A Helping Hand

Just then, I hear the sound of the car door shutting three times, and my heart leaps with joy, as I think someone has finally arrived to help me.

I somehow summon the strength to stand up, my exhaustion momentarily forgotten in the surge of hope.

But my relief is short-lived, and my smile quickly fades as I see Kendrick, Kelly, and some strange guy standing next to the car, their stern frowns a unified front of disapproval.

"Uhm," I mutter, feeling a mix of relief and nerves flood through me at their sudden presence.

"Mandy?" Kelly asks, her voice filled with disbelief.

Before I know it, Kendrick's warm hands are cradling my face, his eyes filled with worry.

I frown in surprise, touched by his concern - is he really worried about me? My heart skips a beat as I gaze into his eyes, feeling a flutter in my chest.

Just then, I hear a chorus of "Hey, hollam, hollam!" [Hey, hold her! Hold her!] and turn my head to see the girls yelling as they finally reach us.

Kendrick releases my face and turns to the girls with a slight frown.

Then, he moves to stand before me, blocking my line of sight, and now my eyes are fixed on the sleek black leather of his jacket.

"What do you want?" he demands.

"Ah, fine boy, we won't harm you, but hand over the girl on your back," one of them responds.

My breath catches in my throat at that ominous demand, and I wonder if Kendrick will actually surrender me to them.

I recall how I had hit and slapped him yesterday, and my blunt confession that I didn't like him.

Furthermore, Kelly and I have been at odds since we started sharing the same lodge. I fear they might be eager to get rid of me.

I think it's best to take action rather than be acted upon.

I take a step to the side, preparing to make a hasty escape, but Kendrick quickly grasps my wrist, his eyes burning with a warm yet intense gaze.

Kendrick's grip is a paradox - tight yet gentle. I sense a hint of protectiveness in his grasp, as if he's shielding me from further harm.

But despite the pain in my wrist, I try to wriggle free, attempting to escape his hold.

However, Kendrick's grip only tightens, causing me to wince in discomfort. "Ouch!" I exclaim, my voice betraying my distress.

Kendrick's expression instantly softens, his eyes filled with even more concern than before, and he carefully lifts my hand to examine my bruised wrist. His touch is gentle and soothing, sending a sense of calm through me.

I watch with a frown as he carefully turns my wrist, his brow furrowed in worry. I thought he didn't like me, so why is he being so gentle and caring now?

"What happened to you?" he asks, his tone tender and filled with concern, catching me off guard and stirring a flutter in my chest.

I jerk my hand away, but the sudden motion worsens the pain in my bruised wrist, and I grimace in pain.

Still, I manage to muster a fierce response, "You should ask them what I did to deserve this brutal beating."

"You were beaten?" Kelly asks, her eyes narrowed, and I nod.

"But why?" the stranger asks.

But before I can respond, one of the girls interrupts, "Look, we don't want any trouble. Just hand over the girl now."

My eyes widen in alarm, and I take a step back, fear creeping up my spine like a chill. These girls don't feel like they are going to back down.

"Do you mind telling us what she did?" Kendrick asks, his eyes fixed on the girls, but before anyone can respond, I interject, my voice shaking with emotion.

"I didn't do anything! I was just lost on my way to find my faculty building, and then I stumbled upon them. They started harassing me, and when I tried to defend myself, they beat me up."

I take a deep breath, trying to calm down, and continue, "I didn't provoke them, I swear. I just wanted to find my way to class."

I hold up my broken phone as evidence, the screen cracked and useless. "Look, they even broke my phone!"

"What did I do wrong?!" I demand, my eyes scanning the group for an answer.

But instead of responding, one of the girls sneers at me, "Ifa slap that your mouth, werey!" she yells.

I remain still, my chest heaving with each ragged breath, as I'm consumed by extreme pain that radiates throughout my entire body.

Every inch of me aches - my elbows, my back, my arms, my legs, and even my cheekbone feels like it's burning. The pain is all-encompassing, leaving no part of me untouched.

I never thought I could be beaten up this brutally.

"Why would you beat her up like this? Don't you have any humanity in you?" Kendrick suddenly asks, his voice icy and filled with anger.

I watch in shock, my eyes glued to his back as he confronts the group.

"What on Earth could she have done to deserve this kind of beating?" he demands, his tone scathing.

"Kendrick, babe, she's fine now, no need to get involved," Kelly intervenes, but her words only make me frown slightly, wondering what kind of roommate she is.

"I don't expect such behavior from you, Kelly," Kendrick says, his voice heavy with disappointment. "She's a female, just like you, and your roommate, to boot. Why would you say such a thing?"

Kelly remains silent, her mouth agape as she struggles to find the right words, stammering "uhm... uh..."

Kendrick's gaze turns back to the group, his finger pointed accusingly. "And as for you, I could report you to the school authorities if you don't shape up."

But instead of taking him seriously, one of them lets out a snicker, and the others follow suit, murmuring something under their breath that I couldn't quite make out.

