The First Day

As I slowly emerge from slumber, a tumultuous mix of emotions churns in my stomach, causing me to toss and turn uncomfortably in bed.

Today marks a milestone: my first day of class, and I'm both thrilled and terrified.

Last night, I lay awake, lost in thoughts of what my first class would be like. Surprisingly, I don't feel the slightest bit sleepy. Anticipation has kept me wide awake for most of the night, allowing me to snatch only a few hours of rest - a mere 2 or 3 hours.

The room is shrouded in a soft, dim light, and I estimate it's around 6:00 a.m, so I still have plenty of time to get ready.

Also, I didn't struggle to sleep last night just because I was nervous about my first class, but also because of what happened yesterday afternoon with Kendrick.

My mind kept wandering back to our relationship, and I found myself wondering if I'd ever be able to truly move on from him. His face kept flashing in my mind, filling me with a sense of longing.

Despite knowing that any hopes of us being together are impossible, I couldn't shake off the feelings. I told myself I need to forget about him, but it's easier said than done.

I spent hours hiding in the bathroom yesterday, trying to avoid Kelly's suspicions, until she finally left with her so-called 'boyfriend' - ugh, the memory still makes me roll my eyes!

On the bright side, I did manage to chat with Daniel on WhatsApp, but I hesitated to share my secret with him. We've grown close, and he usually regales me with amusing stories, but I've barely opened up about my life.

What's there to share, anyway? My mundane routine or the unsettling experience with Kendrick?

I'm torn about confiding in Daniel, but I'm not sure if it's necessary anymore. Still, I know that one day I'll tell him about it.

I sit up in bed and start scrolling through my phone to distract myself from the queasiness in my stomach and my nerves.

I had considered blocking Kendrick multiple times last night, but I decided it's unnecessary - it would only give him the satisfaction of knowing I still care.

Instead, I focus on my 9 am class and the big day ahead. I remember that Chisom offered to show me to my faculty building, and we agreed to meet at the front gate of my lodge.

She warned me that the lecturer is strict, so I should arrive early. With it already being 6:15 am, I know I need to get ready and moving.

I throw off my blanket, swing my legs over the side of the bed, and stand up, leaving my phone behind.

I glance over at Kelly, who's still fast asleep, all snuggled up in her blanket, seemingly embracing the sleep. I wonder what course she's taking; we never really discussed it. Maybe she has a 9 am class too?

I shrug and head to the wardrobe to pick out my outfit for the day - a simple pair of blue jean shorts and a big white top.

I lay them out on my bed, grab my towel, and head to the bathroom to freshen up.

Shortly after, I emerge from the bathroom, wrapped in the warmth of my towel, and the room appears brighter than before. Kelly remains fast asleep, unchanged from her earlier position.

I head to my bed to apply lotion, but pause mid-action, sensing a familiar mix of heat, wetness, and queasiness in my stomach. It's not just nerves - I realize it's the start of my period.

My eyes widen in surprise, but I'm relieved to have packed sanitary pads in my bag.

With it being the first day, I'm not worried about heavy bleeding, but I hope to avoid any accidents on my first day of class.

I walk over to the wardrobe, zip open one of the bags, and find my sanitary pads neatly arranged alongside my clothes.

I grab a pack, zip the bag closed, and return to my bed to continue getting ready for class.

The room is a bit brighter now, with the curtain blocking the window and allowing some light to shine through.

I walk over to the window, next to the door, and pull back the curtain, allowing the limited light from the passage to flood in.

Although the room brightens up somewhat, it's still not as radiant as it would be with electricity.

The power outage from last night persists, but I'm relieved that I charged my phone and devices to 100% last night, so I'm prepared for the day ahead.

I turn away from the window and grab my backpack, which I had thoughtfully packed with my books, textbooks, and writing materials the night before.

I then pick up my phone from the bed and check the time - 7:35 am. I'm not running late yet, but I still need to hurry to meet Chisom on time.

I head to the kitchen to prepare a simple breakfast of bread and tea. I would have reheated the rice from yesterday, but Kelly had already finished it off, claiming she was starving. I don't mind, though - I'm not really hungry myself.

After eating a light breakfast, I quickly wash the utensils and try to head out of the kitchen, but Kelly, now up and about, blocks my path.

Her arms are folded, and she's glaring at me. "Uhm, good morning," I say, attempting to break the ice, but she doesn't respond.

"Uhm, Kelly, what's wr—"

"Why didn't you wake me up, Mandy?" Kelly interrupts, her voice tinged with irritation. "You're so selfish! Now I'm going to be late!"

