ALL FOR NOTHING…

episode twenty three…

“Hello Ayo, how have you been?” She asked.
“I’m fine and you?” I asked.
“I’m doing great. I am at Utti right now and I wanted to know if you are still around. I just came in.” She said.
“No I’m not, I’m in Republic town. What made you come back? I thought you guys relocated permanently?” I asked.
“Let’s leave that, will it be possible for us to meet tomorrow? There is something I really want us to talk about.” She said.

“I’m sorry but I’ll be leaving very early tomorrow morning. At most by 8am I should be leaving the house.” I replied.

“When will you be coming back so I can come over to where ever it is you stay in Republic town.” She said.

“I’m sorry but I’ll not be coming back anytime soon. Can’t we talk about it over the phone?” She asked.

“If we could talk about it over the phone I wouldn’t have bothered flying all the back home. It’s very important I get to see you.” She said.

“Alright but that’s if you can make it before 8am.”

“Where exactly are you going to that you won’t be returning anytime soon?” She asked.

“That isn’t really necessary. Just try and make it before 8am.” I said.
I described my place for her and she promised to come see me.

The following morning, as I was preparing for my flight, she came in with her driver. She had not changed a bit and was still the very beautiful Toyin Belle she was. However, those feelings of old were no longer there.

“Where exactly are you going to? I could ask my driver to drive you there so we could talk properly.” She offered which I declined.
While I was still with her, Lola came in.
“Don’t tell me you are still preparing. You’d better hurry up so you don’t miss your flight.” She said not knowing I have been trying to make sure Toyin doesn’t know of it.

“Flight? Ayo, you are not telling me something. Is this about what happened about two years ago? That’s actually the reason I came but I can see you are in a hurry.” She said.

“It’s not like that, it’s just that I’m really surprised to see you again. You told me you’ll never wish to set your eyes on me again. You told me I was the biggest mistake you ever made. And all of a sudden you show up. How do you expect me to act?”

“If you don’t mind, we can have your flight rescheduled but we really need to talk.” She said.

“What is it you want to talk about that we have to say now? I’m happy with the way my life is now and I don’t want anymore painful memories coming back.” I replied.

“You think I just decided to come back home? I came back because of you Ayo. I’m really sorry.” She said becoming remorseful.

“Sorry for what? You haven’t said anything wrong since you came in so what is the purpose of apologizing.

Lola wanted to leave but I asked her to stay behind. She already knew who Toyin was as the girl I was accused if raping but Toyin had no idea who she is.

“About what happened at Achievers high school, Timi called me up and told me the truth.” She said.

“What truth?” I asked.
“It wasn’t you who defiled me. It was Timi.” She said.
At the mention of the name Timi, my countenance fell. So I was right all along that Timi had something to do with it.
“He told me how sorry he was for doing that to me. He told me he loved me right from the very first day I joined the class but he was willing to let go when he saw that I was closer to you than him. He confessed how bad you made him feel when you went behind him to become my date for the prom after telling him I could be his only for that day. He said it wasn’t really his intention to defile me and that it was just to humiliate you by having you drunk and then posting the pictures on our school group. It was after you refused to take the alcohol that he remembered he had a sleeping pill in his wallet which he dropped in the bottle of soft drinks he later ordered. When we both fell asleep, he still didn’t intend to do that but Sola suggested that to him.
“Why will Sola suggest something like that to him?” I asked.
“Sola has a crush on you then. She felt threatened by me and she saw it as the only way to get at me for taking your attention away from every other girl in the class.”

“But I don’t like Sola. She’s too proud and I never imagined she could like someone like me.” I said.
“Even I was surprised to hear that too. The initial plan was for them to have us to themselves which they did.”

“Which they did? I don’t understand.” I said.

“You see, you actually slept with a girl that night but not me. It was Sola.
“Wait, I am lost here. You mean I slept with Sola?”

