A long walk

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A good heart is worth more than riches, so is a good name

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The sun must have hated the idea of watching both Obanma and Onyedikachi stare at each other without words and decided to give way for the rain.

Obanma muttered incessantly as they sought for possible shades to evade the downpour. She had been trekking with Onyedikachi who seemed too tongue tied to talk as he had proposed earlier.

They had trod from the school gate and headed towards the junction where Obanma was supposed to get a ride. Onyedikachi only glanced at her and shook his head.

Anger budded slowly in her heart which in turn made her stomach grumble loudly. It brought truth to the popular saying"A hungry man is an angry man"

She happened to see a young boy hawking plantain chips and quickly requested for four pieces tied in white nylons.

Onyedikachi paid for the items purchased
and Obanma dove into the food, chewing the dry plantain which made certain sounds as her molars grinded them.

Onyedikachi had waited patiently for her to ask him to join her but her usual request didn't seem forth coming. The rate at which she chewed coupled with how enticing the aroma of the plantain made him salivate.

He had wanted to be the adult and show his tight reins on his self control but the crunching sound shattered his resolve and he finally blurted out the words which he hadn't expected to come from him.

"Won't you give me?"

Surprised at his utterance, she gave him a skeptical look, relinquishing only one piece of the plantain which he took to her dismay.

Onyedikachi never accepted things from her before,she had always been the one at the receiving end.

He took a bite out of one stick and graced her with a smile. Obanma realized that she hadn't truly given him an assertive look but thought it foolish to give him the impression that she was staring at him.

She only managed to steal surreptitious glances while they journeyed on foot. Onyedikachi's face shone underneath the sun as opposed to hers that had started turning red.

His lips appeared pink and did look soft, she noted how pointed his nose was and tried to compare with the one that stood on her face. Onyedikachi's beards appeared soft and dark, it coated his jaw spreading from his chin suitably and made her think of lions and their manes.

Her view extended from his head down to his broad shoulders and with time the whole length of him. He seemed truly tall.

Onyedikachi was no longer that little boy she liked when she was young.

The first rush of wind swept up her flay skirt and she struggled to hold it together, to avoid exposing her underwear to the young man beside her.
She thought of how she was in the situation because of him and anger rose once more.

"When you said you wanted to talk what exactly did you mean Onyi ?"

His response was a half smile which made her even more furious.

"You have really changed" He declared out of the blues

"Yes, I have. It's what happens when you grow. How did you even know where I was?" Obanma retorted as the first drop of rain hit her. The clouds had darkened so much that it could have passed off as night.

"I waited for you at the junction and followed you to the school. They wouldn't let me come in so I waited outside for you"

Her eyes widened out of shock and she found it strange. Her lips slowly formed the words

"Why?"

"Well because I wanted to talk to you and also because I would be leaving tomorrow"

"I wonder why we've been doing little talking"

Onyedikachi scratched his head as he realized how foolish he appeared. It started drizzling almost immediately and he took her to a shade offered by a large avocado tree beside the road.

She glanced around and watched as people ran frantically to evade the rain.

"I think we should be running as well"

"It wont rain, it's been like this for days. It gets dark and cloudy but only drizzles" Onyedikachi replied as he tried to dodge the droplets of water that fell from the leaves.

"I'm sorry for all this, it's just that I wanted us to be cool"

"Cool? Onyedikachi There's no need for us to be. I'm very sure your brother and mother would feel otherwise. Or are you implying that they consented to this unbearable peace walk? "

Onyedikachi wanted to lie but saw no reason to and simply shook his head.

A thunderclap rumbled accompanied by lightning which seared through the clouds, illuminating that part of the sky.

A heavy down pour followed suit and within minutes they were soaked to their boots. Onyedikachi wished he could swallow his words at that instant.

Obanma had placed her phone and other items into her bag to protect them while Onyedikachi wrung water out of his shirt.

Hisses were consistent on Obanma's lips, her clothes begging to be peeled off her body.

"I am sorry for lying that day Obanma. I had to... I thought Ekene would have revealed the truth but he didn't. I couldn't let my mother know I was talking to you"

"And you shouldn't be talking to me now either " She replied tersely glaring at a concerned Onyedikachi.

