Life of an African Gay Man.

I still remember the day it all began, the day I realized I wasn’t like everyone else, the day I realized I was different, maybe in a different place or time it could have being a good thing or even be celebrated but that was definitely not my fate, mine was to be a cast out reject over something I couldn’t control.

“Hey Daniel, it’s your turn to spin the bottle”

“Oh yes”

It all started with the infamous not so harmless game TRUTH OR DARE, I can’t really remember the exact date, maybe if I had known at the time how significant that day would become in my life I would have spared a little more time memorizing the date. This was my first time playing truth or dare, I mostly preferred to pick up a book or just zone into my fantasy island in my spare time rather than play games like that but not this time, this time peer pressure won me over or more accurately Israel coerced me into playing. As I spun the bottle, I had no idea what was supposed to happen next, mainly because while the game had already being going on for more twenty minutes, my mind had taken a long trip to the island of possibility based on my last week’s tests. Finally the bottle stopped spinning; the head of the bottle was facing Israel while the other end was facing Michael’s direction. While I was still trying to figure out what the bottle positioning meant, there was already a loud outburst of amusement which at the time I had no idea why but I later learnt that it was because ever since the game began Israel had being daring Michael to do the craziest of things, things too crazy to put on paper and now it was finally Michael’s turn to do the daring and there was no way in heaven he was going to go easy on Israel.

With a wide villainous smile spread across his face “Truth or dare” he said.

“Dare”

“Are you sure” Michael asked like he actually cared, it was no news that Michael was one the most ruthless people in the whole school, some might even go as far as calling him a bully which honestly wasn’t up to an arm length away from the truth.

Yes bring it on; I can handle anything you throw at me” Israel said with a very confident look on his face proving that he meant what he said

“Okay if you say so” Michael stands up and walks slowly around the room, scrolling his eyes through everyone’s faces like he was looking for someone in particular, or was he?

Walking around pacing very slowly like a Russian cartel mob boss, with everyone was staring at him anxiously, waiting for him to utter his dare. Silence filled the room, although there were a few whispers here and there but this level of silence and absolute concentration was questionable especially from someone like me who had zero clues whatsoever on what was going on. There was such a strong dramatic tension unlike anything I have ever seen and there I was, sitting down like a clueless duck hoping that someone would shed some light to the scene so I could better understand what in the name of Godzilla was going on. It had being almost a minute and Michael was still pacing around like a third tier villain, suddenly he stopped and fixated his gaze on me, which was both weird and shocking mainly because we are all in our fourth year in the same secondary school, although I just transferred to the school that year we have spent at least six months together in the same four wall and I could beat my chest and swear on my life that I and Michael had never said as much as hello to each other even though we knew each other quite well thanks to Israel. But seriously I was so confused, why on the earth was he looking at me in such manner, was this also a part of the game. Finally he took his gaze of me and walked towards Israel who was sitting worry free, almost as if he was not bothered and was already prepared for whatever dare Michael threw at him. Michael standing in front of Israel with the same villainous smile plastered across his face, he slightly bends down in order to make eye contact with his prey, finally the man of the hour was about to make his grand dare, the sound in room dropped dead, everyone was as silent as a corpse, the only sound that could be heard was the never stopping creaking sound of the ceiling fan as everyone paid close attention, following the every movement of his lips, everyone including me, I too was very much interested in hearing exactly what sort of dare he had to offer that could be worth such decorum.

With a cool calm voice he said “Israel I dare you to romance Daniel in every way possible”

This caused a very loud uproar, no one expected him to utter such a dare. I too was about to join the uproar when my brain eventually clicked

“Wait a sec, did he just mention my name”

As soon as this realization dawned on me, I tried to make a run for it but the crowd kept pushing me back, I tried to explain to them that I was not interested in participating in this dare but they kept on insisting that since I was a part of the game, there was no out for me, that definitely the most stupidest game rule I have ever heard.

At this point it was me against over thirty student, participants of the game and viewers alike, it was obvious that everyone was eager to watch Israel my friend romance the hell out me, and here I thought schools were for smart people, I mean it was as if they all forgot that we were both guys and any form of gay act was not only considered to be disgusting but also forbidden. I looked over to Israel hoping that he would be tell them to let me go and he would pay the fine of forfeiting a dare but instead he was still sitting, rubbing his knuckles with his palm like he was about to enter a rap battle.

“Israel, help me!!!” I yelled.

He looks up at me and gives the “I am sorry but this has to happen” eyes, it was in this moment I knew that I had lost; Israel himself was ready to the sinful.

“Okay okay fine but there is no music so he can’t dance without music…” before I couldn’t complete my sentence, my voice was enveloped by loud bangs on the desk which were followed by harmonious melodic table beating; they were making a beat for Israel. As the drumming continued Israel stood and walked up to me

“It's alright, just sit down, it would not take long” he said directing me to take a seat.

Nervous as hell, I took my seat and then that was when it began, Israel started by dancing in front of me like stripper, I don’t which was more surprising the fact that he was dancing in front of me like a stripper or the fact that I was not irritated by it. I was a guy and from all my knowledge on sexuality which was vastly based on my nationality, guys supposed to get irritated by the site of such but instead I started feeling weird, Goosebumps crawling all over my skin.

“What is happening, what is this strange sensation” I thought to myself as the crowd kept chanting and singing.

Just when I thought I had seen it all, another card from the surprise deck was pulled out, Israel started coming closer to me in a seductive manner and when he reached breath length, he started touching my skin with the tip of his fingers, this sent waves running through my spin, the Goosebumps I had double up, my brain stopped functioning to the extent even an easy task such breathing became a problem, it was like nothing I had ever felt. All this while Israel was wearing a completely emotionless face which could only mean that all what he was doing to me had no effect on him whosever. He made a move to slowly drag his hands to the lower part of my body and immediately his fingers touched my thighs I snapped, sprang up and sprinted out of the class, I couldn’t take it anymore. The cup was full and it was very much dripping.

Everyone assumed I ran out because I got too irritated and couldn’t take it anymore, yes they were right I couldn’t take it anymore but not because I was too irritated, it was something many would believe to be much more worse. The truth was immediately Israel placed the tip of his fingers on my thigh, I felt a bulge in my trousers, I had an erection and that could only mean one thing.

“but it’s impossible I am Nigerian male, there is no way I could be gay, right” I thought to myself but there it was, the evidence right beneath me, I had an erection from been touched on the thigh by a fellow man, that was more than enough proof to show that I was indeed gay. In this moment of realization I knew that my world was about to change in ways I couldn’t even begin to fathom.