“Hope you didn’t get to class late?”
Tope asked as Labake entered the
room.
“My sister, na small remain o,” her
roommate replied dropping her bag
on the floor. “One guy like that gave
me seat,” she continued as she sat
on the bed.
“He saved me from missing an
important test.”
Tope smiled, signalling her growing
interest,
“How does he look?”she asked.
“Tall and ok,” Labake replied,
wondering what her roommate was
driving at.
“Handsome?” Tope continued.
“Maybe,” Labake shrugged.
“Coincidentally, we finished from the
same primary school.”
“Perfect,” Tope said smiling.
“Perfect for what?” Labake asked. She looked at Tope who had a mischievous expression on her face
and Labake understood instantly.
“You no well,” she laughed playfully
tossing a pillow at her roommate.
“Handsome dude helps a lady in
distress,” Tope said as she stood up.
“He’s even a familiar face! Perfect
recipe for romance, ” she continued.
“You too dey watch Bollywood,” Labake said as she rolled over. “I tire abeg.”
“You’re not hungry today abi?” Tope
teased as she walked out of the
room. “Prince Charming took you out
for lunch!”
“That girl!” Labake thought, “What a
hopeless romantic.” Labake felt a
wave of sleep wash over her, she
was drifting off when her phone
beeped. Irritated, she reached for it
and read the text message.
….Hi dear, Guess you had a stressful
day? Me too. Nice seeing you again
after all these years. We’ll talk more
later. Seni.
“Speak of the devil! Maybe he knows
Tope. ”she thought . She closed her
eyes and was asleep within minutes.
It was late in the evening before she
woke up. She walked into the front
room where Tope was eating and
reading one of her romance novels.
“Babe, what’s up?” she said yawning.
“You’re hungry I guess?” Tope asked
while pointing to the stove where she
had left some food.
“You’re a darling,” Labake said
stretching. She went to rinse her face
and then joined her roommate.
“Omo, I could hear your phone buzzing from out here, I bet you have one billion missed calls.”
Labake wasn’t surprised she hadn’t
heard her phone. She always slept
so soundly. She got up to retrieve
her phone. Most of the missed calls
were from her mum and Seni.
She texted her mum and made a
mental note to call Seni later when
Tope wasn’t around to eavesdrop.
“The stranger called abi? What’s his
name gan sef?” Tope asked.
Labake tried to concentrate on her
food but found it impossible to ignore
her roommate.
“Yes, he called,” she said. “His name is Seni and stop looking at me like I’m
hiding something!”
They resumed eating.
Labake had never given any thought
to any guy and Tope was always on
her case to get a boyfriend. “Seni is
just an opportunity for her to be on my case again,” she thought irritatedly.
An image of Seni flashed in her mind,
his handsome features, his nice
smile..
“No time for distractions,” she thought shaking her head. She had studying to do. She cleared her plate and resumed studying.
Later that week Labake and Tope
were relaxing inside the school
cafeteria. They were both grateful for
the lecturers meeting that gave them
both a free afternoon. Tope was
eagerly filling Labake in on the latest
gossip on campus.
“How you dey get this gists sef?”
Labake asked, surprised at Tope’s
detailed knowledge of campus
happenings.
Tope laughed and continued
updating her about the latest
couples, those that got jilted even
before Valentine’s day and those that
snatched others’ partners.
“Good afternoon,” someone said
smoothly behind them. They had
been so engrossed in their
conversation they did not notice his
presence.
Labake turned round and saw Seni.
“Hey,” she said as she stood up to
hug him. She then turned to Tope
who was all smiles, “Tope, this is
Seni.”
“Hi,” they said in unison as they
shook hands.
‘ Hope you guys don’t mind me joining
you’, he said with a smile
“Please, join us,” said Tope too
quickly to her roommate’s frustration.
“It would be my pleasure,’ he said,
taking the empty seat next to Labake.
Labake made a face at Tope but she
was secretly happy she’d asked him
to join them.
For the next few hours they
reminisced over childhood memories
and complained about their current
course load. Before he left they
promised to see each other over the
weekend.
“I like him,” Tope said when they were
alone.
“I think I do too,” Labake admitted
reluctantly.
“You think?!”, Tope exclaimed looking
at her like she was drunk. “Which one
is think again?” she nudged her
roommate.
This girl wan lose better fine boy like
this, Tope thought with shock.
Hmmm, I no go allow am miss this
opportunity.

twitter : @yopeolu