After Jude by Dashia

I was in class when Jude called. I'd been so absorbed in Mr Patrick's lecture, I'd forgotten the mental note Fatima had sent me to put my phone in silent. But, I was lucky, my phone rang when everyone was murmuring a little noisily in disagreement to what the lecturer has said. I hurriedly searched through my bag and rejected the call just as Mr Patrick rose his voice to tell the class to be silent. My heart thumped in my chest, Mr Patrick normally didn't take this kind of nonsense in his class. The class returned to its former state; silent, but my mind was no longer in the lecture. I put my phone on silent and watched it ring a second time. Jude called again, my face broke in a smile... my Jude.

"Eunice, I like the smile on your face__"

The man's voice sounded like a whip. It felt like he suddenly grabbed my heart and tried to yank it off. Everybody turned, I was sitting on the third row. Oh! I really hated times like this. I quickly rose my head to look at him, the genuineness of my smile quickly faded, I was staring back at the dark baritone lecturer.

"__ but, the smile isn't directed to me or the board, why?"

Tell a lie! "Sorry sir" I cursed my instincts.

"Sorry? Answer the question, it's the easiest I've asked the class."

I was in trouble, if I asked what the question was, he was going to know I was looking at my phone instead of paying attention. I searched my head hurriedly as I reluctantly rose to my feet. God's angel was on my side.

"Traditional performances"

"Eh... Traditional performances are performances..."

Everyone began to laugh, at least, that put me a little at ease. I turned to look at Fatima, she was laughing! The stupid girl!

"The man dey ask for types jor, mumu."

I eyed her, it was my way of saying thank you.

"Eh... Occupational dances, Rituals, passage rites__"

The lecturer's phone rang and he rose his hand. Silence reigned and I took the opportunity to knock Fatima. She pinched my leg.

"You're so stupid." I murmured under my breath. I didn't understand why she kept laughing.

"Shey it's Jude that has filled that big head of yours. Good for you. Make the man even collect your phone sef. You need a new phone."

I didn't have her time. I looked up at the lecturer who had walked towards the door of the class and I suddenly felt tired.

"Abeg, the man no go finish ni?" I slid back into my seat. "I don tire."

"You're just a very lazy girl" Sarah said in front of me and quickly leaned forward when I made to pull her hair.

"But it's true, his two hours is up. The man cannot borrow us five minutes of his time but is eating into our free period. When he comes back I'll tell him we have GST" Class Rep said in annoyance, I couldn't help it, I joined the others to laugh, this was the boy who normally called lecturers for their classes and even fixed extra lessons for them.

I picked my phone again, I had three other calls, two from Jude and one from Dayo. Right then, I got Jude's message. Mr Patrick was back to class, he picked his books from the desk and strode out leisurely. The class turned into a market place. Even Sarah began to make noise with Michael. I opened Jude's message.

I'll be leaving tomorrow in the morning. Nanle said going to Lagos in the morning would not be much fun so, I guess I'll be going alone. I want to see you. I need to. Just call me when you can come over, I love you to death and beyond.

I smiled, oblivious of Fatima's eyes on me. It was One o'clock, I could leave now, I had two other lectures, but Fatima could__ I turned to look at her gazing at me. She already knew my request before I asked.

"Eh-ehn. Don't even think of it."

She stood up and began to make out of class. I followed.

"Ha'ahn now, baby boo"

"Don't baby me anything. I will not write your name in attendance." She said, I began to laugh. Fatima was my friend, she would do anything for me.

"Why are you so mean? Ehn?"

"Oh, I'm mean abi? You go see pepper. " She began. "I'm not doing anything for you."

"Oya come, I will buy awara for you." She stopped walking and turned to face me. I'd bought her. The mumu geh, it was awara that was going to be the death of her.

"How much own?"

"100 box" I said with a smile. We were standing not too far from the woman who sold it under the tree, she could hear us clearly and had already begun to get ready to serve.

"Are you coming back?" she asked me in a demanding voice, if not because I needed a favor from her she for hear am. I smiled.

"I dunno."

"Better tell Jude, he owes me"

I crossed my hands in my chest. "I will, I cross my heart."

"And?"

"Hope to melt."

"Oya, buy the awara." She came towards me. I put my hand in my pocket and pulled out 100 Naira then gave it to her.

"Let me get my bag." I hurried back to class and picked my bag. Sarah eyed me.

