đŤMr Lecturerđľď¸đŤ
â ď¸ Episode 44â ď¸
It really wasnât easy standing before pairs of intelligent eyes to defend myself. I had no choice than to quickly come up with an easy to believe half truth. There wasnât any way of fully denying getting involved with Comfort, so what i did was to accept responsibility with a little make up story.
I told them my affair with Comfort started way back when i was still a student and that she was a family friendâs daughter, but we kind of broke up when i left the country for my masters degree.
âI returned and got married to another woman, a situation than infuriated Comfortâs parents, who were aware of our relationship. However it never ended like i wanted, because as soon as i started working in this great school, Comfort used the opportunity as a student to revive our relationship. It really wasnât easy for me and when i finally told her to leave me alone, she accused me of impregnating her, equally telling her parents about itâ I lied effortlessly, but unfortunately i was lying to experienced old men and women who easily picked up many flaws in my story.
âyou know i donât think itâs quite a coincident that the girl Comfort, was your family friend, studied in the school that employed you and equally was a student in your department. Your defence is quite unbelievable and poor anyway we donât have the right to judge you. You have told us your side of the story which will now be our side of the story as well. Your fate will be decided by the disciplinary panel who will forward their decision to the school senate for approval. As for now, simply stay away from my classes. I will assign another lecturer to cover your courses. The last thing i want is for you to head to any class and be insulted. Hope you all agree with meâ the H.O.D asked everyone in the room. They all nodded in approval.
I left the H.O.Dâs office like a broken man. My dignity and pride lost. I equally was on the verge of losing my job. I just didnât know what to do.
I was deeply thinking in my office when my father in law walked in with his usual grace. I gasped with delight on seeing him because I wasnât expecting him at all.
He was the only person that had the kind of influence that could turn things around for me in the school.
âI canât believe our secret is now public. How did you let things get this bad?â he asked, sitting on an empty chair, facing me. I swallowed hard and shrugged, saying nothing.
âThere is nothing i can do about it for now because, a Rev. Father is in charge of the disciplinary panel. The man is a very straight forward person and I canât influence him to kill the case, and iâm afraid he will do a very clean investigative job before submitting everything to the senate for approval. Iâm a member of the senate but once the report gets there, hmmmm you are as good as fired. Anyway we still have a month to set things rightâ he addressed me with concern while i looked up hopefully at him.
He was the only friend and father i had in the school but then it was still two of us against a whole lot of people interested in casting stones on me.
â ď¸ Episode 45â ď¸
iâm so confused right now. You are the only person i just gotâ i confessed, telling the old man everything about the short meeting i had with my H.O.D and colleagues minutes earlier. He listened with abrupt attention, shaking his head when i was done with my narration.
âyou know you shouldnât have admitted your affair with that lady before your colleagues. Anyway, thatâs not the problem. The problem at hand is now how to fix your current situation and save yourself from getting fired. Next time donât dare admitting anything to anyone. Most times keeping silent in the face of grave situation can make one look like a fool but in reality it saves him his future. You should only open your mouth when queried by the disciplinary panel, Vice chancellor or Senate and i advise you find something better than that c**k and bull story you blew to your colleaguesâ My father in law said with a deep frown.
âyea i made a mistake. I have been making mistakes since i got this job as a lecturerâ i muttered with resignation while he stood up and breathed deeply.
âi will be leaving now but donât worry, i will try my best to help you out for the sake of my daughter and my good friend, your fatherâ he assured me with a smile.
______
I really couldnât concentrate on anything after the old man left me alone. My office suddenly looked like a prison to me. I just felt like an animal in cage. Of course i was definetly in a cage of problems.
By 11:30am, I left my office and headed to Comfortâs village, first stopping at a bank along the way to withdraw some cash. I couldnât help but imagine the expenses awaiting me at her home. Her parents mentioned something about her being very sick and i knew they would be expecting me to show up with a huge amount of money.
I arrived at Comfortâs house an hour later, very nervous and scared. I took a big risk of coming alone, knowing fully well, how deadly her family could be. They already had dealt me the first blow by embarrassing me before my students and colleagues.
However, as i walked into the compound, after parking my car a distance away. I noticed that the house looked empty, putting my mind a little at ease.
As i headed towards the corridor, i saw Comfort sitting on a bench with both hands on her jaw. She really looked quite sick and old. I couldnât believe my eyes.
âComfortâ i called out slowly, not believing that the thin and old looking girl before me was the sharp Comfort that shared many wondrous moments with me.
âmy God what happened to you?, what are you doing to yourself ?â i asked with great concern. She breathed deeply, looked up and stared at me, shaking her head.
âis this world worth living when the person you love is beyond your grasp or treats you like a shitbag??â she asked me, tears quickly melting her eyes and putting me in a great emotional turmoil.
To be continued.
