1.She could have sworn she dozed off a couple of time during the lecture, and as soon as it ended, everyone erupted in cheers and merry, Sharon thought they couldn't wait to leave too, professors with their long streak of vocabulary usage. Boring. University of Ibadan needed to do something about the aging professors, retire them and place them on pension, maybe.
Sharon packed her bag and made quiet calculated steps down the stairs of the lecture theater; the last thing she would want to risk right now was make a scene and have everyone throw her a perfunctory "Sorry o", if she tripped and fell. The ambience was foggy, thanks to a confused weather that suggested it would rain anytime soon. But the wind was mild, whistling and rustling dried November leaves.
Today was a free day for Sharon, in her perspective, it was a perfect day for movies. She had a couple of new buzzing movies she downloaded from the internet into her Apple MacBook back home but she hadn't been able to see them due to one distraction or the other and today looked like a good day to peek at them. The internet was Sharon's saving grace, because she didn't know how to 'bother' people to do something for her, she'd rather not ask if there were other means to get the same thing done. The other person might be hurrying to a place and she did not want to be the reason why they were late.

2.Even if they were never hurrying anywhere, she would fashion out an excuse on their behalf; anything to steer her clear from her peers. It was the not-far-fetched reason she had not been able to make much friends since 100 level. She was now in 400 level, yet she couldn't boast of knowing five persons from her department. The other girls thought of her as weird and proud, hence they rechristened her Princess Sophia; a derogatory name they deemed a perfect match for her, given her perceived proud and snobbish nature, borrowed from a Disney cartoon character who carried herself with so much sense of importance, majesty and royalty. The name had found its way to her ears one day while she was hurrying home as usual when some of her course mates, usually the ones who would hang around after lectures for sightseeing or just having fun hanging out with friends, under the big tree with tiled concrete benches, were giggling, she had turned to stare and hoped that the laughter was not about her but her hopes were dashed when she saw them pointing fingers at her. She pretended to be about her business but she slowed her pace so she could hear the rest of the details.
"Is she the Sophia girl?" she had heard one of them ask.
"Yes, that's the nyanga tolotolo girl," another had answered amid sneer.
"The name suits her well," the first voice confirmed and they both burst into a more delirious laughter.

Enjoy reading…. Update coming

3.Sharon had wished there was a river close by she could dive in, drown slowly to the rock bottom and lie there. Even though she was aware that they were only being jealous, the comments still gutted her. She had flicked some hair on her face to the back with her trembling fingers even though there were actually no hair to flick from her face, and hastened her pace, hitting her toes on a half buried rock on the ground, lost her balance and almost fell to the ground, but she got a grip on herself in time and more laughter trailed behind... "Damn it!" she had cursed as she swayed away awkwardly.
But, yes, today was a good day or so she thought. Days like this, when she had little to do were the best for her as she already pictured herself snug up at the side of her luxurious bed closest to the wall, with earphones in her ears, smiling at the screen of her laptop computer.
Her reverie was rudely interrupted when she heard someone shout "Hey!" she turned sharply and her eyes tested on a young man who hurried towards her. He looked late 20s. She became fidgety and anxious. She did a quick jogged her memory but she couldn't remember having an unfinished business with anyone. She quivered.

4."Hi, I'm Ovie," he was out of breath as he spoke.
"Hi," Sharon manged to say, merely above whisper.
Ovie observed how uneasy she appeared and said "I'm sorry for stopping you here, I mean, who stops a fine looking lady on a busy road, I mean no harm, I'm just looking to be friends with you," he said, grinning from ear to ear, sweet talking and confidence were his favorite tools.
Sharon was quiet.
Ovie was still smiling, expecting her to say something at this juncture but Baby Girl was quiet. His smiles disappeared. He was beginning to feel uneasy himself.
"Hey, did I say something wrong?" Ovie looked into her eyes to ascertain but Sharon looked away, onto the floor, masking her shaky hands by cracking her knuckles. Circumstances like this were the hardest for her, she did not know how to act or converse with the opposite sex. Perhaps she was wrong about today being a good day.
She willed herself to say something even if it was an "Okay", her mouth opened but the words would not come out. She cringed at the glaring reality that she appeared dumb or stupid and feared that she would scare the young man away. She needed to speak now and save herself from the stress of exonerating herself later, if their path did cross again. The thought of having to leave a shameful first impression made her further quiver. With the whole drama she was putting up right now, it was only a matter of time before he too began to think that she was weird. She needed to save herself right now.

