Chapter 5 FIVE - CHINEYE

My lecture was to start by eight in the morning, so I left my hostel thirty minutes before the time. Tony was yet to return from wherever he went and I couldn't care less. I didn't want him back anyway.

The class was scanty when I got there; only a few students were seated. I walked to the front seat knowing fully well my caucus will be there. We always sat at the front seats and all lecturers of ours knew us to the extent that when one of us wasn't around, questions were asked. Tunde was part of my caucus. We were six in number. We organized group study most of the time.

I exchanged greetings with the crew and sat down on my regular chair: a seat at the middle of Tunde and Chineye.

"Have you bought your textbook for Acc 413?" Chineye asked me. Chineye was part of our crew. She disturbed me always and I wondered why. She kept trying to get me into discussions I clearly didn't want to engage in.

There were three other guys in the group but she never disturbed them as she did to me. Tunde once told me she was in love with me and I should consider dating her but what was there to consider? I was only concerned about my education and I had no time to think about unnecessary things. I thought everyone should think the same way. It was disappointing to hear Tunde say such. Most times, Tunde said things I never thought he could say.

"Yes, I have," I replied her.

"Oh! That's nice. Then we should . . ." She was cut short by Mr Jegede's entry: our lecturer

I had never been this glad to see any lecturer before until now. I smiled widely as Mr Jegede began his lectures, putting a complete stop to whatever Chineye wanted to say next.

Lectures ended in the afternoon and I walked to a nearby cafeteria to get something to eat. After eating, I went to the library to go over all that had been taught. I got to my hostel late in the evening and to my horror, Tony was around. It was like he was ineluctable. He was lying on his belly watching a movie on his laptop.

"How far?" He raised his head to greet me.

"Fine." I slumped to the bed.

"Any lecture today?"

"Yes of course. Three for that matter." I was surprised by his question.

"Wow! We had just one today. It was in the afternoon but I didn't go."

"Why?" I scowled.

"It is the first week of resumption, pal. That old man might not come to class. I can't waste my precious time."

I stared at him for a while. He was talking like he had something important to do when in reality, he was wasting his time on something he shouldn't be doing at this point: watching a movie. The semester was just starting so doing any other thing than getting prepared for a new section was stupid. There had been lots of time to see a movie during the long holiday.

"What if he came?" I probed.

"Then good for him." He retired back to his movie, indirectly shutting me up. I gawked at him for a while before shaking my head and sighing deeply. Of course, what had I been expecting?

"You sound like a frustrated old man," Tony laughed but I ignored him.

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I kept attending my lectures and Tony kept doing his thing; he had not brought any girl to the room, thankfully. I had overheard him on the phone, pleading with a girl to come over to his room. It was funny how he made decisions like he lived alone when he had a roommate. I felt he should inform me before bringing someone over even when I knew I wouldn't be able to say no to him. I just didn't know how to say no to people.

I had successfully been able to avoid Tony for the whole weekday. I made sure to spend more time in the library and when I returned, he was either away or asleep. Today was an exception. It was Friday and as usual, I came back to the room tired for I had exhausted all my time in the library.

I walked into the room, thanking God he was away as I had my bath. After preparing two packs of noodles, I laid on my bed to sleep when the door opened and Tony came in. I mentally groaned.

"Scholar, are you sleeping?" He asked and I rubbed my eyes wearily.

"I was."

"On a Friday night?"

"And why shouldn't I?" I was puzzled.

"Friday night is for flexing na. Don't you get?"

"I do understand. Friday night is for enjoyment and that is what I'm doing now. I'm sleeping earlier than I do on a normal day." I replied to him.

"That one is not enjoyment. That one is a normal daily experience. See, there's this party going on in a frat house. You should come."

"I'm sorry I can't. I'm not the party type."

"And why is that?"

"I don't know. I don't just like those kinds of parties."

"Have you ever attended one?"

"No!"

"Then how can you conclude when you've not been there before. At least, you should go first; only then would you conclude if you like it or not."

"I know what it's like and I don't like it. So much noise, too much drinking." I shivered. "I like my space and my quiet."

"So you like leading a boring life?" He smirked at me.

"I'm not. It's not boring to me. Not everyone likes wasting their time on foolish things." I fired. I was already getting angry.

"Hey! Going to a party isn't being foolish."

"Oh yeah? Tell me about it. Wasting your time drinking, dancing and finally coming back home wasted is very very wise."

Tony scowled at me and I almost thought, he would pounce on me. I could see his knuckles tightening as he stared at me. I knew that I had crossed the line at that moment.

I was relieved when he walked into the bathroom instead and I heard the sound of the shower. I sighed. Just one week of spending time together, we were already at loggerhead. We just couldn't agree on one thing - I knew that for sure. I and Tony were two contrasting magnets that could never join.

I watched as Tony walked out of the bathroom, clad with a white towel wrapped around his waist, to his wardrobe; pulling out a shirt and trouser.

I felt the urge to apologise but then, what did I do wrong? What I said was the truth and like the saying says: the truth is bitter. If we were going to live together, he had to start accepting the truth for that was what he was going to be hearing.

"I'm sorry." I blurted out finally.

"There's no problem. It's normal." He replied to me while buttoning his shirt. "But you should still come to the party just to try, and if you don't like it, then you can do what you like."

"I'm sorry I can't." I sighed. "We have a group study tomorrow. I need to get enough sleep this night to prepare for tomorrow."

"Scholiloo! Scholar. I want to be like you when I grow up o." He laughed and I smiled a little. His phone vibrated and he looked at it.

"Alright then, I'll get going. My friends are here. See you tomorrow." He said and I nodded. "You're coming with me next Friday to a party. You know you owe me?" He opened the door.

"How?" I yelled.

"You just apologized to me. Don't you want your apology to be accepted?" He yelled back as I heard his retreating steps. I sunk into the bed and sighed. I noticed I sighed a lot in this room than I had ever done. Tony was insufferable.