Justice Fianyo was his name. Yes. The Usher nodded with a smile as she confirmed his invitation with the list she had. He had been allocated to table number 12. The beckoned him with a smile as she ushered him to one of the few empty seats at table 12. He thanked her with a smile as she left to attend to other guests.
This was a meeting of the chief executives and top managers of the biggest companies in the Jewellery business. Mr Justice was there to represent his company; a new entrant to the industry but already showing promising signs of excelling. Justice was proud of himself because a mere invite to such an event was an acknowledgement of their presence in the industry. He also wanted to network with others to share ideas and seek prospects of growing his business. He smiled confidently at the other guests seated at the table. All of them were middle aged just like him.
As soon as the last seat was occupied,his smile froze on his face and disappeared seconds later. He couldn't believe his eyes. He tried not to stare but he couldn't hide his surprise. The gentleman noticed his stare and smiled back. Justice didn't return the smile. He was sure the man could not recognise him but Justice had sworn never to forget his face.
After about 20 years, Kwadwo Kuma had greyed a little with fine wrinkles on his face but Justice hadn't forgotten him. Justice suddenly became angry, the only emotion he felt whenever he thought of Kwadwo Kuma.
It all began in their secondary school days. Kwadwo was two years ahead of Justice and this gave Kwadwo the opportunity to torment Justice at the least opportunity. Justice found it wise to avoid this senior in every possible way but then, Kwadwo searched for him just to maltreat him. He fetched water, polished his shoes, carried his books and fed him a number of times in the dining hall. It was as if Kwadwo had been put there to kill Justice emotionally or sent by his ‘family members’ to make him drop out of school.Through it all Justice endured, fearing to report him so the maltreatment didn't get worse.
His endurance earned him the admiration of many of the seniors who started to defend him whenever Kwadwo wanted to frustrate him. This unusual favour made Kwadwo furious and he decided to find another way to torment Justice.
Mavis. She was a close friend to Justice and his first crush. Justice adored her completely but couldn't open up to her. Kwadwo befriended her and within weeks, she became his girlfriend.
Justice was crushed and his pain was so evident but there was little he or anyone could do. Mavis was madly in love with him. It was however a surprise when Mavis confided in Justice that she was pregnant for Kwadwo and they had decided to abort the pregnancy. Justice was against aborting the baby but Mavis was more scared of her family because her father was a Cathecist.
A few days later Mavis was found unconscious in the girls washroom and rushed to the hospital. The teachers realised she had tried aborting a pregnancy and started asking questions. Before Justice could volunteer the information he had, Kwadwo had already told the teachers she got pregnant after being raped by Justice. Before he could give his side of the story, his parents had been called to come and pick him up. He had been dismissed. That was the first and only time he felt ‘hatred’. He couldn't say a word as his heart boiled out of hatred for his senior. That was when he swore to himself that he would hate Kwadwo Kuma for the rest of his life.
Not long after a call came in. Mavis was conscious and doing well. She had confessed it all. Kwadwo Kuma was dismissed that very day but the hatred Justice felt did not go with him. The hatred had stayed with Justice till this very day he had to share a table with him.
He wAs about to leave the table when he noticed he was accompanied by a lady. Justice was startled when he recognised Mavis as she took a seat near Kuma.
Justice was sad. He had spent all these years hating Kuma thinking he had ruined Mavis’ life, but here she was happily married to her secondary school lover. It was time for him to forgive and let go.
He acknowledged their presence with a smile as they exchanged pleasantries. The heavy burden of hate had suddenly been lifted within the last ten minutes
This was a meeting of the chief executives and top managers of the biggest companies in the Jewellery business. Mr Justice was there to represent his company; a new entrant to the industry but already showing promising signs of excelling. Justice was proud of himself because a mere invite to such an event was an acknowledgement of their presence in the industry. He also wanted to network with others to share ideas and seek prospects of growing his business. He smiled confidently at the other guests seated at the table. All of them were middle aged just like him.
As soon as the last seat was occupied,his smile froze on his face and disappeared seconds later. He couldn't believe his eyes. He tried not to stare but he couldn't hide his surprise. The gentleman noticed his stare and smiled back. Justice didn't return the smile. He was sure the man could not recognise him but Justice had sworn never to forget his face.
After about 20 years, Kwadwo Kuma had greyed a little with fine wrinkles on his face but Justice hadn't forgotten him. Justice suddenly became angry, the only emotion he felt whenever he thought of Kwadwo Kuma.
It all began in their secondary school days. Kwadwo was two years ahead of Justice and this gave Kwadwo the opportunity to torment Justice at the least opportunity. Justice found it wise to avoid this senior in every possible way but then, Kwadwo searched for him just to maltreat him. He fetched water, polished his shoes, carried his books and fed him a number of times in the dining hall. It was as if Kwadwo had been put there to kill Justice emotionally or sent by his ‘family members’ to make him drop out of school.Through it all Justice endured, fearing to report him so the maltreatment didn't get worse.
His endurance earned him the admiration of many of the seniors who started to defend him whenever Kwadwo wanted to frustrate him. This unusual favour made Kwadwo furious and he decided to find another way to torment Justice.
Mavis. She was a close friend to Justice and his first crush. Justice adored her completely but couldn't open up to her. Kwadwo befriended her and within weeks, she became his girlfriend.
Justice was crushed and his pain was so evident but there was little he or anyone could do. Mavis was madly in love with him. It was however a surprise when Mavis confided in Justice that she was pregnant for Kwadwo and they had decided to abort the pregnancy. Justice was against aborting the baby but Mavis was more scared of her family because her father was a Cathecist.
A few days later Mavis was found unconscious in the girls washroom and rushed to the hospital. The teachers realised she had tried aborting a pregnancy and started asking questions. Before Justice could volunteer the information he had, Kwadwo had already told the teachers she got pregnant after being raped by Justice. Before he could give his side of the story, his parents had been called to come and pick him up. He had been dismissed. That was the first and only time he felt ‘hatred’. He couldn't say a word as his heart boiled out of hatred for his senior. That was when he swore to himself that he would hate Kwadwo Kuma for the rest of his life.
Not long after a call came in. Mavis was conscious and doing well. She had confessed it all. Kwadwo Kuma was dismissed that very day but the hatred Justice felt did not go with him. The hatred had stayed with Justice till this very day he had to share a table with him.
He wAs about to leave the table when he noticed he was accompanied by a lady. Justice was startled when he recognised Mavis as she took a seat near Kuma.
Justice was sad. He had spent all these years hating Kuma thinking he had ruined Mavis’ life, but here she was happily married to her secondary school lover. It was time for him to forgive and let go.
He acknowledged their presence with a smile as they exchanged pleasantries. The heavy burden of hate had suddenly been lifted within the last ten minutes
