Part Fifty-seven

Honestly, I didn't want to give this title to this chapter but I rarely had another choice.

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Deborah's POV

‘So what was Nnenna's score, do you know?’ I said, in a phone conversation with Johnson Anyanwu.

‘No, I don't know. You know how that girl dey be nau, or this one you're asking is she not your friend anymore?’ he retorted.

‘Mtcheeww!’ I hissed loud enough. ‘if you don't know just say, no need to come and be doing oversabi.’

‘Okay oo Madam, I don't know.’ he admitted.
I don't know what pushed me to ask Johnson about Nnenna's JAMB score, when I suspected that he also might not have an idea. Nnenna was secretive to that point.

‘Okay, no problem. Take care and see you at the graduation party!’

‘Yeah, it's going to be a shutdown. See you there.’ he disconnected the call.

I laid back down on my bed, flat on my stomach and reminisced back to the days I used to wear the school's juniors' uniform, and worried about how difficult writing WAEC and NECO examinations would be. Back then, I got the opportunity to see some past questions and to be honest, they terrified me. But as I got closer to that stage, I realized that it wasn't as almighty as students sounded. Now, I was past that stage of my life and set to begin another.

Two days ago I checked my JAMB result. 203 was the total score of the four subjects I registered to write. It was good enough to gain me admission into the university, but I wanted to go to a polytechnic college. I applied for both Computer science and Mass communication in the same college, either one I was given, would help pave a way to my dream to work in a media/newsroom.

When I was a kid, it was my dream to become a writer when I was older. Now that I've reached that level of my life, I've become more realistic to know that most dreams are not empowered to become reality in a country such as Nigeria. It seemed things were always turning for the worst in this country. It doesn't mean I can't continue writing, the solution though was to have writing as a side job, whilst I have another occupation which paid well.

With my eyes closed tight and thoughts so far away, I hated it when someone disturbed or distracted me during such moment. Which was exactly what my mom did right now.

“Deborah!!” she called my name for the second time.

“Yes ma!” I said, loud enough for her to hear because if she called the third time without getting a reply from me, it would be the end of my matter today.

African mothers and their palava, they can't let someone drink water and keep cup. Especially if that someone was their first daughter.

I quickly exited for the living room, where I heard the sound of her voice.

“Maami, you called me?”

“Come and take this money,” she pushed her prim eyeglasses up and down the bridge of her nose. “Go and buy your graduation outfits, since you said you wanted to buy them with your friends.”

I scanned the room slowly until my eyes fell on the notes of money on the table mom was reading on. Stunned for words, I just stared at her without moving. This could be a prank on me, cause mother has never let me go shopping for myself, on my own. Whenever dad gave her the money, she always instructed that I got dressed without letting me know what I was dressed for.

When Chidinma, Somto, Wunmi and Peace, decided to shop for their outfits on their own, I liked the idea and desired to join them. Knowing my mother, that was just a wishful thinking. Well, I decided to try my luck by telling her about it anyway. I was surprised to hear she approved of my request.

I gathered the notes and counted them.

“Ten thousand naira,” I said to her hearing.

“That's how much your father and I could afford. Use it wisely.” she said without looking up at me.

“Thank you Ma, I truly appreciate your sacrifices.”

“Then don't do anything that says otherwise. I'm letting you do this on your own because I want to give you the benefit of the doubt, don't go and spend the money extravagantly for a short-term use.” she instructed.

Meanwhile, I understood the true meaning of the pun she used. I wasn't to use the money on unnecessary and frivolous spending. I should make the right choice and not be ruled by peer influence. That was exactly what I intended to do.

After I went into my room with the money, I immediately called Chidinma and informed her that I was joining them as well. It was just like those foreign teen movies I'd always watched—where the girls go out and do things together, including out of town trips or camping trips. I was elated to finally be let free, free to breathe and make decisions without being under the obvious watch of my parents.

After I tucked two thousand naira away in my savings box, I freshened up and pulled my hair back with a pink bandana. After I must have bought the clothes, the next plan was to have my hair done. A simple style would do.

I left the house with as much enthusiasm as when I got the money. Thankfully, mom could do nothing to delay me. I was done with my house chores for the day.
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I was already at Smark mini mall for close to one hour before I saw the others.

“Hi babes,”

“Dimuno! You're already shining and it's not graduation day yet.” Wunmi exaggerated exactly as she's always been known to.

“You'll not leave her na, you've started .” Dinma cautioned.

“See madam, I did not call you in this matter oo!” Wunmi retorted.

“Girls! Girls! Please... there's no time. Remember I still have to make my hair.” Somto said.

“Yes that's true.”

