CAMPUS PAROL EPISODE 5 We both gazed at each other, overwhelmed with the guilt of my roommates death. I tried to figure out who might be knocking but all effort failed. “Please who is there?” I politely asked. “Is Emeka in?” The unknown person asked. “No, he’s not.” I dismissed the fellow. I was no longer comfortable with Bayo hanging out with me. I am still safe since no one knew about me being present where the gun was shot, I thought. I decided to take actions immediately, separating the cord that glued us together. “Bayo, I want to take my bath now.” I graciously said to discharge him out of my room. “Ok. Don’t stay too longer.” “You are funny” I said and asked, ”how does my bath have to do with you?” “Nothing. I just want us to be together.” I replied and grinned. Giving him a reply would only broaden the conversation and make my intentions known, so I ignored him. I undressed leaving only my pant on. I gazed at Bayo whose neck is tilted at an angle of depression. I tried to ascertain what he was lost looking at by matching his eyeball to the exact direction. I quickly did. I was shocked to find out that he was staring at the shape of the object bulging out of my pant. I swiftly grabbed my towel and wrapped it around my waist to disrupt his disgusting view; ‘I am gay’ isnt written on his forehead. I decided to pick my clothes, my sneaker, my bag and forge out of the room. “Are you going to the bathroom with all those?” He asked with a bewildered look pointing to all I was holding. I looked at all I was holding and replied, “Yes. Any problem? That’s how I do my thing.” I left him wondering. I dropped my clothes, shoe and bag on a bench in front of the bathroom. I picked up a bucket and strolled down stairs to fetch water. I arrived to meet other guys ready to fetch water at the tap. They lined up their buckets like primary school pupils on assembly. My bucket was seventh on the queue and the water was dropping out of the tap like someone crying; too slow. I had no choice than to hang around and wait for my turn to fetch. I decided to join a guy who sat quietly on a short abandoned tank. “I am Banji.” I said, stretching forth my hand for a hand shake. “Buhari.” He replied, accepting my hand shake. “What are those guys arguing about?” I asked, pointing to some guys gathered chatting. “Haven’t you heard?” “Heard what?” I asked. “That some people were killed at Obasanjo hall yesterday.” He replied concerned. “I didnt o.” I lied and asked, “How did it happen?” “I heard it was a guy that shot his roommate. People heard him shoot twice yesterday night.” “I guess he must have been arrested by now, huh?” I cajoled him for more information. “No o! The guy ran away.” He sadly replied. “That guy own don finish because he is already rusticated even before facing the police.” “But we can’t be so sure if he was the one who shot his roommate.” I tried defending Bayo. “Free advice Banji, don’t talk about the case o, else you will implicate yourself.” Buhari adviced. “It’s a murder case and the school won’t take it trivially.” “Ok. I won’t. Thanks bro for the advice.” Buhari stood up, we shook and he went to fix his bucket under the tap, he was next. I kept brooding over what Buhari said for minutes before it got to my turn to fetch water. I fetched and hurried to the bathroom to bath. I dressed up and prepared myself in the bathroom. I tiptoed like a thief towards my room to confirm if Bayo was still present, I peeped through the window and saw him lying on my bed. I quickly retreated, spread my towel on the railing of the corridor and set out. I walked towards the school security office to report the case to them. I wasnt ready to be implicated and thereafter rusticated. I increased my pace every time I remembered Buhari’s advice. Police vans all over the place. I got to the security office seeing a lot of people gathered and scattered in respectively. I was scared, so scared that I thought to myself to go back. How can I go back when am almost an active participant of the crime action? I asked myself. Letting the security men aware of the criminal will keep me on a safe side, I supposed. I moved closer to the building and walked to a man dressed in the school security uniform. “Good morning, Mr Okanlawon.” I greeted. He surprisingly looked at me and asked, “how did you know my name?” “Your name