she asked in respect of his reducing speed, he increased it back to level up with her. ‘Are you tired already?’

‘No, I just jogged past my hostel’ he answered

‘Your hostel?’ Gloria looked back at the hostel building and they gradually came to a halt. ‘Your hostel is Block C?’

‘Yes’ he cleaned his face with the hand towel placed round his neck. ‘But never mind, I’ll see you off to yours’

He motioned to keep jogging but she refused. ‘No, I don’t stay on campus’

‘You stay off campus?’

‘Yeah’

‘Does that explains why I’ve not ben seeing you jog with us?’ he questioned

‘Yes’ she replied with another smile.

‘Would I see you again?’ he requested.

‘If you want to’ she gave a sharp reply.

‘Hope you don’t stay too far from school?’ he asked and without waiting for a response continued, ‘may we meet this evening?’

‘This evening? Let’s make it afternoon, my lectures for the day will end by noon and I might be going home immediately’

‘Come on Gloria! Let’s go’ someone shouted from afar. ‘We’ve got a practical course today’

‘Gloria is the name?’ Is she your friend?’ he asked double questions

‘Yes, I’ve got to go now’ she turned to leave in a hurry. ‘We’ll see later’

‘How do I reach you?’ he shouted without getting any reply, Gloria already jogged off with her friend

**

‘We’ll return to the hotel now and return as students’ Tarasha spoke to Aisha as she started the car engine. ‘Remember to always put on your ID card when you are in the school premises’

‘Okay’ Aisha replied calmly and remained quiet, secretly staring at Tarasha often times as they journeyed.

‘Do you have any question?’ Tarasha startled her. ‘Ask your question and stop looking at me like that’

‘No question really, I was just wondering how you were sure that he was going to start a conversation with you’

‘I wasn’t sure he was going to start a conversation with me’ Tarasha replied. ‘I was going to start something with him if he didn’t’

Aisha gazed at her, the look in her eyes showed that she still had unanswered questions.

‘I would have fainted and fall on his body if he didn’t notice me’ Tarasha added. ‘He only made things easy for both of us by not ignoring me’

‘Hmm, I see’

‘Yeah’

 

 EPISODE 16B

 **4pm**

‘Gloria’ someone called, trying to catch up with her as she was about to enter the Year 1 lecture room. She turned back to find the same guy she met that morning during the morning exercise. He had spotted her walking towards the lecture room as he came out of his, with his friends.

‘Hi’ she greeted as she turned back.

‘Hi Gloria, I see you’re a year one student’

Yes, I am’ she squinted flipping her hair backwards, she switched her hard cover note to the left hand. ‘Where did we…’

‘You don’t remember me?’ he cut in, falling for her trick. ‘The guy who stays Hostel Block C, we jogged together this morning’

‘Oh!’ She exclaimed cheerfully. ‘Pardon me, you just look very different from the person I saw in the morning’

‘I’m the same person’ he chuckled, following as she walked into the empty lecture room. They took their seats beside each other and continued with the conversation.

‘When did the lectures end for today?’ he asked.

‘Two pm’ she answered. She placed her book on the table and brought out a pen and the school’s customized tablet from her bag.

‘Oh! You want to study?’ he asked a question with an already obvious answer

‘Yes’ she answered.

‘Maybe we’ll talk some other time then’ he said, getting up from the seat. ‘Would you give me your phone number?’

She stared at him awkwardly for a moment before she spoke, ‘I don’t even know you yet, and you didn’t introduce yourself’

‘Oh! Sorry’ he sat back hurriedly. ‘Forgive my manners please; I’m Jude, a final year student in this same institution’

She looked unimpressed as she received his offer for a handshake. ‘You’re final year?’ She asked again.

‘Yes, final year’ he repeated. ‘I’m particularly one of the best students in my level’

‘Hmm’ she sounded indifferent. ‘Can you help me with my courses then?’

‘Yes’ he replied happily, ‘I will help you, just tell me the course or topic you want me to help you with’

‘This’ she opened her hard cover note and showed him a topic.

‘How far have you gone with this?’ he asked, moving his body closer to hers. He could perceive the fragrance of her perfume.

‘I’ve not started at all’ she answered with a note of sadness. ‘I resumed school late, the lecturer had gone far beyond before I was admitted in the third batch list’

Ermmm… It’s kind of long o’ he gave a slight frown, ‘I can finish teaching you if I start now’

‘Why?’

‘I have a meeting by four pm with some of our professors’ he answered. ‘I’m one of the students that’ll be flying the Governor in John Obiano’s plane’

‘Oh! You’re really going to pilot the plane?’

‘Yes, I did with my partner during the several test runs’ he stated excitedly. ‘I can’t miss this opportunity to fly the governor’

‘Wow! That’s awesome. I really like the fact that students are in control of everything’

‘Yes, we are’ he smiled happily. ‘Some years back they wouldn’t have allowed us fly a Local government chairman talk more of the Rivers State Governor’

‘How come they are now allowing students do it now?’

‘They believe in us now, the professors are sure of what they thought us and can brag with their lives that we’ll deliver properly’

‘Wow!’ She continued excitedly, ‘I believe this will give you employment immediately you graduate’

‘Yes, I just need to finish my youth service and I’ll be employed immediately’

‘Congrats’ she offered him a handshake.

‘Thank you’

She stared at him in silence for some seconds, ‘I wish I could watch you fly that airplane’

‘Oh dear, I wish that was possible too’ he replied sympathetically

‘Can’t I be allowed to be one of the flight attendants?’ she pushed further.

‘No’ he answered sadly. ‘It’s only two of the best final year female students would be picked to do that job’

She looked depressed immediately, her countenance fell. She turned and faced the wall, backing Jude.

‘The only thing I can do is to take you along so you can watch the plane fly’ he tried to give another option. ‘But you might not be allowed to come close because of the security officials that would be with the Governor and Minister; you have to stay with other spectators and the journalists’

Don’t bother, I just met you and I’m giving you too much troubles already’ she said turning back, she tried to fake a smile.

‘No, I’m not troubled. You have to be there that day to experience it’ he insisted.

‘Well, I’ll think it’ she answered. ‘I’ll come if I’m chanced’

‘Please clear your schedule’

‘Okay’ she replied and placed her hand on her book. Suddenly remembering something, she turned to face him again, ‘Who is copiloting the plane with you?’

‘A final year student also, her name is Lovina’

‘Hmm, Lovina’ she whispered, nodding her head slowly.

‘I have to leave right n..’ he was saying as he got up from the seat, a Lady interrupted walking in noisily into the lecture room

‘Gloria, you’re not reading?’ she exclaimed, using her two hands to cover her mouth. Gloria got up suddenly and rushed to her friend, she covered the girl’s mouth again as the girl dropped her hands.

‘Don’t mind her’ she smiled at surprised Jude, still covering the girl’s mouth with her hands. ‘ She talks too much, you can go now Jude’

‘Okay, but not without taking your phone number’ he said, bringing out his phone from his pocket.

‘23480….. ‘Gloria called the digits, still covering her friend’s mouth.

‘Okay, I’ll give you a call’ Jude walked past the two friends, giving them a surprised look.

**

Gloria ensured that Jude was gone before she took her hand off the girl’s, her hand left ugly dark marks on the girl’s face.

‘Dummy’ she slammed at Aisha. ‘You didn’t use enough quantity of the powder and you didn’t allow it dry properly before walking under the sun’

‘I’m sorry Boss’ Aisha apologized, realizing that she almost blew their cover. She had used her hand to clean off thee powder meant to disguise her face when she used her hand to cover her mouth.

…to be continued