Chapter 2

After the close of school, Nnamdi went to Ebuka’s class so they could go home together; they usually went home together any day his driver didn't come to pick him but Nnamdi noticed that his

a friend was very moody, he wondered what was wrong with his friend, it was so unusual for Ebuka to be moody, he was always cheerful.

"Ebuka what is wrong with you? You are looking unhappy, is anything the matter? Did anybody offend you?" Nnamdi asked concerned.

"It's nothing, am not just in a good mood today,” Ebuka said

"Don't expect me to believe that tell me the truth, something is bothering you, why don't you share it with me, remember a problem shared is half solved", Nnamdi said.

After much persuasion from Nnamdi, Ebuka opened up to him and told him

everything that transpired between him and Rose.

Nnamdi could not believe his ears; he was so surprised that a girl could make

Ebuka is so bothered.

" Ebuka you can't be serious, so it's because of Rose that you are acting like the world is about to end? Ebuka

what has gotten over you? I can't believe you are acting this way because of a girl", Nnamdi said feeling disgusted.

"Nnamdi you won't understand, I love this girl so much and I can do anything for her, I want you to help me talk to her, I will be so grateful", Ebuka pleaded.

Nnamdi saw the seriousness in his friend's eyes and decided to help him.

"Ok I promise to help you, but you have to take it easy on yourself, don’t let one arrogant girl kill you for me and your parent ooo, you know you are the only son, and my best friend, I don't want anything to happen to you,” Nnamdi said.

When Ebuka got home, tears streamed down his eyes as he lay on his bed thinking about what had happened in class that day, he wondered why Rose hated him that much. Just then his mother, a middle-aged beautiful woman came into his room, Ebuka quickly cleaned his face as he heard the sound of the door opening.

"Darling how was school today?" Mrs. Okafor asked, sitting

on the bed beside her son.

" fine mum, "Ebuka replied but his

mother noticed that he was unhappy.

" What is the matter? You look

dull, is there any problem?” Mrs. Okafor asked in a panic

" Nothing mum, am just tired and stressed from today's work, I just need

some rest and I will be fine,” Ebuka said.

"Hei! I said it, I was not in support of you being ahead boy, now they want to kill you for me with work, I think it's high time you resign from being  ahead boy so you would stop overworking

yourself", Mrs. Okafor said,

"but Mum am not complaining,

besides mum you are being overprotective of me, am no longer a

small boy I can take responsibility for myself,” Ebuka said.

"Ebuka I don't want anything to happen to you are my only child, our only son, it took us many years to have you so we have to protect you", Mrs. Okafor said,

” ok mum", Ebuka replied.

"Ok son, let me go prepare your lunch, don’t stay too long so the food won't get cold", Mrs. Okafor said as she stood up to leave.

One Friday afternoon after the school had closed, Nnamdi decided to secretly follow Rose to talk to her. Meanwhile

Rose and her friends walked home together, laughing and chatting

as they walked, soon Ruth, Angela and Amanda got to the part that led to their homes, they bade Rose goodbye as they went their separate ways. When Nnamdi saw that Rose was now alone he quickly ran to block her.

"Rose, Rose," Nnamdi called after her. Rose wondered who might be calling her as she turned to see Nnamdi running towards her.

"This one you are running like this is anything after you besides is this the way to your house? I have never seen you go this way before", Rose said.

"Nothing is after me, actually there is something important I

want to discuss with you, I want to ask you for a huge favor and I will be very grateful if you can help me", Nnamdi said.

"What type of favor is it?" Rose asked in surprise.

"It's about my friend Ebuka, he has been acting strange these days and he made it known to me that he loves you but you

have refused to give him a chance, this is the first time my friend will ever act this way because of a girl, I came to beg you to please accept my friend, "Nnamdi pleaded.

So you followed me from school to beg me to accept your friend, I have made it very clear to your friend that is not interested in him, so if you don't mind excuse me I have a lot of things to do at home," Rose said as she walked out of him.

Nnamdi called her but she didn't look back. Nnamdi was frustrated. Rose met her mum preparing to go to the market to sell her beancake, Rose greeted her and walked inside. Mrs. Chinonso, Rose's mother was surprised at the way her daughter greeted her and knew that all was not well.

"Rose come back here, you don't look happy is anything the problem?", Chinonso asked. "it's nothing Ma am not just happy", Rose said.

"Talk to me my daughter, what’s the problem, share it with me being

your mother", Mrs. Chinonso said

"It's our school head boy Ebuka, he has been disturbing me to be his girlfriend but I refused still he continues disturbing me.", Rose complained.

"Ehn...you mean Ebuka, the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Okafor is asking you to be his girlfriend?, wow, that's good news, "Mrs. Chinonso said excitedly.

"Mum are you serious? I can't believe you are happy about this", Rose said

"Of course am not joking, don't you know that the Okafor family is one of the richest people in this community? It’s a

very good news my daughter, I think you should agree", Mrs. Chinonso said but this got Rose angrier as she angrily walked out of her mother for the first time.

****************

How time flies...Rose was now preparing for the waec which was now fast approaching but unfortunately Rose parent could not afford the waec fee as a result she couldn't sit for the exam. she was so sad about the situation, she tried doing all the menial jobs she could do but she was not able to get the moneyer parents were not financially capable to pay the fees. Rose started following her mother to sell beancake.

