jagugu88li:

I was crossing my fingers here, anticipating rape.

Don't let Kelechi die please. I would like to see that family reconcile. Thruth be spoken, they both were deceived by life or nature. Mama marring a man he doesn't want. Papa carries a burden of seeing someone's child grow right in front of him, when he has none and then.....

If pastor wasn't married, she would have left kelechi for sure and because of this, she maybe deserves less happiness than Kelechi. She doesn't deserve to be a murder though, for Nna sake

See me, almost employing myself as second writer. Excuse me Madam.

Lol, i appreciate the insight and i'll do my best

Dedicated to Mhiz and Anugod

Twenty-five


It was the second day after Papa had been admitted in the hospital. The second day after Nma found out that he wasn’t her biological father. Even after most of the shock of it had worn off, she couldn’t help feeling different about herself. It was like she was another person, not the Nmachi Amadi that she’d been for the past fourteen years. Would her surname even be Amadi? She had kept gazing at herself in the mirror, thinking about her features, wondering how much she looked like her real father. Mama had said he was once a priest but had renounced his oath of celibacy to marry someone else.

She had been shocked to learn that Mama was once a devout Catholic. For so many years, nobody in the family had stepped a foot inside a cathedral or church. Papa seemed revolted at the thought of religion being practiced in his house and Mama never disobeyed. She could understand Papa’s aversion now. The thought of a priest sleeping with his young parishioner was revolting enough.

Mama hadn’t told him about her and Nma thought she felt better knowing that. At least her father hadn’t abandoned or rejected her, he had just been unaware of her existence. Mama had been full of regrets and apologies that Nma found herself feeling sympathetic towards her. She probably did it all with the best intentions.

She felt like she’d aged faster in the last two days and something was changed about her. She was sure her peers at school saw it too.

Even before the revelation, she thought other students looked at her suspiciously. She knew that many thought she was stuck-up and knew she also had what she thought was a good sense of herself. A natural air of confidence. But now after all that had happened, she couldn’t help feeling more alone.

She had rebuffed Victory’s attempt to talk to her the previous day and had hurried home without her, so after assembly that morning, she wasn’t surprised that Victory didn’t try to talk to her as usual. And maybe it was her imagination, but as the day continued, it seemed everyone was more aloof than usual. In class, she felt as if everyone was staring at her more intently.

As it turned out, she had a good cause to be paranoid.
Cynthia had gotten hold of her diary which she’d dropped mistakenly which had divulged her secret. It was as if she’d finally given her a gift, shown her the weakest part of her fortress, a way to get in and revel in her downfall.

Before the day ended, Cynthia and some of her friends including Alice, cornered her in the girls bathroom between classes. Unknown to her, they had been watching for the opportunity.

When she opened the door, she confronted half a dozen girls from her class looking at her with twisted smiles on their faces.

“And the bastard finally emerges,” Cynthia threw at her.
There was a roaring sound in Nmachi’s ears. “What are you talking about?” she croaked in a voice that sounded unlike her own.

“Oh cut the crap Nmachi, we all saw your diary where you wrote it with your own hands,” Lisa said.

All the girls smiled, their eyes full of excitement and anticipation. Nmachi felt herself go weak in the knees. Her usual calm and collected façade had completely deserted her.

“I have to get to class,” she said trying to push between Alice and Cynthia. They didn’t move. She stepped back.

“I have to get to class?” Alice mimicked. “Why?” she demanded angrily, “to show off your ugly face and steal the hearts of unsuspecting boys like Ralph? Huh?”

“No,” she said. “I didn’t steal anybody’s heart. Raphael is just a friend. Are you going to get out of my way?” she asked, trying to put up a brave front while inside her heart was beating fast and sweat gathered in her armpits.

“No, I don’t think so,” Alice said. “How about you Cynthia? Are you going to get out of Miss Prissy’s way?”

“No, I don’t think so too. I think she should be taught a lesson for carrying herself as a peacock when she’s nothing but a vulture,” Cynthia spat eyeing her balefully.

Before she could think or react, Alice grabbed her shirt’s collar roughly and shoved her out of the bathroom. She looked towards the doorway, two other girls were stationed there to man the watch. The girls were now blocking the doorway to the toilets, Nma felt trapped.

