It was Monday. I walked towards my department quietly. I'd told Fatima I wasn't coming back on Sunday till Monday. She wanted to kill me. I knew she missed me around. My parents had come back that Saturday and had helped me prepare for school. Things were a little awkward between me and Jessica. Maybe she couldn't handle it that her elder sister had had sex with her boyfriend instead of waiting till marriage. I had no regrets. Jessica wasn't like me. She was a good girl that was a genuine good girl. I'd gone to apologize to her after I had put myself together. She shrugged it off and said it was okay. She understood totally. She was only shocked I was that open to her. She liked and appreciated it.
So, I lied. I had come back Sunday. I'd left before they made it to church. I got to Jos by 10am and slept. I didn't tell Fatima I was coming back because I wanted to clean up and because she was going to disturb me. So, I walked to school this Monday morning towards my department and made an immaculate entrance. Yes, I was immaculate.
My course mates flocked around me, rendering sympathies and chanting welcome backs. The episode didn't last. A lecturer walked in and I reserved the seat beside me for Fatima.
Me: Mumu. Where you dey?
Fatima: Na gate too far from school. I still dey trek. Where you dey? You done start dey come?
Me: Ehen now. I leave house since 6 oh. I go soon reach. Na school I dey come straight.
Fatima: Hmmn. Oya now, today lecture we get test oh.
"Tear out a sheet of paper." The lecturer announced. In my heart, I laughed.
Me: Morning lecture?
I put a scared face.
Fatima: Ehn, I done reach class. I go message you later ko? Safe journey.
I looked up and saw her walk in. She saw me as soon as she stepped in and had to put a hand over her mouth so as not to scream. She began to run towards me and hugged me tight.
"My friend over there... Hey..."
Fatima turned to face the lecturer and quickly sat in the space I'd reserved for her.
"You're just coming now, we're about to have a test and you're busy gallivanting around."
The class laughed lightly. Mr Essien was a funny man. He was smallish with his glasses and was always calm even when scolding. Everything he said, within or without class always felt like a lecture.
"Sorry sir..."
"We're serious minded here, there's no room for mediocrity. So please, settle down and tear out a sheet of paper. We are about writing a test."
Fatima quickly tore out a sheet of paper and nudged me. I smiled. So she missed me ehn? Hehe...
"You fish! You didn't tell me you had come back."
"Don't let me report you for insults, noise making and examination malpractice." I threatened. We both laughed and waited for questions.
The test took an hour. This man ehn... The kinds of questions he gave were awkward, it was either because I'd missed class or because he just wanted us to fail his test. Everyone in class was murmuring after the test. Not Fatima__ I mean, she said the questions were stupid but there was something else.
"See how you fattened up!"
"You liar."
"I'm giving you words of encouragement."
"Abeggie. Come and buy awara for me." My eyes pleaded.
"Oh... Oya, let's go. I have plenty gists for you." She said. Yes, I missed the gists too. I had mentally scanned the class looking for Oluchi. She was nowhere to be found. We went out and bought the awara. I shared pleasantries with the seller, she hadn't seen me in a while. I was a fan of her work, I was proudly her customer.
Fatima insisted that we shouldn't go back to class since we had GST, we should just pick our bags and head for the main building. Climbing those stairs was a torture, I agreed.
On the way to the main building, Fatima filled my ears.
"I think Oluchi has left school." She started. I frowned. "She hasn't been in school since the day HOD called her."
"Hmmn."
"Were you and the girl close? See as you done sober."
I smiled. "I been like the girl."
"You're my friend and I didn't know."
"Fuck you Fati."
"Fuck you too."
"Gist me. What's been happening. E be like say p site come dry pass as e been dey."
"Everybody missed you."
"Especially you."
"Baby, I can live without you." I laughed. "Ehen, shey you know Elsie in my compound?" She began again.
"The one close to your room?"
"No, that one is Sarah."
"Oh... they look alike."
"Kai, no oh. I don't see any resemblance."
"I've always said it. Your eyes need to be checked." I wore my ID card when we got to the gate and made in.
"Idiat. Ehen, she was told to park out of the compound."
I laughed. "What happened?"
"Hmmn. Her case is complicated. Her boyfriend has beenliving with her for a while now. Duk su iskancin su (All their rubbish), they do it together. Our landlord had told us before we came in, these were the kinds of things he didn't like. I been tell you na, the guy na elder for COCIN. He said we could have our visitors, he doesn't stop us, but a boy and girl living in the same house in his compound is what he wouldn't condone."
"So he told her to park out?"
"Yes, the girl got pregnant. Elsie is slim, to even know say she get belle, you no go know quick. She was five months gone but she aborted."
Wide eyed, I looked at her. "Serious?"
"I'm telling you."
"Why now? Shey everybody done know?"
Fati began to shake her head. "The girl is slim oh..."
"But there'll always be clues. If it doesn't show on her body, it'll show on her face or somewhere. It's just that you people weren't observant."
Fati shrugged. "She aborted sha. She got really ill and it go to the landlords ears. That was when he got to know about everything, the smoking, the drinking and the boyfriend squatting with her."
"Wow. When is she leaving?"
"She has looked for another house. She's parking little by little."
"Eya. I almost don't feel sorry for her. After the scene she and her friend put up the last time I was at your place over the cigarettes and weed. The girl no dey hear word sha." I said. Fatima was oddly silent.
"Wetin dey do you?"
"She used to give me crayfish."
I laughed. "Odé"
"True. And fish. Her boyfriend liked it a lot and she didn't."
"Beggar. How's Ken?"
"Abeggie." She put an abrupt end to the talk. Maybe she didn't want to talk about him so I kept my mouth shut. We got into the building and silently walked up the staircase. Just then, I thought of how much I'd love to be pregnant.
(Thank you for reading this far. I really appreciate you. Before we go further, I would like you to know that from the next chapter, there will be sexual remarks and a lot pertaining to sex. This is not for anyone to feel uncomfortable but because I
am trying to convey as much reality as I can. Don't be judgmental about any of this, I know some of you might be sensitive pertaining such things.
Apart from that, I think we are good to go. God bless you all for reading.)
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