DIARIES. (ENTRY #7)

FLASH BACK.

My first week at the University of Lagos was very awkward for me. I was 17 nervous and shy and terrified by Afolabi’s constant warnings about cult boys and club boys and wayward roommates. I had gained admission to study Mass Communication and I was both excited and scared. I didn’t have any older sister to tell me how to dress or style my hair, but Afolabi’s girlfriend at the time Bukky had been very helpful. She had given me tips and a few hand- me- down clothes and even bought me some make up…not like I knew how to use it.
I had 7 roommates in my room in Madam Tinubu Hall and they were a crazy bunch! There was a wild girl Flora, who was always ready to fight everyone and a set of spoilt twins who thought the world belonged to them; Nkechi and Nneka. Their father was a politician at the time. Then there was Aunty Silvia. Yes Aunty…Lol she was in her 40s or something but at the time she seemed like a hundred years old to me. Then there was Sister Amaka who was a pastor at one of the Christian fellowships on campus. There was Hauwa a big time “runs” girl who was never in school and there was Banke who was also a jambite and my best friend throughout university and there was me. It was a crazy mix and there was constantly drama in the room.
On my third day on campus, I was on my way to visit Banke in the school clinic the poor “ajebo” girl had fallen ill on our third day in school obviously homesick. As I walked alone through Marere hall I wished the floor would open up and swallow me. There a bunch of guys hanging around the hostel making noise and picking on girls passing by. As I approached them they started making catcalls and shouting all sorts “Ebony” “Dudu” “Jambito” I was so nervous I started walking faster I tripped on a stone and fell facedown spilling the food I was taking to Banke. The guys burst into laughter and I, into tears. It was like the worst day of my life and there out of nowhere this tall, dark, handsome guy appeared like an angeL and helped me up. At this point I was sobbing uncontrollably.
He put his arm around me and we kept walking. When we got past the hall he stopped and said...

“My name is Emeka”. I was still sobbing and this is what I remember of the conversation:
Emeka: Haba! It’s ok now. Why are you still crying?

Me: sob sob sob

Emeka; Oya sorry where are you going. Let me escort you.

Me: Clinic

Emeka: Are you going to visit someone?

Me: Nod

Emeka: Please stop crying

Me: Louder sobs

Emeka: I will go back o!

Me: Sorry I’ve stopped

We continued walking till we got to the clinic and then he asked

Emeka: What’s your name?

Me: Anjola

Emeka: That’s a really pretty name for a pretty girl.

I smiled

Emeka: I love your smile. I hope our daughter has that smile. See you around Angel
I watched him walk away. He was so tall, big and confident. I couldn’t wait to see him again. I told Banke about him when I got to her ward and we giggled like the children we were.
I didn’t see Emeka till a few weeks later. I had been looking out for him but I never saw him until one afternoon. I had just finished a class and was walking out of the lecture hall when I spotted him leaning against the railings on the corridor. He flashed a smile at me

Emeka: Hi Angel!

Me: Hi

Emeka: Miss me?

Me: No

Emeka: Lol…I saw the look in your eyes when you saw me, I know you did. Don’t you have any friends? Spent the last couple of weeks trying to find you!

My heart leapt with joy! Apparently, he hadn’t forgotten about me after all!

Me: Whatever!

Emeka: Have you eaten?

Me: Not yet

Emeka: Let’s go for lunch. I have to warn you sha my friends would be there and they are a bit crazy.

Me: I’m shy

Emeka: You’re not shy. You’re beautiful and I want to show you off because you are my girlfriend.

Me: I don’t want a boyfriend.

Emeka:*chuckling*… You are so cute. How old are you?

Me: 17

Emeka: When do you turn 18?

Me: Next August

Emeka: hmmmm that’s 10 months away. I’ll wait but you can’t date anyone else. You hear? I am 21 and I’m in my 3 year studying Petroleum Engineering. Do we have a deal?

Me: Ok. We have a deal.

Emeka was a man of his word. We became inseparable but it was never official until my 18 birthday when he took me out to dinner and asked again “Angel so you’re my girlfriend now abi”? I said yes in between giggles and we shared our first kiss. My first kiss it was perfect and I was the happiest girl in the world. Eventually Afolabi came to terms with Emeka being in my life and they formed a good friendship. He was the light of my world and his family adored me. I naturally assumed I would spend the rest of my life with him. Life had other plans for us, if only we knew what was coming maybe we would have cherished those days more.