The First Time

Chapter 9

As time ticked away so fast. Kelvin became conscious of the fact that he had been under the scrutiny for some time, yes, under the critical eye of the storm. He knew like the back of his palms, that one day it was going to be his turn to be under the beaming spotlight. There was no way he was going to live in this promiscuous environment without a negative impact. If he escapes the ridicules for what he stood for, he will no doubt be tempted to test his mettle. In an honest appraisal of things, He also knew that his stance would not go unchallenged by those who take no for an answer. He waited patiently for the day of reckoning. While he waits, he continued to bask and enjoyed the respect that was accorded his humble self.     

Out of curiosity and helpless admiration, everyone wants to be his friend and be of help to him. He gets the best of attention from anyone whom he seeks favor from. And he rarely asks but would be ever willing to share whatever that he had with whoever that cares for it. Everyone wants to borrow one or two things from him. Most end up holding on to it till he would pleadingly ask for it. Neither was he a social freak nor inept. It became a smart ploy by some female students to lure him to their rooms and lodges. This was a part of him he struggled to win over during the pre-degree program; paying female colleagues visits. For the nine months period of the pre-degree courses, he managed to enter only eight apartments out of the over twenty-roomed apartments. These were mostly those of the boy’s quarters where he lived with his fellow male colleagues in the lodge.     

In spite of that, he received more female visitors than he had visited. They came in their shapes and taste. Most came calling for a favor, especially on their academic problems. Others came to borrow something from him, only God knows when he is getting them back. These were to some extent fallout of his reserved nature or rather his deliberate reluctance not to pay them attention.

                                                                KELVIN AND IYKE

     “Kelvin,” a female voice called him as he closed the little gate of the lodge behind him. He turned around to see his roommates’ girlfriend Patricia.     

     “Where went Iyke?” he asked her after exchanging pleasantries.     

     “Oh, he told me to inform you that he would be traveling and wouldn’t be back till the next day,”  

     “Really, I hope all is well?”     

     “Kelvin, you should know. The guy is broke,”     

     “He never hinted that to me and why are you telling me if he couldn’t do that himself. Did he suddenly discover his pocket flat?”     

     “You’re asking me? Please, open the door,”     

He opened the door to their one-room apartment and ushered her inside with the curtains drawn aside to let light rays into the semi-dark room. There was no public power supply within the area the pre-degree campus was sited except at the junction close to the asphalt road.     

     “Kelvin, I hope you’ve something to quench the gnarring hunger in my stomach,” she said as she sat down on Iykes’ bed.     

    “I would boil some rice for you. I cooked some stew in the morning before I left for class. How about that?”     

    “Could I survive till it’s done?” she laid on her stomach with her two legs raised backward to her bosom revealing the fair-complexioned skin of her legs.      

     “Sure. Would you manage some biscuits? I’ve some cabin biscuits. I hope that would do?”     

     "Ok....you must have some margarine there too..."     

     “Yeah, I still have some margarine and mayonnaises… enh, a can of Sprite,” he added. She jumped up with excitement. “Kelvin, you know some students are not equal...get me the mayonnaises instead,"     

     "Iyke can do more than this...moreover you're his girl. I'll always give you a special treat anytime," he said with a smile.     

     "Let me help you in boiling the rice,” she offered as she took the packages from his hand.             “Thanks for the kind gesture. It will be kind to allow you but permit me to honor my words to give you a special treat myself,”     

Kelvin was not comfortable allowing girls to cook his food on campus. She watched him silently for a while munching the biscuits laced with mayonnaise in her mouth. He had not for the first time brought himself to have a one-on-one interaction with her. He knew too well that she had been itching to have his attention. She was rather worried that he had not been nice or friendly with her. He had not even for one day called her by her name or had he cared to know if she does exist. Even her boyfriend felt slighted with the feeling that Kelvin did not like his girlfriend.     

     “You don’t fancy girls, do you Kelvin?” she looked him in the eyes squarely.     

     “You shouldn’t be here if I don’t like my fellow human’s male or female,”     

     “That’s not what I meant…I mean having an affair with a girl,”

Kelvin paused before he replied. “Not seen any reason why I should get involved seriously with any girl. That’s too risky an adventure,” There was a brief moment of silence. "Why do you ask?" Kelvin raised his eyes to stare at her.

She was cautious in her response, "Nothing, just curious...if you might be interested in... I mean girls," He moved his head from side to side. "Nope...am not into the fling thing,"

     "Are you not a guy?" she was engaging him. 

     "Maybe not like all guys,"

     "You are into guys but not girls?'

