The journey began on their matriculation day, where they were welcomed to the citadel of learning. It was a great moment for the new students on campus. In a big hall in one of the tertiary institutions in the state. All the new students were gathered in well dressed up with matriculation gowns on them. They were extremely thrilled, looking so gorgeous and attractive. All the school managements were present there, the principal officers of the institution were seated at the front chairs in the hall. The program was a great one. The school rector addressed the students on the theme, WHY ARE YOU HERE, it's a question that every student needed to ask himself or herself.
"Most of you here were for different reasons, some of you are ambitions pursuing, though they were few in numbers and they were the ones who were ready to learn to lead. While there were some of your mates that were on campus to go beyond home. Which of these categories do you belong to." the Rector addressed the students.
The newly admitted students recited out the matriculation oath on their feet and their palms on their chest and ended it with, "I MAKE THIS OATH TRUTHFULLY, AND by THE OATHS ACT". Music was on and the students started dancing with one another. While some stepped out of the hall to take pictures.
What happened next after the matriculation ceremony of the newly admitted students on campus.
``
It’s a week after the newly admitted student's matriculation ceremony. The alarm had been ringing yet Beatrice didn’t wake up from bed. It kept ringing until Tomilola, her roommate pulled it off.
“Beatrice, won’t you wake up” Tomilola yelled at her acridly, yet she kept on changing position while stretching her legs and hands on the bed.
“You're such a lazy fellow. Don’t you have class this morning?” Tomilola asked in a scoffed manner. Beatrice refused to rise from bed. Tomilola ignored her and continued preparing for school.
Beatrice and Tomilola were freshers and roommates on campus. They met a few days before their matriculation day and fortunately, they were posted in the same room by the school management after making the necessary registration to become a real student on campus.
Suddenly, a lady barged into their room and screamed Beatrice's name. She jumped from the bed and raise an angry voice,
“what is it?” she said.
“It's 8 am, and you are still in bed “ Christian responds with a challenging frown.
“Have been trying to wake her up since. It’s her bell that woke me up from bed, so, I don’t know why she is still on the bed” Tomilola intervened. Beatrice hissed at Tomilola angrily.
“Today's lecture is our first lecture on campus, so is not making sense if we get to class late. In that case, we need to be snappy” Christiana suggested. Beatrice walked into the bathroom sluggishly.
It’s half-past eight, they walked down to the lecture room. As they stepped into the class, they stopped at the entrance.
“ Excuse me, is this the only department in this school?” Tomilola asked.
“Why did you ask such a question?” Beatrice said with a smile on her face. Christiana clapped her two hands together and chuckles.
“What's funny” Beatrice uttered harshly.
“We don’t need to keep standing here staring at them as if we are not a member of this class. Is better we get ourselves seat now before the lecturer comes in “ Christiana said. They walked down from the entrance and offered themselves a seat in the left row of the class. There was a young lady on the seat busy with her phone, as they stepped in and she created space for them to sit.
“Thank you” Christiana appreciated her.
“ It’s my utmost pleasure” the lady replied warmly.
“Am Christiana Adeleke by name and you?” she introduced herself.
“Am Precious Udofia,” she said.
“You be ibo girl” Tomilola intervened
“Yes, I am” Precious answered with a smiley face.
“That’s cool. Anyway, it is nice meeting you. Am Beatrice by the name” Beatrice also intervened.
A man with a white beard appeared in the classroom and walked to the podium in front of the students. The students in the class kept quiet, that if a needle fell on the ground everyone there would hear the sound. It’s their first lecture and they were not familiar with the lectures. The man broke the silence.
“Good morning Great Nigeria students,” he said
“Good morning sir” they responded politely
He started by introducing himself by his name,
“I'm Mr. Gbadebo Lakunle, your Phonetics and Phonology lecturer.”
The students murmured.
“Listen attentively, this course is a 3units course. If you attend my classes regularly. There is 100% assurance for you to pass my course. May God helps you” he addressed the students.
“Amen,” they murmured,
The Lecture was lively to the student. They enjoyed him. After some minutes, the class ended and Lecturer Lakunle walked out of the classroom.
