ALL FOR NOTHING…
Episode Thirteen.
For sometime I had to start avoiding Toyin and Timi. Timi was still very much angry at me and I could understand. As for Toyin I didn’t know how to face her after the night at the prom. She had over heard everything and the fact that she heard me tell Timi that I love her was disturbing me.
The time table for the final exams were already out but I knew I wasn’t prepared for the exams. My study rate has drastically reduced and the rate at which I could easily assimilate was dying too. I thought of Toyin more than any other person and even when I tried not to think about her she was still there.
Uncle Kayode just completed his second building and were planning to move down soon. He had decided to throw a house warming party and mama had asked me to accompany her there.
“Your uncle will be opening his new house on Sunday and I want you to go with me to the housewarming party.” Mama said.
I didn’t like the idea especially since they don’t consider us family.
“Mama must we go? These people don’t treat us like we are important yet, we attend every of their ceremony even if we are not officially invited. Mama I don’t think I will be going.” I replied.
“My son, there is no gain in being unforgiving. You see let me tell you something you don’t know. Your father sacrificed going to school for his younger brother Kayode to go. Your father was an intelligent man and he had so much love in his heart. Do you know that when he was sick, he asked your uncle for help but your uncle didn’t help me. Yet before he died he said something, hate can never be the remedy to restore broken relationship. The more love you give, the greater your chances of changing the attitude of that person who treats you badly. Your uncle Kayode used to be a very good man until he got married to Ife. I know deep down he is still good but someone is instigating his hate against us. We just need to give him enough love for him to know that love indeed conquers all.” Mama said.
“Love conquers all.” I thought to myself. I wasn’t actually interested in Mama’s story anymore. I decided to face Timi one more time and tell him how sorry I was. The few days in school hadn’t been thesame. We sat together yet were not talking to each other. Even Toyin was aware that I was avoiding her too and the last time she attempted to talk to me, I told her I had something very important to do at home. I was ready to face the two of them and put an end to my misery. The two people I have as my good friends are no longer speaking with me and I was really affected by it.
The following day in school, I went up to Toyin first. It was during the break period and she was all by herself in the classroom. The other students were on the field while some were in the cafeteria. I saw Timi with Seun and Bala and I was surprised. Since the incident at the prom, Timi had been awkwardly close to Seun and Bala. Bala was as notorious as his looks. He was a spoilt kid. There was a time he almost got expelled from Achievers high school for writing a very stupid love letter to a girl named Kemi in my class. Bala had written how much he desires to have sx with her and how he was ready to go any length just to have Kemi in his arms for one night. Kemi had to report to our form mistress but with his father’s influence and all that, he got away with it. Nobody ever heard anything about it again. Seeing Bala and Timi was making me worried already. I knew Bala was up to no good.
“Toyin how are you?” I greeted her. She was reading the popular Williams Shakespeare novel “Taming the shrew” and appeared to be carried away by it.
“Toyin” I called out again.
She dropped the book and I could tell she was smiling.
“Hmmm, you finally decide to talk to me. What’s happening to you Ayo? Why are you behaving so funny? The other day at the prom you were just a perfect gentle man but after that, it was back to how it was. What’s going on?” She asked.
“Nothing dear. I’m just stressed out.” I lied. I was happy she didn’t mention anything on what she had overheard that night and that got me really happy.
“You’ve seen the timetable right? So how are we doing it?Are you going solo?” She asked.
“I don’t know. What about you?” I asked.
“I really don’t know too. Dad is already getting our travel papers ready and all he has to wait for is the final exams. He even said we would have left before now if only he was able to transfer me to a high school abroad.”
“So when are you guys leaving?” I asked.
“I think a day after our last paper.” She replied.
“I’m going to miss you” I replied.
“Are you sure about that? I think you’ll replace me the very day I leave.”
“Of course not. I’ll really miss you.”
