conundrum (first part)

fight

"I had a fight with my friend, and I injured him and myself," Ola said, showing Bolu the bloody injury on his hand. "Okay, first let's sit down and calm down," Bolu said, trying to stop his pacing and restlessness. "What happened? And start from the beginning."

Ola's anger boiled over. "He pissed me off!! I don't like it when people piss me off! It gets to me. I don't make trouble, so why won't they understand to leave me the f**k alone!" Bolu was worried and a bit scared; she'd never seen Ola this aggressive and angry before. But she knew he needed to vent.

"He came to my room, started saying nonsense, and I told him to stop, but he didn't," Ola continued. "The other guys were there, but they didn't say anything. They should have stopped him." Bolu's eyes widened as she took in the scene. "I wanted to hit him with a stool, but he pushed it towards me, and a nail on it pierced my skin."

Bolu's gaze fell on the tear in Ola's arm, and she nodded understandingly. "Okay, that has happened. Will you calm down?" she asked gently. "You really didn't need to respond with violence. You should have just walked away." Ola rubbed his hand over his face, his eyes red from anger or tears, Bolu couldn't tell.

"Why would I walk away from my room for one i***t?" Ola's voice was laced with frustration. After a moment, Bolu asked, "Do you regret it?" Ola took his time responding, his voice barely above a whisper. "Yeah, I do. He shouldn't have angered me. I don't like feeling like a bad person. Now, who doesn't know the story would think I hate him or something."

Bolu listened attentively, unsure how to pacify Ola's venting or what to say to ease his frustration. She knew she couldn't fix the situation, but she could offer a listening ear. For about two hours, Ola vented, and Bolu listened, trying to stifle her yawns.

"You know what?" Bolu said finally, "the deed has happened. When you're calm tomorrow, apologize to him. Regret can't change what has happened." Ola's response was immediate. "Guys don't apologize to each other," he retorted, his tone firm. Bolu wasn't sure if she'd be able to change his mind, but she hoped he'd consider her words.