As night falls, an uneasy sensation spreads through him. He feels a pressure building, and when he looks down, he sees his manhood growing rapidly. Panic grips him.
“What is happening to me? ” he mutters, pulling at his trousers to conceal the growth. The story begins with Bayo, a young man known throughout his village for his promiscuity and charm, walking through the bustling market with his usual confident swagger.
Women’s eyes follow him, and he knows it. He has always had a way of making them feel special, which makes him get women easily and he enjoys the thrill of each conquest. He spots Kemi, a seamstress who recently moved to the village, sitting by her stall.
Bayo flashes his irresistible smile and walks up to her. “Ah, Kemi, how does someone like you manage to light up the entire market with just a smile? ” he says, leaning in close.
Kemi blushes, fidgeting with the fabric in her hands. “Bayo, you always know just what to say,” she replies, handing him a hand-sewn handkerchief. “This is for you.
” Bayo’s conquests are numerous. He recalls the time he charmed Yetunde, the village fruit seller. “Your oranges may be sweet, but they’ve got nothing on you,” he’d whispered to her, his eyes locking with hers.
She laughed and, unable to resist his charm, offered him the freshest fruits for free, day after day. That night, they met by the river, where Bayo’s flattery and gentle touch were enough to make Yetunde forget her reservations. Another conquest, Amina, had been more challenging.
She was known for her shyness and kept to herself. But Bayo was persistent, finding ways to compliment her every time they crossed paths. “Amina, every time I see you, I feel like I’m witnessing the moon rise early,” he would say.
Slowly, she warmed up to him, and after weeks of his attention, she finally agreed to meet him at a secluded spot by the palm grove. They spent hours together under the moonlight, and by the end of the night, Amina, like so many before her, was entranced. Whenever his previous conquests caught him with his current unsuspecting victim, Bayo would laugh at them and quote his favorite sentence “Your time has passed, it is time for a fresh meat.
” But even with all these, all the women in the village kept falling for Bayo’s lies and fake love promises, all because of how charming he was. Later that evening, as the sun sets, Bayo wanders to the edge of the village, where he encounters an old woman who specializes in magical potions, standing by the river. Her eyes are sharp, watching him with an unsettling intensity.
“Ah, Bayo,” she says, her voice low and almost mocking, “you must enjoy the way you toy with women’s heart with your words and charm, giving them fake promises of marriage. ” The old woman roared. Bayo, ever boastful, laughs.
“I don’t need tricks or charms. Women fall at my feet without any effort. ” The old woman’s eyes narrow, and she pulls out a small vial filled with a shimmering liquid.
“ Ok then, I have something to help boost your attractiveness even more. This liquid will get you even more women. But beware, its power is beyond your understanding and must be handled with care.
” Bayo, confident in his abilities, scoffs at her warning. “I need no warning,” he says, taking the liquid and drinking it all at once. As he wipes his lips, he feels a surge of energy coursing through him.
The old woman watches with a mysterious smile. “You may soon find that not all attention is a blessing, Bayo,” she mutters as she vanishes into the shadows, leaving Bayo to wonder if he’s made a grave mistake. The morning after drinking the mysterious potion, Bayo wakes up feeling an electrifying surge of energy coursing through his body.
He looks at himself in the mirror, noticing how his skin glows, and his confidence swells. He strides into the village square, smiling as he catches the attention of the women he meets. Today, they seem even more captivated than before—eyes linger, and shy glances turn into longing stares.
Bayo revels in the attention. He spots Funke, one of the village’s most sought-after women, and approaches her with his signature charm. “Funke, it seems the sun has taken a break, leaving you to light up the day,” he says smoothly.
She giggles, twirling her hair. “Oh, Bayo, you’re always so full of sweet words. ” As they talk, Bayo feels invincible, knowing his charm is at its peak.
But as night falls, an uneasy sensation spreads through him. He feels a pressure building, and when he looks down, he sees his manhood growing rapidly. Panic grips him.
“What’s happening? ” he mutters, pulling at his trousers to conceal the growth. He paces his room, hoping the sensation will fade, but it only intensifies.
By morning, he realizes the potion’s effects are far beyond what he anticipated. The next day, Bayo tries to move through the village unnoticed, adjusting his clothing to hide the transformation. He approaches the women cautiously, but their reactions are different.
Some gasp when they notice his awkward posture; others step back, their eyes filled with confusion. Funke, who had been charmed by him the day before, now looks at him with a mix of fear and disgust. “Bayo, what… what’s wrong with you?
