The story of Badmus

When I first read today's contest topic, my first instinct had been to write about my mom who I lost four years ago, but recently, I've been trying to say less about it because it hurts whenever I do, and seeing how I know it will be impossible for me to forget about the whole thing, I could at least make it hurt less by not thinking or talking about it all the time.

So instead, I will be telling you guys a story about my friend whose name was Toheeb Badmus. A friend who definitely would have been more than a friend if he had been given the chance to have lived a little longer.

_{photo by Samuel Aboh}

Myself and Badmus attended the same primary school and high school together. During primary school, we weren't really that close, but when we got to high school, we became best of friends.

Badmus was one of those guys who you just know would have a very bright future because back then at high school, at that very young age, Badmus was probably the richest kid at my school and this was because he was also learning a trade at the time.

He was so good at saving and managing money that I remember that just before he died, he had gotten himself one of the nicest phones I had ever seen at that young age.

I remember what he said to me when I had asked him how he was able to afford such a huge expensive looking phone. He had told me that he had been saving for a while, that whatever money his boss gave to him for lunch, he would go save it and that was how he was able to get the phone.

We were little kids then but even at that age, I knew this young man was going to do well in life because of how disciplined he was. Badmus was one of those lads who rarely got upset and always tried to stop others from getting into a fight. A gentle soul who had a funny laugh and would always laugh at the slightest thing.

During high-school, we had gotten so close that we eventually became seat partners. Badmus wasn't exactly the brightest of student when it came to academics, but what he lacked in school, he had in real life scenerios.. He wasn't book smart but was surely street smart.

He would often give me advise about random things of life and although I never took any of his advice serious at the time, a lot of the things he said to me made good sense.

If I remember correctly, Badmus died in the year 2015 just as we were getting ready for our senior WAEC (an examination written to gain admission into the University).

I still remember that day like it was yesterday, when another of our classmate had announced his death and how I had thought he was joking at first, but a visit to Badmus home confirmed everything. This was someone I had spoken to a couple days ago, talking him through the WAEC registration process.

That probably was my first real experience of losing someone close to me and it felt like a scene from a movie. Badmus had passed away after a brief illness.