Listen up, all of you, it is the first semester, and you should all know what you are here to do. I believe that the environment is conducive to learning well structured with competent lecturers.
I wish you all the best in your academic revolvement, Thank you!!.
We all clapped to the speech given by the chancellor even though I came late and only met the concluding paragraph of the speech.
After that, the head of the department took to the podium and said," I now declare this convocation dismissed ' and before I knew anything, everyone was going in different directions as some were going to the cafeteria, some were renting regalias to suit up for the occasions, others on regalias and beautiful outfits we're taking up pictures in the university premises.
I left the hall to allocate my departmental class, for it was the first time I had resumed, and I knew nothing about the institution's premises.
The hall was easily allocated due to the occasions as people's directions led me there.
As I was going to the last class on the top right, where my department class should be as described, I heard a voice from afar: hello! , hello!! , then the voice moved closer, and I looked back to see this beautiful, elegant lady, and I noticed it was I that she was calling as it was only me standing there.
She was light in complexion and tall in height; she put on a yellow leather gown and handbag. She was on sandal-heeled shoes and just looked flashy enough for the blind to see.
She walked closer and said, "Good afternoon, are you a fresher or a senior student?", she asked, and I replied that I was a fresher; then she continued, "Sorry for any form of disturbance; I am going to class 503z, where can that be"?
I adjusted firmly after confirming that I was going to the same class too.
Oh!!, 503z, that is where I am heading; let's go then, she followed me, observing that we might be coursemates.
My name is Mirabel Smith; what is your name she asked.
My name is Adams Josh I replied, and she continued, my matric number is 200, and you, she questioned.
Mine is 201 I answered. What a coincidence I concluded as I saw surprise on her face.
After getting to the department class and confirmed there, we parted ways for proper lectures the next day.
Mirabel was the first friend I had in the university setting, and we always sat together in class before I became friends with Clement Fit and Lawrence Lewis.
I don't have many friends at the university because I couldn't forget the last paragraph of the chancellor's speech as it tallies what my mother said to me back home before coming to the university.
So my revolvement and movement can be tracked; if I am not in class, I will be at the library or stay indoors.
If I am not with my friends, I will be with Mirabel or indoors.
So, as it goes, Mirabel was the hottest lady in my department, and it made me so famous that most male colleagues came to me believing that I was dating her, whereas by then, she was just a kind and loving friend who helped financially while I helped educationally.
Mirabel is an average student who needs repeated explanations before she can comprehend things, but she is a fly girl sincerely as she always puts on expensive outfits and spends without budgeting.
I do help her with tutorials, assignments, and likes; we are also lucky to sit near each other in the examination hall due to our matric numbers 200 and 201.
But this is where the matter arises; Clement and Lawrence always tell me that Mirabel likes me as she never agrees to any overtures towards her by the male students in my class, and secondly, they also claim to notice how she used to do whenever I was around.
She also has other female friends that she hooked up with, like Stella Daniels, Cindy Emmanuel, and Mariam Yusuf, and she is not always like this around them, Clement emphasizes.
I always say no to my friends, telling them I can afford her, but truly, I know that too as she embodies a smiling, laughing with glowing eyes kind of way to answer me, she also teased me purposely to see me talk and shower me with different gifts and I am also in love with her, I fell for her personality and that beauty she embodies, governs it all.
One afternoon after lectures, while we were together, I expressed what I felt to her, and no surprise, she also said the same thing to me that she loved me at first sight but emphasized she was complicated and I wouldn't understand her later.
I saw worries in her eyes and concluded on the decision to be with her but to ask or know little of her.
Later after months, it spread like fire as everyone knew we were dating through her friends, and later, my friends Clement and Lawrence also laughed at me for denying it first.
Now that we get attached, we look good together outside but whenever we are indoors and she keeps quiet about herself when I ask her little details about her and she says it is not yet time, it becomes irritating, I will tell her that but I am not hiding anything for her and why can't she do the same but she will just say I will not l understand.
I also asked her friends, and it was to no avail as they kept mute, too.
It is now becoming worrisome for me as different thoughts go through my mind.
Like; what game is she playing?
What can cause her to behave like this?
Did she even love me as she claimed?
These issues erupted gradually and we started departing.
We graduated and went separate ways and that was the end of the love story.
This made me confirm that she only wanted to use me, which may be the reason why she disappeared with no contact after our graduation.
So I shake it off and continue with my life.
It was just a few years later that I saw Stella, Mirabel's favorite friend while I was coming back from work.
It was sunny after, and I was on the runway driving home after work when all of a sudden, a car just hit me from behind as the traffic light controls stopped.
I came down, and to my surprise, I saw Stella Daniels coming down from the defaulter's car.
Aren't you Stella, Mirabel's friend, during the university day I asked.
She gazed deep into my eyes and shouted Adams as she gave me a sudden hug.
After a little chatting, I have no big damage but a scratch on my car, and it is nothing.
She told me she had offended me and wished to tell me about her friend Mirabel.
I answered that it didn't matter anymore but I noticed she was just persistent, so I went with her.
We stopped at a restaurant, sat down, ordered something, and then went back to business.
She told me everything about her which was left in the dark.
Stella said Mirabel is from the North Central area of Nigeria and was married at the age of sixteen years due to her father's decision to Marry her to a friend, Mr Amos, for his business solidification.
Stella said Mirabel had a child from that wedding named Gift and was four years old during her university days.
Stella also hints at how she divorced Mr. Amos as he was a woman-beater who almost killed her after sending her to a six-month comma on a sick bed.
Though she is the youngest wife among twenty-one wives.
Her father dissolved the marriage and, decided to send her back to an institution so that when she graduated she could take up a space in one of the companies he owned, and that was why we met in the university setting and that was why she was scared to tell me all that happened at that time.
Stella continues that her father knew she was having an affair in the institution, and that is why he threatened to look you up any day he sees her with you, and that was why she told us not to tell you. I am very sorry Adams, Stella concluded.
I then told Stella that is hiding the secret now the best option, and Stella kept mute and later continued.
Her father observed that she was in love during those years and decided to send her abroad after
graduation and that was why you both lost contact. She concluded.
Then I asked Stella a question which she couldn't answer till we departed.
I said, why start what you can not finish?
Why create a bold impression when you know you are a puppet?
Then I Walked away unbothered as it didn't matter, leaving Stella in confusion as she opened her mouth agape.
You did not offend me, Stella; you only covered up for your friend. I concluded departing away from her.
I was disappointed to hear that from her friend and not her telling me herself.