CHAPTER TWO

My party soon departed for the Attah of Igala’s palace after I’d completed my registration and settled down in the school. They were boys, girls, men and women from diverse backgrounds in my college. My mum’s warning and counsel kept ringing in my ears whenever I thought of talking to or approaching a girl. Sometimes, I felt my dopamine levels were low or were not yet alive / active. I soon realized that I easily befriended and trusted the opposite sex more the boys (guys).

Although I’d been a lone wolf from childhood, I knew I couldn’t afford to enter adulthood without acquainting myself with ‘certain things’. I can still remember the names of some girls back then in my Year One (100 level) – Linda, Seghosime, Doyin, Precious, Timi, Emem, Aanu, Paula, Maryam, Halimat, Ore, and Timi. They were a host of several others whose names I can’t remember. I saw all these girls (female course mates), as my ‘sisters’ and friends. Subsequently, I couldn’t and did not develop any (intimate) feeling for any of them. Weird, you’d say. The months dragged on like an overfed snail, and I soon proceeded to Year 2 (200 level).

My ‘adventure’ began in my second year at the Oba Erediauwa College of Law, Igbinedion University Okada. I still remember with a smile how those Swiss girls always referred to me as ‘Shiny Chocolate’, in my nursery and elementary classes, back in Switzerland. I can also recollect how some of the blonde haired girls who would pass their fingers through my thick hair, or kiss my cheeks at random. All these usually occurred when we were alone on the playground, our class teacher was absent from the class.

I made few acquaintances with law students in higher levels when I was in Year 2 (200 Level). One of them was a male student called Eka. Eka was in Year 5 (500 Level) at that time, and was from the South-South part of Nigeria. Although I spoke with my mum frequently, I noticed that she no longer mentioned anything prohibiting my association with the opposite sex. My dad had had taught me to listen more and talk less, when I was preparing to resume at the University.

In the spirit of my father’s counsel, I mastered the art of listening to people’s speeches, comments and utterances and recalling them verbatim, even if I was talking to or with them. It wasn’t long before I had learned from my male course mates that girls would only run to, flock around and even allow you to be intimate with them if you (the boy / man), had ‘sufficient’ money and was ready and willing to spend same on them.

I also remembered with amusement, how my mum accused my dad of not allowing me to take one of his cars with me to the University. This was because they were several students who owned and drove cars in my school. I maintained my simple lifestyle and warned my mum against her plan to ship an Alfa Romeo car to me during Easter of 2010. Back to my adventures with Eka; I wouldn’t say that I regretted knowing him. He was dark like myself and was of average height. He possessed an amiable personality and a sort of happy-go-lucky attitude. It was after acquainting myself with Eka, that a new batch of First Year (100 Level) students were admitted into Igbinedion University Okada.

The new students arrived in all shapes, sizes, complexions and behaviours. In my College (Oba EREDIAUWA College of Law), they were also admitted in their hundreds, registered and given orientation like I was earlier given. I didn’t pay any special attention to them. Also includes were the new students who joined us in Year 2 (200 Level). These new students were known as Direct Entry students, because they had a previous academic degree, before joining being admitted, hence they were not admitted through the JAMB/UTME process.

I never paid both sets any attention, until the end of their weeklong orientation programme. Eka reminded me of the party on a certain Friday evening which would finalize the orientation programme for the Year One (100 Level) students. I was made to understand that the said party would be held inside an open air theatre. Since I had nothing to lose and had ample free time on my hands, I agreed to follow Eka to the Freshers’ party.

The DJ that night knew his onions and played the latest local and international dancehall and RnB songs when it was time for dancing. For me and Eka, we simply sat near a corner and watched the dancing students on the ground surface. Green and red light bulbs were hung in few places while the speakers boomed all around. Several male dances tried to grope some of the female students in the dim light, and were highly successful. Some girls preferred dancing alone, while many wriggled and twirled under the influence of the alcohol they’d been consuming.

The major thing that captured my interest was the tight, skimpy and colourful dresses many of the dancing girls wore. I was stretching my neck on my six foot frame to get a better view of the array of skimpy wears when Eka nudged me towards an angular section of the spectator seats.

“Go and talk to her…” Eka whispered to me with a mischievous smile.

“Talk to whom, that girl over there?” I pointed.

“Don’t be shy now Pierre Paul, opportunity comes but once-” Eka giggled.

“What should I do when I meet her?”

“Just go and talk to her, Pierre Abutu, be a man, I’ll wait here for you…”

“Okay, sure, I will”. Saying this, I slowly rose to my feet and began to walk towards the lone damsel.

I could feel Eka smiling at me as he crossed his legs. I took a deep breath and stretched both hands before heading towards the lone girl. Step by step, I walked through the rows of spectator seats, while avoiding the food and snack wrappers, empty cans, red and white disposable cups, and empty bottles of alcoholic drinks.

“Hi, I’m Pierre Paul Abutu…”

“Hello”, the young lady whispered, I’m Bussy^[1]”

“Why aren’t you down there partying and dancing”, I inquired while seating close to her.

