JUST FOR YOU

《1》New school.

It was Saturday morning, a few minutes past ten a.m. My mum barged into my room, making me groan. I loved being awake and just lying on the bed doing nothing. Ten a.m. was quite early for me to be awake since I had been at home for the past three years with nothing to do except wait and wait to get admission into the university of my dreams. UNIVERSITY OF LAGOS, aka UNILAG.

I wasn't even allowed to learn a hand skill while I was at home; more like, I didn't want to learn, but I was fed up with staying at home. The dream finally came true three months ago, and now I was leaving home away from my parents’ troubles and my servantship.

Forgetting about my mum still in the room, I tried to close my eyes to go back to bed when she yanked the cover off my body and said, “Won't you get up from bed? Or isn't it daybreak already?” I yawned very loudly as I still struggled to pull myself together.

“Don't forget you have to arrange your stuff, or don't you want to resume today?” She asked, raising her eyebrows.

I rolled my eyes. “I'm definitely resuming today; I can't spend one more day with you guys.” I replied, now sitting up on the bed.

“Okay then. Hurry up; we have a long drive ahead of us.” She said that and left the room. I got up, arranged the rest of my clothes into my box, and took my bath. I got dressed and carried my stuff into the car.

My fourteen-year-old brother, James, who was already taller than me at fourteen and I still didn't understand why I stopped growing, walked up to me and said, “Sis, I'm really going to miss you.”

I scoffed, “Miss who? I know the only reason you'll miss me is because I cook for you and help you with your chores, now, reality has dawned on you.” I remarked.

“That's not true.” He tried to defend himself, but I knew deep down that that was the only reason.

“You can't deceive me.” I replied. At a loss for words, he left and went back into the house. I took the rest of my stuff and made sure I wasn't forgetting anything. The last thing I needed was to forget important stuff and need to come back to this house to get it. When I was done, I went into the sitting room to sit and reminisce.

I couldn't believe I got admission to the prestigious University of Lagos. A school known for its reputation of being very hard to get into. But I guess with a JAMB score of 290, a very good WAEC result, and an excellent performance in the post-UTME exams, admission was sure. I deserved the admission after taking JAMB for three years and rewriting WAEC because I failed mathematics, which was one of the compulsory subjects required for admission, and in the first two years of JAMB, my results were not admission-worthy.

I heard a lot about universities. The more freedom you get, nobody cared if you attended classes or not. Lecturers don't know the students one-on-one. I also heard I'd be having classes from eight a.m. to six p.m.; that was a really long time to have classes. Who on earth drafted the timetable? That person deserved to be beaten.

I also couldn't wait to get into a mature relationship and date a really nice guy who was handsome, tall, and rich. The guy I always dream about. Unlike my secondary school relationships, which were quite childish, they don't even deserve the relationship title because whatever we did was child's play.

My mum interrupted my train of thought. “Aren't you going to eat?” she asked with concern laced in her voice.

“No, I don't think so. I'm nervous, and I don't like eating when I'm nervous. I tend to get an upset stomach afterwards, and that's the last thing I need right now.” I replied.

I recalled my first JAMB examination. I was at my aunt's house because my exam centre was close to her house, and the exam was as early as eight a.m. My aunt had forced me to eat that morning, and the results afterwards were quite unpleasant. I had gone to the toilet more than twice before leaving the house. When I got to my examination centre, I had the urge to go again. I prayed silently for the feeling to disappear because there was no way I could go around there. Luckily for me, the feeling left after a while, and I wrote my exam hurriedly and raced home.

Probably the cause of my poor performance, I thought to myself.

“Alright then, I'll pack the food for you. When you get to the hostel, you can eat it.”

“Thanks, mum, you're the best.” My dad came out of his room and came to the sitting room. “Good morning, sir.” I stood up and greeted him.

“Good morning, my baby. I hope you've taken everything you need.” He asked.

“I have,” I answered him briefly.

“Good. You are to come home every weekend. I'm not sending you to school to make friends. Make sure you face your studies.” He ordered.

I nodded my head in response, but in my mind, I was like, “Who's going to listen to all these rules? I'm going to the freaking university. I am a big chick now. You can not tell me what to do.”

“Make sure you pray always and don't get into any trouble.” Not like I get into any trouble; I've always been a good kid. He continued, but this time he prayed, "MAY THE LORD ALMIGHTY BE WITH YOU ALWAYS AND CONTINUE TO PROTECT YOU."

“Amen,” I said with seriousness in my tone. My dad can be very religious. Which Nigerian parent isn't? He never joked with the church.
“Stay good, don't join bad gangs, and always remember the family you come from.” He continued.

I will, I won't, and I will. I contemplated which response was suitable. I decided to nod instead, not like he cared about what I said; all he cared about was whether I was listening and understanding what he was saying. “And finally, make us proud. Do not hesitate to call or come home if you need anything.” He concluded and reached out to hug me.

I was startled at first; my dad was not a hugger. He had this reputation, you know—the Nigerian parent reputation—of barely showing affection. “Yes, dad. I will.” I said that and hugged him, still surprised.

Even though I hated to admit it, I would definitely miss home and everyone. But, like, this wasn't my first time leaving home. I spent six good years in boarding school, but I've gotten so used to staying at home that I kind of don't want to leave.

I knew it was my introverted side that was feeling that way, but by the time I get to school and I'm among my friends, I'm going to feel a whole lot better and forget about home.

*******

Yayy!! First chapter down, more to go.

I really hope you enjoyed it.

~Frances ⭐