tag Sir.” I replied, pointing to his chest. “Ok. Good morning.” He said and questioned, “what can I do for you?” “I want to see the Chief Security Officer.” I calmly said. “CSO? He is busy, so busy.” He replied. “Perhaps, students arent allowed here by this time.” “Please Sir, It is urgent and very important.” “Ok. What’s you name?” “Banji.” “Wait, am coming.” While I sat under a tree outside the security office waiting for Mr Okanlawon to return, I saw Kofo from afar walking along side with a boy to class. Kofo and the boy were too close to be just friends. I grabbed my phone in a jiffy and dialed her number while I fixed my eyes on her. She answered the call. “Kofo, where are you?” I bossily asked. “I am where I am.” She replied me. “Kofo, I said where are you?” I asked again with a deeper voice. She hung up the call and they both giggled. I guess they were making jest of me. I felt so bad. Should I go after her or should I wait for Mr Okanlawon to return? My mind couldnt help but pick the former. I ran like a jambite who’s late for exam just to catch up with them. I called her attention but she intentionally deafened up. I moved closer and tapped her on the shoulder. “Kofo, are you deaf?” I angrily said. “Don’t you know I was calling you?” “Young man, are you mad?” The unknown guy defended her. “Why shout on her?” “David, please leave him alone.” Kofo said, “Let’s hear what he has to say. Am listening, talk.” I shook my head in pity and said, “Kofo, you have the guts to talk to me like this?” “How did I talk to you?” Kofo smirked and said. “Guess you have lost your manners and your very sense of reasoning. You slapped me yesterday and you’re here telling me nonsense. Perhaps, I thought someone gave you a message when you called yesterday. If you want a reminder, you will sure get one now.” “Kofo, calm down please.” David said, turning her body to face him, just to calm her down. “David, please leave me alone. Let me give him the word he needs to hear.” She furiously said, pushing herself away from him. I stood like a pole, folded my arms staring at Kofo and her assistant boyfriend, David. If you’re so hungry to hear embarrassing words, then hurt a girl and act innocent thereafter. I was not as angry with Kofo with the way my anger indicated fire for David. I’m not as handsome as Mr Nigeria but I am also not as ugly as David. I still wonder why Kofo would substitute me for ‘lepacious’ David. If truly Kofo has feelings for David, then it’s obviously not for his physical look but something concealed. I patiently stood still like a figurine to hear all she has to say. “You slapped me with your dirty hands. I am not as cheap as you think.” She yelled. “Oh Oh Oh I get, because I never made you pass through hell was what gave you the effrontery to think I am cheap. You slapped me. Banji, you slapped me.” David looked at Kofo, who held her cheek to portray her words and said, “Kofo, he slapped you?” “Yes. He slapped me.” “You mean this standing here slapped you?” David asked with a furious tone, emphasizing on each word. “Yes O. He slapped my face yesterday night. Yesterday night O.” David shifted his focus to me while I fixed my eyes on him. He paused for some seconds, I still remained calm. He moved closer to me and said, “You must be a fool to slap her.” “David, No don’t go there.” Kofo defended. “I never said you should abuse him.” “No No Kofo let me talk. He’s a fool to have slapped you.” He yelled again. “No cool guy slaps a lady.” “You don’t have the right to call him a fool, not even because of me.” I smile and walked away while they both were talking. I really don’t blame David, he is trying to be her super man. I was so pained and embarrassed. My head was bowed while walking back to the security office. “Banji! Banji!” Kofo shouted my name to gain my attention but I didn’t look back. “MB! MB! MB!” She bellowed my pet name, MB which means ‘My Bobo’, but my ears where already stuck with the whole heap of abuses. I walked faster to signal her not to try chasing after me. Kofo is another issue, let me shift to a more pressing issue, the murder case, I said to myself. I got to the security office to see Mr Okanlawon in front of the entrance. I moved closer to him to restate my request. “Erm Sir!” I said raising my index finger to explain the reason for my temporary exit. “What?! Just