The Days When I Was With You

“Let’s always keep these pictures to remind us of each other whenever we’re far “ I remember those words every single day because I once believed they were actually going to last. They were supposed to last to be honest but I guess some things aren’t meant to. Today is another day in the life of a emotionless boy. You could call a 22 years old man a boy too, right? Don’t laugh. I don’t find it funny. I’m still stuck in my parent’s house though I don’t have anything to complain about, I’m the one who is too lazy to leave. Finished high school 2 years ago but you know how it is in my beautiful country, College isn’t free here. And my people aren’t very financially comfortable. Wish I could change their situation though. But let’s keep my family aside for the moment, I want to tell you a story about love, betrayal, lust, jealousy and anger. A story of the days I was with her. I miss a lot of things, especially back there in school. I miss the fun, the excitement, the frenzy, the pains, the gossips, the teachers, my friends, many of you who had the opportunity to go to school would attest to the fact that there was not another more enjoyable experience than high school (secondary school) life in Nigeria. Do you really need to know my name? Of course I’ll tell you, don’t rush... The story is just beginning. But first let’s take you on a tour, a tour into my life in high school, way before I met her. “Don’t let nothing hold you back, the more you push the more you win, the more painful the struggle becomes, the more you adapt to it” These were my father’s words to me on my first day as a senior student in high school. He was a disciplinarian, strict to the core, hard as nails and thick as bones. He rarely smiled but when he did, it meant he was really proud. But even with all these attributes, my dad and I were best buds. We played chess together, cracked jokes and always went out together, he loved me so much and I was always bragging about it. I’ve got two older brothers, both are done with school though but only one is employed; not gainfully. We use part of his menial salary to cater for the family’s needs in times of distress. He was like our reinforcement. My brothers’ names were Justin and Philip. Justin was the eldest, older than Phil with 2 years. Phil was older than me with just one, so sometimes I talk to him as if we were friends. I wasn’t the last child though, we had a little sister; Stephanie was her name and she was a bundle of joy. Though we were boys, she knew how to hang around us and still act like a lady, she was really fun to be with and I always enjoyed her company. So imagine the kind of boredom that was in store for Steph when I wanted to leave for high school; it was a boarding school so I wouldn’t be back till the Holidays. I was really gonna miss her and my family, especially dad. “Don’t forget what you’re going there to do...” he said. I’m sure many of us have heard this a thousand times ... you know we have put our trust in you, your mother and I. Do not fail us, and always remember that we love you so much. Always focus on your goals, trust nobody, stick to yourself, make friends who can make positive impacts in you, I don’t want to have none of you hanging around bad friends, they might make you think you’re going to be fine but in the end they’ll leave you to be eaten. Be warned my son, I won’t tell you to not have fun but know your limits, no girlfriends till your final year in high school. You might get distracted and we can’t afford that. I’m proud of you son” he concluded. I listened to his words with rapt attention, apart from loving my father, he was my role model and I’d do anything to make him happy. Mum on the other hand was a lot of work. “How can you tell him to have a girlfriend in his final year? Don’t you know that’s the most important part of his life? He’ll need to be 100% attentive, no distractions at all. My son...” she faced me “Don’t listen to your father, sometimes he jokes too much, no girlfriends at all till you’re done with your education, you hear me?” She asked pulling her ear. “I hear you mom” I replied, rolling my eyes, but deep down I know who I stan. After several minutes of intense advices, I was finally ready to leave for school. THE GREAT LOYAL HEARTS HIGH SCHOOL. To be continued...