'I saw you this morning.'Ajoke said drinking water.
'Please don't start again.' Jane said trying to avoid a fight.
'Do you realise what you're doing to yourself?'
'Ajoke please.' she snapped.
'I saw you changing places with that other lady just to stand by his sides.'
'Is it your business?'
'Yes,because you're my friend.Let this guy ask you first.
'Whats wrong if i ask him?the most important things is one of us is doing the asking.' Jane answered.
'You can't him trully?do you really want to?'
'Yes,Is it because today is the fifth day,you'd better stop preaching to me,my mind is made up.'Jane said.
'This guy we are talking about self,do you know his name?'
Jane blinked twice,she didn't even know his name.
'Does it matter?'
'It does,you're a beautiful lady,let him come to you of his free will.'
Ajoke said calmly trying to talk sense into her,its so true beauty doesn't come with brain.
'Enough Ajoke,its my life,let me be.' With that,she stamped out of the room.
*****************
'That girl don fall finish' Dimeji said sitting on one of the bunks in the large room.
'How you take know?' Charles asked.
'You need to see the way she manouvered herself to his sides,during morning jogging'The guys burst out laughing.
'I can't believe i'll be 30,000 richer by the end of this week o,make she just sharpaly come find me.' Dickson said smiling.
The trio,Dimeji,Charles,and Dickson had met on camp,as their bunks were placed side by side,they became friends,you know guys make friends easily.
They'd all notice most of the beautiful lady's on camp and Jane was no exception,They'd made a bet of 10,000 each, if Dickson succeeded in getting her into bed without asking her out.
Dickson was the one who brought the idea,and Charles and Dimeji had countered it that it wasn't possible.How can you get to lay a lady without asking her out,Dickson convinced them that he could do it,he assured them it was a simple strategy,one of the most important is that one must be handsome,and sure as hell,Dickson was a very handsome man,ladies do fall for him and this was not his first time,he'd pull this through without a sweat and they all concided to make a bet.
'I pray she doesn't fall for whatever trick you're using on her.' Dimeji said partly for fear of losing his money.
'Me too o,10,000k no be buns o,make this babe no go fall for you yakata' Charles added.
'Lets wait and see,i can't wait to sample her with my Dickson now' He said laughing.'She must be out with her friend now o,lets go out guys,the more we see,the better my chances.'
One thing about friendship was making up,friends fight,but good friends should learn to make up in time,before things go sour.Ajoke was someone who couldn't keep a grudge for long,she'd apologised to Jane explaining to her,all she was doing for her sake.They had made up on the instant with Janet apolgising too and pleading with Ajoke to stay off the issue for now.She'd told Ajoke she knew what she was doing.
'Lets go out for some fresh air' Jane said tapping Ajoke on the lap.
'Its just 6:00 now,lets wait small'Ajoke said trying to buy time,she didn't want Jane out,her going to see that guy was bothering her.
'Maybe,you ought to check your time again,its quarter past six jo' she said pulling her up.
'Okay,give me a seconds' Ajoke said getting up.
Most people were not in the room,as it was evening,some were watching Dstv in the common room,some had gone visiting,everyone to her business.
They sat on one of the cemented seats outside the hostel,people were milling about in twos and threes.
'I wonder where i will be doing my primary assignment.' Ajoke said.
'Wouldn't it be lovely if we're lucky to be stuck together again'Jane wondered aloud.
'I'ld definetly love that.' Ajoke laughed.
'What would it be like?'
'I can't imagine teaching those primary or secondary school student,Aunty Joke or Miss Ajoke,so so funny,isn't it?'
Jane was looking elsewhere,she traced her eyes,
'Talk of the devil' she muttered under her breath.What was he even looking for self? Can't he stay in his room? But,could she blame the guy?No,not at all.
'Jane' she called tapping her.
'Yes' She answered without looking at her.
'Jane come with me i want to get some things.' Ajoke said trying to divert her attention.
'Opportunity come but once,here is one i don't want to lose it.'
'Meaning?'
'I am going to talk to him now'
'Jane,please stop this'
'Oh no,i can't stop dancing when the music has just started,i can't stop myself,not when i can talk to him right away.' She stood up and walked towards him.
**************
Jacob had called Janet to apologise for not making it to her place,and promised to check her over the weekend,but there was something about her voice he couldn't grasp.
She sounded far away from him,her voice had lost its usual excitement,he wondered if she was being stressed or she was just not happy to hear his voice.
And he had apologised again,thinking she was disappointment when he hadn't showed up last weekend,what was this thing about love that made you do things you would not have done naturally.
