CWRC Anthology

TRUE FREEDOM.

© 2022 by Rereloluwa Sharon Bajomo.

Brought to you by Christian Writers and Readers Club.

----

Simi sauntered into the room with a loud whoop. “Last night was so much fun!” she said as she dropped her bag on the low bunk and removed her wig and heels.

“Welcome o,” her stuck-up roommate said from the top bunk. “Why are you just coming in?”

“That’s none of your business, Nike. I don’t ask you questions when you’re back from your night classes so don’t bother me.” She plopped herself on her pink bed and brought out her phone. It was time to upload pictures from last night to her Instagram account.

“Just looking out for you.” Nike got down from her bunk and took some books from the reading table.

“Thanks but I don’t need you to. Next thing you’re going to do is to start preaching to me like I’m not a Christian too.” Simi rolled her eyes in punctuation.

Nike sighed and took her bag from her bed. “I have classes this morning. Will you be in the room when I get back?”

“I might be out with some friends.”

“Alright. See you when we see.”
Simi let out a laugh at one of last night’s videos as her roommate grimaced and left the room. Simi was exhausted by her roommate’s constant nagging after every outing. What did Nike want anyway? Simi couldn’t possibly live with a zero social life. She had too much energy.

She couldn’t just sit in the hostel room and read boring books for hours like Nike the bookworm who even wore glasses to complete the stereotype.

At night, Simi got back from a hangout with friends and she met Nike in the room again. She was reading this time. Goody two shoes, Simi muttered as she staggered to her bed.

She had fun today. Maybe too much fun but it didn’t matter, she was free to do whatever she wanted. Her friends were joy givers, alcohol was her best friend, and clubs were her second home.

“Don't you ever get tired of these parties and hangouts?” Simi heard Nike’s book close. A lecture was coming.

“Absolutely not,” Simi slurred. “If I was tired, I would’ve stopped. Who would want to stop this super cool life? Ohh…Maybe you since you’re so good and godly and honest. You have no idea how much you’ve tied yourself up. Loosen up babe. Be free.”
Nike laughed, much to Simi's annoyance.

“What’s so funny?”
“You, and your lack of understanding.”

“You’re talking gibberish again.”

“You said I should be free when you’re really the one who needs to be free.”

“And your words are confusing as always,” Simi laughed.

“I can live my life the way I want to. But whatever I decide to do is for my own good.”

“Safe bunny,” she chuckled.

“Whatever. I can do whatever I want and I can decide to stop doing anything. But you can’t seem to stop partying because you are chained and addicted to it.”

“I’m not. I can decide to stop at any time. In fact, I won’t party for two weeks. No, make that one year.”
Nike snorted.

“You don’t believe me? See if I’ll go out tomorrow. I can also play the ‘good girl’ game you’re playing.”

“Let’s see how it goes.”

The next morning, Simi awoke with a banging headache. She struggled off the bed and staggered to the reading table to get water and painkillers. She found the painkillers and took them. She was about to return to bed when her eyes caught a sticky note on the table. Don’t forget last night’s deal, it said.