EMOTIONS (CHAPTER ONE)

CHAPTER 1

10:47AM

“!!!!!!!” GUN SHOTS kept roaring outside the school gate, despite how far it was from the main school hostel, it was still as loud as if we’re nearby. We heard rumors of a cult clash, while some claim a robbery was going on in the bank beside the school gate, so the gun shots was as a result of gun fight between the police and the criminals. But they are all guesses since no one can actually go outside to confirm what was really going on.

“Please suspend whatever you’re doing, go into your hostels and lock your doors properly”, the school announcement speakers kept blaring, trying to warn the students from doing anything stupid. Last time there was a similar incident, some students were killed as a result of their curiosity. They were caught in a cross-fire while trying to create videos they’ll upload on their social page to earn likes and the sort. But the fact remains that no matter how hard you try to protect anyone, there are always some people whose stubbornness would never permit them to stay out of harm’s way.

After some minutes;

TOPE: Mehn! This people wan fuck up my plan today sha!

ESTHER: How? Our lectures today would last till 2pm, so even if nothing of the sort happened; we we’ll still be in the lecture room by now, so what plan are they fucking up?

TOPE: Well, I never planned to stay in school till the last lecture. Its school, it’s the only place where you gain total freedom and the license to live life to its fullest.

ESTHER: Maybe you’re right, but all these things you mentioned comes after you’ve finished what you’re actually here to achieve. Whatever plans you have can wait till noon, besides, you have from 2pm to dawn for yourself, so why would you want to skip lectures just to…

TOPE: (Cuts in) …just to do what? What plans do you think I have for the day? I haven’t even told you yet and you’re here talking to me like my mom or something. I wonder why you’re so judgmental.

ESTHER: I’m sorry.

TOPE: Don’t be.

ESTHER: What’s this plan anyways?

TOPE: I’m expecting someone at my place by 12pm today, so I have to do some clean up and cook something before she arrives…

ESTHER: She, a lady?

TOPE: No, a woman!

Tope is a very close friend of mine in school, we’ve been friends since my first year, and he was actually the first guy I made friends with when I got admission into the institution. I like him, I don’t know why, maybe because we are always together or maybe because he knows almost everything about me, like my weakness and strength, but he is proud, very proud. I’ve been giving him signs a few months after we met, hoping he would approach me but he’s somehow proving difficult. You don’t expect me to confess my love to him, though I don’t see anything wrong with me telling him how I feel about him, but I can’t, because like I said, he is very proud, might regret knowing him for the rest of my life if that move turns out to be a huge mistake. Forget SIMI and JOROMI, I’m not going to appear that cheap to any guy, not even if I love him more than life itself.

The truth is, Tope knows I love him, he is aware of my feelings towards him, that’s why he is always doing these things that hurt me, telling me about the girls he’s slept with, the girls he’s in love with and stuff related to that sha, trying to make me Jealous, or maybe trying to manipulate me into opening up to him, but I’m not the type to give in that easily.

ESTHER: Wow! That’s great. You should have told me earlier on so ill go to your place and prepare something delicious for the both of you before coming to school.

(Who am I kidding? What am i? His cook or his maid)

TOPE: Really?

ESTHER: Of course, but I guess that’s too late now.

TOPE: Too late? C’mon, Esther, the gunshots stopped over an hour ago, I’m 100% sure it’s safe to go outside now.

ESTHER: Then what’s stopping you?

TOPE: You of course.

ESTHER: You know what? You can go out; I’m not stopping you from going out anymore. Just beep me when you get home, and I’ll be on my way. That way, I can be sure it’s perfectly safe to leave the school premises.

TOPE: Hum… are you for real?

ESTHER: Yes Tope! I am! (Trying to pretend I mean it)

(I realized he’s been feeding his EGO and PRIDE with my Affection and concern towards him. So I decided to pretend not to care if he dates a million girls or risk his life because he wants cook some crap for his female visitor, that’s if she exist anyways. And it actually worked.)

TOPE: Alright then.

