Ryan drove straight to the college clinic as soon as he got out of Ifes and Mandy's dorm room. After getting treated, he felt the urge to drive to Bradley and Hunter's room.
As he kept driving, he thought of the duo and their childhood together as friends. He hissed hopelessly as the present came to mind. Things had totally changed. Their conversations. Their play. The way they encouraged each other and helped each other in times of need. Even their laughter. All had changed. Now, they spoke to each other like aliens from planets in alternate universes.
"And because of what?" "Because of who?" a sly voice bellowed in Ryan's head, countering his first question. Because of religion? Because of the African? Because of what he did to Mandy in the past?
Talking about that, who else knew about it? Mandy had promised to keep it a secret, never to tell anyone about it. She was capable of keeping to her words. She had given him assurance, but was that enough to give his heart peace of mind? Was it enough to wash away the guilt as though it never happened?
"No! Blame it all on Ifes. Blame her for coming between first you and Mandy, and now your other friends. She did this. That ****ing African caused this!" the accusing voice kept bellowing in Ryan's head, muddling his mind into a jumbled mess.
"Oh! shut up, shut the **** up!" he retorted to that voice as he gripped his steering wheel tighter. With a resolve he never knew he possessed, he made up his mind, right there and then, never to listen to or agree with the accusing voice again. What good had it done him? He had previously listened to the voice and was now facing the awful outcome. He had accused Ifes for a reason he now thought wasn't justifiable.
This was the same girl that, despite his ill-treatment towards her, got up from her seat that day at the library and came to his rescue. He remembered the way he felt as he sighted her in front of his reading table. Perplexed. Astonished. Dumbfounded. No words could describe what he felt as she offered a helping hand. Funny enough, the pointers she had given him had helped him during Dr Adams' test.
The same girl whom he had accused of exam malpractice finally proved him wrong. She had helped him out with the course he dreaded the most. Ryan stared at his reflection at his rearview mirror and felt crestfallen at what had become of him.
"No! no! This is not you, Ryan." Ryan kept shaking his head as he mumbled to himself. He swore to study people individually and never to judge them by other people's actions again.
-----
The next day, Tuesday.
In the lecture hall.
Dr. Connie Smith stood in front of the large lecture hall speaking in his Southern accent to the class of students before him.
"In our previous lecture, we discussed multipolarity. Today, we will be talking about bipolarity." He adjusted his specs and peered at a few students seated in the front row.
"From our previous class, I told you that multipolarity is the equal distribution of military and economic power between more than two nation states."
The students nodded in agreement.
"This was the system of government that was practiced before World War II, which changed afterwards when the world experienced a heavy economic meltdown." He gestured with his hands and his facial expression.
"Now that was just to refresh your brain, let's move over to our topic of the day which is bipolarity. Bipolarity is the equal distribution of military and economic power among two nation states."
The lecturer paused and gave his students a piercing look to be sure that his definitions were sinking into their brains. He continued walking in front of the lecture hall as he gestured with his hands, still talking. The students listened keenly and furiously jotted down the important points as fast as they could.
"This was the system of government that was practiced between the United States of America and the Soviet Union which is the present Russia at the global stage after WWII. These two nation states were the world power after the war, their system of governance opposed each other and this resulted in unrest in Europe. The Soviet Union initiated communalism while the US initiated capitalism, and this leads us to our next topic, which is, 'Imperialism' the highest level of capitalism."
He tapped his electronic notepad as he continued speaking. "We will be delving into this topic in our next lecture."
Before the lecture ended, doctor Connie Smith went on to tell the Quakers of the advantages and disadvantages of the bipolarity system of government. He elucidated how it led to the Cold war, the building of the Berlin Wall and the pulling down. How the Cold war ended in 1991, which led to the unipolarity system of government. That, he added, was after the Soviet Union was dissolved.
"Students, my time is up, but like I earlier said, we shall be studying VI Lennon's theory, imperialism, the highest stage of capitalism in our next lecture. Thank you." Dr. Connie waved his hands in the air and flashed the students a smile as he walked out of the lecture hall.
