Tick tick tick, the clocked ticked heavily above his head. He could barely talk; his mind was far away from there. Obike laid still in his hospital bed. His arms were badly wounded and his right leg was properly amputated." Where did I go wrong?" "Why did the world turn its back on me?" "Is it because I decided to love or maybe because I never listened to anyone, not even my mother". He could feel his tears secretly leave his eyes sliding slowly down his cheeks. "Why has love wounded me?" "Why did my heart...my heart deceive me?" The clock continued ticking slowly, slowly till he dashed into a deep sleep.
(Voice of Obike) The say beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder, well I can't argue that fact but I will like you to listen to my story. It's a story I will later wish to regret. A story that I wish did not occur. It's too late already. Too late for regrets and tears. Sit back and relax, let me tell you how it all happened. How love and hate crept into my soul. How tears and pain will later become my closest friend. Sit back and listen to the sad music of regret as it comes out from my lips. This is a story, a very sad story of a young boy who fell in love. Iloabuchi is her name. My love, my pain, my death, my mistake. Iloabuchi!
***
I had just gotten into a very remarkable school in Southern part of Nigeria. My greatest relieve was my freedom away from home, away from my parents. I struggled through series of failures in my wassce and Jamb. Finally I had a high score which helped me gain admission into a prestigious school in Port Harcourt. Young boys and girls strolled into the campus with different luggages and bags which contained food stuffs. It was resumption week after Christmas break. We were welcomed to a dusty and very untidy environment. Friends had reconnected, enemies still seemed to be at loggerheads. Hugs and kisses accompanied with exchange of pleasantries by people who recognized someone they knew. Well, I was a freshman so I expected none of that to come my way. I had always dreamt and fantasized how beautiful my first day in the university would be but all I had imagined were proven futile at the moment. My light skin didn't seem to reconcile with the weather either. It was still cold and dry - harmattan proper. My slender shoulders and slim hands all worked cooperatively as I dragged my bags into my hostel; Sullivan Hostel. A quiet and surreal environment properly littered and stale. I was a bit nervous, really looking forward to meeting my roommates. The kind of surprise that awaited me could be described as one that came without a manual. I was greeted by a room full of smoke. Someone had forgotten to turn off the stove. The air was thick and at the same time enjoyable to breath. The aroma from the delicacy made my stomach growl. To cut the story short, I later ended up having a taste of the broth.
Anderson Okoye alias 'Ander-Baby' was my roommate. He was a quiet good looking and chubby young guy. The type of guy you would love to hang out with especially because of his generous act of spending regardless the situation. Few weeks into the school and I hadn't made friends. I usually spent most of my day (especially after lectures were over for the day) under a tree. A young couple sold soft drinks beside the tree while there little daughter of about the age of eight assisted them by selling recharge cards. I always admired how they worked together and tried to earn a living. Students always trooped in to buy their regular snacks and drinks - which was the norm among students and also they bought recharge cards. I was the queer one who just watched and enjoyed the scene. Couple of weeks later about a month or two, I met a guy who ended up being my close friend. We met at a very odd circumstance. Once when I had forgotten to bring my wallet with me. I had already ordered food at the local "buker" close to my hostel. As food was then served, I decided to pay for the food before I realized I had forgotten my wallet. Enyinna sat adjacent me. He was not alone. He noticed all that happened so he volunteered to pay for me. I felt very much relieved. After long lecture hours under a hungry stomach, I wasn't ready to give up all those delicacies that sat in front of me; at least not without a fight. Anyway, he chucked as he approached the already angry woman popular known as "Mama Ozioma" who was eagerly waiting to receive her money. "Mummy OZ!", Enyinna politely said as he gestured with both hands in the air. "Mummy ah ah why you dey frown like this na. Oya how mush is your money...how mush na?" he said in pidgin English. A vast population of students in the school spoke pidgin English especially among the male students. It was a norm among students from all over the country. After few minutes of their conversation he paid on my behalf. She happily collected it and gave me a thunderous eye. "Thanks bro" I finally managed to say as I had frozen up at my latter predicament. "No problem, na life drama be dat", he replied as he walked back to his seat where his group of friends sat and watched as the drama took place.
