After all the drama, that was when I sat and thought of my past and enviable dreams being shattered right before my eyes. Not all hope was lost, all hope was lost—those words kept bouncing in my head every moment I tried to relax and toss away my worries, flaws and problems. Could I fix everything? Could I wash away my mistakes and make myself new once again?
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My Dad had gotten full information on everything that happened under his nose. I had to confess and open up to him.
Nicole was right, everything between us had gone viral and I felt so humiliated.
"Dad I'm sorry. I'm sorry for bringing this much shame to you," I said to him on my knees.
"You are sorry? I should be the one apologizing. I failed to play my role as a Father in your life. Right from the moment you were born, I and your mother never really gave you the love and care you desired and deserved. You're such a smart young lady. I mean, you learnt most of the good stuff on your own, without the existence of parental guidance. Any kid that lives a successful teenage life irrespective of the negligence of parents, then that child deserves an award.
If I hadn't brought you here in the first place, all of this wouldn't have happened. I brought you here with you having in mind that you would achieve your goals. I and your Mother are responsible for every single downfall that happened to you... Aside the fact that you never listen. Olamide, we failed to give you listening ears, we failed to be there when you needed us the most, we failed." He reached out his arms to me and hugged me tight. "I promise you, things will change henceforth."
I expected him to scold me like most Nigerian parents would but he realized that when a child has made a mistake and come back to his senses, "you shouldn't keep scolding that child. For the child has made realizations and coming back to his senses might make him regret the mistake—don't include scolding to the burden and pain," Aunt Dabira used to tell my Mom. "Rather, display love and at the point of the child's regret console him. The regrets would be enough to teach him a lesson, you don't have to cause more pain."
Although my Dad had gotten all furious about everything, he began to understand. He also tried to press charges for what Nicole did to me but it was to no avail—evidently because of her father's status and at some point, because of our skin colour.
The wounds were treated and they began to heal rapidly. I felt better.
I believed in God more, I read my Bible, and I asked Him to make things new once again.
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As I sat reminiscing, I heard the door bell ring and I hesitated before going to check who it was. To my massive shock, it was Emlyn and Arthur!
"Uh, guys?" Arthur immediately gave me a hug.
"I missed you a lot. But before anything else, I gotta raid your fridge." Arthur rubbed his palms together in a silly manner and before he left for the fridge, he whispered in my ear, "later on, we're gonna talk about your fancy crush on Emlyn." I smiled.
Emlyn fully entered into the house and placed both hands in his pockets and I looked at him in a rattled way.
"Wow. It's been two years"
"I'm sorry," I finally uttered in a low voice and he responded in the same manner, "yeah I know. Why else do you think we're here? I've just got something really important and shocking to tell you."
Arthur then interrupted with his mouth full of doughnut. "Emlyn, you should really try this. It's delicious"
"Weren't you ever taught not to talk with your mouth full?" Emlyn said to him, slightly cross by his interruption, and snatched the remaining doughnut from him.
"Don't... There's more in the fridge... Just forget it." Arthur pouted.
I hurried to the kitchen and returned with some fried rice and chicken.
Despite living in a foreign land for quite some time, I and my Dad never forsook our unique Nigerian meals.
"Okay what is this and why is it green?" Emlyn stared at the plate of food distastefully.
"It's a Nigerian dish called fried rice. It's really tasty."
"Rice can be fried?" His confusion was exhibited through his raised eyebrows. "Oh! Yeah."
"You see, this is why I love this girl. You come to her house and she allows you discover new tummy materials. There was the pepper soup, the okra soup and some whitish stuff to go with it, there was the roasted goat meat. Thank you Olamide for giving us a taste of Africa." Arthur once again rubbed his palms together and dug into the food.
"Unlike this glutton here, my aim was to come talk to you."
"No amount of words can fix my mistakes. I acted like a fool and blindly destroyed everything. We stopped talking to a long time because of my stupidity."
"Well I did try to warn you," Arthur said. "I saw the video and couldn't believe my eyes. Look how much she injured you. We knew you'd be back to your senses and we knew how broken you'd be. So being this much of awesome friends, we decided to visit."
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," I bowed my head and sobbed.