“Why would you miss me?” She asked and I could tell the conversation was heading somewhere. I almost regretted telling her that I will miss her. Now I have to answer every question she has for me.
“Because you are my friend.” I replied.
“Can I ask you something?” She said.
“Yes what is it?”
“The other night at the prom, you told Timi something about me. Is it true?”
At that moment I knew I was in for it. I could feel my heart beating fast.
“What did you hear me tell Timi?” I asked.
“You know what I’m talking about so stop pretending.” She said.
“I don’t know.” I replied.
“You can be really annoying at times you know? Don’t worry we’ll talk about it some other time.” She said after the bell sounded for the end of the break.
After classes that day, Timi was the first to come to me. He told me he was no longer angry and that he was okay now.
“I know these past few days haven’t been the best for us especially with this Toyin issue but I’m okay now. I can’t allow a girl to be the reason for our misunderstanding. Let’s forget about everything that happened and go back to the way things were. I miss my friend.”
I was surprised to hear that from Timi. I couldn’t believe that Timi was the one apologizing when infact I was the one who had really offended him. I accepted his apology instantly and it was a thing of joy for me to have my best friend back.
“I’ll be going to the movies tomorrow evening. I’ll like you to come. Just take permission from your mother. You can also invite Toyin to come too.” He said. I couldn’t believe my ears. The idea of going to see a movie sounded really nice and the fact that I could go with Toyin too sounded nicer.
Timi had to go ahead as Toyin and I still had an unfinished business.
“So tell me Mr Ayo, is it true what you told Timi?” She asked again.
“What did I tell Timi that you are asking if it is true?” I asked pretending not to know.
We were standing under the palm trees and it was a beautiful place for a r©mantic episode.
“Ayo, come on stop kidding. I’m serious here.” She said making faces at me.
“Alright just remind me what I said then I’ll know because I told Timi so many things that night.” I replied.
“When you told me that you love me is it true?” She finally asked.
I lost my pulses because I wasn’t expecting her to actually say it but she did and I had to give her an answer.
“Toyin dear, I don’t really know. We are still young and may not really understand this whole love stuff but the truth is I like you alot. I am different when I’m with you.” I said.
“When we were dancing at the prom did you feel anything?” She asked.
“Yes I did, I felt like I shouldn’t end it.” I replied.
“Did you feel like kssing me?” She asked making my heart to skip a thousand beats.
“Yes I did. I know I shouldn’t be thinking of all these now but I did.”
She became awfully quiet all of a sudden making me to think I’ve really said something I shouldn’t say.
“Ayo, I know we are young but I just can’t hide it. I know the future is still unpredictable and so blurry but at this moment, you are all I think of. I’ve never really felt this way before. I love you Ayo.” She said. I was surprised.
“When I overheard you tell Timi that you love me I was really happy because I saw that my feelings were being reciprocated.
Not intending to, I took her hand. The world seemed to be the most beautiful place at that moment and I just wished it would be so forever.
“Toyin, let’s enjoy our friendship for now. Let’s give ourselves time until we finally get the conviction that we need to prove that we are feeling right now is true and can stand the test of time. Let’s not rush things.” I said. She smiled and caressed my hands.
“Thank you” she replied.
I told her about the movie Timi was inviting me to to go and see with him and how he wants her to attend too.
“Wow! You are officially asking me out on a date now” she said smiling.
“If you say so. So are you coming?” I asked.
“Yes I will.” She replied.
We walked together until we came to the a place where she could find a taxi to take her home.
I was glad to have finally made peace with my friend Timi and to have been able to tell Toyin how I felt about her. Even if I know she would be living me soon, I was happy. I was determined to study harder with the little time left before the exams to claim my title. My desire to succeed came back to me and I was looking forward to applying for a scholarship abroad so I could follow Toyin. This time around, it was not about mama but about Toyin the girl whose presence in my life changed me completely….
Vicky’s stories….
Touching lives….
Changing people…..
All rights reserved: Ayodawha Ejaeta Victory.
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