Feyi Gets Another Shot at Love

The first year, was as beautiful as though he was around, we would chat and call at every given opportunity, promising ourselves to remain faithful to each other.

During winter, he lost his uncle, it was a big blow for him; his uncle was his pillar. His uncle corpse was brought to Nigeria, This brought him back home also. It was one of the happiest moments of my life. I missed him so much. We had gist till dawn, reminiscing together on how we faired without each other.

Christmas wasn’t that eventful because of his late uncle. He sometimes broods on how he will survive without his uncle.

At the beginning of the New Year, he traveled back to the United Kingdom not after I have promised to always be there for him, no matter what.

Around fall the following year, our communication nosed dived, as he hardly returns my messages. He makes excuses that weren’t genuine and some that don’t even sound true. I kept pushing the more to know what happened and to get the true reason for his changed attitude, but the harder I tried the more he kept drawing back.

By winter I couldn’t get through to him anymore, his number wasn’t reachable, and his social media were all gone. For each passing moment, I kept wishing to see his call on my phone, which didn’t get to happen.

Soon it was time for my final exam, it wasn’t easy writing the exam, as his memory kept filling my head, despite not reading hard enough I still passed with good grades.

I got posted to the north for the mandatory national youth service. I could have easily worked on my redeployment back to Lagos, but then I needed a new environment to deal with the tormenting thought of Oladimeji, as It was difficult to concentrate on anything except the better sweet memory of my first love.

All through the remaining part of my school days and throughout my service year, I didn’t give any man a chance into my life, not because I still want Oladimeji but I just don’t want my heart broken by anybody again and so I gave up on love.

After about two months of resting at home from the stress of the national youth service, I decided to get a job. I can easily get a job anywhere because I have gotten the right connection needed, but then being a teacher has always been my passion.

On a beautiful Friday, while teaching, a student came into the class to tell me that my attention was needed by the principal. I got into the principal’s office to meet a man fuming and the principal trying to pacify him, on sighting me, the principal told me the man is in the school because of me. The man had complained that the nephew had been performing woefully in mathematics, which wasn’t the case before I joined the school. He had scored 89 Percent in his last examination, While he managed to attain a score of 36 percent. The man didn’t give me a chance to express myself. He lambasted me like a child.

In no time, the principal was able to calm him down and assured him that the school will investigate it. I later went through the student history in mathematics, and I discovered truly he was indeed a brilliant student.

This got me wondering if the fault was mine. I called the student into my office to question him because I couldn’t fathom the reason for the sudden in his performance.

“Demilade what is wrong,” I questioned the boy who was barely 14 years old. I knew him to be quiet, reserved and loved by many.

“Is it that you don’t understand my teachings or is there something bothering you”. He didn’t utter a word, he kept staring at me. I kept asking him the same question over and over but then he chooses not to answer me. I stood up from my chair, sat adjacent him.

“Tell me about yourself Demilade” I beckon. He took an eternity before speaking.

“My parents are dead,” he said, “I live with my uncle.

“Oh, I see,” I said. I felt empathy for him. I understand how hard it is to live without one’s parents.

“Do you have siblings?” I asked.

“No, I don’t, my mum died during childbirth and dad died last year, so my grandma took me to uncle Adeola’s house.”Demilade spent over 2 hours in my office, I knew there was a lot going through his mind but, yet, he kept hoarding information. I needed to counsel him.

The next morning, I called him into my office during the long break, bought him breakfast and made him feel very comfortable. I allowed him to eat before proceeding with my questions, he was relaxed than the previous day, he didn’t tell me much, but I was able to deduce from all he said, that someone has been abusing him. I couldn’t figure out if it was sexual abuse or domestic abuse, but I was determined to find out no matter what I promised, but then I still need him to tell me more and I must start taking him tutorials, so he can catch up with his school works.

It has been three weeks after Demilade’s uncle came to school, which had got me too close to him. Soon it was time for examinations, I ensured Demilade was top of his game, I made sure two weeks to the exam, he had covered up all the subject and was good to go. The result came out and he passed brilliantly well. I had gone out of my way to get him a beautiful gift to motivate him to do better next term.

I got home after a stressful day at work, working on the report cards for the students. I yanked off my wig as I strolled into the bathroom to shower, which lasted for 15 minutes, then I laid on the couch with a big bowl of cereal on my laps while I watch the cartoon network (I am a big fan of cartoons),

I was so lost in the program I was watching that I couldn’t hear my phone ring until the third ring, I picked up and discover it was Adeola (Demilade’s uncle) that was calling, he called to thank me on helping his nephew and also to apologize on how he talked down on me the other day and afterward invited me for a dinner, I declined at first but after much pressure I accepted.

Will Adeola Acquaintance with Feyi mend her broken heart? Watch out for Part 4

Ogunyomi Adenike Felicia is a banker by day and a prose writer by night. She has a special obsession for telling stories and seeing movies. She values her family and loves her family. She exhibits her flair for StationMag. Follow her on Facebook