In the space of time - Episode 7

SEVEN

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6th July, 2006

Odinaka had been talking for a long time now. Odogwu just sat there, on his bed staring at the ceiling. He was thinking of the girl he saw last night, or this morning, the same person Odinaka had been talking about. He hoped Odinaka didn’t fancy her, because he was interested in her too. He didn’t want them to like the same girl . The last time that had happened, it had affected their friendship and Odogwu had been the one to let go. He cherished his friend too much and he really didn’t think the girl was worth them fighting for. He was proved right when Odinaka later caught the girl, coming down from an older man’s car. Apparently, she had been going in and out of campus with older men for a while. Odinaka was heartbroken however Odogwu was certain of these words when he said them to Odinaka, ‘’trust me, she really isn’t worth it’’. But this was different, Odogwu just found something peculiar about Ada. He had watched as she struggled to keep her eyes open for a while before finally giving in to the sweet hands of sleep, she had looked so beautiful, maybe that was why the thought of her lingered on his mind the whole morning, right?. He sighed

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. What was the use, he hadn’t even spoken well to her anyways. Now he may never get to see her again. He remembered how he suddenly didn’t know how to talk, how to strike a conversation. He had just introduced himself as Chuma, then asked for her name, the end!. He literally hit his head severally as he realized how much he had flopped. Talking to girls wasn’t a problem for Odogwu. For crying out loud that was why he was nicknamed Odogwu! He was known to be outspoken and fearless. What had happened? 
‘’Odogwu ehhhh’’, it was Odinaka. What was he saying? ‘’Ogini? (what?)’’ Odinaka just shook his head and pointed to Odogwu’s cell phone, lying on the bed there beside him. He looked at the caller ID, it was bodly written, Mama. Odogwu hurriedly picked up, ‘’Hello?’’, the voice on the other line wasn’t that of his mother though. It was Nonso. ‘’Uncle, good morning’’, she sounded really depressed. Odogwu did not the sound of her voice. ‘’Nonso, kedu? Onwe ihe mere nu?(Nonso, whats up? Did something happen?)’’. Odinaka, now turned to face him as his expression had changed. After ending the call, Odogwu threw the phone on the floor in anger. Odinaka got up. ‘’ke ihe obu?(what is it?). Odogwu didn’t reply. Honestly he was tired. He was trying so much on his part to be an elder brother, a father, a caterer, everything! but they weren’t helping on theirs. He hadn’t known Nonso to be this rebellious though. Why was she acting like this? Odinaka came to him and held his shoulder. Odogwu shrugged him off, and moved to the window. It was sunny, it was july and it was known to be the month that ushed in the rain, the beginning of raining season as many would say, from June to July actually. Last week, it had rained everyday nonstop but for the past three days, they had not seen a single raindrop. ‘’They want to kill my mother’’, Odogwu blurted out. ‘’Seriously? Who? Who wants to kill your mother Odogwu? How? When? Where? Why?’’, Odinaka kept throwing in these questions. Odinaka seemed concerned, he really cared. 
It was the women of the village, Odogwu didn’t get why they wouldn’t just leave the woman alone. I mean hasn’t she suffered enough? He often asked himself. They had started spreading rumors after Gift died that Odogwu’s mother was a witch, and that she had killed her husband and sacrificed her daughter, Gift to keep sustaining her family. Did that even make sense? What would his mother gain from killing her loved ones? Why did people have this kind of shallow minds? Thank God, they lived in a missionary compound. If not these jobless women would have followed her from far back as the market square to her husband’s house just to cause more havoc to her. ‘’My sister started a fight in the village, she was beaten up terribly and upon my mother finding out she fainted, that was my sister on the phone telling me My mum wasn’t feeling too well. She was resting’’. He said turning to face Odinaka. ‘’I don’t understand, why would your sister start that kind of fight that’ll lead her to be gang beaten? Is she okay? I think you should go to the police, this sounds serious’’. Odogwu didn’t expect Odinaka to understand. Odinaka was the the kind of child that was born with a silver spoon. He had had everything he wanted at his call, right from birth. They had been friends since secondary school, Odogwu had only attended that school because his father was a senior staff before he died and so the school decided to give all his children full scholarships as long as they behaved in ‘an appropriate manner’. If this hadn’t been the case, where would they have seen that kind of money to pay their fees?  ‘’No need for police, its fine, its my sister I’m just angry at, for putting Mama in that kind of condition’’. Even though Odogwu didn’t really blame Nonso, he understood why she fought. They were probably talking bad about his mother again. But he had told Nonso several tImes to be careful with them. Mercy wasn’t as hot tempered as Nonso. She was the quiet and calm type. She was currently in her second year, studying Nursing in UNEC(university of Nigeria, Enugu campus). Odogwu just hoped things were alright and his mum was really okay, like Nonso had said. 
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10th July, 2006.
Odogwu had just finished writing a test, CVE 511, structural analysis. It was a tough one. Odogwu had read so much for this particular test, he didn’t understand the lecturer, prof Nwabueze. The man spoke too fast, and just gave out many handouts. The course was a four unit compulsory, and Odogwu couldn’t take his chances on the course, he really couldn’t drop in his CGPA, not now in his last semester in school. Anything that would throw him back to a 2-1 should be fought. He decided to go chill at chitis, maybe take a drink relax while he waited for Odinaka who was also taking a test in his department. They were supposed to go back to the apartment together and instead of standing under the scorching sun or flocking around the faculty while people talked about the test that was already over, he decided to go to chitis which was just a few blocks away. He had entered when he saw her. It was Ada, he knew it was her even though her face was bent because she was reading a book, she had on the same weave she had that overnight Friday. Also, he could recall that face anywhere. Wow. He walked up to her without thinking for long. But when he got to the place she was seated, he paused. What was he going to say? She was about to look up but instead she flipped to the next page of her novel. It was now or never, Odogwu. ‘’Always reading I see’’, he said taking a sit. She looked up, he was a lot taller than her. I mean, she was tall for a girl but her height couldn’t be compared to that of Odogwu’s. ‘’Hi there!’’  she had hi’ed him. Good, she seemed excited, sort of, or maybe it was just Odogwu reading things into the situation.

Read " When two hearts collide " by the same author ( Ijeoma Okorie )

. ‘’Hi’’ he replied, wearing a little smile, if there was anything like that. ‘’Ada, is it?’’ He asked, acting like he wasn’t sure. He was 101% sure though. That name had rung in his ear for the last few days as he wondered if or when he was going to see her again.  ‘’Adaugo’’, she answered. ‘’and I’m not always reading, im just going through a novel while I wait for the second batch of snacks’’, she said in defense,  she seemed interesting. Odogwu chatted with her for a while before she decided to go. It seemed like she was mad at him. He didn’t get why she was mad though. He had done nothing wrong, at least to him, he didn’t think he had. What was wrong in complimenting a girl? She should have just accepted the compliment and said a simple ‘thank you’, why was she now forming vex?, he apologized anyway, even though he didn’t know why he was apologizing, he laughed because she was funny, was that wrong? he had previously had the intention of collecting phone number, but after what had happened he didn’t feel like it was a good move. Oh well, if it was their destiny to be together, they would meet again, he thought. 

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