Ever since Ifeanyi left, Obiageli knew things would never be the same anymore; not only for her but for others too. It was a new year and things had changed drastically. Their once organized clique had begun to fall apart as people were leaving.

Somto had left for Lagos since his five years contract had ended - she would have gone too with Ifeanyi had such tragic incident not happened. Mr Nwokocha had gotten a new job away from the factory and Adaobi had gone back to her home town - this happened after she broke up with her boyfriend.

Obiageli had wondered what possible thing would have led to their break up. They were always a sweet couple; moving together and clinging to each other - they were the perfect couple. It was strange their sudden breakup.

Obiageli had asked Adaobi about it once but she simply told her the relationship wasn't working anymore. From the way she had spoken, Obiageli discovered she was deeply affected by the breakup. However, her boyfriend didn't seem too affected by this.

He had begun igniting his sparks with the young seductress - Obiageli had resulted to calling her that after her attempt to seduce Ifeanyi.

The clique was not the same anymore; therefore, Obiageli didn't fancy hanging out with them anymore. Though Pa Nonso and Oga Philip still argued about the daily paper, there was no more vibe for Obiageli.

It was now she knew Chinaza and Ifeanyi had been her vibe. Even seeing Adaobi at the table charged her but now that she was gone, there was just nothing to do again at the table. Obiageli wasn't a fan of argument so she couldn't join in their argument.

The table was now a place for argument and flirting - Adaobi's ex boyfriend and his new girlfriend: Monica, the young seductress; all they did was laugh stupidly at the table. Obiageli was fed up watching those two.

A new waitress had been employed to replace Adaobi so new faces were everywhere. The old canteen which used to be a place of joy, laughter and solace was now a cold, lonely, and tiresome place.

Obiageli couldn't wait to leave the canteen. Had she not been going with Ifeanyi to Lagos, she would have left the job in search of another. She just couldn't cope again. It was like she was suffocating in there.

The young seductress wasn't making things easy for her too. She hatched plans upon plans on how to frustrate Obiageli. She kept surprising Obiageli with new ways of frustration. She was arrogant, scornful and lazy. She spoke harshly to customers; Obiageli had to plead with them so they wouldn't leave.

Obiageli had tried talking sense into the younger girl and had even threatened to report to their boss should she continue but the girl had only looked Obiageli from her head to her toe and had hissed; dangling her hips as she walked away.

Obiageli wondered if it was the five kobo, Adaobi's ex boyfriend was offering her that made her pompous and on top of the world. Obiageli just couldn't wait to leave.

She missed Ifeanyi terribly; he was the main reason everything suffocated her; including her house. He had so influenced her that everything she did spoke of him: coming back to her apartment from the restaurant, going to church, spending her Sundays with him, eating with him.

Her Sundays weren't the same anymore. It was on Sundays she missed him more for she spent virtually the whole day with him. It hurt not to see him; not to hold him; to kiss him, however she took solace in his letter. He had sent her a letter telling her all that had happened and how he was faring. She had replied his letter by expressing her joy to have heard from him.

She had kept his letter inside a box she had bought specially to store up important letters; letters she would never want to lose. It was in that same box she had kept the letter Chinaza sent to her some weeks ago. She was glad to see her best friend finally settled with the one she loved.

It was an extra joy to know that she was comfortable too. Chinaza had informed her about the car her husband had purchased for her. She had explained all that she saw overseas during her honeymoon.

Obiageli felt Chinaza was one lucky girl. She had the perfect husband, perfect in laws, In fact, perfect life in general. Obiageli tried not to conceive any form of jealousy but then, she couldn't help a tiny ounce from entering into her mind. She wished she had such too.

Ifeanyi was upcoming, he wasn't fully comfortable yet. If not for the love she had for him, she would never had been with him. But she loved him and so made it her priority to stand by him and support him just as she had done with Jideze.

Speaking of Jideze, not a sign from him ever since she stepped her feet into Enugu. She couldn't care less about him anymore. She felt he should carry on with his life just as she had done too. He was the one to betray her not she; therefore, she owed him nothing.