The walk back home.

It was a cool Sunday afternoon; the service just came to an end, and everyone was exchanging pleasantries with friends and loved ones who they had not seen throughout the week as a result of tight schedules. As always, the church is where we get to meet friends and loved ones since work and school won't let us do that during the week, but exchanging pleasantries was not something Jude was cut out for, so he was already en route home when he heard someone call out his name.

"Hey Jude, wait up." Catherine called out

"This is really not the time; I would have loved to walk back home alone and quietly." Jude muttered as he turned back and saw Catherine running in his direction.

"Hi Cathy, How was service, and I hope you enjoyed every bit of it?" Jude asked as she got close.

"Yeah, I did, though I came late. I really needed someone to walk back home with, and luckily I saw you. Hope you don't mind?" Catherine asked

"Noo, it is all good. I can walk with you as long as that makes you happy." Jude responded, trying to hide how he actually feels about walking home with her instead of walking home alone.

Source

"Thank you." Catherine responded as she put her hands on Jude's shoulders and as they walked home like a couple, sharing their life story and how badly they wanted things to work out between them.

Catherine and Jude dated for a while, but things went sour between them, and the whole relationship came crashing down, but they stayed friends against all odds. Catherine's new boyfriend Joseph feels insecure about Jude around her despite them being close friends, but he still finds it difficult to trust that nothing can ever happen between them, so he gets angry whenever he sees them together and believes every story he is told, all because of his insecurities.

"Is that not Victor?" Catherine asked after she sighted a classmate of theirs from afar.

"It has to be him, because nobody walks like that if not him." Jude responded with a low tone while trying to break off from Catherine since everyone knows Victor to be a scoundrel and everyone tries to be careful when dealing with him.

"Hey Vic, where are you headed to? This sun is not too hot for a walk." Jude asked

"Going to pick my younger sister from the bus stop, man. Happy Sunday, and it's good to see you two together. See you guys tomorrow in school." Victor responded as he continued his journey.

"I think this is me," Catherine said as they got to her gate.

"See you tomorrow in school." Jude said as he waved and moved on.

It was Monday, and as usual Jude tries not to miss the morning assembly. He woke up early as usual and tries to prepare for school while preparing breakfast for him and his siblings as well.

"Hey Joe, good morning, man." Jude greeted Joseph on reaching school but got one of the coldest vibes from Joseph.

"Woman snatcher." One of Joseph's female friends whispered as they walked out on Jude.

"Victor that scoundrel doing what he does best." Jude muttered

"Hey Jude, whatever it is you did, it got Joseph really angry. He even said, If not for how close we all are, he would have had you beaten up." Samuel said to Jude on entering the class after morning assembly.

"All these were caused by Victor; he must have told Joe he saw Catherine and me yesterday, but it was just a walk back home from church and nothing else. I wonder how Victor must have fabricated his story." Jude responded, looking all worried and waiting for Joseph to come to the class so he could explain what happened.

"You know Victor Man; he must have made the story all spicy just to get Joseph on his side, but I hope Joe behaves." Sam said as he wiped dust off his seat.

Jude was moving from one end of the class to the other end, waiting for Joseph to step in or just to see him pass by, and luckily he heard Joseph was on his way to the library, and it would be the best time to approach him and iron things out.

"Joseph, Joseph." Jude called out as he ran after him.

"Yeah Jude, what do you want?" Joseph responded

"I don't know what Victor told you, man, but it is nothing like that. It was just a harmless walk back home from church, and that was it." Jude explained

Source

"I let my emotions get the best of me earlier; I apologize about that. Catherine already explained everything to me. I was supposed to come talk to you but could not get myself to do that because of earlier." Joseph responded as they shake hands.