Chapter 7: Chapter 7

Three months later, Fola was already settled in school.

With the help of her mother and friend, Boluwatife, things were easy from the beginning for her financially.

Though, she was having difficulties with some of her courses due to the fact that she graduated from high school years ago.

Before her departure, she went to Boluwatife's house to bade them goodbye. Bolu's father gave her some money while her mother gave her some provisions and foodstuffs. Bolu also gifted her a new mattress and Fola was grateful.

Bolu informed Fola of her admission into Bida polytechnic. Her father, Mr Tunji Badmus was a lecturer in the institution and had been pestering his daughter about getting a form for the school ever since she graduated from school but Bolu was adamant. She insisted on going to the same school as Fola.

Due to her father's connection, she was offered admission into the Polytechnic of Bida, Niger State to study Agricultural Engineering and Fola was happy for her.

Fola's roommates were 5 in number. Her bunkmate was also a Mass Communication student in her final year. The other two who were opposite her bunk, Tope and Tosin were in 200 level in the Department of Sociology. The remaining two roommates were also freshers like Fola, Kafaya was in the Department of Economics and Nkechi was in the Department of Biochemistry.

Since Fola was having issues with some of her courses, she decided to ask her bunkmate, Laide for help.

Instead of helping, Laide referred her to her former coursemates who is a tutor and is presently in the Department of Economics.

Fola couldn't help but wonder how a student of the Department of Economics could possibly tutor her as a student of Mass Communication.

"Iremide is a very intelligent guy and he has a diploma degree in Mass communication. After his diploma, he applied for his first degree in Mass Communication but unfortunately, he was offered Economics. I am not the best person to help you and I know what I am saying Folake. In fact, he tutors Kafaya's class virtually every week", Laide explained for clarity.

"But Kafaya is in Economics and I am not", Fola stated.

"What I am saying is he tutors both Economics and Mass Communication students especially freshers. He even gives private tutorials to some of his classmates", she replied.

Fola who was not convinced enough gave up trying to look for who to guide her through and she tried reading on her own.

Two weeks after which was a week before the commencement of examinations, Kafaya announced in the room that she was going for a tutorial and they bade her goodbye.

That was a norm with the roommates of F3/34. They made it a rule to make it known whenever any of them was going out for security purposes.

"Folake, won't you go too?", Kafaya asked Fola as she was about to go out.

"Is it not your departmental tutorial?", Fola asked back. It was past 8 p.m already and she was on her bed reading for the forthcoming exams.

"It is but I thought you wanted to meet Iremide to guide you through? That guy is hardly seen around and if you don't use this opportunity, you might not meet him again till after examinations", Kafaya answered back calmly.

"How is it going to be?", Fola questioned.

"After our tutorials, I will go and explain to him and he will surely help", Kafaya said.

"I don't have money to pay him for a private tutorial", Fola said, feeling reluctant.

"Na wa for you Folake, you don't have to pay. Don't be so difficult", Kafaya said, already tired of arguing with her. "Are you going or not?"

"I am not going", Fola replied nonchalantly and this got Kafaya upset.

"Alright girls bye", she said to the others and stepped out.

Immediately she went out, Fola jumped down from her bed and hurriedly got dressed to meet up with Kafaya while the others laughed at her. Fola ran out of the hostel with her bag and was fortunate enough to see Kafaya's figure at the end of the road trying to cross. She called to Kafaya and Kafaya recognising the voice opted to ignore as she crossed to the other side.

To avoid losing sight of her figure amongst other students who were also going for tutorials and night reading, Fola ran as fast as she could and was fortunate enough to meet up with her.

"Oh girl, you are wicked o", she said to her breathing heavily and placing her hand on her chest to calm her racing heart.

"You finally decided to swallow your pride abi?", Kafaya questioned eyeing her.

Fola put an arm around Kafaya's shoulder and replied to her, "Don't tell me you are angry."

"I am more than angry", she said and stopped walking to face her.

"Alright, I am sorry. I was only trying to pull your legs", Fola responded guiltily.

"We both know that's not true. Your pride is what is hindering you", Kafaya stated angrily.

"That is not it. I am sorry", Fola replied defensively.

"I shouldn't have insisted on your coming. It's just that I was only trying to help", she said and continued walking.

"I know. I said I am sorry already. Do you want me to kneel down?", Fola demanded.

"Yes", she replied, unable to contain her smile.

"For your small mind", Fola laughed. "I am deeply sorry, I hope I am forgiven?"

"Do I have a choice? You are a thing around my neck", Kafaya replied grinning.

"That's my girl. Where is the venue?"

"Multipurpose hall", she answered.

"Ok."

They got to the venue and noticed the hall was already filled up.

"You made me late", she said to Fola with a frown.

Fola laughed and replied as they entered the hall, "Don't worry, we will surely get a place to sit."

