Chapter 3 A Visitor

“Please, I have given you back your phone, let me go. I promise I know nothing about any wallet. I am not with anyone's wallet, I swear, ” she said looking around to check if people were noticing what was happening.

“So what are you saying that we should let you go like that? Do you know how much was inside that wallet?” Edward said.

“I don't know anything about the wallet,” she said, shaking her head.

“Really? Okay I will tell you inside that wallet is the sum of...."

“150k, 15k” Edward and Desmond said respectively, given different answers.

They stare at each other and Edward quickly whispers something into Desmond's ear.

“Let's go with 150k, okay?”

Desmond thought for a while and decided to go with the flow.

“Yes I mean 150k, that's the amount inside my wallet,” he said, coughing out slightly as he was obviously lying.

“Ahhhhhh!" The girl cried out, “I don't have any money. I didn't take your wallet. I am sorry I left with your phone but that's because you gave it to me, I swear I am telling the truth.” she pleaded with them.

“Ssssshhhhh,” Edward hushed her up with a finger across his mouth as a sign for her to shut up. “I don't want to hear any sound, you are trying to sell us lies, right?”

“No I am not, please believe what I say.” she said, and she looked like someone about to burst into tears.

“Guys we are wasting so much time, if she refuses to bring out the money we identify her as a thief and the rest is history. I am sure after she gets a serious beating she will be more cooperative,” Wale said gesturing angrily.

“No, please don't do that, they will kill me.” she said this time she was already crying.

Desmond's heart was already softened by her tears but he didn't want to show it by his actions so he kept quiet.

Charles hadn't said anything since they came but he finally spoke out, “ Guys hold on, no need to alarm the whole school. I think here is a way we can settle the matter without violence.”

“Man, I think violence is the only way for thieves like this,” Wale said.

“Let him speak,” Desmond said to Wale but his gaze was fixed on the girl.

“Well if she can't pay us in cash then she pays us in kind,” Charles said, smiling.

“What!!” Both Desmond and the girl exclaimed in shock.

“No! I can't do that, please.” The girl pleaded.

“What's wrong with you, how can you bring that kinda suggestion?” Desmond whispered angrily to Charles.

“Relax man, I wasn't talking about that type of paying of the kind you are thinking about,” Charles said laughing slightly.

“Then what are you talking about?” Desmond asked.

“Well she has to work for us, home service. Run errands for us, those kinds of stuff. Until the 150k is exhausted,” Charles said.

“Like a slave?” she asked, looking terrified.

“Nobody is going to be anyone's slave, okay? But I like the idea of working for the lost money so you will have to do something for me," Desmond said.

“And what's that?" She asked. “You see, my girlfriend was stolen from me recently and I want her back.” Desmond said.

“I am sorry about that, but what does that have to do with me?” she asked looking, puzzled.

“This is it.... The four of us will ask 1 request from you each, don't worry no one will sexually harass you, you have my word. When you complete them you are free to go and I have told you my request already.. You are going to help me get my girlfriend back,” Desmond said.

“But....what if the requests are something impossible to do? Because I am not a magician. How can I get you back with your ex?” the girl said and she was beginning to scan for a way to escape.

“Don't you even think about it. You are scanning around right? You want to run away, is that not so? ” Edward said in a frown, attempting to hit her.

“It's alright guys,” Desmond said, holding Edward back with an outstretched arm, then turned to the girl. “See, what's your name?” he asked the girl that looked really terrified at this point.

“I..am, Sylvia.” she muttered.

“Hope that's your real name," Desmond said, staring at her suspiciously.

She nodded, “Yes."

“Alright Sylvia. You just have to do your best to fulfill our request but if you tried your best and it didn't work you are free to go. However, note you must try your best first,” Desmond said and he had a weird smile on his face.

“I don't know about this, it doesn't make any sense at all, let's just teach her a lesson so she won't try this ever in her life again,” Wale said.

“No I am with Desmond on this, a request from each one of us seems fair enough,” Charles said.

“What about you Edward, surely you are not in support of this? I mean this girl deserves to pay,” Wale said.

“I don't like the plan nor do I like the girl. You are right she deserves to pay but I am with Desmond always. You should know that by now,” Edward said, letting out a faint smile.

“It's settled then or do you prefer the plan of my friend here?” Desmond said to Sylvia, pointing to Wale.

She shook her head.

“Alright then we should shake on it, then.” Desmond said, stretching his hand.....

Once they were done with that.

“Let me give you this piece of advice, if you like run away, I will find you just as we find you now and I will break every single bit of bone in your body,” Edward threatened her.

“I promise I won't run,” Sylvia said terrified. She did have plans of not fulfilling her end of the bargain but that thought disappeared from her head as she was extremely terrified of what Edward would do to her.

