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Ada
Chapter Two
It has been several days since Ada last saw Ovie. She didn't know where the young man stayed on campus. After that first day she had been so keen on seeing him again. She would deliberately come very early to lectures, and sit in spots where anyone entering the hall could be clearly seen. She kept looking over her shoulders whenever she went to the library, or some other public place on campus. Just yesterday, she had finally decided to let it go...
"Hello Ada!"
Ada jumped up from the wooden chair she had been sitting on. People didn't come here at this time of day.
"Sorry. Didn't mean to scare you."
Ovie walked around Ada and sat on the chair opposite her. The canteen was empty, but for both of them. Ovie had in fact chosen this hour because he knew the place would be less busy.
"Have you been following me?" Ada could not think of a better question to ask. She sat down again, slightly embarrassed.
"No? I haven't. To be frank, I've been doing my best to avoid you."
Ada didn't know what to make of that last remark. Why would he be trying to avoid her? "And why would you do that?" She asked.
Ovie was silent. He bowed his head and cracked his knuckles repeatedly. Then he signaled to the waitress. She came over to them. "Could you give me water please?" The waitress went off to get the water.
Ada cleared her throat. "So if you've been avoiding me why come sit with me then? Why didn't you just walk out the moment you saw me here?"
Ovie looked at Ada, and for the first time their eyes met. He quickly looked away. There were too many memories. He knew he didn't want to be reminded of Esele all over again. Yet he knew he needed to hold on to something. He was confused, and it showed.
"What!" Ada threw her hands into the air in exasperation. "Do I remind you of someone? An ex-girlfriend?"
Ovie looked down again. How was he to tell her? He couldn't find the words to explain what he felt.
Ada looked at the boy carefully. He probably was not more than twenty one. He had an athletic build - very good looking muscular frame, carefully cut hair, a handsome face, strong jawline, and he was immaculately dressed. Phew! He looked like someone very responsible. But she also noticed he had sad eyes.
"Well, I couldn't stay here forever even if I wanted to. I'll be seeing you around." Ada got up and pushed back her seat.
"Please wait", Ovie finally managed. He brought his right hand in and out of his breast pocket. Then he got up and stretched a picture toward her.
Ada reached for the picture. Why would he be showing her the picture of his ex girlfriend? Some guys just acted weird. Then she looked at the portrait and froze. "What in heaven's name?"
***
The soul that sinneth shall die! The soul that sinneth shall die!" Ubuane yelled repeatedly. He was carrying out his 'morning cry' exercise. Personally he didn't believe anyone listened to him at that early hour of the morning. The cocks had not even started crowing. The birds must have been amazed that a human being was 'crowing' before they even had the time to begin.
"The soul that sinneth shall die. Make sure you go to Church today. Children of God o. Today is Sunday o. Repent, go to Church, for the soul that sinneth shall D I E !" Ubuane added for emphasis. Then he opened the gate and went back into his hostel. He had done his part. At least he could tell his pastor he eventually preached to some persons. Even though they were all still dreaming at the time.
Ubuane came back into the room, switched on the lights, and roused Ovie from sleep. "O boy, wake up jor! You no hear me dey hala for the other side just now?"
Ovie rolled over on his side. His head ached. It was as though someone was pounding yam in there. He squinted at his roommate through eye lids that were weighed down with sleep.
"Weytin be dat?" Ovie managed to ask.
"I say make you wake up. Today na Sunday. No Church?"
Ovie could not believe this roommate of his. "Na the same Church we dey go?" He reached for his bedside clock. "It's just 5:am na. Haba! Which one be your own sef?"
"You miss my guy. I wake up by 3:30 am today na. I dey preach round campus since."
Ovie drew the blanket over his face in time to avoid the mosquito that hovered lower toward his nose. He hated mosquitoes. But he probably hated his roommate more. "Please try to make less noise as you prepare for that church of yours. Mine is at nine today."
The next minute, he was fast asleep.
***
Ada heard the shouts over and over again. Why won't they let someone sleep in this campus, eh? Why would someone be shouting at her window as though she were the sinner? She knew it was Sunday. She didn't need some insensitive student preacher to remind her. She was angry. She got up from the bed and went to the window. Her roommate was still fast sleep.
The events of the evening before came flooding back...
Ada was still trying to get over the image she had seen yesterday. It was like staring at the mirror. She could have sworn the girl on the picture was her. Wonders shall never end. She had stood transfixed as Ovie told her all about Esele. In the end, she had not even been able to utter a word. Why had he told her? Because they looked identical? How was it even possible that she looked exactly like Esele? It was only in novels and movies that such things happened. This was reality, and these things weren't supposed to happen. Ada sat on the window sill, completely lost in thought. She must have been so engrossed in her reverie she didn't realise that she had let go of the window pane. The sudden weightlessness jolted her back to the present. She could feel the morning breeze on her face as she fell out the window...