“I’m not the dancing type”, she replied with a smile.

I heard her giggle while I pulled out my GSM mobile phone out of my left trouser pocket. Bussy was not too tall, but what she lacked in height, she made up for it on her chest. She later informed me that one of her room mates had convinced her to come for the party, but was currently mingling with some boys elsewhere. God  had given Bussy well-suited backside and flexible hips and waists.

“Can I have your phone number, please?”

“Sure. 080364….”

“So, uhm congrats on your admission once again. Six years to go I guess?”

“Yes, six years to become a medical doctor…”

“Although the lights weren’t bright, I tried to picture Bussy’s smooth chocolate-skinned face, and couldn’t help recalling the sound of her soft voice and giggle.

“Alright, I’ll keep in touch, Bussy”.

I saved her contact and rose to my feet. Her body language informed me that she didn’t want a male company to escort her back to her hostel that was nearby. Even though I knew I wasn’t in Switzerland, I could swear that I almost took her right hand tenderly to kiss the top of it.

“Okay, Pierre Abutu, take care of you, bye”. Bussy giggled again and adjusted her jacket. I could still recollect the wine-coloured gown she wore that fateful evening, while her hair had a weaves in it – deep brown in colour. The scent of her perfume was still hovering around my senses when I returned to sit beside Eka.

“So, how did it go?” Eka inquired with a wide grin.

“It went well. I was able to get her number, and she said she was not the dancing type”.

Eka laughed for a while, and I still wondered why he never had a female companion till he graduated. Half an hour later, the crowd thinned and the ‘dance floor’ was gradually becoming scanty. I and Eka rose and headed for the exit. We literally had to force our way through several First Year (100 Level) students. Most of them were drunk, excited and spoke almost at the same time. One thing was apparent: they all possessed an unquantifiable amount of happiness.

I and Eka later stood in front of a shop which was built near the theatre. We continued staring at the female students that walked back and forth.

“Are you returning back to the Old Boys’ Hostel right now? I asked Eka.

“Old Boys… yeah, soon”. Eka’s teeth held a cigarette between them and I shook my head at his smoking habit. His gaze was on the buttocks of a naïve-looking female student, who wore a leopard skin print gown. One look at her and I soon realized that she woe only a G-string, or no panties at all.

“How’s your final year project going?” I asked Eka while he puffed on his cigarette.

“Project?  Don’t mind that lecturer… I mean supervisor. She just loves stressing me. Pray to get a good supervisor when you reach final year, my brother”.

I smiled and turned to stare at the exit of the open air theatre, and the students milling around it. I was unable to locate Bussy among them. I made up my mind to call her the next day, and get to know her better. Eka finished his cigarette, and I soon remembered that the security personnel (Sheriff Deputies®) at my hostel locked the gates by 10 in the night. I and Eka walked away from the partying 1^st year students and towards the tarred road. The sky was a bit bright, even though the moon wasn’t a full one.

“October rush has started”, Eka mumbled while looking at me with a large grin.

“What is October Rush?”

“You know, after the new students get admitted in September, the older students in 200 Level and upwards start ‘grabbing’ them in October. Since they’re mostly novices, Daddies’ girls and newly independent, they’re easy to woo and seduce”.

I marvelled at Eka’s explanation, and began to possess some feelings of guilt due to Bussy’s number I had collected some minutes ago..

“I guess you’d  be working on your final year project tomorrow?”

“Yeah… project and sleeping I guess”, Eka replied with a yawn.

“Try and go to church on Sunday”.

“Church”, Eka scoffed. “These are all students’ fellowships, Pierre Abutu”.

“Just make plans to go, all the same”, I insisted. Eka smiled at me before placing his right hand in his right pocket.

“Remember to call your new catch”.

“Sure, I will… good night”.

Eka mumbled something and waved at me without looking back. The next day, I did call my new ‘catch’. I t was some minutes past ten in the morning when I called Bussy. Her sweet south-western voice rang in my ears and head for several days afterwards.

“Hello Bussy, its Pierre Abutu speaking. You gave me your number on Friday evening at the 100 Level students welcome party”.

“Oh yes, I remember, Pierre A-b-u-t-u…”

She giggled again.

“So, what’s happening with you, Bussy?”

“I’m okay. I‘m getting used to the new environment, new roommates, surroundings and atmosphere”.

I remember that feeling too… last year.

Bussy paused a bit. I believed she was reclining on the chair or bed she had been on.

“You’re in 200 Level, Pierre Paul?”

“Yes, at the Oba Erediauwa College of Law… hope there’s no problem?”

“No, not all. It’s just that I felt that you were in final year, 500 Level, you know”.

“Do I look older than my age, Bussy?”         

“No- ”

“Ok, but can we meet this evening, f it would be convenient for you?”

“Hmm, okay Barrister”.

I heard her giggling again, before we bade each other farewell. The time was almost six in the evening, when I walked out of my room and out of my hostel. Students were walking to and fro, and I was walking to meet Bussy.  

[1] I’ve always and would continue to refer to her as ‘First Timer’.