The Activist - Season 1 - Episode 31

5 years ago

The Activist - Season 1 - Episode 31

☆☆☆☆☆

The person who made up the phrase ‘ she stoops to conquer’ must have observed how kneeling down while begging a person can turn things around. With students passing, Sophie knew that she had to act fast before it develops to a scene that the news boards will give.

“Jimmy, stand up please.” Jimmy refused her request and continued pleading, in a bid to get the desired effect. Soon enough, busy-body students and idle people started to pay more attention to them.

“JIMMY STAND UP OR I WILL LEAVE!” Jimmy, sensing her anger, stood up gracefully, with Sophie dragging him back to her department and down to the basement, all in a bid to avoid the crowd.

“Jimmy, what is that for?” Sophie eyes were brimming with anger. “Were you trying to embarrass me on purpose?”
He smiled slyly at her. “Its was all because I love you. Sophie, I am begging you and I am serious. Look into my eyes and tell me otherwise.”

She searched his eyes with her inner ‘torchlight’, waiting to see any sign of insincerity. She could not find any.
“Jimmy, listen to me first” She told him. “I don’t hate you, in fact I like you a lot. However, I can’t be in a relationship with a guy I see once in a month. Mistrust will breed and your lack of communication worsens things, not to talk of other girls that will be chasing you.”

Sophie looked at him with teary eyes. “I wanted to quit this relationship, but a friend asked me reconsider and I will do that with one condition- you will make time for me! Is that okay with you?”

Jimmy hugged her. “Yes, Yes. I will make time out for us. I will do everything I can do to fulfil it.”

Both of them trudged together, very happy.
“What?”

Tade could not comprehend what his mother was saying. Divorce? Guaranteed, he did not care about how their marriage was going, but at least it was a marriage. Now he will officially be a child from a broken home.
“Yes, Tade. I know that you find it puzzling. I too. I never thought your father will hate me that bad to take me for granted, all because of your brother’s death.”

Tade’s heart knotted at that point. He had always felt that way when his brother’s case was mentioned and this was no different.
“Mum, please don’t bring it up, it upsets me.” He looked at her with teary eyes. For once Clara was seeing the pain that he endured back home, even if it was little.
She hugged him tight. “Am sorry Tade, it hurts us all. I want you to be strong from now on. I know we have not been much of a family and I rarely have time for you, but be strong, you hear? I will make sure that I make out time to talk to you when you return home and you won’t suffer otherwise, su gbo mi?”( Did you hear me?)

Tade nodded his head as they left the car. “I have to go.” She brought a nylon bag containing the obvious- goodies.

“Take it” Tade moved and collected it from her. “I will see you soon, I am sure of that” She entered her car and drove off, Tade waving his hands towards her.

**************************

Two days later, Mr Kunle Falade was done with his lectures when he saw Tade come up to him.

“Good morning sir.” Tade respectfully greeted him.
“Morning Tade, how are you doing?”
“Fine sir. Sir, can I see you for a minute?”
“If its about the test I gave your class, I won’t repeat it for anyone without a cogent reason.”

“Sir, its about my brother.”
“Not for discussion.” He walked into his office,Tade following him.

“Sir,please tell me” Tade pleaded. “My family has being suffering since his death and I still find it painful somewhere in my heart that he died here.”

“Yet you came to this school, to the same school your elder brother died, didn’t you? Why bother about him now?”

“Because somewhere in my heart, I feel like take revenge for him.”

Mr Kunle dragged him into the office and locked the door.

Tade felt a bit scared like he said a taboo until he saw Mr Kunle place his hands on his shoulders.

“What do you know about revenge?” He looked sternly at him, with such eyes that Tade had to bend them down.

“But,but my brother…… I can’t just keep it out.”

“Tade, you are naïve. Have you ever taken a life before? Do you know how it feels?”

Tade looked at him, unable to say a word, completely dumbfounded like one of those scenarios where you know any answer will aggravate the situation.

“No! You have not! Sit down.” He pointed to his seat, with Tade promptly resting his body there.

“I know what you want, you want justice. You feel that your brother’s death can’t just go like that because it has turned your life upside-down and you want compensation.”

“Now, I trust that you see cultism as repulsive, yet you only see the death of those who caused you this agony as a reprieve.”
“Well, what you don’t realise is that revenge only breeds revenge, because revenge is one-sided. Justice, on the hand considers the other side.

Revenge only satisfies you, that if you are not left empty. You can’t drive your life with revenge and in this case, it will not end with your mission’s accomplishment. People, Powerful people will be coming after you and your life won’t be safe, not to talk of the fact that its a crime.”

He held Tade up. “If you have anything else to say, tell me. But this revenge of a thing will destroy you, I can assure you. I am leaving my office now.”

Tade stood up and left, deep in thought.