A friend's favorite quote is "not all that glitters is gold." I thought it was just the normal quotes our secondary school teachers forced us to memorize just to pass our exams to prove to the school authorities that they were efficient in their duty posts.
I met Anayo some thirteen years ago. He was such a nice guy that could become mysterious at will. Most times, I wondered what kind of being he was. He was always lackadaisical about most things every sane being would cherish, but what he feared the most in life were pretence and betrayal.
"My dad was betrayed and duped by his best friend simply because he wanted to have my mum. I watched my dad die of stroke when I was just nine. Life became horrific for me after his burial, especially when I knew that I won't get to see him again."
Anayo never always stopped whenever he talked about the death of his father. "Friendly enemies" he would mutter in a pitiful manner as his last words. The number of times he told me to be mindful of friendly enemies got me unease at some point. I checked my dealings with him to make sure I didn't get his back stabbed at any point.
Few weeks after he received his admission letter, he died of lung cancer. I wept bitterly because I feared to live without his presence, someone who had at least a solution to every challenge.
16th of next month will make it exactly eight years since Anayo died, but his words still live in me, especially the advice of me being mindful of friendly enemies.
Mr. Nkwerre, whose real name is Ebuka, became a close friend of mine at work. He became even closer after my promotion when I started earning 50k more than our usual salary. I believed I'd found a friend in him like I did in Anayo. But unlike Anayo, he kept things away from me. Sometimes, I felt he was being jealous about my consecutive appraisal before my promotion, but I didn't mind anyway.
Few weeks before my promotion, I had a little misunderstanding with my predecessor - it was his office I was promoted into. I thought the matter had become a thing of the past, but it was the beginning of a cold war. Mr. Olu took it upon himself to fight my stay as the new operations assistant.
After so many futile effort, he bought Ebuka to his side.
I hadn't spent three months assisting the head of operations when I was summoned by the Human Resources for a wrong decision that cost the company great loss. It was later said that I defrauded the company.
Everything happened so fast. Their game was perfectly executed. And my best friend, Ebuka, testified against me. I didn't believe my eyes and ears. It couldn't have happened. Ebuka and I had made mistakes we both covered for each other. Although none was shady, but they could get us debited if not properly covered. Ebuka dug everything out that day. I was so shocked that he said all those.
No doubt, everyone in the panel I stood before was already brainwashed. They tackled my every word forgetting my quota in the company's progress in the last four years. It was just me against the world, I couldn't defend myself to please them.
Two police men ushered me into their car the next morning as soon as I got into the company's compound.
I've been in the cell for two weeks now hoping and praying that Mr. Osondu, who is the head of operation, will be back soon from his one month annual leave to look into my case. He is the only one I can trust now.
Two days after my arrest, Ebuka, who has never visited me once, was given my post. All I have with me are his last words that hit my ears as he walked pass me that day; "After pride, comes downfall."
Anayo, I believe you now! There are indeed friendly enemies out there.
I met Anayo some thirteen years ago. He was such a nice guy that could become mysterious at will. Most times, I wondered what kind of being he was. He was always lackadaisical about most things every sane being would cherish, but what he feared the most in life were pretence and betrayal.
"My dad was betrayed and duped by his best friend simply because he wanted to have my mum. I watched my dad die of stroke when I was just nine. Life became horrific for me after his burial, especially when I knew that I won't get to see him again."
Anayo never always stopped whenever he talked about the death of his father. "Friendly enemies" he would mutter in a pitiful manner as his last words. The number of times he told me to be mindful of friendly enemies got me unease at some point. I checked my dealings with him to make sure I didn't get his back stabbed at any point.
Few weeks after he received his admission letter, he died of lung cancer. I wept bitterly because I feared to live without his presence, someone who had at least a solution to every challenge.
16th of next month will make it exactly eight years since Anayo died, but his words still live in me, especially the advice of me being mindful of friendly enemies.
Mr. Nkwerre, whose real name is Ebuka, became a close friend of mine at work. He became even closer after my promotion when I started earning 50k more than our usual salary. I believed I'd found a friend in him like I did in Anayo. But unlike Anayo, he kept things away from me. Sometimes, I felt he was being jealous about my consecutive appraisal before my promotion, but I didn't mind anyway.
Few weeks before my promotion, I had a little misunderstanding with my predecessor - it was his office I was promoted into. I thought the matter had become a thing of the past, but it was the beginning of a cold war. Mr. Olu took it upon himself to fight my stay as the new operations assistant.
After so many futile effort, he bought Ebuka to his side.
I hadn't spent three months assisting the head of operations when I was summoned by the Human Resources for a wrong decision that cost the company great loss. It was later said that I defrauded the company.
Everything happened so fast. Their game was perfectly executed. And my best friend, Ebuka, testified against me. I didn't believe my eyes and ears. It couldn't have happened. Ebuka and I had made mistakes we both covered for each other. Although none was shady, but they could get us debited if not properly covered. Ebuka dug everything out that day. I was so shocked that he said all those.
No doubt, everyone in the panel I stood before was already brainwashed. They tackled my every word forgetting my quota in the company's progress in the last four years. It was just me against the world, I couldn't defend myself to please them.
Two police men ushered me into their car the next morning as soon as I got into the company's compound.
I've been in the cell for two weeks now hoping and praying that Mr. Osondu, who is the head of operation, will be back soon from his one month annual leave to look into my case. He is the only one I can trust now.
Two days after my arrest, Ebuka, who has never visited me once, was given my post. All I have with me are his last words that hit my ears as he walked pass me that day; "After pride, comes downfall."
Anayo, I believe you now! There are indeed friendly enemies out there.
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