frankwriter:
Episode 11
I didn’t say a word to Chido after those hooligans left. Then I watched him walk a bit backward like he was searching for something. He suddenly bent down, and surprisingly, he picked up his phone from the ground.
I was so p!ssed at that moment. He knew they were coming or he saw them before me, so he had to throw his phone away.
I stalked off while he followed me hastily trying to console me over my loss. I just didn’t say anything to him. I felt terrible.
Fortunately, our lodge gate was opened. There was one church girl in our lodge who always went out for an early morning cry (Preaching). She was the one we met at the gate.
Chido and d I went inside my room. After locking the door, I slumped angrily on the bed. There were voices saying this and that, conflicting in my head. I kept regretting why I went to Benita's birthday party.
"I told you, let’s wait till daybreak. Now, see the result," Chido said breaking the silence that stood between us.
If only he understood my plight, he would just shut up and spare me the blame game.
"Mehnnn, these people left with my 25k sneakers," he continued to mumble words and gnash his teeth.
"Please, can you just stop? How about my phone? You’re talking about ordinary sneakers. Look how insensitive you sound."
"I feel your pain bro, but it’s all your fault. If we had stayed back, all this thing wouldn’t have happened. Yes, whatever happened at the party has happened and can’t be altered. All you needed was to chill till daybreak and then we leave her apartment. But no, what did we get in return?"
"So, it’s now my fault?"
"Of course, do you think I caused it?" Chido queried.
Silence.
I don’t blame him though, so I just kept mute and watched him say all the rubb!sh he had to spill. Deep down, I was saying it would be the last time to ever have him in my lodge.
I lay on my back on the bed, trying to catch my sleep but it seemed impossible. Chido was busy scrolling through his phone as he sat on my reading plastic chair. The room was calm for so long. He eventually left around 6:00 a.m. wearing one of my slides, promising to return it later in the day. I didn’t say a word to him. He left and banged the door.
*
As I opened my eyes that chilly morning, I flicked my lids at intervals. I winced in pain. I sat up and placed my left palm on my chin, feeling the swollen area, I was in pain. It was a terrible night for me. My body ached and I felt like I had developed a fever overnight.
I reminisced on what I had gone through the previous night and I realized I had taken a decision, a drastic one at that, one which had cost me my phone and peace of Mind. I learned my lessons in a very hard way.
So, it was actually a Monday morning, and the atmosphere of the new week was bubbling. Everyone in the lodge was getting ready for school. Monday usually comes with loads of activities and most importantly, it was our Mth101 test day.
F*ck! My mood was a mess, but I had no option. It was a four-unit course and my target was an A, not even a B or C. I had invested so much in it. I took my bath and picked my jotter for revision. The test was scheduled for 11 a.m. so I still had enough time to revise one or two things.
As I sat on my reading table revising, my mind kept drifting away at intervals. The images of the attack of that early morning kept coming to my head and I wished it all never happened. My phone was gone. No means to get the latest news and information from my departmental group chat.
Who knows, maybe the tests have been postponed or shifted. That was just the wish of an unsettled mind.
Moments later, I got dressed up in my shirt and Jean. I really needed to be more conscious of my dress because I already had a crush in school. I opened the wardrobe, picked up my perfume, and sprayed it lightly, and off I went.
I got to school around 9:15 a.m. I still had less than two hours before the test would commence. I was in the back seat of Sosc, extension, looking around maybe I would set my eyes on Cynthia since I didn’t have a phone to reach her.
She told me earlier she wanted us to sit together during the test, so I knew she would be looking for me somewhere around the lecture. I kept scanning all the female faces like RoboCop searching for a terror!st as students tripped in and out of the hall.
Maybe she’s yet to arrive, I said to myself. I sat there soliloquizing. Like, could this be love? Why can’t I even get this girl off my mind? If we don’t get to sit together for this test, what is the probability she would still be happy to see me again?
Time was ticking and we were to write the test in the hall opposite Microfinance Bank. Some students were already going in groups to form their formation. It was a normal trend. Students like sitting in a way that will favor them unless the invigilators decide to rearrange everyone before the test.
