The Graduation Party
The hall came alive with loud music; it reverberated around the room, imprisoned the flow of air and the whole place shook from its foundation. Students turned graduates could not hold in the excitement; it was the last night some of them would see one another, and the night ought to be well spent: some had already made reservations for the night, plans for a getaway trip , or had plans before NYSC. The air of excitement got to some that danced with so much vigour or tried to shout above the blasting speakers; it painted a picture of youths at their peak.
Outside was more serene. The university erected a soundproof recreational facility for students, but it doubled as an event centre. It was already dark, close to twelve midnight, but the party just begun. More cars were on their way. Uju took in everything from where she sat. She eyed some lovers who were shaded by the night, they stood all around the garden --sitting or standing in tight twos.
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Uju left Franklin in the hall; she was getting fed up with him, each day, because of his newly acquired bad habits. He got drunk half way into the party, and started to be all touchy right on the dance floor. Uju was not too sure she they would last with the kind of person he had turned out to be. He listens less, and seemed to have carried on a carefree life, since his involvement with his cousin, Charles. Charles just got back from the States.
Franklin was now more into party, drinks, money, --and if not her mind playing tricks on her-- women. Uju was a sweet kind of girl: the kind that loved cuddles, a walk on the beach, a seat at the cinemas, a love text in the morning, and breakfast in bed. Franklin was all of that until Charles came along; he made him too much of a man. Tueh! She knew Charles was bad music right from the day he walked into their lives.
A Knock out in the Pool
Some guys came out to smoke; they were all noisy while they puffed. Uju got up, and walked towards the deserted swimming pool. The pool made her remember many things: Franklin’s final tournament –he used to be all focused. She remembered how he glided to the finish line, and how she jumped at him out of excitement. She hated to go near water, but Franklin made her fall in love with swimming.
They lost little Olisa when he was barely three at Elegushi. It was a traumatic time for her family; they nearly fell apart, because he was her twin, and only sibling. Their mother could not get herself to forgive their father, for taking them to the beach. It was all their fault for forcing him to take them. She was busy playing in the sand when the waters called Olisa; he left without saying goodbye.
The last thing she saw of him was his head and hands, struggling with the waves. Their father and other people threw themselves into the waters, but Olisa was far gone.
A sharp voice came at Uju from behind :
“Hey!”
But before she could gather herself and turned, it was rather too late. Uju lost her balance and fell right into the pool. The guy in the shadow rushed forward, he shouted for help, but it seemed too late, Uju was fast sinking.
TheWake upCall
She made a third attempt to open her eyes, and her hard work was rewarded. It was as though she was in a different world. Her eyes took in as much as it could, and the ache came back. She shut her eyes again, and opened it. Wait! This was not her room? She looked around, and there was her cloths, neatly folded on a chair, nearby; her undies idly and conspicuously stared back at her. Very close to the foot of the bed, a pair of red boxers mocked her behind. She was close to tears.
Uju jumped up from the bed, and her eyes fell on her bare skin –she was stark naked. She heard footsteps, and not knowing what to do, she ran back under the white crispy sheets. She tried to remember how she ended up naked on a man’s bed, and in a man’s room, but nothing came to her mind. She pinned her eyelids together again, and all of a sudden, the door threw open; an unfamiliar face walked towards the bed, a tray in hand. Uju thought; who in the world served tea and burger in the morning.
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Intuition
Ogemdi felt embarrassed. He had never been made uncomfortable in such manner in his life. He didn’t even know if she expected an answer to her question or if the question was directed to him. But they were the only ones in the room. Ogemdi just said:
“I am very sorry that it happened this way.”
Tears had already blinded Uju ’s vision. She didn’t know what to do. Her mind ran to many things, searched at different corners: what was she going to tell her parents? She was not even a one- night-stand kind of person? Franklin always used double protection.
They were few weeks to NYSC. Hey! She was finished! At that instance, she leaped, the bedsheet dropped on the floor, Ogemdi ’ s eyes poked out, and when her palms were few inches away from his cheeks, he drew back, and out of fear, he said:
“You fell into the pool, and my sister brought you.”
But it was already too late, the clatter of ruined cutlery protested with a loud crash; and neither could the sight she fully fed his naked eyes be erased, but the burger, stringed in its wrap, danced about the room, and settled at her feet.
Written byUdemezue, Oluoma.Udemezue, Oluoma loves to read and write; she also enjoys movies, oldies, and meeting new people. Oluoma believes that life is nothing without a little touch of romance, thriller and reality. Catch her on: udemezueoluoma@yahoo.com, Udemezue, Oluoma Judith on Facebook, Instag- oluomaudemezue, and Twit- @Udemezueoluoma.