Chapter 17

Zion couldn't believe his eyes. They didn't judge him; they believed his explanation. Even Julia who detested people doing drugs didn't judge him. He hadn't experienced this type of love before.

He jumped on them and hugged them tight.

"Ah. Calm down oo. I could choke,” Zoe protested with a laugh.

“How come your arms are this wide,” Julia yelped. They burst into laughter. While tears flowed freely from his eyes. He released them from his grip as he sat back.

"Why are you crying?” Matthew asked, as the four of them wore concerned and questioning looks.

"It's just… You'll not understand,” Zion said in whimpering. After a moment of silence, he spoke up, "I've never been this loved. By friends. I mean you guys didn't judge me at all,” he said as he looked them in the eye.

“Aww,” Julia sighed.

"I've never had such friends. The closest I had ever had to a friend is Priscilla. Our house helps. And she sees me more as a boss than a friend. This means a lot to me guys,” he added.

“It's alright,” Julia said pulling him into a hug.

“We are friends. And that's what friends are for,” Matthew said.

Zion smiled as he wiped his tears. He had never felt as happy as he was feeling now in years.

"How did everyone find out,” he asked the question he had wanted to ask since

They then told him that Anita, Stephanie's friend was the one to start the gist. It happened that Anita's younger brother attended Greatness high. She had seen Zion's picture in the school's yearbook, they had talked and she discovered why Zion came to their school. He was expelled.

And as a gossip that she was, she didn't waste time to spread the gist in the class's WhatsApp group. A group Zion hadn't been added to. Stephanie added lot of spice to the rumor, and it spread like wide fire.

Zion felt bad that the students would be treating him in a particular way, from that day onwards. But he was just happy that he had friends around him. If it wasn't so, he would have a repeat and relapse of depression. And he couldn't even imagine what would come out of it this time.

"You guy's should get to class now. Break is almost over,” Gbenga announced.

“It's break already?” Zoe asked surprised.

“Yes, sleepy head. You slept here for hours,” Zoe said.

“Wao.”

“Let's get going. We would get snacks on the way,” Julia said as she jumped.

The rest followed suit, and the walked out of the garden. Gbenga towering just behind them.

They walked to the tuck shop. Ignoring the eyes that were staring at them, there was indistinct chatter amongst the students which made Zion very uncomfortable. He was weak in the knees but he felt a warm hand squeeze his, he turned and saw Julia. Her smile gave him reassurance as he walked with more confidence. They walked to the tuck shop and got the snacks the would be eating.

"All bills on me,” Zion announced with a smile.

"Ahah, rich man,” Matthew teased while Zoe smiled.

They walked out of the shop after getting what they needed. Walking to their class whose front was filled with students staring at them disgustedly as they walked towards them.

"You aren't entering this class today!” Stephanie yelled. "We don't want a drug addict in our class.” She added.

Tears rushed to Zion's face, but he tried his best to push them back. His throat heated up as he swallowed his saliva. A bowed his head in shame and regret.

“It's not like you own this class!” Julia defended.

“Will you shut up! See who's talking. Our number one class dullard. You must be stupid to think you can talk to me like that,” Stephanie barked.

Julia, deeply upset, motioned to hit Stephanie, but Matthew held her back. She shot a killing look at Matthew but calmed down when she heard Zoe's voice.

"It is you that is very stupid to talk to her like that!” Zoe said, in a rather cooler voice than the effect the words had. Zoe walked towards Stephanie and stood in front of her and her minions. Zion, Julia and Matthew just watched her.

"Aren't you all the dumbest. You stand in front of a class to disrupt the normal flow of order. Aren't you all just stupid,” Zoe said.

Stephanie opened her mouth to talk. "Yo—,” she said but Zoe interrupted her.

“I'm still talking. When I'm talking you shut up!” Zoe said. Her words sent chills to Stephanie's spine, and brought smiles to Julia and Matthew, while Zion just stood there not knowing what to do.

"When you guys get a life? Really, when? All you do is Gossip about others as if you don't have lives. You all are just frustrated human beings!"

“Before you talk bad about someone else, watch yourself. Stephanie, I pray your loose mouths gets you in a very deep trouble one day. And you Anita, walk better to improve your grades, it's not always about those who get gusts firsthand. Get a life!” She barked. And she walked back to her friends.

“Before I forget. Zion is not your mate, it's better you face your life than poke your nose into others business,” she ended. And walked into the classroom, the others following her.

"Waooo,” Zoe that was hot!!!” Matthew exclaimed as soon as they entered the class. The rest of the class was still outside.

