chapter 1

The sun eclipsed under clouds which accumulated in the sky. It was going to rain soon. Children were running at high speed towards their homes. A few drops of water were already watering the ground. #Zed checked his watch. It was a quarter to 3 p.m. And soon the curtains of rain obscured his vision. He was all soaked. He then made the decision to take shelter with one of his closest comrades. When he reached the door, he knocked. A few minutes later, the door opened. An old lady stood in front of him and looked at him dazedly behind her glasses

<< Please can I come in I am a friend of #Vania>> Zed asked

Then she closed the door. Zed almost let out a cry when a dog the size of a lug 🐺 sniffed him. He had shivers. A few minutes later the door reopened. A young girl 👩 with tanned skin draped in golden pajamas with braided hair backwards. His upturned nose and thick lips made him look mischievous.

"I know a lot of Vania's friends but I've never seen you" replied the old woman unequivocally.

With his forearm, Zed mopped up the water running down his face

"Please if she is there, you can call her to confirm it." said Zed

" Fine, my boy. Let me go see her." said the old woman

Then she closed the door. Zed almost let out a cry when a dog the size of a lug sniffed him. He had shivers. A few minutes later the door reopened. A young girl with tanned skin draped in golden pajamas with braided hair backwards. His upturned nose and thick lips made him look mischievous.

"Oh my God Zed what are you doing here?" She shuddered sarcastically

" Luckily you're here Vania, your grandmother didn't want to let me in" Zed interrupted. "Is that your dog?" he asked

"Yes ! come #minos" she said to the dog.

The latter advanced towards the girl while dancing his long tail.

" This pooch gave me one of these scares!" said Zed

" He is not mean." said Vania

" So where did your grandmother go?" Zed asked

"In her room, she hates strangers. By the way, where are you from in this rain?" replied Vania

"A shitty date!" Zed answered

"With a girl friend ?" asked Vania

"No ! With a boy friend." answered Zed

"Whom, #Douglass?" asked Vania

"Not at all it's #Nathan, he got me in trouble." answered Zed

"How so ?" asked Vania

" Well, we were supposed to see each other this afternoon so that he could give me back my phone but he wasn't at home. On my return, the rain surprises me on the way and I had no place to shelter, which is why I thought of coming to your place." answered Zed

" Really, you're all soaked, I don't have a change of clothes for you, shall I give you my dress?"asked Vania

" Very funny. No thank you it will." answered Zed

" But you have to even take off these wet clothes to dry them in the meantime you will put on one of my pajamas that will do the trick." said Vania

" Thank you for your help Vania." said Zed

" You're welcome, so you go to the bathroom to change." said Vania

With Index Vania indicated the bathroom to Zed. The exchange only lasted a few minutes.

" Wow look at that" exclaimed Vania. "Big Zed in my pajamas. It deserves a photo we take a selfie?" she asked

" Not that Vania please" objected Zed.

"But how will we know that the big Zed was in my pajamas we're going to have a good laugh with my crazy girlfriends." asked Vania

"My faith! If it's to advertise me in college then I take it off." answered Zed

"But no, I'm kidding. You are hungry ?" asked Vania

" No thanks. Can I ask you a question ?" Zed asked

They sat down in the living room.

" OK Go ahead !" answered Vania

"Why do you live with your grandmother?" asked Zed

"Well, the distance between my school and where my parents live is very great, that's why I decided to stay with my grandmother to be closer. Besides, I feel very free here." answered Vania

"OK, I see" Zed said

"We rarely speak at Zed Middle School."said Vania

"It's because we don't see each other too much, and girls don't like guys who enter their realm."replied Zed

"Yeah ! all the college show offs want to go out with us" exclaimed Vania

"It's funny." replied Zed

" So tell me, do you have a girlfriend in the class?You hang around too much with #Consuella maybe it's her huh!" said Vania

"No ! We've known each other since kindergarten. We are like brothers. Let's say I don't have a girlfriend."replied Zed

" Big liar, I'm going to find out eventually."replied Vania

" All right, you just have to investigate."replied Zed

They chattered for half an hour until the last drops of rain exuded.

