Against All Odds

Chapter Twenty Three: A Good Turn

Obiefune went back to school after many failed attempts of trying to see Obi. The last time he went to their house she locked even ifenna and oluebube who wanted to see him in, simply because she didn't want to hear him out. Obiefune wrote her several notes and sent them through Chioma but she had returned all his notes unopened. He realized that he had deeply hurt Obi if she wasn't even willing to give him a chance to apologize.

The day he was packing to go to school his father had noticed his quietness and even asked him about it. Apparently he had been folding and unfolding the same shirt for minutes. "Obiefune ọ dịkwa mma?" his father asked perplexed by his son's action. His father had entered his room to ask him if he would prefer being driven back to school by the driver or taking the public transportation. Obiefune didn't usually like being driven to school by their driver, he preferred going by bus and it often bothered his father.

Obiefune clearly startled threw his shirt on the floor. When his father asked what the matter was, he claimed that everything was fine.
His father eyed him suspiciously even more concerned that something was wrong with him. Mr Obidike was a very busy doctor and when he had the time, he tried to make his children enjoy the best of it. The man walked close to where he son stood and sat on the bed. Obiefune's father suspected that somehow his problems had to deal with a girl,of course he was once young and he could clearly see the signs. What he didn't quite understand was why his daughter was somehow grumpy just like his son was. Did it have anything to do with Chioma's beautiful friend who he was also fond of? The girl had taught him had to prepare a special type of rice with red oil and smoked fish. He had enjoyed the food and her company as well. The girl was intelligent and the way she spoke showed him that she had a good upbringing. Chioma's association with her had made Chioma more articulated especially with domestic chores. He had somehow noticed that she had not visited ever since Obiefune came back.

"Obiefune I'm not blind, I can clearly see that you are not fine, so young man tell me what the problem is and quit folding that trouser, I think it can fit into your box now! " Mr Obidiche spoke, pulling Obiefune out of his thoughts.

Obiefune needed someone to talk to so he just sat down beside his father and began to explain things to him.
"I have this friend that is younger than I am, this my friend umm, we became quite close before I gained admission to study so I don't see my friend all the time"

Mr Obidike was irked by his son's repetition of the word friend in his statement. That was when he realized that the so called friend was a girl.
"My friends in school now told me things, they said my friend would betray me, so the day I came back the person was hanging out with another friend so I became very jealous and said very bad things to my friend. Now my friend probably hates me, because even the gifts we shared have been returned. I've tried to apologize even got Chioma to help me but nothing is working and I don't want to lose this my friend "

Obiefune's father had no doubt whatsoever that his son was referring to Obiukwu.

"You have apologized, haven't you? "

Obiefune nodded with his eyes on the floor."What I said to her was very bad, I didn't mean it. I was jealous and angry, now she wouldn't even see me" Obiefune didn't realize that he had slipped.

"I think your friend is hurting just like you are, but since you're going back to school I don't think there's much for you to do. Write her a note, when you get to school, keep writing her. I know you've been using my friend Micah as your messenger, always bringing parcels to Chioma. Your friend needs space for now. But if your friend ever cared for you, she'll forgive you eventually "  Obiefune became a bit relieved after speaking with his father. He began to properly fold his clothes before his father turned to leave.