The Link To Light, (Published).

part 27

Ifes looked at Ryan and glanced down to her feet, and looked up again to Ryan and back to the floor... 

She almost went to scoop sand and pour on this person because she was fairly sure this was a ghost!

" Ryan!" Ifes said his name cautiously soaking the fact that he had not poofed into thin air , maybe it was actually Ryan but..

Why was he here? Is he here to see Mandy? or he mistakenly knocked on her door? All these questions bellowed in her mind. 

While she stared at him blankly, he continued looking at her and  glancing down when his gaze met hers fixed on him. 

She stepped back to discard whatever tension or nervousness that was working its way between them but of course, that seemed like an invitation to come in which he did

"Welco-" further words ceased as she stared into his face, for all the stare down that had occurred, she had missed some great details 

His nose was bleeding, his left wrist was swollen! 

W What? What happened to you Ryan?" Ifes breezed  towards Ryan, taking up his swollen wrist in her hands and doing more staring 

Ouch!" He winced in pains when she placed her right thumb on the swollen spots. 

And your eyes!" Ifes said diverting her gaze from his wrist to his eyes which was now close to tears! 

He hissed and looked away. I was attacked." 

She looked at him with her eyebrows raised questioningly! by who? by what?" 

I don't know!" 

What? What do you mean, you don't know?" 

I don't know the people that attacked me, and why they did this to me!" he said through a clenched lips. I never knew the bruises are quite  obvious, I'm sorry!" he exhaled sharply. I never intended to come to you like this!" 

_ come to me! Voices in her head echoed these words! 

But she thought he wanted to see Mandy? Or was that a slip of tongue? 

Maybe I should be on my way now." He yanked his wrist free from her hands, turned around and made for the door. She quickly grabbed his hands from the back. Not yet, I have a first aid box. 

He glanced over his shoulders. Thanks, I'll go to the school clinic." 

Yes, you sure will: but you need to get your first aid treatment. She gave him a look that she could only hope was reassuring. 

He drew in a deep breath and exhaled slowly! okay, if you insist." 

Yes, I sure do. Ifes let go of his hands so he could sit on one of the seats. 

Finding the box didn't take long, she immediately went to work cleaning  his injury

Ifese, why don't you find out why he's here?" Ifes tilted her head  around to check if someone had been there with them all this while as she didn't hear or see the doorknob move. 

W what's wrong?" Ryan asked when she abruptly stopped treating him to look around for the person with the strange voice. 

N nothing! Ifes grinned taking back her attention to what she was doing, but this time, not fully. She began to ask herself if he was headed there and then he was attacked. Why did he not just head to the clinic? What was so important he had to risk himself to say it?

Okay Lord, I will help me, let him talk. 

Umm! You said you wanted to see me? She asked not to take her gaze from Ryan's wrist. 

I came to apologize for all the wrongs I've done to you from our freshman year." Ryan said breaking the silence that encompassed around the duo. 

Gengen! Ifesinachi's heartbeat increased so fast,it could be used for a drumming and dancing competition, she felt like someone poured both hot and cold water on her, he should be the one feeling this way she concluded! 

But why exactly? She didn't know. 

is it that she was so excited? or astonished? or is it that she suddenly feels apoplectic? Probably.. 

but Wait, why should she? is this not the opportunity she had been waiting for all this time? is this not what she wanted? to reconcile one day with Ryan, to see him give his life to Christ like Mandy, Avery and Bradley did. 

oh Father! just take control, I haven't heard it all but I'm so excited that my heart could jump out of my body! 

oh Lord, take all the glory!!! .

Seeing that she wouldn't let him go down on his knees while apologizing, he sat back and started wailing! 

I am a fool, a big fool! 

I'm so stupid, very stupid for having a wrong perception about you, I am the biggest fool on planet Earth!!!" 

Shush! She placed her index finger on her lips. Don't ever say that again, Ryan you are one of the most wonderful people I have ever met. 

B but why would you say that? After all of my meanness!" Ryan buried his face in his palm still wailing. 

We all have a reason for all our actions." 

Yes, it all started back in our highSchool." 

Oh! He wants to tell me how it happened, what if I ask him not to bother telling me that I've heard it all from Mandy... She wanted to do that but decided to let him speak if that will help release whatever guilt he felt at that time. 

A Nigerian worked for my Dad as his financial secretary, and his son was my classmate in woodway prep... 

He worked for 15 years for my Dad, so my Dad thought he knew him well enough to trust him with his finances.. sometimes my Dad even sent him as a Representative in some of his business meetings. 

His son whose name was Emeka was a dummy, because of our close relationship with his family:, my dad would always ask me to assist him in some of his school assignments, and help teach him when he didn't understand.. that was because my squad of friends and I were part of the most brilliant students in our high School.

My Dad loved him like the brother he never had! Sometimes I even envied my Dad cus I also don't have a brother, I'm the only child of my parents..

So you see, he was more than just a sec to my Dad." Ryan looked up from his palm and tilted his head towards Ifes. 

So do you know what happened next?" 

Ifes shook her head  nudging him to continue. 

To be continued, see you in the next episode.