“Yes Ayo you did. Or should I say she raped you. That Sola is really something else. You know when the two of them were done, they brought us together and made it appear that it was you who m©lested me.”

“And you believed them right away.”

“Will you listen to the first please? Believe me I didn’t want to believe that it was you but you appeared like someone who just really finished having sx. You smelled like one and it was just the two of us there. What were you expecting me to think? I felt bad. You promised me that you’ll not rush things and that you’d wait till we achieve all our dreams but the next thing I saw was that I was in a bed with you and you were naked. I have been deflowered and you were looking like someone who just finished having fun.”

“Even when I apologised and tried to tell you that I was innocent you still doubted me. You couldn’t even trust me and know for yourself the things I was really capable of doing. How can you ever imagine that I’ll take advantage of you?”

“That’s also the reason I’ve come here. I defamed you and because of me you were exempted from taking the scholarship exams you wanted to take. I know I can’t undo what has been done but I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me. I’m really sorry I doubted you.”

“Ayo, I think it’s time for you to get ready. Mr Omotayo is on his way to take you to the airport already.” Lola said. She had been quiet all along.
“Thanks dear. Lola meet Toyin the girl I told you about and Toyin this is Lola my very good friend.” I said introducing them to one another.

“I hold no grudge against you my dear. Everything happened because God wanted me to learn and Timi was just helping me unknowingly. I was probably too proud back then and with what happened I learnt humility. Thank you so much for coming back to tell me the truth. Now I can walk freely knowing that you no longer see me as the one who took advantage of you.

Mr Omotayo came in and was surprised to see that I was still not ready.

“Ayo, you are still like this? My car broke down this morning and the car mechanic I called is yet to come. You’ll have to use a public transport.” He said.

“You don’t have to worry about that sir. I’ll ask my driver to take him there.” Toyin offered.

“Oh really? Thanks alot my dear. Please what’s the name?”
“It’s Toyin sir. I am an old friend.”

I got ready and joined them in the car. Lola was not comfortable with Toyin’s presence and I couldn’t tell why. She wanted to leave but I asked her to come with me to the airport. She refused and told me she had something to do at home. I tried talking to her to come with us but she refused. Knowing that there was no time left, I joined Toyin and her driver and while on the way, I told her how I had got the scholarship.

“How long have you known that Lola?” Toyin asked.

“Well, she’s the only friend I have here in Republic town. Why do you ask?”

“Nothing. I can see you two are very close. Anyway I’m happy for you that you are on your way to achieving your dreams too. Success!” She said extending a handshake which I took.

“So how is Timi?” I asked.
“Hmmm, he told me he lost his father and might not be able to continue schooling there. He said he’ll be returning soon and would be coming to apologise for what he did to you. I know he’ll be very happy to know that you got a scholarship to study abroad.” She said.

“I’m really sorry about that. Do you have his current phone number? I’d love to talk to him.”

Toyin noticed I was still using the phone she had gifted me back then at Utti.
“I thought you would have thrown it away by now.” She said smiling.

“Why would I do that? It’s a gift and it was meant to be appreciated.” I said.

We finally arrived at the airport early enough to catch up with the flight. I was checked in and as I went ahead to board the plane, I felt happy. I was beginning to make peace with all the people who had offended me.

I took my phone and sent a text to Lola telling her I was about leaving already.

“Have a safe flight my dear. I’m sorry I didn’t go with you to the airport. It would be awkward returning without you and then in a stranger’s car too. Hope you understand? Call me when you get there.” She replied.

I smiled even if I didn’t know why. I was really going to miss Lola because she had been a very good friend to me but with Toyin back, I didn’t know what will happen next. But first things first, I will have to take my studies seriously. The goal was still thesame and that was to give mama a good life. Every other thing was secondary…

Hope you enjoyed this episode?

Please pardon all grammatical and typographical errors..

Vicky’s stories…
Touching lives….
Changing people….

All rights reserved: Ayodawha Ejaeta Victory.

Click 4 below to continue reading