𝙿𝚊𝚛𝚝 4.

David's POV

I was sprawled on the couch, discussing few things about matriculation, with my younger brother Ikenna. Our knowledge on it wasn't enough but we talked because we needed to have something to talk about. The tension hovering around the house these days was enough to raise our blood levels.

It was becoming even harder and more difficult to keep the truth of my identity from Ikenna and dad. Mom was having a much difficult time, because she always had to face dad and lie to his face.
Yes, dad definitely was aware that I was not his by blood, but he has no idea that I have met and even been with my real father. 

The new installed doorbell chimed, notifying us of the presence of someone at the door.

“Go and check who the person is,” I instructed Ikenna.

He reluctantly obliged, mumbling as he walked to the door.

“Welcome, mom,” I heard him say, before mom came into the sitting room where we sat.

“Good evening, mom” I greeted, and adjusted from my position on the red-leather sofa, for her to sit.

She was carrying a lot of big black polythenes. No doubt, the things she bought for me to start school with. We've already made the down payment for a room in one of the hostels, thanks to my real father.

We've also gone shopping for basic utensils and toiletries. A medium-sized sleeping foam. A blue coat for my practical classes and some new jeans and polos. I also got myself three pairs of Nike and Adidas shoes, my favourite brands.

“Here,” she passed one the bags to me. “Extra towels, boxer-briefs and sweater for you. I don't want you to come back complaining for a cold.”

“Do I ever complain of cold, ehh Mammi?” I muttered, but she offered no respond.

Whether she heard what I said or not, she didn't react any differently.
I took the bag from her and headed to my room, so I could pack them into their appopriate places.

I called and told Ikenna to bring my phone to me.

“Ah! Low battery,” I muttered to myself when I saw that the battery life was at twelve percent.
Electricity power failed to come up since this morning and I exhausted my phone today. I just remembered that I had to call the hostel president to inform him that I was coming for the collection of my room key.

The last time I was there, he wasn't around. Payment verification was made by the vice president, after which he told us that the landlord and president were the only ones in possession of the keys.

Finally, tomorrow I would officially leave this house for the hostel. I was elated as equally as I was terrified of the change. But, I just couldn't wait.
.
.
.

“Do you know what I love most about this hostel?” a girl by name, Theodora, asked me.

‘No, but I have a feeling you would tell me.’ I said in my mind.

Theodora was plump, tall and fair in complexion. Since the time I met her, she's been putting on nerd glasses. Another very important fact I observed about her was that, she talked a lot. She was always willing to divulge information as long as someone was willing to listen.

“That there's borehole here. Some other hostels, the boreholes erected there don't function anymore. As I am now ehh, I cannot see myself carrying buckets to fetch water somewhere else.”

“I'm pretty sure that only happens in hostels of very cheap and affordable price...” I started, only for her to cut me short.

“No ooh! The hostel my cousin stays at, the borehole spoilt for sometime now. The landlord promised to have it fixed as soon as possible, until today, my cousin goes out to get water.” she concluded.

By then, her buckets of water were filled and thankfully, she left me in peace and quiet.

I reminisced on what she said. She had a point there, though. In the hostel I was staying in, we were lucky to have water running in the taps and houses, as long as there was power supply.

Another peck of staying in Golden Lodge, was the stable and accessible network.
I checked my WhatsApp messages. 439 messages from 13 chats. I quickly scrolled down to the group chat and read the messages.
There was a late information concerning GST 101 class by four pm.
I mused at the text and continued going over my other messages. I made the decision not to attend any lectures until I've settled in properly.

Although, there was one information that uplifted my spirits. Matriculation date was closer than ever. Just a week and two days away from today. My black suit and red bow-tie have been washed, ironed and perfumed for the D-day, my special Prada shoe was also polished and kept waiting.
The matriculation gowns would be issued out to us, the day before matriculation day. I heard that the first set of gowns have been distributed to the first set of students that had paid.

I saw another message from Daphne. I really have missed her.

𝐻𝑖 𝐷𝑎𝑣𝑒.

𝐻𝑜𝑤 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑐𝑎𝑡𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑢𝑝? 𝑇ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑛𝑜 𝑑𝑒𝑦 𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑦 𝑎ℎ𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑎𝑟 😔. 

𝑀𝑦 𝑑𝑒𝑎𝑟, 𝐼 𝑎𝑚 𝑐𝑜𝑝𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑙𝑟𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡.

𝐼 𝑛𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑡 𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑠 𝑛𝑜𝑤, 𝑠ℎ𝑎𝑎.
    𝑉  𝑏 𝑏   
  

The double line ticked delivered after I sent the messages but she hasn't viewed them yet. So I logged off.
I went over my older messages as well. The last time I messaged Hadith was a couple of weeks after Hassan left for Canada. She sent Hassan's new number to me, but I was yet to call him. I've been too busy to have time for the long talk over the phone, and it wasn't nice to chat him on WhatsApp without hearing from him.

I spent the rest of the day just staring outside and at other roommates. I learnt there was another student in another section of the hostel, studying Building and Architecture, but in 200level. I decided that later on, after he had settled in from lectures, I was going to meet with him and try to get some heads-up on how the course can be.

Towards evening, I was sitting at the balcony, with my earphones plugged in both ears. I was listening to the song ‘Holy Ground by Davido ft Nicki Minaj’, totally lost to the world in my mind.
Suddenly I felt a soft tap on my left knee.

I opened my eyes and was met a round face. She smiled sweetly at me and I got lost observing her features and admiring her beauty.

“Hi,” she started.

“Hello,” I replied and sat up.

“Uhm...I'm new here, but I have the keys to room 18. Would you mind helping me with my lugage?” she said, in a sultry voice that sounded like lullaby to my ears.

“Uh..uh sure, which of them?” I stood up from my chair, wondering when a girl has had me tongue-tied before.

She gestured behind her and that was when I saw the loads she was carrying.
There was a red box, a brown-leather bag and a very big purple box. All, asides the Bago bags and a small shiny handbag she carried in both hands. 

I helped her as requested, but I couldn't get over the feeling in my head. Her smile, her eyes, her full pink lips, her curves. Everything about her had me enamoured and I do not understand why so. I had no idea how to deal with this new situation, especially since her room was only a room away from mine.

The funny thing I realized, after she retired into her room, was that I forgot to ask her name.

•°•°•°•°•°•°•

I hope you liked this chapter?
Please forgive any typographical error 🙏.

This is David's first POV in this book. Many more will come.

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