“Leave me alone,” she cried.

“Why? Will you report us to your father? Ooops I forgot, you’re a bastard,” Alice said.

Nmachi felt weak in the knees when they used the ugly word on her. The severity of the truth hit her harder now, she couldn’t keep the tears from her eyes.

“Oh, look she’s crying,” Cynthia said with laughter in her voice.

“Oh wow! The bastard actually has emotions,” Lisa said and they all laughed.

Alice reached out and seized the collar of her blouse, Nma grabbed her wrist to pull her fingers away, but she held tight and they struggled like that for a moment. The blouse was at the brink of total ruin until Nmachi aimed a kick at Alice’s stomach. It took her by surprise and she let go of her uniform, but it made her even more furious. After she straightened, Nma knew she was in for more serious trouble.

Just at that moment, Victory was let into the bathroom.
“Whats going on here?” she asked no one in particular. The girls cleared a view for her and she saw Nma crying and holding on to her roughened uniform blouse in the corner. She looked at Cynthia and Alice. “What are you doing to her?”

“We just wanted to teach the bastard a lesson or two in respect,” Alice said and the girls laughed.

“Why are you calling her that?” she snapped. “Let her be!” she shouted. The laughter stopped. “I’m sorry I allowed you girls see the diary now.”

Nmachi looked at her sharply, Victory had been the one who showed them her diary? How? Why?

They backed away from Nma and faced Victory. “Whose side are you on Vic?” Cynthia asked. “You heard what Miss Prissy said about Alice the other time that had her embarrassed before the whole school and now you’re defending her?”

“I’m not defending anyone, I’m just saying it isn’t right and fighting on school grounds is prohibited, you’ll all be punished if a teacher gets wind of this.”

Cynthia looked at Alice and back at her. “Who’s going to report to the teacher then, you or Miss Prissy?”

Victory wasn’t able to answer that but she stood her ground. Silence reigned for a minute before Alice tapped Cynthia. “Come on lets get out of here, I don’t want to get punished.”

They sauntered past Victory and the door, the other girls following them out.

Nmachi straightened up and examined her face in the mirror.

“Are you all right?”

“No,” Nma moaned. “Look at me. Do I look all right?” she shouted hysterically at her.

She brought out a slim black book from her skirt pocket. “This is yours,” she said handing her back her diary.

Nma collected it and arranged her clothes. “Some friend you are, selling me to my enemies. Thanks for nothing.” she said leaving the bathroom.

“I’m sorry,” Victory muttered but Nmachi was already out of earshot.

*****

Nma came out of the bathroom wiping furiously at the tears that stung behind her eyelids. She stopped when she saw Ralph passing by on his way to class. “Raphael,” she said.

He turned to look at her but didn’t ask why her uniform looked roughened up. He looked like he was seeing right through her and Nma knew that he’d heard.

“Nmachi,” he said weakly not making an attempt to come closer.

“You’ve heard then,” she said wearily. “Of course you’d be the first person your jealous girlfriend told.”

“Alice is not my girlfriend, look Nma, I_I don’t know what to say or think.”

“Don’t worry, I already know what you’ll say and think. Excuse me,” she said hurrying into her class. The collective derisive laughter of her classmates greeted her immediately she entered. There was no teacher in class and someone had written on the board:

[size=16]Paternity 101 – Who is Nmachi’s father?[/size]

Nmachi didn’t exit class fast enough.



TBC on Thursday, kindly like, share and comment

Wow wow wow...thanks for the mention and also for keeping to your words so fast, I appreciate!!!

Aitee1:
Wow wow wow...thanks for the mention and also for keeping to your words so fast, I appreciate!!!

You're welcome dear

Gosh! Skarlett at it again

This is sad!

Poor Nmachi

This story just gets sadder. I hope Patrick comes back to Nigeria soon or Nma gets a scholarship to Kenya...anything to make them meet

thanks ma for the dedication, hope you are good.

Aitee1:


Okay dear...waiting!


