Outcast - Episode 12

 

After my primary four last term examinations, I cleared my examinations flawlessly and was the thing on everybody's mouth. Community primary school students Ukpor were proud of me. Our headmistress brought me out during our last term closing celebration and said that I set the record high in the history of the school. No year has anyone scored everything totalled over hundred in the history of the school . I did It. Mama did it, I muttered away in my mind. If not for Mama's daily motivation, I wouldn't have come through. Mama was proud of me.

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The next two years, I was in Primary Six and was made the male senior prefect. Adaku was made the female senior prefect even though she always come a distant third. Ebuka, normally come second. He was never a competition for me. Before I was given a double promotion and caught up with them, Adaku had been first position always while Ebuka comes second closely. When he started getting close to me, he told me that I motivated him and he never knew he was better academically than Adaku. Adaku was one of the gang member of Adaeze's hating clique. Her hate for me multiplied. Apart from the spurring Adaeze gives her due to our fall out, she still have a bad blood for me.

I was just that eleven year old boy. My sister Nwakaego had started schooling

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. She started early, unlike me, and she was in primary one already. Ifenyinwa never forsook me. She was in primary five. She wasn't top in her class, but always maintained third and fourth positions. During break time, I was seating on the root of the mango tree reading a novel. The root was big and branched long into different ways. It was the "The gods are not to be blamed" by Ola Rotimi, that I had on my hand. I was glued until I heard my name. I looked up and it was Ifenyinwa.

She came and sat down with me. She had a smile on her face. She was one of the few girls that relocated from the city to the village. She spoke English fluently. She still stuck with me even after I thought she would leave because of what Adaeze told her.

"Hi, Obiefuna. You have been avoiding me these days. I hope all is well", she said.

"All is well", I replied. I wanted to tell her that I was avoiding her because I thought Adaeze's blackmail, encapsulated her, but I couldn't.

"I have a good news for you", she said. I let out a huge smile.

"I love how you smile often but I'd love if you talk more often", Ifenyinwa said.

"How old did you say you are again?", I asked.

"Why did you ask? I'm ten", she said and laughed so hard.

"You act more than your age, I like it", I replied. She thanked me. She started telling me how she spends her holiday in Awka with her senior brother and junior sister. She loved her grandmother so much, that's why she came to stay with her alongside her aunt. I was smiling sheepishly.

"Any ways, the good news is that I told my mum about you and asked if I should write common entrance and enter J.S1. I just want to be with you always. And she agreed", she said so happily. I was happy, but I don't know whether Mama have enough money to send me to secondary school. After we were done discussing, the bell was rung by the time keeper and we entered our various classes.

After school, Ifenyinwa invited me to her house. She said that her aunt wants to see me. I told her that I need to take Nwakaego home. Nwakaego was the opposite of me. She talked too much and insulted anyone that came her way. She was small, but talked more than her age. Mama Nnukwu always said she has a mouth diarrhea.

Read " Resuscitated Hope " by the same author ( Obinna Tony )

. Adaeze and her friends were obviously at our back eavesdropping. They immediately overtook us. She was with Adaku and Nneoma, another classmate. She hissed and snapped her finger while twisting her waist.

"See how she is doing like mgbeke", Nwakaego shouted and laughed. I shushed her.

"Who said that?", they all turned back. Nwakaego hissed and rolled her eyes. Adaeze came close and twisted her mouth. Nwakaego pushed back her hands and Ifenyinwa rebuked Adaeze not to try it again.

"If I try it again, what will you do?", Adaeze said and used her body to push Ifenyinwa back. I quickly pushed her with full force and Adaeze fell on the floor. She immediately stood and made to slap me, I twisted her hands and she fell again. A young man passing by, came to her rescue and she started raining abusing words.