ALL FOR NOTHING…
Episode five….
The third term finally came to an end and it left me with the kind of joy that I had always dreamt of having. For two reasons I was glad. I was able to top the class and was also able to bring home the senior student trophy at the science competition.
Toyin came second with a very close margin. She was indeed a genius to have been able to come very close to me.
“Congrats” I said to her.
“I must confess, you are a force to reckon with. Now I understand why everyone respects you.” She said.
Though I topped the class, Toyin got the highest in Biology. I couldn’t believe that someone could score 99% in Biology but Toyin was able to do it. I scored 96% putting me in second place for the very first time in any subject.
Toyin and I had somehow become friends though not very close but better than it was when she just joined the class.
“I’ll work harder and make sure I beat you next term.” She said.
One thing I liked about Toyin which o also learnt from her was that she believed in a healthy competition. She taught me the difference between a rival and an enemy. She made me understand that a rival is not necessarily an enemy.
During the time we were preparing for the end of term exams, she came to me and asked me to teach her some of the concepts she didn’t quite understand in further Mathematics. At first I thought she was trying to break into my defense and get to know my strength and weakness making me to become hesitant at first. However, as I started teaching her, I realized I could also learn from her too. She confided in me that she didn’t love further Mathematics and that was one reason she was running away from the engineering courses. But when it came to Chemistry and most especially Biology, she was the boss.
Studying with Toyin made me realize that two good heads are definitely better than one. She exposed me to some secrets of studying Chemistry and Biology that I myself wasn’t aware of. I doubt people ever imagined that Toyin and I would be friends but it turned out we were. She cultivated the habit of staying behind after school and studying with me in the library. With time, I realized that Toyin was the daughter of a rich politician in Utti.
“Won’t your parents be angry with you for staying behind after school?” I asked her the very first day she decided she would stay behind to study with me.
“Not at all. Mom is late and dad is hardly around.” She said.
“I’m sorry to hear that.” I replied with a feeling of sympathy over the death of her mother.
“It’s okay. She actually died while giving birth to me. I didn’t get to see her. What about you? Don’t your parents get worried that you always stay behind after school?” She asked.
“That’s what I have to do to make mama proud.” I smiled revealing my dimples.
“To make mama proud? What about your father?” She asked.
“He too passed away. Papa died before I turned one so just like you I have no idea of the kind of person my father was but mama told me he was a good man and that he was a gift to her.” I said.
“I’m really sorry to hear that too.” She said expressing her own sympathy.
We decided to end the conversation and go straight to the library. We were able to study together and she didn’t appear to be distracted. We only communicated when we had serious questions to ask. It was actually nice studying with her.
While we were still studying, her phone rang.
“I’ll be on my way soon” she replied to whosoever it was that was calling her which I suspected was her dad.
“Alright daddy but you ought to know by now that your daughter is now a big girl and can take care of herself.” She added.
“I guess your dad is already worried about you.” I said after she dropped the phone. In Achievers high school, only the SS3 students were allowed to come to school with their phones.
“Yes and he wants me to come home now. It’s hard being a girl you know. If I were to be a boy I wouldn’t be monitored the way dad is monitoring me. At my age the driver still takes me to and from school.” She said appearing not to be happy.
“You should be happy to have a father who is so concerned about you. Not very many girls have that.
“I knew you’ll take his side. All men are thesame.” She said letting out a fake smile.
“Are you an only child?” I asked.
“No dear, I’m the youngest. My eldest brother is in UK taking up a master’s degree while my immediate older sister is in her second year in the university. What about you? Are you an only child?”
“Yes I am.” I replied expressing emotion. Thank God the seat we took in the library was far from that of the other students and of course the librarian. If not he would have sent us out of the library.
Her phone rang again and it was her driver.
“I’ll be out in the next two minutes.” She said and hung up.
“I’ll have to go now. My driver is here already.” She said.
“Alright see you tomorrow.” I replied.
“Aren’t you going home yet so my driver could drop you off at your place before taking me home.” She offered to help.
“No not yet. I haven’t reached my target for the day.” I replied.
“Alright, give me your phone number. I’ll call you just to be sure you got home.” She said.
“Sorry but I don’t have a cell phone.” I replied causing an Expression of shock to be written all over her face.
“You don’t mean it. Do you?”
“I wouldn’t lie about something like that. It’s the truth.”
She bid me farewell and left to meet with the driver. I had to stay for another one hour before leaving the library.
On getting home, I realized mama had not yet returned from the women’s prayer meeting. I took out the kerosene stove to prepare dinner. I was used to skipping lunch already and it was one reason I had a slender body.
By the time mama arrived home, I was done preparing dinner. I had also fetched water from the rich neighbor who supplied us with pipeborne water.
“How was school today?” Mama asked as we sat down to have our meal of yam pottage. Mama had started harvesting her yams and for some time it would be a part of almost all our meals.
“It was fine and I now have a new friend too.” I replied. I was the kind of son who could tell his mother anything because mama believed in trust as the foundation of a successful relationship even if it was between mother and son.
“A new friend apart from Timi?” Mama asked. Mama knew very well that Timi was my only friend at Achievers high school. We’ve been best of friends since JSS1.
“Yes mama” I replied trying to scratch some fishes from the plate without Mama’s knowledge. Mama always believed in eating the fish or the meat last. Whenever I ate with her, I would be forced to finish whatsoever it was we were eating before going for the fish but that evening I was having my way as mama appeared to be interested in my story than in the food.
“So what is his name?” Mama asked.
“It’s not a boy mama. It’s the new girl in our class. The one I told you scored everything in our Biology test.” I replied.
“You mean the girl who is showing you that you can’t be the best in everything?” Mama said almost making me to feel bad.
“But mama why would you say that? Are you Happy that someone is beating me in school?” I asked.
“No my son but I want you to know that no matter how good you are, there is that one person who is still better than you. You shouldn’t think you are the best in everything but that doesn’t mean you should stop working hard to be the best. I’m happy she’s your friend because making her an enemy is for little children and not a grown up like you.” Mama said.
I was able to pick some words of wisdom from what mama said and I decided to make Toyin a very close friend of mine. I’ve never really had any female friends and I would be glad to make Toyin the first.
Though I wasn’t sure, I knew there was something deeper calling out to me with Toyin and whatsoever it was, I was willing to find out….
Hope you enjoyed this episode?
What do you think about Toyin? Will she be a good friend to Ayo?
Vicky’s stories….
Touching loves…
Changing people…
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