WHEN HATRED BEGAN
Soon she heard the honk of the horn of her mother's car, she ran outside to embrace her mother. She took what her mother bought from her hand, and followed her mother into the sitting room. On getting to the sitting room, they both sat down gently on the couch.
She asked her mother the reason for her late arrival. "I met an old friend of mine and we talked for hours", her mother answered. She took a brisk look at what her mother bought for her and found out all her school accessories except her books were there.
" By the way, your books, school uniform, and other wears will be given to you when you resume," her mother said. Shelly wanted to know what secondary school will be like, then her mother used that opportunity to advise her, saying that she should be on her best behavior, she should not follow a bad gang, she should also remember that she is the governor's daughter and people are always on the lookout watching her behavior towards other people.
She finally told her she should respect her seniors and teachers at school, she should not be proud or boastful because of her father's position. After the advice, she thanked her mother and went to her room.
she went to her room and lay down on her bed, her experience with John at his house came back to her memory. she then recalled what John did to her that made her make him so much, it happened when she was still in primary school.
That Monday morning, the sunrise was gorgeous, the clouds were edged with pink gold. Shelly came late to school, she doesn't usually come late to school but because of a little disagreement between her parents, she came late that day.
That very day John and some other boys were on duty, she was a little bit relieved when she saw John knowing that she won't face a lot of punishment because of the friendship she shared with her sister. John knew Shelly too well but instead of helping her even after her explanation, he accused her of making silly excuses, having the temerity to flout the rules because she is the governor's daughter. So he punished her unnecessarily.
On that day, she was melancholic and couldn't fathom John's behavior towards her. She taught of telling Joan but she did not want to spoil the relationship between her and her brother, so she decided to let it pass.
That same day, John called Shelly and warned her never to disrespect him again if not he will beat the living daylight out of her. He drew her ear and sent her away. Shelly wondered what she did to John that made him treat her that way, she didn't know what to do she thought of telling her dad but that would make her dad arrest John and she didn't want that. So again she decided to let it pass.
Shelly is the athletic type but running is what she knew how to do best. She was the best among all her female peers.
What awaken the hate in her was the Friday of that week when the principal told John to elect the best candidate that would represent them in the upcoming female relay race competition. The principal told him to choose four representatives. The announcement was made in the morning assembly that Friday.
Shelly knew she would be one of the representatives. In the afternoon, everyone was called out to assemble on the assembly hall. The principal Called out those who were elected and she found out she wasn't among them. she was frail and wanted to break down into tears but she held herself back and consoled herself.
Joan pitied her and also wondered why her name was not there, then they were all dismissed by the principal.
Joan comforted her, while being comforted by Joan she excused herself and told her she was going to the loo. On her way she saw John and his clique members discussing close to the toilet, she overheard John saying he was the reason she was not elected .when she heard this, she broke down in tears and wept but never told Joan.
One of the representatives stepped down for her, she went for the competition and their school came out as number one.
She came back to reality when she heard the footsteps of her mother, she pretended to be asleep. Her mother opened the door to check if she was still awake and found out she was asleep. She switched off the light and left. She sat upright after her mother left, she thought to herself that no matter what she would not forgive John for what he did.
John lying down on his bed thinking about all the things he did to Shelly, how he made her not be elected. He never knew Shelly was aware of what he did, he thought it was because of the punishment he gave to her that made her hate him so much not knowing Shelly knew. He prayed to God to give him the opportunity to apologize to her. He was a changed person, but Shelly wouldn't see that she still dwelt on his past actions and behaviors.
As he kept on thinking Joan came into his room, he begged Joan to plead with Shelly so that she could forgive him. Joan asked John what he did to her that he needs her forgiveness. John told her what he did but did not tell her what he did to Shelly concerning the competition.
She stood up, looked at him and damned his actions and told him he deserved every bit of her actions, but begging Shelly was the last thing she would do for him that he should go to her himself. She angrily left the room leaving John dumbfounded. John thought within himself if Shelly was ever going to forgive him.