The Life of a Nigerian Youth

Episode one

After my parents dropped me, I stood for some time. I can’t believe am here at last. This was the first time I had to leave my family to stay alone in an entirely different town. I remember when my dad gave me the news of my admission into the University of Calabar. I had lost hope then because all my friends that sat for the “Almighty JAMB” has gotten admission into various universities. The honking of my dad’s car startled me from my thought as I was washing the dishes. Our house help rushes out to open the gates for him.

Me: “Daddy nno” (welcome)

Dad: Ehe Mma kedu? Inokwa ofuma?” (Are you okay?)

Me: “Yes daddy”.

I began to set his food for him on the dining table and thoughts about my life still lingered in my head.

Dad: “Mma, there’s good news. I got an information today from my contact that your name was among those shortlisted to study geology in the University of Calabar’’.

I didn’t know what or how to feel about it. I wasn’t excited as I was supposed to be but I was happy. It was a dream come true, I said to myself. I couldn’t believe I would get into the University that year.

Struggling with my belongings, I asked for directions on how I would get to the school hostel. A boy, in his early 20’s, dark in complexion and responsibly dressed pointed North-East from where I stood. “That is the school hostel”, he said. The hostel was a huge building consisting of about 40 rooms. I wished my room was on the second floor. On getting there, I had to check-in through the hostel matron’s office. A dark-skinned plump woman with brows covered in red eye pencil sat opposite the door. She was reading a magazine and chewing a bubble gum at the same time. I presumed was the hostel matron.

Me: “Good afternoon ma”.

Matron: *Chewing a gum* “Ehe, what?”

Me: “I am a new student and I would like to know my room”.

Matron: “What’s your name?”

Me: “Sochikaima Nwabundu”.

There was about 2 minutes silence as she turned some pages of a big brown-covered book.

Matron: “Room 14”.

Me: “Thank you ma”.

I left the office and found my way to room 14. The hallway was noisy and full of half-naked girls giggling, laughing and gossiping. I said “Hi” to a few and passed those who looked like snobs. At the door step of room 14, I knocked and waited for a while.

Female voice: “Who the Fuck is that?”

With my eyebrows raised in surprise, I replied.

“Uhm, Kaima, a new student. I guess you are my roommate”.

Female voice: “Oh, shit! Chill am coming”.

Me: “Okay”.

The door opened and a pretty girl was standing in front of me. She was in her early 20’s, chocolate in complexion, about 5’6 in height with an oval face and wearing a Brazilian weave that fell freely on her shoulders. I knew it was a Brazilian weave because my elder sister had one, a replica of what I saw. I was already in love with my roommate. (Genuinely, no homo though). I couldn’t wait to know her more.

“Hi” I said, grinning.

“Hello dear welcome” she said, smiling.

She helped me carry my bags into the room. The room was painted in white and cream. There was a small mattress, a wardrobe, a blue plastic table and a matching chair in the room. I looked around and realized that there was no television or home theatre set. “How does she relax and connect with the world?” I thought. I was also wondering how we are going to sleep on the small mattress. Well, I didn’t come with one so my bad. The size of the room wasn’t so bad. I quickly rearranged the room in my head and also added an LCD screen television and a home theatre set I was going to buy.

“I’m Sonya.” she said, with her right hand stretched out.

“Kaima.” I replied, shaking hands with her.

Sonya: “Make yourself at home because this is your new home.

Me: *Smiling* “Thanks”.

Sonya: “Well, let’s unpack and get to know each other”.

I smiled, again.

I woke up by exactly 2:45am and couldn’t sleep again. Why? Because I was excited. I couldn’t wait to attend my first lecture. I laid on the little mattress Sonya and I shared imagining what my day would be like. I would blow away the minds of guys especially cute guys, can’t stand ugly guys. Sonya says something in her sleep about someone called Oscar, wonder who that it. Hmmm not my business, my mind is occupied with my imaginations to bother about ‘Oscar’. I stood up immediately to arrange my outfits for the day. A black tank top, a blue jean jacket, a pair of black trousers with a pair yellow sneakers. Something seems off or missing. I thought hard……..and then BAM!!! It hits me, I needed a yellow scarf to match the yellow sneakers. I smiled to myself.

“Sonya! Sonya!!” I called.

“Err..hmm…hmmm what?” she answered sleepily.

“Wake up, please where can I get toothpaste?” I asked apologetically.

“Really? Kaima, is that why you are waking me up by uhm….” She checks the time. “By 5:50??”

Me: “Am so sorry, I couldn’t sleep since 3am and I can’t wait to prepare for my first day”.

Sonya shakes her head and points at a bag. I came to realize that she’s slow to anger. From the stuff in the bag, it seems she’s from a rich family someone they call ‘Ajebutter’. Well, people could say the same for me. I mean, my family ain’t poor nor rich we’re just comfortable. Back in the days of high school, I was called an ‘Ajebutter’. I quickly took my bath and brushed my teeth, this is something I don’t like doing (you can call it laziness).

By 7:30am, I was ready for school. Saying bye to sleeping Sonya, I boarded a cab. You know, to enter campus in a grand style as per ‘A big girl’. On getting to my Faculty building, I came down and paid the cab driver. I asked a group of guys where the office of the faculty dean was located, I was directed. When I found the office I hoped the queue outside wasn’t for him but I was disappointed because it was definitely for him. The queue was moving slowly, I could hear laughter from the office, seems to me the students were gisting with the dean instead of getting their registration numbers. I rolled my eyes. My excitement disappeared when I deducted from the students around that there are no lectures today for my department. Then I remembered I didn’t eat before leaving the hostel because I was excited. Just then my phone rang, as I was getting it out of my bag…it fell. I was already having a bad morning, bending down to pick my phone my head bummed into another head.