"Oh, I'm sorry. I just didn't think you'd have class this early."

Kelly unfolds her arms and huffs, "Of course I do! I have a 9 am nursing class!"

"Oh," I nod understandingly. "Okay, I'm sorry for not waking you up. I'll make sure to do it tomorrow morning, I promise."

Kelly eyes me skeptically, "You sure?"

I nod again. "Hmm."

"Okay then. Goodbye," she says curtly, still visibly upset.

I smile at Kelly and grab my phone from the table, then head towards the door.

As I reach the door, I take a deep breath, unbolt it, and pull it open, feeling a spike of anxiety and a pang of pain in my stomach.

The hallway is a cacophony of sound, with footsteps slapping against the floor as people hurry by, their chatter and laughter echoing off the walls.

I take one last deep breath through my nose, bracing myself, and then step out into the fray, closing the door behind me.

Then, I begin making my way down the entrance hall, passing by some students who exude a distinctive scent that seems to be their signature aroma, an air of confidence and sophistication. They must be heading to class too, and it's only 8:01.

Soon, I step out of the lodge and into the crisp compound, where a row of cars lines the perimeter.

In stark contrast to yesterday's emptiness, today the compound is bustling with activity - about 5-6 cars are parked, with people milling about and others heading out the gate.

I step out of the gate, scanning my surroundings, searching for Chisom, but she's nowhere to be seen.

I pull out my phone and dial her number, but it goes straight to voicemail. A hint of anxiety creeps in - has she forgotten that she's supposed to show me to my faculty building?

I try calling her again, but she's still not responding, which makes my heart race a bit faster. It's already 8:05, and worry starts to set in.

I decide it's best to ask for directions rather than wait any longer, fearing I might be late for my first day.

I pocket my phone and follow the crowd, hoping to blend in and find my way.

But with each step, my concern for Chisom grows - it's my first day of class, and I was relying on her to guide me through the unfamiliar campus. I hope everything is okay.

As I walk, the surrounding buildings seem to blur together, and the sea of faces becomes a dizzying maze.

I feel my sense of direction slipping away, leaving me disoriented and anxious.

Everywhere I look, there are rows of two-story buildings that resemble hostels, each nestled within its own compound. But where are the faculty buildings?

I scan my surroundings, searching for any sign of my faculty building, but it's nowhere to be seen.

But then, I spot a cluster of students gathered beside a building, engaged in lively chatter and laughter.

I approach them with some nervousness, my fingers fidgeting with the hem of my top.

As I enter their circle, I clear my throat to announce my presence and ask, "Excuse me, please."

They turn to face me, their smiles briefly faltering. But I press on, "uhm, I'm a new student here and I'm completely lost. Can anyone direct me to the faculty buildings?"

"Hi!" A friendly-looking girl with a quirky grin responds. "Yeah, the faculty buildings are on the other side of campus. Just head straight until you see a blue signboard, then take the left path."

I nod, feeling a surge of gratitude. "Oh, thanks so much!" I exclaim, my heart full of appreciation.

As I turn to leave, she suddenly asks, "What course are you studying, if I may ask?"

I turn back to her with a smile and respond, "Journalism and Media Studies."

She nods thoughtfully and says, "Oh, that's the Faculty of Social Sciences, I think. You'll find it easily; just follow the directions I gave you, okay?"

I nod, feeling more comfortable and at ease now. "Thanks so much!" I say, my gratitude genuine, before turning to leave with renewed confidence.

I breathe a sigh of relief as I walk away, grateful that the unexpected encounter didn't take a wrong turn. I just hope I get to class on time.

But as I continue walking, one of the guys in the group calls out, "Hey, new student! Welcome to IMSU! You're gonna love it here!"

J continue walking with a smile, feeling incredibly grateful that they've been so kind and welcoming. Their friendly gesture has lifted my spirits, and I sense a growing excitement about my new journey here.

I wonder if everyone is this nice here.

Soon, I catch sight of the blue signboard the girl mentioned, its faded writing barely legible.

As I draw closer, a steady stream of students pours out, and the sun bursts through the clouds, bathing us in its warm, golden light.

The soft hum of conversation and the gentle rustle of footsteps fill the air as students of different heights and backgrounds go about their day, some hurrying to class, others strolling with friends.

As I reach the signboard, I face a fork in the path, where a sea of students diverges in opposite directions.

I recall the girl's instructions and opt for the right path, convinced that's the correct route. Plus, I spot a gate straight ahead, which likely leads to the faculty buildings.

