It was a very weird day,very eventful and very unappealing. The walk from class to my dorm seemed like it was never going to end. I wasn't complaining cause I didn't like the company of my roommates so I let the rain fall down on me as I walked sluggishly towards my hostel. I barely remembered this day but the emotions I felt was still very clear in my head. I remember waiting a bit at the entrance of my hostel,trying to build up my tolerance levels to beyond maximum. Praying to get a neat room beginning of the session is one thing,also praying to have wonderful roommates is another. School stress and people stress wasn't a good mix,at all. It got me down really bad.
I ended up developing new found abilities to withstand annoying human behaviours coming from people other than my siblings and parents. I suddenly preferred the company I had back home to the one in school, it was two years ago I was caught talking to myself about wanting to leave my house to college. I could've been warned!
I was really grateful I had gotten the top bunk. It was easier to not indulge in human communication from up there. I made my bed space my fortress,was willing to go to the extent of getting a dragon to protect it when I slept,watched movies,read and when I wasn't around.
This went on for months. I needed out of this,I had said to myself multiple times. I didn't like the idea of suppressing my regular behaviours because of the likes of the people I had to share a room with but there was little I could do to cope with them. They weren't all that bad but they were manipulative and not the kind of people I flowed with. I tried to never seem weak around then cause the slightest let down might lead to get me looked down on or open the gateway to disrespect and to be taken advantage of. So many college student don't realize when they're getting taken advantage of, especially the freshmen(first years). It all kind of seems like your friend is trying to be really friendly with, coaxing you to do all kind of cool and fun things.. life is good till it starts creeping in, little by little and you get exhausted, mentally and emotionally.
Making friends was a very hard chore but keeping friends was even harder. I let out a sigh and stared outside the window to see the sky had darkened a bit. It was almost 7pm and I needed to breathe air without the smell of toxicity and female arguments. Throwing the covers I had over me and jumping down from my bed,I moved to my wardrobe to change into my basketball kit.
Minutes later and I had on a basketball jersey, a sneaker, my basketball and a band to tie my hair up. I was jogging one morning on my way to class and found it somewhere around the school's campus. Went to class with a smile on my face cause now I had somewhere to spend my evenings at. I got to the basketball court and found people there,about 6 persons to be exact. I didn't bother trying to hide the scowl on my face as one of the players stared at me. I placed my ball on the ground near my backpack which contained my phone, headset and powerbank.
"There times", one of the males on the court said to someone as he observed me trying to stretch.The weather was just right for an evening stroll but I wasn't strolling. I picked up the ball from the ground and proceeded to bounce it, at the same time widening the space between my feet and crouching to get into a stance. I increased my speed in bouncing the ball,dribbling it under my legs and around me then shot it into the basketball loop. It entered.
"Wow,a three", the same male staring at me earlier was now jogging towards the loop to get the basketball, bouncing it on his way towards me,"Didn't know someone your height could make a three".
"Rude", I said with a blank expression on my face. I was in no mood to socialize,all I wanted was to just get the ball through the net a few times,then take my leave.
"Oh sorry,my bad. That was amazing though."
"Yes,I guess".
He bounced the ball one more time before gripping it in between his arm and the side of his body. "I'm Jeffrey by the way", he said, bringing out his right hand for a handshake.
I shaked his hand. "I'm Dessie,now my ball", I reached for it when I got cut off by the noise the other boys were making. They were having a one on one,dribbling and making each other fall on their bums. It was hilarious, I let out a small laugh before focusing on the human in front of me.
"Play a one on one with me?", Jeffrey wasn't staring at me when he asked that,he was staring at the sky. It was extremely peaceful being here,not so many people was aware of a park with a basketball loop in school and not so many people were as interested in basketball as they were in football.
"Yeah, I'm not doing that. Let me say this again, the ball please "
He was smirking this time, as he let me have the ball. I spent the rest of my time in the park dribbling,making fadeaway shots and Jeffrey sneaking glances at me. He had this personality to come off as annoying but I guess that's what he decided to let on.
Thirty minutes later and I was time to go to my hostel. I sighed, rubbing my jaw a little. I didn't want to go there.
Image is AI generated. The AI being Meta.