"What?" I asked in an accent.

"Where are you going?"

"To my village. We're having a ritual, human sacrifice, I'll come back for you later."

She laughed while I made out of class to where Fatima stood with a frown.

"You ehn__"

"I love you too babes." I planted a kiss on her cheek and walked away past where the shoe cobbler sat under his umbrella, fixing a girl's slipper. This was Uni-Jos, always busy. Even when every department and every level has lectures, you'd still see students roaming the streets, walking down towards Abuja hostel or staying under the tree where the busses that sold food were. Anytime I walked this road in the early afternoons, I always had my heart in my mouth, because___
Oh, there he was! With a girl, probably from his department, I wouldn't know, girls flocked around him like bees flocked around honey comb. I tried to avoid meeting his eyes but it was too late. He waved at me to stop and even though my legs were smarter than my head, I came to a halt. He excused himself and walked to me.

Jay was my nightmare and my fantasy, he was my madness and probably my curse. I watched as he walked towards me, if, Fatima were here, she'd have slapped me to enough anger to walk away. He wasn't tall, he was of average height, he had a proud stride, his walk purposeful. He dressed well, he had a good body. Jay wasn't exactly muscular, but he was sexy. Jay was sexy. And his smile could take any girl's breath away. Plus, he was hairy, I liked hairy.

He soon reached me. Anyway, if Jay thought he was this... this... nightmare, I was scarier. I tried to wear a bored look, but my heart thumped and blood rushed to my head making me feel slightly dizzy.

"Jay."

"Yuyu. How are you?" Even the way he talked! Jeez!

"I'm fine Jay, how are you?"

"I'm just the way you left me."

"Hmmn. I see." I eyed the girl he just left so he'd notice. He laughed.

"You this girl, not every girl I hang around with is a girl I have something for."

I raised my hands. "I didn't say anything but... suit yourself." I said. He looked at me for a while, I knew that look, with his beautiful eyes. I tried tried not to look away and not fall for it. He reached for my hand that was cold and wet. I was truly nervous.

"Where are you going?" He asked. I shrugged.

"What does it matter?"

"I miss you" Oh, and there it was. I had to look away this time and I pulled my hand from his.

"Really?"

"You never believe me."

"You are never true to me." I returned. He nodded. How did I get meddled in this stupid boy? He was so fine... I put myself together, a little disappointed that he wouldn't try harder, anyway, it was his thing, the pride, and honestly, I was surprised he even came to say hi. I'd given up any hopes I had on him. Someone told me once
"You love to be conquered, that's how your ideal man proves he's worth you." I never tried too hard. I wanted commitment, I wanted undying attention, I wanted everything. Jay was to proud to give anything, I accepted it. It wasn't even in my place to want anything from him.

" I have to go__"

"Yuyu, I need to see you." He said again, his voice distraught. I couldn't believe the chill that went down my spine. How could I say no to this fine boy? Ehn?

"I'm not lying when I say I've missed you." He continued "We should talk."

I raised a brow, trying to look disinterested. "Your lady friend is waiting for you. I have to go"

"Just give me a date." I was already walking away, what was wrong with this stupid boy?

"Yuyu__"

"You have my number now. Bye bye." I tried to clear my head and forget him. I had to call Jude. I searched for my phone in my bag and saw that he didn't call me again, he understood I had a class I began to wonder why I'd picked this man's course as my elective. Anyway, it was okay. I called Jude and at the second ring, he picked. I giggled.

"Were you waiting for my call?" I asked.

"Yep, shey you were having a class, I didn't want to disturb."

"Imagine! After you made my phone ring so loud in class. I thought Mr Patrick was going to tell me to never come back to his class after seizing my phone."

He laughed. "You didn't silence your phone."

"I forgot."

"You're old."

"But you love me." I smirked.

"I'll marry your sister."

"Marry her now, I was even thinking of coming over, I'm going back to__"

"Ha'ahn... How many times would I tell you? In ba ke ba sai rijiya (if not you, I'll fall into a well)"

"You devil. Don't think you can win me over with your vain words."

"But you like it when I tell you things like this."

"Flattery doesn't work with me__"

"You talk too much. If I was there, I'd silence you."

"Well done Mr Patrick."

He laughed and we were silent awhile while I walked to the school gate.

"Get your ass here." He said lightly. I smiled.

"I'm on my way."