The Love I Regretted - Season 1 - Episode 24

4 years ago

The Love I Regretted - Season 1 - Episode 24

. . On my final paper day, I received a call from my mother in the morning before I went for the paper by 12pm. Me: Hello ma Mum: Hello “Oko mi” (my husband; a typical way Yoruba mothers call their son). How are you?

Me: I’m fine mum. I’m writing my final paper today. Mum: Glory be to God, I’m happy God has put our doubters to shame, your success means a lot to me than you can imagine dear. I’m the happiest mother on earth today. Me: Thanks mum, you are the best ever. I’m so happy. Mum: By God’s grace you won’t struggle to get job.

Me: Amen. How are you mum? Mum: Your mother is doing great dear. What of Temiloluwa (Temmy)? Me: He’s here. We are both writing our final exams Mum: I’m happy both of you are still good brothers. Temmy: (Shouting from the bottom side of the mattress) Mummy we are now graduate o! Mum: Okare jare omo mi (Well done my son). Opeyemi I want you to come home today immediately after your paper.

Me: Why mum? I still have project defense, both internal and external. Mum: You’ll go back on Sunday or Monday. There is somebody I need you to meet and there are urgent things we need to discuss. Me: (Urgent thing to discuss? She has never said that to me before. I hope all is well) Hope all is well mum? Mum: All is beautiful dear. Me: What of Debby, is she coming home too? Mum: Deborah is at already home. It’s you we are waiting for. Me: Okay mum. I should be home before 7pm. Mum: Please come earlier, you know I don’t like night travelling and hope you have enough on you. Me: Yeah, Daddy Orire sent me some money last week like he has been doing. Mum he sends money to me almost every two weeks but wouldn’t pick my calls. Mum: I really don’t know where you both met. He likes you a lot. He’s already working on how you’ll be employed at the company where he works. He also said he'll love you to meet her daughter later.

Me: Hmm. Meeting her daughter? Hope it’s not what I think? Mum: Whatever you think dear. Marrying her daughter won’t be a bad idea, though I don’t want to interfere in your love life. Go back to your book now; we’ll talk better when you come in the evening.

Me: (Better don’t come with that. It might be the point I disobey you o) Okay Mum, see you in the evening. “Mum wants me to meet somebody. Is she planning to re-marry? Although it’s been long since she lost her husband and I felt she has gotten used to it, still I’ll be happy for her if that makes her happy. I would have preferred she tell me who the person is right now, because I’m not sure she will allow me to be back as early as I’ll want to, yet I have unfinished business to cater for here” The paper had already started and I was sitting in the front row as usual. The main reason I sit in the front is to avoid disturbances from “shh”, “eh”, “guy” people. Some would have started asking you from number one and you’ll wonder if they ever open their note or attend any class. Apart from the fact that it’s wrong both in the eye of school management and God, distractions affect my speed and performance negatively in an exam hall. Whenever I start writing, I don’t like to stop until I’ve got nothing to write again. Like 30 minutes to the end of the paper according to one of the supervisors, I was already done answering what was required and was cross checking my script when we all heard one of the supervisors arguing with a student. The guy was caught cheating by exchanging his script with another student. Unfortunately, the other person involved was Uche. The supervisor insisted they both must fill the examination malpractice form and that will automatically mean expulsion or four semester suspension at least. It took the intervention of our project supervisor whom course exam we are writing before they let them go. As a punishment, they were both sent to the front row and unfortunately for me, Uche was brought right by my side. The moment I saw her, I know trouble is looming. I pondered on my best option and decided to submit that moment but was cautioned by Temmy who was sitting by my other side. We’ve both decided earlier before the exam started not to be submitting earlier than others as this has led to missing papers for several people due to the carelessness of the invigilators coupled with the fact that the hall is always rowdy as people tends to submit their script when the invigilator threatened to leave the hall after the allotted time. I device another method of escape by laying my head on the table pretending to be sleeping but this does not bother Uche at all as she was still calling me. One thing I don’t understand about her is, I know she’s not dull, in fact in their click; she looks like the most brilliant as she always have something to say when questions were being asked in the class. Uche: Will, Will, please now. Did you do number 6? (I shook my head to say No) What of number 8? (I shook my head to say No as I only did the first 4 questions with number 1 as compulsory) Then which one did you do? Supervisor: Who is that? Uche: (she stood up and raised her hand) Sir I want to. . . Supervisor: You again? What do you want? Uche: I want to borrow his pencil and eraser Supervisor: (Laughing profusely) You came for exam without pencil and eraser when you know you’ll need one and you are just asking when you have just 25min to go. Are you done with it? Me: Yes sir Supervisor: Please give it to her so we can have peace. By the way, I don’t think any question here requires drawing.