Me: “Ouch! What the fuck?” rubbing my head.

Cute guy: “Am so sorry my dear, I was trying to help you with your phone”.

Realizing how cute he was, I calmed down.

Me: “Alright no problem, thanks by the way”.

He hands me my phone. I smiled thankfully.

Cute guy: “Am Alfred and you?”

“Kaima”.

“What?” he asked, confused.

“Sochikaima”.

“Oh, nice name”.

“Thanks” I answered, blushing.

Angry voice: “Next!!!!!”

Shit! It’s my turn, what happened? Leaving Alfred, I staggered into the office.

Dean: “You were busy talking to your boyfriend, you didn’t realize it was your turn”.

Me: “Sorry sir, he’s not my boyfriend”

Dean: “Eh, will you say he is before? Denying your boyfriend, he won’t give you money for Peruvian hair o”.

The students in the office starts to laugh. “What’s funny about that? Local people with low sense of humor” I thought.

Dean: “Give me your documents jare”

I handed him my documents. While he was reading them, I used the opportunity to examine him. He was a man in his middle 60’s. Dark in complexion, rumbled face with a half-moon like glasses. He looked like a womanizer, I was sure to stay clear from him….

“Sochikaima Nwabundu”

I returned to my body.

“Yes, sir”

Dean: “Where are you from?”

Me: “Anambra state”.

Dean: “Where precisely?”

Me: “Abagana”.

Dean: “Okay. Here’s your registration number, it’s written on this clearance slip. You can go”. I collected the slip relieved that am done.

Me: “Thank you sir”.

Dean: “See me later”.

Oh no!! That doesn’t sound good, I thought.

I left the office worried about what the dean said. Not in the mood to talk to anybody, I began to search for an eatery. Finally got to the eatery and pheew!! The task wasn’t easy, I regretted my decision about not asking for direction. The eatery was well furnished, impressive. It reminded me of an eatery at home where I stalked my high school crush. Shaking my head, I was once a creep. I ordered jollof rice garnished with a spicy chicken lap and a bottle of Fanta. With my order, I turned to get to a chair. I bummed into someone. Not again!!

Luckily the food wasn’t spilled, I looked up to scold at the person and behold.

Me: “Uhm….Alfred?”

 “Oh hey! not again today” he said, extremely happy.

Alfred: “Sorry didn’t see you there, my bad. Are you okay?”

“Yeah, thanks” I said, smiling. Why was I smiling? I should be pissed. My subconscious rolled her eyes.

Alfred: “Can we sit together?”

Me: “Sure”.

 He led the way to a table at a hidden corner. Why did he choose that table? Does he want to kiss me? Or touch me? Oh please don’t flatter yourself, my subconscious said to me. I followed him, he pulled a chair for me. Hmm what a gentleman. He sat opposite me. There was silence, it was kind of awkward for a moment.

Alfred: “Let me order, be right back. Don’t start eating without me o”

I smilied. “Okay, I will try not to”

I studied him while he was ordering. He was about 6’2 feet. Body building impressive, I imagined him without his shirt. Come on! Kaima. He is fair in complexion, has a good set of teeth, nice facial construction, full pink lips. He’s what every girl would want. I noticed a girl flirting with him. Shaking my head. I was tempted to eat my food because I was so hungry.

“Aww….she didn’t eat. I was joking o” he said, grinning. He sat down.

I felt very foolish, it was obvious I liked him. I didn’t know what to say, I just smiled.

We began to eat and talk about ourselves. He was in Chemical Engineering 200 level, his family was based in Port Harcourt. He’s from Achina in Anambra state, attends Anglican Church. I frowned at the latter, had always wanted a Catholic boyfriend. He never said he wants to date you, my subconscious reminded me. We talked politics, I didn’t contribute much because am not a big fan of politics. We also talked about social media and trends.

Alfred: “Would love to see you again”.

“Well…you would be seeing me around, we stay in the same campus” I said, laughing. He didn’t laugh. Hmm what’s wrong with this one? I thought.

Me: “Okay”.

Alfred: “Okay?”

Me: “What?”

Alfred: “Can I have your number?”

I was supposed to form hard to get but.

Me: “Okay give me your phone”.

He brings out a Samsung galaxy s4 and gave it to me. Wow he’s a big boy. I typed in my number and saved it with Kaima. I told him what I saved it with while I was giving him his phone back. He calls my number to make sure it’s my number. Shaking my head. He doesn’t trust me, I thought. We said our goodbyes when we left the eatery. I boarded a tricycle popularly known as ‘Keke napep’ to my hostel. When I got to my doorstep and knocked, I realized I don’t have a key to my room. What a stressful day!! I tried calling Sonya but trust MTN that’s when they decide not to connect. While I was thinking of what to do…

Female voice: “Hey, you lost your key?”

Me: “Mehn, actually I never had a key. Am new here”.

Female voice: “Aww, welcome. Am Rebecca, you can call me Bec”.

Me: “Sochikaima, you can call me Kaima”.

We smiled. We had the same thought also the same sense of humor!!

Bec: “You can stay with me until Sonya comes back”.

I didn’t want to but I had no choice, I was stranded.

Me: “Thanks”.

She opens her door which is about two rooms after mine. I followed her in. Her room was well furnished with LCD television, a king size mattress with a lot of little pillows. The pink painting on the wall was lovely, her curtains were purple. I had to admit, she had class. I sat on the bed while she goes into her bathroom to change. She came out and asked if I wanted noodles that she wants to prepare. I said no, just ate. I laid on the bed thinking about the past events of the day. Alfred hasn’t called, why am I worried? Am I inlove? Come off that thought, my subconscious scolded me. Where the hell is Sonya?...I dozed off.