” she asks, her voice quivering. Bayo forces a smile, trying to laugh it off. “Ah, Funke, just a little… um, discomfort.
” But her eyes linger on the bulge that is impossible to hide. She steps back, her expression turning cold. “Stay away from me!
” she shouts, fleeing the market. Bayo feels the eyes of the villagers turning toward him. Whispers spread like wildfire, and the once-admiring glances become looks of suspicion and fear.
Women begin to avoid him. Kemi, who once blushed at his every word, crosses the street when she sees him. “Why is he walking so strangely?
” one of the women whispers. “It’s unnatural! ” another exclaims.
The rumor mill spins as some women begin to call him cursed, convinced that he has angered the gods. Bayo, desperate to stop the transformation, seeks out an old friend, Ayo, hoping for support. “Ayo, you’ve got to help me, brother.
Something’s happening to me, and I don’t understand it,” he pleads. But Ayo steps back, his face twisted in horror. “Bayo, I don’t know what’s wrong with you, but I’ve heard the whispers.
The elders are talking… they say you might be cursed. ” Ayo hesitates before adding, “Maybe it’s best if you leave the village for a while. ” Bayo’s heart sinks as he watches his friend walk away.
The villagers’ whispers grow louder. As he walks through the market, women pull their children closer, and men glare at him, muttering threats. “He’s bringing a curse upon us all,” one of the elders says, his voice carrying through the crowd.
“He should be banished before it spreads. ” Bayo knows he can no longer hide. The charm he once believed would make him more desirable has turned into a nightmare, and his once effortless charm has become his curse.
He flees to his home, locking himself inside. Alone and terrified, he glances at the small liquid potion, now empty on the table, remembering the old woman’s words: “Its power must be handled with care. ” Bayo regrets drinking almost all the liquid at once.
But it is too late. The women of the village have started avoiding him altogether, and even his closest friend has turned his back. Bayo realizes that the only way to reverse the curse is to find the mysterious woman and beg her for forgiveness, but deep down, he fears the price he will have to pay for his reckless actions.
One day the village elders gathered at the village square, their faces stern and voices low as the whispers of Bayo’s affliction spread like wildfire. Women huddle together, their eyes wide with fear. “He’s cursed,” they murmur.
“His manhood grows like that of a demon. ” Even the children, sensing the tension, cling to their mothers, peeking curiously from behind their skirts. The head elder, Baba Ade, calls out in a booming voice, “Bring Bayo here!
” Two men, hesitant but firm, fetch him from his home, where he has been hiding for days. As they lead him to the square, the crowd parts, and all eyes fix on him. Bayo walks with his head down, his shoulders heavy under the weight of shame and fear.
The whispers grow louder, and some women cover their eyes, refusing to look at him. Once he reaches the center of the square, Baba Ade steps forward. “Bayo, what have you done to bring such a curse upon yourself?
” he demands, his eyes filled with accusation. Bayo raises his head, his voice quivering. “I swear, I did nothing.
I was only given a potion by the old woman near the river. I thought it would enhance my charm, but…” He falters as the villagers gasp and step back. “A potion?
! ” a woman shrieks, clutching her child tighter. “You’ve brought evil into our village!
” Another elder, Mama Iyabo, shakes her head. “You have been reckless, Bayo. Magic is not to be trifled with.
” Bayo’s mother, who cautioned him all the time to stop his flirtatious ways also stood at the edge of the crowd, looking at him with her eyes full of sorrow and shame. “My son, why didn’t you heed my warnings? Why did you let your greed blind you?
” she cries. Her voice cracks, and Bayo feels a pang of guilt, realizing the pain he has caused. The crowd’s anger grows, and voices rise in unison.
“Banish him! ” they cry. “We must protect our village!
” Baba Ade raises his hand to silence them, and the square falls quiet. “Bayo, until you find a way to reverse this curse, you must leave. We cannot risk this evil spreading any further.
” He points toward the forest. “Leave now, and do not return until you have cleansed yourself of this affliction. ” Bayo’s heart pounds as he realized he had no choice.
“But where will I go? ” he asks, his voice barely above a whisper. A few of the men push him toward the edge of the square.
“Go back to the forest, to the place where you met the old woman. Find her and make amends,” one of them says. As Bayo walks away, he glances back at the villagers.
