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Tade felt a bit scared like he said a taboo until he saw Mr Kunle place his hands on his shoulders.

"What do you know about revenge?" He looked sternly at him, with such eyes that Tade had to bend them down.

"But,but my brother...... I can't just keep it out."

"Tade, you are naïve. Have you ever taken a life before? Do you know how it feels?"

Tade looked at him, unable to say a word, completely dumbfounded like one of those scenarios where you know any answer will aggravate the situation.

"No! You have not! Sit down." He pointed to his seat, with Tade promptly resting his body there.

"I know what you want, you want justice. You feel that your brother's death can't just go like that because it has turned your life upside-down and you want compensation."

"Now, I trust that you see cultism as repulsive, yet you only see the death of those who caused you this agony as a reprieve."


"Well, what you don't realise is that revenge only breeds revenge, because revenge is one-sided. Justice, on the hand considers the other side.
Revenge only satisfies you, that if you are not left empty. You can't drive your life with revenge and in this case, it will not end with your mission's accomplishment. People, Powerful people will be coming after you and your life won't be safe, not to talk of the fact that its a crime."

He held Tade up. "If you have anything else to say, tell me. But this revenge of a thing will destroy you, I can assure you. I am leaving my office now."

Tade stood up and left, deep in thought.

"What?"

Tade could not comprehend what his mother was saying. Divorce? Guaranteed, he did not care about how their marriage was going, but at least it was a marriage. Now he will officially be a child from a broken home.

"Yes, Tade. I know that you find it puzzling. I too. I never thought your father will hate me that bad to take me for granted, all because of your brother's death."

Tade's heart knotted at that point. He had always felt that way when his brother's case was mentioned and this was no different.

"Mum, please don't bring it up, it upsets me." He looked at her with teary eyes. For once Clara was seeing the pain that he endured back home, even if it was little.

She hugged him tight. "Am sorry Tade, it hurts us all. I want you to be strong from now on. I know we have not been much of a family and I rarely have time for you, but be strong, you hear? I will make sure that I make out time to talk to you when you return home and you won't suffer otherwise, su gbo mi?"( Did you hear me?)

Tade nodded his head as they left the car. "I have to go." She brought a nylon bag containing the obvious- goodies.

"Take it" Tade moved and collected it from her. "I will see you soon, I am sure of that" She entered her car and drove off, Tade waving his hands towards her.

**************************
Two days later, Mr Kunle Falade was done with his lectures when he saw Tade come up to him.

"Good morning sir." Tade respectfully greeted him.

"Morning Tade, how are you doing?"

"Fine sir. Sir, can I see you for a minute?"

"If its about the test I gave your class, I won't repeat it for anyone without a cogent reason."

"Sir, its about my brother."

"Not for discussion." He walked into his office,Tade following him.

"Sir,please tell me" Tade pleaded. "My family has being suffering since his death and I still find it painful somewhere in my heart that he died here."

"Yet you came to this school, to the same school your elder brother died, didn't you? Why bother about him now?"

"Because somewhere in my heart, I feel like take revenge for him."

Mr Kunle dragged him into the office and locked the door.

The person who made up the phrase ' she stoops to conquer' must have observed how kneeling down while begging a person can turn things around. With students passing, Sophie knew that she had to act fast before it develops to a scene that the news boards will give.

"Jimmy, stand up please." Jimmy refused her request and continued pleading, in a bid to get the desired effect. Soon enough, busy-body students and idle people started to pay more attention to them.

"JIMMY STAND UP OR I WILL LEAVE!" Jimmy, sensing her anger, stood up gracefully, with Sophie dragging him back to her department and down to the basement, all in a bid to avoid the crowd.

"Jimmy, what is that for?" Sophie eyes were brimming with anger. "Were you trying to embarrass me on purpose?"

He smiled slyly at her. "Its was all because I love you. Sophie, I am begging you and I am serious. Look into my eyes and tell me otherwise."

She searched his eyes with her inner 'torchlight', waiting to see any sign of insincerity. She could not find any.

"Jimmy, listen to me first" She told him. "I don't hate you, in fact I like you a lot. However, I can't be in a relationship with a guy I see once in a month. Mistrust will breed and your lack of communication worsens things, not to talk of other girls that will be chasing you."

Sophie looked at him with teary eyes. "I wanted to quit this relationship, but a friend asked me reconsider and I will do that with one condition- you will make time for me! Is that okay with you?"

Jimmy hugged her. "Yes, Yes. I will make time out for us. I will do everything I can do to fulfil it."

Both of them trudged together, very happy.

Thanks to all that have commented. The story is not ending soon, but am around the middle part of the story, felt like thanking all those that have come along.

Another of my poems called 'Who do we choose?'


Madness!
What you ask from us, Madness!
Madness called civic responsibility
Madness I call it, oh yes its madness!