"It's all in the past now right, we used to be friends then. We could still be friends now, that is if you forgive me"

A forced laughter escaped her lips and she shook her head in amusement.

"Onyi,... I am no longer that ignorant 6 year old girl who you deceived with your act. There's nothing to forgive and I don't need your friendship" Obanma felt bitter as she uttered the words. She didn't understand why her heart reprimanded her about her response. Was it because she wanted to get to know him?

She shook her head immediately, driving the mundane thoughts deep down.

"You don't sound like you have forgiven me?"

"I sound.... Onyi what do you really want? I was warned about you and your family"

"You still call me Onyi"

"Everybody calls you Onyi, they are supposed to anyways"

Another lightning cackled like electricity followed by a loud rumbling.

"Not all the time... I still remember when you were little and how you used to cling to me. You never did wear things that were your size, it was either an over-sized slippers or underwear "

The smile that crept to his face, found its way to hers.

"Your mother said it was because I accompanied them to the hospital with my parents when she was in Labour. She said you were the first man I saw besides your twin. Has anyone told you that story before?" He enquired with a grin

Obanma shook her head slowly, it saddened her that the people who were supposed to have told her the story were away.

She expected him to continue but he only stared at the people running underneath the downpour. Some children who were returning from school didn't bother to run, they chatted happily as the rain battered their uniforms.

Another young woman seemed to also be in the same shoes as the children as she trekked slowly. Obanma pitied her hair which she was sure would reek in a matter of days if not taken care of.

She cleared her throat to gain Onyedikachi's attention and he seemed genuinely lost in his thoughts.

She slowly tapped his shoulder and he turned to face her with a smile.

"I miss playing under the rain"

She eyed him while gesturing at their current predicament.

Onyedikachi gave a throaty laugh and she tried to bite back her own laughter.

"I should have added by choice... I'm sorry about all this" He exhaled deeply and turned once more to watch passers-by.

A little girl who was about five years old was running with her brothers. She happily hopped into a puddle of water and fell down. Her cries could be heard by the two spectators and they laughed when she commanded one of the boys to carry her despite her muddy appearance.

"Dede! Bia kuru m! Dede come and carry me"

"Dede!"

One of the boys who had given the girl quite a distance halted, ran back and picked the little girl. The boy didn't seem too happy with the task but it seemed he had no choice.

He carried the girl on her back and tried to catch up with the other children while the girl patted his head playfully.

Onyedikachi turned to face her with yet another one of his soothing smiles.

"That's something you would do... I think you had everyone wrapped around your little fingers then. The quirks of being a last born "

She chuckled lightly and shook her head. Onyedikachi reached out and captured one of the braids that fell on her back.

"Your hair is very long... Very beautiful"

"Thank you.... Well ermm My mother's hair is.. You know" He nodded in response.

"I used to think she was an angel, she's too beautiful"

"Onyi do you want to ummmm maybe tell me about the story? The one you... You know what forget it" She blurted out wringing water out of her hair as the rain subsided. She did not why she appeared to have sounded pathetic by asking. Nothing changed the fact that Onyedikachi was a stranger to her.

"She told me, she went into labour while preparing lunch it was on a Saturday." Onyedikachi began

"Your father had gone to make documents for one of his lands which intended to sell. She was due in three weeks time and your siblings had gone to play. Her water broke in the kitchen and she managed to pick few items she had already purchased for delivery. She only made it out to the compound before the contractions hit her badly. She was screaming for help while trying to lie on the floor as her legs ached.

I had been locked up by my parents because I had written the alphabets on my father's new Volkswagen with a stone"

Obanma couldn't contain her laughter as she pictured the whole incident.

"I happened to see her wailing from the verandah, it was the same place I stood when I saw you convulsing. I kept banging on the door for my parents to open up and when they finally did, they saw the same thing I did. They couldn't leave me so they took me to your house. My father carried your mother to our compound while my mother brought the items she had dropped. We all went to the hospital and waited while she delivered.

Obinna came first, then you. My parents were so happy that they had come in right on time. They had gone to settle with the doctors, mother went to buy other items for your mother while I snuck into their ward.

Your mother said I went to her bed and patted her back. She said she had been crying but she didn't tell me why.