He couldn't remember the last time he apologised to anyone,he wasn't going to apologise to his mother for blaming her over Jane's disappearance because she had also refused to apologise for slapping him.
Funmi,had called in so many times,but he ignored most of her calls he wasn't ready for any chitchat about who and whom not to date.
And this days,work was consuming most of his time,his father had asked to see him in person and he was making arrangement about that.
Some of his friends were clamouring to be introduced to his heart robe,but he was careful not to give them a glimpse of her picture,he didn't trust anyone of them specially Jaiye,it was like teasing a monkey with fresh ripe banana.He'd let them meet her after her Nysc.
He didn't want anything to disrupt his affair with Janet,her mother was not a problem,he knew how to handle her,but this Katherine girl was crazy,thinking about the last stunct she pulled on him.Sending him a text that she was very sick and needed him.Was he a doctor? Or a pharmacist? He'd only gone to see her to keep his promise with her.
He couldn't wait to propose to Jane,he'ld be in paradise if she agrees to marry him,thats something he was planning carefully.
First things first,he was going to see her over the weekend and make things right with a surprise package specially for her.
He couldn't wait to propose to Jane,he'ld be in paradise if she agrees to marry him,thats something he was planning carefully.
First things first,he was going to see her over the weekend and make things right with a surprise package specially for her.
***************
'Hey babe,this one that your bobo is coming over today,don't go nowhere o' Ajoke said excited,she was still angry with Jane for walking up to that guy,asking for his name and number,the guy had given it to her and not a night passed that Jane didn't go out to see him,she calls him everday much to her disgust.
She was trying her best not to pick a fight with Jane,as that would only succeed in pushing her away,she wondered what they did every night whenever they were alone.
'Thats by the way,i have a date.'Jane said.
'I know you do,and your date will be here soon,i am sure he's missing you badly.' Ajoke laughed.
'You don't get it?'
'I get it.'
'No,you don't understand, i have a date with Dickson today!'
'Dick what?'Ajoke inhaled sharply,'Not today of all days.'
'We'll talk about this later,not now.' Jane said.
Jane had introduced Ajoke to Jacob over the phone,she even gave him her number and they'd spoken a couple of times.
'Don't dare me Janet.'
'I dare you to breath a word about Dickson to him.'
'You have finally gone mad.' Ajoke was visibly angry now.
'You can say that again because you don't feel what i feel,and you do not see what i have seen?'
'Jane,i still think you're rushing things with this Dickhead guy,what has he shown you,what do you feel for him?tell me.'
'I would have loved to,but you wouldn't understand.' she said eyeing her friend.
'Okay,calm down and lets talk like mature adult that we are.' Ajoke said calmly.
'I am all ears.' Jane replied,a bit of calmness had set in her voice.
'This is supposed to be a surprise,Jacob plans to surprise you today,it wouldn't be good,if he comes here and not meet you.'
'Fine,you'll do well as an advocate,but you see,i can't disappoint Dickson.'
'But you can disappoint Jacob?'
'These are two different people you know.'
'Better still,fix another date with Dickson.' Ajoke said trying to be reasonable.
'I can't.'
'You love him?'
'I can't answer that'
'I know you love Jacob'
'Thats my business'
'If you have to choose btw the duo,who would you drop'
'God forbid that i have to choose one of them.'
'I'm fed up with you sis.Just remember that you can not eat your cake and have it.'
'I know thanks.'
She left the room without as much as a backward glance.
Ajoke sat on the bed,what was it with ladies,you have your dream guy,yet you're pitching your nose where it doesn't belong.You want to have Dickson and you're not prepared to relish your hold on Jacob.
Why couldn't she be content with what she had,
'I pray she doesn't loose the gold in her hands before she realises that she's chasing after stone.' Ajoke thought aloud,Jacob would be here soon,what would be her reply,when he asked after Jane.
'Oh,she has a date with Dickson,her newly found boyfriend' or 'Oh she's coming soon,she's gone to fuccck Dickson' or rather, 'She's ....'
She's what? None was pleasant to the ears,she sighed,clutching her phone tightly.
Her phone vibrated on the bed,she wasn't expecting any call,
Oh my! It was Jacob,he was here already.
******
Hannah and Shade looked at each other,wondering who the intruder could be,
'Are you expecting anyone?'Shade asked.
'None' Hannah said shaking her head.
'Let me get the door' Shade opened the door,and Cynthia came in panting.
'What happened?' Shade asked,Gossip 101 activated.