Hope you don't stay near bibijay123 cos their transformer don blow

Dey yaff fix it

skarlett thank you so very much for dedicating that wonderful chapter to me.

You are very much appreciated.

I hope victoria is satisfied now...Nma is a victim of 2 much pain of her age ooooo..I feel 4 her
Dude welluuuuu done

I hope victoria is satisfied now...Nma is a victim of 2 much pain of her age ooooo..I feel 4 her
Dude welluuuuu done.see u on thursday

Wait but what the f is wrong with this brainless chicken called Victoria...why is she so gullible, idiosyncratic and senseless..... You too, Nma, u no suppose carry that kind thing go school na...well according to Suli Breaks a true friend is one who benefits you physically, morally, socially, spirituality, mentally and regularly... Not one that despise in the crowns and then turns to be your best buddy when no one is around...Abeg make I no derail my Madam Thread, Scaklett, abeg cum continue wetin u start ooo

I have gat to comment here..skarlett what a splendid write-up you ve got...Can't just imagine the emotional trauma Nmachi is going through

I tot as much. I said it earlier dat kelechi was reacting to d fact he's not d biological father. Of Nnachi. Thunb up Skarlett!!!

Ehyaa... this is just too much 4 Nma to bear. Skarlett please pity the poor child biko rescue her.

Imagine this written on the board "paternity 101, who is nma's father?". If it were in the western world, it's enough 4 the poor child to commit suicide.

...still I read


#rescueNma

mhisbliss:
why evuls, have pity on vic small

Am just stating the obvious na. Imagine the course code PATERNITY 101

mhisbliss:
seriously if it was me i wouldn't care

Trust me babes, its all about timing. Imagine feeling betrayed by your 'friend', rejected by your crush and then finally having the entire class rub it in. I pride myself in being strong too but i go cry, lol

I couldnt help commenting

mhisbliss:
hahahaha funny you, i know what its like because I've been there, but i hardly cry i dont know why, even when someone very close to me died i just couldn't cry its like my tear duct dried up, though i felt terrible inside, I've had my own share of bullying, high school was the worst but i always fight back

Well I don't belief in crying before those that hurt you...Some of us can pull up a strong face but as long as you have a tiny strand of emotion, it gonna come back to hurt you, especially if it the first time of experiencing such...But wetin she carry dairy wey get that kind first class secret go do for school

mhisbliss:
hahahaha funny you, i know what its like because I've been there, but i hardly cry i dont know why, even when someone very close to me died i just couldn't cry its like my tear duct dried up, though i felt terrible inside, I've had my own share of bullying, high school was the worst but i always fight back

Wow! I'm super happy for you. Infact, you deserve hugs and kisses cos you're one of the strong ones, hopefully Nma ends up just like you

Olabantu:

Well I don't belief in crying before those that hurt you...Some of us can pull up a strong face but as long as you have a tiny strand of emotion, it gonna come back to hurt you, especially if it the first time of experiencing such...But wetin she carry dairy wey get that kind first class secret go do for school

@first class secret.

Who knows, maybe she's like me who likes to walk around with a piece of paper where i can easily scribble down my thoughts and feelings as they come

..

skarlett:


@first class secret.

Who knows, maybe she's like me who likes to walk around with a piece of paper where i can easily scribble down my thoughts and feelings as they come

Well I do dat in high school but even den, it always on me esp if it personal but this days, I prefer to type dem down, phone or system....
But skarlett you na writer so you gat drive your imaginations and thoughts into written form so they don't go. But this Nma, self funny, shey she wan dey fill her dairy for school ni and moreover I think dairy is to filled after the day so you can fill it with the day's activities ...I hope you gonna continue from where you stop very soon

Olabantu:

Well I do dat in high school but even den, it always on me esp if it personal but this days, I prefer to type dem down, phone or system....
But skarle tt you na writer so you gat drive your imaginations and thoughts into written form so they don't go. But this Nma, self funny, shey she wan dey fill her dairy for school ni and moreover I think dairy is to filled after the day so you can fill it with the day's activities ...I hope you gonna continue from where you stop very soon

I dunno for her o but there are some people like that.

I will dear, tomorrow

hummmm, dat man should sha not die