For Love and Justice

John still had an iota of doubt in him.

“Can she afford all this?” he thought.

Reality dawned on him as she offered three thousand, five hundred dollars to the cashier for all he had purchased.

“For real!?” His lips quirked.

“Pull those together and let's seek assistance,” Granny called out one of the cashiers at the checkout counter to aid them.

All that was written on John’s face was nothing but happiness. Just that minute, he waved his curiosity behind.

Apparently, Granny would go the extra mile to make him happy. He had never for once regretted he knew not his biological parent but nature has a way of bringing back a memory that seems delusional and daunting to him. How unfortunate?

“It seems we are ready to go,” John said, making sure all goods were properly packed inside the boot.

Driving back home was quite exciting for John. He couldn't help but imagine the kind of love Granny had bestowed upon him. How amazing.

“ I love you, Granny.”

“I cherish you, John.” She smiled back at him.

“Here we are.” the Uber guy said.

“Oh, my God! The journey seemed shorter compared to when we had left this afternoon.”

Granny wasn't surprised to hear him say that because his excitement made him lose track of time. “ we have journeyed for another thirty minutes. Am I right?” She turned to the Uber guy.

“Yeah, you are right, ma.”

“Well, what mattered is that we are here.”

Packing the goods inside wasn’t time-consuming like Granny thought as John displayed some sort of energy that hadn't been part of him since she had been raising him.

“This is amazing! I must say!!”

“Well, you amazed me the most. Who would have thought you had a plan like this?”

“Oh, not again.” She beamed.

John moved closer to Granny, hugged her passionately, and said to her, “ Thank you for all you do.”

Granny reciprocated his gesture, patted his shoulder, and asked, “ What would you like to eat for dinner?”

“Anything you prepare, Granny.”

She let go of his grip, instructed him to arrange the goods as he deemed fit, walked into the kitchen to prepare him dinner, served him, and watched him go to bed.

Just before he went to sleep, he picked up his phone to text Kendra and narrated all that he had encountered during the day.

Two weeks later

The Uber guy who drove him to his school hostel had hardly gone when his site caught the backside of a young dude.

“Can you help me, please?” His loads were a bit too much for him to handle.

The guy turned to him and moved closer to where he was. His eyes googled in disbelief when he realized it was the guy who almost cost him the winning prize during the last quiz at high school.

“You son of a bitch! Are you talking to me?” Sebastian Murray asked sternly.

“Sorry, I was referring to the guy by…” He pointed at the guy opposite his direction to avoid further questioning.

He loomed over John, and his burning rage stared him down, “It's a relief that you are admitted here! I promise to make your stay a living hell on this campus so that you can have a taste of what I went through after your unfortunate victory!!”

John composed himself and didn't let him notice any anxiety in him. The moment he left, he exhaled loudly.

“He fucking scared the hell outta me. Wait, what's with his scrawny physique? If not for his broad chest, he would be nothing but a replicate of a monkey.” John mumbled to himself and hissed.

He looked behind him to be sure he was finally gone but caught up with his middle finger raised from afar signifying “ Fuck you!”

The least he could do was care less as he ignored him and asked for someone else to help him with his luggage.

Luckily for him, he found someone willing to help and he heaved in relief. “Thank you.”

“I am John. What's your name?”

“I am Alex Smith.”

“Nice meeting you Alex. Do you stay around here?”

“Yeah, my apartment is opposite Emerald Hall.” pointing toward the building opposite John’s hostel as he helped with some of his luggage while walking to his hostel.

“That's cool. Are you also a year-one student?”

“Yeah, just like you.”

“Hmmm… I hope we get along together.”

Alex helped John settle in and also offered to show him around since he had lived in the community since his high school days.

“Am sorry am a bit forward but can I ask you a question?”

“Go ahead,” John responded.

“Who was the guy you were talking to earlier on before I walked up to you?”

“Oh, you mean the bony broad-chested guy?”

“Yeah.” he scoffed.

John narrated the whole story behind the competition to Alex and made it clear that it wasn't something serious but he was surprised to see him act like that.

“I have to warn you to be careful of him, John.”

“And, why?”

“He just moved in last week and I have observed the company he keeps. Not a good one, I must say.” He warned John to beware of him.

“I’ll be sure to keep that in mind. can you please hold on for me to tidy up a bit and you can show me around later?”

“Sure, we can do the cleaning together.”

“Really?”

“Not a big deal, dude!”

“Thanks, Alex. You will be the second white male friend I will be having.”

“Am pleased to hear that.”

They both did the cleaning and arranging together while getting to know each other better through conversation.

“Are you aware of the party coming up tomorrow? Just for the first-year students only.” Alex asked.

“There is no way I would have gotten such information. I guess my social life is boring.”

“Don’t tell me you won't be attending?”

“If am gonna have the likes of you there then I would be pleased to be there.”

“Cool, Let's create our first memory as we unite as friends.”

After they finished cleaning and setting up, Alex showed him around, took him to the closest fast food point and they ate before saying goodbye to each other goodbye. John was pleased he met Alex as they seemed to have a perfect aura.