The Partnership

He was the same person who sang N'abania. But the ugly one was so engaged in this specific song that he kept repeating it: Pantii nu na iro, onye nwe pantii nu na iroooooo...

Then he noticed I was awake. He got out of bed and began dancing to the music. His dance moves were being watched and laughed at by his hostelmates. As he danced to the music, he almost shouted the lyrics.

Some guys took out their phones and began filming him. Onye nwe pantii nu na iroo Give it to me, give it to me, give it to me, give it to me, give it to me, give it to me, give it to me, give it to me girl.

As he sang this line, he put out his hands as if he was holding a girl's a'r's'e and then swayed his waist as if he was f'u'cki'ng the a'r's'e... Give it to me, lady... He was quite joyful.

Everyone was making fun of him. Some corpers from the adjoining halls came in to look at this loud igbo guy who was disturbing the entire hall. Onye nwe pantii nu na iroooo

He danced around and complimented himself as the music played. "Obu m bu ugo—orji: osisi orji nke ano na ala egbemma (I am ugorji, the titled orji the 4th of the egbemma community).

Ogaladighi nke mbu, anu ana agba egbe, o na ara otu (The bush meat that the hunter fires at, but it insists on f'u'c'ki'ing its mate) Okwu okwu okwu okwu okwu okwu okwu ok

Anu kporo nku na eju onu na eju onu na eju onu na (The dry meat that keeps the mouth busy) He kept praising himself and dancing around like a true traditional titled man in Igbo nation, Otu onye ana asi unu abiala (The one guy who is greeted like a crowd).

Corpers applauded, laughed, and recorded him as he danced around the hall. Then he approached our corner, looked at me, and pointed to the window while singing the song again... Onye nwe pantii nu na iroooo

myself and  the majority of the corpers in the hall, followed the direction his finger was pointing. Onye nwe pantii nu na irooo A red female pant was hung on the same window where I hung his hankie and disposed of the condom.

It was Wangu's underwear... Onye nwe pantii nu na irooo Then I heard the military man's voice in my head... It was his military friend's voice.

When I noticed Wangu's pant hanging by the window, I had conflicting feelings. I wanted to reach for it at first. But everyone's attention was on the pant, only the ugly one and I understood what had happened, so there was no point in reaching for it.

Now I saw why he was so excited. He had completed his background plan without revealing anything. He perfected and performed it flawlessly. He can now brag about it.

I was relieved that it was his military comrade who possessed the voice. Worse would have happened if it had been the Rsm or Sgt Banjo.

I could manage a smile as he danced about one more time before retiring to his bed for a few minutes. He opened his locker and took out the four remaining condoms which he moved down closer to me.

"There were 21 condoms here just a week ago." Look at what's left." We both laughed as he said this. That morning, the ugly one and I entered a new phase of our friendship.

We both agreed to cancel the wager because it would break the flow of events. In its place, we organized a new partnership with the intention of sinfully conquering Assaya Camp and bringing home prizes.

We sat in our corner and told each other about our adventures. He was enthusiastic about my stories because he found them intriguing. My encounter with the waiter at Delta Kitchen impressed him so much.

He stated that he had no idea I could be so flirty. He told me about his personal ordeal and a photographer friend whose off-camp lodging he rents.

He told me about the female he met at the club for a buddy and how he f'u'c'ke'd her. He said that the female had the tightest c'u'n't he had ever felt, that he got the girl's number, and that he would love to see her again.

I inquired as to how he was able to use the military quarters for his adventures. He told me that the show was organized by a military friend of his.

We shared the remaining condoms, and he promised to get a new pack of 21 condoms the next day. The biggle was blown for the morning parade, and the routine morning rituals began.

Wednesday, Day 9

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As usual, the morning devotion was conducted nornally. OBS delivered the morning news, emphasizing current events both within and outside of camp.

The program of athletic events was announced by the director of sports. The first football match would be between 11 camp players and the Assaya young squad from the community.

The inter-platoon matches will then begin in earnest. He stated that the volleyball and football schedules would be released later. I looked for Wangu and discovered her at one extreme end.

She was gazing about, so she was probably looking for me as well. She stepped over to my side of the line and sat alongside me while the announcement continued.

I took the day's attendance and returned beside her as the Rsm took over while the flag was flown.

Everyone smiled and applauded when it was announced that the fainters' platoon had pleased the camp discipline committee with the level of meticulous cleaning they had done at the camp.

We were told that our man'o'war special activity would take place that evening, after which we might go to the accounts department and sign our transportation allowance.

Another round of applause. Wangu and I had a brief talk after the announcement, as the man'o'war morning drills were about to begin.

She was curious about what happened after she ran away. I told her that a military man had tried to attack her, so I battled him until I was able to break free and go.

"Do you believe it's a banjo?" She inquired. "I'm certain it's not him. When I was approaching the hostel that night, I noticed him in front of the army quarters wearing a singlet and boxers." I had to tell a lie.

That was the only explanation I could provide her to put her mind at ease. The morning drill began. I couldn't execute many of the drills since I was still in pain in my achillis.

I sat behind them and observed the drills. It was as entertaining as ever, thanks to the amusing songs they were singing.

Yawa go dey, yawa go dey! Yawa go dey, eeeeeeii yawa go dey.... The man'o'war then yelled "M-O-R-A-L-E!" and the corpers immediately responded with "HIGH!"

Corper doesn't have to suffer! Dey don't beg for food! Allowance for transportation! Oohhh, their money. Monthly stipend Na, their monthly oohh M-O-R-A-L-E... And so forth. They kept chanting on and on..

I sat back and observed others dancing and running around the pitch. "Why aren't you with them?" I turned to see Adeola approaching from behind.