'You guys won't believe it' she said breathlessly,as Hannah stood up to join the duo.
'You know that Pweetyolly babe?'
'Yes' Shade and Hanny chorused.
'She fought Rukayat,at NLT.'
'En enhen,how did it happen?'Hannah asked.
'I can't even explain' Cynthia said.
'I thought you even saw the whole drama,let me gist you jare.'
'Okay'
'The moment i entered the class this morning,the air smelt fight,i knew something was amiss,girls clustered in groups talking,so i asked what the matter was,i learnt that pweetyolly went around bragging that she was dating Habeeb and that Rukayat would be coming to confront her,after the second lecture,everyone rushed out,as the drama had started,i tried your number,but it wasn't available.' Shade explained.
'My phone has been on all day' Hannah said.
'It could be the network.' Cynthia said adjusting on the bed.
'So,they started screaming all sort of abusive language at each other,not later than five minute Habeeb drove past the two of them,it was a funny movie as pweetyolly shouted at Rukayat,a lecturer who got attracted to the scene took them away while i was coming home.' Shade finished.
'Nawa,i don miss o' Hannah said
'You miss big time ni o' Shade said laughing.
'So what you saw the other day was true' Cynthia said.
'I am wondering if i can stoop so low to fighting for a man' Hannah said.
'Well,you never can tell until you have to fight for someone you love.' Cynthia said.
'Babes,abeg i dey go library' Shade said putting her books in a bag.
'I trust you' Cynthia laughed.
'I can't wait to see a day,that you wouldn't visit the library.' Hannah laughed too.
'Na una sabi o,i don comot' she said leaving for the door.
Hannah lay on the bed,she was already dozing,when she saw Rukayat walk in dejectedly,she sat up,
'Rukayat!'
'Hannah' she said softly before bursting into tears.
'Sorry' Hannah said holding her hands.
'You won't believe what happened today.' she said
'I heard about it too'
'That crazy girl went around saying i was trying to snatch Habeeb from her.i got mad after she dared me to go close to him again'Rukayat explained.
'All the same,you shouldn't have gone public fighting.' Hannah chided softly.
'Habeeb was dating her for real,Hannah,he's still dating her and to think i love him,i trust him because,he is the president of MSS.' rukayat cried
'You just can't trust anybody this days' Hannah said.
'Habeeb drove past us while we were screaming and he didn't even stop'
'Thats too bad.' Hannah said.
Brrrrrrr...brrrrrr....Rukayat's phone was vibrating,
'He's calling' She said to Hannah.
'Pick it'
'No,i don't want to talk to him'
'Then you're pushing him away to her.'Hannah said,'Pick it'
Shade answered the call,her face suddenly grew white and pale,she ended the call dropping her phone.
'Did he apologise?' Hannah asked.
'No,Hannah he said it was over between us.' Rukayat cried.
'Was that supposed to be a joke?'
'He was serious'
'He broke up with you over the phone?' Hannah asked surprised.'He must be a coward.'
'No,he's not,he's a bastard.'
'I am so sorry about that.' Hannah said trying to soothe her pain.
'And to think that i love him,i never cheated on him,I'll never fall in love again.'
'Never say never dear'
'No o o o' Rukayat screamed.
Hannah held her tight,
'Don't hurt yourself anymore.'
'Let me hurt myself,is that what love is all about?he broke up with me over the phone,after how many months,she doesn't even share our faith,Olly is a christian,he dumped me for her.' Rukayat was shaking all over.
'Please take heart,he might come around to his senses soon.'
'I don't want him again,i don't want to love again,i just want to be alone' She cried as her body racked with anger.
'Please don't say that again.'
'Men cannot be trusted,after everything,'
'Its okay'
Rukayat cried so much that she thought she might die,Hannah stood by her,wiping her tears and comforting her.
It was a terrible thing,being ditched by a man you love and trust enough to fight for,thats life o.
And to think,he's a muslim leader,what an example! After ensuring that Rukayat took her bath and ate,she fell into bed herself,the day was far spent.
Could Rotimi do such! God forbid that o,she banished such thought from her mind.She had come to care so much about him,one thing that kept her on her toes now,was when he would spring up that question,what would she say,that deadly three letter word was something she wasn't ready for,at least not now.
The guy in pink shirt,the more she tried to forget him,the more she saw his face...his smile...,he was always the last person she thought of,each night before going to bed.....
****************
She picked her small purse and walked out of the hostel.She called his mobile again since she couldn't find him outside.