Obinna was sleeping while you were awake. She said I was stunned when I saw you"

Obanma paid rapt attention watching Onyedikachi intently as he spoke.

"I asked if you were an angel that fell out from heaven, she laughed and said yes.

Then she said I touched your face and called you" mma" beauty

you started crying loudly because you were hungry , She said her breast milk had delayed coming and they had to prepare food for you. I couldn't stop staring at you and when I placed my little finger into your little palm,you held it quite strongly and grew quiet.

She said it made her wonder if I was a normal boy. And for the first time, you truly smiled.

Then Obinna woke up and started wailing, ruining the moment. "Onyedikachi and Obanma chuckled together as he uttered the last words.

" My parents said I kept hounding them about having another child and they had to let me go visit you people all the time. That was the reason they opened the gate that connected our backyards.

My father got a plot of land from your father for helping his wife. I think helping your mother solidified their friendship. Which is why I can't believe that he would... "

Obanma flinched inwardly as her father came up.

" Onyi when did my mother tell you all this? "Obanma enquired trying to salvage the story.

" It was the day before... That day. My father had instructed me to give your mother a letter. I remember most of the things she told me"

Obanma's curiosity grew with his utterance.

"I am truly sorry for lying that day, you don't know how much I've suffered from that act of cowardice. I even thought Obinna's ghost was after me. I always remember him when I see achịcha "

"That wasn't the first one, you beat up my brother when he came for eloaku"

"I also got beaten up for giving your aunt one" Obanma grew somber as she reflected on his words. Chijioke still hated Onyedikachi for that act.

"Terrible things have happened, things we couldn't have controlled but we can try to salvage the sinking ship."

"How? You think our families would ever be at peace with each other again or that I wouldn't feel like an outcast each time I step into this community"

"I don't know.. We can try. Let's toss the grudges and hatred into the sea, it might just let us float instead of sinking"

Obanma stared at him for a long while then shook her head.

"My father shot your father... That was the day we all sunk. It was good talking to you again Onyedikachi but I don't hope to continue doing that. In fact I wish our path doesn't cross again in the future and if it does, please avoid me"

Onyedikachi opened his mouth to talk then swallowed his words as Obanma's phone rang.

"Yes daa, it went well. No I didn't go there, I didn't see any of them" She replied her eyes holding Onyedikachi's. He knew very well who and where her aunt was referring to.

"It started raining that's I haven't gotten to their house. It went well, I did my best. Okay bye"

Onyedikachi offered her a warm smile which she didn't reciprocate.

"Let me walk you to the junction" He offered as they stepped out from where they stood.

"Mba! I can take it from here. You've done enough for today Onyi"

Obanma walked away and he followed behind, it brought a smile to her lips. She had secretly hoped to continue walking with him.

She finally slowed down and he caught up with her. Onyedikachi requested for her jamb questions and a pen where he quickly put down his number.

"You can call me or not" He stated with a grin, it's your choice. She hated having that ball in her court.

Obanma placed the item back into her back pack.

When they got to the junction, he paid the okadaman and she hopped onto the bike.

She offered him a smile against her own wish. It seemed her heart had been in turmoil ever since he finished the story.

Obanma brought out one of the plantain chips which she had inserted into her bag and offered him as a parting gift.

"Onyi i ga eri? Will you eat? "

He took the item with a chuckle and she instructed the okadaman to move.

She tried not to look , fought her head from turning back. They had moved a distance before she finally gave in and looked back to see him standing. She waved at him and he did the same, then turned and walked away.

Obanma got to Ezeani's with thoughts of her mother hounding her. She dreamt about the day she had lost both of her parents and woke up panting.

The next day, Enugu welcomed her with a cool breeze and she gave her guardians detailed explanation about everything that happened in the village,making sure to exclude her encounters with Onyedikachi and her visit to their house.

The letter Onyedikachi mentioned also Haunted her, she couldn't help but ponder if it had anything to do with what happened to her parents.

Deep in the night, she would run her hands over the number Onyedikachi wrote on her paper and wonder if calling him would be the right thing to do while he stayed up at night often waiting anxiously to hear from her.

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Hello everyone!

Good morning!

Here's another chapter to start the day with, hope you enjoy.