The Final Phase

Fear

On Monday, something happened that shook everyone to the core. The news was an horrible one, a boy was found dead, around pharmacy department. That area is always quiet even during the day not to talk of the night, it is as silent as a graveyard.

The school security and the police are on the case, it seem to be a case of robbery and murder. On getting to the faculty, there was another news of a girl that was sexually assaulted in the school during the bonfire night.

The good thing about the matter was she knows the sex offenders. They will be rusticated and handed over to the school police.

"You don't seem surprise about the whole news" I told Kitan who was going through her the new clothes she just bought.

"Am not surprised, I mean God help the family of the dead this hard moment and may his soul rest in peace..." She said making a cross sign. Sometimes, I don't think this girl is ever serious "but life goes on"

"I heard he was rob and murdered-" I pause as she chuckled. Now what is so funny in the whole matter.

"You must be stupid if you believe that" she rolled her eyes.

Here we go again with her mean words.

"What do you mean by that?" I asked sitting up on the chair as I put my phone back on my bed.

It is one of those weird conversations we have once in a while.

"He is a law student, right?" I nodded "what will a law student be doing in department of pharmacy?, do you know how far they are from each other?"

"What is your point?"

The pharmacy department is really far from the school, it is not built together with the other sciences but I don't see any big deal in a law student going to that area.

"Don't you suspect foul play? The incident happened this weekend, only a few number of students came to school and I don't know what will make a 400 level law student leave his faculty and hostel to go to odidi pharmacy department, ni eyin odi ilu" she snaps her fingers together to put emphasis on her words.

She is right you know, what is that guy looking for in that deserted area?. I was cut off my thoughts by the ringing on Kitan's phone.

I read the caller I.D, Don? Does she know any Don? She was quick to pick it. I watch her as her face morphs into that of fright, she stood, walking out of the room briskly as if something bad happened.

What trouble as she gotten into again?

                         💱💹🔫

"Last week, a course mate of mine bought this textbook and it was sold to her for the sum of eight hundred naira. Am here to buy the same book by the same author and publisher and you are telling me it's now one thousand two hundred naira?!"

"Exactly" the man stated calmly in contrast to my annoyed self.

"Please explain sir" I said folding my arms as I watch him reach out for the book placed on the counter before going ahead to explain.

"The one your friend bought was ordered about two months ago. This one" he said pointing to the cover of the book. "Was just ordered last week and the materials used for this books has gotten expensive. There is also an high demand for the book so in other to make more copies, more expenses is been laid on it" the man finished the explanation with a charming smile on his face as if he his not about to siphon some money from me.

I came out of the bookshop with the textbook in my hand and a huge dent in my pocket. Inflation sucks..

The expense at which we get things these days is just so neck breaking. I need a job!

I need a freaking job to pay for my expenses! I can't depend on my parents for everything. Checking the time on my wrist watch, I realized it's time for one of my lectures. I don't need to rush cause it is going to be a large class leaving enough space for everyone.

I took a walk from the school book shop all the way to the Faculty of Arts. I had a test this morning and it was, well....it was okay...

The answer to the first question contains a whole page! It was brain cracking and nerve wrecking. I have series of test coming up, a week for rounding up everything we are or have been thought then the exams.

Dear Lord... I need your help.

I got to the hall which was the venue for the lecture when a girl ran into me.

"Watch it!" The girl snaps at me which made me stare at her like a fool. It was your fault girl!

As soon as she turn her back to me, I throw her the middle finger. Huffing in annoyance, I look for Keji who had saved a seat for me. On seating down, she launched into her set of questions.

"What did Niniola do this time?"

"Who is Niniola?" I ask.

"The girl you ran into...she is the assistant class rep"

"Oh, you saw that?"

"I think half of the class saw that. She behaves as if she is better than us" she said with an eye roll "I don't know how she was made the assistant class rep"

"I never knew we had an assistant class rep who has anger issues" I said with a smirk.

"We actually do o...no one likes her. She is as annoying as hell"

The way she speaks of her. It seems she has had a personal experience with her.

"Let's leave Niniola for now, ehn en have you heard about the girl that was raped around the faculty of social science?"

"I did.." I said bringing out my note book for the lecture.

"She is also staying in Zamfara hostel, I and some other girls paid her a visit in the school clinic" this aroused my interest.

"You know her that well?" I questioned.

"Are you kidding me? Her room is two rooms from mine. She is very nice o. She told us that it happened all of a sudden. You need to see the bruises she sustained on her face"

"How is she now?" I asked feeling remorse for the poor girl.

"She is getting better, she has been given the rape kit. She has not said much about what happened but she was able to point out the perpetrators.. Babe someone needs to be careful on this campus, we have been advised to walk in the group of twos or threes during the night time"

I sigh thinking over what she said. It is a very big offence and I hope and pray the rapists will be brought to book.

Through out the day, the incident Was the topic on everyone's lips. Different versions of the story was been told everywhere.

It was scary on the part of we female students considering how easily we could be targeted. Before the week ran out there was a sexual assault awareness programme in which students were being educated and informed on ways to curb incidences of rape. How to defend oneself through self defence and they even urged those who had been assaulted one or another either male or female to speak up in other to get help.

After the test,  the exam timetable was released which made everyone sit up. It came as a surprise to the unserious ones as they have been carried away by the school social life.

I prepared vigorously for my papers, going from tutorials to the library from library to night class. It was so stressful but the hard work paid off during exams as I was able to put a lot of points down.

After the exam, the three weeks holiday started....

Translation
odidi : whole .

ni eyin odi ilu :at the town/school borderlands/borderline.

Up there is Coco 👆👆