It's been three days since the election and voting thing. Sophia has been totally ignoring me. She doesn't even talk to me. When I say good morning to her in the mornings, she just nods her head and picks up whatever she come for. Yeah. She doesn't even sleep in this room anymore. I was told that she sleep with Arya. She comes in the morning to get her clothes or her files from the study room. I was damn tired of how she's been behaving with me. We two had been good friends and we had past arguments and we fought too but we had decided that we wouldn't let these tiny matters get the best of us.

Today morning she come to the room to check her schedule and also finish filling her project file. I was sitting on the sofa when she come in and she just walked in like no one was there. Seriously!!? Am I invisible now!!? I stood up and went into the study room and stood behind the door as she was sitting by the table doing her work.

"I want to talk to you." I started the conversation and she didn't even turn to look at me. She went on with her work as she answered, "am busy!"  I stayed quiet for sometime and didn't move an inch away.

"Am done with this weird behavior of yours Sophia. At least tell me what's wrong or what did I do for God's sake!!"

This time she stopped whatever she was doing. She leaned back on her chair and without looking at me she said, "so now even my presence in this study room is disturbing you right? It's ok I'll leave everything for you. Am leaving this room for good!" With that said, she stood up and started parking her things.

I stood at the exact position looked at her. When she saw that all this didn't affect me and I didn't even get disturbed about her moving out. She turned and looked at me for the first time in the last three days and said, "hmm even this doesn't affect you. You say that we had a good friendship that nothing can separate us but look at you now. Heartless. You took away my dream. Ever since you became the queen that facade of yours has come off. Shit! I  didn't see the real you all this time!"

All that she said didn't affect me. For real. What I noticed was that she had something hiding from me. And I had really missed her. We had become great friends in the last one week that she had been living together. We had share our secrets, our dreams, our happy and sad moments and now this is what's happening to us. She had finished parking and was leaving the room when I grabbed her by her shoulders and asked her, "is this what you really think of me Sophie?" She looked at me in my eyes and I was really eager to her her answer.

She turned her face away not wanting to face me and said, "no need to emotionally blackmail me. I know everything you do behind that innocent person you show everyone!!"

"At least tell me what I did?"

"Don't pretend as if you have no idea of what am talking about!"

"I had got a best friend after many years of avoiding friends. And I am ready to fight for our friendship Sophia. I won't let this be the end of us!"

"No need. I only have four more days under the same room as you. It suffocates me but I'll surely survive these remaining days as long as I'll never have to face your f**king face!!"

It really hurt me. I'm I that bad? What about everything we had? I can't loose a good friend just like this! "You hate me that much? Whatever it is that made you like this, am really sorry Sophia. Please don't walk away from me. Didn't you think of me as a friend too? Aren't you going to fight for what we had formed? Am I going to fight alone?"

"You deceived me and I hate deceit and lairs. I hate people who stub me at my back. I hate you Pinky. I sincerely pray that after graduation we never ever meet again in our lives!" She started going away with her bags. I hold her hand to stop her and she yelled at me, "get your hands off me bitch!" I instantly pulled away. I felt my heart ache. The one person I thought I would have forever in my life just waked away calling me a bitch.

I went back into the room and sat down on the bed. Tears were now flowing out of my eyes rolling down my cheeks. I let my mind wonder to those moments we shared together. We used to dance to songs of different language that we didn't even understand when we were bored, we played board games for hours at the games room downstairs, we solved puzzles, we shares our fears and childhood memories. She even talked to my parents twice. They had called me to check on me and I asked them to talk to my best friend. Mom had really liked her but dad asked me to be careful as to whom I regard as my friend. Right now I think I should have listened to dad. He was right after all.

My phone started ringing, I walked towards the coffee table where my phone was laying. It was Evans calling me. I didn't want to talk to him right now and fake my emotions. The phone kept on ringing the second time and third time so I decided to just talk to him.

"Hey Evans!" I said trying not show my emotions through the voice.

"Why didn't you pick up when I was calling Pinky?"

"Um...ah... actually... you know..." I didn't know what excuse to give him.

"Just stop thinking about laying to me Pinky. I have come to understand you in this short period of time we've been talking. I know there must be something disturbing you. Tell me!" Yeah Evans was right. Ever since we exchange numbers on the night of ma'am Asya's bakery exhibition, we've talked a lot. I come to find out that he was not a sleepyhead, so whenever I had a lot of things pilled up and was staying up late, I would call him and we'll talk for hours as we both worked while talking and sharing jokes here and there.

Then there was his project that I took. Their society needed more people to see the work they are doing in helping all teenagers in their society. They needed more sponsors and bursaries for those who needed to go to school but couldn't afford it. I arranged a Beach cleaning event and a function after that.

