JEMIMA

Chapter 45

"Toni, where have you been?", those were my first words as she managed to look me in the eye. I wanted to rush to her and hug her, and that was what I did. I didn't wait for an answer as I rushed towards her and hugged her.

I expected the familiar embrace, I expected her to giggle. I expected her to hug me back. But all she did was pull me back. My jaw dropped as I looked around embarrassed. I bowed my head as I cried, everyone else was silent. It was as if they were watching a movie.

" What did I do wrong, Toni. What? What happened to us, what did I do!", I asked. Indeed, I was desperate for an answer. I didn't see why she was acting this way, I had been a good friend all along until she turned away from me.

"What wrong did I commit. Months back, you cut off with me. On something, I said sorry about. So why are we still like this", I said in tears. She sifted as I stared at her.

" I thought I was your friend Toni. Please tell me what I did wrong ", I asked in tears.

" It's not you Jemima!" She said finally, my heart skipped a beat as I watched her. "You are definitely a good friend, the best anyone could ever ask for. It's not about you, it's me" Toni said bowing her head.

"Jemima. I was envious, that's what happened. I should be the one saying sorry here. I should be the one apologising for being a hypocrite. You did nothing wrong"

Envious? Of me?

"Huh?" I said.

"Yes. I didn't know how jealous I was of you until I started to show it. You have everything Jemi. I can only wish to live your life. My life was a mess, and all I could see was the brightness of yours against mine. I didn't deserve to be your friend. I was just messed up. All you could do was be perfect and I couldn't stand that. I'm so sorry",

" Asides from you, I had no other friend. After falling out with you.  I saw how miserable my life was, I saw how terrible I was. I didn't have a life aside from being the abused girl who tries hard to be a perfects girls best friend. I felt useless, all I did was get from you and you never got from me", Toni cried.

"But I'm not perfect!" I yelled.
I was tired of all the I'm perfect drama all around me. How could I be perfect when my entire life feels like a lie?

"Jemi. You don't know how much I wished to live your life. Your beauty and calmness. Your boldness and intelligence. Your family, the peace of mind!"

"And I said I'm not perfect! How can I be when my whole life is a lie!". I yelled at her. I sat on the floor and started crying. Surprising everyone watching. They probably thought I was just saying that to console, my friend. But that was it, I really wasn't perfect. Not at all.

" You call me perfect! Everyone thinks I'm a magical being that fell from heaven. But that's not true. How can I be perfect when I don't even know who I am? I don't know how I will react when things change. You say I'm beautiful and calm, I say I'll prefer I'm the opposite so you won't feel inferior to me. You say I'm intelligent and bold, that can't even change and control things that happen to me!" I sniffled.

" And you say I'm from a perfect family!", I laughed sarcastically. "Only if you know those you think are perfect are nowhere near that!"

            ~~~

Ephraim sat alone on a long bench in the lecture room. Lectures had ended for the day and he had nothing to do. This time last two weeks, he was hanging out with Jemima. But after what happened a few days ago, he hadn't seen her and she had stopped taking his call.

Dunsin was right. He was dispensable. He was trying hard not to think only about himself now. But it was so hard, he couldn't imagine any other reason Jemima would stop talking to him except that she was done with him.

His heart ached and he rubbed his chest. Love was hard. All he saw as be closed his eyes to sleep for days was an image of Jemima. She was clouding his mind and living in his head rent-free. No, he loved her.

But maybe it wasn't the right thing.

His phone rang and he saw the caller ID just above Jemima's picture he was staring at. It was an international number. His lips curving into a smile already knowing who it was.

Maybe it was time to leave.

Ephraim's older sister lived in Canada with her husband. Being very close to them, they had persuaded him overtime to join them overseas to continue his studies. He had kept his stand with a 'no' all this time. But maybe it was time to say yes.

He felt drawn to leave the country. Make his Dad happy with his move to live with his step-sister. And fulfil his sister's desire to have him with him. He couldn't wait to explore the opportunities outside the country.

That would make everyone happy. Right?

He continued smiling as he stared at Jemi's picture.

   

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Dear reader. I love you ❤

Thanks for coming this far.

Ephraim is leaving????? 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
Let's pray this isn't true oo.

What will Sister Jemima do?

😅😅😅

This chapter is very short. I'm sorry next one will be longer.

Don't forget to vote, comment on your thoughts and tell your sweet friends about this book.

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