The Wrong Crowd [Wattys 2020]

Chapter 20

Dedicated to arrestthatqueen ❤️❤️

Ore jerked awake to the loud ringing of the bell by the wing marshal. It was in the wee hours of a saturday morning. The shrill noise pierced through the dead quiet, making Ore shrivel further into her crisp bedsheet in trepidation. The bell was rung only during weekends to signify the general clean ups of the dirt soiled bathrooms and toilets.

The duties were shared between the four occupants of a room namely space a, space b, space c, and space d. Each of the wings (6 in number) had their own bathing stall to maintain hygiene and prevent incessant bickering of the hostel girls. Space a of every room in wing f were to team up with space b in sanitizing the pit toilet.

Space c were to scrub the bathroom tiles while space d took care of cleaning the dirty gutters with long brooms alongside emptying the dustbins and thoroughly sweeping the front lawn. Ore was quite unfortunate that she was space d and she silently dreaded the work that was already cut out for her.

As Ore painstakingly heaved herself to an upright position, a sharp sting resounded deep in her skull making her wince. She flung the warm blanket away from her body, peering down at the soiled clothes she had worn the night before. Her mind began racing as she thought hard on what was leaving her hung up.

Ore couldn't remember anything, it was as if her subconscious had been wiped clean of any memories, stripping her bare. She vaguely recollected being dropped off at the hostel gate, the questioning stare the gateman on duty had given her, the way she staggered as her boots crunched the gravel.

The cool night air pricking at her skin and making goosebumps spread on her arms, the manner in which she sidestepped the litters on the broad walk. A vein continued to throb in her head as her gaze darted from the plastered wall to the wooden door that was firmly shut. All of a sudden, Ore's jumbled memories came crashing down on her, images flashing in her mind's eye.

Each one was clamouring for attention. She had to massage her temples to reduce the pain to a dull ache. Ore recalled planting a soft kiss on Philip's lips, her and Dami's magical dance, the brawling fight between both friends, the way she had somehow gotten involved.

Liquor after liquor she kept gulping down her parched throat, Philip cradling her to his chest as they exited the area, the emotionally stricken incident that involved her and Dami. It was a big mess, Ore began to realize as hot tears brimmed in her eyes.

How could Dami treat her like trash even after pouring out her heart to him? He was acting oblivious to Ore's feelings and making her gut wrench; the one time him and Tami were grossly having fun in the pool with their naked bodies. Ore would not be surprised if they had sex underwater, there was nothing impossible for Dami as far as it concerned mature ladies with bountiful bossoms and perky boobs.

Since Ore had none of that, it was imperative that she stayed clear from him. But as hard as she tried, she just couldn't. Sobs racked her entire body, she let out a loud gasp making a sleepy Mercy to stir. From the corner of her red rimmed eyes, Mercy stretched her stiff arms in the humid air and yawned before turning to stare at her.

Ore hurriedly wiped stray tears from her eyes with the flat end of her wrapper before Mercy would have the satisfaction of seeing her bitter. The shrill cry of the bell caused Mercy to grumpily stand up from the bed in her black shorts and white singlet. Her corn braid was wrapped in a hair net, her facial expression not giving anything away.

She slipped her feet into her bathroom slippers and pushed the door open with a loud protesting creak. Ore was feeling sad and dejected which was odd because Philip had been there for her, trying to care and make her feel good about herself. For a minute there, Ore actually forgot he was Mercy's elder brother.

She heaved a deep sigh and peeled the stinking clothes off her body before Mercy judgemental glare would guilt trip her.

After a very long and exhausting day largely occupied by clean up, Ore was about ready to crash. But her stomach rumbled indicating that she needed food. She quickly changed into a pink flowery short and black shirt, tying her wig into a ponytail.

The curly edge framed her face and gave her a more girly look. Looking at herself in the small compact mirror on the window, she felt oddly satisfied. Her cold fingertips trailed over her plump lips, the imprint of Dami's kiss searing her brain. Ore could not get it out of her mind, instead she found herself concentrating hardly on how she had so earnestly responded, thereby making time pass by in a blur.

Mercy strode into Edikan's room right after and plopped comfortably on her bed. In no time, she became engrossed in a conversation. Ore used the white handkerchief she was holding to wipe the dirt and grime off her arms and legs, she decided she was going to eat breakfast before having a much needed bath.

As she was about to step out of her room to buy bread from the small shop at the common room area, her phone began to ring. The ice cream tone made her smile ruefully before she dashed back inside to pick up the call.

Ore slid the unlock button and stared minutely at the caller. Her face drained of all colour and her palm became clammy.

It was her mum.

"Hi ma," Ore forced a cheer. "Good afternoon ooo."

Her eyes darted nervously around the busy hostel before she subconsciously picked on her nail. There was a slight shuffle on the other end accompanied with a loud shriek. Ore held the phone from her ear for a bit before putting the call on speaker. She sat idly on the edge of her bed, waiting on her mother's excited voice to lift her dampened spirit.

"Hey, honey," Mama started. Ore could hear the popping of a bread toaster and tears began to cloud her vision. She didn't want to admit it at first but she missed home. She missed her little brother prancing around the house in his school uniform like a goofball.

She missed the ice cream treaties that her father brought home on weekends from a Sizzler's eatery close to his workplace. Ore missed the times she would cuddle lazily on her comfy bed, her ear piece drowning out the loud bickering of Michael and his friends who usually came over for dinner.

She missed the warm hugs her mother offered her when she was in a downward spiral. She thought being free from the cage that was called home would solidify her resolve but she was wrong. Even though her parents were staunch christians and disciplinarians, they knew loved her.

"Are you okay, baby?" Her mother asked concernedly.

Ore wiped dried tears from her eyes and briefly smiled. "I am fine ma," she stated, a brilliant idea suddenly forming in her head.

"Ermm, mummy," Ore began. "Could you send me some money, I am kind of broke right now."

Ore could hear her mum heaving a deep sigh on the line before munching on whatever fruit she purchased from may market.

Michael was scraping his glass plate with his silverware in the background, a wide grin on his face. Ore imagined him creating one hell of a mess in the parlour.

"Drop that!" Ma exclaimed. "Ummm . . . I am sorry Oreoluwa but your father has used up his entire salary paying for Michael's tuition fees."

Ore's chest rose and fell in disappointment and she muttered under her breath.

"Ehhnn, what did you say?" Ma asked. "Wetin happen to the money when I send you last time na?"
[what happened to the money I sent you the last time]

Ore laid flat on her bed, staring at the ceiling and blowing white lies to her mother on what she had used the money for. There was a slight pause on the other end before she spoke, "okay, I will send you some cash. . . But you have to wait till next week Tuesday."

Ore fist bumped in the air before thanking her profusely and terminating the call. She tucked her phone into her back pocket and hurried out of the room with a light ginger in her step.

________________________________

Author's note: Yeah, tell me how boring this chapter was and what not lol. I promise it's going to get better okay!

Now, what are your thoughts on Ore's family and that hideous little brother of hers?

Thanks for reading ❤️