Ajoke walked towards the Range Rover sport car,she had longed to meet Jacob Smith,the multi millionaire,a youth Ambassador,a business tycoon and a well represented member of Nigeria,but not in this condition.
it was such a bad thing to lie,and she was yet to find a perfect lie that suits the occassion.she was some feets away from the car when she saw Jane from the corner of her eye,her heart raced faster than usual,
'Jane' she called.
'Ajoke' she replied walking towards the car.
Ajoke could win the happiest person on earth at that moment,thankfully,she had no reason to lie again.
'He's here' Ajoke whispered and they both stood by the door.
The instant he saw her,he knew something was wrong,his intuition was right,his worse fears confirmed,he only hoped his peace offering would be accepted as it is now.
He got down from the car,he looked so handsome that Ajoke wished for a seconds that she was in Jane's shoe.He walked elegantly to the other side of the car to meet them with the pose of a man who was made.
'Hello beautiful ladies' He smiled warmly,Jane's heart did some quick gymnastics,her reflexes could not be controlled as she found herself in his strong and warm embrace,the embrace meant a lot to her,his arms comforted her as tears welled up in her throat.
For a moment,she felt guilty as hell,here was her Jacob handsome,caring,loving,understanding,and she was cheating on him after barely three weeks.Her emotions were loose now,she felt a pang of ache in her head.
'Hmm hmm hmm' Ajoke coughed,as it seemed the love birds had forgotten her prescence,see the way Jane clung to the Jacob like her life depended on it and the next minute,she's screaming dick this dick that.To hell with Dickson,she would gladly squeeze life out of him for no price if given the chance.She hoped this visit would perform a surgical operation in Jane for a change of heart.
'Sorry' Jane muttered after disentangling from his embrace.
'Let me introduce you two officially.' They all smiled with Ajoke having the widest smile.
'Jacob meet Ajoke and Ajoke here is Jacob' she finished.
'Its a pleasure meeting a beautiful lady like you' Jacob said taking a peep at Jane,what was that look he saw on her face? Plain jealousy.he smiled inwardly.
'Oh,the pleasure is mine' Ajoke said beaming with smiles.'I am so happy to meet you Mr Jacob Smith.' and that was a sincere statement.
'The feeling is mutual' Jacob answered,he still held her hand in an handshake and was reluctant to let it go.'Your hands are soft and beautiful' he compilented.
Jane felt another stir of jealousy,was he flirting with her right before her,she put her hands under his,and Jacob let Ajoke's hand go.
'How are you ladies coping?'
'We are fine' Ajoke answered.
'Sure?'
'Yes sir' she answered.
'Okay ladies,lets me give you a treat.' Jacob said.
Ajoke was so delighted,she would be sitting with Jacob Smith? What an invitation!
'I am sorry,i would not be able to come along.' she said.When all she wanted to do was scream yes yes yes.
Jane was surprised as Ajoke had drizzled her endlessly about meeting Jacob,so why the sudden change of heart.''Anyway,its better,because i'll have Jacob to myself,i'll be getting all his attention and i have missed him so much'' A tiny voice echoed this in her head.She shook her head as if to send the voice away.
'Why?' Jacob asked.
'I have to see someone now,he's waiting for me already.' she lied.
'Okay,let us not delay you.' Jacob said.' I hope to see this beautiful face anytime soon,here's my card.'
He handed her a card,
'Jane,have fun,i'll talk to you later.' Ajoke said leaving.
'Take care' Jane said.
Jacob opend the side door and Jane got in,while Jacob drove.
'I miss you' Jacob said smiling.'I've wanted to say that all day.'
'I miss you too' Jane said.
'You're a liar' a tiny voiced screamed in her head.'If you miss him you wouldn't be drooling over Dickson like that.'
Jane was afraid at first she thought Jacob heard the tiny voice too,she allowed herself to breath when she realised the voice was in her head.
'You look tensed.' Jacob noticed.
'I am fine.' She answered smiling shyly.
'Where do you want me to take you too.'He asked.
'Why don't you just find somewhere cool to park,i don't want to go out.' She said.
'As your majesty pleases' He bowed,and she smiled.
Jacob looked for a cool spot,this place was very quiet,he parked the car,killing the engine.
He turned to face her in her seat,he saw the paleness on her face,but it didn't matter,holding her hands,he pulled her into his embrace for the second time within an hour.
'I have wanted to do this,the moment i set my eyes on you this afternoon.' Jacob said impatiently.
He brought his face down to hers,and his lips sought and found hers.
****************
Its friday again,weekend is around the corner.No more lectures and test.
To be continued at 8pm
