EPISODE 22A
*****
**4pm**
‘Gloria’ someone called, trying to catch up with
her as she was about to enter the Year 1
lecture room. She turned back to find the same
guy she met that morning during the morning
exercise. He had spotted her walking towards
the lecture room as he came out of his, with his
friends.
‘Hi’ she greeted as she turned back.
‘Hi Gloria, I see you’re a year one student’
Yes, I am’ she squinted flipping her hair
backwards, she switched her hard cover note to
the left hand. ‘Where did we…’
‘You don’t remember me?’ he cut in, falling for
her trick. ‘The guy who stays Hostel Block C,
we jogged together this morning’
‘Oh!’ She exclaimed cheerfully. ‘Pardon me, you
just look very different from the person I saw in
the morning’
‘I’m the same person’ he chuckled, following as
she walked into the empty lecture room. They
took their seats beside each other and
continued with the conversation.
‘When did the lectures end for today?’ he asked.
‘Two pm’ she answered. She placed her book on
the table and brought out a pen and the
school’s customized tablet from her bag.
‘Oh! You want to study?’ he asked a question
with an already obvious answer
‘Yes’ she answered.
‘Maybe we’ll talk some other time then’ he said,
getting up from the seat. ‘Would you give me
your phone number?’
She stared at him awkwardly for a moment
before she spoke, ‘I don’t even know you yet,
and you didn’t introduce yourself’
‘Oh! Sorry’ he sat back hurriedly. ‘Forgive my
manners please; I’m Jude, a final year student
in this same institution’
She looked unimpressed as she received his
offer for a handshake. ‘You’re final year?’ She
asked again.
‘Yes, final year’ he repeated. ‘I’m particularly
one of the best students in my level’
‘Hmm’ she sounded indifferent. ‘Can you help
me with my courses then?’
‘Yes’ he replied happily, ‘I will help you, just tell
me the course or topic you want me to help you
with’
‘This’ she opened her hard cover note and
showed him a topic.
‘How far have you gone with this?’ he asked,
moving his body closer to hers. He could
perceive the fragrance of her perfume.
‘I’ve not started at all’ she answered with a note
of sadness. ‘I resumed school late, the lecturer
had gone far beyond before I was admitted in
the third batch list’
Ermmm… It’s kind of long o’ he gave a slight
frown, ‘I can finish teaching you if I start now’
‘Why?’
‘I have a meeting by four pm with some of our
professors’ he answered. ‘I’m one of the
students that’ll be flying the Governor in John
Obiano’s plane’
‘Oh! You’re really going to pilot the plane?’
‘Yes, I did with my partner during the several
test runs’ he stated excitedly. ‘I can’t miss this
opportunity to fly the governor’
‘Wow! That’s awesome. I really like the fact that
students are in control of everything’
‘Yes, we are’ he smiled happily. ‘Some years
back they wouldn’t have allowed us fly a Local
government chairman talk more of the Rivers
State Governor’
‘How come they are now allowing students do it
now?’
‘They believe in us now, the professors are sure
of what they thought us and can brag with their
lives that we’ll deliver properly’
‘Wow!’ She continued excitedly, ‘I believe this
will give you employment immediately you
graduate’
‘Yes, I just need to finish my youth service and
I’ll be employed immediately’
‘Congrats’ she offered him a handshake.
‘Thank you’
She stared at him in silence for some seconds,
‘I wish I could watch you fly that airplane’
‘Oh dear, I wish that was possible too’ he
replied sympathetically
‘Can’t I be allowed to be one of the flight
attendants?’ she pushed further.
‘No’ he answered sadly. ‘It’s only two of the
best final year female students would be picked
to do that job’
She looked depressed immediately, her
countenance fell. She turned and faced the
wall, backing Jude.
‘The only thing I can do is to take you along so
you can watch the plane fly’ he tried to give
another option. ‘But you might not be allowed to
come close because of the security officials that would be with the Governor and Minister; you have to stay with other spectators and the journalists'
'Don't bother, i just met you and i'm giving you too much troubles already' she said turning back, she tried to fake a smile.
'No, i'm not troubled. You have to be there that day to experience it' he insisted.
'Well, i'll think about it' she answered. 'I'll come if am chanced'
'Please clear your schedule'
'Okay' she replied and placed her hand on her book.
To be continued...
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