The Life of a Nigerian Youth

 

Episode 3

“My guy!!” Alfred said, laughing when he opened the door.

“How far na? You dey fear?” the visitor said as he enters the room.

“Ahah no na, for where!” Alfred said.

Visitor: “Babe whatsup? Introduce me to your babe na Fred”.

Relieved that the visitor wasn’t what I thought and angry at the silly joke, I forced a smile. I opened my mouth to reply but was cut short by Alfred.

“Kaima meet my Gee Disciple, guy meet Kaima the girl that stole my heart” he said, as he winked at me.

Mehn that wink sent a different message to me sub conscious. I blushed.

Me: “Hi”.

Disciple: “How are you?”

Me: “Am good, why are you called Disciple?”

He smiled and changed the topic.

Few hours later, Alfred walked me to my hostel. He held my hands, squeezed them a little and pecked me good bye. I couldn’t get the feeling out of my head, I wanted more than just a peck. I watched him walk back home, admiring his stature from behind, wishing I could call him back to my room for a private session. Pervert! My sub conscious called me, I smiled to myself.

“Kaima baby!!” a voice called behind me as I was going to my room.

“Yeah, what’s up?” I asked, as I turned.

“Oh, Esther” I said, realizing who called me.

Esther: “How far na? who be that fine boy?”

“Really? Esther” I asked, making that ‘this one has come with gossip question’ face.

Esther: “Talk na, the bobo fine!”

Me: “He’s a friend”.

Esther: “Only?”

Me: “You don’t have to know the details, biko am tired have to shower and rest”.

“Esther gossip gossip leave Kaima alone” Bec said, as she passed by.

Me: “I taya o my dear”.

“Busy body Rebecca, who call you for this talk now? Just dey talk any how” Esther said, walking away.

“How are you dear?” I asked Bec, as I opened my door.

Bec: “Am good o. Later okay? Got to rush to somewhere”

Me: “Alright bye”.

“Tear out a sheet of paper” the lecturer said.

There were protests in class as usual. Students asking for a middle page, biro and even struggling to sit close to the ‘Intelligent ones’, I was amused by the chaos caused by just a sentence.

“Sir, please come again” someone called out.

“Ask your neighbor” the lecturer replied.

After the 5minutes quiz, I lost the vibe to read ever again. I didn’t understand where the man got his questions from, anyways any how any how we go pass, I thought. I searched for my friends and we discussed about the impromptu quiz we just had. I looked outside and saw my Alfred, yes my Alfred smiling at me. Gosh he’s so cute, I smiled back at him. He signaled me to come outside.

Alfred: “Hey baby”.

Me: “Hi”.

“You don’t look so good, are you okay?” he asked, cupping my face with his hands.

“Yeah, just that we had an impromptu quiz and I don’t think I wrote well” I said, placing my hands on his.

“Ow, sorry bae” he said, as he pecked me.

That lifted my spirit, his pecks always send chills down my spine. Imagine what his kiss would do, I grinned.

“What?” he asked, as he moved back a bit.

“Nothing” I said.

“You can be mischievous” he said, shaking his head.

“I know right” I chuckled.

Alfred and I got dating officially, we were one of the popular couples on campus and this made me not to have ‘toasters’. We had our ups and downs as any other relationship would have, argued a lot though, a few domestic violence…..err actually alot, that was the peak. I endured all hardship thrown at me by Alfred, I began to see the monster in him but I stayed in the relationship hoping it’s going to be alright soon. I chased away my male friends because of Alfred. I was relieved when it was time for industrial training, I couldn’t wait to be far away from him, from his clutches, and the funny part was that I still loved him. One day, after series of punches on my face I went to my room to cry as usual and was shocked to see Sonya at home by that time which was unsual.

Sonya: “Ehe, babe thank God you are back o. Got this gig I wanted us to attend this night, mehn it’s gonna be the bomb, fresh guys are sure to be present but it’s not necessary for you na since you have a boyfriend, so what are we going to wear?”

Silence.

“Why are you not saying anything? Besides why wearing a hoodie in this hot afternoon and you covered your face. Are you okay?” she asked, trying to remove the hood.

Me: “Sonya wait, stop”.

She removed the hood revealing my black eye, swollen cheek and a cut on my lower lip.

Sonya: “Jesus! Who did this to you? Were you attacked? Come on let’s call Alfred, he sure can find those foolish hoodlums”.

That statement made me laugh. She was actually calling the devil the angel.

Sonya: “What’s funny?”

Me: “Your ‘angel’ did this to me”.

“I don’t get” she said, looking confused.

“Alfred did this to me” I said, trying real hard not to cry.

“Taa! Is that what those hoodlums asked you to say? Mtchew, babe nawa you o and you dey obey them. Stand up joor lets meet Alfred” she said, as she stood up.

“Am serious” I said, crying.

Then she realized I was being honest. She drew me closer and rocked me to sleep, she never asked me what went wrong. She only said “Use this 6 months of industrial training to break up with him”. I foolishly ignored her advice, was blinded by love, was in love with a monster, my monster and I paid the consequences………