It now dawned on Kelvin where she was heading to. "Am a straight guy. I like females but am not into s*x-driven relationships," 

      “Good to hear that," she took a bite of the biscuit lased with mayonnaise. "You're a cute guy. And I like you. So I was wondering if you would like to take a risk with me,"

     "That's too much of a risk to consider. Thanks for the compliment anyway," 

     "You know life is all about risk-taking. Yet you can have some fun between such risky ventures,” she opened the caned Sprite.

     “I prefer risks that are worth it. If I end up with regrets over my risky actions would that be worth the adventure?”     

     “You’re too serious with life, Kelvin. There are calculated risks,”     

     “That didn’t answer my question,”     

     “You don’t find me attractive either, do you,” she ignored his persistence.

     "But you're my roommates' girl. That doesn't bother you?"

She chuckled at that. "Kelvin, you're a man. Am a woman. We're mature to find our ways that suites us. Cmon, don't you get it? Am not his only girlfriend,"

Kelvin nodded. "Friends with benefits, right?" he said. She gulped the drink.     

Not that Kelvin had anything against her. But he had been quick in ignoring any girl that has developed the slightest glint of attention on him. He preferred cordial friendships to intimate ones. His less caring attitude towards his female fans was more a protective strategy to safeguard himself. He was cautious developing any emotional attachment with anyone of them including Patricia. Look at her now hitting on him for a moment of pleasure at the slightest opportunity that came her way. It was not surprising why she had chosen the time. Her boo was not around till tomorrow. The lodge was as silent as a graveyard; they were the only two persons in it. But Kelvin didn’t like her and her boyfriend for one reason. He noted that both were cheating on each other.      

He had a strong nagging suspicion that Iyke and her girlfriend had on several occasions used his bed for their marathon-s*x romp. This happens each time he had been away or traveled out. His bed was cozier and more comfortable than that of his roommate. Kelvin had no concrete evidence to prove that, yet he could not be able to wave the possibility that it happened aside as easily as that. What convinced him of such possibility was that his cream bed sheet started having tiny dotted stains on it. These grew with time. He detested such a possibility! He would not be much worried though if in his absence he slept with his girlfriend in the room but not on his bed! Heaven would let loose.     

Kelvin’s relationship with Iyke was anything but cordial. They cooperated quite well with each other. They had no misunderstanding except once over house rent.

When Kelvin first got admitted into the pre-degree program, he was undecided where to live. He had wanted an apartment only for himself. He found that impossible. The cost was not favorable.     

He earlier had gotten a place to live at the cost of N8000 or $16 per annum. It was expensive for him even though he had paid an advance of N1000 to the caretaker Mr. Sunday Nwajiagu since the building was a new one though not yet ready. He had planned on sharing the rent with another student. It was a soon-to-be-finished building. He happened to be the first person making a deposit till when it was going to be completed. It had remained only the lavatory and fittings to complete the building. This means that students will have to be using the bushes for convenience purposes till when such facilities would be ready. That didn't sound ok to him. He also calculated how long it was going to take him to wait to be using the bushes and live alone before he could get a roommate. He decided to look for another apartment even though he had deposited N1000 which was never refunded to him by the caretaker Sunday Nwajiagu. He had confronted the caretaker as well as the owner of the house on one occasion. When his effort didn't yield fruit he reported the case to the Ufuma vigilante security outfit who didn't take any action over the issue. The vigilantes and Sunday Nwajiagu were pals and were compromised with interest.  Despite all his effort to have his money refunded, it came to naught. 

Kelvin made a change of mind on the day he had planned to pay up the balance for the lonely room in the lonely-newly built house. He dissuaded himself from doing so and began his search for another convenient place. He had gone into his present lodge and fortunate enough he met the Caretaker of the lodge, Papa Ugochukwu. Papa Ugo as the Caretaker was fondly called informed him of three vacant rooms yet unoccupied. There was still a room for which the occupant had paid only half the amount.

The first student had paid half the amount charged for the room. The student was agreeable to accommodate anyone who could pay up the other remaining said amount. Exactly what Kelvin was looking for.

The Caretaker asked him to pay for the remaining said amount of N2500 $5 per annum. Kelvin suggested he meet with his would-be roommate first before committing himself. An idea that was acceptable to the Caretaker.     It was Mekus who helped him locate Iyke who to his wildest shock inflated the price of the house rent to N5000 ($10). It was common knowledge and a common practice for some students to exploit their fellow students. This is done by inflating the actual rent of an apartment. The increase could be as high as a hundred to one thousand percent after having fully secured it themselves. Then, they can give it out to whomever that was agreeable with it. That is business anyways.