The five of us agreed to start with the fashion section of the mall, before anything else.
I was engrossed in making a choice between the two gowns in my hands—one that's completely off-shouders with a mermaid tail and bright stones, and the other one was a turtle neck and had a silt that ran down from the right thigh. Price for each gown were same, since I planned on using the stiletto mom got me for Christmas, I was going to have enough to also make a simple hairstyle.

“Hi babes!” I heard a voice I recognized as Bella's, but I needed to be certain.

“Hi Bells,” Somto and Dinma replied simultaneously.
The girls including me, walked forward and embraced Bella, but Daphne was obviously ignored. Wunmi bothered to offer a small smile which Daphne barely returned. Judging from her expression, she seemed not to care.

I felt bad, so did Bella but Daphne brought this upon herself anyway.

“Are you girls here to buy your outfits too?” Bella said to Dinma.

“Yes, we decided to come together.”

“Okay, Daphne and I just finished paying for ours, we were on our way to the saloon and spa section when we bumped into you girls” she informed.

“I think I should start going ahead of you, it's obvious my presence is not welcomed.” Daphne began. She rubbed the bridge of her nose before she started walking past us.

“Hmph!” Dinma scoffed as Daphne made her move.

“Daphne stop, come here please,” Bella pleaded.

The rest of us just watched the drama and kept mum at whatever might happen next. With Daphne, Dinma and Bella, there was always a new episode to expect.

Daphne rolled her eyes but went to stand besides Bella.
Bella continued nonetheless.

“Listen I know there's something that happened between you all that's why you don't get along, whatever it was, I don't know and don't care to know,”

“I'm not among them oo," Peace remarked suddenly.

“Then it's who and who?” Somto barked at her.

“Stop! Everyone please. Like I said, I don't want to know what it was that happened, but I believe that bad feeling towards each other should have expired by now...” she turned to look at Daphne—who kept her gaze on the people lined up before the  counter.

“Did you kill anyone they knew?” she referred the question to Daphne.

“What? Are you well? How come you think I could do something like that?”

“Good,” she turned to face us. “Dinma, Somto, Peace, Wunmi and Debby, did you girls kill anyone she knew?”

“God forbid!” Peace said.

Bella gave Dinma( who had a scowl on her face), a pointed look before Dinma mumbled a ‘no’.

“Well? What sin could be so grave that it's unforgivable?”

She got no reply from any of us.

“Listen, whatever terrible thing anyone must have done to anyone, I think it's high time we all moved past it. We have less than a week to spend time with one another, after our graduation we're definitely going to split ways. You never know who would come across again, where and how life would treat that person. Please... let bygones be bygones. Whatever Daphne did, it's definitely way years back and I'm certain we're all very mature to forgive her and move on. Remember when you forgive someone, you do so majorly for your own peace of mind not only to please that person.” Bella stated as she stared eagerly at all of us, perhaps expecting someone to make the first move.

As I pondered on her words, I saw sense in what she said. Tomorrow was definitely the most uncertain, unpredictable and probably unforeseen part of the human life. I didn't want to stall and wait for others to make the first move. I was done being a coward. So I walked up to the middle of the circle we created and made up with Daphne.

“I don't remember if we've wronged each other, but I don't want to remember. I forgive you if you've hurt me and I'm sorry if I've hurt you.” I uttered the words as the boldness encompassed me about.

“I'm sorry too. I was definitely a thorn in the flesh and I knew I treated most people like I was their creator and regarded them as little or nothing, for all that and more... I'm sorry,” Daphne apologized as well.

“I forgive you too, and I'm sorry for saying so many bad things about you.” Dinma added.

Daphne chuckled softly, “I don't think I want to know what those things were you said about me and yes, I forgive you.”

Everyone laughed at that, before Bella called for a group hug.

“Okay, so now we want to go make our hair...”

“Wait for me, lemme just pay for this clothe and I'll go with you,” Somto cut into Bella's sentence before she gathered the gown in one hand and scurried towards the counter to pay.
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On my way home, I saw Hadith discharging unclean water into the gutter outside the compound she lived in. She was putting on a flower-print loose gown and purple hijab over her head. She was just stunningly beautiful and I admired her a lot.

She locked gazes with me as she turned to go back into the compound.

“Hey mama!” she hailed.

“You're not looking bad D,” I remarked when I saw the glow in her face.

“Oh! Thank you, mom and I made our hair yesterday.”

“Okay. I just made mine today shaa,”

“I can see that, and it's beautiful...” she was about to say something else when Hassan's voice cut in.

“Dith! What's keeping you out there? Mother has been...” it was at this point that he saw me and became speechless.

I remembered what happened earlier at the mall. The strongest person makes the first move in such situations. There was no point bearing grudges against anyone since we weren't going to be spending much time together anyway.

