"Madam survivor, how far na?" Janet's message reached me that evening. I had just returned from a physics practical class where Esther and her group mates created a funny yet heart wrenching scene. I didn't know whether to be sad or not and my resolution was to take my depressive self back to the hostel and sleep.
"Not fine at all." I sent. "I just witnessed a crazy scene at the lab today."
"Crazy scene? Gist me abeg!" She replied. I sighed, i would owe Janet a lot for being an ever present friend.
"You know chemistry practical is combined class for all 100 level science students?"
"Yes?"
"Esther was there. The girl i slapped." I haven't told Janet tht we were once besties so she knows esther as one busybody who goes around poking her nose in other people's businesses.
"Again?"
"She had her eyes on my throughout the practical class today. And when we started group practice, i caught her stare and i sent bck my own stare and she spilled acid on herself. Can you imagine?"
"Mtchew" she sent an hiss in text. I felt a little misunderstood and disappointed but there was no other word in my hed that I could use to explain.
"She was rushed to the clinic groaning in pain. Her laps..."
"Why do you care?" I imagined her nonchalant voice in my head, my sore eyelids twitched.
"I don't know..."
"She's in pain. Acid burns are usually very painful. I had to leave the lab immediately."
"Answer my question Aholah. Why are you getting yourself worked up over someone who is only getting the rewards of her actions?"
"Reward?" I wasn't surprised, a typical Janet will say this and more.
"Wasn't it because of her they sent you out of school?"
"Janet!" I sceamed allowed, speaking out as i typed. "I feel so guilty..."
"For?" She sent.
Then in a voice note. "Are you alright? E be like say this break up thing don dey make you too soft? Why are you acting like a baby aholah? This girl was trying to monitor your life and then she spilled herself acid and you're sulking. You need to distract yourself at this period. You're obviously losing your mind. And that's part of why i messaged you. Remember that we met at the bar the last time?"
"Roland?" I wiped tear as i typed.
"He's been disturbing me o. He said i should give him your number. I thought it won't be nice since you're just recovering from a break up but i think it's high time you shook it out. What do you think about Roland?"
I retired to doing a voice note too. "I don't want to do boys again Janet."
"Oh you need to. Or you want to do girls? I don't understand."
"You dey craze." I laughed. "Give the poor guy my number jare. I would use a little distraction in this school."
"Eh en, that's my babe talking. Shey your brain dey sleep before?"
"Lemme alone joor. I was feeling for a fellow human. No be everybody get heart of stone like you madam."
"Me heart of stone? We'll see!" Ahe sent a caning gif. I laughed.
"Im laughing now"
"Ope ooo"
"Thnk you Janet. I owe you a lot."
"Wish me goodluck in my test. Pray that my cheat codes do not explode and be exposed. That way you'll pay me back. You know say God still dey here you small small thn we."
"Criminal!"
"Proudly!"
Then she went offline.
I amiled t my laptop forgetting Janet hideous request and wnting to go sleep when Khadijah walked in.
"Hey.." i said. "Welcome." One week in her room had taught to be polite to her, even if not every other person in the room.
"Wura... Thnk you." Her voice came out as a whisper. Sh pulled her scarf and resumed a thinking position on her bed. I was curious at the new energy she carried this evening but I had to remind myself that i had only known he for a week.i turned back to my laptop.
"Aholah..." She called me. "Are you sleeping?"
"No." I groaned.
"Can we talk please?" She sounded distress nd i could help but wonder why. I rose up to a sitting position, eager to hear from her.
"Sure? Is everything alright?"
"Aholah, i just want to ask some things from you. About you. I hope you don't mind?"
"Why? Why me?" I forced on a smile to make her feel comfortable.
" I..." She paused. "Are you pastor Toluwanile's daughter?"
"Yes i am." Let me guess, one of my father's biggest fan.
"Wow. He's like my distant mentor. That's why i was curious. I wanted to confirm. Is your real Aholah or Wura because..."
"No no no. " I interrupted her. " My nam is adediwura but i like Aholah and I've been bearing it as a casual name in all my school. It's like a nickname i and my sister gave ourselves." I felt like i was saying too much so i stopped.
"Ni kname? Where did it come from?"
"The bible na. It's a city..."
"I know." Sh had this disgusted look which was already pissing me off.
"Me i don't want to call you aholah o. Can i call you Wura instead?"
"Su..re" is this the reason why she looke so depressed or there's something more.
"And..." She had the look of a astrologer searching for a meteors in space.
"You know what? Never mind." And sh walked out.
Wierd. But... I don't care.