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Nebechi's POV:

Under the cashew tree after exams, The school was empty. Only him and I remained, staring at each other.

"Nebe. I like you a lot. Will you be my friend?"

Then a seal of lips I was bound never to forget.....

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When I got home that night, Mama and Ogechi were waiting impatiently for me. The TV was switched on admist the silent night as I trudged into the house slightly drunk. Mama blocked my way. I glare at her in exasperation.

"Where are you coming from at this time of the night?" She questioned.

"So, Ngozi, you have started staying late nights that's you've suddenly forgotten your wifely duties, eh?"

" Ngozi, havebyou been sleeping outside?" Mama glared at me. If only looks could kill. I wanted to die at that moment.

"What's that smell? Have you been drinking?" Ogechi screamed. " Jesus. Ngozi. When did you start drinking alcohol?"

"Both of you are just as annoying as him." I replied them curtly, pushed my way through them and branched to my room for a shower. As soon as I reached my room, I fell on the bed with a thud and flipped, starting hard at the ceiling. I was still furious that I didn't get to break both Ikekwere and his side chick. Neche had to stop me.

"Do you want to be ridiculed for the rest of your life? This isn't a way to sort things." She grabbed my hand and forced me to the seat.

"This... This.. how did things escalated to this? Is this what Ikekwere thought of me all along?" I couldn't hold myself as I tried to suppress my sobs. I watched the four of them leave for a hotel. Perhaps, he thought that I would become a house wife and never know what he was up to. Inside the taxi, I cried like my love one died. It was too painful. I couldn't do anything. Nothing else but cry. I wished that Ikekwere wasn't like that. I wished I was a better wife for him. I wished I didn't complain to him at all. I blamed myself for oppressing him.

"So, what are you going to do after seeing all this?"

" What?" I said blankly. "I'm going to quit my job."

"What?" Neche was dumbfounded. Whatever she said to convince me made my decision even resolute. I couldn't change my mind. She left me to my own. I didn't want to loose Ikekwere. What would the world think of me if I lost him? What about the children? They would never forgive me for overreacting if I fell out with their father. I made up my mind to be the house wife he wanted. I didn't want to confront him about what happened earlier. I just had to pretend it never happened and I didn't see it. It was hard for me. So hard.

When I woke up the next morning, Ikekwere was sleeping peacefully beside me, holding my waist. I thought for once maybe I saw wrong. He trusted me. Neche was wrong. She could never severe the bond I shared with Ikekwere. I swooped out of bed to make breakfast for the family. Nebechi had already dressed for school because they had practical exams that morning.

"Mommy, Good morning."

"Good morning, Nebechukwu." I replied.

"Why do you looked like you cried last night?" She observed me. " Your eyes looks puffy."

"Aren't you prepared for your practical exams?"

"I'm still nervous, Mom!"

"Don't be too overconfident too."

"Ah..Nsogbu o. So how should I tackle this exam now?" She gesticulated.

I smiled wryly at her little joke. " Have you washed your food flask?"

"Yes."

"Give it, so I can dish out the food so you won't miss the school bus."

"What did you prepare?"

"Plantain pottage."

"I'm sure to write this exam in rainbow colours."

........

After dressing for work, I met Ikekwere and his family eating at the dinning.

"You're already leaving?" He was surprised. "Did you iron my clothes?"

"You can iron them yourself. I've got to go submit my resignation letter today or I'll wait for another month." I replied joining them to eat.

"You're resigning?" Both him and Ogechi asked.

" Yes."

"Isn't this wonderful? What changed your mind all of a sudden? Cause I know what I said couldn't have gotten to your head." He was smiling like he won a lottery. That...that...

"You've seen it. It has happened." I replied without interest.

"Ehn. Our wife. Will you take me to your work place for a fill in? I'm looking for a job and I think you've helped me find one. Since you're resigning, let me work." Ogechi beamed.

"It's banking business. Are you sure you can handle that?" I was uncertain that Ogechi could work as a banker.

"My daughter is quite intelligent so I don't get why you're asking that obnoxious question like she's not fit." Mama glared at me.

I shrugged. It was none of my business what happens to her. "Get ready. I've no time."

It was pretty late when I reached the bank. The new manager had already occupied his position at our branch bank. Ogechi was looking around and silently commenting on the ladies attires in the bank. I wanted to ditch the clown and leave the bank for her to make a fool of herself. I knocked into the manager's office and got inside as soon as he permitted me to come in. We walked into the office and sat when he motioned us to.

"Anything I can do for you?"

"I came for an interview." Ogechi chipped in. The manager stared at her for a while then broke into a smile.

"I'm sorry. Today is not shceduled for candidate interviews. Have you also come for the interview?" He asked me while enjoying swinging on his swivel chair. Mr Ajewole had said the new manager was a no nonsense man. He didn't look like a serious man to me.

"No. I actually work here. I came to submit my resignation letter."

