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Monday 26 March 2018

Facade (Funbi's diary) one

The Prideful Beginning

02/08/2012
Today was good from the start, It is my first day in school, my long dream played out right under my nose, just as I pictured it, I am in to study my beloved course, Law, it is my way of carrying on legacy and expanding the excellence in the family, I am the 20th law personnel of the family at large, the Dawodu family is known home and  abroad for its core values such as education and discipline, I am the first law student in my nuclear family, my father is a senior advocate so are my six uncles and two aunts, my mother had to get a degree in law even as she has a degree in International relations, no one forced her, "I just saw it as fitting" she will always say, this blustering presence of education discipline and pride dictated what I will become in life since I was a child. If you ask me, I want to be something that has more empathy for humanity such as a nurse, medical doctor or a teacher, but then; no one cares! I am going to study law and I have to love it.



We arrived at the prestigious Olabisi Onabanjo University, the very school my father wanted me to attend as he is an alumnus - so are his siblings, he is hoping I become a Chief Judge, he will always ring it in my ears and have vowed to buy me whatever it is I point at when I become one, he is pretty sure he is going to be alive. I was escorted to school like a queen, It was quite embarrassing, my folks elaboration will give you a headache, my father and his eight siblings, my siblings, my grandparents and other well-wishers moved in convoy in their best cars just to witness my drop off,  I wanted otherwise but I am just 17, you don't get to say much until you are double that age. Everyone couldn't help but notice the convoy of black jeep vehicles moving into the school, I tried to catch the little fun there is, that fun that is imposed on you, we disturbed the school's lull with our loud talks, expression of joy and the Sunny Ade's Merciful God song blasting through the stereo of my grandparent's car, my grandfather singing and dancing with panache as he sipped his red Castillo wine, it is his usual ritual to always celebrate in times like this, he started the law dynasty and his joy is that it will never leave the family after he had gone. The one friend I think I have in the family is my prodigal brother who against all odds have decided to be journalist, he was treated like an outcast and is hardly ever noticed, my father labeled him a rebel but he seems satisfied with it, he understood me even in a way I do not understand myself.

After three hours of what looked like a party, I settled in the hostel, an executive hostel my dad had arranged, I was tired as a result of the stress I had undergone, my father took me around to meet some of his friends who are lecturers, he bought me a space in their hearts, I will get extra attention and assistance from them, "see them as your fathers," he said with a wild smile, my name went viral in the Law faculty, Olufunbi Dawodu, the daughter of Mr. Olushola Dawodu became known by all goose and gander. The all white painted hostel is a mixture of male and female but same gender in a room, my room was painted bright yellow which is my favorite color, this is to say my dad had worked again, I had more than the needs of a regular OSUITE, I had a fridge, an air conditioner, microwave and other sophisticated appliances, the bed was bigger, the room all tiled with fine marbles and proper ventilation, my roommate Wunmi is a daughter of another very popular senior advocate in the country, we related well immediately we met, she is upbeat chatty and will not even let you talk much, she came in as I was trying to get my wardrobe set,
"You are Funbi Dawodu?" she asked as hugged me without waiting for a reply. As enjoyable as all of the events seem, It is nothing like what I expected because it was all ARRANGED.



The one thing that my father did not have mapped out happened later in the day, it was in the early hours of the evening after new students had settled in, everyone subconsciously and unanimously stepped out to behold the evening beauty of the new environment, enjoy the breeze and probably mingle. I saw him walk through the high way with his luggage, looking very INDEPENDENT, looking athletic in his tank top and jeans trousers a little below his waist, he had a big headphones on, had only two luggage and seem content, he rolled his bag and had the other on his back, he was glued to his blackberry phone as he hums the song he was listening to loudly, the famous Oliver Twist song, he raised his eyes to get to me,
"Hi dear, Please I seek room F3," he said with his bass and hazy voice, he sealed it up with a smile that shows his white set of teeth and gap tooth, the sight of the gap tooth sent chills down my spine, I have some sort of love for it.
"The fourth room from here" I replied after an awkward silence. He thanked me and walked off, I froze till Wunmi called me to come out to hurry up so we can move with the crowd. We all walked to the famous school hill where the nightlife came alive, we ate Suya, drank smoothies, enjoyed some good timeless music and I tried out the rabbit meat spiced in a stew, it was adventurous but It is not something I will try again.

We got back to the hostel, I scanned for the good-looking boy I saw early in the evening but could not find him; not until we had a meeting with the hostel supervisor, a short bald man with unapologetic Yoruba accent marring his English, the ''sh" factor was all over his words as he will pronounce show as "sow" and shallow as "sallow." Many found him amusing but I did not as I was scanning for Mr Hallway, I saw him coming later in the meeting,
"Is he always going to be a late show-up?" I queried in my mind
He was challenged by the hostel supervisor on why he is late
"I came in from South Africa sir, I got in late and slept off afterward," he said politely
"Always sow hup arly o! pushuality and diligence is a great key to suckess" the supervisor replied as he battled with words, my eyes were stuck on the South Africa returnee and we made few eye contacts, he even queried with his hands asking why I was staring at him, I was embarrassed! I struggled not to steal a look at him the rest of the meeting but of course, I did and he caught me over and over.

Not too long ago, when everyone was trying to have a night bathe, I was on the phone with my folks, they were trying to checkup on me in turns, I already spoke with my father and grandparents, I was on the phone with my mother when the network began to fluctuate, I walked out through the tight hallway to the backyard to get reception, I was in the middle of this when I ran into the hallway South Africa returnee who was having his bath, my torch light went right on him and I saw stack naked and helpless, my heart missed quite a lot of beats, my phone fell in between, I ran back to my room at the speed of light and exhaled my long held breathe.

I cannot unsee it ever since, it keeps coming to me in memorial flashes, it was awkward hours ago but I am finding it quite scintillating right now and I hope I dream about it, I am starting to have a good feeling about this...
WHAT THE HELL WAS HE DOING BATHING OUTSIDE?
Signing out...

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