go away, the CSO is not on seat.” He quickly interrupted to dismiss me. “Sir Please. Am sorry for leaving without telling you.” I pleaded. “You are not serious.” He said. “What do you want me to tell my Oga now? After he don commot to see you the first time.” “Sir, am so sorry.” “I can’t help you today agian o. Maybe you go come back tomorrow.” “Erm Sir! I know about the death.” I was saying when Mr Okanlawon interrupted. “You killed the student, abi?” He said with his eyes bulging out. His bulging eyes alone got me so scared like a horror scene. I took to my heels as fast as I could when Mr Okanlawon went in to raise a false alarm about me killing the victims. I immediately experienced how the computer works in the real sense because I was running and thinking at the same time; I was multitasking. I was thinking of Buhari’s advice: Free advice Banji, don’t talk about the case o, else you will implicate yourself. It’s a murder case and the school won’t take it trivially. I kept running like a man who has his important documents in a burning building. I instantly began to pray. I intensified the heat of my prayer when I heard the siren of the police van all around. It all looked like a film I watched recently, forty four minutes; a criminal being chased by the police. I knew it was over when I heard loudly the siren of the police. It was so loud to deny how close they already were to me. I looked behind to confirm if my mind and my ears were still on good terms, horrifically they still were. I decided to halt and surrender, so I turned around, raised my hands relinquishing all Ive got. I was surprised to see the police van pass by me. I was still standing like a slowpoke with my hands still raised up because I was still suffering from the shock that the police werent after me. I foolishly went back to the security office to accomplish my set goal. I kept snuffing out the still small voice that kept telling me to retreat away from the whole issue. I have to get myself out of this mess, I murmured. I got to the security office and walked boldly in, Mr Okanlawon was no where around. I approached another security personnel. “Sir, Please I want to see the Chief Security Officer.” I gently requested. “For what?” “He asked me to come see him.” I lied to gain access to him. “Wait, am coming.” He left me while I sat on a bench waiting. I was praying that Mr Okanlawon doesnt come into play at the time because he is an illiterate. He almost implicated me without hearing me out. I brightened up when I saw the security man coming back. “You may go in now.” He said and directed me. “Go left, then turn right. The first room by your left is his office.” “Thank you sir.” I appreciated and walked on. My heart was producing some musical rhythm, beating faster than ever. I don’t know how I would explain the whole incident to the chief security officer. I shrugged off and decided to go with the flow. I knocked on the door, to hear a deep voice roared at me to come in. I thought to myself, that deep voice is one of the criteria for appointing someone as a security officer because the two other security officers I met have the same depth in their voices. “Good morning sir!” I greeted, bowing my head. The CSO looked at his wrist watch and responded, “Good afternoon.” I quickly checked around his office for a wall clock to confirm the hour of the day because I wasnt wearing my wrist watch. I confirmed the time and corrected myself, “Good afternoon sir!” “Sit down.” I sat and said, “Thank you sir.” “I can’t remember seeing this face.” He said, “you told the security that I asked you to come?” “Yes sir. Erm---er--erm sir.” I stuttered. “Calm down boy. Ok, fine. What can I do for you?” “Sir, I have an information to give you sir.” “Go on. Go ahead.” He said, adjusting his chair forward. “Sir, about the gun shot that occurred yesterday night.” “Ehn Ehn go on.” He sound so interested. “I know who shot the gun.” I fearfully said. “Are you serious?!” He yelled, banging his desk hard with his hand. “Sir! Please, am not the one.” I quickly explained. He calmed down, reduced his tone and said, “I never said you’re the one. I was only asking how sure are you.” “Ok Sir. I am very sure who shot the gun.” “Wow, am happy. Please go on. Am listening.” He said, nodding his head and smiling. “Wait. What will you