Interesting.

JustCruise:
Interesting.

5.Time was ticking!
"Hey, are you okay?" Ovie was clearly terrified at this point "You know what? I'm sorry, I'll leave if you want," he said, his initial cocky tone had given way for a sympathetic one.
Time up! She couldn't save herself. Sharon wanted to say "No", but again, the word stopped halfway in her throat; it didn't come out. She started to feel a slight headache from overworking her brain in few minutes. She rested her forehead in her right palm.
"I'm sorry," Ovie said once more, and walked away, looking over his shoulder from a safe distance; she was still there. The girl could be dealing with the agony of having lost a dear one or his words must have unearthed an old unpleasant memory or something, he thought. It was best to let her be before he caused more damage.
Sharon stood rooted on her spot. She did not know what to feel, how to feel. Times and circumstance like this made her wish that Angel Gabriel blew the trumpet already, or that the earth gave way under feet and swallowed her up, whole nine yards. She tried to stop the tears that were threatening to run down her cheeks, but she was too late as they were already rolling freely down her cheeks, she wished that the rain poured down right now to conceal her tears so people wouldn't be able to tell that she was crying.

6.She sobbed gently before dabbing her face with her scented handkerchief carefully so she did not mar her exquisite make up, mustered enough energy and walked to the main road, if her shaky and unstable steps like that of a toddler could pass for walking, unlocked the Honda Evil Spirit, opened the door, sat on the driver's seat, shut back the door and remained there for what looked like forever before driving off.
Her apartment was a small heaven. An apartment that not many students could afford. Inside, her curtains were a sharp contrasting wine color with the milk colored walls. Her rug was a glaring red with lush surface. The apartment smelled of softness, of benignity, of introversion.
Sharon dropped her bag on the floor and sat quietly on the floor. The enthusiasm to see a movie was gone. How long would she continue to behave like this? This was not the first time she was having such a devastating encounter. Going for lectures was never her thing but everytime she decided to step out and try to be normal like everyone else, something always did creep out from its hole to spoil her day. It was becoming unbecoming. How did she intend to get married when all she ever did was fumble and fidget before the opposite sex? Ovie was the gentlest of men she had come across, yet, she could not show him any form or sign of acceptance even if she couldn't spell it out. What was it with being shy at 25? She was pretty and had a background that most Nigerians would consider rich.

[quote author=andyblinks05 post=102009937]
5.Time was ticking!
"Hey, are you okay?" Ovie was clearly terrified at this point "You know what? I'm sorry, I'll leave if you want," he said, his initial cocky tone had given way for a sympathetic one.
Time up! She couldn't save herself. Sharon wanted to say "No", but again, the word stopped halfway in her throat; it didn't come out. She started to feel a slight headache from overworking her brain in few minutes. She rested her forehead in her right palm.
"I'm sorry," Ovie said once more, and walked away, looking over his shoulder from a safe distance; she was still there. The girl could be dealing with the agony of having lost a dear one or his words must have unearthed an old unpleasant memory or something, he thought. It was best to let her be before he caused more damage.
Sharon stood rooted on her spot. She did not know what to feel, how to feel. Times and circumstance like this made her wish that Angel Gabriel blew the trumpet already, or that the earth gave way under feet and swallowed her up, whole nine yards. She tried to stop the tears that were threatening to run down her cheeks, but she was too late as they were already rolling freely down her cheeks, she wished that the rain poured down right now to conceal her tears so people wouldn't be able to tell that she was crying.


