Why my 2011 mattered (a short story)
It only took one night to change my year or so…
Its already 10:45am i quickly ran out of bed, tessy was still laughing, with lots of daze and confusion i carried my id card and ran out of the house, jumped on an okada and told the aboki to step on it, reaching my department i was not only super late but i did not even carry my exam card. Mallam Sani saw me he was like
‘’Mr Ibe i see how serious you are’ coming at this time looking like that for a prerequisite ko? congratulations, aii we will be in this school together kenan’’
I did not even try to explain my self as he walks away with both hands behind him, i just stood there looking at nothing, took okada back to the house and i wonder how i got here. I should not have been this carefree, now by missing this paper its an extra year for me, it means i owe the school.
When i got admission into this school, my family was expecting it, it was no news because i did very well in school. My dad gave me all financial support i needed. When i left home all we shared was a gaze no hand shakes or hugs. We hardly touch in my family.
My name is Ebuka Ibe they call me junior at home, i hardly have friends i am that guy that has always been a lone ranger, my head always buried in books, from my elementary school days i represented my school in Maths and science competitions, secondary school days i led the math league, i am that guy that is serious about everything and do not know the simplest of things. I was able to get accommodation off kampus. Metal engineering was my course. the whole idea fascinated me, before i got into school i had started to do little research and study on it and my love for steel grew.
This story started in my second year,(somewhere in 2011, why it mattered ), after hearing different versions of the same school, its just puts me in the place to not want to disappoint. Exams was fast approaching and as normal i geared up, i read every night to prepare well and rub minds with the other class mates, i had two papers left, i had to nail it. One night on my way home from school i was ambushed by these boys they call ‘yaro boys, (every uni have them maybe in different version) tried to explain to them that i was on my way from class, but they spoke more hausa and little or no English, i did not know what to do, i have heard one or two stories about them in that line, i quickly offered them my phone then one of them was pointing to my nap sac i said no, just immediately i revived a hit at the back of my head, my body led me to the ground, just then a voice interrupted my fall
musa haba mana let him go he is with me,
sabuwa che he dose not know the area
That is how these “yaro boys” threw my phone back at me and they walked away (making small talks under their breath) then this boy with the voice came towards me, he had more bearde than my father and I combined, he helped me got up, i was a mix of scared, nervous, confused and relived. who was this guy? like seriously? my name is Adetayo Sly. I will let you call me “Ayo” how he quickly answered my thoughts.
Ayo’ i am sure have heard that name before but o well. Ayo was with some other boys that looked liked him, he did a quick introduction to the rest of the boys saying their names one after the other. All i did was to nod, did not pay any attention to the intro, my head still hurts at then, He looked like the leader tho, they walked with me, reaching the front of my gate I thanked him for coming to my aid. Will see you around Ebuka, dont keep out late again he said. I Tried to hide the surprise on my face when he said my name.
The following day after my exam I ran into Ayo at zinc house where we eat. Now I finally took time to notice him, he was smooth. Like the Alfa male, he reminded me of ape head in Frank Peretti’s Monster, The finest girls gave him attention, he had already master the act of being in charge. After making our orders I had the usual jollof rice and moi moi and and water. Ayo asked for only a drink, while i ate, i saw a girl, you know those kind of girls that you would gladly do assignment for, maybe one day they may look at you. You do not know if its the same air you both breath because of how delicate they look, attractive, soft, with accent like those trendy kinds, she now coming to our to our table, she was now at our table
Girl :Ayooo baby how are things?
Ayo : u know
Girl: who is this guy? (She means me)
Ayo: this is my guy his name is Ebuka or call him Ebii (did I just get a Nick name?)
Girl : hi cutie my name is Tessy (she now smiling at me,I only nodded with my mouthful with moi moi)
Girl : Ayo I want in on the gig the girls and i are ready.
Ayo: nodded, and said I will call you.
Girl: aii byeee
Wait did he just introduced me as his friend or his guy? Plus a Nick name? I have never had one of those. I was so happy for some reason, someone taking me as a friend, I felt noticed.
Ayo invited me for a hangout and that he would like my company, he said he still has exams so i thought he wont want to fail too, that they have a little get together at Amazon. I was happy at the invite but I had afternoon papers the next day. He persuaded me that we wont stay long, that we will be back for us to come and read. still i was reluctant, he was like,
Guy loosen up, na all of us de write the exams, only ordinary get together with few people, nothing way go happen … plus all work and no play.
