LOVE SCANDAL : My Professor's Secret

LOVE SCANDAL : Professor's Secret

CHAPTER 10: Sweeping Block C

I woke up by 5 AM next morning.

Not because I set alarm. Because fear wake me. Today I will sweep Block C. Whole department will watch nine points girl holding broom.

I wear old blue polo and black joggers, not skirt. I tie hair low and carry short broom and packer that Damola buy for me last night in market.

He wanted to follow me to school, but I say no. If professor follow student to sweep punishment, UNILORIN will carry new gist again.

I trek from hostel to Block C alone. Morning cold still dey. Road quiet. Only few cleaners sweeping.

When I reach Block C, everywhere was dirty. Pure water sachet, torn handouts, gala wrapper. One month punishment, but today dirt look like one year own.

I start sweeping. My waist pain me. My hand pain me.

By 6:15 AM, students start coming for 7 AM class. When they see me, they stop.

Na Amara.

The girl wey do query yesterday.

She dey sweep.

Some bring out phone to video. One girl from my class, Favour, run to me.

Amara, what happen, she say. Why you dey sweep.

Final warning punishment, I say, sweeping still.

Eya, she say. Sorry. You want make I help you sweep small before lecturer come.

No, I say. If panel see you help me, they will add another month.

She stand small, then go.

By 7 AM, Block C front clean small, but I am sweating like I run marathon. My polo done wet for back.

Then I hear car horn. Pim pim.

I look up. Damola Camry park far. He wind down glass and wave.

He did not come down. He just sit inside car, wearing face cap and sipping coffee from flask. He was watching me like bodyguard.

I try to pretend I did not see him, but I was smiling inside. Every time I sweep, I look small to his car and he nod.

One male lecturer from MLS, Dr. Ojo, come to Block C. He see me sweeping and frown.

Amara, you are on final warning, he say. And you are still looking at man inside car. Who is inside that car.

No body sir, I say fast. Na bolt driver waiting for passenger.

Dr. Ojo look to car and car drive off small, like bolt truly.

He look at me again.

Focus on your sweeping and your book, he say. Nine points can become eight points if you are not careful.

Yes sir, I say.

He enter class.

Immediately he enter, Damola car reverse back to same spot. This time he come down with another broom hidden inside car.

He run to me.

Give me, he say, collecting my packer.

What are you doing, I whisper, looking around. If they see you.

Nobody will see, he say, packing dirt fast with me. I told you, we do punishment together. Rule Eleven.

There was no Rule Eleven, I say laughing.

We make new rule now, he say.

We sweep together fast, his big hand and my small hand. For five minutes, work finish.

You have saved me, I say.

He look at my sweaty face and bring small handkerchief.

You are sweating, he say, cleaning my forehead.

Moment was sweet, but one small voice shout from behind.

Aunty Amara, you have finished sweeping.

It was small cleaner woman that supervise punishment. She was holding register.

I jump from Damola and stand straight.

Yes ma, I finish.

She look at Damola and me and hiss.

I know you will finish fast because you have help, she say, but I will mark present. Tomorrow come again. And no more help from oga.

Yes ma, I say.

Damola raise hand like student.

Sorry ma, he say.

Cleaner woman go.

I look at Damola, we both laugh.

You see, I say. You almost cause second warning for me.

Worth it, he say.

We walk to car park together. My leg was still paining, but heart was light.

Inside car, he give me cold water and meat pie.

Eat before lecture, he say.

I eat inside car, and he was looking at me like I was child.

Later that day, after my classes, I was inside hostel when my mother call.

Video call.

I fear to pick, because after query gist, maybe church people have told her.

I pick. Mummy face show, serious.

Amara, she say.

Ma.

So it is true, she say. You are sweeping school because of man.

I keep quiet.

Your father sister daughter saw video of you kissing man inside school toilet on w******p, she say. She send to me. You did not even tell me that your professor boyfriend have been suspended because of you.

I start crying.

Mummy, sorry, I say.

Sorry for yourself, she shout, but not too loud. You told me you have boyfriend to stop me from worrying. Now you have boyfriend and you have punishment. Is that what you want.

Mummy, he is good man, I say crying. He did not force me. I love him.

Mother hiss.

Love, she say. You are twenty two, you think love is everything. Let me tell you, that professor, is he ready to come and see me and your father. Or he only ready to kiss inside toilet and car park.

I sniff.

He want to come, I say. He said he want to visit.

When, mother ask.

I did not know what to say, so I say, This weekend.

Okay, mother say, cold voice. Tell him to come this weekend to Ilorin house, not Lagos. I am in Ilorin now for burial. Let him come Saturday by 2 PM. If he does not come, you and me have finished. No more school fees from me.

Call cut.

I sit on hostel bed, meat pie still in stomach, broom still outside, and now mother invitation.

I call Damola immediately.

My mother say you should come to Ilorin this Saturday, I say, voice shaking.

He keep quiet for three seconds, then say, Okay.

Just okay, I ask.

Yes, he say. If sweeping Block C is your punishment, facing your mother is my own punishment. Give me address. I will come.

I send address and cut call, with new fear entering my body. Query in school was small. Mother query on Saturday will be bigger.

But at least, this time, I will not face it alone.