The women avert their eyes, and even the men who once envied his charm now look at him with contempt. His mother’s sobs echo in his ears as he leaves the village, feeling the weight of his mistake pressing down on him like a curse. He heads toward the dense forest, fear creeping into his mind.
The villagers’ whispers linger in the air: “He’s cursed… He’s dangerous… He’s a menace. ” For the first time, Bayo feels truly alone, banished by the very people who once adored him. He knows that finding the old woman may be his only chance at redemption, but he also realizes that the path ahead will be far from easy.
Bayo stumbles through the dense forest, the whispers of the villagers still haunting his mind. Branches scratch at his arms as he pushes through, his eyes darting nervously in the dim light. The forest feels alive—every rustle, every shadow seems to mock him, reminding him of his mistake.
“Find her,” he mutters to himself, clutching the empty potion bottle. “I need to find her. ” As he moves deeper, the forest grows darker, and an unnatural chill fills the air.
Suddenly, he hears a voice—a whisper, familiar yet taunting. “Bayo… you thought you could charm your way through llife… You made many women cry” it says. He spins around, but sees only shadows.
His heart pounds as he realizes that the forest is testing him. Bayo pushes on, his body trembling. He reaches a clearing where he sees illusions of the women he once took advantage of and deceived—Yetunde, Kemi, Amina.
They call out to him, their voices sweet, their eyes alluring. “Bayo, come to us,” they say, reaching out. For a moment, he almost steps forward, but then their faces twist, turning angry.
“Look what you’ve become,” they hiss. “This is your fault! ” Stumbling backward, he trips over a root and falls.
“No! ” he shouts, his voice echoing in the silence. He pulls himself up, his breath ragged.
“I will find her. I must fix this. ” he cried.
He continues deeper until he encounters a dark figure standing at the edge of a river. The figure is shrouded in shadows, only its eyes visible—glowing and piercing. “You seek redemption, Bayo?
” it asks, its voice low and foreboding. “Yes, I need to reverse this curse,” he says, desperation in his voice. The figure steps closer, revealing an old man with a twisted smile.
“To find the one you seek, you must confront your pride. Only through humility will the path be revealed. ” Bayo, confused and fearful, drops to his knees.
“I’ll do anything. Just tell me where she is! ” The old man points to a path shrouded in mist.
“She awaits you, but the price will be high. Are you willing to sacrifice what you hold most dear? ” Trembling, Bayo nods.
“If it means undoing this, I am ready. ” The old man vanishes, and the path opens before him. As Bayo takes his first step, he knows this journey is more than just a search for the woman—it is a test of his true character, one that will determine his fate.
Bayo finally reaches the river, its waters glowing under the moonlight. The air is thick with an eerie silence, and the trees around him sway as if whispering secrets. He feels the weight of his actions pressing down on him, but he knows there’s no turning back now.
“I must find her,” he says, his voice barely a whisper. “This is my only chance. ” He cried.
As he steps to the water’s edge, ripples form, and the woman he once met emerges from the depths, her eyes fixed on him. This time, her face is different—more powerful, more intimidating. She is no ordinary woman; she is a river spirit, and her gaze pierces through Bayo’s soul.
“You returned,” she says, her voice echoing around him. “Did you think you could escape the consequences of your greed so easily? ” Bayo, trying to keep his composure, bows his head.
“I was wrong. I didn’t listen to your warning. I was foolish and selfish,” he admits, his voice filled with regret.
“Please, I beg you, undo this curse. I’ll do anything. ” The spirit’s eyes narrow, and she lifts her hand, conjuring an image of Bayo’s past.
The river reflects his many encounters with women—Yetunde, Kemi, Amina—all entranced by his deceit, but each left feeling empty as he moved on. “You used your charm as a weapon, treating womens hearts like trophies,” the spirit says, her tone cold. “You must face the truth of your actions.
” The images shift, showing how the women have reacted since his affliction began. Funke, terrified, spreads the rumor that he is cursed. Amina prays at the village shrine, begging the gods to protect her.
Kemi avoids leaving her home, fearful that Bayo’s curse might spread to her. Bayo watches, his face etched with regret. “I didn’t know… I never meant to cause them pain,” he murmurs.
The spirit steps closer, her expression unreadable. “To undo this curse, you must choose: either accept your fate and live in isolation, or make a sacrifice—something that has defined you for years. ” Bayo’s eyes meet hers, fear creeping into his voice.
