Life On Campus

Episode 5

Betty sipped some water and swirled it in her
mouth
before swallowing it., that was her fifth glass, she
was lying down on the soft rug watching
BadooTv.Com with Jay-
Jay who was sipping some wine.
Her eyes drifted to the wall clock. She suddenly
became time conscious. “Jeez!…” she quickly got
up “did anything bite you?” Jay-jay asked sipping
more
wine “yes…no..time” she pointed at the clock
“what’s with time?” he didn’t look up. “Its past
8pm already, and the gate to the hostel
closes by 7:30.” she said pitying herself “you can
pass the night here if you wish..”he started
she stared at him- in her wildest dreams. “If you
think you can spend the night in the harem of
cultists, then you are welcomed.” He added
smiling. “No”. She said almost in a whisper
“uhm?” “I’m leaving now” she said picking her
purse. “okay.” he picking up something that
looked like a
reciever”bring over the camry” he said into it.
“Lemme drop you off.” he told her. “I’m going to
Emeka’s place- I..i’ll spend the night
there” her voice was low. “I’ll drop you there,” he
chuckled.
He didn’t seem to care. He led the way out, they
got
into the car and drove off. The journey to
Emeka’s place took 30 minutes.
“here we are.” Jay-Jay whispered, stoping the car
right in front of Emeka’s flat. “Thank you” she
smiled “I’l call you tomorrow morning” he was
smiling too. She knocked gently on Emeka’s door,
she is really
gonna suprise him. “Hi..” she said as Emeka
opened the door. “wow..” was all Emeka could say
before pulling her
into a warm hug.
“Sit down, let me get you something to eat” he
sounded excited. She sat down; the thought of
food made her happy. “To what do I owe this
visit?” he asked placing a
plate of jollof rice before her. Visit! “I was at Jay-
Jay’s place, I wasn’t time
conscious, it got late, so I decided to come
and..you
know..spend the night here” she explained slowly.
“Because Jay-Jay couldn’t accomodate you for
the
night or what?” Emeka asked with a low laugh.
Betty felt insulted, she stood up gently, picking
her
purse and phone “I’m sorry for the trouble” she
said
moving towards the door. “Hey, c’mon baby, that
was not what I meant…” he
said apologetically. She wasn’t listening, she left,
he followed her, he
looked left and right but no trace of her. He
sighed
heavily, he was in deep poo! He should’nt have
said
those words…He felt the world crashing at his
feet.