Soon Ebuka noticed Rose's absence at school and wondered what could have made her stop coming to school especially at the period when they were preparing for their waec examination. He later found out from Ruth that Rose was not able to pay her fees. When Ebuka got home, he confided in his mother and begged her to help him to pay Rose fees; she agreed to do it to make him happy.

The next day Ebuka paid for Rose's waec fee to the surprise of her friends. Immediately after the close of school Ruth, Amanda and Angela rushed quickly to Rose's house to tell her the good news. When they got to Rose's house they found the washing clothes she was so happy to see them, she brought them out along a Bench for them to Sit down.

"How was school today? I know I have missed a lot", Rose said as she continued washing.

"School was fine today, we came here to share the good news with you", Amanda said.

"Good News? What’s it about?", Rose

asked?.

"Congratulations, Ebuka have paid for your waec fees",

Angela announced.

"What? This is unbelievable", Rose exclaimed, in shock.

"We came to inform you so that you can start preparing for the waec because time is no longer on your side ", Ruth said.

Rose thanked them and promised to appreciate Ebuka the next day. She escorted her friends as they discussed. Rose broke the good news to her parent, they were so happy and thankful to God for sending a helper to them, Mr. and Mrs. Chinonso both went to appreciate their benefactor. As they got to Mr. and Mrs. Okafor’s house they met Mr. Okafor in the sitting room, sitting on a couch and reading a newspaper.

"Good evening Sir", Mr. and Mrs. Chinonso greeted."Good evening,

please who are you and to what do I owe this visit?", asked Mr. Okafor who was in his mid 40,s.

"Am Mr. Chinonso and this is my wife, we are here to appreciate you for helping us pay our daughter's Waec fee, we are very grateful Sir", Mr. Chinonso said profoundly.

Mr. Okafor didn't understand what they were saying, he didn't remember paying any child’s waec fee.

"I honestly don't understand what you mean Sir, I don't remember paying anybody's waec fee", Mr. Okafor said.

" Our daughter told us that your son paid for her waec fee, that's why we

are here to appreciate you," Mrs. Chinonso said with a smile.

"You mean my son paid for your daughter's Waec fee, where did he get the money? Ebuka!Ebuka!!," Mr. Okafor called out.

"Am coming Dad," Ebuka answered as he hurried out of his room.

He greeted Mr. and Mrs. Chinonso, he wondered who they were as he had never met them before.

"Ebuka do you know these

people?" Mr. Okafor asked.

"No Sir I haven't met them before", Ebuka said.

"We are Rose's parents; we came to appreciate you for assisting us to

pay her waec fee."Mrs. Chinonso said.

"Ebuka is that true?", Mr

Okafor asked.

"yes Dad I did, when I discovered that she had no money to pay for the waec examination which is around the corner I decided to do something to help her when I discussed it with Mummy she

agreed to help me", Ebuka said.

"But you should have told me," Mr. Okafor said. "Am sorry Dad,

you traveled at that time", Ebuka said.

"No problem, get them some drinks please", Mr. Okafor said

"Ok dad", Ebuka replied as he hurried to the kitchen to get them drinks.

By the time they got home, Rose was already cooking dinner of porridge yam.

"Welcome mum and dad, how was it?” Rose asked as she brought two glasses of water for them.

"We met his father but he

wasn’t even aware of what his son did," Mr. Chinonso said as he took a glass of water.

"You mean his father was not even aware that he paid for my waec fee? then how did he get the money?” Rose asked.

"When his father asked him he told us that he told his mom about it and she

was the one who gave him the money", Mrs. Chinonso said.

"He’s such a good kind-hearted boy may God reward him richly, so now that the issue of your waec fee is resolved, you have to read hard to get good grades in the waec examination,” Mr. Chinonso said.

"Yes, papa I promise to make you proud, let me quickly check on the food," Rose said.

At Ebuka’s house at the dining table, Mr. Okafor asked Ebuka about his relationship with Rose.

"Dad like I said earlier, Rose is a friend of mine and schoolmate", Ebuka replied as he munched his chicken.

"Ebuka we are your parent and we know you very well, there must be something you are hiding from us, you must really like this girl for you to do such a thing", Mrs. Okafor said.

I can see that you are interested in knowing who Rose is to me I love Rose and I will love to marry her in the future, by God's grace,” Ebuka said but this only made his parents laugh.

"Ebuka you can't be serious, don’t tell me you are in love with the daughter of that pauper,” Mr. Okafor asked, still laughing.

"Dad, I’m serious, I intend to marry her in the future,” Ebuka said on a serious note.

"Come to think of it, what do you think is

the meaning of love? you are already dreaming of marriage at this

age when you have not finished your academics, besides I can't even let you bring such kind of girl to this house as your fiancée", Mr. Okafor said.

"But dad I lo....,” Ebuka was interrupted by his father.

"Shut up! at your age you are talking about love, when I was your age I didn't even know what a relationship was not to talk of love, I don't want to hear anything concerning Rose in this

house again," Mr. Okafor warned.

"Yes Sir," Ebuka replied with a

sad voice.

The dining room because silent as they ate their dinner. soon Mr. Okafor left for his room.

"Ebuka you are too small to be talking about love, you are

just eighteen for goodness sake, you haven't even gone to the university, at this stage of your life you should be thinking about your education you know you are the only son of this family we love you and we want the best for you", Mrs. Okafor advised her the son who was looking moody.

"Ok, mum I have heard you,"

Ebuka said and continued his food.