With renewed confidence, I join the flow of students heading down the right path.

As I exit the gate with a group of students, I glance around, turning my head from left to right.

Assuming the faculty buildings are straight ahead, I continue walking in that direction.

However, upon turning a corner, I notice a significant decrease in the number of students around me.

My brow furrows in concern as I realize that there are no faculty buildings in sight.

Panic begins to set in as I scan my surroundings, desperately trying to get my bearings.

The buildings around me appear to be hostels, not faculty buildings, and I would have asked for directions if it weren't for the eerie silence and absence of people in the area.

I frantically pull out my phone and try calling Chisom again, but she's still unreachable. This time, the screen reads "number switched off."

My anxiety spikes - what am I supposed to do now?!

I spin around, desperately searching for any path to follow, but every direction looks unfamiliar. I'm starting to feel hopeless.

Just as I'm about to give up, I notice a group of four ladies standing by the fence of a nearby building, watching me with unsettling grins.

I quickly avert my gaze, deciding to try Chisom once more. It's already 8:20, and I'm running perilously late.

As I ponder my next move, I can't help but sneak glances at the group of ladies. They're dressed in baggy clothes, smoking, and wearing face caps backwards - a rough-looking bunch.

I quickly dismiss the idea of asking them for directions; I don't want to engage with them.

I decide to keep moving, hoping against hope that a miracle will occur and someone - anyone - will come to my aid.

But as I take a step forward, a sudden shout of "Hey you!" makes me freeze in my tracks, my heart racing wildly.

The voice sounds female, and I wonder if it's the group of ladies I tried to avoid earlier.

I decide it's best to ignore them and take another step forward, but another female voice calls out, "You no dey hear?!" (Didn't you hear?!).

They're not referring to me right?.

I take another step forward, but suddenly, I'm yanked backward as someone grabs my backpack, forcing me to halt abruptly.

My heart racing, I realize I'm trapped!

Before I know it, three ladies step in front of me, their creepy smirks sending shivers down my spine.

"Awfa babe, we been dey call you na, you no hear?" (Hey babe, we've been calling you, didn't you hear?) one of them asks, her tone gentle yet disturbing.

"U-uhm," I stutter. "I...I'm s-sorry, I didn't—"

"You dey fear?" (Are you scared?) a girl interrupts, her black intense eyes piercing into my soul like a dagger.

I force a shaky headshake, desperate to appear braver than I feel. "N-no, no."

Just as I utter the words, the person pulling my bag from behind suddenly releases their grip, only to swing their arm around my neck, startling me.

I instinctively turn my head to face the new threat, and that's when I see her - a girl making obnoxious noises with her bubble gum, the sweet strawberry scent wafting into my nostrils.

But before I can even react, someone snatches my phone from my hand. "Hey!" I protest, but she's already admiring my device.

"Omo, na Camon 30 be this o!" (wow, this is a Camon 30!) she exclaims, her eyes gleaming with excitement.

"Na Camon 30?" (Is it a Camon 30?) the girl holding me asks, her arm instantly dropping from my neck as she turns to gaze at my phone with interest.

"Na Camon 30 o, so you rich?" (It's indeed a Camon 30, so you're rich?) the girl with my phone asks, glancing at me briefly, but I'm too stunned to respond.

My mind races with worry as I watch them exchange my phone and admire it, their banter and excitement only adding to my growing unease.

The girl holding my phone begins tapping on the screen, her eyes scanning through my personal belongings.

A surge of panic shoots through me as my heart races with the realization that my privacy is being brazenly invaded.

"Hey, give that back!" I demand loudly, stretching my arm out to retrieve my phone, but one of the girls taps my arm away with a firm touch, her fingers feeling like steel.

"Ouch!" I exclaim, wincing in pain as I rub my arm, the stinging sensation lingering.

"She's rich, na," one of the girls says, their voices filled with excitement, as they continue to admire my phone, exchanging compliments and passing it around like a trophy.

I stand there, watching with a deep scowl on my face, my annoyance growing by the second.

And then, in a shocking move, one of them slams my phone hard on the floor, the loud clatter sound making me wince.

I instinctively curl my fists, feeling anger coursing through my veins.

"Why the hell did you throw my phone on the floor?!" I demand, my voice escalating in outrage.

The girls' chatter abruptly ceases, and an uncomfortable silence ensues. Then, the girl responsible for breaking my phone gazes up at me with a brazen smirk.

"You think you're superior to us with your fancy phone?" She sneers.

Huh?