We call it power
Yea, the power to chase our defectors
And put in our benefactors
And those that wish us well

Alas! For those who we have to chose
Are only perceived pretenders
For those around them mask their truths
And amplify their lies

For there is one
A sitting president
Whose failures are as long as the Twin Towers
And success as short as a hobbit's home
And there stands the contender
A man of no easy means
Feared by all those fattened by the bounty of the land
Yet is torn out of his tongue
As his old age is more a puzzle than an answer
And a fattened few a contraption of his reputation

Who shall we chose?
Especially at this period of lull
And graveyard gloom
As our previous folly stares at us.
And our failure to be with sense brings forth fruit
We look for a savior
Yet we are not sure of any of these

For its in one's watch that we land at this dead pool
And another can be blinded to sell us out.
Aye, my fears speak so loud
But its not unfounded.

So therefore solve this puzzle
This maddening madness
Who should we chose?

I wish to use this opportunity to thank all those who have read and commented and liked and shared posts from here. I appreciate you guys a lot.

CC:
Missmossy
Kingphillip
Harjibolar
Odumaiye
Tholuwani

And all those that I failed to mention- I am have forgotten names but I have not forgotten the efforts.

She deserved a better man than him.

Not that he was unfaithful, he wasn't. But his life was one that was spent mostly in uncertainty- uncertainty of the next mission, next line of assignment his fraternity will place on him. He knew that a time will come that his life will be up for sale and only the strongest hit men will be able to buy it. It was not something that came from an instinct- its what he wanted and what he knew will happen. He joined the cult for this- which is to gain some such of recognition, not caring who he got it from.

"Hello." He snapped out of his thoughts to see Sophie in front of him.

"Wow, ermm.. Good morning." He managed to say as he caught himself licking his lips absent-minded.

"So what were you thinking, that you did not notice me come? Am sure even if I carried a siren around, you won't be able to hear me. "

"Am sorry. Was just thinking of classes."

"Iffa hear! You were thinking of another babe, abi?"

"Aha, Sophie. That's unfair." Jimmy quickly boned at her.

"Anyway, that's your cup of tea. Am already going." She feigned anger and started to walk downsides, forcing Jimmy to chase her.

"Sophie, Sophie, wait na. I swear, I was not thinking of someone else."

"How am I sure? You never really showed that you valued me anyway, always busy. Am sure she is the one that is holding you down- Ohho, why did I call you sef?"

"Sophie." He finally held her hand. "I swear, its not a lady that's on my mind. Or maybe it is- and the lady is you!"

"Please, don't patronize me! Who are you trying to deceive?"

"Am serious Sophie." He held her firmly and looked straight into her eyes. "I know that I have not been fair to you, I swear I do. I know that I have been busy with business. But I am serious when I say that I am thinking about you, Sophie."

"I have missed you. I miss you presence, your talks, how you chide me for skipping classes, our talks in covered pavilion, how you keep inviting me for special church programmes- even though I don't come. I miss you Sophie and I want a chance to prove that to you. Sophie, please am serious here." He started to kneel down.

He looked shocked and askance, wondering what his mother was doing here. His mind obviously told him that something was wrong but it did not stop him from prostrating on the ground.

"E dide omo mi."(Stand up my child) Clara spoke in full Yoruba, another surprise to Tade who had always heard her speak English. In fact he thought that she had forgotten her language.

"Ba wo ni?"( How are you doing?) She asked, making some small conversations and asking about his academics as they moved to her car- a small Honda Camry.

She drove to the sports car park and parked there, then she wound down her car windows.

"Tade, there is something I need to tell you........."


*************************

Jimmy waited in her department nervously. Sophie, who had called off their relationship based on him spending lack of quality time with her. Of course, the Axes comes first and he is eager to learn from Scorpion, if not from any other person.

Yet and yet, he loved Sophie. He could swear to his mother's grave that he loved her and he could tell, even though she tries to mask it like most girls with 'iyanga' or 'shakara' do that she loves him. She always showed that she cared and wanted to be with him- even though she was kind by nature. There was just a little problem he had.

She probably deserved a better man.

Made looked at Tade, then carried himself out.

*****************

Wale pranced around the house, checking and half-hoping that Clara left any of her belongings. It was not to be. Clara had truly left and instead of feeling relieved, Wale was confused.

He wanted her to leave, but now she had left, he felt a sudden vacuum in the house. A vacuum Nifemi will hopefully fill.
He changed his clothes and dialed a number.

"Hello sweety." A lovely voice ran out, more like a lullaby.

"Nifemi my darling. How are you doing?" Wale asked.
"Am fine, only that I have been busy, you know. All the hospital cases and situations and as a Head Nurse, I have to make sure everything is running smoothly."

"Indeed, when you are not the Medical Director."

"Abeg, make MD park himself go one corner! We make the hospital tick. So how far with what we discussed? I can't play a bit part role in anyone's life."

"Yes, yes. She has even parked out and promised to send me the divorce papers tomorrow. So you are good to come in."

She shouted, obviously happy. "So when should I move in?"

"Whenever you want to. I understand you are a busy woman though."

"Fine. I will come at the weekend."

**********
The next day started bright and fair for Tade and his roommates. They all had few lectures that day and actually lazied around for much of the day. It was two in the afternoon when the public address system came up, requesting Tade's presence. Once he got there, he was in for a shocker.

His mum was waiting for him.