"It's going to stop raining soon," Zed remarked.

" But your clothes are still all wet."said Vania

"I don't have much choice Vania, I have to go."said Zed

"You see." said Vania

Then Zed headed to the bathroom to put his clothes back on.

"Thank you for your help Vania."said Zed

"Please. See you at school on Mondays."said Vania

"Yeah see you Monday."replied Zed

People began to move timidly. Zed looked left and right before crossing the paved road. Then went along a small winding avenue and disappeared behind a shop selling car spare parts

Lying on her bed, vania was calling her friend She picked up on the third ring.

"Hello Vania, she moaned in a sleepy voice."

Yvette greet her

"Hi #Yvette sorry to have disturbed your sleep"replied Vania

"It's okay, what's up?"replied Yvette

"You won't guess who was at my house today."said Vania

"Hum spit the piece my darling"said Yvette

"Zed. Can you imagine, he came to take shelter with me in the rain"said Vania

"What do you mean that Zed came to your house Oh I don't believe it."exclaimed Yvette

" I don't talk sweet talk, my dear. And that's not all, he was so wet that I had to lend him one of my pajamas."said Vania

"Ouhhh this one is the best"exclaimed Yvette

" I'm not kidding. Wait, I'll send you the photo that I secretly shot him on w******p, you'll believe me."said Vania

"Great, I'm waiting for it, we're going to have a lot of fun on Monday."said Yvette

"Cool."replied Vania

Vania ran quickly through her gallery, selected the photo and sent it to her friend who put it on status where everyone saw it. In a few minutes, the photo was already circulating in more than 70 laptops of college students. Zed was going to be the star of college without knowing it…

School management opens at 7:30 a.m. Already on the large courtyard college students paraded in all directions wearing their outfits. Vania and her gang were already there. Zed was famous for being late. The rumor of her photo in women's pajamas circulated like wildfire. The students settled into the room when the teacher arrived. A few minutes later Zed made his entrance as soon as the room was alarmed by noises. He understood nothing. Usually, no one cares about his late entries. The teacher called for silence. But the room was still laughing. One of the most talkative students shouted:

" Let's welcome Miss Zed" exclaimed students

It was still the laugh that the teacher failed to calm. Annoyed, he went to the disciplinary officer. During this time, the room was animated by cacophonous noises which came from everywhere. Zed went to sit in his usual place next to Nathan.

"Damn what are you doing!" Fit Zed irritated

" Dude, don't you know?"replied Nathan

" Aware of what?" asked Zed

" Here I'll give you your phone and connect quickly on w******p."said Nathan

"You're a bastard, you, I've been looking for you all weekend so that you can give me my cell phone."replied Zed

" Sorry I was out this weekend." answered Nathan

Zed connected on w******p. To his surprise, his photo in pajamas painted all the statuses. He turned to look annoyed at Vania. Vania understood that she had screwed up. During this time, the teacher returned accompanied by the disciplinary officer.

"Quiet everyone! " Cried the latter.

Then calm fell in the room.

"What is happening here ?" Asked the disciplinary officer.

No one answered. He wrinkled his face in anger

"It all started when This student there entered the room," accused the teacher, pointing to Zed.

"What Zed the latecomer? I should have guessed." exclaimed the disciplinary officer.

"So he's the one who made the noise in the room?" he asked the teacher.

"Yes sir," he said.

"Zed, in my office immediately," ordered the disciplinary officer.

Zed stood up with a vindictive look at Vania. She felt guilty and looked down. Zed received a puff when he was closer to the Disciplinary Officer.

" That'll teach you not to come late anymore," he yelled.

Then both of them left the room. Everyone calmed down. Faces that were happy with laughter turned to pain

In his office, the disciplinary officer ordered Zed to kneel down. He spent more than an hour in this position. Unable to bear it any longer, he begged the disciplinary officer to let him return to class. After many pleas, the disciplinary officer let him go with an additional sanction…

At the end of the day, Zed didn't want to talk to anyone, not even his buddy Nathan. But Vania thought she owed him an apology. She left her band with her sad look.

She knew she had a hell of an account to render to Zed. She went to join him.

