Chapter 3: Envy and Jealousy
Life went on as usual: nurturing Jasmine and pursuing my studies. Ever since , I’ve harbored a deep resentment toward men; the anger never fades.
Time flew. I graduated university with first-class honors, while Sandra received a 2:1. My parents were incredibly proud. Luckily, Sandra and I were both posted to Ogun State for our youth service. The thought of all the local delicacies made my mouth water—I adore local food! Before I left for service, my parents gave me some advice. "Daisy," Mom said, "you're embarking on a new chapter. Be careful, and don't repeat your past mistakes. Don't bring shame to our family." "Yes, Mom, Dad," I promised. "Where's Jasmine?" I asked. Mimi, please call her for me. "Mummy!" Jasmine cried, running to hug me. "I'm going to miss you, Mummy." "I'll miss you too, sweetheart. Take care of yourself, and I'll visit whenever I can." "I love you, Mummy!" "I love you too, my dear."
With that, I said goodbye to my parents and prepared for this new journey. Arriving at camp in Ogun State, we received a warm welcome and orientation. Settling into the unfamiliar environment took considerable effort; I felt behind. I didn't see Sandra until the second week. We were posted to the same school to teach.
The first week of teaching, we met a young teacher named Juwon. He seemed wealthy, but my past experiences kept me distant from men. To my surprise, Sandra latched onto him like a lifeline. One day, I confronted her: "Sandra, I've noticed you've been constantly around Juwon. Please be careful and remember who you are." She sneered, "Are you jealous of my friendship with him?" I was taken aback. "Why would I be? I was just offering friendly advice." "Okay," she said, "but I need to go. I have things to do." "Okay, bye." I said goodbye, but a nagging feeling of unease lingered.
The following Monday, after assembly, Juwon approached Sandra and me. "Hi ladies, how are you?" Sandra, already smitten, replied, "We're fine." Juwon said, "I want to speak with you." Sandra assumed he meant her, but he clarified, "I was referring to Daisy." The shock on Sandra's face was evident. I responded, "I'm not sure I want to talk to you. I have things to do." He persisted, "Please, just a minute, Daisy." "Fine," I conceded. We moved to a secluded spot. He said, "Daisy, I'd like to ask you out for lunch or dinner, whichever you prefer," and he produced a card. "This is my entry card." I stared at him, amused, without speaking. Finally, I asked, "Are you done?" He nodded. "I'm not interested in a date. Please don't bother me with such trivial matters again." I turned and left. When I returned, Sandra was gone. I went to my classes, and after school, I went to Sandra's classroom, but she pretended not to hear me and left. I was stunned by her behavior.
That evening, I went to her residence. "Sandra, what did I do to you? You've been ignoring me all day. What's wrong?" She lashed out, "Daisy, you're a bad person. You knew I liked Juwon, and you still showed interest in him." I chuckled, "Sandra, I'm not interested in Juwon at all! He asked me out, but I refused. I don't like him." I left.
After a few days, we resolved our misunderstanding. Then, one afternoon, Juwon came to my house. "Hi Daisy," he said. "Hi Juwon. What can I do for you?" He presented me with a bouquet and chocolates. "What's this?" I asked. "I thought you might like them. Please don't refuse." I sighed and accepted them. "Thank you for the gift!" I then slammed the door in his face and went back to watching TV. I gave the chocolates to the neighbor's children and threw the flowers in the trash. But strangely, things changed.
I noticed Juwon giving me a cold shoulder whenever we met. Then, one day, he confronted me: "Daisy, I never knew I was chasing a loose woman. Thank God I saw your true colors before it went further." "Excuse me?" I retorted. "Who do you think you are to insult me?" "A cheap slut defending herself!" he sneered. I slapped him twice. "Don't you ever talk to me like that again! Try it, and I'll make your life a living hell!" I threatened, spat on his face, and left.
From then on, I avoided men like the plague. A year later, I completed my youth service and secured a job at one of my father's companies. I wanted to find my own job, but he wouldn't allow it. Sandra got a job at a tech company, but we remained in touch. Life was good; my five-year-old Jasmine was my joy and pride. Little did I know, life had other plans for us
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