Whispers in the bush Episode 12
After Emeka’s expulsion from school, his life took a drastic turn for the worse. The once proud and confident boy became the laughingstock of the entire village. Children whispered and giggled whenever they saw him, teenagers mocked him openly, and even some adults shook their heads in disappointment whenever his name came up in conversation.
“That’s the boy who got expelled,” people would say, their voices filled with judgment.
“He brought shame to his family,” others added, not bothering to lower their voices when they passed by his house.
The humiliation became too much for Emeka. He stopped going out completely. At first, he only avoided the market, but soon, he couldn’t even bring himself to step outside his family compound. The fear of running into his former classmates or hearing another mocking comment kept him locked inside.
Whenever Emeka heard voices outside, he would peek through a small crack in the wooden door. If he saw anyone he recognized, especially his former classmates, he would quickly retreat to the safety of his room, his heart pounding with shame. He couldn’t face them. The thought of their laughter and judgment made him feel weak and powerless.
While Emeka’s life faced downward, Chisom’s began to rise. Despite everything she had been through, she remained focused on her studies. Her hard work paid off, and she quickly became the best student in her class. Her teachers praised her determination, and even the head teacher, who had expelled Emeka, commended her for her resilience.
“She’s a strong girl,” one teacher said proudly.
“After all she’s been through, she deserves to succeed,” another added.
Chisom’s classmates, who had once avoided her, now looked up to her with admiration. Some even sought her help with their studies, asking her to explain lessons or share her notes. While Chisom appreciated their kindness, she was careful about the friendships she formed. Her past experiences had taught her to be cautious, and she kept her circle small, trusting only Carol and Jane.
Meanwhile, Emeka’s frustration grew. Each day felt like a prison sentence. He spent most of his time sitting in his room, staring at the walls and thinking about how his life had fallen apart. Whenever he heard laughter outside, he assumed it was about him. Even if it wasn’t.
One afternoon, as Emeka sat by the window, he spotted a group of his former classmates walking down the road. They were laughing and chatting, carrying their schoolbags. His chest tightened, and his palms grew sweaty. He quickly moved away from the window, his heart racing.
“They’re laughing at me,” he muttered to himself, pacing back and forth. “They’ll never let me live this down.”
The anger and shame began to boil inside him. He clenched his fists and sat down, burying his face in his hands. His thoughts turned to his mother, and a wave of bitterness washed over him.
“This is all her fault,” he said under his breath. “She’s the one who ruined my life.”
Emeka’s resentment toward his mother grew with each passing day. He blamed her for everything, his actions, his expulsion, and the shame he now carried. In his mind, if she had handled things differently, none of this would have happened.
One evening, as they sat in the living room, Emeka finally confronted her. His mother, Mama Emeka, was humming softly to herself. She looked up when she noticed Emeka glaring at her from across the room.
“What’s wrong with you?” she asked, frowning.
“What’s wrong with me?” Emeka repeated, his voice shaking with anger. “What’s wrong with me is you, Mama. You’re the reason my life is ruined.”
Mama Emeka’s hand froze. She stared at her son, her eyes narrowing. “What nonsense are you saying?” she snapped. “How am I to blame for your foolishness?”
Emeka stood up, his fists clenched. “You always defended me, Mama not minding my actions! You let Chisom and her mother humiliate me in front of everyone. Now, I’m the one who has to suffer.”
Mama Emeka rose to her feet. “You dare to talk to me like this?” she shouted. “You brought this on yourself, Emeka! If you hadn’t slapped that girl, none of this would have happened. Don’t blame me for your mistakes.”
“You always supported my evil deeds!” Emeka yelled back. “ Now look at me! I’m stuck here, hiding like a coward, because of you.”
The argument escalated, their voices echoing through the small house. Neighbors passing by slowed down, their ears straining to catch the heated exchange. It wasn’t long before the entire village knew about the fight between Emeka and his mother.
The days that followed were tense. Emeka avoided his mother, barely speaking to her except when necessary. Mama Emeka, on the other hand, refused to apologize, insisting that Emeka needed to take responsibility for his actions. The once close bond between them had been replaced by silence and resentment.
While Emeka’s life remained in turmoil, Chisom continued to excel. She poured all her energy into her studies, determined to create a better future for herself. Her hard work paid off when she received the highest marks in the midterm exams, securing her position as the best student in her class.
At the morning assembly, the head teacher announced her achievement. “I want everyone to applaud Chisom for her outstanding performance,” he said, smiling. “She is a true example of hard work and resilience.”
The students clapped and cheered, some even chanting her name. Chisom stood quietly, her face flushed with embarrassment but also pride. For the first time in a long time, she felt a sense of accomplishment.
After the assembly, Carol and Jane hugged her tightly. “You deserve this, Chisom,” Carol said, beaming. “You’ve worked so hard.”
“Yes,” Jane added. “We’re so proud of you.”
Chisom smiled, feeling a warmth she hadn’t felt in months. She knew there was still a long road ahead, but this small victory gave her hope.
Back in the village, news of Chisom’s success spread quickly. The same people who had once gossiped about her now spoke of her with admiration. “That girl is going places,” they said. “She’s smarter than we gave her credit for.”
For Emeka, the news was another blow. Hearing about Chisom’s achievements only deepened his shame and anger. He couldn’t understand how she had managed to rise above everything while his life had fallen apart.
One afternoon, as he sat in the corner of the compound, he overheard a group of villagers talking nearby. “Chisom is doing so well in school,” one woman said. “It’s a shame about Emeka. He had so much potential.”
Emeka clenched his fists, his face burning with humiliation. He couldn’t escape the comparisons, and every word felt like a dagger to his pride.
As the days turned into weeks, Emeka’s isolation grew. The once vibrant boy who had walked proudly through the village now spent his days hiding from the world, consumed by regret and bitterness. Meanwhile, Chisom continued to move forward, her strength and determination shining like a beacon for all to see.
One hot afternoon on a market day, everywhere was quiet except for the chirping of birds from a distance. Emeka was home alone with his mother who was deeply asleep in her room. He stood before her with a squeezed face, panting heavily. He then dashed out into the kitchen, picked up a sharp knife and returned to his sleeping mother's room.
"You have humiliated me enough, you caused all these Mama. It is either you die , or I die." He said in whispers to himself. Took a few steps forward, now standing before her, she was still asleep without noticing anything. He raised up the knife gnashing his teeth with hot sweat dripping down his face...
Next episode after 200 shæres.
#story #trendingpost #askquestions #
1 1

Enjoy
1 1

Nice one

Enjoy oo
1 1

Not bad
Keep it up
1

😁😁😁
1 1