Chapter 5
Sometimes, things get tough, so, you can handle things much tougher.
If I were a motivational speaker, that's exactly what I'll say. I know, I know, it's not great, but whatever, that's not the point. Honestly, I've tasted this fact and I'm saying:
Sometimes, things get tough to prepare you for tougher ones. But you know what? The tougher ones will become bearable since you've had experience. So, tough situations are somewhat blessings. I didn't realise this for long. No, no. But I'm glad I later did.
My first day had been dramatic. Correction; Is, dramatic because I'm still here. From where I stopped.
Under the sun, bleaching by force. But I still had one little adventure in front of me. I should have prayed to my head before leaving the house, and I didn't attempt to, after getting in trouble several times. That was the mistake I made. I didn't tell my fathers that I was overfull from the experiences I've had. Which is why they, in the first place, decided to enlongate my matter. Okay, quick recap.
I woke up this morning with high hopes, good vibes, mad hype, prepared to blast. I got my first heartbreak immediately I got off the bus, had my second when I realised that the school map was for geography... Got into trouble when I asked a fellow freshman for directions, got lost, been really embarrassed when I walked into the middle of uniformed students and I was in Mufti... Called a "bloddy fresher" (still paining me), entered a long queue, watched a documentary on sunburn, and met the love of my life. (No loud am, she doesn't know me yet. I'm just saying sha). And here I am: Still in the sun. You might think; Ah Ahn! Since morning! Abi o. Since morning! It's past three now. So, yeah, nothing much has changed...I'm still here... Wish I had brought a face cap too! Whatever sha!
I met someone, I remember. Yeah, the girl I was talking about. You know, after she gave me the money, I was like I didn't want to stop talking. We talked about random things, blah blah blah and for long too!
Me that I had been nearly killed with boredom. I just pitied the girl. It was weird when somehow somehow, talk entered talk and we started talking about primary school days. I mean...what the heck!
Sometimes, our talk will enter:
"Seriously!" I would laugh.
"Hmn..." Dola would say.
Me too, I'll say "Hmn."
And that was it. But sincerely, I hadn't met someone that nice for sometime. Funnily, turns out we are namesakes. Like, first name for that matter. She is also Dola. Somehow, we clicked. Just like that!
I actually started to feel more relaxed. Yes, the sun was still killing but at least, I had a cute girl to talk to.
It's not my fault. I'm my father's son. We like fine women. And she was pretty engaging. Crush no dey pass like that o. Na so I take con like the babe.
To me, my story was ending well. A stressful, shocking day but there was promises of something nice at the end. Just as I commended those behind writing my story, I didn't know that I was still in it and that my fore fathers are cruise catchers. Relax... I'm not in trouble again. It's only... there's still a splash of flavour my ancestors realised suddenly and added quickly into it.
This is the last trial I had in my first day in UBSU. In fact, I might have had more if I didn't go back home early. Which, I'm even happy that I didn't stay longer. My cup of tea hasn't stopped boiling. At least, that's what my people have designed for me. So, what really happened?
Dola had switched places because she had some issues with her papers and I was all alone again. I see this as the workings of my village people, call me diabolical if you want. In fact, it was immediately she left that trouble started to brew for me.
It was because I got pressed. That really, was what started the wahala(problem). I got pressed without having even tasted water or drink! Isn't that clearly my people's work?
I was jittery. My space. I had already reached half the line, but I also badly needed to pee. Guy had to do something. So, I told the person behind me to keep my space. Note: Never trust strangers. They are the worst betrayers. So, you can guess what happened. Poor me went away and came back to my space taken, and a crazy fresher yelling. O ga o! People are mad! And so, the drama began. Me wey my body dey reject am fii fii like say na medicine(I, who has been avoiding drama like medicine). Na one human being's child come bring am directly to me. That was when I started hearing:
"Mr Man, no space is permanent here." "Your papa no buy land for UBSU" "You left now!" Nonsense talk! What about the broda i told?!
At least, I learnt two valuable lessons. One, that never trust just anybody.
Two: The university is a land of variety. And there are mad dogs on the loose. Pardon my heavy language. It's from a frustrated heart.
But there was something wonderful that happened just then.
Note: Always be proud of your people. No matter what. My village people later fought my battle for me today. And my ancestors smiled.
As the argument was getting a bit heated and I was on the losing side( nobody was even minding us), an official stood up to announce:
"From that place, cut! That's all for today. Come back tomorrow."
Greeeeeaeat! Wawuuu! Ha ha!
Yes o. They cut me. I should have fainted on the spot on normal circumstances but I got strength this time. They cut them too. They cut all of us. I gave broda and his friend a knowing smile. One that said:
I'll see ya here tomao(tomorrow). Catch me by five am, suckers!
So o...that was how it happened. Me, a feisty town boy who started trouble with UBSU.
How about Dola? Oh, they cut her too oh. And it's great. I'll be here with her tomorrow, Inshallah. It's not gonna be easy but I'm fully prepared. And when in the next consecutive weeks, freshers like me were trying to find their way around and were attending freshman orientations, I was confident. My Fathers themselves had done a full orientation for me on my first day. It was a hard course. Ten units ordered from the spiritual realm. But we ace am! (We aced it). I'm finally getting the hack of it.
Bittersweet days ahead. But we dey strong!
I used a couple of Nigerian slangs and vibes in the content. Use the comment section below to request for the meaning to any word or phrase you don't understand.
