The Colleges of Education, Akwanga, is very big. I can't tell you about the land mass, but there are halls that can take you thirty to forty minutes to walk to from the school gate.
And funny how you must attend lectures in some of those halls as long as you are a student in the school.
I just got admission into the school. I hadn't made any friends just yet. I struggled with a lot of things. Sometimes, I'll walk around looking for lecture halls and not find them until the lecture time is over.
One of those days, I was having a lecture in hall 2, and I didn't know where it was located. I asked a few people, but unfortunately, they were new students just like I was; they were not yet familiar with the school.
While I was still in the quest of finding the hall, I saw one of my friends from high school coming towards the mango tree where I was seated.
“Isn't this Aba?” I wondered, looking at him intently as he came from the junction.
Something stirred me, “go and meet him, it could be him.”
So, I stood up, took my bag, and walked towards him. Immediately he saw me, he started smiling.
The gesture already answered my question. “Aba,” I shook him, beaming.
“Emreal, what's up?” He gave me a side hug after the handshake.
“Cool, brother,” I replied.
“You school here too?” He asked.
“Yes o, my name came out in the last batch,” I responded.
“That's nice, what department?” He inquired.
“Biology/Geography,” I replied.
“Omo, that's my department too,” he shouted.
“Very nice,” I smiled.
“Shey, we have lectures in the next thirty minutes,” I asked, looking at my wrist watch.
“Yes,” he nodded.
“Ah, thank God,” I said to myself.
“I bet you know hall 2, where the lecture is taking place?” I continued.
“Yes, I have been here for like three weeks, so I know places,” he answered.
I felt relieved. I let out a deep breath, “let's have a seat,” I pointed at the vacant seat under the mango tree where I was seated.
“Eya, I wish I could sit but right now, I am going to meet my brother at the cafeteria. We will meet at the lecture,” he replied hastily.
“Okay,” I responded hesitantly, my voice almost fading in discouragement. “But please, where is Hall 2 located?”
He smiled, “JJC ( Johnny Just Come) take the street I am coming from, walk down to the hall that has a locust bean tree at the front. Then take your left like you are heading for the school of languages, Hall 2 is just around there.”
Ah, that's far o! I exclaimed.
He laughed hard, then finally stopped, “That's college life,” he added, then walked away.
Considering the distance he described, I had to take off right away in order not to be late.
Unfortunately, I got the place he described. I sought hard for Hall 2, but I never got it.
I was devastated, exhausted, and discouraged. I decided to enter the hall that had the locust bean at the front.
I was sweating profusely, and my shirt was soaked with sweat. At the entrance, I met two ladies walking out of the hall, and from their conversation, they are freshers like me and are going for the same lecture I am going for.
So, I seized my chance, “Good afternoon,” I interrupted their conversation.
One of them gave me a weird side look; her eyes were widely opened and fixed on me with disgust. She looked at me from head to toe slowly and hissed quietly.
I am sure she thought I was one of those boys who were going about looking for a girlfriend.
“Afternoon,” the second lady responded.
“Please, I am looking for Hall 2. I have lectures there,” I replied.
“Hmm,” The first lady who gave me the bad look sighed.
"We are heading there actually," her second replied.
Ha! I let out a deep breath, “can I walk with you, please?”
“Sure,” she replied.
I quietly followed them and said nothing on the way till we got there. Guess what? The hall was just a few distances from the mango tree I left earlier on.
I felt so disappointed in Aba for lying to me. I know he might take it as a joke, but that was quite expensive.
Entering the hall, I saw him seated at the front seat. My anger got kindled, and my legs collided hard against each other when I sat. I just wanted to tell him the piece of my mind.
I didn't understand anything from the lecture. It was not up to ten minutes after I entered that it came to an end.
After the class, I met Aba and expressed my grievance, and he apologized. He said he thought I wouldn't take what he said seriously, judging that he laughed while saying it.
I felt silly for not really taking note of that, but that day was the last time I trusted Aba. Unless I verified what he says from multiple sources, I always assumed he wanted to trick me again.
N.B: All Images Were Generated By Gemini AI