I don't buy into the excuses that have been given here. Repogirl is certainly right about the money aspect ( and yes, I think about it too. Am sure almost everyone that wrote here have thought about it one way or the other). But the fact is that the correcting and editing part, helping new and existing writers with your comments should not die down. All writers in this section have fans but its very hard for one to spot a good constructive critic here and it hurts ( personally for me it hurts). I begin to wonder if they could just come around and encourage and constructively critique other writers work, the quality around here will improve.

That's my submission.

"Am wary of you."

"Of me?" Sophie asked, looking at Tade incredulously. "Why?"

"Why not? I am sitting with the most gorgeous lady in my department, who has guys flocking her left and right but then chose to spend her evening with a poor bachelor like me."

"Abeg! Park yourself go one corner." Sophie said in pidgin. "You never graduate, you dey form bachelor."

"I dey lie ni? Your beauty makes me to think that you were born under the sea, or maybe you are a vampire......"

"Vampires are a figment of imagination dude!" She replied."Besides they don't walk in sunlight and I did."

"What about mammy water?"

"Jesus! Go away jor, you are funny!"

As they bantered away, Made was dressing up. Sophie noticed him and the others.

"My bad, I did not introduce myself to you roommates. What kind of host are you, Tade?" She stood up and walked to when the others were, introducing herself to them. After making introductions, she continued her talk with Tade.

"So what happened to you boyfriend? This one you came here to visit me, I don't understand."

"Don't mind me jare. Jimmy and I broke up."
"Wow! What happened?" Tade asked, genuinely worried.

"Nothing, only that he has just being distance from me lately and I hate it."

"Aha now, Sophie!" Tade said, pulling her to himself. "Am sure Jimmy did not mean to create some distance between both of you. He must have been busy lately. Don't be hard on him."

"But its not easy for me now. He is always forming busy whenever I need him, yet I won't hear word when he is the one in need."

"Oya sorry. Just give him another chance, am sure you guys will pull through this."

A call came through her phone.
"Its Jimmy. I have to go" She stood up and hugged Tade. "See you around." She walked away, drawing the attention of everyone in the room.

"Made! You never waka since!" Tade said mockingly.

He made a move to UnCloth and shower, but it was not long before he was at her side, handling her brea5ts.

Clara moved around in her sleep, dragging him from his mind travel. Wale then stood up and showered.

As he showered, he began to think of what brought him home, the decisions he had to take concerning his life, especially as Nifemi has staked a claim in it. Nifemi, a female colleague who he met during a conference in Abuja about three months ago, was a sweet, delectable woman who he fell for. They had spent the last few weeks enjoying themselves, as she was based in Lagos and single. To him, she was a fresh air compared to Clara who was stale.

Coming out of the bathroom naked, he met her slightly awake.

"Wale, e kaa bo." She said and then yawned to emphasize that she just woke up.

Suddenly disgusted by her actions, Wale wore his underwear and went to the sitting room. Clara suddenly stood up and followed him.

"Wale, what have I done wrong? Why treating me like this?" Wale did not respond but went on to switch on the telly.

"Wale, am asking you."

"Woman, I am not in the mood for this." Wale answered, seething at her. She suddenly looked terrible to him.

"Wale, please talk to me. I am your wife. Is it that am overweight or you don't like me speaking our language. Or is it still because of Oyediran ( Andrew's native name)? We have to move on, Tade is there and........"

"Woman, since you so much want to know why I don't talk to you, I will tell you. You are stale. Stale and pathetic in my eyes. You are just like chains of burden to me. I don't want you anymore, I don't desire you. That's all.....before I forget, its likely that another lady will be living with us soon."

Clara threw herself on the ground, weeping. So all her prayers and hopes have been dashed! Wale has cheated on her and now wants to bring his girl here, chai! What a life!

Filled with indignation, she stood up with venom and went into the room.
45 minutes later, she came out with all her possessions, stunning Wale.

"Where do you think you are going?" He asked.

"What does it look like, ediot?" She fired back. "After all I have given for you, this is how you pay me back? Wale, don't you remember who you were or who I was? We had nothing, nothing but ourselves and our two kids from the beginning. Now money has come, you are flirting with all those desperate women. Well done and good luck to you. Just don't come to me when everything crashes."

As she opened the door, she turned back and faced him. "I will send the divorce papers to your office tomorrow." She then stormed out.

*********

"Wary of what?" Sophie asked Tade.

"Nothing, nothing, only that your beauty seems to scare me." Tade quickly deflected the conversation to another direction as they entered the room. Made made some space for them and bowed like a chauffeur, forcing a grin from Sophie and a annoyed look from Tade. Chuks and Shittu decided to play dumb and minded their business.

"Am Made." He smiled and took Sophie's hand, kissing it like a gentlemen and successfully making her to blush.

"Comot your hand for here, she get boyfriend oh!" Tade responded, trying to suppress a grin. Made childishly smiled and move away before calling ChiChi, his Igbo girlfriend.

"Werey!" Tade said before taking Sophie to his bed.

"So what can I offer you?"
"Tade, don't dodge the question, who are you wary of?"

What's the site like? Is creative works or stories allowed? How secure is a person's work from piracy?