All members of the welfare of youths organization, which includes almost two hundred teenagers, were present in the hall where the function will be held. We had invited all Noble men and women of the city, the leaders and also sponsors from different places. They were served with refreshments that we ordered from ma'am Asya's bakery. The teenagers were subdivided into teams and got the tools they needed and the garments for cleaning. They cleaned the beach and removed all rubbish from the waters as well as the shores. They did a great job since the place looked amazing. Then we had a change of mind, the teenagers moved into the town and did the cleaning, some emptied the bins around town, some cleaned the water fountains in the city square, some who were good in gardening trimmed the dead parts of plants in town, they also watered all plants and then their was the main activity. Each person present for the event had to plant one plant.

All the teenagers, the leaders, the sponsors, the guests everyone planted one plant. A total of three hundred plants were planted in each and every corner of the town. Then back at the hall, the sponsors agreed to provide financial aid to help this society. The leaders of the town agreed to provide scholarship to all members who can't afford it. Then it was also agreed that once every month there will be an event of cleaning the whole town. The teenagers requested that they too are given a day to meet, socialize, share ideas, start projects to help their town, enjoy themselves and help each other in whatever someone had problem with. It was also agreed that the first Sunday of every month will be dedicated to the teenagers of that society. The event was successful. Ever since that day, my relationship with all members of that society has been a good one. They added me to a WhatsApp group of theirs. They ask me for ideas and suggestions of everything they want, they take me as one of them. I even promised them to visit them in one of their Sundays after my graduation.

"It's still about Sophia. She said she doesn't want to see my face." I had already told him what's happening between Sophia and I. He asked me to fight for what I wanted. He motivated me. He too was a great friend to me.

"Actually you know what Evans, am also tired. Let the water flow in whatever direction it wants. I'm not going to force something that can't be possible. I think that's the end of Sophia and I. Ok now tell me what's reason who Calling?"

"Ok it's your decision to let things fall apart. I know you are sensible and I trust your decision. I just sincerely hope that Sophia comes to realize what a great person she just lost! I called to tell you the aftermath of our board meeting. We discussed about the idea you gave us to keep up with everyone in the city. We decided to open up our own page in every social medias, YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Viber, WeChat all medias. Whenever we hold events or the monthly cleaning programe and the monthly get together, each project of these youngsters would be posted on our page. Whoever would want to catch up with us or follow up on our progress would be able to do it from any social media. This will also attract worldly sponsors who will be interested in our social work. Thank you madam for the wonderful idea! You are simply the best Pinky!"

I had suggested the idea to the group some days ago as we were talking in the WhatsApp group. They were talking about having something that will be recording their progress and would be easy to show you the sponsors so I randomly suggested about opening a page in social media where everyone will follow up.

"It's my pleasure to help you guys out. You are doing a noble work by taking care of these teenagers. Making sure they are always busy and not idle as to reach out for drags or foolish ideas, teaching them the basic skills to servive in life, training them in different fields of work. I appreciate the work you do Evans. Take this as my way of appreciate! And am always there if you need me. Make sure I too am not idle or else these problems in my head will take the best of me!" I really appreciated their work.

" You too can count on me. Whenever you want to talk to someone, I'm always  there for you. You are gift of nature to us all. We are bound to take good care of you. By the way, Captain Nathan invited me over to a party you will be throwing at the Island. He just said that I should come with my childhood friends but didn't say much about it."

"Oh yeah. I forget to tell. We were informed yesterday that there will be a team of another ten students who will come to stay here for their projects after we are gone back to our normal life. They will come and stay here all day long. We will have to take them around and show then the life here. Then in the evening their would be a party to enjoy our stay here and the success of our projects. We have  four more days here. Tommorow evening we are going to have our last submission of our projects and then we will be done with this shit of projects. Then the following day, we'll receive the next team who will be staying here and have a party in the evening, then the last day. That day we are told we will be free and we would play in the games room and go out and take as much pictures of us as we want for memories, we will have the whole after to sit down all together and share about our two weeks stay together here. And finally we'll leave and go back to our homes a d we won't meet again till the graduation at campus." I explained it to him the same way the captains told us yesterday at breakfast.

"I know right now you want to go back home and be with your family and also be away from Sophia and what she did to you but I'm assuaring you that you will miss each and everyone of your team when you go back home!" I kept quiet and let it sink inside my head.

"You are right. Staying with unknown people for two weeks in the same house and eating from the same table was not a joke. We've got to know each other, we've made memories already and made friend. Ok bye Evans I'll talk to you later. I have so much work to do since am the queen here all the responsibilities are on my shoulders. Everyone has to send their final submission to me, then I will have to send them to the campus. Then I have to arrange for the stay of the new team and also the party. I better get going now!"