“Hi Hassan,” I smiled at him and I could swear from the look on his face that he was surprised.

“Hi, uh how far?” he said.

“I'm good, I was on my way home.”

“Alright babe, see you on Thursday then. Bye!” Hadith waved before disappearing inside the compound, leaving just me and her brother.

“Umm... okay, I think I should be on my way too,” I made to walk away but he stopped me.

“See ehh, about that thing you said that day...” he started.

“Just forget it. I'm not really angry about that anymore,”

“No, I still feel that I wronged you but to be honest, I don't really remember what happened. I know I was dead drunk that evening but I can't recall if I had an unpleasant encounter with anyone.”

He was drunk; that was the reason he couldn't recall what happened and why he was acting weird that day.

I wasn't comfortable staying around Cynthia and Dubem at the party anymore. Since the time they saw me at the party, they've been criticizing me for applying make-up on my face.

It was the graduation ceremony for 2016/17 set. I just finished writing junior BCE and was staying at home for the short holiday period. My cousin sister that had come to stay with us, was playing around with make-up kit, claiming that she was improving her knowledge in the skill.

She pleaded with me to allow her put some powder and other things on my face, to make me look presentable and chic for the ceremony, whilst she used to opportunity to put her knowledge to practise.
I obliged and she totally changed my facial look.

I was excited to show off the new look at the party, thinking that my friends would be happy for me, how wrong was I? They were filled with bitterness and jealousy instead. They said a lot of mean things, though they weren't very open about it their words insinuated how very lowly they thought of me.

I felt downcast and depressed after I heard their opinion of my appearance. As soon as I got the chance to get away from them, I quickly made my way to the convenience room. I saw Hassan standing by the center mirror and relaxed his weight against the wall. I was going to walk past him, but I saw him stumble and almost lost his grip on the washing stand, immediately, I rushed to his side and tried to help him balance on his feet.

“Hey... you...you look beautiful,” he slurred.

“Hassan, we have to get you out of here. Where's your friend David? Or your sister?” I inquired, but my questions must have fallen on deaf ears because he offered me no replies.

His weight was really pulling me back as he wasn't in coordination of his actions any longer. It was hard to walk him out of the convenience but I couldn't leave him on his own either, he could get into trouble if someone else saw him like that.

After I managed to get him out of the toilet environment, we sat down on one of the sitting structures built at various points in the school compound. I was waiting to see David or Hadith by chance, so they'd take care of him, I wasn't expecting what Hassan did next.

He suddenly kissed me on the lips, completely shocking the life out of me. I tried to wrap my mind around the situation, but my brain couldn't function anymore from that moment.

“Wait, you're that girl?” he said, pointing his forefinger accusingly at me.

I nodded in affirmation.

He gasped, “My goodness, I didn't realize...you...”

“Yes, I had make-up on on that day. I didn't realize you were drunk either, I thought you just decided to ignore me afterwards seeing as you got what wanted.”

“What...no! I had not the slightest idea that you were the same person, believe me when I say that I felt really guilty after I remembered what happened. I planned to apologize to that girl the very first day school resumed, but unfortunately, I couldn't place her face to anyone I knew.”

“I couldn't confront you about it when we resumed for SS1, because I thought you knew and deliberately chose to ignore the truth.”

“I would never do that, I'm sorry.”

I agreed with him. He was like the most sensible boy in our set and it wasn't like I regretted the kiss, I realized instead that I was mad at him because he didn't acknowledge it after it happened.

“It's okay, it's in the past after all and we shouldn't dwell on the past, right?”

He nodded in agreement before he started scratching the back of his head, looking very nervous.

“Right. Anyways, I'll see you on Thursday in school then?”

“Yes, sure I'll be there.” I informed him before moving away to walk out.

“Good bye,”

“Yeah, good bye.”

As I made my way to my house, I realized there was this peace and serenity that filled my heart. Bella was right —when you forgive someone, you do so majorly for yourself and your peace of mind, other reasons were secondary. I'm glad I had closure with a lot of people on some things before it became late to fix them.

A stitch in time saves nine.

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Truly, a stitch in time saves nine.
Are you holding a secret or dark truth from someone? Confront that person about it today, if you can and get it off your chest. Believe me, there's a peace that emanates from knowing you were the bigger person.

How do you like this chapter?

Please comment, vote and share with your friends too.

AND SOOOOO . HERE'S THE TITLE FOR THE NEXT SERIES ↓

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''A RISKY GAME '' (David, Nnenna and Daphne's story)

'' THRESHOLD OF AGONY '' (Timmi's story) (On Okadabooks)

“HIJAB OR SCARF ” (Hassan and Deborah's story) (Yet to be published)

And others,,,😀😀😀.

Stay safe and be happy.