Childhood lovers

Chapter Seven: The Confrontation

Friday break time. St. Michael's College was noisy. Students were buying groundnut, playing football, shouting.

But in front of the staff room corridor, where teachers could see and hear, three people were standing together for the first time in one week: Liya, Desmond, and Amara.

And coming towards them was Chidi, with Daniel behind him, laughing and holding his phone.

Amara saw him first.

"Chidi, stop there. We need to talk," Amara shouted. Her voice was loud, so that Mrs. Okoro's office, which was close, could hear if anything happened.

Chidi stopped, surprised. He saw Liya and Desmond standing together. He smiled wickedly.

"Ah, love birds have reunited? Desmond, I thought I told you to stay away from this girl? You no dey hear word?"

Desmond was shaking, but Amara held his hand from behind to give him strength.

"We know what you did," Liya said, her voice small but clear. "You took our picture without permission. You threatened Desmond."

Chidi laughed. "Picture? What picture? I don't know what you are talking about. You are just a small girl, Liya. Don't accuse your senior."

Daniel looked down, scared. He didn't want to be part of this anymore.

"Don't lie," Amara said, stepping forward. "Daniel already told us everything. You took picture under mango tree. You sent it to Daniel. You told Desmond if he doesn't leave Liya, you will show it to her mother and to Mrs. Okoro. You are a blackmailer."

Chidi's smile disappeared. He looked at Daniel with angry eyes.

"Daniel! You told them? You be bastard!"

Daniel stepped back. "Guy, I no like this thing wey you dey do. It's wickedness. The girl did nothing to you."

Chidi turned back to Liya, his face now serious and mean.

"So what if I took picture? What will you do? If I show this picture to Mrs. Okoro, both of you will be suspended. If I show it to your mother, Liya, your mother will beat you and carry you to village school. Do you want that?"

Liya started crying. Desmond held her shoulder.

"Chidi, please. Delete the picture. I will do anything. I will not talk to Liya again if you want. Just delete it," Desmond said, desperate.

Amara pushed Desmond back. "Don't beg him! Chidi, we also have something against you. If you don't delete that picture now, in front of us, we will go to Mrs. Okoro and tell her that you smoke igbo and cigarettes behind the lab every afternoon. And we have evidence. Daniel will testify."

Daniel's eyes went wide. "Amara, no -"

"Will you testify, Daniel?" Amara stared at him. "Or are you also a blackmailer?"

Daniel was sweating. He looked at Chidi, then at Amara and Liya who were crying.

"Yes... yes I will testify. Chidi smokes behind lab. Many boys know. And he takes pictures of girls without permission."

Chidi was shocked. His own friend, betraying him.

"You? Daniel? You will testify against me? After all I did for you?"

"You are doing bad thing, Chidi. Liya is a good girl. Leave her alone," Daniel said quietly.

Chidi looked around. Teachers were starting to look at them because they were shouting near staff room. He knew if Amara shouted "smoking" loud, Mrs. Okoro would come out. And Mrs. Okoro hated smoking more than love matter. Last year, she expelled two boys for smoking. Chidi knew he would be expelled if caught.

He thought fast. He needed to save himself.

"Okay, okay, calm down. No need to shout. No need to call Mrs. Okoro. I will delete it. Is it picture that is causing all this noise? I will delete it now."

He brought out his phone. He opened his gallery. He showed them the picture - Liya and Desmond under mango tree, looking happy and innocent.

Liya saw it and cried more. "You wicked person. Why would you take that? We were just talking."

Chidi pressed delete. He pressed "Delete from gallery" and "Delete from trash" to permanently delete it.

"See, I have deleted. It's gone."

"Daniel own," Amara said sharply.

Chidi looked at Daniel. "Daniel, delete your own."

Daniel quickly brought out his phone and deleted the picture from his w******p and gallery.

"Show us," Amara said. She checked both phones. No picture.

"And your group? You sent it to other boys?" Liya asked, remembering what Daniel said yesterday.

Chidi shook his head. "I only sent to Daniel. I swear. No other person."

Amara looked at him with disgust. "If we ever see that picture anywhere again - on any phone, on any status, on any group - we will go straight to Mrs. Okoro with Daniel as witness, and you will be expelled. Do you understand?"

Chidi nodded, his head down. For the first time, he looked ashamed. "I understand. I'm sorry."

He walked away quickly, Daniel following him, both looking like beaten dogs.

As soon as they left, Liya burst into tears, but this time, it was relief.

Desmond turned to her.

"Liya, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. He said he would show your mother. He said Mrs. Okoro would suspend you. I didn't want you to suffer because of me. I thought if I stayed away, he would delete it. I was trying to protect you. I'm foolish. I'm sorry."

Liya looked at him, tears in her eyes, but smiling.

"You are foolish, Desmond. Very foolish. But you are my foolish."

She hugged him, right there in front of staff room corridor. Many students saw, but she didn't care anymore.

Amara shouted, "Hey! Hey! This is school! No hugging in front of staff room! Mrs. Okoro will see you!"

They all laughed, even through tears.

Amara added, "But tonight, under mango tree? You people should meet. You have many things to talk about. And I will be there to guard, so no Chidi will take picture again!"

Desmond and Liya laughed.

That evening, under the mango tree, three people sat - Liya, Desmond, and Amara as guard. The carving L + D 2026 was still there, deeper than ever, and now safe

Amara shouted, "Hey! Hey! This is school! No hugging in front of staff room! Mrs. Okoro will see you!"

They all laughed, even through tears.

Amara added, "But tonight, under mango tree? You people should meet. You have many things to talk about. And I will be there to guard, so no Chidi will take picture again!"

Desmond and Liya laughed.

That evening, under the mango tree, three people sat - Liya, Desmond, and Amara as guard. The carving L + D 2026 was still there, deeper than ever, and now safe