"Listen Pinky, make you back up the work that your fellows send you. It's really important to do that in case any part goes missing. And I'll call later and if I don't get the chance we'll meet when I come for the party!"

"Yh sure. I'm looking forward to seeing you at the party. Say hi to Sarah! Hope she too will be coming for the party!" Over the time I found out that his fionceè's name was Sarah. She was a  great lady of great personality and humility.  We said our goodbyes and end the call.

I checked on the progress of all the organization I did their marketing or advertisement, announcing them to the world. I was done with all projects, I had worked for the supplier's, Hunger Strike, ma'am Asya's bakery, Evan's welfare organization, a new shopping centre that had just opened up and a shop for both mother and baby care. Am glad since all my sub projects were successful.

I called Uncle from Hunger Strike. The phone rang four times and he picked up. I asked how he was doing and about his health and he said that he's much better now. He explained to me everything that was going on there. Their restaurant has been a busy one. They have even expand it and have kept tables and chairs outside the restaurant so that others can sit outside and enjoy the weather. They have been received orders for big organizations and many functions. They have hired more chefs and waiters. They have got new and improved machineries. He said that the backside garden that we had planned to set aside for specialized orders, many people have been paying extra just to book a table at that place m he said most of the romantic couples came there for their dates or when they were taking out there partners. I could feel his happiness and enlighten mood from his tone of voice. Evert now and then, he was giving orders to people, people come over to thank him, receiving calls for catering services.

"Am glad yo hear that your restaurant is back to what is used to be uncle."

"No child. You took it to a different height that I myself couldn't take it!"

"It's my pleasure to help you out anytime uncle. If you want anything just give me a call and I'll gladly help you. I think I'll have to go for now since I guess you are kinda too busy."

"Yes dear. Nowadays I even have to work on weekends and to very late at night. We are having a twenty four hours rash here. I sincerely pray for your success my child!" We said our goodbyes and ended the call.

I called the mother and baby care shop. The owner of the my shop who was called Janet picked up and was really happy that I called. I asked about how the business has been going and she said that they have getting more and more customers coming to check for the products they are having.

" But Pinky I was even thinking of calling you to talk to you. We've facing this challenge. People have Calling using our numbers on social media and they ask if we can send them the goods and products without them coming. I declined them and told them we don't offer that. What do you think about it?"

" Actually it's a good idea Janet. You could just have a store with a team of just five or six members. They will be taking online orders. All calls from your social media numbers would be directed to them and they would take the order and address and then come take the good from your shop and deliver. You will be serving both traditional shopping and online shopping. The times are changing anf most mothers of this generation are working and busy. This will be a great idea for both of you. They will be able to but whatever they wanted without rescheduling their priorities but they will have to pay extra for transport. This will also benefit your Janet."

"Yeah I get it now. I'll start looking for the online crew and a store where we'll be delivering the online orders from then the remaining weeks of this moth, I'll start advertising for the online platform and early next month we'll start serving both traditional and online shopping. Thanks for the idea and explaining everything to me."

"Ooh no need to thank me. It wasn't even my idea. What I can help is that I'll prepare an advertising video for your online shopping for your shop and then I'll send it yo you and you can post it in your social media pages. It will help attract more customers. All the best Janet!' again I cut the call feeling happy that most of them are enjoying the new heights their businesses have reached.

I wrote down in my to do list to check out on the remaining organizations later and make an ad for Janet's shop. Then I had to talk to everyone about starting submitting their projects for those who are already done like I. And for those who aren't yet done, they should be winding up soon since I had to back up like what Evans told me.

After all those hours of following up on my works, I felt internal peace. I felt that I had the responsibility of helping out everyone. True to the saying they say, you cam only find peace when you are happy with what you do. I'm glad that am done with the chapter of Sophia in my life. We weren't destined to be close so why fight for it. Just like today, when I was feeling low, I focused on my work and all the sorrow was gone. Similarly, whenever I'll miss her or think of her, I'll drive the thoughts out of my mind by focusing on my work and making myself productive rather than sitting idle and thinking of impossible friendships.

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Wohooooooo!! Longest chapter 🙃🤣
3404 words🥺😢😢 I'm proud of myself and Pinky as well🥳🥳 she finally decided to focus on what matters in life.
   
  ~what matters never mind and what minds never matter.

This quote is one of my favorite. When I was facing challenges in school last year my Best friend wrote me a later with this quote. She told me to only focus on what matters to me and true to her words, I finally made it at the end of the year. She's the world's best friend I guess and you know what? Her name is also Sophia 🥳🥳🥳🤣. I love you so soo soooo much Sophia 😍💋🥰.