The room week was fast approaching, and occupants were busy individually and collectively planing their talent shows. The days were quiet but the nights bustled with activities. Everyone had something they wanted seen, heard or felt. But not the occupants of room 25. For Uche, the loudness was irritating; Huma, on the other hand, found it strangely exciting from behind closed doors.

" I don't see the reason for it." Uche said one evening in a meeting involving her room and Henrietta's. They were seated downstairs in a corner, the hostel alive around them as people practised. The atmosphere easily reminded both Uche and Huma of their initiation night.

"It doesn't matter whether you see it or not. Every room must present something. It's a packaged deal; no exemptions." Henrietta stated. She was leaned back in her chair, legs crossed, looking as dark as night. Between her fingers , a cigarette smouldered."So what else can you both do besides dodging people?"

"Absolutely nothing." Uche shrugged. "No talent."

"There's no such thing." Herrietta said. Her eyes glinted with mischief."Again, we could settle for you on a pole. All you have to do is twerk, and your room wins. We split the money since the idea was all mine."

"Not a chance," Uche said, narrow eyed.

Henrietta blew out smoke. "Whenever you change your mind."

"I've come up with a play we can do." The girl beside Herrietta spoke. "We just need more actors. Since you don't have anything going on yet, you could join us."

"I can't act," Uche said, shifting in her seat.

Henrietta grinned, seeing her discomfort."I'm sure you can manage."

"It's agreed." The girl announced then looked at Huma and whispered something to Henrietta's hearing. " Is there anything you can help us with?." She asked Huma.

All eyes were on her. Mind blank, she stared back. What could she possibly do?

"She's good with make up," Uche offered, Huma blanching beside her. She won't be tolerating the week with them alone.

"Perfect," the girl chirupped, pushing up her glasses. "You'll be our make up artist."

The play was partly musical. Not only would there be acting, Uche mostly was required to sing. She baulked when she saw the script. She had been casted as the main lead- a tyrannical queen who got murdered in the end by her own people during a revolt. Practice days were Saturdays and Sundays. Uche slammed the spiral bound paper on the bed, devising means and excuses to avoid the disaster ahead.

From across the room, Huma writhed in her own misery.  She did casual and professional makeup. But nothing movie worthy. And it was all Uche's fault. She looked at her roommate.

Uche caught her glaring and narrowed her eyes. "Do you have something to say to me?" She sneered.

Cowed, Huma shook her head vehemently, her braids flailing.

"I didn't think so," Uche fell back on her bed, covered her face with her hands and groaned. Huma,  huddled on the floor, bowed her head. There was no way either of them could avoid the bloody room week.

Every practice day, Henrietta hounded them. A contrived stage was formed in the middle of the buildings where Scenes were repeated until perfection.

"What the fuck was that?" Henrietta scowled, getting up from her director's chair below the stage, cutting off Uche's performance  for the hundredth time. " How many times do I have to tell you? You're angry. One of your subjects just disrespected you in public. You're the queen. No one dares you, so you stand with that authority. We've been stuck in scene two for the past one week!"

Squinting her eyes under the afternoon sun, Uche slumped down on her throne. At her feet, humble villagers knelt in supplication. Two men carrying large palm fronds flanked her sides.  Sweat beaded her forehead and armpit. Her head ached, and Henrietta's voice only served to excercabate it.

"I'm trying," Uche muttered.

"Try harder!" Henrietta bellowed. From behind, someone tapped her. "What is it, Bernise?"

"Maybe we should get someone else for the role," Bernise, her roommate suggested, wiping the fog off her glasses. "She did tell us that she couldn't do it."

Herrietta held her forehead, eyes closed, she said."Can't we just put in a scene where she twerks?"

"I think you should," Rita walked towards the group, an umbrella over her head, shades obscuring her eyes. " If you can get the queen to do it." She hugged Herrietta. They exchanged pleasantries then she waved at Uche as they walked away together.

"All right, everyone. Let's take five." Bernise announced.

Only too glad for the break, Uche marched off the stage
Huma was waiting for her at the bottom with a bottle of water. She grabbed it begrudgingly as she sat on a vacant chair.

"I'm giving it my best," she grumbled as Huma wiped her forehead " It's not easy. The sooner they find someone else, the better. And I swear, if that skinny bitch yells at me again, i'll-"

Seeing Uche's overt plight made Huma smile. Caught, she covered her lips with a hand, eyes wide.

