It's during the third week of resumption that the lecturers finally decide to take interest in teaching us, however, we all start to wish they give us a break. There's barely time to relax and regroup before the next lecturer enters.
It's only a few minutes past one before our schedule clears temporarily. I'm on my way out of the hall with Eric, when a demanding voice stops me in my tracks. It sounds like it's for me, so I turn and see the lecturer pointing my way.
When I put my hand to my chest he nods.
“I'm coming,” I tell Eric.
Before he can ask where I'm going, I'm on my way to the lecturer, Mr Alabi V. Ogunjimi. He's our CHM 110 (Introduction to Organic Chemistry) lecturer, whose class we finished a few minutes ago and apparently, a prestigious lecturer whose tremendous deeds caused the school to name a hall after him.
“Good afternoon, sir," I greet.
He dismisses our class governor with a wave of his hand before focusing his attention on me with a bright smile.
“Good afternoon, beautiful lady. How are you?”
“I'm fine, sir.”
He chortles and I pause to recollect if I said anything funny.
“Do I look that old that you keep calling me sir?” he asks.
I wonder if this is a trick question because, although the round man with a beer-belly doesn't look aged, he looks old enough to be my father. Not wanting to answer wrongly, I offer a nervous smile.
He shakes his head, an unreadable smile on his face. “Anyway, where are you off to?”
“One of the canteens.”
“With your boyfriend?” He points at Eric standing afar with a frown on his face.
Heat rises to my cheek as I turn to him, laughing. “No, o. He's not my boyfriend. He's my best friend.”
“Hmm?”
“Seriously!”
“Okay o. I thought maybe you were heading home, so I could give you a ride. But since you're not, let me have your number.”
“My number?”
“Yes. Or will that be a problem?”
“Uhh.” I scratch my nape as I glance back at Eric, who's now having a conversation with someone. “Sir, I...”
“Don't be scared.” His nose crinkles as he chuckles. “I just want us to get to know each other. You seem like a bright student and I like to scout stars like you. While you're still fresh.”
“Oh.”
Although I barely believe him — since I know I'm in no way a 'bright' student — I'm more scared that he'll be offended if I decide not to give him my number. The last thing I want is a problem with a lecturer.
“Okay,” I say.
“Excellent.” He takes out his phone from his breast pocket, and I look around, suddenly aware of the eyes that are watching us, making me swallow hard. “Here.” He hands the phone to me.
After giving him my number, I tell him I need to go and he doesn't hold me back.
“What was that about?” Eric asks as the guy whom he had been talking to shakes his hand before leaving.
Holding his arm, I steer him toward the canteen. “I don't know. He was asking for my number.”
“And you gave him?” He comes to an abrupt halt that I almost trip.
Eric's hardened expression tells me that I've made a big mistake, so I lie.
“No. Why will I give him my number?”“So what did you tell him when he asked?”
“I said I couldn't give it to him because it'll look somehow.”
“And he dropped it?” He raises an eyebrow.
“Yessi. I don't understand why you're acting like this. Is the man the devil's incarnate?”
Eric looks to his left side, watching as our lecturer drives away. “Worse. He's worse.”
***
At the canteen, Dare and his girlfriend enter the room and I beckon him over while Eric shoots me a glare.
“Must you shout?” he asks.
“Must you vex?” I push up the skin of my eyes and make a monster face at him.
Shaking his head, he looks away just as Dare joins us. Just like the last time, he's dressed in a white T-shirt and black Jean — but this time there's a splash of rainbow colours on the front of the shirt.
The guys slap their hands while I wave at Dare's girlfriend, who acknowledges me with thinned lips.
This one has serious problem.
“Which course are you guys studying sef? Because I've never seen you in our hall,” I say to Dare.
“I'm studying Accounting while Anita's studying Political science.”
“Oh.” I nod.
“Babe, what should we eat?” Anita asks Dare, always craving his attention. Anita is so clingy that I doubt she even lets him keep female friends. “I feel like eating Jollof rice and fried plantain,” she says.
“But we ate that yesterday.”
“So? Is there a rule that says we can't repeat food?"
Rolling his eyes to the ceiling, he throws his head back. “I don't even have your power this afternoon. If that's what you want to eat, go get it.” He takes out his debit card and hands it to her.
“Ah-ah. Are you sending me alone?" she asks as she collects the card.
“Don't you know how to order food again?”
“So? Aren't you also eating?"
I watch the ongoing drama with a long sip of my Fanta.
“I'm not yet hungry,” Dare says.
“But you haven't eaten anything since morning.”
“So?”
“Do you want to have ulcer?"
“Babe, please, I'm just not in the mood. If you're hungry, go and buy your own food and let me have rest of mind."