I kept asking myself if I made a mistake by saying those words as he slowly faded down the lane that leads to the school gate. “What if something happens to him?” my conscience would never let me rest knowing I’m the one that pushed him to go home. Who am I kidding anyways? Tope would definitely leave no matter what I tell him. I’ve always known him to do only what he wants and not what someone advised him to.

11:30AM

#OYA WO!!!#

My phone rang…

ESTHER: Yes? (After reading the history of telephone and why people say HELLO when they pick up your call, I decided I wasn’t going to keep calling that man’s girlfriend’s name just because he invented the device. Please check Google for more details before you ask me whose man’s girlfriend)

TOPE: I’m home.

ESTHER: Home?

TOPE: Nope, Toilet.

ESTHER: (Laughs)

TOPE: I said I’m home and you’re still asking me Home?

ESTHER: So, is it safe to leave the school?

TOPE: Yes it is. If you had followed me, you would already be home by now as well.

ESTHER: I guess I’ll go home as well then.

TOPE: Home? As in, you’re coming to my house?

ESTHER: Your house? What for?

TOPE: I thought you said you would come and help me cook for the girl I’m expecting.

ESTHER: Really? Don’t you know it would be more romantic if you both cook together? Besides, can you date or marry a girl that can’t cook? This is your opportunity to check if she is a good cook or not.

TOPE: It’s not fair o!

ESTHER: What is not fair? Mtcheeeeew!!!

(Disconnecting tune…)

12:10pm

After the incident, school activities halted for the day so everyone was free to leave. But the school authority insisted that it is not safe to go outside as they aren’t sure if it is safe yet. The stubborn ones, i.e. Tope ignored the warning anyways, and so was I about to. My friends warned and pleaded with me to stay behind until it is announced that it is safe to exit, but I ignored their warnings. If Tope can go home safely, why can’t i? Besides, we both have one head.

I slowly walked to the gate, with doubt, still not sure if I should continue or just turn around, but I was past half way now, so, there is no turning back. The whole road was busy, the pedestrians were much and the cabs were less so you have to fight your way through in order to board a cab or bus.

Luckily, I found a spot on the road beside a road sign. #Oya WO!!# my phone was ringing, as I dipped my hand into my bag to bring it out. A bike stopped in front of me… “Sister, u dey go?”: “Huh!” I replied in surprise…

BIKE MAN: I say, you dey go?

ESTHER: Yes Yes. How much to oyun junction? (Ignoring my ringing phone)

BIKE MAN: Just #200…

ESTHER: Oya make we go. (Was quite expensive, but it’s not like I had a choice. It’s as if God personally sent the Bike Man to help me because there was no way I could get a cab with the crowd and their desperation. I sat on the bike and he took off, then I asked) Bros, abeg wetin dey happen?

BIKE MAN: War! Confirm War! The students of that school attacked the minister’s convey because his driver hit one of the students while driving rough as usual, and his security personnel’s just pushed the lady’s body to the side of the road without checking to see if she was still alive or not.

ESTHER: Ha!!! Did they succeed in their objective?

BIKE MAN: I don’t know o. but I’m 100% sure more police officers would be there any minute, and you trust them, they would just start arresting anyone they see around the school.

ESTHER: I guess I’m lucky then.

BIKE MAN: I guess.

The bike man stopped for another guy beside the road, in situations like this, commercial motorcyclists use it as an opportunity to make more money by carrying more than one passenger as they normally used to…

BIKE MAN: Bros, where to?

NONSO: Oyun Junction.

BIKE MAN: Na #200 o!

NONSO: No wahala.

BIKE MAN: Oya enter make we move before those black devils jam us for road.

NONSO: What of the girl wey you carry?

BIKE MAN: Sit down with her nau!

NONSO: No o, I no fit sit down with person for one bike. You know wetin? Tell her make she drop, I go give you #500 for Oyun junction.

(You needed to see how my heart was pounding in my chest. Shey them send this guy ni, abi my enemies are now at work. Bike wey God send to me, na him this devil in human form wan steal from me. I was thinking of competing with the other man by increasing the stake but the only money with me was #500 and that was even my last card, unless mum had sent the #5000 she promised into my bank account.)