---

Betty was standing by the road side, she was
breathing heavily, she was trying her best not to
cry.
Damn it! She cursed under her breathe, who does
he
think he was anyway! She felt her forehead, her
head
was aching badly. Damn the headache! damn
Emeka! Damn the hunger she felt! Damn…
A car pulled up beside her, Jay-Jay got down,
“Let’s
go home little sis” he whispered taking her hands
gently, opened the door and she got in without a
word.
He looked at her briefly before driving off. He
helped her out of the car, sat her down on a
cushion in the living room “Stop crying” He said
gently, she had been crying all the way. He
opened a
foil paper that contained suya “Eat” he whispered
but she shook her head “please Nnem” he was
pleading with her. She has
never heard that softness in his voice before, she
never knew he had the word ‘please’ in his
dictionary. She took a piece, it tasted foul, she
made an attempt
to throw up, but he held her down. “steady there!
Its not the suya, but your heart- its full
of pains” he said gently, pouring some creamy
substance into a mug. “here, drink up, it’s milk”
she drank it all,and drank another serving halfway
before keeping the mug down. He pulled her up
and
moved her towards his bedroom. “you need to
sleep” He whispered tucking her in bed.
He put off the lights leaving only the bedside
lamp. “If you need anything, press the bell” he
told her
showing her a button by the bedside. “goodnight,
I’ll share the spare room with Tiger” he
explained before leaving the room. Her eyelids
were heavy, she closed them gently, this
is where she belongs-home. She was awakened
by the sound of a gun shot. She
sat up abruptly pushing the bed covers away, she
looked around; Yikes! It was morning. She
pressed the
bell button on impulse.
The door squeaked and opened with Tiger’s head
poking in.
“You need anything?” he asked he doesn’t have
the courtesy to greet! Mtchew.
“Where’s Jay-Jay?” she ignored his question. “him
don comot, e say make I tell you say him dey
come now now” tiger replied alittle bit politely.
“the gunshot?” her voice was low, “Rox was
loading his gun” he explained with an
amused look who ever Rox was! Mtchew!
“Thanks”she watched him
shut the door. What the heck was Jay-Jay
thinking leaving her here?
What if Tiger beheaded her? She shuddered.
Getting up gently, she moved towards the
bathroom.
Slowly she washed her face trying to wave
Tiger’s
murderous face off her mind. She looked up at
the
mirror, her eyes were swollen. Mtchew! Maybe…
“Betty?” Jay-Jay called her she froze, “Where’s
this girl?” she quickly wiped her face and ran out.
“There you are! How was your night?” he asked
dropping a polythene bag on the table . “Good
morning” she sat down “uhm…your eyes are
swollen, you cried alot
yesterday..” he squatted beside her “wanna talk
about it?” he continued. She shook her
head. “okay” he sighed pulling the polythene bag
towards
him.
He brought out a flask, bread, butter and boiled
eggs.
“breakfast” he told her standing up to get a mug.
Gently he served her while she ate. “You have
lectures today?” he asked, she nodded. “Eat up let
me take back to school.” he sounded like a
father, she wanted to laugh but kept a straight
face.
Betty was walking as fast as her legs could carry
her,
Emeka too was running after her. Why was he
following anyway, can’t he just leave her alone?
Mtchew! “Please Betty…” emeka pleaded holding
her arm. “what’s it?” she glared at him “please
I’m sorry, I swear I didn’t mean to hurt you by
those words” he sounded desperate. “hmmn, I’ve
heard, you didn’t mean those words but
you said them? I thought you were a friend” she
started walking away “But I love you” He
screamed after her. She stopped in her track, her
heart racing fast, did he
just say those words to her? A crowd of students
began to gather. “Please baby, I truly love you, I
wouldn’t hurt you”
emeka was now on his knees. “gosh! Please
stand up” she was nervous “forgive me” he
pleaded “I forgive you, please stand up, we’re
creating a
scene” her voice was shaky.
He stood up gently “thanks you.” he was
searching
her eyes “I love you too” she said quitely, those
tears were
welling up again. They hugged each other warmly
and the crowd of
student clapped and cheered.
“ehen! See love nwantiti!” a plump girl exclaimed
before walking off, the crowd began to disperse.
“That was the most romantic display, I’ve ever
seen”
it was Chuks. “ol’boy I feel you!” Chisom
exclaimed “HI” Betty was grinning widely “Nwa
oma, I never knew Romeo and Juliet were still
alive” Chuks chuckled. Oh yes! She felt fulfilled, at
least. “This calls for a celebration” Edith said
from behind
them. Betty hugged her. “yes”chuks and chisom
chorused. “I guess sahara sweets will do” Edith
suggested and
they all moved towards Emeka’s car. Betty’s
phone rang, it was a text message, she
opened it… “Hey little sis, I saw that episode, I
never knew you
were that romantic…that was lovely, right now
ama
pop champagne with my guys. I’ll call ya later.
Take
kia and Enjoy!
Jay-Jay” She smiled, Jay-Jay saw it too…G-gal
can go hell and
burn to ash, she doesn’t care.
Students were crowded round the notice board
close
to the faculty of sciences building, Betty and
Edith
were among them. Their end of semester result
have
just being place.
Betty got a second class upper, but a course was
ticked absent, she gasped. “how comes?” Edith
asked “don’t know…but i wrote the exam” Betty
sounded
confused. Edith thought for a while..
“Errm, come, let’s go to see the lecturer.” she
suggested. “what are you gonna do?” ” never
mind, come with me.” Edith said taking her
hands.
The lecturer was a female. Mrs Okoro.
“Good afternoon ma” they both chorused “How
may I help you?” mrs Okoro asked without
looking up. “our statement of result says Betty
Amah, was absent
during your exams” Edith started. “So?” “she
wasn’t absent, she wrote the exams.” Edith’s
voice was rising now. ” Who knows, maybe her
paper got missing” Mrs
okoro replied eyeing Betty. “That paper isn’t
missing, we need to see her
booklet” Edith snapped.
Betty gasped- Edith’s gat the liver “Listen girls,
leave my office before I get provoked.
Don’t you have manners?” Mrs Okoro was visibly
angry now. “listen madam!” Edith was smiling
“It seems you don’t know who Betty Amah is..”
edith
moved towards the table “have you heard of Jay-
Jay
before?” she continued. Mrs Okoro glanced at
Betty, then at Edith “Yes.” she
said quitely. “Good, and hope you know what he
can do when you
tamper with his affairs? I guess you love your
life”
Edith wore a triumphant look. Mrs Okoro looked
frightened.
Edith and Betty made
to leave. “Wait please” Mrs Okoro’s voice was
shaky. “I have the scripts here” she said opening
her locker. “Oh..” Edith smiled mischievously. “She
had an ‘A’, I’m sorry” Mrs Okoro was visibly
scared. “So why did you hide it?” Edith asked “I…
I..was paid by Gloria; G-gal” edith laughed. Betty
gasped. “anyway, thats your headache, amend
every thing
soon, go to the exams senate, I want everything
cleared by nextweek” Edith ordered. “I promise”
Mrs Okoro said slowly.
Betty and Edith left the office happily. “What’s up
with this G-gal?” Betty queried, “Don’t mind her,
we’l handle her, atleast, we can use
Jay-Jay’s name” Edith chuckled. “hmmn” “cmon
cheer up girlie! Let’s talk about something
better errm…let’s talk about Emeka!” Edith wanted
to
make her happy.
Betty laughed at the mention of Emeka’s name,
yea,
it alwaays makes her happy.