“Them no reach me na?” Akpan frowned.
Who is the Senior colleague dating her anyway? That question was left unanswered as the GST lecturer strut in. His protruding stomach led the way, and his gait swayed him from side to side. He stopped short in front of the board and tossed a wild gaze about the class; his harrowing glare magnified through his glasses.
“You people are too much. The list said you will be sixty-something. But of course, we have spillovers even from two years ago.” His eyes narrowed, darting about, sifting for someone. “Ahhh! Kunle, welcome yet again to another year.”
Everyone followed the direction of his gaze which pinpointed a tall guy. He was vacation as a Law student; his tie hung loose around his neck and his cuffs were unbuttoned. His collar gaped a strong collarbone and his dull eyes wandered, only just then noticing the lecturer; he swung a sluggish leg off the desk.
“MY FRIEND WILL YOU GET OUT?” The lecturer boomed and Akpan skipped a breath. The shock could be read in everyone’s faces, except Kunle. He gently pushed himself forward from the wall, rose from his seat in grace and collected his book under one arm.
“OUT!” The lecturer yelled, puffing in front of the class.
It was only when Kunle stood up that everyone realized he had been chewing gum. He was a tower in slack trousers, the thin fabric danced as his long legs carried him towards the front of the class; because both exits of the class were on either side at the front of the class. The lecturer stood akimbo by one of the front desks, just by the passage Kunle used. Just as he passed by the lecturer, Kunle popped his gum and the loud smack was a slap to the man’s face.
Akpan caught wind of a chuckle. It was from two rows ahead, where Pamela and her friends sat. He liked the sound of her voice; it was frail and soft, like agege bread. Akpan paid close attention; he liked her dove shaped ear, the way it hid behind her braids and only peeked every now and then. There was a mesmerizing haze about her, maybe it was in his head but he just knew that he could not see past her in class. “Alright, listen up!”
The Lecturer demanded attention with one blast and wrote a topic on the board. Akpan read it idly, knowing it was about to be one long and boring session, but at least it would be worth it. His senses were razor sharp and attentive, but only in one direction of the class and it wasn’t the lecturer.
Two hours later, Akpan wasn’t sure what he was supposed to be learning. It felt like a crash course class. Things moved at a pace he was not used to; back at home, he had three lesson teachers and the teachers in secondary school delved deep into topics. But here was this man, Mr. Okposong, standing at 5’4, most of the back benchers had to stay perked up in other to see him halfway. He was strutting back and forth in the front of the class, giving tips and cues about the topic. It was strange. All around Akpan, people were writing furiously, cramming down the bits and crumbs on paper, while he could barely piece sentences.
A small worry started in the back of his mind; was this how the semester was going to pan out? He won’t learn like this! He eyed the wall clock again. It was the only other school property in the hall besides the board and benches. Akpan squinted but was unable to see the short hand clearly; it was blocked by an iron bar in the cage used to keep the clock from being stolen.
Akpan cocked his head to a side and stretched until he could see it.
“Offor, what time is this class supposed to end?” He talked with a side of his mouth, because the lecturer’s laser gaze pinpointed anything and everything.
“Thirty minutes ago.” Offor replied with his mouth to one side but both of them kept their eyes on the board.
“Ah-ahn? Someone should tell him na?” Akpan complained.
“Will you tell him?”
“What about our course rep?”
“The guy in front with jerry curl hair.” Offor directed and Akpan found the guy in no time. The guy was sitting in the front row, his shoulders were arched and his head perked up straight. Akpan glared at the back of his head. Was he not looking at the time? Akpan struggled to be still, his legs could no longer endure the cramped space under the desk, and two elbows were pressed into both his sides. The benches were jampacked; they were made for six but ten students managed to squeeze in.
The person beside him passed a foolscap
“Oh, look at that.” The Lecturer paused to eye his watch. “I think I will end here for today, but we will continue on Wednesday. Class Captain?”
Jerrycurl shot onto his feet. “Yes Sir.”
“I want the attendance of everyone in this class. I have been teaching this class for four years now so don’t think I’m a stupid old man. I have counted every row with my eyes, I have photographic memory.” His tongue lashed; his eyes stabbed. “Do you hear me?”
“Yes Sir!” Jerrycurl was at attention. The lecturer proceeded to leave, with Jerrycurl hurrying behind him with his things. Akpan only followed the uninteresting pair for a moment until they were beyond the door. His gaze snapped back to Pamela. She was giggling at something another girl was saying.
“Did you understand a thing that man said?” Offor sighed. Akpan eyed his note, it was two pages full of scribbling. The blank pages of his own note echoed.
“Guy, let me snap that your note abeg.” Akpan pulled out his phone, but Offor’s book jumped out of reach before he could grab it; Offor held it high, a different wild look on his face. “Oboy wetin you mean? You dey eye that girl since, you no write anything.”
“What’s this?” Akpan reached but the book floated further.
“I will let you snap sha. But you go buy me food this afternoon.”
“Guy, what’s this?” Akpan snatched for it, but Offor had a wider reach. In the corner of Akpan’s vision, he saw his model rise gracefully; as soon as the Lecturer and his minion were out of the class, movement surged in all directions. Ice jumped in his veins, and he kept one eye on her movement.
“Guy, I don’t have time nau!” Akpan harpooned for the book, up on his feet but Offor moved faster.
“Ah, see this one oh? Adadamma?” Offor snapped, his face was contorting into something beastly. Akpan sensed he was near a line and sensed the attention they were attracting. He didn’t know the meaning of what Offor had said, but he knew enough from childhood experiences to know it wasn’t kind.
“Get out, I’ll ask someone. I thought you were my friend.” Akpan’s voice wavered on the second statement, and he didn’t like it, he didn’t even like the way the statement sounded; he raised his shoulders. He rose from the desk. His eyes pinpointed Pamela stepping out of the class with her friends. They lingered just outside the entrance in the corridor and Akpan couldn’t tear his eyes from that direction.
“Akpan.” He heard Edima before he saw her. Her head shut Pamela out. She was right before him, smiling, a modest but happy expression. Akpan suppressed a frown, but the strain was on his face.
“Edima.” Akpan was tightlipped.
“How na? It’s so nice to see you here. You’re a fresher too right?” She shimmied her shoulders, a sudden burst of childish glee.
“Yes. Nice to see you.” Akpan’s eyes darted back and forth, catching a glimpse of Pamela as her small group laughed loud. I can just approach her. After all, she is my colleague. I can just walk over there and introduce myself. The thought gave him wings and suddenly he felt taller…
STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT EPISODE.
PS: Photo credit – Gabriel Isaiah
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[…] This episode is a continuation from “Before Letting Go 3” […]