I took a seat and watched as the class boomed with life. We were eighty students in 200 level, studying theater arts, still enthusiastic about school work like desperate jambites who had just been admitted. But I liked it, it helped me to work hard, there was a lot of competition here and I worked better when the conditions were like this.
I was twenty one years of age, having spent two years at home after secondary school without gaining admission into the University. Theater Arts came to me on a gold platter, my name had been number four in the merit list even after I'd applied for mass commissions. Life!
I took my phone from my bag and messaged Fatima.
Me:Where the hell are you now?
I was frustrated, I didn't like delivering stale news. When she didn't reply immediately, I vowed to sit behind her during class so I could pull her hair. She deserved it. Jude messaged me.
Jude: Wifey me
I smiled so broadly like someone just offered me a new phone. Fatima was right, I needed a new phone.
Me: Boo. How is the journey so far? I hope you don't have leg cramps already, the woman sitting beside you is very fat oh.
Jude: Lol. I'm fine. The driver is driving like he would get an award. We have been complaining about it.
My heart have a strange pang. I didn't know why that made me extremely uncomfortable.
I'd gone with him to the car park with his sisters this morning. They had come to his place as early as 3:30 since it was his wish to leave at 4. Jude was the first child of his family. His sister Kendra was the second born child and Susan was the third. I knew they tried to maintain their cool when I'd kissed him openly in the park. I couldn't help it, I was excited, but now, that flow of joy was slowly beginning to get replaced by panic.
Me: Why is he driving like that?
Jude: The earlier the better right?
Me: Jude this is not a joke. People's lives and properties are at stake. Insist that he should reduce the speed.
Jude: Yes, yes. I know you love me.
Me: I'm just not comfortable at all. Stop making a huge issue out of it.
I got Fatima's message and opened it.
Fatima: To trek no be small thing. I dey Skye hall.
Me: Mumu. You can sleep like no tomorrow. Hurry jor. I've got news.
Fatima: Relax, I'm on my way. I hope you delivered my message to Oga Jude.
Me: Shebi that's your only problem? Better hurry, HOD's class is in about three.... two... one.
Fatima: Attendance abeg.
Fatima was my friend, I would do anything for her but__, Jude's message was highlighted on my screen.
Me: Fati, red eye na your case oh
Fatima: Haba, what are friends for?
Me: Do you have 100 box to give me?
Besides, I was lying. I opened Jude's message.
Jude: But you love me.
Me: I love you Jude.
Jude: Oh babes. I love you to death and beyond.
I smiled and my heart melted. He continued typing but then stopped and logged out. It was probably the fluctuating network but my heart wasn't at ease. I went back to Fatima's message.
Fatima: I don't have now. Shey Jude reimbursed you?
Me: OYO is your case sister.
Fatima: Mumu geh, no lecturer is in class.
Fatima pinched me from behind and I turned. Seeing her have me fresh joy, I began to scream and jumped on her in an embrace.
"Abbegie. My bones are not strong." She retaliated but held me. I was swept with a new wave of excitement. I pulled back and she saw the large smile in my face. She frowned.
"Come, you well so?"
I didn't reply, I just pulled her with me and ran out of class to the girls toilet. It was empty. I kept laughing until tears streamed down my face. Fatima was genuinely puzzled. She moved to console me but I pulled back and brought out the ring from my pocket. Fatima screamed with me and we began jumping like two little girls. Students ran to the toilet and opened the door like we needed rescue or help but turned to go back with hisses and stupid comments. I didn't care, but we stopped our ridiculous show of excitement. Fatima took the ring from me.
"Oh my goodness. It's so beautiful! When?"
I leaned on the wash hand basin and smiled.
"Yesterday."
"I'm so happy for you." Fatima said and I knew she meant every word. She was happy for me. I was happy for me. She came to me and wiped my tears
"Don't cry baby. It's beautiful. Your union would be beautiful."
"I'm just so excited Fati... I cannot explain how I feel, it's everything I wanted__"
Someone came in and looked at us before going into one of the toilets.
"Let's go to class." I said.
"Okay." She held me. I smiled from my soul to my heart to my face until I saw HOD walk to class. We ran.
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