“What must I sacrifice? ” The spirit gestures to the vial’s empty form in his hand. “Your allure, your charm—everything you’ve built your pride upon.
You will become an ordinary man, unnoticed and unremarkable. You may even face scorn for your past behavior. Are you willing to let go of everything that once made you feel powerful?
” Bayo hesitates, his heart pounding. For years, his charm has been his greatest weapon, the one thing that set him apart. To give it up means losing his identity, his power.
“If I do this, will my manhood be back to normal again? ” he asks, desperation in his eyes. The spirit’s gaze softens slightly, but her tone remains firm.
“Redemption does not come with guarantees. The choice is yours. ” Bayo’s hands tremble as he considers the offer.
The idea of becoming invisible, of losing the one thing that made him feel special, terrifies him. But the images of the women, their faces filled with fear and disappointment, flash in his mind. He knows he cannot continue like this.
With a deep breath, he kneels before the spirit, holding the empty vial to the water. “I choose to sacrifice my pride,” he says, his voice steady. “I want to be free of this curse, no matter the cost.
” The spirit nods, and the water swirls around Bayo, rising up to encircle him. He feels a cold rush, as if his very essence is being drained. Pain shoots through him, and he screams, but he doesn’t move.
As the water recedes, he feels lighter, different. The spirit watches as his aura fades, leaving him feeling like an ordinary man. “It is done,” she says.
“The curse is lifted, but you will bear the mark of your past. ” She touches his chest, and a scar appears—an unmistakable reminder of his mistake. “Live humbly, Bayo, and perhaps, in time, the village will see you for who you truly are.
” As she vanishes into the river, Bayo looks at his reflection. The vibrant, confident man he once knew is gone. Instead, he sees a humbled, scarred version of himself.
He stands alone for a moment, the weight of his decision settling in. With a sigh, he turns and walks back toward the village, uncertain of the reception that awaits him but resolved to accept whatever fate lies ahead. As Bayo walks back toward the village, his heart pounds with uncertainty.
The scar on his chest burns—a constant reminder of the price he paid to break the curse. He fears the villagers’ reaction, knowing the rumors have only grown stronger since he left. “Will they ever accept me again?
” he mutters, doubt creeping into his mind. When he reaches the village edge, he sees the women, standing in clusters, their faces tense. Some of them notice his approach and immediately step back, whispering.
The men, alerted by the commotion, gather at the square, eyeing him with suspicion. Bayo’s mother stands among them, her face lined with worry. Bayo pauses, feeling the weight of their stares.
“I’m no longer cursed,” he announces. “I found the old woman and made a sacrifice to undo my mistake. ” His voice wavers as he speaks, knowing his words alone may not be enough.
Baba Ade, the head elder, steps forward, his eyes narrowed. “And how do we know this isn’t another trick, Bayo? You have deceived us before.
” Bayo opens his shirt to allow them see his trouser and the scar. “My manhood is back to it's original size and this is the mark of my penance,” he says. “The spirit told me I would carry it as proof of my humility.
” The villagers murmur, some glancing at the scar while others remain unconvinced. Funke, one of the women he had once deceived, steps forward. “Why should we believe you?
You’ve hurt so many of us, Bayo,” she says, her voice filled with pain. Bayo’s eyes fill with remorse as he kneels before her. “I was wrong, Funke.
I was arrogant and selfish, and I hurt you all. I don’t expect forgiveness, but I want to make things right. Even if you never accept me again, I will work to earn back your trust.
” For a moment, the square is silent. Then, Amina, another woman he had once pursued, steps forward, her face softening. “People can change, but only if they truly want to,” she says, her voice gentle.
“Let’s give him a chance to prove himself. ” Mama Iyabo, one of the village elders, nods. “If you are sincere, time will reveal your intentions.
” Baba Ade finally lowers his staff, signaling the villagers to step back. “You may stay, but understand this—redemption is not freely given. You must earn it through your actions.
” Bayo, relieved yet humbled, bows his head. “Thank you. I will work to regain your trust.
” As he walks through the square, the villagers part, allowing him to pass. Weeks passed since Bayo’s return to the village. Though he has been allowed to stay, the villagers remain wary of him.
Every day, he works tirelessly, helping the elders, repairing houses, and keeping his head low. He no longer seeks attention, no longer flirts with the women, and avoids the gaze of those he once charmed. The scar on his chest is a constant reminder of his past arrogance and the price he paid.
