24/12/2024
"Guys! I dey search for roommate ooo.
This loneliness don dey enter me wella"
That's the innocent post I made in a social media group which generated thousands of comments.
As typical of our Nigerian people, many mocked and insulted me under the comment section while some offered genuine advice on how I'll get a good person to share an apartment with even though I made it clear that I was only catching a cruise.
Amongst the comments was a particular guy whose remarks caught my attention and forced me to reply.
"Haaaa! My guy, no go do roommate thing ooo.
Na wetin kill me be that when I still dey alive." The guy commented.
Many people replied and send laughing emoji's under his comment while I tried to return the humor by making the conversation flow.
"My guy you dey funny ooo!
Shey you dey whine us ni?
So like this now dead body don dey follow us rock for this space.
Who open gate for you?"
"Na me open gate by myself ooo!
Dey there nau, na better advice I don dey give you now.
Forget roommate things for your own good ooo.
Anyways, you fit invite me come your house if you really dey lonely and dey find persin wey go follow you stay."
"Shey spirit dey live with person ke? Oya carry your bag come nau make I take my two korokoro eyes see you." I replied and many people sent a laughing emoji.
It was a Sunday evening and I logged out after surfing the internet to my satiation.
I retired to bed early in order to get up on time and beat the early Monday traffic.
By the time I woke up the following day, I've completely forgotten the post I made on social media and hurriedly began to prepare for work.
The day was busy as usual and I was able to take a break in the afternoon after clearing the mountains of paperwork waiting in my office desk.
I was in the canteen waiting for my order when a message popped up in my phone.
"Hello buddy! Na your ghost friend from social media.
Shey you still need a roommate?
Like this now I don pack enter your house.
Shey you no go too waste time before you come back?"
My heart missed a beat as I stared mutely at message.
I was intrigued by the message and tried to peep into the profile of the guy but realized that it was locked.
However, I deleted the message immediately, taking it as a joke stretched too far and gingerly returned to work.
By the time I rounded up in the office and gunned my car homeward, a million messages from the same guy trooped into my DM and I deleted them without bothering to read any of it.
My compound was the way I left it when I went to work in the morning and I hummed softly as I alighted from the car and began to bring out some stuffs which I got from the grocery store on my way home.
When I inserted the key and opened the door, a gust of wind forcibly blew inside, almost throwing me off balance and I managed to grasp the packages in my hands.
A creepy sensation overpowered me as I cautiously walked into the kitchen where I deposited my lots and by the time I got into my bedroom, my hairs stood at end as I felt that someone was closely observing me.
My fears somewhat crippled me and I lay on the bed, pressing my phone.
Fortunately, there was no more messages from the guy who claimed to be ghost.
After idling away in the internet, the wave of fear which previously assaulted me lifted and I dragged myself into the bathroom where I soaked myself in the warm tub.
My stomach was churning badly by the time I got out and I swore inwardly for this protracted bachelorhood is beginning to take a toll on me.
My food would have been waiting in the dining the moment I walked into the house if only I've a good woman by my side.
Nevertheless, there's no hurry in getting a life partner thus I swallowed my longings and moved to the kitchen to prepare a light dinner.
My heart sank into my stomach immediately I opened the kitchen door and realized that everything I dumped in the counter has been neatly arranged in their respective positions.
Meanwhile, a cup of coffee emitting an irresistible aroma was waiting on top of the counter while a pot of noodles sizzled on the stove.
I ran from the kitchen screaming while a peal of laughter trailed behind me.
It was already dark outside but I managed to grab my car key which I left on the couch and furiously drove out of the house.
My aimless wandering took me to a hotel where I spent the most restless night filled with horrible nightmares.
I did not return home at dawn but drove straight to the office in my wrinkled clothes which elicited nasty jokes from my colleagues.
I worked like an addict in order to distract myself from thinking about the events of the previous night until the day eventually came to an end.
I loitered around the neighborhood until my mind convinced me to return home for my experience might actually be the product of my imaginations.
I sat in my car for the longest time as I drove into the compound and somehow mustered the courage to steal into my social media account.
Thankfully there was no messages and when I tried my luck by checking the post I made which generated much comments, I realized that all the comments from the guy who called himself a ghost has completely vanished.
I've a mixed feelings about the development but decided to shut my mind on everything.
It was quiet when I got in and there was no sign of an intruder as I searched around.
This time, I did not bother to prepare a meal instead, I ate some junks I left in my mini fridge and mercifully fell asleep afterwards.
It was a long dreamless sleep in which I woke up hearing some noises from the sitting room.
I yanked off the duvet and rushed out to inspect only to see the vacuum cleaner dragging itself around.
It was the most bizarre scene I've ever witnessed thus my eyes simply rolled into my head.
I woke up later in the hospital and was surprised to see my mother sitting quietly beside me.
"Mama!" I cooed happily as she beamed at me.
"It's like you're overworking yourself Andrew.
I wonder what would have happened to you if that servant of yours did not place a call across?"
"A servant?" I gasped.
"Of course your houseboy, the one who opened the door for me when I arrived to take you to the hospital." My mother returned.
"He's a nice guy but there's something strange about him though.
The way he picked you up and deposited you inside the car as if you weighed less than a feather looks suspicious.
And he didn't bother to follow us in the car even when I begged him to sit by your side.
Where did you get that guy from?" She asked.
My mother wept and called the doctors to examine my head when I insisted that I was living alone.
She freaked out the more when I narrated my experience with the guy from social media who called himself a ghost.
We did not return to my house after I was discharged rather, my mother took me to a prophet who confirmed that my unruly post attracted a being from the underworld.
We drove to the house together and after series of prayers, the house was anointed and the man of God left.
I clinged to my mother like a leech even though I was assured that the presence who invaded my house has been exorcised.
As my mother was making some food in the kitchen that night, a message popped up in my phone and it was from that same profile I dreaded.
"Hey buddy! Sorry I gave you a start but I didn't mean any harm.
I thought you'd have appreciated my presence but that's a bygone now.
I hope you now believed in the existence of ghost after your experience?
Anyway, I've left for good and would not trouble you anymore.
Always remember to shun roommates, my life was cut short by one." He concluded.
I screamed and before I could get to the kitchen to show my mother the message, it has mysteriously disappeared.
It was a bad experience even though the presence I attracted was a merciful one.
Be careful of whom you interact with in this space.
Many are humans just like you while a legion are also on a mission from the underworld.
Do not cause your ruin by inviting malignant spirits into your life through the madness of social media.
Know your boundary and know peace.
Learn from my experience!
Chika Nduka ✍️