"You think this is funny, don't you?" Uche glared, pointing a finger. Stepping back, Huma shook her head. " Remember you have the make up of the cast to do. Don't think you'll be giving us towels and water forever." She tossed the balled towel. It's sailed over Huma's head as she ducked just in time.
 
Break time ended when Henrietta returned, Rita by her side. Again, they practised the scene.Again, Uche failed. Herrietta was at her wits end when she finally scaled through. The next scene had a song that would be delivered while she danced to the beats of drums for the god's divine powers upon her.

Herrietta directed the moves and she followed the steps. "Now you sing. From the top."

Exhaling through her mouth, Uche closed her eyes and sang, turning, swaying. It was an Igbo song and it told a story of tragedy and promises, of revenge, of hate, of loneliness. Of death. When Uche finished and opened her eyes, everyone was staring at her in stunned silence. She started to ask if she'd botched the song too.

Then they began clapping.

Wide-eyed, Huma had a hand over her heart. Rita's tattooed brows were riding high on her forehead.

"Wow," Henrietta climbed up the stage, beaming as she clapped. "You are just so full of surprises.Tbat was absolutely fantastic." She went close for a hug but Uche stepped away, edgy from the attention.

"I'd like to take a break,"

"Of course," Henrietta smirked as Uche left the stage. " Take your time."

The water did little to cool her aching head. Turning off the tap, Uche leaned against the sink because her legs suddenly felt like jelly, water dripping down her face. The song had been too much for her. She couldn't remember the last time she'd sang, especially in front of a crowd, not since the church.

As she emerged from the kitchen,dabbing her face dry with a towel, Rita entered the room.

"Hey," she smiled, jerking her thumb to the door. " It was open." Silence followed. "So how are you?"

"Losing my sanity," Uche said, putting the towel around her neck as she went to the fridge to get cold water.

Rita chuckled, sitting on the bed. " Tina's voice can do that to a person." She sobered watching Uche gulp down the liquid. "So you can sing?" Her shock had not faded.

"A little," Uche said flippantly.

"A little?" Rita scoffed. " That was huge! You have such a lovely voice. Why aren't you singing somewhere? Or recoding songs?" She sprang of the bed and went to Uche, her eyes glowing. " You could be a celebrity, like Tiwa savage and Tems. Hell, even bigger."

Uche gave a wry smile. " By what? Singing Igbo highlife?"

Rita faltered. " Anything is possible. You know how big Sunny Ade was, right? So where you in a choir or something?"

"Something like that," Uche replied, rubbing her nape.

"I expected that. So have you written any songs or--"

"Rita. I don't plan on taking it seriously. So,please, I'd appreciate it if we stopped talking about it." Uncomfortable with the deluge of questions, Uche crossed the room to sit at the reading table. The door opened and Huma entered. Seeing Rita, she flinched from the shock then relaxed.

"She's a coursemate." Uche introduced. "Rita, my roommate. Huma."

"It's nice to finally meet you," Rita's vivacious nature made Huma smile, and when she held her hands, there was only warmth despite her glaring scars. " I've always wanted to see the person who could withstand all that stiffness."

"I can hear you,"

Ignoring Uche's comment, Rita continued. " Don't you think she's just amazing? How did you both even meet? It's funny. I've always thought of her as a loner." When Huma simply stared back, Rita frowned. " Is everything all right? Why aren't you responding?"

Gaze downcast, Huma tightened her lips.

"That's because "- Uche exhaled- "she can't."

Lost at first, Rita's frown deepened as her gaze flickered between them;then realization dawned. "Oh," her eyes widened." I'm so sorry. And I thought I had it bad. You poor thing. I hope she doesn't bully you. She can be very mean, I know."

Looking up, Huma's face brightened with a smile. She loved this woman.

" You'll give me your number. Report her anytime."

"I'm sorry about my response," Huma texted on her phone and showed her.

Rita beamed, unoffended." I get that a lot. It's fine."

Unamused, Uche shook her head. She didn't like their easy camauderie." What are you even doing here? Such a convenient time to be around if you ask me."

" Are you always this suspicious," Rita rolled her eyes. " Fine. I'm the costume designer for the play.  Tina reached out, so I'm here to take measurements."

"You sure know an awful lot of people here." Uche said cryptically.