" Zed, can I talk to you? " She simpered in a distraught tone.

Zed walked with his hands in his pockets, his head down. Guess he didn't even want to meet anyone's eyes.

"No !" Zed objected vehemently.

"Please, I'm sorry, I can explain to you," Vania's voice was worried.

" Explain what? I told you not to take pictures of me." exclaimed Zed

"Listen, I apologize, ok?"said Vania

" You got what you wanted, leave me alone," Zed dismissed, accelerating his steps.

Vania had to run and joined him in his brisk walk.

" Please Zed sorry I didn't know she was going to post the photo."

" To know or not I don't care and then give me peace, you want?" Zed spat annoyed

" Alright Alright."exclaimed Vania

Then Zed continued walking until he caught the taxi home. Vania was terribly saddened. She returned to join her friends.

" So what did he tell you?" Asked Yvette curiously

" He doesn't want to hear anything, he's angry, that's for sure. You too, what took you to publish the photo on social networks."replied Vania

" Hum it was for fun nothing more."said Yvette

" Yes, it made you laugh. Everything is my fault."replied Vania

" Do not say that. It will pass," one of her friends intervened.

" Yeah, you'll see that he'll be in his bath again when the case is over" added Yvette

"Listen girls there I have to go home I'm very hungry."said Vania

" Here we go, I'll come with you my dear," Yvette suggested.

Then they left the others…

In the afternoon around 5:30 p.m. a black car stopped in front of a newly built building . The occupant descended. He was a baron-like man in his thirties. Dressed in a velvet jacket and her hairstyle made her look like a leader. The man at the entrance gave her a friendly smile. Then the other approached the ground floor and took an elevator. He went up to the third floor. There were several unoccupied desks. Most of the employees had already left. Only a few people working overtime. The man went to knock in front of a desk.

" Come in, it's open!" Said a voice from the other side of the door

The other grabbed the door.

"What a surprise my dear #Evariste" exclaimed a man behind the desk.

"Oh my dear #Christophe always working overtime huh"exclaimed Evariste.

" I have my work cut out for me, I didn't know you were supposed to come."

The other shook his hand.

" I absolutely had to see you," he said ruefully

" I hope you bring me good news?"

" It's up to you whether they are good or bad."

"OK !"

" First, tell me how the newspaper is doing?"

- Alright, I'm the editor now.

- Really my congratulations. You have fully deserved it. And what are you working on?

- Oh the paperwork, I'm running three articles right now that are due out next week.

- I must admit that you excel in the media world my dear Christophe.

- Good and if you tell me the reason for your visit

- OK my friend. I came to tell you that the article you did on the #Findlay company was not viewed favorably by its leaders.

- I did my job, Eva.

- This job is getting you into trouble right now.

- What do they want? That I keep quiet about their abusive exploitation of ecology?

- I know that you are a defender of ecological rights but I advise you not to publish any more an article concerning them.

- My dear, the press in this country has been intimidated for many years. I just asked for an interview with the question manager to tell the world his vision on environmental issues.

- But they did not expect this interview to be published in all the country's press.

- My old an interview with the head of a large company is ready to sell for dearly in other press houses.

- You know I've been your friend since university and it's appealing to our friendship that I ask you not to publish the second article.

The editor frowned.

- Too late, at the moment all the teams are working on that. In addition freedom of the press is defended by the constitution.

- I see that you are obstinate. But hey, I'll have played my role as a friend. Now I have to leave you I have some business waiting for me.

- Wouldn't you like to go to dinner together?

- No, another time is better.

- Alright, goodbye my dear.

They shook hands. Then Evariste took out a pair of glasses from the inside pocket of his jacket. He carried it and left the editor's office. The other showed his indifference by having his eyes riveted on his computer. Christophe had worked for hours. Feeling exhausted, he stopped everything with the intention of starting again first thing tomorrow. His car was parked downstairs. It was almost 8 p.m. He got into his car and headed home…

On the way down a dark avenue, a car appeared🚘 out of nowhere and blocked his way. Surprised he braked. Two masked men holding guns in hand spring out. They didn't seem to be asking the editor for an interview.