Dr. Connie was the opposite of Dr. Adams. He was in his mid-thirties, six feets and four inches tall. He had black hair, tinted gray in some edges, and hazel eyes which were a striking, almost golden, shade of brown. He was one of the most handsome lecturers, and it was no wonder some of the students tripped for him.
As usual, students stood to leave the hall after Dr. Connie,
"Hey, Mandy, wait up!" Ifes called out to Mandy who was far ahead of her as she tried to keep up with Mandy's pace. Mandy didn't stop, or even turn to look at her, instead she stormed out of the lecture hall.
Ifes increased her pace as she ran after Mandy. In no time, she was out of the lecture hall as well.
"Ryan! Ryan! Ryan! Hey, Ryan!" Mandy called out as she swept past students, who were standing at the doorway, to Ryan who had already unlocked his car and was about to enter.
Ryan whirled around to see the figure who was calling and was now running towards him.
Mandy threw herself on Ryan pulling him to a tight embrace! "I'm so happy for you, Ryan. I'm so happy you've finally realised the truth!" Mandy pulled away from the hug, but still held him close. By then, Ifes had gotten close enough to hear their conversation.
Ryan opened his mouth but couldn't utter a word. Mandy decided to continue talking.
"Tell you what, I am organising a party on Friday. I was supposed to take Ifes out yesterday, but we were unable to go because she had to go to work at the library. I have decided to make it better by organising a party on Friday which, thankfully, is her off day. I'll be inviting all our friends, and I'd like you to join us."
"Umm! Umm!" Ryan was about to give a reply when Bradley's voice chimed in.
"What's up, buddies?"
"Oh! Bradley. It's good you're here so I can just invite you two at once," Mandy said.
"Okay, so what's the occasion?" Bradley leaned on Ryan's car folding his hands across his chest and crossing his legs.
"Ifes received good news from her family yesterday, so I'm organising a party to celebrate with her, and I would like you guys to join us on Friday."
"Oh, wow! That's pretty cool. We will definitely be there." Bradley grinned.
"We'll be expecting you guys by 7:00pm on Friday."
"Venue please?"
"Okay, the venue's..."
"Y'all know it's not cool to have a meeting without me." Hunter's voice drowned Mandy's sentence halfway.
They all tilted their heads to look at Hunter who was already standing with them.
"And which venue are ya talking of?" Hunter asked, in a tone that spoke impatience
"Hey, Hunter, relax!" Bradley said.
Hunter narrowed his eyes, giving him the look that read, "don't tell me that!"
"The venue is for a party. I'm organising one on Friday." Mandy placed her left thumb on Hunter's right shoulder.
"Party? Organising one?" Hunter looked genuinely surprised.
"Mmm hmm!" Mandy nodded affirmatively.
"But I thought Christians don't party?" Hunter arched an eyebrow.
Mandy and Ifes grinned. "Well, why don't you attend one on Friday and see for yourself," Ifes said.
"Oh, definitely!" Hunter laughed. "I'd like to attend a Christian party, it could even change my mind and make me start going to church." Hunter gave a sardonic laugh.
"Alright, this means I'll be seeing you guys then?" Mandy chimed in, ignoring Hunter's sarcasm.
"Yes," Bradley replied while Ryan nodded his head.
"Wait! is he coming along?" Hunter glared at Ryan.
"Okay girls, Hunter and I have to run along, we have something to attend to before our next lecture." Bradley yanked Hunter as they walked away.
"Would you mind dropping us off?" Mandy asked Ryan when she probably noticed the change in Ryan's facial expression. She knew Ryan was obviously hurt by Hunter's question.
"No no! I wouldn't mind at all!"
"Alright then." The duo opened Ryan's car door and slammed it after they entered. Ryan slid in his key into the ignition and the car engine roared to life.
Mandy and Ifes did all they could to make Ryan cheer up to be free to talk to them. Mandy desperately wanted everything to return to normal; Ifes also wanted the same. They tried all they could, but their efforts yielded little or no success. They didn't give up. Instead decided to live to fight another day. Someday somehow, they believed Mandy and her squad of friends would reunite, and everything would become normal or better than it was.