The Painful Pleasure

Episode 7

To cut the long story short, we finally got to ‘Campus gate’ in Ife.

I alighted from the bus with my ‘FDF’, and took my load.

Carrying them was not so easy, so Moji offered to carry one for me, but i told her not to worry.

I saw a large bill board that has “WELCOME TO OBAFEMI AWOLOWO UNIVERSITY ILE IFE” boldly written on It, with the motto “FOR LEARNING AND CULTURE” written underneath. I
was quite shocked when i saw the logo, it was the statue of a woman, with book on her head. “Does this mean we will
have to read and cram like mad?” I said to Moji, who laughed at me like i didn’t know what i was saying.

“The statue represents culture, and the book depicts learning as the motto states” She answered, clearing my ignorance.

I was so surprised that she knew that, since we were both ‘freshers’, so i asked her how she knew that. “My dad
graduated from OAU.”She Answered.

We entered the school gate, and took a bus into campus. As we were in the bus, i thought to myself, “I won’t want to
make the same mistake i made with Sandra. This one, i must surely get her my number.

So i gave her my (palasa) phone
boldly and said to her. [b] “Something is wrong with my phone, can you help fix it?” She looked at me like I didn’t know what
i was saying, collecting the phone from me. “What is it?” she
asked. Looking at her like ‘lucosade’, i answered and said.

“Your number is not in it”. She laugged hysterically, and i joined in the laughter. Then she said “you are so funny, simple ‘can i have your number will do the trick.’ She took the phone, and pressed in some 11 digits.

Though, my phone wasn’t quite cool, all the keys were functioning properly and i was so proud of it.

I was given bedspace in Awolowo Hall, while Moji was given in Mozambique Hall.

So i came down from the Bus before her.

Because there is still a turn before getting to her hostel. I waved at her, and said “see ya” she smiled and replied
same.

This is not like Sandra’s case where i wasn’t sure i was going to see her again. Even if i didn’t take Moji’s number,
we were in the same department anyway.

I entered my hostel, it was quite crowdy, as people were going up and down, dragging bags and lockers. Indeed,
school had resumed.