Emlyn and Arthur were silent for a while then Emlyn finally said, "Arthur got chased by a dog yesterday and fell into a gutter." He took out his phone and showed me the hilarious picture. I had no choice but to laugh while crying at the same time. I laughcried. Ha!
"Emlyn! I asked you to delete that picture! And how insensitive can you be—someone's feeling all moody here"
"That was the plan—to show her the picture of you getting chased by a German Shepherd and make her laugh."
"Where's Jasmine?"
"She's at the hospital, she's sick"
"And aren't you both supposed to be there with her?"
"Oh she'll be fine," Arthur waved his hand down. "And besides, we already visited her"
When we were all done eating, Arthur received a call from Jasmine telling him to go online and check something out.
"Oh, okay then. I will go online," Arthur mimicked Jasmine's British accent. He got his tablet from his bagpack and went online.
I sat on the arm of the sofa and watched Arthur's tablet. We found a video of Christian, the boy who caused the whole drama between I and Nicole.
"I guess this is it," Arthur said and played the video.
In the video, Christian said, "everyone keeps wondering what the Nigerian teenager, Stephanie meant when she said to the American celebrity's daughter, words like 'you ruined my life,' and 'you made me someone I never imagined I would become,' and the rest of that shit. Today, I'm gonna open a bottle of truth which has been tightly sealed up and thrown away.
Do any of you really know Stephanie Bakewell and Nicole Martin? Do any of you know the true story behind their dispute?"
"What is this boy up to?" I questioned in curiousity.
"Well we're about to find out."
"Now I used to attend the same school as Stephanie and Nicole. One day at school, I went to use the restroom when Stephanie rushed out of a toilet like a scaredy cat and unconsciously bumped into me, causing me to hit a washbasin and pass out.
I was taken to the school nurse and it was easy to figure out that Stephanie didn't just run—something, or rather someone, caused her to run and that person is Nicole.
When I was asked who made me pass out, I lied saying it was Nicole because... Of course, I don't like her and I knew she had something to do with it anyway, something thoughtful Stephanie didn't wanna spill. Also, Nicole had a knife with her in the scene which means that she somehow casted fear on Stephanie which made her run.
Even as Nicole was going to be expelled, I still wasn't satisfied—I wanted to get her myself. And so after I was doing fine, I went back to that toilet and found a cigarette at the back which belonged to Nicole. Oh and how do I know that? I have a witness here with me. Come to the camera Jerome," Christian said and Jerome appeared, waving and smiling.
"What the..." Confused, Arthur said.
"Sush, watch," Emlyn grabbed a drink.
"The cigarette was Nicole's, Nicole smokes and tampers with some drugs as well. Take that from her ex-boyfriend."
"And there you have it. Fixing the pieces to the puzzle made me realize that Stephanie had caught Nicole smoking and Nicole probably threatened her with that knife and that caused her to run.
Moving on, I became a little spy and followed Stephanie and Nicole to gain more info.
Innocent and thoughtful Stephanie felt awful that she was getting the superstar expelled... On one note, Stephanie hadn't told them about Nicole's crime. Nicole was only being expelled for commiting too much crimes and finally reaching the core by intentionally getting me wounded. So Stephanie decided to turn herself in and confess that she was the one who truly got me injured, but on her way to the principal's office, she overheard Marz O'Neil talking to his daughter. Mr Martin was so furious that he placed Nicole on probation and told her that if she messes up one more time, she'd thoroughly punished. Nicole was aware that the only person who could have been able to get her into trouble was Stephanie so she had to befriend her. Nicole poisoned Stephanie and poor Steph failed to realize that until now."
"It's true," Jerome added. "Parents, is this who you want your children to learn from? Do you really want your kids to watch her movies and love a viper, an addict, and a bully?"
"Not to forget that Stephanie Bakewell is an incredible actor. Check out this video of our school show day" Christian played a clip of the school play during the show and then the video ended.
"Oh my God... I'm short of words."
"Chill and let's check the comment section"
"You suck Nicole, go to hell."
"Nicole has a rock for a heart."
"Stephanie is a raw talent. Nicole... Tsk tsk tsk"
"Stephanie Bakewell is the real superstar"
"Violence is never the answer but you're still the victim anyway."
More and more comments were rushing in every single second.