But then, one of them speaks up, causing the others to pause. "Listen, fine boy, I don't want any trouble with you. Just mind your own business and leave."

My eyes dart nervously around kendrick's jacket, my heart racing with anticipation as I wait for his response. What if he hands me over to the girls?

But Kendrick surprises me, his voice steady and calm. "What if I tell you I have an aunt who works here?"

My eyes widen in surprise, and I think to myself, An aunt? He has an aunt who works here?

"She isn't just a professor, but also the Deputy Vice Chancellor," Kendrick continues.

"And I'm aware you must know her."

As soon as he speaks, I hear the girls muttering in surprise, their voices barely audible.

I try to glance around Kendrick and see their reactions, but he's positioned in a way that blocks my view.

But who is Kendrick's aunt? The Deputy Vice Chancellor? What's that position all about?

Just then, Kendrick turns to me, his eyes locking onto mine with an intense gaze.

"My aunt is Dr. Ngozi Okoro," he says, his voice butcherering the name with a pronunciation that's almost painful to hear.

I stifle a laugh, knowing that now's not the time to find humor in it. And he continues. "She's a highly respected professor and a powerful figure in this university."

He pauses, his eyes still fixed on mine, before adding, "And she's not someone to be trifled with."

With that, he says, "Forget them, let's go," and gently pulls my wrist, careful not to exacerbate the pain from my bruised wrist.

Kendrick leads me to the passenger side of the car and opens the door, but I hesitate to get in, my eyes narrowing as I stare at the seat with a skeptical frown. Why is he being so helpful, anyway?

"Get in," he says, his tone gentle but insistent.

"Why?" I ask, glancing up at him.

Just then, Kelly urges from the front seat, "Mandy, now's not the time for this. Just get in already! I'm running late for class."

Before I can protest, the girls erupt into a chorus of yelling.

"E no concern me who your Aunty be!" one of them shouts.

"Hand her over now! E no go funny o!" another joins in.

I feel a shiver run down my spine, knowing it's best I get in. If I refuse, it would only lead to more physical harm from the girls.

I pull my wrist free from Kendrick's grasp, avoiding eye contact, and then reluctantly get into the car.

Kendrick slams the door shut, gets in, and starts the engine, and we begin moving, leaving the girls' angry yells behind.

As we drive away, I catch snippets of their threats: "We'll see you another time, na!" and "I'll catch you next time, girl!"

Their yells grow fainter as we distance ourselves, and I find myself sitting close to the stranger, who seems to be a friend of both Kelly and Kendrick.

The stranger is wearing headphones and typing away on his phone, his head slightly bent.

But I'm growing increasingly anxious - where is Kendrick taking me? I should be in class, and I have no idea what time it is.

I try to turn on my phone, hoping it still works, and thankfully, it does. However, the screen is badly damaged, making it difficult to read.

As I struggle to read the damaged screen, the time finally comes into focus: 9:15.

My eyes snap wide with shock, my heart racing with fear and anxiety. I'm running severely late!

I glance up at the front seat, my eyes fixed on Kendrick's shoulder, and ask, "uhm...please, if you know where the social sciences faculty building is, could you please drop me off there? I'm running late for class."

I notice Kelly and the stranger turning to look at me, but I keep my gaze fixed on Kendrick's shoulder, awaiting his response.

"You really wanna go to class in that state?" Kendrick asks, his tone suprisenly filled with concern.

I dart my eyes around the back of his seat, feeling slightly hesitant. But then I respond, "Y-yes, I do."

"Lol, Mandy, you can't be serious. You look terrible, and you're still talking about going to class?" Kelly asks with a raised brow, and I nod.

"Look, I get that you really want to go to class, but in this condition, it's just not possible," she continues, but her words are just not sinking in, I can't miss my first day of class!

"You have to skip it, there's always tomorrow," the stranger beside me chimes in.

I frown, about to protest, but he cuts me off. "You can't make it, it's not worth risking your health."

I shake my head stubbornly, disagreeing. "I can't miss it, I'm sorry. I have to be there."

Then I glance back at Kendrick's shoulder, "Please, just drop me off at the faculty building if you know it."

Kelly starts to say something, but Kendrick cuts her off. "Let her be, I'll drop her off there if that's what she wants."

"Thanks," I say, then lean back into my seat and slip off my bag to brush away the dirt and dust.

Those girls are really going to be a problem for me here. I have no idea what I did to deserve this.

Just as I'm lost in thought, a voice breaks into my musings. "Here," the guy from beside me says, holding out a white handkerchief.

His eyes meet mine, and I'm drawn into their gentle warmth, making me feel like I have no other choice but to accept his offer.

"Thanks," I say, my voice a little softer now.

He nods with a small smile, "No probs," he replies.

I take the handkerchief from him, feeling a sense of gratitude, and return to dusting off my bag with the soft fabric.

"I'm Emmanuel, by the way," he introduces himself.

