My mother owns a fashion school close to our house. It used to be a small place she worked from but my dad, before he died, expanded it into a full fashion school.

When growing up in the midst of my mother’s apprentices, who were all women, my mom warned us against having affairs with any of them. She said, “They are here to learn and go. I don’t want any scandal. Whoever brings one will never experience peace as long as I live.”

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My elder brother fell in love with one and didn’t play his cards well so my mom got to know about it. My brother was in his first year at the university. When my mom found out my brother was dating the lady, she sacked the lady and sent my brother to live with her sister. He never came home again, even during vacations, until he completed university. That’s how crazy my mom can be when it comes to the ladies she teaches.

Some of these ladies come to learn and leave. Others stay and do work-and-pay for as long as they can. I started dating Sophia when she started school there. She had come home to prepare food for my mom when I set my eyes on her. Very pretty and with the smile of a goddess.

She was scared of being sacked so it took her a long time to consider before she accepted my proposal. I promised her with everything in me that I was going to protect her and keep the relationship deeply secret.

For two years we dated. After she completed school, she stayed to do work-and-pay. I think she stayed because of me. I was happy she stayed because it made our relationship very easy to manage.

Just last year, Frances also came into the picture. She came to learn and later came home to cook just as all newcomers did. She was free-spirited and could hop from the school straight into the kitchen to make food for my mom. The food the ladies prepared was for my mom alone. We cooked our own food. One day, Frances hopped from the school straight into my heart.

It was easy with her. She didn’t try to make the talking stage stressful. “I love you and want you to be my girlfriend.” She answered, “I will take the risk with you but make sure your mom doesn’t catch us and sack me.” I crossed my heart and hoped to die.

We started a relationship I hoped would end once she was done and gone but as the days went by, I loved her more than I ever loved Sophia. She was crazy and acted my kind of crazy. I don’t know what happened or what was said and left unsaid, but Sophia got to know I was dating Frances.

I denied it but the news wouldn’t go away. I was even scared my mom would get to know about it. One day, Sophia came home and saw me and Frances in my room. We were not doing anything but seeing her in my room when she had been sent to cook meant something was going on.

She didn’t make any scene and left. Frances didn’t know what was going on so she thought Sophia was going to report her. I asked her to be calm while I handled the issue. I apologized to Sophia and told her it was the last time. She didn’t listen to me. She reported the issue to my mom and Frances was sacked.

The very day Frances was sacked, Sophia told me, “Get ready. You’re going to be a father. I’m pregnant.”

I didn’t know which issue to address first, the sacking of Frances or the pregnancy. I pleaded with her to let it go so we could do the right thing before the child came. She said, “I know your mom won’t allow you to marry me but if I’m carrying your child, then it’s easy.”

The pregnancy is currently close to two months and she’s carrying it around the school, trying so hard for my mom to see and ask questions so she would mention my name. I’ve embraced the notion that she wouldn’t let it go but the problem here is that she’s not the one I really want to settle down with. I want Frances. She has lost opportunities the school had to offer because of me and she’s the one who fits the kind of woman I actually want in my life.

I’m going to lose a lot of things when this finally comes out. My mom will hate me and might ask me to leave the house and go rent my own place. I don’t know how Frances is going to handle the news, knowing I impregnated the lady who got her sacked from the school. She might leave me. And my mom will also withdraw all her assistance once she gets to know about the pregnancy and also the affair between me and Frances.

Men Don’t Like It When Women Do The Paying

It looks like I have nothing left as I write this. It’s just a matter of time and everything will blow up in my face. I know the fault is mine but I’m asking what I should do to weather the storm when it finally comes. I want to save the relationship with Frances. I also want to have my mom by my side. Sophia should have the baby and I will take care of it. Am I asking for too much?

—Alfred 

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