Twist Of Fate

Chapter 9

Dayo went to Folake’s house the next day,

She was in with her mother when he sent her younger brother to call her and he did,

She was wearing a long trouser and a long sleeve polo,

When she saw him she wanted to go back inside but he called her back.

“What did you tell Eni?” Dayo asked her,

He was angry,

She has never seen him this angry before.

“You told her that I’m your boyfriend right,

What’s wrong with you Folake?

Did I ever tell you I like you?” He asked her,

“But you met me first Dayo,

Why her?

You met me first…”

Dayo wanted to slap her but that would be going against his principle not to ever beat any woman,

So he left her.

“This would be the last time I’m warning you,

Stay away from Enitan or else this Lagos won’t be comfortable for me and you.” He warned her,

Before she could say anything,

He left and went into his car,

Then he drove off immediately,

Folake watched him with both anger and surprise as he drove away.

What’s so special about that miserable orphan that made everyone like her?

She asked herself as she went back into the compound and stormed into their house,

She will deal with Enitan later.

Mrs. Okawe accompanied Enitan to the market to get what she would need for school,

A new bag and a few new clothes, bags and sandals,

They bought a student's mattress and a few bedsheets, a new stove, a plastic chair and a few other things she would need for her stay in school.

Enitan even introduced Mrs. Okawe to her customer who she bought fairly used clothes and bedsheets from,

The were all second grade and cheap but very fancy and beautiful,

Mrs. Okawe decided she would be getting hers there instead of going to the main market to buy new ones and before you know it,

They've either faded or torn.

The day school resume,

Like every other student,

Enitan went to the school alone,

She wanted to have everything sorted out before bringing her stuffs.

Whilst all the first year student were queued up in the school administration office for a brief information and to get their designated allotment,

Enitan listening to the woman who was briefing them when she felt someone tap her from behind,

She turned to meet a quite unfamiliar face.

"Hi,

You're Enitan Aghedo right?" The girl asked her,

Enitan nodded and the girl gave a warm smile,

"I'm Christabel....

Remember me?" The girl asked her,

Enitan shook her head,

"The girl from Eagle's Height College,

The one you sat with on that inter-school math competition last year." She explained to Enitan and she smiled.

"Oh it's you,

How're you doing?" She asked the girl,

"I'm fine,

How's your mother?

Remember you told me she was sick then,

How's she?"

Enitan stopped smiling,

"She died." She said sadly,

The girl was surprised,

She closed her mouth with both her palms and her eyes widened with shock.

"I'm so sorry dear,

So how do you cope now?" She asked concern filled,

"Well I'm on scholarship to study here and I'm grateful for that." Enitan said to the girl whose face melt into a smile,

"What course?"

"Business Administration and Management."

"Well me I'm taking Political Science..."

"Christy!" Someone called her,

Both Enitan and the girl turned to see another girl,

She'd a worried look on her face.

"I was looking for you since a and here you're..."

"Franca meet Enitan,

Enitan meet Franca." Christabel introduced both girls.

Enitan brought her hand for a handshake but Franca ignored her,

Then turned to Christabel,

"Let's go already,

Your dad is waiting for us."

She took Christabel's hand.

"See you around Eni," Christabel said as Franca dragged her away,

The she turned to Franca,

"That was very rude of you,

You should have just said hi."

"And why,

Who's she anyways?" Franca sighed and went down the pavement, leaving Christabel to decide whether to come or not.

After the whole registration process,

Enitan was given her hostel room where she would be sharing it with another girl, a year three student of Mass Communication.

That evening Okawe drove Enitan to the school with all her properties and she helped her set everything,

Her roommate, Sandra came back later that evening and cleared some space for Enitan to put her stuffs,

The girl had a student refrigerator and a cupboard.

After setting everything,

Mrs. Okawe left after giving Enitan few words of advice,

It was now her in the new world,

A whole new world and she’s left to paddle her boat in what way seems best for her.

Soon studies kicked off and Enitan was in the circle again,

She would wake up early and use the bathroom before any other person,

She would get dressed when her roommate is still sleeping and she would prepare breakfast,

Eat hers and keep Sandra's own in her flask,

Then she would leave for lectures.

During her free time,

She would visit the school library and spend a lot of time there reading,

Then she would return in the evening,

Prepare dinner, eat her and keep Sandra's own,

She usually take her shower when the other girls are done.

Sandra was mostly not around cause most times,

She stays in her boyfriend's hostel,

So Enitan hardly sees her,

She comes back late at night and would just eat and sleep till the next morning.

Most times while she is around,

A few of her friends comes to visit her,

While they are around,

Enitan either goes out or she sleep or better still she bury her head with her books,

Although most of the girls who come to visit talk to her,

They tell her they either like the top she was wearing or the design of her bedsheets or whatever she has on,

She would tell them she has someone who sells them and if they interested she would bring for them at affordable prices.

A few of Sandra's male friends visits just to see the Enitan Sandra won't stop talking about and almost all of them wants to date her,

But when Sandra talks about it,

She blatantly refuse and reject their advances.