"Thank you, Zoe.” Zion said.

"Come on. I couldn't just stand there and watch my friends being bullied,” she said sitting down.

“Yup. Thanks friend,” Julia said and hugged her. A smile crawled up her face as she stared at Julia.

The day went by with little or no gossips anymore. No one loved the idea of getting on the bad side of Zoe. The classes ended but Zoe had to leave early.

"You aren't studying with us?” Zion asked. Zoe seemed sober, and sad. But only Julia understood what was wrong.

"Yeah. I must get home. We'll see later,” She said, the others were around them already.

"Zoe isn't waiting? I had a sum I wanted you to check out,” Matthew complained.

“Don't worry Matthew. I'll see it tomorrow morning,” Zoe said. Matthew nodded.

“Bye"

“See you tomorrow.”

“Bye sweets!” They all hollered as she walked out of the class.

“Am I the only one that noticed something is off about her?” Zion asked.

"Yeah. She hasn't been herself since.” Matthew added.

“Uh,” Julia sighed as she sat down.

Matthew and Zion stared at themselves and later at Julia.

"You know something?” Matthew asked.

Julia sighed as she looked up at them.

"Tomorrow is her father's remembrance,” she said finally. The atmosphere went cold for Zion as he sat down.

"Really?” He asked. Julia nodded and Matthew sat in front of her.

"Yeah. And the day after is her birthday!” Julia added.

“Wao. I never knew that,” Matthew said.

“We need to be there for her tomorrow. Do you know what she does on that day?” Zion asked.

“Yeah. I know she visits her father's grave site after school,” Julia said. "But she never talks about it with anyone.”

“That was before. When she didn't have friends. You guys are her friends now,” they heard a voice say behind them. They turned to find Gbenga standing behind them.

"Yes. Corper Gbenga. She even called me her friend today!” Julia said excited.

"Then we have to do something special for her!”

~~~

The day was very sunny and hot. Darasimi was dressed in black, and she wore dark shades. She was at the grave of Gbemiga. The air was hot and uncomfortable, but what was more uncomfortable was the guilt she was feeling inside her. The guilt that had refused to go since the last time she saw her daughter.

It had been seven years since Gbemiga died. But this was the first time she was visiting the place after his burial. She felt ashamed of herself. She had been terrible, Gbemiga didn't deserve all she did to him before and after his death. All he had done was just love her and give her all she might need, but she repaid him by betraying him that much. That was unforgivable.

Her mind flashed back to when they met. She was just a bartender then. With lot of dreams and the love of money and the flashy lifestyle. He had met her as a growing businessman with High prospects. He showered her with money back then just because he loved her a lot. Not caring that she could only attain the secondary certificate. She had dropped out of school to find a way of surviving, at least to put food on her table. Gbemiga loved her a lot and asked to marry her. They had started on a really great note.

She remembered the night of their wedding and how he had promised her to always take care her. He did take very good care of her, even when he didn't have. He tried his possible best to make her happy, even when things went hard for him. He never got once make her lack. But she had been selfish. All she thought about were the designer cloths she could no longer wear. She thought of the expensive parties she could no longer attend. And then she betrayed him. Just for her to keep up with the standard she raised for herself. She started seeing other men, having extra marital affairs. She mingled with bad friends who didn't know how to keep a home or be faithful to their spouses. She really messed. Her pressure on Gbemiga had been one of the causes of his death. She couldn't have felt more guilty.

And as if that wasn't enough. She threw away her daughter just to be with another man. She had no idea of how her daughter was fairing. All she did was send her money. Zoe had become a shadow of herself because of her actions. The once bubbling and playful girl became the unfriendly and introverted one.

Tears rolled down her eyes as she reviewed her actions, she was deserving of death. She broke down as she started crying aloud, falling on her knees she dropped her head and cried.

"I'm sorry Gbemiga. I deserve to die!” Dara cried.

She wept and wept for minutes. Pleading and seeking forgiveness from the dead. She uttered words until her voice failed her. Her crying stopped when she noticed someone/people approaching.

I can't be seen here! She thought to herself as she got up. Cleaning her eyes with the back of her palm, she lifted her eyes to see who was coming. Her heart jumped to her mouth as she sighted them.

She recognized three people. Her daughter Zoo, her daughter's old friend, Julia. And…who? The person made her want to pee in her pants.

Zion.

She panicked and dropped the flowers she was holding. She dashed out of the cemetery through another path. Even if she was going to be caught. Not today and not by Zion.