The First Time

Chapter 6

  Chapter 6

  Many bonds of relationships got broken as soon as they sprouted. These became possible after the curiosity and the fire in their loins had exhausted its heat. It was not a common sight to observe the expression of long faces on parties that were once aflame with each other now on odd terms. The victims of such relationships at most are the girls who end up more wounded at heart than they had envisaged.

     In their unguarded bid for attention and acceptance from persons of the opposite s*x, they offer themselves at a giveaway price. They soon discover to their utter dismay that they had only felled victims to the predatory s*x-mongers of their male partners. 

     It doesn’t matter if it was he or she either way they both were casualties of romance.                                 

     Kelvin’s colleagues at the lodge considered him often as the bad boy in their midst. He was taken as being too conservative and not stirred by some of their weird fanfares which they indulge themselves in the name of having fun. In the case of such fanfares, he did not take pleasure in being judgemental of whatever it is they were at. He simply takes a walk from their midst whenever he senses that things were no longer moving as planned. To be sincere, those fanfares were a minor occurrence compared to the other wholesome engagements. Nonetheless, they were enough to compromise him. 

     In spite of their different views about him, he was admired and respected by them. A good number of them understood each time he had to explain himself out―why he had excused himself from some activities which he did not feel comfortable with. Even at that, others were not convinced that he was for real. They see no reason why he opts to deprive himself of having some funs which in their view he deserved. He felt tempted to have a feel–of– the-fun not once or twice but on many occasions. He found himself trapped in the carefree lifestyle prevalent on the campus and the lodge where he now lives. Yet, out of his inner struggle to keep virtuous―it was a heartbreaking fight. It was either he succumbs to the pressures or he goes on torturing his mind against his fleshy feelings.

     Kelvin knew he must keep chaste. He wants to keep chaste. Yes, that had been his decision which he was predetermined to uphold but not without a hard fight. He came close to breaking apart under pressure on several occasions. He was almost swept off his feet by the suggestive approach of his female colleagues though not in the lodge itself. Who would have known what he did? Who could have queried him if he had decided to lay any lascivious girl? Was he not man enough to live his life the way he wants it, yes, follow after his heart? He could have discovered how fun it would be to be in bed with any willing girl. Why would he be having this terrible feeling of losing out on something? Ordinary suggestive eye contact was enough to get a bedmate of the opposite s*x. Could he afford to breach a contract with his conscience? Was he normal? Was he just afraid of being caught out and losing face at the end? If the opportunity presented itself in a secluded place where no one knew him or his partner in sin will bury their secret her, would he still keep up with his stance? He would on several occasions found himself pondering these over in his mind. But for his conscience, he rather dares not.

      He had always believed that it was a man that takes the first step towards getting the attention of a woman. But he was wrong in many cases as he soon discovered that sometimes it’s the girls that initiate the first step now. Some are tactical in their approach. Others were not. That came as a surprise to him judging from his previous orientation and what the culture had laid before his society. He soon got over that as part of the ever-changing culture as we all try to acclimatize with the surprises of modern lifestyle as defined in high institutions.

   Yes, everyone wants to have a regular girlfriend or boyfriend to date. There was that natural tendency, to long for attention and feel wanted by the person of the opposite s*x. This is more so with someone whom you would want to spend your life with. No one has a monopoly on his or her emotions and that of the other person. Emotions and feelings could run so high when unchecked particularly under some prevailing circumstances. Everyone seemed to be falling in love and out of love. Such was the case with events at the lodge, the British Lodge.

    Kelvin had noted how a fellow lodge mate was beginning to grow thin at an alarming rate that he decided to pry into the matter. He tried to get to the root of the matter by asking him. He had known him as a healthy boy full of life. He had attributed the sudden change in him to the usual economic imbalance. The lodge mate said he was fine. The response was not convincing enough to Kelvin. It is a general disease common to students. A good number had to struggle to feed well even as they have to sit up with their studies in college. This is not notwithstanding the dare cost of education in the country.

    It was his roommate Iyke who had overheard him making the enquires had in his usual jesting way threw to light what had been the matter with Onoo.

     “Kelvin so much cared about Onoo that he wants to know what’s the hell was wrong with him,” He had a sarcastic smile that lighted his broad face and about him.

     Iyke bent over the plastic bucket in which he had been doing his laundry. “Onoo, you’re growing too thin these days please what’s the matter?” he gave a mockery shout at Onoo.

    The boy passed them by. They were about eight boys in number. They were sitting on the stepped pavements by the side of the main building. It was overlooking their own side of the apartment―a boys’ quarter of six rooms adjacent to the side of the main building.

     Onoo ignored him and made straight for the 19th numbered room of the main building facing the boy’s quarter. He climbed the stepped pavement and began to knock on the iron burglarproof in front of the balcony immediately after the room. That was the room apartment of Kolia and her roommate Sofia.

     In the student lodge, a free mix of pidgin English and conventional English was an order of the day in their everyday communication.

     “Onoo leave Kolia for God’s sake and for your own good too!” Iyke added. It was an almost yell at Onoo.

     “Iyke what’s your business between the two?” It was Alaska’s voice who feigned a righteous concern. Even at that, he was trying to put a check on the choking laughter he was struggling with.

     “See you Alaska. I’m beginning to suspect you. You’re a child of mischief,” came Peter’s voice. He reprimanded his friend Alaska for being inciting with his false pretense.

     “Hey, you Peter—eem Mr. doggy-master. I didn’t call you over,” retorted Alaska still struggling with fits of laughter.

     “I don’t know whether we are going to worry over the two of these brats or over Iyke’s ill comment on Onoo. Why wouldn’t the two of you let us be, to solve one issue one at a time before creating another scenario, enh?” Kristor lashed at the two friends even with a smile.

     “Kristor my man, let’s not quarrel. Don’t mind this pimp. Soap and water,” Alaska now laughing loud and jeering at Peter.

     “Alaska, if you ever call me a pimp again or even soap and water, I would blast you!” threatened Peter who was beginning to smile in spite of himself.

     “Blast me, Mr. Dog. I want to go to heaven sooner. In fact, if you dare make a noise now," he paused. "I wouldn’t mind calling you a pimp or a soap and water,” retorted Alaska once more as everyone began to laugh including Peter himself.

     Peter was a big fan of the music celebrities Snoop Dog and MasterP, hence the dog master acronym. He had on several occasions for whatever reason did not take his bath but instead washed only his arms, head, and legs with soap and water. The same way the Muslims do before prayer though without soap. Alaska nicknamed him soap and water on that. Soap and Water was another acronym for m**********n which Peter has been known for.

     “Both of you want to interrupt what I was saying earlier…,” Iyke was saying when Mekus cuts in.

     “Onoo leave Kolia alone or ease…,”

     “Or what?” shouted everyone in a chorus.

     “Or ease…in chort, I don’t know what to tell you,” Replied Mekus reluctantly.

     “Was he struggling with the word in short?” Kristor mocked Mekus.

     The indigenous people of Anambra origin have an accent in their mother tongue. They always struggle with some letters of the alphabet. For example, the letter (L) could be pronounced as (r), (c) as (s).