Rita laughed, sheepish."Nah so the business be."  She came to sit on the bed in front of Uche."Imagine my surprise when I see you on stage. Acting is really not your thing." A glass of water was suddenly pushed at her, and she smiled up at Huma. "Thank you. I forgot how thirsty I was."

Impressed, Uche nodded to herself. " You're probably right."

"If you want-" Rita tried to speak with water in her mouth and choked.

"Swallow first nah." Uche took the glass from her." Wetin dey worry you?"

After a fitful cough, Rita giggled, eyes red and watery. Bot women stared at her. "I'm fine." She cleared her throat, sniffed. " As I was saying, I'd give you some tips. But you'd have to do something for me."

"And what is that?" Uche asked dreadfully.

"You'd have to be my model for my show." Rita winced. Before Uche could refuse, the continued. "Hear me out. I'm working on something. Well, ever since I saw you and your mismatched shoes. And since it was inspired by you, I thought why not. You should model it."

Flabbergasted, speechless, Uche fumbled, her mouth opening and closing. " You can't possibly be....serious."

For Huma, this was a rare moment. Not often did she see her roommate discomforted like today. Like now. She looked positively embarrassed...no. Nervous? In disbelief, Huma sat in her corner, cuddled Cody the bear and watched.

"I'm not an actress. I'm definitely not a model, Rita. I can't do it."

"Please, Uche, please. Some people who know prominent people in the fashion industry could be here. And this could be my first real chance to make it."

"You're not even a tenant here."

"I know people who know people. It's called connection."

"Is it really that big of a deal?"

"Yes!" Rita screeched,hands in the air. " You can't weasel your way out of it. Room week must be done by all rooms. Now help me."

"I can't. I'm sorry."

When Rita left, Huma came to sit beside Uche who was eating   and texting on her phone.

"I don't want to hear it." Uche said without looking up. " I'm not going to do it."

Still Huma lingered. Rita was a rather nice person and she hadn't been too happy seeing her leave so disappointed. They must be friends for her to even know their room number, even though Uche was hell bent on denying it. Why couldn't she just do the one minute walk?

The question hung in the air between them, weighing down the silence.

"I can't do it." Uche repeated, more to herself. "That sort of attention....." She had been in hiding for too long. One event after another lurked around, threatening to expose her. As she spooned food into her mouth, Huma placed a hand over hers.

"Talk to me,"

Heaving, Uche put her food aside and removed her earbuds. She leaned back and stared at the ceiling, past hurt resurfacing. "Nothing good comes out of it. Only pain. People can't just help themselves."

Her roommate wasn't making any sense but Huma waited for clarification. Then Uche looked at her. "Can I ask you a question? I want you to be honest with me."

Huma promised.

"Have you ever been jealous of me?"

More times than Huma could count. Her roommate was a very beautiful woman, and at times, she made her feel insecure about her body. It wasn't something she was proud to admit. She'd prayed for forgiveness everytime.

"Have you ever thought of hurting me because of it?"

No. Why would she? Uche was her friend, one of Allah's loveliest creation. Overtime jealousy had transformed to admiration. Uche had searched her eyes as she responded and seemed satisfied with the answer.

"What if I told you that it has led to some people trying to kill me, to isolate me, it drove me out of my house, out of the church and out of my former work place?" It was like a plague that followed her everywhere she went, leaving blood and broken relationships in its wake. She could feel the same here as well. Some of the girls avoided her, and Lawrence's sudden interest only fueled their animosity. Woe befall her if ever she found herself at their mercy.

Uche's eyes grew moist. She blinked back the tears. "So I'd rather not start anything I can't finish."

There was more. Huma could tell by the haunted look in her eyes. Perhaps a time would come when she'd divulge those secrets but today, she needed to comfort her friend.

"So you're going to let them stop you from living your life? You hiding away won't stop them from attacking you. One thing I've learn so far, is that people will talk or try to hurt you no matter what you do. People will always be people, you taught me that."

She'd always seen her roommate as an invincible woman, aloof- a loner, Rita had said- but the more she knew her the more Huma realized how truly alone her roommate was. There were times she held herself back from laughing; times were she forfeited pleasure wherever she found it.

"People will always be people," Uche laughed, eyes moist. " Either way, we're screwed. Word. " Nodding, she smiled. She never imagined Huma capable of advising her on anything. " I never taught you that."

"Let's say you did."

"I can't run away forever, can I?" She asked rhetorically, knowing the answer. Shortly after, they went back for rehearsals.