This time she doesn't have a counter-reply as she looks hard at him. She then looks my way and I only get a glimpse of her intensified glare before looking away.
“Fine. Suit yourself." She pushes her chair back loudly and stomps over to the counter.
Dare groans audibly, shaking his head as he sits up.
“Girlfriend wahala," Eric says.
“I dey tell you. This girl no gree free me since morning. It's from one complain to another. I'm tired, man." He pulls Eric's drink close, removes the straw before tilting the bottle upwards as the drink flows downwards into his mouth.
“I feel ya." Eric laughs. “That's how mine is always on my neck. If it isn't Pizza that's the problem, it's shawarma. Or that I'm not giving her enough attention or that I'm ignoring her. And I'm like make up your freaking mind.”
The two burst out laughing.
Lowering my gaze, I start to wish the ground opens and swallows me.
“Then, you do the next normal thing. Forget about him.” My sister's words echo in my head, and although I know it's what I'm supposed to do, I simply can't bring myself to.
A tap on my shoulder brings me out of my thoughts as I look up.
“Is everything okay?" Dare asks.
“Yeah. Sure.”
“Did you hear what I just said?” he asks.
“What did you say?” My gaze flickers from him to Eric.
“I asked you to teach us to understand you guys.” Dare shifts his weight in his seat as he sets his palm on the armrest.
I let out a chuckle. “Are we a book or subject you should be taught how to understand?"
“You guys are even a whole Ugo. C. Ugo," Dare says and I laugh.
“Honestly, we're not that complex. You just need to be understanding to get us. Like sometimes we want your attention but there are also times we want to be alone. We can be hungry for chocolate today doesn't mean we want that every single day. It's just about asking us what we want and you'll get an answer. It's as easy as that.”
“You see as I am here eh," Dare says. “If I'm hungry, you'll know. If I'm sad, you'll know. If I'm dead, you don't even need to ask me to know.”
We all burst out laughing.
“Can't girls be anything like that?” he asks.
I don't get the chance to answer because Miss Devil's horns return with her food and a grimace. Devil's horns, a secret nickname I've come up with for her.
“Can you imagine the nonsense that woman put for 400?” She points at her food and I wonder what's wrong with it. If anything, the food looks more than the price she bought it for. That is if 400 naira is even the price.
“Guy, that orientation stuff, is it true the attendance taken will be used?" Eric asks Dare, who doesn't look intent on commenting on his girlfriend's statement.
“Bobo,” Dare simply says and the two laughs.
“These people are mad o. So that's how I'd have a wasted my time that day.”
“No mind these people. They know if they don't do it like that, no one will come. I mean, they didn't give the orientation since. It's three weeks after resumption when people have finished their registration or are almost done that they remember orientation. Person wey wan loss before, them never loss already?"
"Abi o. But you dey sha show up on Matriculation day na?"
"I no sure like that."
"Why na?" I ask with a slight scowl that prompts Anita to stare at me, and I ignore her.
"Mtch. I don't know jare. My parents might not come and I really don't see the essence of that day."
"What do you mean you don't see the essence of that day?" I pout, causing Dare to give a quiet laugh. "It's a day that celebrates and officially welcomes us as freshers of this school. How do you want to miss something like that?"
"That one is in your own pocket," Anita tells Dare. "I've already decided you're coming to the matric day. No excuses."
I nod, concurring for the first time with Miss devil's horns — even though she talked to Dare like the conversation didn't involve me.
"Yes, ma." Dare salutes her.
...
Words/phrases and their meaning:
* Wahala: trouble/problem
* I dey tell you: honestly
* This girl no gree free me: she won't let me be
* Person wey wan loss before, them never loss already: whoever that should've gotten lost, would already be lost
* But you dey sha show up on Matriculation day: you're showing up on Matriculation day, right?
