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As a student, I wanted to be able to settle some of my bills without having to wait on my parents at all times. So, I felt that if I could be able to get a job, I would surely be able to sort myself out sometimes.
Mary was a very close friend of mine. People often took us to be sisters because of how close we were. We would wear the same outfit and have the same hair. Some thought we might have been twins and I shared all of my thoughts and secrets with her, and she did the same, so I thought.
Source
"Mary, there's an opening at a restaurant in town, so I was wondering if I could apply for it. What do you think?" I asked Mary on our way to lectures.
"Town? Isn't that going to be a lot for you, how would you cope with the transportation?" She asked me.
"I think they have an apartment for staffs who can't meet up with the whole transportation issue." I responded.
"How about classes? Are you willing to stop attending lectures because of a job?" She asked again with a look of concern on her face.
"You're right. It's so funny that I haven't thought of that, but I think I'll be able to cope with it. I'll be coming for classes but from Fridays, I'll be at the staff quarters till a new week comes around." I explained to her.
"I don't like this. So, we're not gonna be hanging out anymore? Is that it?" She asked with a frown.
"Of course not. We'll be hanging out and I'll spend my day-offs with you. I promise." I smiled as I made my promises.
She smiled back and I hugged her. It felt so nice to have a friend who would have your back at all times.
"I'll be going to apply tomorrow. Would you like to come with me?" I asked her
"Yes. If I don't come with you, who would?" She asked and chuckled. I laughed at her jokes. Indeed, I felt lucky to have her as a friend.
Two days later, we both went to the restaurant so I could submit my application and I was told to go home and await a text message.
"Mary, do you think I'll get the job?" I asked her, suddenly feeling nervous and unsure of myself.
"Of course, you will. Who would want to miss the opportunity of working with an Angel like you?" She responded and I felt relieved.
So, the waiting began and after three days, I didn't get a call or a text. I got worried and I thought of going back to the restaurant to check if there was a problem, but Mary advised against it.
"Why would you go back to them? There are so many places where you can work and still earn cool cash. If they don't hire you, it's their loss, not yours. You don't need them to survive. You'll do just fine, just as you've been doing before." She said to me and after a few moments of contemplation, I gave in to her advice.
Being an observant person, I was quick to catch on when there was a sudden change in something or someone. I noticed that Mary's attitude towards me had changed, she was suddenly too busy to hang out or even check on me. At some point, she stopped talking to me altogether and it became bothersome to me. I felt like maybe I had wronged her in some kind of way and maybe this was her way of expressing it, so I went to talk with her.
"Mary, did I do something wrong to you?" I asked her.
"How do you mean?" She responded with a question as well.
"Well, you've been keeping your distance from me and I'm worried. If I did something wrong, you should tell me so I can make amends." I honestly pointed out my worries.
She scoffed. There was this malicious look in her eyes, filled with hate and disdain. I couldn't fathom why she would give me that kind of look.
"Do you think my life revolves around you? Can't I have a life without you in it?" She said with hostility laced in her voice. I was taken aback by her words.
"Mary, what's going on? I don't understand why you're suddenly saying all of this. What did I do so wrong that you're this angry?" I asked, concerned.
"Well, if you had a job, you'd know that every second you stand on my porch is a waste. But of course, you don't have anything to keep you busy, so you feel everyone is a loser like you. Get lost." She said and with that, she shut the door and left me standing in shock.
I can't tell how long I stood out there, but it was for a pretty long time. I hoped it would be a prank and she'll come out and hug me but nothing of such happened.
Mary started hanging out with the same clique she used to dislike and each time I saw her, I'd feel so sad and hurt and thus, I became a loner. I'll come to class and after that, I'll go home and sleep till the next day.
A week later, I went back to the restaurant only to find out that they had sent me the message and someone had taken the job, claiming to be the real applicant. After much argument, I was told that the other girl who had accompanied me to the restaurant had taken the job and that was Mary.
"How?" I cried out in shock
"Maybe she also had her eyes on the job. She ain't your friend my dear." The receptionist responded.
I thought about it. Mary had access to my phone, maybe she saw the text and deleted it afterward and to imagine that she had been acting all nice made me so mad with rage.
"Mary!!! Open up." I screamed as I banged my fist on her door.
"Have you gone nuts? What part of 'stay away from me' did you not understand?" She said as she opened the door.
"How could you do this to me, Mary? I thought we were sisters." I asked her.
"Sisters?" She laughed out. "Wake up baby girl. Have you suddenly lost track of the ones you shared a womb with?" She said still laughing at me.
"Why did you do this to me? I trusted you." I said as tears trickled down my cheeks
"If you're talking about the job, well I did you a favor. It's not like a loser like you can work there, plus I'm so much better than you are, so I deserve it too." She responded.
"I never expected this from you." I said as more tears poured out from my eyes.
"Well Jenny, the earlier you realize that the world doesn't revolve around you, the better it'll be for you. Now leave and never you show your face at my door again." She warned and shut her door.
That night, I cried my heart out. The fact that it had to be Mary who would hurt me, made me cry so much.
Source
Moving on, I got hired by someone who wanted to start a fast-food business and with luck on our side, we excelled. I got a lot of money from it and I made new friends. Soon, Mary became my past and I tried not to think about her again.
One day, a lady came in to buy food. She talked of a girl who had been arrested and accused of robbing her restaurant of a million naira. She showed me the photo of the girl and it was Mary.
I gasped in shock as I stared at the photo.
"Do you know the girl?" She asked me.
"She's someone I used to know." I responded. "But what happened?" I asked as my curiosity got the better part of me.
"Well I heard a group of boys she served made away after eating and drinking things worth over eight hundred thousand naira and when she found out, a wine worth two hundred thousand fell off her hands. The management thinks she was in on the crime and she has to pay in full or work there without salary until she regains the money." The lady narrated and I felt bad for Mary.
'Could this be Karma?' I asked myself.
"You should try and get in touch with her other friends so you can help her out." The lady's voice drew me out of my reverie.
"She'll figure it out. She always does. After all, what can one expect after stealing another's thunder?" I blurted out.
"What do you mean?" The lady asked me.
"Never mind. Please enjoy your meal." I replied and walked away.
Thanks for reading