I looked at my leather watch, it was 10:04 a.m. I think I should start heading there to avoid rush hour. I was about to stand up to go as I felt Cynthia must have gone straight to the hall, and then I felt this angelic touch on my shoulder from behind. I turned to look who it was. Lo and behold, Cynthia was right behind me, I felt speechless.
"I was just about going for the test when I saw you sitting here. Hope all is well, you don’t look bright," she queried.
I didn’t even know what to say. "No, no, nothing," I stammered. "I was just relaxing. How are you? How have you been? Hope you have fully recovered now," I queried.
"Oh yeah, I’m getting better by the day," she said.
Cynthia always didn't say much, but her little words lasted long in my memory.
"I was expecting your call, not even a beep call since we last talked about my health. I tried your number this morning, but it was switched off," she complained.
Damn. I opened my mouth to say something, then closed it again. Word failed me. I couldn’t even tell her my predicament. Like, how do I tell her I went to a birthday party and lost my phone?
I just lied to her that my phone was faulty and I didn’t have the money yet to repair it but will get it fixed as soon as possible.
So she expected me to call again. She even tried to call me. Does it mean she’s feeling what I’m feeling? I thought.
Well, I’ve already confessed my feelings for her, so it’s left for her to decide. She told me she wasn't interested. Or could it be she’s with me for what she would gain?
"Oh, Okay. Sorry about that," she said.
"It’s okay, so can we start going now, before the hall gets crowded?" I asked, standing up.
"Yeah, sure," she replied, nodding her head. She was about to make a step. I held her hands and drew her back.
"What?" She looked into my eyes.
"Has anyone told you how beautiful you are?"
"Can you just stop teasing me? We have a test in an hour." She smirked.
My heart skipped a beat. I was poor at maintaining eye contact when she looked at me. I couldn’t find the strength to maintain the eye contact. I averted my eyes.
Then Cynthia dragged me playfully and I staggered a bit. We both held hands as we walked towards the hall opposite Microfinance Bank. Many of our coursemates were heading there as well.
"How about your friend?" I broke the short silence.
"Jessy is already at the hall. She has her clique she intends to sit with," She answered.
"OK."
*
We went to the hall and it was almost filled. Cynthia suggested we sit at the extreme corner of the hall. I obliged and followed her. She told me her heart was beating fast because of the Maths test. I knew she had a phobia for mathematics. So I told her to calm down, that it would end well for the both of us. All she needed to do was copy healthily.
She wiped the seats with her handkerchief, and we sat comfortably, patiently waiting for the lecturers to arrive. The hall was a bit noisy as students sorted and dragged where to sit.
Long story short, the Mth101 test went well for Cynthia and I. We were lucky to have sat together, unlike some students who were changed from their usual spots. I delivered Cynthia like a Hebrew woman, and she was excited at the end of the test. It was a 15-question test and we attempted all of them.
Outside the hall, she thanked me and even went ahead to buy me snacks and Pepsi. As if she knew I hadn’t tasted anything since morning.
We were gisting all along, and I later flunked my hands around her neck. She didn’t complain. That day we weren’t having any class again. We were supposed to have Chm101 but it was cancelled. So, we strolled towards SEET roundabouts.
"So when are you going to fix your phone?" She asked, reminding me of my pains again.
"Um, as soon as I get home," I lied, covering up the previous one I had told.
Why not tell her the truth? I thought.
No, don't tell her, came the second voice.
"Okay, then. Hope it won't cost you much?" She waved down a bike.
It was at this point I knew I f*cked up.
I just nodded my head affirmatively like a lizard. "No, it won't."
"Make sure you call me when you get home. Meanwhile, thank you once again for today, she said," climbing the bike.
"Alright."
We bid each other goodbye.
I watched as she zoomed off.
Call her when I get home. How do I do the magic? Then I continued my journey home, thinking about my life.
Please, what do you think I should do? I'm confused.
If you were in my shoes, how would you go about it?
To be continued...
©️ Frank The Writer
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Do I have Futoites in the house?
Meanwhile, I don't know if this platform is mainly Naija-based. This story would make more sense if I write it in pidgin English. Please use the one dat suit the story line. Thanks. You are doing a great job 1 Like |
Literature / Re: Campus Love ( Diary Of A Futo Student) 18+ by ebubeprecious1: 7:32am On Sep 10, 2023 