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6.
Flashback to how it all started.
As a kid, O'Connell was one shy boy, who because of being overweight, chose to be antisocial. He knew he could never blend in because kids always laughed at him, and called him fat and ugly. To the extent of bullying him. He had pale skin, and was round and thick. With thighs like that of woman.
He lived with his maternal Grandpa, Adesina Ayodeji, and Tosin Ayodeji who was his uncle, and seven years ahead of him.
O'Connell lived with them in Nigeria because his mom, who had given birth to him at a very tender age, was studying medicine, a seven years course at the University. And his dad, well his mom's fiance, was in Brazil, running his family business.
O'Connell's mom had a one night stand, with some stranger in Ireland, when she went visiting , and had no idea she was pregnant until she came back to Nigeria.
So, O'Connell lived with his Grandpa and uncle. With his mom coming from time to timeRelated chapters
O'Connell (Mending His Heart) 7.
O'Connell watched Jeremy through his window, as he rode on his bicycle with his acquaintances. Waiting for the perfect moment to throw down the letter he had wrote, and had crumpled into a paper ball.He had been fantasizing about doing this for a very long time. Ever since few days ago, when he almost slipped and fell into dirt, and Jeremy had caught hold of him and helped him up.O'Connell had finally summoned up the courage to write him about how he felt about him. To him, Jeremy was the most good looking boy he had ever seen. He was so neat and calm in class. Something which had made him develope feelings for him even more. Plus he was nice, caring, had good manners with good grades at school.O'Connell had asked Marguerite once, when she had come visiting, if it was normal to like his own fellow boy. And she replied, saying it was very normal. It was until the boy told her he was inlove with a boy in his class, that she went haywire. Then began yellin
O'Connell (Mending His Heart) 8.
The third time Jeremy had helped O'Connell again, was when they were both six years old. And O'Connell was trying to sing in front of the whole class, because students were to sing during music class.Other kids had sang when it was their turn, and were rewarded with a round of applause by the rest of the kids. And O'Connell was waiting impatiently for his turn. With anticipation kicking right through him, that he was going to sing in front of the whole class. And maybe when they listen to him as he sing with his voice, which he thought was amazing, then they would bully him less.O'Connell was feeling so giddy on the inside. Almost bouncing on his seat, from excitement. Finally feeling that, that day would be a good day to him. And maybe he could talk finally talk to Jeremy. And play with him on the play ground as well. Because he could still remember Jeremy's act of kindness towards him. How Jeremy had offered him his own milk, when he, O'Connell was crying over his
O'Connell (Mending His Heart) 9.
O'Connell recalled all that just happened. It was music class, and it was his turn to sing. He had even worn his best outfit to school on that day, and had tried to aww the class, because his uncle and grandpa had pointed out that he had a very nice voice for singing. They had really complimented his outfit that morning, telling him how handsome he was. And he had believed them. Only to arrive at school, at get laughed at by his classmates. Worse, his voice was being mocked, and he was being thrown food, by these classmates. Something his teacher couldn't put to stop. Rather she let it all happened to him. Despite it was really wrong. And he wasn't supposed to be treated like that.The world was cruel. O'Connell thought.Because he had wanted to fit in, wanted to be liked by all. But he had made a big fool of himself, by assuming he was going to get praised for singing perfectly. Because he got laughed at. Insulted, pointed fingers and moc
O'Connell (Mending His Heart) 10.
There was a continuous sound on O'Connell's window, as if someone was throwing a gravel to hit it. He wondered if it was a dream, or it was just that he was hearing things. But then, the sound was non-stop.He flicked his eyes opened lazily, and then stared at the clock hung on the wall. It wasn't even evening yet, and he had closed his eyes to nap after contemplating if he had done the wrong thing by writing a love letter to his own gender. When he was only nine. He wondered how his parents would feel if they could by any means, find out that he wrote a letter to a boy. Their neighbor's first son.Worst, him developing feelings for a the boy.O'Connell would get scold, he knew. And told that he was too young. And not supposed to like someone from his own gender, but a girl. His mom would caution him, because he was the only child, spank him, and then pray over the situation. Marguerite could be very religious most times.
O'Connell (Mending His Heart) 11.
Age 15O'Connell merged into the crowd of students who were heading to their supposed classes, his backpack slung over his shoulder, as he offered smiles to anyone who was looking at him and began advancing towards his locker. Feeling good to be at school again, after the long vacation of three months. He had a feeling that school was going to be great.It was the first day of his senior year. And his last year of school. O'Connell could feel his smile huge on his face. Because he would move out of Lagos, so he could start his dream tertiary institute. He couldn't wait to get over with senior year already. But Maths was giving him a hard time. He hoped he could get a C in the West African Examination Council, so he could get to go to his dream institution. Despite being taught countless of times, and having his dad get him a private Maths tutor, O'Connell was still so bad at it. It was just like, he was born to suck at Maths. And he
O'Connell (Mending His Heart) 12.
Jeremy was very young at that time. And didn't know what to do. Couldn't make decisions for himself. All he did at that time was to please his parents and friends. He didn't want people to know that he was gay, interested in boys. He didn't know that it wasn't a wrong thing to follow one's heart, and not please people. He thought he was doing himself good, by pleasing everyone at that time. Little did he know he was going to regret his actions someday. Was going to wish he could turn back the hands of time, and undo alot of things. Take back the words he had said.Jeremy could still remember that day, how he had made the boy cry. Though he felt bad over it, but thought it was the right thing he was doing. He felt his friends would be proud, and he laugh when he told them about how he had rejected O'Connell's love, after reading the letter he had wrote him. Because O'Connell was very fat, and put on weird clothings. Plus no one liked him, it was just pity h
O'Connell (Mending His Heart) 13.
O'Connell decided to let these thoughts slide, because he knew the bell for first period would be rang to notify the students to hurry into their classes.He returned his eyes back to Jeremy, just in time to see Jeremy staring at him intensively. Even pleading with his eyes. Jeremy looked so sorry to him that he almost pitied him right at that moment.O'Connell flirted a little with a girl that came to talk to him, by letting her play with his tie. He did this, because he wanted Jeremy to think he was interested in girls. Because the same Jeremy had mocked him for being gay.O'Connell swallowed back laughter, when the girl pressed a kiss to his cheek. Though he had mastered the art of flirting with girls, even knew when to feign emotions, but that didn't mean he was interested in them. He had tried to be close to them, to see if they could attract him, and maybe, just maybe he wasn't gay. But it didn't work.
O'Connell (Mending His Heart) 14.
O'Connell on the other hand was extremely uncomfortable, he acted bold and smart, but with Jeremy behind his back, he couldn't think straight. He still had a crush on Jeremy, despite how Jeremy had hurt him. But he knew there was no way, he was going to have anything to do with him. Jeremy was the boy who had rejected him. And having been he hadn't moved out to change, nothing would have changed. He would have been the fat, ugly, unloved boy who no one wanted. The boy who got rejected by him. O'Connell knew all of these, that was why he chose to leave.Staying with his mom wasn't easy for him. Marguerite was somewhat strict. Unlike his uncle Tosin and grandpa. O'Connell had to watch his weight, by eating less food. Something which was just twice in a day. In the morning, and evening. At first it was hard to stick to this new rule, he had wanted to burst into tears because he was finding it difficult to adapt to this new rule. But the looks he had received at his new sch
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O'Connell (Mending His Heart) 36.
