WHAT THEY TOOK FROM ME

AVOIDING

“Be good to strangers and especially neighbors because there will be reward for whatever you sow and also you don’t know where you can come in contact in the future.”

After the meeting with Mike, Tiwa started to avoid Mike, if she is going somewhere and she is almost there the moment she sees Mike approaching she would turn back to take a long walk back to where she is going to. She felt that she cannot be rude to Mike because he would use that to revenge but she was wrong about him. She could not see the fact that Mike was a good guy she does not fancy been around him. Then one fateful day, someone mistakenly stepped on her.

“There are some sorts of blind fellows in this school am sure this must be where Mike got blind.” She was shocked the moment she finds out that the person that initially stepped on her was Mike.

“I am sorry, I did not know that you were the one who stepped on me and I didn’t mean what I said.” Mike was irritated by her unnecessary pleading.

“It’s nothing it is normal for people to react this way but, I hope you learn some good manners ehn.” Mike said to her.

“Pardon!!” Pretending not to hear what Mike said.

“I said when we meet some other time I hope it won’t be rough like this.”

“I hope so too ooo”

“Good bye”

“Good day.”

They parted ways but it seems to Tiwa that Mike was intentionally getting on her nerves so the hatred in her grew more and more, stronger and stronger after the way they came in contact that day. Meanwhile Mike was beginning to fall for Tiwa. He also began to avoid her not because of her attitude but he felt that it was a quintessential way of keeping away from her as far as possible to see if that would decrease the love he has for her.

But fate didn’t want it that way, so they keep on seeing each other day by day and the love Mike have for her waxed stronger and stronger every day that he began to fail socially. He is always alone and barely talks to people, he tried his best to take it off his mind but his best was not enough. His friend Ayo who was quintessential in noticing when someone is faced with challenges felt concern as a good friend especially his best friend. He walked up to Mike to ask him what the problem was.

“Hey bro”

“Wassup Ayo”

“I am fine but I don’t know about you ooo.”

“I am fine ooo my brother.”

“Not with the look on your face.”

“I don’t understand.”

“What’s your problem.”

“Which problem.”

“Don’t you ever try to hide anything from me am your best friend and perhaps you don’t know, it is written all over you that something is bothering you.”

“Sorry o please don’t be offended by my question but where you the one that took pen or marker or whatever and wrote it all over me that I have a problem.” Mike was not good at sharing problems kept it to himself.

“They say, problem shared is half solved.” Ayo advised.

“What can you solve or when did you become a problem solver in fact you don’t know how to solve simple word problem in mathematics and you want to solve reality problem, am sorry I can’t share to people who will just add salt to my pain okay.” Mike fired at him rudely and harshly. It made Ayo very sad and heart broken.

“Even if I am to be insulted I never expected it from you. Am sorry next time I will face my studies and solve word problems on mathematics other than solving reality problems which is beyond my power.”

With a saddened heart Ayo left that place. Mike felt horrible after he uttered those words to Ayo. He promised to beg him and make sure his best friend comes back to him and probably share his story with him because on a normal note Ayo is good at finding solution to problems.

After that day’s insults Ayo decided to start avoiding Mike and solving reality’s problem, he was done with it. He faced his studies and is determined to know and pass word problems on mathematics and he is finding that to be real fun though at the beginning tough his determination brought out the best of him. Mike noticed that on most occasions if he talks to Ayo he ignores him and sometimes avoid coming in contact with him. He decided to put an end to that, that very day.

“Ay.” He called him using the short form of his name.

“Wassup Mike.”

“Praise God ooo, he talked to me at last.”

“What am busy ooo.”

“Okay I won’t take much of your time, what is wrong with you.”

“Nothing.”

“Problem shared is half solved.”

“Not anymore and like I said nothing is wrong ooo, I just decided to mind my own business.”

“Am sorry for the way I talked to you that day I did not mean it alright I was just frustrated that day.”

“You don’t have to be sorry because I am not angry and for a fact what you said that day really implored me to start solving mathematics, thanks.”

“You are angry; you see it is about a girl that I am in love with but can’t express my feelings to her because even at the sight of that girl am scared. I did not want to have anything to do with that devilish girl but all of a sudden I saw myself falling for her and my second problem is that I don’t know how to make her love me the way I love her now.”

“You said it once am not good at solving problems especially relationships because have not experienced one before.”

“You are still angry.” Ayo stood up to leave and he turned back to leave some words for Mike to grab.

“Am not angry, am going to the library and remember, you get whatever you want if you are determined. Bye.”

“Bye.” He was sad that Ayo did not solve his problem then still thinking, he was tapped by Jan, coming back to reality he stood up and ran towards the library obviously wanting to see Ayo.

“Ayo wait a minute.” Stopping Ayo at that very moment.

“At least I have begged you ehn please help me find solution to my problem.” Mike pleaded.

“I have, I just gave you one and note this I am not angry you doing that really made me improve in mathematics.” After that Ayo wanted to leave but Mike drew him backward.

“What again.”

“I don’t know the solution.”

“Remember my last words.” Ayo said and in a twinkle of an eye he disappeared into the thin air because time is running out on him. Ayo drew out a curriculum that has the timetable of what he is going to be doing at a particular time, his reading time is different from his play time, his play time is different from his rest time, and his rest time is different from his gist time. His timetable was quintessential.

Mike managed to remember Ayo’s last words and then after all trying he finally got it (“you get what you want if you are determined.”) Since that very day Mike had it in mind to confess to Tiwa. Seconds turned into minutes, minutes into hours, hours into days and days to weeks and Mike hasn’t confessed to Tiwa that he loves her. It kept on haunting him down and running through his vein, how can I say it, how can I confront her, will she say yes, will she be happy or will she slap me and disgrace me, this were the questions going on in his mind all he needs is an answer to all that questions, obviously no one is ready to give an answer.

He is devastated and decided to keep the fact that he is in love with Tiwa to himself rather than tell her and be embarrassed by his junior he would just admire her from afar off. Mike went to Ayo to talk to him about it.

“Ayo please don’t tell anyone what I have told you.”

“That what.”

“s**t, this is not the time for you to joke around.”

“Am serious I don’t know what you are talking about.”

“That I am in love with Tiwa.”

“Why.”

“Nothing, but as a friend you must promise me you won’t tell anyone.”

“There will always be a reason “ti koba nidi obirin o kin je kumolu.” (in Yoruba language)

“I said there is nothing attached to it.” Mike said almost harshly.

“I Have heard; do you choose to keep you guys affairs as a secret.”

“No, in fact we are not dating.” Mike emphasized.

“Why.” Ayo asked surprisingly.

“I got no courage to talk to the girl.”

“You don’t mean it.” Ayo is flabbergasted.

“I mean it ooo.”

“This is serious.”

“Extraordinarily serious.”

“Okay ooo.” Ayo said as he was about to leave.

“One moment, promise you won’t tell her as well.”

“Promise.”

“Thanks.”

Since that day Mike was not at rest, he felt there was something missing inside of him.