drink? Fanta?” “No sir. I am ok.” I lied because of a truth I needed that fanta now or never; I was so parched after the dash from the police. I prayed he insisted for me to drink, I would grab the opportunity this time. “No. At least take water.” He changed my choice of drink. He was about pulling a call through when I cut in, “Sir, please the fanta will do.” He smiled and ordered for a bottle of fanta and two bottles of water. I was glad deep down in my heart. I learnt a little lesson for that moment, that many have settled for less because they were shy. I wouldnt let that be me, may God never turn my fanta to water, I prayed silently. “Before we continue, what’s your name?” He asked still smiling. “Sir, I am Banji.” “Hmm. Baaaannnnjjjjjjiiiiii!” He stressed my name. “What Sir?” I asked inquisitively. “That’s my son’s name too. Banji.” He said, “ok, continue with the information.” “The person that shot the gun is Bayo, one of my friends.” “Wait a second.” He said, opening his drawer to get a pen and a jotter. “Please continue.” “We were together yesterday night when he shot Chinedu and Emeka.” “Why? Why did he shoot them?” He interrogated further. “The four of us had little misunderstanding and we all engaged in a fight. I was beaten and I lay weak on the floor when I heard him shoot.” “Hmmmm. That’s cruel.” He said and asked, “where is the Bayo presently?” “He is in my room.” I said boldly. I never knew I had already set my knicker ablaze. The CSO looked at me lividly like someone who lost a lottery he spent his last money on. “So you’re harboring a criminal all the while!” He angrily yelled. “No Sir. It’s not like that Sir.” I tried explaining. “It’s like how boy? It’s like how? Tell me.” He kept yelling loud when two security personnel rushed in; Mr Okanlawon was among the two. They saluted and Mr Okanlawon asked, “Any problem sir?” “Okanlawon!” The CSO called. “Sir!” He shouted, saluted and stood at attention. “Take this boy to his room and bring him back with his friend.” He commanded. “Ok Sir!” Mr Okanlawon shouted. “Permission to carry on, Sir?” “Permission granted.” The CSO dismissed them. “Bloody boy! Jump up!” The other security man shouted at me. I turned around to come in contact with Mr Okanlawon, who quickly explained to the CSO, that I was the one who ran away after confessing I was the criminal. The CSO just couldn’t wait to see me return with Bayo, so he waved at eye servicing Mr Okanlawon to get out and do as he had commanded. I was driven in the school security van to my hall to fetch Bayo. I was moving slowly ahead of the two security men attached to me. I will sure get out of this when I hand Bayo over to you, I assured myself. We all climbed the stairs and walked through the corridor to my room. We got to my room, I opened the door while the two were outside. I shouted Bayo’s name but I got no response. I checked the two segments of the room, still I didnt find him. Bayo was gone. I still didnt believe he was not in the room, so I began to search odd places for him. I opened my locked wardrobe, I checked under the bed, I peep inside the flask. I kept searching for him as if he was an object. “You are wasting our time o.” Mr Okanlawon yelled. “Am coming sir.” I replied, frightened. I quickly dialed his mobile number but it wasnt reachable, I guess he must have switched it off. Where could Bayo be? I asked myself and thought for some seconds. While I was still busy thinking, Mr Okanlawo entered my room, I swiftly pretended to be on call. Mr Okanlawon watched me move around the room yelling at the anonymous receiver. Banji, this is how madness starts, I almost said. I was busy lying to myself, acting one-man drama and using the opportunity to think of where Bayo could be. I turned and looked at Mr Okanlawon whose face was already squeezed in anger. I paused the drama by ending the fake call. “Do you know you are wasting our time?” Mr Okanlawon angrily said. “Am sorry Sir.” I apologized. “I was talking with that my friend.” “Ehn Ehn, what’s my business?” He replied, still with an angry face. “He said he’s in class at the moment.” I lied. “Oya let’s go to your class.” That was the only place I think Bayo could be for several reasons. Bayo doesnt miss classes, that made him one of the geniuses in our class. The other reason being that there’s a lecture going on presently