PS: For those just joining the story or to refresh your memory, kindly read the parts 1 and 2 below.
Part 1: The Hangman's Noose
Part 2:The Governor’s Ties
Envy was the first human emotion. It exposes the rawness to which our entire mind is built. It’s not about being a good person, it’s a part of us—a skin which can’t be torn apart.
I was a good friend to Laori, I sacrificed everything to make him happy. I even followed him everywhere like a fruit fly follows a rotten fruit. We were inseparable. He was smarter than me, I must confess, but I was the muscles, while he was the brains. Our roles were different, but we had the same goals.
We had met first in secondary school. He was small in size, which made other kids bully him. I never enjoyed whenever the bigger kids picked on him, so one day I protected him. There was a raging anger inside me. I always looked for who to fight. He presented the opportunity for me through his bullies and so I took it. I lurched at the biggest of them and broke his nose. I was suspended, but at least it was a win. Laori was never bullied again, and I also was respected. We instantly connected. Every day after school I would visit his home and eat to my fill. Since I was sure that nothing awaited me at home. I was from a dirt poor home. Our relationship exceeded beyond secondary school and we even went to the same University, all thanks to Laori’s wealthy father who agreed to sponsor me alongside his son. I was forever indebted to the family. I had become a part of the family. Even in Uni, I always put Laori’s needs ahead of mine and protect him. When the cultist came beckoning at him, I fought them off and had to join to make sure he wasn’t a part. In our final year, when he contested for the Student Union Presidency, I was his campaign manager and security. No one dared opposed him. I was always by his side. I knew my position and my role, and I played it spectacularly with glee.
But Laori had a problem. He was covetous. His wealthy background always made him aim for things that weren’t his. He always wanted what others had. I tried to always reason, which often led to our fierce disagreements. He was also ambitious to a fault. The day he told me he wanted to become the Governor of the state, I laughed. I thought it was a joke. Laori had no business being a governor. He was already a successful entrepreneur, thanks to his inherited wealth. He had fame and respect. I couldn’t understand why he wanted more. It felt stupid. But I found solace because I was a son of a pauper and I could never understand his ambitions. My age was middle-aged. I had a wife, two beautiful daughters, and a stable income. I was comfortable and content. Laori often threw jabs at me. Saying I was a mediocre person, but I saw nothing wrong with my life. I was grateful. With the knowledge of where I came from, I recognized my luck. I wasn’t about to push it too far. Laori at our age, was still unmarried. He was never satisfied with one person, he always wanted more out of women. One wasn’t enough. He had many women flings and scandals, but he never cared. I tried talking to him about them, but he never seemed to listen to reason.
The most mysterious thing I realized about our friendship was that Laori envied me. I have noticed this since we were kids, but I always ignored. I never understood why. He had everything, and I had nothing. How could he still envy the little I had? But the mystery soon unraveled itself.
One dawn my wife came to me crying. I had been scared because it was unlike her. She began apologizing to me and asking me for assurances that I wouldn’t do anything tragic, but I couldn’t understand what she meant. So I probed further, and she confessed to me she had maintained a romantic affair with Laori for years. I was both enraged and petrified. She further explained that both kids were his and the reason she was telling me about it was because she had felt bad. I died inside. How could that be? How could I have missed all of this happening under my nose? I felt betrayed. How could my best friend take the one thing that I cherished the most in life? That day I left my home and prepared to take my pound of flesh.
Laori achieved his dream. He became the governor. I visited him in the statehouse. He was oblivious that I knew the truth already. So I confronted him. He showed no remorse. He didn’t deny the affair. In his words, “we’re brothers. How dare you start a family without me?” I felt a chill run down my spine. He continued, “well I joined the family without informing you, and I’m more excited that your kids are also my kids.” I was so agitated that I punched him. Something I’ve never done in all our years as friends. That day, the friendship ended.
A few months later, a conspiracy begun to have Laori removed from office. I gladly joined. I wanted to be the one to finally put the nail in his coffin. It would be my ultimate joy.
Laori bit more than he could chew. This is getting interesting.