DESTINY OR DENIAL

CHAPTER EIGHT

It had been three months since Tunji's death. I stopped attending classes and only went to write the exam which ended two weeks ago. Tunji's death caused a lot in my life; I had slept in classes throughout the exam since it won't be convenient to go from my house. Feeding had been difficult too and so many other things. New session is in two weeks and there is still no means of getting fee. I was able to pay the last fee with Tunji's help, and now Tunji is no more. My mother had been sick for about a month now, her back bone was affected by a rock fall at where she worked as a laborer in a marble production cite and now am the only one responsible for all the duties of caring for her and myself because she can't even go out.

I was lost in thought as I was passing through the main gate of our school, unaware of the oncoming vehicle. I was lucky enough that the driver was fast at stepping at the brakes which lead to the car hitting me with a slight force that resulted to a little scratch in my arm and ankle as I hit the floor.

"Oh my God I am so sorry", a lady in her mid twenties stepped out of the car running towards me.

"I was on phone and was honing while you are crossing but you are not responding, hope you are not hurt?" She asked pulling me up.

"No I am fine it's just a little scratch on my arm, I wasn't looking too, so it's not your fault", I replied smiling.

"Please come with me to the clinic, so as to attend to those spots."

"No, no, noit's not that serious,"

"Are you sure?" She asked looking deep into my eyeballs. Wow this girl is beautiful, I thought as I stared at her not answering her question. "Hello, are you sure you are alright?"

"Oh, sorry I am absolutely okay", I replied with embarrassment. What has gotten over me, a girl just hit me with a high Lander jeep, and I was here staring at her like a moron.

"Can I get your mobile number, since you insisted on not going to hospital, so I can ask after your health", she said extending her phone to me.

"Sure, it's not a problem", I collected the phone and punched my number in"and by the way I am Adebayo" I said handling the phone back to her. "

"Emmanuella, but call me Ella", she said extending her hand for a shake.

"Nice meeting you,"I replied taking her hand.

"My pleasure", she retorted "I will give you a call." She said entering her car.

"I will be expecting."I said and kept staring at the car until it's out of sight as she drove off.

"Hello, who am I speaking with?"I asked over the phone, as I got home that day.

"It's Ella, the lady that accidentally hit you few hours ago",

"Oh!Ella, how are you doing?"

"I am fine, how is your arm?"

"It has gotten better, thanks."

"I am very sorry about what happened", she apologized.

"You have to stop apologizing, seriously it's nothing",

"If you say so, but please I will like to ask you for a favor", she said with a pleading tone.

"Anything for you", I replied smiling to myself, at least feeling some sort of tingles in my heart

"Can we meet tomorrow please" She asked,

"Okay no problem, where and when?"

"I will text the address to you,thank you very much."

"You are welcome" I said and ended the call. I returned to the clothes I was folding before her call came in and thinking about why she wants to see me, I heard my mama calling me, "ma!! I will be there in a minute." I said and left her clothes, to yield the call.

*****

Standing outside the gate of a bungalow building across the same street as our institution, not too far from the school main gate,I picked my phone "hello I am at the gate", I called Ella to inform her of my arrival to the place she sent to me,

"Okay I will be there in a minute", she said and the gate opened shortly after she dropped the call immediately revealing her. "Come in please", she said and I followed her into the well furnished apartment. "Welcome to my humble home", she announced as we stepped in.

"Wow this place is marvelous in fact your parents have a good taste", I commented looking around the sitting room because have not seen a well furnished apartment as that before.

"Nah, this is my doing, not my parents, I am staying here alone", she replied smiling as she ushered me to a seat.

"You mean you live in this big place alone", I was astonished,

"Come on stop doing like it's a palace or something, my dad has the money so", she said waving me off. "What will you like to drink",

"Anything nonalcoholic is okay by me", I replied.

"Okay give me seconds I will be back." She came back with a carton of fruit juice with two glass cups, she served the drinks and we started a tête-à-tête

"So what do you do", she asked

"Well I'm an undergraduate."

Labastina University studying sociology although am now in my final year."

"Wow what a coincidence I am from the same institution but in 400 level studying agricultural science."

"That's great so can I know more about you," she asked with a more serious tone, I hesitated a bit but gave in and told her all I could remember about my life, before I could reach the deadline tears started dropping from her cheek, while I was sobbing as I tell her the rest of the story.

"Was that why you are lost in thought the day I hit you along the school gate", she asked when I decided to end the tale,

"Yes", I said crying.

"I am so sorry Bayo, but I want you to know that it's not your fault, everything is destined to happen that way", she said consoling me feeling greatly moved by my life and can't control the tear from running down her cheeks. "I know I came across you a bit late but I will do my best in making your life better, because a friend in need is a friend indeed. Do you mind moving down here since, I stay here alone and there are three rooms here?" She asked.

"Umm, I don't think that is a good idea," I replied.

"Please think about it, there is nothing wrong with it," she pleaded.

"I will give it a thought then, but I can't promise you it'sgonna be a yes."

"Okay then," she said

We chatted some more, and I left for my housewhen it was getting dark.