I knew he had a point there. I seldom have time to loosen up a little, unwind, so I decided to go with Ayo, we got there real late and it was like they are waiting on Ayo to come and kick start the get together. on my getting there i knew this is no get together it was laud, laud very laud, i did not know girls could dress in such manner, very reviling, and they all seemed under the influence. both boys and girls walked and talked and laughed in a choreographed way.
I was just looking like one jjc, Ayo introduced me to everyone i was just not flowing, i knew i did not blend in. i did not have this kind if swag. I was offered a drink, i took it realized i was thirsty, stayed at a corner to just watch what was happening just then there was a loud sound that superseded the music, saw girls running here and there i thought i saw a guy bleeding but i did not move because i could not, o my, i have been drugged. before you know it the police was here and arresting everyone they could, of-curse they took me i found myself laughing. i have never laughed like that my whole life.
A strong reek woke me up, my neck was stiff then i knew i had slept in a prison cell, saw some guys from the party but Ayo was not here, i over heard them talking about who fired the gun and how it was just a stunt by the guy to be feared in school. i could not even bring myself to understand how i got here, where is my shoe? my thoughts was quickly interrupted by the police man
police man : hayse! na you be ebuka? they don come bail you o, come carry your shoe and belt de go, they go send una go school and gun una go carry body de shoot up and down shildren of nowadays… hisss
I felt so clouded nothing was clear enough, everything was dull and the sun was a little more brighter than usual, Ayo collected my belongings he did not say anything to me like he already knew exactly how i was feeling, as if i was just discharged from the hospital. We reached his place, got a cup of tea, gave me my phone, had like 33 missed like calls, who knows me?more sleep made more senses at that time. A touch and giggle woke me up, the girl from zinc house was stroking my hair and making small talks when i woke up, i was like whoa whoa, Ayo told her to give us a minute, i asked him if he drugged me, he hesitated, then replied that i was not feeling the party so he helped me get flexible, i told him i had missed an exam and my last paper is on Tuesday, and i cant miss it. he said he has a paper on a Monday and its statistics, that he would need my help, i agreed to help him. since it was the weekend i would like to get a few things from my place tho i told him. i was about to leave when, he answered a called and turned sad, he said he just lost his father and will go home after the exams, i felt sorry for him so i decided to be around him, for this short while, id get my things later.
I don,t even know how my thoughts pattern changed over night, before i know it i wasn't reading as i thought i was playing games with Tessy the girl from zinc house.If you marry likes of her, you have to continue to sustain her, she is like the trophy wife, she can leave anytime she gets bored. she seemed caring bought food and we had some sort of closeness this short time her friends came around they all had similar behaviors. she likes to be touched, a lot i don,t even understand how, i felt free and easy with her. i was relaxed for the first time in my uptight upright life, cared less about everything and laughed a lot. played truth or dare, i drank through most part of the games, took a drag of the shisha and coughed like my entire lungs will explode. I was in another party and i just stayed and had fun. it was a good time to be alive.
My Phone alarm range i put it on snooze, the next ten minute it range again i threw it at the wall. I just needed one second of sleep, Tessy slamed the door when she came into the house it was 10:45am Tuesday morning. she was laughing at a video on her phone when she tried to showed me, that was when i knew what time it is.
After i paid the okada guy i sat outside Tessys house to breathe a while, how my days has been, like i took a wrong turn, remembered i left my keys at Ayos, had to go get it, was planning how firm i will be when i meet up with him, on reaching there, saw police outside the compound, A group of people clustered around the gate entrance, i became a passer by but i had to ask what was happening, i entered the closest drug store it was written boldly on the door
Nna Chuks Drugs And Stores ltd
it smelled stuffy but i needed information, told him i wanted vitamin c, later asked him what was the cause of the commotion over there?
Nna: na that boy o watin them de call am sef ... yes Ayo he carry him papa gun come school naso him papa send soldier make de come carry am, with all him friends them. i even hear say he shoot persin pikin for party yesterday … big man pikin no de hear word …
Paid for the vitamin c and decided to go home, how eventful my week(end) has been. i will probably brake into my own house, yes i can do that.
