Before Letting Go, 2

Akpan dusted his face with baby powder and looked at himself in the mirror. Fine boy. He smirked at himself. He lowered the mirror to see Andikan and a few other boys staring at him. They erupted in laughter. Akpan’s cheeks burned.

“Omo, this guy na something o.” Offor laughed. He was one of Akpan’s roommates and also a hundred level law student. He was the first person to yank at Akpan’s bag as soon as Akpan walked into the room for the first time. The rest had joined in ravishing his homemade food.

“Guy, if you’re done, buckle up make we dey go.” Andikan rose from the bed fully dressed in his suit and tie. He posed in the mirror once, flexing his arms and shoulders. His muscles bulged through his suit and Akpan was reminded of his own wiry form. Andikan was relatively attractive, not like Akpan of course: Akpan looked at the mirror again and smirked. Akpan had that baby boy face with hooded eyes and a crisp haircut. The only thing left was six packs. Akpan had never planked a day in his life. Andikan on the other hand was a tower of muscles and a two hundred level student.

Akpan got up and buckled his belt. He was ready to go as well. This was going to be his first ever University class. His skin tingled behind his ears.
“Fine boy, let’s go oh!” Offor yelled to him and Akpan hurried after them.

The class was a hive, bustling with chat and laughter. The students lounged on the desks and milled outside in pairs and small groups. The boys in the back were laughing louder than the girls gossiping in the front. Akpan walked in through the doors and felt lost in the horde. He was Finicky, as he picked his steps over and around jutting legs in the passageways till he found a space to plant his ass. It was at the very end of the desk, with half his body consuming half of the small passage way.

Offor had told him their first class would be shared with students from other departments for GST. These students from other departments were distinct in their normal clothes. Akpan was suited up and knotted to the throat with his tie; he almost couldn’t breathe.
“Are you sure this is how they always tie it?” Akpan had wheezed while Offor did his tie.
“Yes na, you want to look sharp!” Offor had remarked and pulled it even tighter.

Now, Akpan’s breaths were short and tight. He pinched the noose and tried to widen it. Offor sat squarely in a seat behind him and began talking loudly with one of their colleagues. Akpan did not know the people seated on the same desk with him; they were students from another department.

Two girls next to him were going on about a boy, Akpan did not want to listen. They were both ugly. The one next two him had a coarse masculine voice, and her friend sounded like an exhaust pipe whenever she laughed. Akpan shifted uneasily and kept his limbs glued to himself. He noticed a girl looking pointedly at him from the corner of his eye.

“Psst!” He heard her hiss. But he refused to acknowledge that she was referring to him. “Psst! Akpan!” She gushed and Akpan turned. It was Edima. She was seated on Offor’s desk and smiling wide like Akpan was her present. Akpan calculated his reaction, as Offor and his friend turned to see her as well.
“Edima. You take GST too?”
“Yes, I saw you when you walked in. Nice suit.” She laughed.

“You too. I-I mean, nice dress.” He ran his eye over what much of the dress he could see. It was as plain as a new white board. His compliment made her smile reach her eyes.
“Thank you.” She cooed sweetly.
“You welcome.” Akpan nodded and faced front.
He swept a wide gaze and frowned like he was searching for someone. A split second went and she did not further the conversation. He was relieved. He turned his attention instead to other more pressing matters.

There were a lot of cuties in sight. Good for food and pleasant to the eyes. A couple fair girls stood out. Some were ugly in the face upon close observation. A few were pretty but the pretty ones were slim; looking at them did not draw the excitement he wanted. He paid the darker ones his attention. There were more pretty chocolate skinned girls.

A girl in particular was mocha brown, her clear-cut white teeth stood out in her smile. Her teeth dazzled him; they were a perfect set. She was talking with her friends, stopping every now and then to toss her wavy wig back over her shoulders. There’s no way that can be her hair. Akpan thought. Akpan straightened, sensing an opportunity coming his way; he knew any time soon, she was bound to look his way. He plastered a set sly smile and narrowed his eyes. He knew how he would look; he had hooded eyes, a cute nubian nose and shapely full lips against a set jaw, lined with a low beard.

She looked in his direction. Akpan’s pulled a sharp breath but the second was gone before he could realize it, she was back to talking with her friends. Akpan frowned. Had she not seen him? Maybe she hadn’t paid close attention to him. Anytime soon, she would really see him. Akpan remained in position, making sure his shoulders were squared out, elbow on the table with his fingers flexing on the desk, the other hand against his waist, his face was still set.

“Amina!” Edima called from behind him. The black beauty turned and flashed that stage smile again. Akpan lost thought. Her full gaze was right in his direction! Their eyes touched! Just for a bit, but he saw her hesitate when their eyes met. She then waved to Edima, before turning back to her friends. Akpan had gotten through to her. His chest was fluttering in anticipation. Now, what remained was head-on collision. But then she stood up…and towered over every other person in the room; her head must have been only a few inches away from the ceiling, almost taller than Andikan himself…and Andikan had at least five inches on Akpan. Akpan cringed with folded fists. The attraction went up in flames.

Amina was making room for one of her girls that were leaving the desk. Before she sat down, she looked in Akpan’s direction. Akpan made sure to pay attention to his nails. He sighed, put down in the spirit. She could have been one fine catch. Well, moving on. Akpan looked around a bit more but found none as attractive in features as the tall girl. He sighed again. Perhaps, he should pay attention to the books his father sent him there for. As no book list had been given for the course at the beginning of the semester, all he had was a blank notebook and pen. He decided to scope the class one last time…and someone walked in.

Her curvy figure struck Akpan first before her sassy smile. She was fair. Just about his height, with hips that moved from side to side. She was accompanied by two other girls, but they followed behind her and flanked her on each side, the hierarchy was clear as day. Her lush straight wig swept down over her surplus bosom and her lashes fluttered as she talked, words shaped precisely with thin soft lips. Akpan eyes had followed her all the way to her desk. Room was made for her quick by some other girls. Akpan took a sharp breath and remembered were he was…he was sitting a full row away from her, she was almost blocked from view. It annoyed Akpan. He keened a little to see her. He saw a bit of her face before someone leaned forward and blocked her off completely.

“Guy relax oh, our senior colleague dey date that one.” Offor nudged him in the ribs.
Akpan winced from the jab and asked, “What’s her name?”
“Pamela.” Offor answered.
“She’s even wearing black and white, she na law student?”
“Yes na. By the way, look around.” Offor directed with a finger and pointed out almost seven other guys looking in her direction. “Competition dey oh.”
“Them no reach me na?” Akpan frowned. Who is the Senior colleague dating her anyway?

Did you enjoy Before Letting Go 2?

I hope you did because I enjoyed writing it! You can leave me a comment below. To follow up this story, start from the beginning Letting Go

Let’s stay connected!

My name is Racheal Asikpo. I can take the creative weight of completing your stories. I can also give you 70% distance from the writing and research. I offer ghostwriting, developmental editing and copyediting services. How about you allow a fresh pair of eyes give you a fresh breath of air?

You can follow me on:

Linkedin or Facebook to know when I post.

I also write episodic shorts on Medium!

You can also reach out to me after perusing my profiles on my Linktree.

I look forward to hearing from you.