Soon it was time for Christmas break,

Enitan made a few notes of things around her and how other students behaves,

The type of clothes they wore and what they liked most,

She made a complete list and came to a resolution which would take effect by their second semester.

That December,

Enitan stayed in Lagos while Mrs. Okawe and her family traveled to Edo State to spend the Christmas,

While at Lagos,

She went to her customers who sold clothes and night market,

She bought a few clothes,

Not for herself but for sale.

She bought bedsheets and pillow cases which she washed thoroughly and sent them to a laundromat for pressing and packaging,

Thereafter she kept them in another box and waited for school to resume so she could sell them to those students who find hers attractive.

For New Year,

Enitan spent the whole day eating, sleeping and reading,

She didn't visit anyone and only called Mrs. Okawe and her family which she wished happy new year and she talked to the kids who said they miss her especially Osas.

School resume earlier than expected and like always Mrs. Okawe drove Enitan to school that day,

Sandra wasn't back,

So Enitan took it and opportunity to clean the room and dust everywhere.

When she was done,

She brought out the clothes she'd bought and kept them on the bed,

She wanted to arranged them somewhere else when she heard a knock on the door,

She stood up to get it,

It was Larry, one of Sandra's boyfriend and he was with a girl.

"Hey Eni,

How far?" Larry asked her,

She faked a smile and told him fine,

Then greeted the girl he was with,

"Is Sandy not back?" Larry asked,

The girl who was with him caught sight of the clothes on the bed and left him,

"Are you selling them?" She asked Enitan and she nodded.

She bent down and started selecting a few clothes,

She took two baggy jean trousers and four tops,

Then took one bedsheet.

"How much for all of them?" She asked Enitan,

"Well for the trousers,

We all know baggy jeans are quite expensive but because it's you,

I'll sell those two four thousand five instead of five thousand,

The bedsheets is one five and those tops are seven hundred each."

The girl looked at the trousers,

The one she bought earlier from the boutique didn't last before it tore badly,

But Enitan's own seem stronger and it was better.

"Okay, I’ll take it.

Let me do transfer for you cause I don't have cash."

Enitan nodded and gave the girl her account number and she did the transfer immediately,

Larry just stop by and watched both ladies.

"If you would go again,

Buy me extra jeans,

I'll pay you." The girl told Enitan as she wrapped the clothes for her in a bigger bag,

"And try buying boy's shirt too,

I need it and have a few friends who would patronize you." Larry told her as he left with the girl,

Enitan nodded and shut the door after them.

Enitan sold almost all her clothes before that week finished and she regretted not buying much,

The next week school kicked off properly and everyone was back even Sandra,

Enitan was coming back from lectures one evening, when she met Christabel.

"Enitan how far?"

The girl rushed to her beaming with smile,

"I'm fine, how’re you?"

"I'm good.

Wait,

Where's your hotel?" Christabel asked her,

"Southern Wing,

The last room." Enitan replied her,

"Wait are you roommate with Sandra?" Christabel asked her,

She nodded.

"Wow,

Sandra is my cousin." Christabel exclaimed,

"She's the cousin to my cousin." She explained,

Enitan just smiled,

"Let's have lunch,

My friend isn't back yet so we've nothing to eat."

Before Enitan could say anything,

Christabel took her hands and left her to the cafeteria.

"What do you want to eat?" She asked her,

"Better still,

Why don't we go to my hostel and let's use this money to prepare something else than squander it here." Enitan said,

Christy didn't argue,

As long as Enitan would be the one cooking,

She doesn't have a problem.

That afternoon,

Enitan prepared yam and egg sauce for Christabel,

They kept Sandra's own and ate theirs,

She couldn't stop praising Enitan's good cooking skills and even aired it to Sandra when she came that she was going to steal Enitan from her very soon.

That night,

Sandra didn't sleep in the room,

So Christy decided to spend the night with Enitan,

The two ladies got down to talking and Christy told her about her roommate and how they live in their room.

"Your is better at least Sandra doesn't meddle into your affair or take your stuffs and not return them,

Franca takes my stuffs without my permission,

Go through my bag when she needs money.

She doesn't cook or clean,

She would always wait for me to buy food outside so she'll eat,

I really like her but most times her behavior just annoys me." She complained.

Enitan just frowned,

"But that's not good,

Have you tried talking to her about it?

You maybe you guys should talk and resolve to something,

Like who would do the cooking or better still not eat together...."

"I've tried to stop giving her my stuffs or lie to her that I have no cash on me but when she starts complaining,

I just feel bad and soon I'll give in."

"Then you need to harden up,

Don't leave cash around,

Use your ATM card or better still look for someone you would transfer to and that person would give you cash but that's when you really need the money.

Have your privacy sometimes,

Don't be too open and too generous,

If you try it for a week, you’ll see,

She'll stop latching unto you." Enitan advised her,

Christy nodded,

She'll do just what Enitan has asked her to do.