* I no sure like that: I'm not so sure
When we walk through the wicket-gate of my hostel, I'm glad to see there's light. The caretaker didn't really lie. This place is a different breed of Lagos.“You guys are enjoying light here o," Eric says as we approach the stairwell.“You guys don't have light like this?"“Have light ke? It's mostly at night and that one doesn't pass two hours before they take it.”“Ah-ah. So how do you guys survive? Where do you charge your phone?”“One of my flatmates brought gen when he resumed, and that's what we're using. He's connected it so everyone in our flat has light when it's on. We all just contribute for fuel.”“Wow. That guy is nice o. If it's some people, they won't care.”“Harry is a cool guy. He's not greedy in any way.”We get to my flat and I'm surprised to see an unfamiliar face coming out of the room next to Amanda's, an older guy behind h
Annie sings at the top of her voice while Amanda prays like she wants to pull the heavens down, when all I want to do is get a minutes sleep before my alarm rings.“Buzzzzzz!” Too late, my phone blares and I sit up, throwing my pillow to the floor.My nose flares as I huff. Clenching my hands into fists, I prepare to give those girls a piece of my mind. But after a while, I calm myself down. As much as I mean no harm, one of them might see it the wrong way — like I'm overreacting. In the end, things will only get worse for me.Clumping over to my phone on the table, I dismiss the alarm. As I'm about to go to my wardrobe, my phone rings, causing my heart to lurch upwards.For the past week, Mr Victor won't stop calling. Every morning and night, he calls and also sends a text — none of which are appropriate. I wish to tell Eric, bu
It's a Sunday morning and although I should be in bed, I'm all over the place trying on clothes upon clothes.I haven't been to Eric's place before, since he's mostly always coming over to mine. So, since he couldn't make it today, I decide to go over instead.The materials for my joint business with Dare have been bought the day before. I ran out of thread last night, and since it's a Sunday, hardly any shops are opened.Once I'm done dressing up, I grab my bag, food flask. On my way out, I meet Amanda in the hallway."Good morning," she says."Good morning.""I see you're also on your way to church."I spot the Bible in her hand. "Oh. No, I'm on my way to a friend's.""So you won't
Nothing interests me.The guys are filled with enthusiasm as they take turns playing a game of PES, Mariam talking with two girls at one corner of the living room.I'm seated on the armchair adjacent the guys, my legs pressed together as I ask myself over and over again why I'm here. Nothing was stopping me from going back home when I saw Mariam at the gate except my coconut head.Eric only said a hello, not even sparing me a glance as he furiously played against the guys, making a mockery of every one of them that steps in to challenge him.My pee threatens to spill, so I maintain a tightly closed laps. I don't know why now. Why of all times my bladder chose now to be a bastard.Despite my efforts, I can't hold it in any longer. I've been waiting to see if Eric will lose, but it's obvious I
Maybe Amanda is right. I don't think I'm ready for a relationship — even though there's no one to have a relationship with.Perhaps it's for the best that Eric has Mariam. It gives me the chance to be serious with other things in my life: like school, sewing and many other things that I can't think of at the moment.For dramatic effect, I scroll over to my dramatic playlist and play a song that fits how I'm feeling.Confident by Demi Lovato begins as I fold my bandana and scrutinize it to be sure the shape is perfect before tying it around my head.I'm careful not to mess up my room as I pick out a dress and shoes, gather my books into my bag and then check the mirror. There's a new pimple on my forehead, and although I want to pop it, I stay away. Popping it only worsens it, the internet said.
“You told me you didn't give him your number,” Eric says.After our eyes locked, he came and asked me to follow him. Mariam, who had just walked out of the canteen, didn't look so happy to see us together. But I didn't mind her as I followed Eric, mouthing an apology to Caleb when he saw me leaving from afar.We're in one of the empty halls close to where we receive lectures.“I didn't think it'll turn out like this,” I say, unable to meet his gaze.“You didn't think it'll turn out like this?” Eric repeats, disappointment clear in his tone. “Dora, what did I tell you when that man first called you aside? I said that man is worse than the devil's incarnate. What did you think that meant? That it was just a metaphor I was toying with?”“I'm sorry.”
My dress is missing.First, my underwear. Now, my dress. Anger stirs within me, flooding my veins even as I try to stay calm.I love that dress. I made it myself. That dress is the first complicated dress I ever got right on my own, and now, it's missing.As I rummage in my bag, I'm on the verge of tears.It has to be here somewhere, I keep telling myself. Yet, as I dig deeper into my wardrobe, search my bags and hanger, I realize that it's nowhere amidst my stuff. Even my drying rack is empty.Storming out of the balcony, I try to think up a prime suspect amongst my flatmates. There's no way my dress could've grown wings and flown away. Someone must have taken it. But who? Who could've stolen my dress?When I knock on Amanda's door, and she says to come in, I immediately strike her off my list.The only furniture in her room is the flatbed she
“You still haven't told me why you threw that fine flower away,” Annie tells me while we're talking — with Amanda included — in the living room.I'm still contemplating my reply, when Diamond storms into the house, sending all of us to our feet.Upon seeing her swollen cheeks and tears leaking from her black eye, we run toward her.“Diamond.” I gasp as she covers her face.“What happened to you?” Annie asks.“Blood of Jesus,” Amanda says with her hands over her mouth.Diamond doesn't answer anybody as she goes straight to her room and locks the door.The three of us exchange puzzled glances, each asking a question of our own with no one to give us answers.***