G, thanks for this follow up.

[quote author=JustCruise post=102029321][/quote]
6.She sobbed gently before dabbing her face with her scented handkerchief carefully so she did not mar her exquisite make up, mustered enough energy and walked to the main road, if her shaky and unstable steps like that of a toddler could pass for walking, unlocked the Honda Evil Spirit, opened the door, sat on the driver's seat, shut back the door and remained there for what looked like forever before driving off.
Her apartment was a small heaven. An apartment that not many students could afford. Inside, her curtains were a sharp contrasting wine color with the milk colored walls. Her rug was a glaring red with lush surface. The apartment smelled of softness, of benignity, of introversion.
Sharon dropped her bag on the floor and sat quietly on the floor. The enthusiasm to see a movie was gone. How long would she continue to behave like this? This was not the first time she was having such a devastating encounter. Going for lectures was never her thing but everytime she decided to step out and try to be normal like everyone else, something always did creep out from its hole to spoil her day. It was becoming unbecoming. How did she intend to get married when all she ever did was fumble and fidget before the opposite sex? Ovie was the gentlest of men she had come across, yet, she could not show him any form or sign of acceptance even if she couldn't spell it out. What was it with being shy at 25? She was pretty and had a background that most Nigerians would consider rich.

7.Most men she had met were usually drooling over her because of her looks or her money, they never really exhibited the qualities of a gentle man, even the few ones who tried to mask their hidden agendas acting nice and all, something still gave them away before they went far. She was tired of people trying to take advantage of her possessions because they knew how shoddy her walls were. She was an easy target She was tired of her fellow girls who'd scream and hug her in public and display all sort of fake affection just so she could buy them meals. Of course buying them a meal was nothing, but what happened to loving her for who she was? The men were worse, always wanted either her body or her money, or both. But Ovie, he seemed like a genuine fellow, he even asked if she was okay at some point. She had been silently hoping that someone with a genuine intention would come around soon and unfortunately she just blew her chances some minutes ago.
She couldn't point what her problem was, she was living fine in a nice lodge that had the appeal of a hotel when other students could mostly afford mushroom lodges, and she had a car too! So what exactly was her problem finding confidence?
Being the first child of 3, her parents were patiently waiting for a grandchild at least. They were aging fast and even though there was no pressure whatsoever from them, Sharon felt she had let them down in a way.

8.She had hoped she would improve in her behavior but here she was again, with yet another embarrassing encounter.
She prayed that Ovie came around again, but if he didn't, she would never forgive herself.
She let the rest of the tears out, sobbing loudly this time.

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LemmyWrites™ © 2021

andyblinks05:

6.She sobbed gently before dabbing her face with her scented handkerchief carefully so she did not mar her exquisite make up, mustered enough energy and walked to the main road, if her shaky and unstable steps like that of a toddler could pass for walking, unlocked the Honda Evil Spirit, opened the door, sat on the driver's seat, shut back the door and remained there for what looked like forever before driving off.
Her apartment was a small heaven. An apartment that not many students could afford. Inside, her curtains were a sharp contrasting wine color with the milk colored walls. Her rug was a glaring red with lush surface. The apartment smelled of softness, of benignity, of introversion.
Sharon dropped her bag on the floor and sat quietly on the floor. The enthusiasm to see a movie was gone. How long would she continue to behave like this? This was not the first time she was having such a devastating encounter. Going for lectures was never her thing but everytime she decided to step out and try to be normal like everyone else, something always did creep out from its hole to spoil her day. It was becoming unbecoming. How did she intend to get married when all she ever did was fumble and fidget before the opposite sex? Ovie was the gentlest of men she had come across, yet, she could not show him any form or sign of acceptance even if she couldn't spell it out. What was it with being shy at 25? She was pretty and had a background that most Nigerians would consider rich.

Nice one boss. Thanks for the update.