Good afternoon sister" I could hear Folake's voice greeting a neighbour as she entered the compound, returning from school. Few seconds later, the door to our room opened and she stepped in with a bright smile on her face.
Her shoulder bag rested on her left shoulder, as she held unto it's handle.
"Welcome back o Madam" I chirped giving a side smile, I placed my bookmark carefully into the page where I had just concluded and placed the book I was reading, next to me on my bed.
'Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen' it was my fifteenth read already, I tell you I'm addicted to that book!.
"Wura" Folake faced me with a smile as she hung her bag on the wall hook and immediately pulled her top off her head.
"Are you also happy about the news?" She asked, sitting on the only plastic chair we had in our room as she struggled to pull off her Jean trousers.
My eyebrows furrowed in confusion, what news? My eyes blinked rapidly and looked up to her for a complete information.
She pulled her brows together and smiled lightly, "You're joking right?"
She asked in amusement, and when she saw my lost and confused expression, she continued.
"Wura, we are on strike" first, my face fell and my smile disappeared, and as if that wasn't enough. "Haven't you checked your faculty's group chat?, ASUU has embarked on a strike".
Oh no! I think I'm going to pass out.
Not processing Folake's words completely, I hurriedly reached for my phone absentmindedly and unplugged it from the socket where it was charging.
This was an important news, one which I must confirm with my very own eyes.
Typing in the password to my phone even became a difficult task to do, this was the third time I made a mistake, I was typing so fast and furious ha!
That's a name to a movie. Finally! I got it right and my phone unlocked revealing my beautiful butterfly wallpaper.
No time to admire as I would every single time I unlocked my phone, I always acted like I was seeing it for the first time.
I switched on my data connection and opened up my WhatsApp, where my faculty had our group chat.
Oh my God! 562 messages! It's only been an hour since I left my phone!
The closer I got to confirming the truth the more my heart raced, I began scrolling down all the messages and I had just gotten to the tenth one when I caught sight of the fire emoji.
It was an official emoji that was only used whenever there was an important notice.
I swallowed, closed my eyes for a very brief second and took a deep breath before reading it;
🔥 JUST IN 🔥
As of today, Wednesday June 28 2021. The Academic Staff Union of Universities ASUU has embarked on an indefinite strike due to the Federal Government failing to meet up with the Union's needs from the last meeting.
TEAM PLUTO REPORTS.
Oh my God, what did I just read?
I adjusted my glasses on my nose and read it again. Over and over again, until it sank in.
What I read was obviously clear, but it's so shocking my brain needs some time to process. I was almost grieving, right now I'm in the denial stage.
I dropped my phone back on the bed and slouched in my already poor sitting posture. I took in a deep breath and let it out in a very deep sigh.
"You look like you've just gotten a death sentence. Why looking so hopeless baby?" Folake asked as she shoved a spoonful of rice into her mouth. When did she even began eating? I threw her a glare and folded my arms across my chest.
Students like Folake, might be happy about the strike, but never me. I have a very strategic plan of completing my undergraduate studies at the age of twenty-one, and just get married.
That was how simple I had my life planned out!
First the covid outbreak and the nationwide lock down had given an extra year, we only just resumed two months ago and we are already on strike! I mean, we only just started the semester. And the strike isn't a two or three month strike, its indefinite!
Meaning it could end in a year's time.
My heart raced again at the thought of it.
Ow! This is so awful. I pouted my lips and picked my pillow, pulling it tight on my chest. My brain played out all the endless possibilities and disastrous consequences that would come of this strike.
"Come on, why so depressed? You should be happy" Folake suggested and I didn't bother looking over to her side, though I could catch the sight of her tearing up the nylon of the sachet water, she sipped a little from it and sat the rest down carefully so it wouldn't tilt and spill.
"You should even be glad, with the way this school has been driving us insane with the crazy academic calender. I mean, it's not our fault there was a pandemic! Why would they now be rushing us in order to meet up with the previously scheduled academic calender".
She gestured with her hands as she spoke.
One very thing I like about Folake is how opinionated she can be. She's never bothered about saying her mind or about what anyone would think. But sometimes, it could get annoying….so so annoying, just like right now, cause it's not needed.
It is unsolicited!.
I smiled and turned my face towards her anyways, "But Roomie, the years keep getting longer" I whined, I sat upright and pulled the pillow towards me tighter. "I mean, this is our third year in Uni but we are still in 200level first semester, we are already a year behind the pre-planned academic calender".
She swallowed the food in her mouth and faced me with a tiny smile, it was barely visible. "I understand where you're coming from Wura, but I think we need this break". She placed her spoon in her now empty plate and stood up, meaning 'End of Discussion' she progressed into the kitchen to clean up her dish.
Sighs I returned to my awful sitting posture by slouching as I thought of what to do. Calling my parents and informing them, they probably would have heard the news by now. ASUU strike news is one of the news that travelled the fastest across the nation.
I watched Folake as she rinsed off her plate under the runny water and placed it in the plate rack. She wiped her hands dry on the napkin and returned to the room.
"You'll be going home as well right?" I asked immediately she sat on the chair.
She nodded in response.
"When?" I asked again as she adjusted on the chair.
"Not anytime soon" she responded, Folake always went home for the holidays mostly two weeks after the holiday had already started. "Okay. Cool". I took my phone and dialed my mum's number immediately.
YOU ARE READING
GOLD IN CANADA
Teen Fiction"I always wondered why I harbored so much hatred for my country. I mean I was birthed here, but now...I see why and the hatred has only just began". ASUU - An association that regulates and control the Academic affairs in federal institutions are...
