My pursuit for academic related achievement has taken me to different areas in my geopolitical zone, areas I never thought I would have been in my life time. At every moment I try as much as possible to make sure I feel at home at every location I find myself. I take comfort in the thought of being privilege of being able to tour around my small world, if you would ask me, I would say it is an experience worthy of its sacrifices.
They say home is where a human finds comfort, a place of convenience where mankind could feel at ease but then never knew such place doesn't necessarily have to be a physical place, it could be a state of mind, something or someone that makes you feel at ease despite the harsh environments we find ourselves, Someone that makes the pain bearable. What exactly am I talking about? it has been years since I graduated but why does the memory feel so fresh? The mind does works in mysterious ways.
Approximately 5 years ago if I remember correctly, when stepped into Abeokuta, Ogun State. A sin city that is what most people called it, a city filled with life and pain in abundance which is quite ironical. Step by step I navigated my way into Moshood Abiola polytechnic, a very busy institution from the looks of it, for a sec I felt sick due to how large the premises was, it felt like my sense of direction went numb but then my survival instinct kicked in and I held it together, moved as fast my leg can till I finally reached my destination to the heart of faculty of information and technology, the department of Mass communication.
They say swords are mighty but in here words are mightier, everyone moving in groups dressed in white shirts, for a sec it felt like I have stepped into a circus. Trying not to stand out or should I say I got curious of what exactly was going on. I blended into the crowd of students and lucky for me they were broadcast students moving in to attend a broadcast class in one of the biggest hall in Moshood Abiola polytechnic called Jibodu hall.
Getting into the hall was easy, getting a sit was more difficult. Everyone sat in circles which is kind of weird but then what did I expect an auditorium to look like? Trying to find my way as quick as possible to ensure that I don't attract attention, at least not on my first day in school. I could feel my heart beating so fast, how difficult can it be to find a sit, every spot I got to is already reserved for someone else.
That is students for you, they are social creatures who will always choose to show kindness to their friends not some weird looking stranger. I'm sure I cursed few of them, if only they could read my mind but thankfully they couldn't. I was almost giving up when I heard a strange voice, it sounds like the voice of a female. For some reason I felt like the person was calling my attention, I turned around and I was right, what she said next was unexpected.
Are you searching for a sit, she said. Such comforting words came out of her with a smile, I couldn't speak, it felt like I was stunned, it felt like time stopped. Is this love at first sight definitely not, I was just shocked that someone was finally kind enough to offer me a sit. I probably nodded to reply her and struggled to lift my feet till I finally sat.
Throughout the lecture my thoughts were screaming of words I couldn't speak of, I couldn't think of one specific thing just this and that. Finally I came to the conclusion that I have been charmed which is the only logical explanation I could think of. The class ended but our encounter didn't, she offered to help me with my clearance, I guess she noticed I was dissatisfied with the school protocols.
They say every good story has a beginning and that was it for us. Gradually we became friends and we practically did everything together which includes practicals, assignment and everything else that mattered at some point I got really satisfied with the friendship without saying a word about anything else that might compromise our friendship. As satisfying as our present relationship was, a part of me wished she would catch on, probably she would look into my eyes and discover all I was hiding but those kind things only occur in movies.
The whole struggle continues till we graduated and just like everyone else, we went our separate ways. Gradually time start doing justice to the memories of our relationship and eventually I forgot about all the memories of her, at least that is what I thought but then as nature would have it we got posted to the same location for our NYSC, same state, same local government but different community. We said hi to each other a couple of times, whenever we cross path in the day of our monthly biometric clearance but nothing was ever the way it used to be. I guess most relationship might start in school and might also end there.
This write-up was inspired by weekly prompt "Share a story of a friendship you built in school" in hive student connect community.
Cover image - 𝖣𝖾𝗌𝗂𝗀𝗇𝖾𝖽 𝗎𝗌𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖼𝖺𝗇𝗏𝖺