My smile grows wider as I continue dusting off my bag with the handkerchief. It's a small gesture, but it's all I can manage for now; I've always found it hard to open up to strangers.

"You're Mandy, right?" he suddenly asks.

I look up at him in surprise, my eyes narrowing slightly. "How did you know?"

He chuckles before responding. "Well, that's what they've been calling you, or am I wrong?"

I shake my head quickly. "No, no, that's my name."

"Nice to meet you, Mandy. Let me help you with that," he says, snapping my eyes wide open. Huh?

I quickly resume scrubbing the dirt off my bag, my movements becoming more forceful and energetic, despite the throbbing pains in my back and shoulders.

"It's fine, I'll do it myself," I say, not looking up at him.

Emmanuel chuckles and says, "Come on, I want to help," but I ignore him and keep wiping, my focus solely on the bag I'm cleaning.

"It's fine, don't worry too much," I repeat once more.

But then Kelly Interrupts, her words piercing my heart like a dagger. "You're too proud to accept help, aren't you?"

My hands freeze, my grip on the handkerchief tightening as I pause, her words striking a nerve.

"You no go shut up there, you go just dey run your mouth like one moron," [you won't keep quiet, you'll just keep running your mouth like a moron] Emmanuel fires back, but Kendrick remains silent, and I feel a pang of disappointment that he doesn't speak up.

I resume wiping my bag, deliberately tuning out Kelly's jibe, and the two of them continue to exchange heated words, their insults flying back and forth like a verbal tennis match.

But I refuse to take the bait, opting instead to maintain my silence and focus on my bag, effectively tuning them out.

Sometimes, Kelly can be a bit thoughtless with her words, and it's not nice.

Once I've finished cleaning my bag, I turn to Emmanuel and say, my voice barely above a whisper, "I'll wash it and return it to you when we meet again."

I hold the handkerchief tightly, and he smiles widely in response. "Sure, sure," he says.

I turn my attention forward once again, carefully tucking the handkerchief and my phone into my bag.

With my belongings secure, I take a moment to observe my surroundings.

The pavement is bustling with people strolling and chatting, flanked by buildings on this side.

My gaze wanders, and I notice a prominent structure with a sign that catches my eye: "Faculty of Engineering."

My heart skips a beat as excitement surges through me - we're undeniably close to my destination.

However, my enthusiasm is tempered by a growing concern about the time and the potential consequences of being late. How will my lecturer respond to me walking late to class?

But then, a gentle murmur reaches into my ear, too soft to decipher.

I turn my head to the left, curious about the source of the sound, and find Emmanuel gazing at me with an expectant expression and a hint of a smile.

"Uhm, did you say something?" I ask.

"Yeah, I was asking what course you're offering," he replies.

But before I can answer, Kendrick suddenly interrupts, "Now's not the time to talk about that, we're almost there."

"It doesn't concern you, bro," Emmanuel responds.

"Don't talk to him like that," Kelly chimes in, her head turned towards Emmanuel.

Emmanuel lets out a soft hiss, then redirects his gaze to me.

"Pay them no mind," he advises. "What I'm really wondering is how you came to know such individuals."

"Uhm ke-"

"I'm her roommate," Kelly Interrupts me, "and she doesn't know Kendrick, she just knows him as my boyfriend. They don't actually know each other."

Emmanuel raises a brow, "Oh really, roommate?" He asks, his eyes on mine, and I nod.

"Oh, your relationship with Kelly sure needs help," he says, prompting me to frown. "What do you mean?"

"Well, the way she spoke to you earlier was downright rude. And let's be real, Kendrick's behavior towards you was pretty suspicious too. It's like you two have a history or something, which is weird considering you're supposed to be super close with Kelly."

I start to respond, "Uhm, I-" but Kelly cuts me off, her voice rising.

"What the hell are you saying, Emmanuel? Mind your own business and shut up already!"

Emmanuel throws up his hands in a playful surrender, "Okay, okay, my apologies! I'll keep my opinions to myself."

Kelly snorts, turns away, and starts whispering to herself.

Emmanuel then turns to me, and asks, "So, what's your major?"

"Uh, journalism and media studies," I reply.

"Ah, journalism and media studies! That's a great choice," Emmanuel says with a smile.

"I have an uncle who studied that and now he's a successful journalist."

I nod enthusiastically, "That's really cool!"

"Yeah, it is. The rest of us here are all science students, though. Kendrick and I are both studying neurology, and Kelly's in nursing."

I nod again, taking in this new information. But then Emmanuel's expression turns concerned, "Hey, are you sure you're okay to go to class? You don't look... quite right."

"Uhm..." I hesitate, unsure of how to respond.

"You have visible bruises all over, and your clothes are a bit stained. You could skip class for only today, what do you think?"

Quit for today? I'm not sure if that's a good idea. It's my first class, and I don't want to miss anything. But at the same time, I don't want to draw attention to myself by showing up in this state. I'm torn.