The tutorial lasted for 2 hours and by the time they were done, Fola was already dozing off. The tutor wished them a goodnight rest and went straight out before the students started trooping out of the hall after him.

Kafaya jumped out of her seat, waking the sleeping Fola before running after the tutor as far as she could. Fola was confused as to why Kafaya was running.

Forgetting she was there for a purpose, she hissed and went back to sleep. The sleeping Fola and a few others who were to spend the night in the hall for revision were left in the hall when Kafaya came back.

Infuriated, she hit Fola on the arm in an attempt to wake her up. "Get up, let's go stupid girl."

Fola woke up sharply and rubbed her arm looking around. "What is wrong with you? Why did you hit me like that?"

"Why are you here?", Kafaya asked instead of giving a reply to Fola's question.

"Why am I here?" Fola asked back, rubbing her sleepy eyes. "What type of question is that? We are here for tutorials na", she finished and gasped as reality dawned on her.

"I am here for a private tutorial", she rephrased. "Where is the tutor?"

"I missed him, he had disappeared before I got out of the hall. That was why I was complaining the other time when you said we should sit at the back", she utterly obviously mad at Fola.

"That was why you were running the other time? You ran after him?", Fola asked, opening her mouth.

Kafaya nodded and told her to close her mouth.

"I am sorry, I couldn't control the sleep", Fola apologized.

"It's ok, let's go back to the hostel."

They packed their things and were about to exit the hall when Iremide came back inside.

Fola who was still feeling sleepy, kept walking and stepped out of the hall oblivious to the fact that Kafaya had stopped walking.

Kafaya stopped walking immediately as she saw Iremide coming back inside unaware of Fola's absence. "Iremide good evening. I ran after you the other time but by the time I was outside, you were gone", she said to him smiling.

"Yeah, I was in a hurry. I came back because I forgot my small phone on the podium", he said and went to the podium where he stood for the tutorial to retrieve his phone.

Kafaya looked around and noticed Fola was nowhere to be found.

"This girl is more than stupid", she muttered to herself and dipped her hand into her bag to bring out her phone when Iremide came back and asked: "I hope all is well?"

"Yes, a friend of mine needs your help."

"Ok......", he said. "What type of help?"

"Actually she is a 100 student of Mass Communication Department and she needs an explanation on some courses that are a bit confusing to her."

"Alright, that is not a problem, so where is she?", he demanded looking around.

"She was here just now but I have no idea where she went. Please give me a minute, let me call her", Kafaya uttered dialling Fola's number.

"Ok let's sit", he told her.

"Oh sorry! Forgive my manners."

The first dial went into voicemail and she dialled the number again.

Fortunately, it connected and Fola picked at the second ring. "Stupid girl, where are you?"

"Where are you Kafaya?" They both chorused at the same time.

"Come to MPH, I have seen Iremide, the tutor", Kafaya said and hissed before disconnecting the call.

"Is stupid the name of the girl?", Ire asked amused while Kafaya laughed despite her anger and said no.

Few minutes later, Fola came in wide-eyed.

"Kafaya, you are not a good girl o, you left me knowing well enough that I do sleepwalk and I ended up running into a pole", Fola said to her, showing her the swollen spot on her forehead.

Ire chuckled as Kafaya replied to her grimly, "Serves you right, clumsy girl."

"Sorry, are you the one in need?", Ire asked.

"Do I look like someone in need?", Fola retorted back making Ire dumbfounded.

"Fola are you ok? Do you want me to slap that stupid sleep out of you or what?", she asked with anger. "This is Iremide, the tutor I told you about", Kafaya yelled at her.

"Oh my God! I am so sorry sir. I never knew you were the tutor", Fola said with remorse.

"You see why I called her stupid?", Kafaya said referring to Ire who gave a short laugh.

"It's ok, let's get started. I need to be somewhere in the next one hour and I will share 40 minutes of my time with you and then we will meet on Friday for another session."

"Thank you sir", she replied politely bringing out her notes and handouts while Kafaya hissed for the umpteenth time.

Exactly 40 minutes after, Ire asked if Fola understood the little they were able to cover for that night and she answered yes.

He then gave her his number and instructed her to call him before badding them goodnight.

Fola packed her things and left the hall with Kafaya who was quiet as they walked.

"Kafaya, I am sorry", Fola sounded sincere.

"Don't start please Folake. I have had enough of your stupidity", she replied.

"Okay", Fola said sulkingly.

"I chased after Ire for you and also searched for him for you only for you to end up blaming me. It isn't your fault but mine for being too forward over your issue", Kafaya ranted while Fola kept mute.

"Won't you say anything", Kafaya requested.

Fola threw her arms over Kafaya's shoulder as they walked and shouted "I am sorry sweetheart."

Kafaya smiled and said: "Silly girl."

"Silly girls", Fola corrected and they both laughed.

They got to the hostel shortly after and went to bed straight. Fola laid on her bed and a few minutes later, she was already dreaming of the future with a huge smile on her face.