How It Began

It worked, baby! My girlfriend screamed and ran in my direction. It was successful! She ran up to me, all smiles. She was exhaling heavily, attempting to catch her breath. She dashed from student affairs block A to block C, where Engineering faculty students were gathered, awaiting NYSC call-up letters. "Lasgidi nonsense!" I was happy for her, she screamed as she hugged me. Her dream has always been to serve in Lagos state. She became so enthralled that she began performing etighi dance steps. Every student in the call-up line was staring, laughing, and clapping for her. "How come they haven't given you people yet?" she inquired. I wish I had an answer for you.

The old man who was assisting students from my faculty was dull and sluggish. He takes about 13 minutes to attend to a student. "Clearance form," he'll ask after he's called your name. Then he'll spend 4 minutes comparing the names on the computer sheet to those on your clearance form, while adjusting his big spectacles. "Photocopies?" he will ask again as he examines the duplicate of your statement of result. "I.D. card..." It was so annoying to watch him take an eternity before calling you up. I'm not sure why they won't hire young, virile, and intelligent graduates to do some of these jobs.

We complain about unemployment while the elderly continue to adjust their ages in order to remain in government service. That man could be my grandfather's age. "Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering!" The old man yelled, beckoning those who had graduated from the mechanical engineering department to come closer. He was in charge of the Engineering and Technology faculty and began in alphabetical order. After waiting for Agric Engr., Biotechnology, Chemical Engr., and so on, it has finally reached my department. I was agitated because the sun had been beating down on me for six hours straight, amidst the tugging and pushing. "Don't worry, it'll work out just like mine did."

My girl claimed to have an uncle who worked at the NYSC office in Abuja. It was her idea for us to serve in the same state, and she chose Lagos. Her uncle will help us get posted to Lagos state, her auntie at  Chibox petroleum will get us a company letter head requesting our service, and we'll both be working at Chibox petroleum in no time. It was a fantastic idea, but I wasn't a big fan of Nysc. It wasn't like this last year, until I discovered I owed money that would cost me an extra year.

It would have been ideal if I had started preparing for this service the year before I should have graduated. My friends, people I was brighter and smarter than, had all gone to serve the previous year. Before I found out about my extra year, we were all looking forward to the service thing. It broke my heart! In my department, I was one of the best. My coworkers respected me and even sought my advice on assignments. I had no outstanding or spillover courses with a semester to go. All I needed to do now was finish the remaining five courses and my project.

One thing was bothering me: my CGPA was 3.42, and I needed a solid 3.5 to make a dream 2-1 and improve my job prospects: this is where desperation kicked in, and this is how I earned myself an extra year in school. I had known the daughter of my H.O.D. for quite some time. She lives with her father and commutes to work with him every morning, dropping off her father's bag before heading to her department. She acted as the father's personal assistant, typing his letters and reading and responding to his emails. I've seen her typing documents or grading papers at my H.O.D's office a few times.

We were just acquaintances, at least for the time being. I made strategic plans on how to improve my CGPA; I didn't dare to join the 2-2 crowd because I mistakenly believed that a 2-2 was a disadvantage and that a 2-1 would give me a competitive advantage over my peers on the job market. My first strategy was to study more diligently, cut back on some of my extracurricular activities, and concentrate more on my studies. I tried this for the majority of the previous semester, but it didn't seem to work. The majority of my test results were in the same ballpark. To top it off, my H.O.D. was in charge of two courses, each with a three-credit load.

I was having trouble understanding the course, as were all of my classmates. Many previous students were undone as a result of those courses. I didn't just want to pass those classes; I wanted to raise my CGPA, and that's when desperation set in; I wanted a quick fix, and that's when my H.O.D's daughter entered the picture, and my dilemma began. That afternoon, as I stood in the hot sun recounting my ordeal with my H.O.D's daughter, I told him about my sexcapade.

At school, I participated in a singles program sponsored by Christian Mandate Campus Fellowship.

I wanted to accompany my girlfriend Rita, but she was suffering from a mild fever, as well as a headache and stomach ache. That was the usual trio of symptoms associated with her menstrual cycle. She's on her period if she says she's had a fever, headache, or stomach ache.

As a result, I went to the program on my own. Jane , my H.O.D's daughter, was standing at a corner with a friend of hers before long. I approached her and introduced myself. "Is your father hiding somewhere, waiting for the program to end so he can pick you up and take you home?" I joked. "No,". She replied, a little too solemnly. Clearly, she didn't pick up on the sarcasm in my question.

"I came by myself," she continued, "but my friend had to come bail me out, and that's the only reason he'll let me leave the house tonight." As I shook her hand, she introduced me to her friend Katherine, whom she called "kathy for short." Kathy was more attractive and well-endowed. She was the type of girl that any guy would want as a girlfriend: full bosoms, round hips, and easy-to-fall-in-love eyes. But I wasn't looking for a girlfriend; instead, I wanted my H.O.D.'s daughter for obvious reasons: I needed some favors to improve my C.G.P.A. "So, why are you guys still outside?" she said.

I couldn't think of anything else to say, so I asked. Kathy had replied, "The show is about to start, the guest performers are still arriving, and the technical crew is still working on the lights." She appears to have firsthand knowledge of what's going on. "Kathy is one of the show's organizers," Jane told me. "You go to Chritian Mandate?" I inquired. "Yes," she said. Christian Mandate girls have been dubbed the toughest girls to win on campus. They had a reputation for making guys wait an eternity for sex. Before they consider going out with you, you must first become a member.