at the department. I suppose to be in class, yet am parading around the school with two old men, I almost said. I entered the security van off to my department. I couldnt help but pray I see Bayo. How I wish I could turn the hands of time backwards, I thought again. “My spirit dey tell me sey na you kill that student.” Mr Okanlawon blindly accused. I kept mute and just concentrated on my silent prayer. The car parked and we all alighted. I couldnt perceive any of my course mate around, so I hastened my steps to the lecture room. The two security men maintained a close gap, thinking I would flee. The lecture room was unusually quiet, so I peeped through the window to get wind of what’s happening. I saw every Tom, Dick, and Harry writing. It wasnt yet clear to me until I looked at the white board. Test! Test was written boldly on the board. I missed another test again. I felt my life has completely ended. I wished I could exchange myself for Emeka. I wanted to died. I couldnt go in to take the test because of the Goliaths behind me. “You no see am?” Mr Okanlawon asked. “I know sey you no go see am. Liar!” “Abeg make we dey go.” The other security personnel added. They ushered me into the van again and zoomed off to their office. I wished I could take my life at that time. My life was already in a mess. Bayo was no where to be found, I missed another crucial test and I haven’t tasted any meal or drink since morning. Who have I wronged? I have known no peace for two days now, I ruminated. The van finally parked. We alighted and I was taken to the CSO. We entered his office to meet him eating. We were about excusing him when he asked us to stay back. He abandoned his meal, drank water to signal he was ready. I steadily gazed at the bottle of fanta on his table. That was meant for me, I almost said. He cleared his throat to get all our attention. “Okanlawon, what happened?” The CSO asked. “Where is the other boy?” “Oga Sir, We no see the boy for him room.” Mr Okanlawon replied. Furiously the CSO yelled, “Are you joking?” “No Sir. We even go him department, we no see still am.” Mr Okanlawon said. “Oga Sir, this boy sabi lie. He tell us sey the boy dey class. We reach, we no see am.” The CSO gazed at me cruelly and said, “Banji, what have you to say?” With a pitying look I replied, “Sir, can I talk to you in private?” Mr Okanlawon and his fellow were asked to wait outside. I never thought I would go through all these trouble. “Am listening. Go on.” The CSO urged. With tears dribbling from my cheeks, I said, “Sir, I swear with my life that I didnt harbor Bayo in my room. Bayo is a cult member Sir. He and his gang kidnapped me so I won’t reveal their secrets. These all happened yesterday night Sir.” “So how do you manage to escape from them?” He asked, not believing me still. “Sir, I struggled my way out Sir.” “And you want me to believe that?” “Sir, Please Sir. That’s the truth Sir.” I said crying bitterly. I’m yet to figure out what ministered to the CSO when he said, “Wipe your tears Banji.” That sentence fueled the engine that produces tears in me. I cried more and more aloud. I never stopped until he angrily commanded me to. I wiped my face vigorously without an evidence that I cried. “Sit down.” He said. I sat and replied, “Thank you Sir.” He pushed his leftover meal to me and pointed at the bottle of fanta and said, “That’s yours.” At first I felt shy, I was romancing the food with the spoon but immediately the CSO got engrossed on his laptop, I gobbled all the food within seconds. The noise that came from scratching the plate with the spoon for the last grains of rice got the attention of the CSO. “Are you through?” He asked surprised. “Yes Sir.” I replied, licking my soiled lips, the food was very delicious. “So fast?” I smiled and replied, “Yes Sir.” I immediately gulped the fanta, I finished it in a jiffy. I almost vomited all that I have ingested when the CSO called Mr Okanlawon to go detain me in the guardroom. I wanted to cry but I was too chock-full to weep. Mr Okanlawon ushered me to a dark room and closed the door. I rested my head on the door to pacify when I heard a rumbled voice welcomed me. I was agitated. I turned around and was shocked with whom I saw. WATCHOUT FOR EPISODE 6
Posted on: Sun, 17 Aug 2014 12:13:41 +0000
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