“Very good them we will be expecting you tomorrow morning then, don't be late,” Edward said and the four of them walked away leaving her shaking in fear...

“Do you think she will show up?” Desmond asked on the way.

Edward laughed,“Not a chance, we have just told her goodbye for good, we ain't seeing her ever again.”

“Yeah, I guess you are.” Desmond smiled. “It was a crazy idea anyways.”

“But why do you have to bring up your ex-girlfriend Janet in every conversation? You have a problem and it's called obsession,” Charles said.

“Leave him alone, it's love not any stupid obsession.” Wale said.

“You don't even talk, you were just saying let's beat her, someone's child. Don't you have a sister at home or any sympathy whatsoever??” Charles said to Wale.

“I was only joking. I was only trying to act tough. I knew we wouldn't harm her.” He said then laughed. “Like seriously Desmond doesn't have 150k in his wallet in the first place.”

“Yeah it is crazy but why didn't the girl say anything about that? Because if she is with my wallet she would most definitely know how much is inside it," Desmond said.

“Because she is not with it. Someone else stole the wallet,” Edward said.

“You think?” Desmond asked.

“Yeah.That's why she didn't know how much was inside the wallet but that doesn't change the fact that she is a thief, she might have stolen it if someone didn't beat her to it, so she isn't getting my sympathy." Edward said.

“Yeah true but the girl is really pretty. Why is she stealing when any guy can give her what she wants?” Charles said, surprised.

“Yeah I am surprised about that also,” Desmond also said.

“Me too,” Wale added.

“But I am not. Prettiest girls do the craziest things, don't let their pretty face deceive you. This is a classic case of wolves in sheep's clothing.” Edward said...

The fours friends talked and laughed about what happened as they walked to there hostel and they all came to the realization that they won't be seeing that pretty thief again But they were satisfied with the fact that they retrieved Desmond's lost phone.

******** The next day, Sunday morning. The boys had gathered money together to prepare noodles and eggs and Wale was the one serving the food because he was the one that cooked the meal and as expected he had the largest portion of the food.

“Guy, please add small noodles to my plate, mine is too small,” Charles was complaining as usual.

“What? Guy you know the rules. He that cooked will ‘bellyful' ” Wale said carrying the pot of noodles out of the reach of his hungry friend Charles.

Desmond and Edward kept on laughing as they watched as the both of them struggled for the pot of noodles. “Hahaha…. classic Sundays, ” Edward said laughing just then they heard a knock on their hostel door.

“Jeez, those boys from room 36 have come here to beg for food, again.” Wale said angrily, hiding the pot of noodles.

“Come on man haven't you heard the phrase ‘There is more happiness in giving than in receiving.' So always be happy to share your things,” Desmond said jokingly.

“I hear you, haven't you heard this phase also.‘There is more joy and satisfaction in eating alone??'” Wale replied.

They all laughed.

“Let me go check who the person is,” Charles said walking to the door with only his boxers on.

Opening the door “What's up__ Jesus!!!” he shouted, slamming the door shut.

“What happened? Who is that? ” they all asked him, looking worried.

“It's that girl, the girl from yesterday,” Charles said, looking embarrassed.

“Who? Sylvia?...She came?” Desmond said trying his best to hide his excitement but could not as a smile formed on his face.

“Why are you smiling?” Edward asked, looking at him in a weird way.

“Huh?.. Well because my plan worked and you guys doubted it,” Desmond said.

“Excuse me it was my plan,” Charles argued.

“But I made it better,” Desmond argued back until Sylvia knocked on the door again.

The boys quickly arranged the room and acted tough as Desmond went and opened the door,“ He, you came.” Desmond said, staring at her.

“Yeah, please can I come in?” she said, somehow entering a room with four boys who treated her life yesterday felt safer than staying outside because all the boys in the hostel were staring at her as if they wanted to eat her alive.

“Sure come on in,” Desmond said, making the door wider with one hand for her to enter.

She walked in and Desmond locked the door behind her. For a moment no one said anything.

“So how are we doing this?” she said feeling uncomfortable.

“Well you have to sit down first, won't you?” Desmond said, gesturing for her to take a seat.

She reluctantly sat down at the edge of one of the bunk beds.

“Okay, so now what?” she asked.

“Now we discuss on how to get my girlfriend back,” Desmond said, sitting down facing her.

“Are you sure that's what you want?” she said.

“What do you mean?” Desmond said, puzzled.

“Do you want to go back to a girl that dumped you? I mean its__ ” she was cut short by Desmond.

“She didn't dump me, she was stolen from me and she still loves me. I know she still loves me, so just help me out and stop giving me advice, okay?” Desmond said a little bit angry.

“Alright, I am sorry. If you think she still loves you the only way we can get her back is to make her jealous." She said,