Uche: (Talking very fast in quick succession as she came to collect the pencil) Please help me write number 1 on your question paper, I’ll exchange with you when you are done. Sincerely this Uche of a girl must be a devil, because I could sight from afar she has done question number one. In fact her answer booklet is filled almost to the last sheet. Why will she want to do what nearly put her in trouble just now? I guess she’s banking on the fact our supervisor is around to save her. I was so happy to hear the supervisor say “You have 15min more” to which almost everybody responded with “Haa! Please o”. The moment I sight like three people standing to submit, I followed suit as Temmy also did same, even though Uche was protesting. She later said “Wait for me o” when she discovered I wasn’t going to stop. We were already leaving after taking pictures with some of our colleagues when Uche came blocking Uche: Will, you are too wicked Me: Really, what did I do? Uche: I asked you to write me number one but you refused.

Me: Firstly, I’ll be going to senate to do clearance, not to face panel for malpractices. Secondly, why are you like that? Uche: What do you mean, is it wrong to ask for help? Me: In this case very wrong. You almost landed in trouble yet you won’t desist. Uche: You are minding that man, it’s shakara jor. Me: I also saw you’ve done number one and almost all questions required of you, why are you still asking? Uche: Won’t I crosscheck if I’m right? Me: And they told you I’m holding the marking scheme. Uche: You are good now. By the way, let’s snap before you go or we meet in the evening. Will you be coming to the level award party? Me: Really, that sounds nice. How many planks will be there? Uche: Plank how? Me: So I can know how many times I’m going to pass out Uche: Haba! You don’t forget things. Nobody is going to fight there. Let’s go together now. Me: Okay, I’ve heard you Uche: Which colour will you be wearing? Wear white and black with red tie, I’ll wear red and black too. Me: That’s cool. Uche: Or just wear red shirt with black tie. Should I come to meet you in the hostel or you’ll come to my side? Me: Let’s meet at the party Uche: Are you serious? Is your friend also coming? Me: We all paid for the cloth and party now, so he’s surely coming. We’ll come together. Uche: Come with wine o Me: Yes wine, with plank. You know we might need to hit somebody Uche: Be serious jor. Good wine o Me: Okay. See you at the party. If Uche believe I’m really coming to the party, then she’s dumber than I thought. Temmy and I headed straight for our lodge and getting to the library, we saw Funmi having conversation with that new guy. Temmy wanted to call her but I forbid him. He did went ahead to meet her but I told him he might not meet me at home, because I have to travel down immediately. I don’t want to wait till the time my mother will start chasing me phone call. I was ready to move but was waiting for Temmy to arrive. “I don’t know what he’s discussing with Funmi for that long”. After some minutes, he eventually showed up.

Me: You know I was waiting for you right?

Temmy: Sorry bro, I was watching a drama in school. A student was running away from lecturers and school securities. Me: En en, why are they chasing him? Temmy: I later heard he impersonated for somebody and was caught, so he ran for his dear life (We both laughed) Me: Funny people. I have to go now before mum starts calling

Temmy: Alright. Let me drop these then I’ll see you off. (He dropped the bag he was carrying and we both head to the road) Branch our side o, they will send something through you. When will you be back? Me: I’m not sure. With the way mum was talking, I don’t know what I’ll meet at home. Temmy: Don’t stay long I beg, except you want this place to get boring for me. Me: You’ve got Rachael now Temmy: Rachael still got papers to write. By the way, you didn’t tell Funmi you were ill? Me: Why would I tell her? She was the one I first called when I started feeling somehow, but she shunned me off, forming busy.

Temmy: She was really surprised and sorry when I told her. She was angry she wasn’t there. Me: I’m even surprised you told her self Temmy: Hmm, where is that coming from? Is she no more your heart desire? Me: Believe me Temmy, I love her so much, but I’m no more interested in the drama. It’s getting boring already. Temmy: She finished her paper this morning also. Me: Oh, good for her Temmy: Hope this is not because of Janet’s break up with her fiancé? Because I can see you guys are getting back together Me: Janet was there when I needed somebody. Janet has nothing to do with it anyway; I just felt I’m getting fed up of her games. Temmy: That’s the problem with love. It’s because you love her that you are angry at her games. Me: I agree I do love her, but I’m not angry. I’m just getting back to my senses. When I come back, I’ll see what happens with her or somebody else. Temmy: If you said so. I’m sure you guys will settle things soon. Me: If she want it settled. By the way, we aren’t fighting, just playing games. Temmy: I hear you. But I should tell you what I’ve found out. She’s really sorry about not being able to be with you during that illness and I can tell you she really loves you. I stylishly ask if she’s already dating that guy. Though she didn’t completely open up to whom the guy was, but I’m positive they are not dating. Me: (I am so happy to hear that, but I was going to pretend) You mean not dating yet. Anyway, I’ll call you when I get home. Temmy: Alright bro. Call her too, she really want you to. You are the man bro, stop acting like a lady. Me: I’ll think about it. Later

Temmy: Don’t think about it. Call her, I know you want to, stop being stubborn. And don’t be distracted by Janet. Her fiancé will still come back; it’s not the first time they are breaking up. Wish you safe journey. We hugged while I boarded a taxi going to the garage. . . keep ur comments coming