My greatest mistake

My greatest mistake 1.

A story written by mimi.

The news of Michael's sudden deàth rocked the small community. Who would ever imagine that this is how he was going to end? A once vibrant young man, filled with life and potential. Deàth, they say, respects no man.

But wait! Is he really deàd? Or is this a way of getting the said life he thinks he deserves?

Who knows?

                               Chapter 1

Michael sat in the classroom, his hands on his jaw, worry marked into every line on his face. He couldn't ignore the feeling that he deserved more out of life- a better one compared to this miseràble life of his.But pàin and humiliàtion seemed to always drag him down, never letting him have peace. 

In just a few days, his NYSC service would be coming to an end. Where he had gone to serve his fatherland.

Then, what next? returning to his small community of Ajekunle, where poverty was common and opportunities were few, scared him even more.

In a place where most people lived hand to mouth, where farming was the only option for survival, Michael couldn't bear the thought of surrendering himself to pòverty, not after seeing the white walls of the university- a height only him was able to reach out of all the born-and-bred of Ajekunle.

 There was much expectation from him, not only from his poor old parents who sold all their farm products to see him through school, but also from his community, the people of Ajekunle who neglected their children just to train him. He had told them that with his education, he would bring development to the community, make their children rich, and wipe out poverty from Ajekunle. If only he knew then that education cures illiteracy and not poverty, just maybe, he wouldn't have made them such promises.

Going back there will only bring shame to him and his parents. His people were going to stòne him alìve if they discovered that after making themselves hungry to train him, he didn't fulfill his words. 

As he pondered this, the calming, tiny voice of Mercy brought him back to reality.

"Sir Michael, we are done with the test you gave us. Should I collect that of the whole classroom?" Mercy had said. 

She is the class prefect of Class 6 in a primary school in Anambra state, a state in Nigeria, where Michael was posted as his place of primary assignment.

"Please do, and bring it here to my table so I could mark," he managed to say as Mercy did as instructed, collecting and submitting the papers.

With his red biro moving across the papers as he marked, he came across a completely empty sheet with only the name written on it. Of course, the cùlprit was none other than David, the student who never bothers to write anything in class. Michael's initial reaction was to scòld him, but a thought kept him from doing so.

"Funny how this boy may end up more successful than those who know their purpose in school." Michael believed life was unfair.

 It brought back memories of his graduation with a first-class degree from a university in Lagos state, only to be rewarded with a small sum of N20,000. To him, it felt like a slàp in the face, considering the efforts he had put in.

The thought of his two roommates, Samuel and Ken, who never took their studies seriously, with their 1.50 CGPA (The popular let my people go) which was barely a pass grade. Yet, they were now doing better than him. They drove the latest cars, dressed well, and no one would even believe they lived together.

He remembered when they had invited him to join them on a journey which was meant to bring wealth, but he had refused. And now?

Letting out a frustrated hiss, Michael slowly set aside David's paper and turned his attention to the other papers on his table.

.

.

.

Back at his small, scanty apartment where he rented with his Allowee, he was in the middle of changing out of his NYSC uniform and into something more casual when a call interrupted him. It was Samuel, his school-time roommate. 

 There's a saying that when the heart feels troubled, the Dèvil comes knocking. Maybe this was it.

From their conversation, Samuel and ken just arrived in Anambra state for Friday night clùbbing, and requested Michael to come join them, since he knows the place better than they do. It was surprising that he agreed as the old Michael would have probably turned it down. 

He saw it as a chance to seek help from them, but fate has other plans in-store for him.

Without much hesitation, he got ready and headed out to meet them at the house address they had sent to him.

.

.

The luxurious mansion radiated wealth, with a fleet of expensive cars parked outside and women in revealìng outfits roaming around, some casually smòking cìgarettes while dancing to the loùd music from inside. Upon catching sight of Michael, the women flocked to him, touchìng him inappropriately, hoping he would select them for whatever awaited inside.

However, Michael was not interested and managed to pull away from their hold, making his way towards the main entrance. But then, something happened - two bodyguards at the door denied him entry.

"Where's your invitation card, and why coming here with dìrty clothes and worn-out slippers?" one of the bodyguards inquired, clearly annoyed. Attempting to explain himself, Michael was cùt òff by the other bodyguard.

"Maybe he thinks this place is for food-sharing," he said, laughing at his own joke.

Struggling to speak, Michael finally managed to say, "I... I came looking for someone," tears falling from his eye.

"Oh, are you someone's driver? You could have just said so instead of pretending to be a guest," one of the bodyguards added, while the other burst into laughter.

Realizing that the bodyguards have swòrned to belìttle him, Michael accepted that he was indeed a driver so they could let him in. 

After looking at him from head to toe, the bodyguards opened the door for him to enter.

.

.

As Michael managed to locate Samuel and Ken at the party, he noticed that they had changed a lot in the one year they hadn't met. They looked fresh, handsome , and anyone could easily figure out that they were swimming in money.

 From the perfume they wore to the expensive wristwatches on their arms, everything about them spoke of wealth. Michael couldn't help but feel ashamed of himself.

All eyes seemed to be on him, as if he had urìnated on himself,but the reason was just obvious - he appeared poor. His poverty was that which cannot be hidden.

 If only he had known, he might have chosen to meet them somewhere else rather than face such humiliation at the Housèparty.

 It was clear to Michael that he didn't belong in this wealthy world of theirs, but in that moment, he made a silent vow to himself. He would do all it takes to belòng.

"Samuel and Ken," he called out, "please, I need your help. I want the kind of wealth that you both have. Please, help me."

The two friends burst into laughter at his plea. This wasn't the Michael they know - the one who used to advice them to attend classes and change their ways, now desperate to make it big.

" Michael, we know this isn't you, saying this. Are u sure u didn't drìnk before coming here? But if you need money, here, take this," Ken replied, thròwing a wrap of càsh to Michael.

"I don't want you to give me fish, I want to learn how to fish. I want to be like you both, to be wealthy," Michael insisted.

There was a moment of silence between the three men.

"Are you sure about this?" Samuel finally broke the silence, to which Michael nodded in response.

"This journey isn't easy. One who doesn't know the steps shouldn't even attempt the dance. It is one that you can either come out, deàd or alìve. But since you said you're ready, let's get it done then," Samuel said, as the three of them left the party to embark in a journey that will change Michael's life forever.

                                                     To be continued..

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