..... Ok sorry.I'll give it to you. The following week, Val borrowed #2500 from me and promised to pay. Meanwhile, the #1500 was still not refunded. I complained about this but Val hushed me saying she had it in mind.
December came quickly and it was time for Kene to go back to school. The day he left was a very sad one for Val. She dragged me along to the bus park to bid him goodbye.I was grateful since his leaving meant we would go back to been best of friends and she could go back to her books. I was wrong. Val became more attached to Kene's absence more than she had been to his presence. She often used 'the pocket money' her parents gave her for offerings, airtime and transport to buy recharge cards which she forwarded to Kene. Many times, she begged me to be her partner as she framed one payment or the other from the lesson to extract cash from her parents, which she of-course sent to Kene. I was particularly angry that Kene throughout this time had never as much as bought her a pen. She was always the one buying, giving and sending things over to him. Kene on the other hand, received, thanked and continually reassured her of his love and faithfulness.
My 16 year old mind could see clearly that this was all wrong but the mind of my selfless, kind and trusting Val could neither see nor hear anyof these. One Saturday, I had had enough of this. "Val, what kind of relationship is this one that you're having with Kene sef? Why are you the only one always giving and doing things for him? How come he has never bought you anything? I blurted out angrily. "Teena, you have to understand. Kene is a student and students are usually broke". Val explained. "Abeg, thats not true", I replied angrily is he the only student we know? My brother is in the university too,shey you know? Emeka, Maryann and Tobi are all in the university. How come they've not sapped everyone dry..eh?.... "Eh! let it be. I think you're just being jealous. Bad belle! Is it because you don't have a boyfriend? Or is it because Kene is very handsome and you like him that you're throwing all these tantrums?", Val exclaimed.
I was hurt and dumbfounded. I kept my cool, nevertheless. "Wow! Me jealous? of what exactly? I asked. Boyfriends are everywhere o. I f I wanted one, I'd have just said yes to one of those boys loitering around me":. ..."Eh let it be". Val said again. say yes to them if you like. None of them is my Kene. Just mind your business and stop doing aproko ontop another person's matter"... Sorry oo. I said and walked away.
Even though I was hurt and angry, I decided not to give up on our friendship. I still kept coming over to Val's house for visits, I called her for lessons and even slept over on some days at her house. Val on the other hand, stopped doing any of these with and for me. Infact she stopped attending JAMB lessons. When I asked her why, she said Kene told her it was of no use and promised to come back a month to exam to coach her properly.My pleas with her to continue attending until a month to the exam which was only three months away by this time fell on deaf ears.She reassured me she was preparing seriously at home and that she would surprise me in the exams. Although I knew Val was a very smart girl since she used to always beat me to second place back in primary and secondary school, except on few occasions when I snatched the first position from her,I didn't trust her promised surprise. To be continued..
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