JUST FOR YOU

《25》Dreadlocks Joe.

Back to back lectures began the next week. Anabelle and I became very good friends. We ate together, went to school together, and went out together. She became my best friend, and I really liked her. I was glad I chose to stay with her. With time, I was able to confide in her and tell her everything that happened between my parents and me and how Aunt Hannah was my God-sent angel.

I didn't tell her about the Vincent thing and my rehab period. I wasn't very proud of it and mentioning it seemed far fetched. I was already being judged enough as it was. Aunt Hannah also kept to her word and sent money to me monthly. She also checked up on me from time to time. I became her adopted daughter, and I was glad to have a mother like her.

When I decided to study finance, I thought it was going to be a walk in the park, but it wasn't. It was the direct opposite. I regretted my decision not long afterwards, but deep down I was determined to prove my parents wrong. I wanted them to feel sorry for not believing in me, for not helping me, and worst of all, for disowning me.

Four months had passed now, and first semester exams were drawing nearer and nearer. I made a new friend in my department, just someone who could put me through. I was more than determined to work very hard. I wanted to be a useful member of society. I wanted to be able to put my dad to shame and make him regret disowning me. To concentrate, I put all distractions behind me, especially men. I wasn't interested in dating anybody and going down that rabbit hole again.

Chisom, the new friend I made who was engaged to marry immediately after the program. She was a very fair plump short girl and was massively endowed. I guess that was why she was taken off the market quickly to prevent other buyers from coming to price her. I always felt weird whenever I walked with her because she had a very curvy body, which drew attention to her all the time, and made jobless guys catcall her whenever she walked past.

Chisom was involved in so many activities on campus. I wondered how she did not struggle to keep track of them all. She had proper time management skills unlike me. She danced, hosted shows and fellowships, she had a job, she also attended parties- overnight parties, and most shocking of all, she was very intelligent. Guess who stayed close to her. Me!

One fateful day, Chisom called me and was inviting me for one of her fellowships, even though I had told her countless times that I wasn't interested. "Babe, please just come; I promise, you will love it." She pleaded. I began to wonder if she had a quota to meet or was threatened to not bother coming to the fellowship if she didn't bring someone new.

I rolled my eyes and scoffed like I always did whenever she asked me. "I told you, I'm not interested in any of these. I am not as energetic as you are, and I hate commitments and also don't know how to manage my time properly."

"I know. You have said this a thousand times, but this is an opportunity for you to make friends. You know, be social. Come out of your shell. You don't know who might be of help in the future." She wheedled.

"I have never complained of loneliness. Besides, I also know it would be jam-packed with a bunch of horny undergraduates. Those are people I do not want to see." I hissed at the truth in that.

She puffed. "It's better you make friends now; nobody knows the future. The people in this fellowship would help you grow. They would help you through life. Janette, please just come. I promise you would love it." She continued to cajole me.

Just because of fellowship, she was preaching to me. "I hope it's not one of those winning souls' thingy." I asked her.

"No, it's not. It's not a church fellowship. It is just a fellowship. Just come, and you would love it." She persuaded me further.

"I am not down for commitments. I don't want anybody calling me and asking why I didn't show up after today. I will curse the person." I sneered.

She laughed. "So, are you coming?"