FRAGMENTS

~TWO

Two weeks later and I barely knew my way around but I had Kemi and Datonte. They had been the best guide dogs. Tonte and I were in the same department and Kemi was in a whole different college; civil engineering but I found out she was in the room just next to mine. Tests were coming up and I was really nervous about it. I didn't want to bunk the only chance i might have had left.

"Tip. Focus on your three unit courses, they can really boost your G. P and try not to get any carryovers" Datonte rambled on, and my cockiness surfaced.

"You know I've done this before right?"
We took a right turn down the hallway, and I couldn't help but notice how he knew almost everybody. My social anxiety could never.

"Did you also do traditions in your old school too?"

"Okay, stop that. That was really foolish of me. I admit it wholeheartedly, doesn't mean you get to tease me about it" We got into class, seating right beside each other.

"And did you talk to him since that time?"

"What? Hell no. What am I supposed to say? 'Hey. I'm the girl you tricked into kissing you?' Can we be friends?'"

He shrugged, "If you put your soul into it, that could actually work" He then glanced at me and started to chuckle. I frowned.

"I want nothing to do with him"

"Hush. Lecturer is in class"

Dr. Junior was our departmental course lecturer. I found him weird. He hated noise, said little, only scribbled on the board and adjusted his glasses at several occasions. Once, he told me to leave his class just because I sneezed and it was a little too loud.

"TEST"
He ruled out on the board.

"Don't worry, chat GPT is here to save the day" Tonte said waving his phone.
I took a foolscap sheet paper from my denim purse. I always carried it around with a pen and mifi, just in case the school's network had issues. This was since surprise tests didn't come as a surprise anymore.

"I'll give you five minutes for this test. Submit to your course representatives. Once I step out of that door, no one should come after me"

Datonte and I were actively writing together and at some point he scoffed and took my paper to help me write.
We found our course rep and submitted hurrying to the cafeteria. It was actually my first time going to the cafeteria. I realised it was a great way to save money which I was keeping for these loafers I saw on Jumia.

"What are we having today?"

"All kinds of rice and any protein of your choice too. Ummi. Any baby"
I was a little impressed but still wary of school food having gone to a secondary federal boarding school.

"What do you usually get?"

"The good ol' jollof rice. You can get something different though.  Jamboree rice has this little beef strips inside and chinese rice comes with this amazing sauce with sweet potatoes but the fried rice is bland though. Wouldn't advise you to get it. Their egg is a bit undercooked too... " He trailed off noticing U had started to look around.

"Daniel is not here. He never comes here to eat"

"Tonte. I wasn't looking for him. I was looking for Kemi" I lied through my teeth.
Kemi skipped over to where we stood in line. She easily cut in.

"You guys. In your next life, don't even think about being an engineering student" She dramatically sighed. We went to the table and Tonte rubbed her back while Kemi flashed him a small smile. Too familiar.

I felt a hand at the back of my head, before i could fathom what was going on, I was face to face with my food, which was now all over my clothes and glasses. I had literally just been slammed into my own food.