Truly... (bxb)

Truly... I'm Tired

Back to school.

To be honest, if not because my parents were paying my fees I wouldn't have stepped foot in here. There was nothing for me in here. Nothing. Life was already trash as it was and school had to be added to everything else I was battling.

"Hey, good morning".

I forced a smile at my classmate, Charles. I don't know how we became friends, but it happened somehow and despite my efforts he'd never left me alone, so, I guess I had to accept his presence in my life. Mom and Dad would be proud.

"Good morning".

There was nothing good about the morning. Was there ever anything good about mornings? I thought mornings as a child were hell– they still are– now, imagine mornings as an adult that I was now. Should've just gone to find work after highschool, then I wouldn't be this hungry everytime and just…

"Hey, I've got some snacks, want to share?"

That was also one of the benefits of being with Charles, he was rich. He had a car, lots of money, influential parents and crazy protective siblings, which helped make my existence tolerable. Because whatever good thing he experiences, I get to experience a bit of it.

"Okay", I responded.

"Let's get inside my car".

I wanted to protest that class was about to start but the pain in my belly wasn't going to let me so I just shut up. Better to miss one class than die of hunger. After all, this was the university, no one would give a f**k if you died at the spot. Sure, they may be sympathetic, but that would probably last for a few hours or minutes and then that was it.

"Why are you starting the car?" I asked, confused. We were supposed to eat and get out and here he was blasting loud music and driving out the car park.

"Are you trying to kidnap me or something?"

Charles laughed at that, not looking at me. "How much do you think you're worth to be kidnapped?"

I shrugged. "Nothing, if I'm being honest".

He simply smiled at me, making me look at him in confusion. "Aren't you going to answer me?" I questioned.

"It's obvious that you're hungry, so, we're going somewhere to eat proper food. Not snacks".

I was already shaking my head before he could finish his sentence. "I don't have any money to go anywhere and I'm not prepared to wash plates for anyone this morning".

Charles laughed. "I know. That's why I'm going with you".

I raised a brow. "To join me to wash plates?"

That made him laugh harder. "No, you i***t. To buy you food".

"Huh".

"Yes… huh".

"Okay".

I wasn't going to refuse free food. If I had pride when it came to something, it wouldn't be free food, especially not for somebody like me.

"So, what are we ordering?" I asked when we found a decent restaurant to eat at.

The place wasn't what I would go to eat because of how expensive things seemed, but the rich guy with me thought it wasn't all that expensive, so, I just decided to keep quiet. It wasn't my money any way.

"Order whatever you want".

I pursed my lips in thought. While thinking about what to eat, I was also thinking about how weird it might seem to people for two guys to be sitting together. People would probably not say anything, but I was feeling a bit awkward with the way the waitress who came to our table were looking at us.

She was an older woman and God I knew how African older women acted sometimes.

I rattled off what I wanted and Charles ordered a Pepsi.

"She's probably wondering why two young men are sitting together", I muttered, to which Charles rolled his eyes.

"Her opinion doesn't matter, even if we were gay".

I paused. I never expected him to say anything like that, but I guess he's full of surprises. I just simply didn't respond to that.

I felt my phone vibrate and removed it from my pocket. It was Nduka.

"Hey", I said. I saw Charles looking at me curiously, but he soon returned his attention to his own phone.

"How're you?"

"I'm fine. How's work?"

My brother worked as a doctor at the university's hospital. It was a private university, so, he was being paid handsomely. And in turn, my school fees wasn't so much because of his contribution to the school- he's a former student and has various achievements which has been benefitting the school. I was a transfer student of some local school, because of him, I was able to continue my education in a much better place. Thank God, really, I was about to give up like a month ago.

"Good. I just got the day off– well, two days off. Do you want to… hangout?"

I wanted to say yes. I really, really did but I was already with Charles and my day was going to be full already with assignments to submit, meetings to participate in and–

"How about tomorrow? I'll be very busy today".

"Okay".

I could hear the excitement in his voice and just that made me smile for the first time this morning.

"Bye".

"Bye".

"Brother?"

I was surprised. "How'd you know?"

"He's one of the few people I've seen make you smile", my companion answered. "And by few, I mean few".

He'd barely known me for up to a month now and he'd noticed that?

The waitress returned with our food– mostly mine.

Charles wanted to complain about how she wasted time, but I just motioned him not to bother. I was hungry and had no time for arguments. Maybe another time.

*****

"We missed class".

I wanted to complain about it, but from the disinterested look on his face, it seemed Charles had already fixed the issue of attendance and notes for us. His cousin was the course rep after all.

"Do you want to go anywhere?" Charles asked through the silence of the car.

"We have another class, Charles. As much as I don't like school, I think it's appropriate to go to classes if and when you can".

He laughed, throwing his head back.

"Whatever you want".

He was lucky, honestly. He was rich and didn't have the kind of worries I had. Even if he failed uni- which I doubt would happen- he would still have something to fall back on. I didn't. I needed to do great to be able to get a scholarship and further my studies, and one day end up successful like my brother. I needed a first class. And it definitely wasn't going to be easy getting one in Business Administration.

"Why exactly are you studying business administration?" I asked out of the blue.

We were almost at the faculty of social science building where Charles usually parked. He seemed to slow down his speed at my question. I didn't look at him as he started talking, I just looked out the window.

"My Dad's a businessman. It's either I follow his path or just… learned something?" He sighed. "Business doesn't sound so bad anyway".

"So you have no interests?"

I mean, I liked business and that's why I wanted to study it. Hated school though, but it's where I can learn alot of things that will help me in future. Charles, however, could've decided to do whatever he wanted, yet he chose to inconvenience himself by going to school. I'll never understand rich people.

"I like baking".

He stopped the car.

I almost choked on my own spit, I swear.

"We're here", he announced cheerfully, like he didn't just say something.

"Baking?" I asked as we started walking towards the direction of our department building.

"Yeah".

Somehow he didn't sound as confident as he used to and that alone summed up on why he wouldn't be able to be a baker. Daddy wouldn't approve.

"Bake something for me when I visit", I decided to say, surprising myself and him.

He grinned. "Okay".

His happiness was back and my moodiness returned soon after I stepped into the building and bumped into Rachel Max. Annoying b***h.

"Hi Charles", she said, totally ignoring my presence.

She was one of the average ones like myself, but was trying hard to get the attention of the rich guys, maybe to get a rich husband or something. Her attempts were always annoying and disrespectful though, even the rudest guys were disgusted by her. I was disgusted by her.

"Let's go", Charles said, ignoring her just like she did me, to her shock and to my pleasure.

My pleasure was going to be short-lived though, I knew it. As long as I remained in school, didn't have money, saw people everyday and had people like Rachel around me.

I sighed internally.

Just a few more minutes till class starts and the depression begins.