"what? Why? I was getting to know the bank staff and you are opting to resign. Isn't this interesting?" I kept mute but he continued. "And if I may ask, what's the reason for your resignation?"

"Health issues." I replied simply.

" Oh." He retreated his gaze from me and faced Ogechi who beamed as soon as she had his attention on her. "I will schedule vacant positions on the Bank's online platform for all to see." He said. "I hope you follow the Bank on all social platforms?"

" Exactly." She nodded.

" Then, you'll get notified when there's a slot for new candidates. You can leave us now." He smiled at Ogechi while bluntly gesturing her to leave. Ogechi stared at both of us rather suspiciously, stood up and reluctantly left the room while shutting the door. The manager chuckled then swivled towards me, " Submit your resignation letter, Ngozi. Then tell me where you've been after Youth service." He smiled.

...........

I returned from work that early afternoon with Ogechi. Mama was quite asleep on the sofa with the TV switched on. I had unlocked the door before coming in because we all had spare keys so as not to knock for a particular reason that I didn't wish to remember. It was quite hilarious but uncomfortable though. Ogechi tapped on her mother who jolted up with a scream.

"What happened, Mama?" We both asked her, frightened.

"Ah. I'm so tired. It's just a bad dream. God forbid. " She flicked her fingers severally, flinging the over her head in circular motion. An act Igbo people always do to reject bad luck. I shrugged lightly, my keys jangled as I walked towards my room for a nice shower and make food for the afternoon. After showering, I went to the kitchen to warm the plantain pottage I left for that morning. I discovered Mama didn't even warm the food or eat. Mama was willing to stay hungry when she had hands and legs to make it herself. Must she wait for someone to cook for her before she eats? While the pot of plantain pottage was still steaming, Ogechi came in, went to the tap with an empty cup and poured water for herself, then gulped.

"Ah. I'm so thirsty. Water is life. Isn't it so, Ngozi?"

What does she want? How's her thirst my business? "Indeed." I replied her with a fake smile.

"So, are you going to tell me what you and that handsome manager talked about earlier?" She smirked.

I spun my head to stare at her, The werey.

Nebechi's POV:

That afternoon, at the midst of studying inside our spacious exam Hall, A student ran to us to announce that our practical exam papers had arrived. It wasn't new to me but I was upset I didn't get to stay by the window side because the set I was also rewriting my exam in was much. My relief was that, I wasn't the only one rewriting the exams. Some of my graduated classmates came to merit their exams before they could enter University. The whole students rushed to hide their books, hide their phones into their body for exam malpractice, then settled to receive their papers; it was complete chaos.

The exam supervisor was welcome by our school teachers with a can of malt and few snacks. They shared few laughs while the students got ready. The space between the academic students was too much that one would have to literally walk to his partner for help.

"Good morning, Students. I'm Mrs Pauline Nwodo AKA sharp eyes." Students laughed at her remarks. "Nothing gets past me. If you all think you are smart, then I'm smarter. If you get caught with phone or any cheating notes, it will be confiscated from you and you'll have no rights to write this exam." She stated.

"So, my money will just disappear like that. She be winch?" One of the students whispered and they laughed at his joke.

"Everyone, stand up make I search una." She declared. Everyone stood up. There was chaos as students moaned heavily at their upcoming loss. The supervisor looked serious though. She had a cakey make-up and her falsies [fake eye lashes] were long enough to sweep the school's compound. She was a Mrs. Yes. She looked like a married woman and mother. I wasn't going to forget her intro any second because I thought it relaxed my nerves.

The search began. I watched her bring out a phone from the underwear of one girl notoriously known for being too boastful. Mrs Pauline had a smirk on her face as she cackled and sent her aside to check others. When it reached my turn, she stared at me for a while and laughed in mock disgust.

"Who are you trying to make goo goo eyes for? Eh? Miss Innocent eyes, they say, the innocent are the most dangerous, come make I search you! I no love you o!" The students laughed at her jest despite the huge tension. She groped her hands all over my body in search of what she wanted but couldn't find. I even moved back when I felt uncomfortable with her groping my chest area. "Smart girl." She smiled at me. "But I'll be watching you."

The Exam kicked off as soon as the question paper was shared. While I received mine, I imagined all sort of knowledge to rush into my head as soon as I touched the paper like that of a typical Nollywood movie.

"Your Exam starts now." She announced. "Remember, no cheating, no giraffing, no borrowing, no noise. If you're caught, anyway, practical exams are nothing, so I don't have a heavier effect."

I watched as students scribbled away on their answer sheets; their dancing pen reminded me of a slaughtered chicken dancing to the call of death. Nothing was on my head. I didn't know what to write. It was a biology practical exam; my favorite subject but yet the specimens provided for us to identify, I could hardly make them out. Tension filled my lungs. The Supervisor's eyes would swoop to mine and she would smirk and turn away as quickly as an tiger looking for a scape goat. Before I started writing, the time to submit was choking me.