She sat near my seat, looking at me and waiting for an answer. "I strained my leg," I explained.

"Kpele, eiyaaa." "I despise this morning parade, one foolish military woman just entered our accommodation and pursued us," she replied.

"I've noticed that military men don't enter the female hostel; instead, they stand near it while blowing the biggle." As a result, most girls easily avoid the morning march by remaining quiet within the hostel until the military personnel leave.

It appears that it has been spotted, and the military women have chosen to enter and chase them. "The yeye woman even threw unclean water on other persons." She continued.

Sgt Banjo approached us and asked, quite gently, "what are you two doing there?" I informed him that I had hurt my leg, and he inquired about Adeola. "Did you hurt your leg as well?"

"Something like that, sir," he said, smiling. "You, so na dis wan you dey pursue now?" he asked. "You don't abandon the other wan?" As he said this, I grinned.

When Adeola inquired which one is "this one" and which one is "the other one," Sgt Banjo burst out laughing. "No follow dis dude oh, him na evil boy,"  He responded to Adeola.

"What's your name, nau?" He was questioning Adeola, and she responded. He must love ladies if he is that nice to me simply to gain Adeola's attention.

"You dey my platoon?" he inquired of Adeola, to which she answered. "Why I no dey see you nau..." I could see where the entire question and answer session was headed, so I excused myself and allowed them to do their thing.

I went over to Wangu, who was with a bunch of female corpers in my unit. The morning drills were completed, and the parade will shortly begin. We both left the group to converse alone.

She handed me a list of everything that needed to be purchased. Football, volleyball, football jersey rental, costumes for drama and dance groups, and so forth.

"What were you guys talking about with Banjo?" She inquired as I looked over the list. "He was just searching for an excuse to be friendly with Adeola, so I left them." I replied and looked in their way to see him still talking with Adeola.

“Womaniser!” She stated angrily. "Are you sure you have forgotten about him?" I inquired of her. I knew it would be impossible for her to forget him and their brief romance, but her bitterness revealed sheer unadulterated hatred.

"For crying out loud, he's a married man!" "That's the life of a military man," I explained. It isn't a huge thing to them. after a few moments of silence as I rechecked the list, she replied;   "This is the third time you've saved me in this camp," 

“Huh?” "You saved me from Sgt Banjo the first time, and then you saved me as I fainted and took me to medical camp the second time."

Last night, you begged me to run to my hostel while you fought a soldier, an action that would have resulted in your decampment."

I watched her say all of this with interest, wondering where she was going. "How come you're doing all of this for me?" I knew what she wanted to hear; I hadn't given it much thought, and I was certain I wasn't in love with her; not even remotely.

Love is too profound to mess with within a camp. There are numerous elements to consider while trading on the true love issue; such factors are not present within the camp.

Camp is secluded and cannot be compared to the real world. A love affair could be initiated by the wrong signals, which may exist within Asaya camp but not in the actual world.

"I care about you, as I told you while we were working in the kitchen. I don't want you to be wounded, you're my assistant, and I need you to be focused when making lists like this," I said as I waved the list in front of her, and she smiled.

I observed she was about to voice out something else, but then changed her mind. The morning parade began with the marching beats of the camp band.

I had a quick discussion with my unit members after the morning parade. I requested those to whom I had given some camp activities to report on their development, which they did.

The volleyball coach informed me that she was having difficulty recruiting players because none of the girls knew how to play. I requested her to start a girls' training program.

I would be present to assist with instruction because I could play myself. We discussed the amount to task ourselves; some members informed us that other platoons will contribute N500.

The money will be used for more than simply sports and social activities. They intend to host a mini-party a few days before the end of camp.

We agreed to do the same, and I assigned two ladies and a man to collect, record, and keep the money.

I dismissed them and retired to my hostel after assigning many of them tasks to ensure I carried everyone around.

I contacted Oge on my way down and we talked for a while. She informed me that she was a member of her platoon's volleyball team, and that they had already begun practicing.

As I noticed some corpers returning with bread and tea, I assumed that this was the breakfast served in the kitchen this morning.

After I was done taking my bath, I got my meal card and went to the kitchen since I wanted to eat bread.

When it was my turn, the lady marking the meal ticket was surprised because my card was still plain with no ticks. "Do you eat here on a regular basis?" She inquired as she attempted to mark the relevant box on my card.

"Not at all times," I said. "You must be a big guy to eat mami every meal." She gave me a friendly smile. "Well, if I were a big guy, I wouldn't be standing in line for a loaf of bread." I responded.

"Do you have a cup of tea?" She asked as she handed me my lunch ticket back. "Don't worry, I only need the bread." As I walked out, she smiled. I purchased some akara balls and sat at one of the shops to eat my bread and akara.

I then went to the accounts department to sign my transportation allowance, but there was a new crowd there, largely from my platoon. Some of them They all looked up and and hailed me as "platoon leader."

I stayed behind and consulted with a few of the men I had assigned tasks to. They were doing great. Sani had already purchased a football, and they had begun practicing. I knew I couldn't sign the money that day, so I went to the game center and played chess.

The biggle for lectures was blown, the game center closed, the accounts department closed, and all the joints at mami closed down as well; everyone went to the "always boring lectures."

Ms Enoh was seated at the high table inside the lecture hall. The speakers continued their dull lectures. One of them was attempting to recruit corpers for her networking organization.

She didn't call it that at first; she simply painted it with lovely colors, outlining how you could enroll with N5,000 and earn a monthly payment of close to N80,000, plus additional perks like an all-expense-paid trip to South Africa, and so on.

The EFCC, NEMA (National Emergency Management Agency), Road Safety, and MDG's groups all gave informative talks and invited individuals to join them.