“Am thirsty” Christiana said acridly. Her friends stared at each other. They were some sellers of different types of things like snacks, drinks, water, etc in the classroom corridor. Beatrice pointed one of her fingers at the corridor to show her where to get water instead of acting incoherently. Christiana rose from her seat and walked out of the class to get the water. On her way back, a young guy hit her and the bottle of water fell from her.
“Are you sick or what” she talked angrily? The guy uttered no word, he helped her with the bottle and returned it to her.
“ Can’t you apologize?”
“Am sorry” he apologized and walked out of the scene.
“Sorry my foot” she collected it and went to her seat. Her friends were watching them. As she returned they make fun of her.
“What’s funny now?” She snapped at them as she sit down.
“ I hope you won’t be hungry like a wolf after this” Beatrice chuckled
“What such of questions is that, why are you doing this?” she said frowny.
“Don’t mind her, she’s only trying to remind you that, we are leaving school at 6 pm” Tomilola said.
“Are you serious, 6 what….” Christiana screams while the rest laughs
“It's just noon, we still have six hours to use in class” Precious interfere.
“ I don’t think I can stay that long here. What did they take us for, on top wetin?. They should at least pity us now. We have something else to do with our time” Christiana uttered.
“Christy, why are we here. To me there is no big deal there, I could remember vividly when am in secondary school, we will be in school from 6:30 am to 6:30 pm” Tomilola said frankly.
“Really!” Christiana exclaims
“You be a serious girl. Though what you said is true but not for a student like me if not, I won’t concentrate on the class immediately am exhausted”. Precious said.
“See you, my advice for you is that let start learning how to adapt now. Is for our own good oh!” Tomilola said.
“ Thank you, mummy school” Beatrice interfere.
In the classroom corridor, there were different students from different angles. Samuel and Kolapo in conversation.
“Guy, I sight you” Samuel smiles
“ I don’t understand you” Kolapo was confused
“Why did you hit that girl,” Samuel asked
“Oh! That is not intentional” kolapo declared that.
“ Sorry, I thought you did it deliberately. But to be candid, the lady is pretty” Samuel said.
“ So what,”
“Don’t get me wrong, I only appreciate her beauty. Did you know what, I must see that babe today” Samuel said
“ Bad boy, she is careful. Anyway, I dey go home” Kolapo said
“We never end today’s class now” Samuel uttered while checking his wristwatch.
“I no get time for all these. Guy see, we go see tomorrow”
“Okay bro,” They exchanged greetings with a handshake, and Kolapo walked away.
It’s 6:15 pm, they just ended class for the day. Everyone walked out of the class one after the other. Precious boarded one of the school buses, she was living off-campus. Christiana, Tomilola, and Beatrice are on their way to the hostel. Samuel stopped them.
“Hey” Samuel muttered
“Excuse me” Tomilola responds to him.
“ Sorry, I'm Samuel by the name”
“ Babes, did you want me to die here? let go.” Christiana yelled at her friends.
“ I'm Beatrice by name. Did you know what, we won’t be able to chat with you now because we are in a hurry? Maybe next time we see” Beatrice said warmly.
“Eh! Okay, No problem. Can I have your contact” Samuel requested?
“Okay” Beatrice exchanged her contact with him and walked away with her friends.
“Thank you. Wao!, I came for the other girl, and this shared her contact. That's mean my net has caught two fish” he's happy as he walked away and went to their hostel. As they walked into the room, Tomilola changed her to wear short trousers and an armless top.
“Christiana!, why did you refuse to talk to that guy?” Beatrice asked.
“Why will I, and besides did I know him?” Christiana retorted.
“but at least, you should show a little concern “ Tomilola interferes.
Christiana whizzed and walked into the kitchen to prepare noodles, she’s hungry. Beatrice rests on the bed trying to relax.
“Please, prepare mine too,” Tomilola said to Christiana from the room. She turned to Beatrice and tried to ask her the reason she exchanged contact with him.
“Why won’t I, we can’t ignore him at the same time. Is not making sense if none of us attend to him? Giving him my contact means nothing. So, let close the chapter” Beatrice respond angrily.
“I can see that you are angry, am sorry. Am just trying to be…” Beatrice interrupts her,
“Please, we are just roommates, you are not my mother. So, paddle your own canoe”
“Is not up to that Babe, common, I'm sorry” Tomilola apologize
“Whatever,” she said harshly and moved into the toilet.
While Tomilola also walked into the kitchen to join Christiana.