With You, For You

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I offended someone. A girl. I did something really bad at our first meeting. Really really bad. I insulted her, more like assault. I can even see her guarded eyes as she looks at me." I looked downward immediately. "I know she sees me as a bad person. I won't deny it. I'm a bad person to do such to her." There was silence and I looked up. "Vivian, I apologise for what I did. I'm sorry." He was apologising? I looked down again to avoid his eyes. "Your brother punched some sense into me. I was in the wrong. I never should have done that to you. I never should have treated you that way. Please forgive me."

I could hear the sincerity in his voice. I felt Eben's gaze on me. "When did this happen?" I swallowed. How did he know I was the Vivian being addressed? How was he sure?

"Vivian, do you forgive me?" I held the hem of my top tightly refusing to look up. "Look at me, Vivian." Couldn't he have asked for forgiveness somewhere else? Not before this mass of people. "Vivian, I request you come up the stage." Oh no.

People started whispering. Eben held my shoulder. "Go. We'll talk about this later." I nodded before looking up. I walked to the stage. All eyes were on me.

" Vivian, do you forgive me?"

"Abundance, you insulted my dignity," I said. He lowered his head. "You treated me like a harlot."

" I'm sorry. Very sorry."

"I accept your apology. You have my forgiveness." I didn't see a need to keep bearing a grudge. We weren't even going to interact in the future. So, I'd rather forgive him now.

"Thank you." He clasped his palms together and bowed. "Thank you." I stared at his hair. He didn't have braids anymore his hair was just packed. I saw it reached his back. I refused to believe that it was his natural hair. "Pearl International, thanks for granting me an audience. Old man, see ya later." Be walked off the stage with his crew. There was a loud applause. I saw Nedum at the entrance smiling at me. I waved and he returned it.

I took the mic. "Buchi, I need you here," I said. I saw him run to the stage. "My brother and I have something to tell the school. My parents have already informed the management. So, we decided to let you know ourselves." Buchi stood beside me. "Tell them yourself."

"No, you tell them." My mouth twitched. I clicked my tongue on to the hearing of both of us. I glared at him and we both sighed.

"We won't be here next term." We announced and the hall was quiet.

"What do you mean?" A voice shouted.

"It means that this is our last year as students of Pearl International," Buchi said.

"We'll be leaving. Changing schools." Pin drop silence then...

"Why?"

"Please don't leave."

"Tell me you're lying."

"Why are you telling us now?"

"We'll miss you."

"Seniors don't go." I saw the faces of my schoolmates and felt sad. I looked at Eben's unreadable expression. That was real trouble.

"It's not our decision," Buchi said. "We have to leave. We're sorry."

I breathed in. "I'll miss you guys. I'll miss my friends. Probably an enemy." I looked at someone going by the name Bisola who was grinning from ear to ear. I'm sure she was happy that I was leaving. She even waved at me. Chi m. "I'll miss my best friend too."

Eben looked away. When I walked back to my seat, he was nowhere to be found. He only returned when it was time to hand our posts to the SS1 students who had been chosen. The ceremony was completed and Davis gave a speech as the Head Boy to brief them on the responsibilities they now had. He also told them to accept their responsibility wholeheartedly and treat it seriously.