Chapter 1. Welcome Gesture

      She shuddered walking through the lobby. It was more of a hallway with doors closely facing each other left and right to the end. She held a piece of A4 paper with printed words on it. She would hardly ignore a door as she walked pass it, being conscious of the noisy activities in the rooms. Well, not all rooms drew attention. She held a satchel to her back, using her other palm to scrub her arm. One could easily tell how cold she was, especially from her armless light shirt. Just then, within her she regretted her act of laziness a few minutes ago as she was reluctant to reach in and bottom of her large bag down stairs to get her sweeter. The evening was still young but unkind to the weather it held. She had arrived much earlier than then and the weather was much friendly, which definitely caused her to underestimate the rest of the day. 

      She however, gave it up, and turning to her left she was standing right next the door she had been looking around for. She stared in the paper and back at the door and briefly smiled. She made to knock and her hand went through instantly as the door opened before she could make a successful contact to it. 

"What's up," the lady in asked her. 

"How did you know I was standing here? Except you didn't open for me."

"Let's saay. . . I'm a psychic," the lady replied, folding her arms inbetween each other. "Just kidding, I saw your shadow underneath the door. So, what's up, can I help you?"

"Yeah sure. My name is Akwa, I'm new here and I've been allocated to this room. Here is my allocation slip," she handed the slip to the lady. 

She stared desperately in the slip wryly, then back at her. Constantly for about five seconds. 

"You have the wrong room," she said, forcing the slip back into her hand, then shut closed the door. 

Akwa looked rather confused. She'd swear she saw it in there, but with little doubt she stared back in and affirmed it right. Just about to utter a word in disapproval, the door opened once more. 

"Once again, just kidding," the lady smiled eagerly. "Welcome aboard roomie. Where are your stuffs?"

Akwa heaved a deep sigh of relief and led the way down stairs where she kept her baggage, which included her bed. 

Darkness had just taken mantle, Akwa with the help of her new roommate had just finished setting most of the necessary things in place. They both sat down on their beds. At that moment their bodies ignored and couldn't keep to the cold condition of the weather, and they sat sweating. 

"So Akwa. Wait, Akwa, are you from Akwa Ibiom?" The lady asked.

"Nop," she laughed. "I'm Igede, from Benue State. It's a native name and if you're curious about the meaning, I hell don't know what it is. It's just my name. And you, still haven't gotten your name."

"Wow! Intense. I was wondering when you're going to ask. My name is Nanklin, I'm here in Plateau state. From Mangu local government, Mwghavul by tribe."

"Mmwa-ga-vuu you say?" She verbally struggled.

Nanklin laughed. "It's actually like this, try to break it, Mua-ga-vul. You got it?"

She nodded avidly, laughing. 

"So, Akwa, which course are you studying here?"

"Law, a legal student."

"Whao! That's great! Me, psychology, two hundred level. Welcome to University of Jos, dear roomie."

"Thanks. So, what happened, how are you alone?"

"Sad story, my ex roommate was expelled," she reached her face to Akwa and whispered. "She was a lesbo."

She exhaled slightly in shock. "She was a lesbian? Wow! So awful."

"Yeah, But please don't say it out loud next time, her friends are something else. Trust me girl, you don't wanna mess with them."

They both laughed on and further. 

'Morning journal, sorry I didn't visited you last evening. was so exhausted. And there's a new development,my roommate seem nice, although an ebullient talkative but she's cool. Eventually might become my bestie, not replacing her with Olie though. Olie is my one and best bestie. See ya later in the evening.'

Akwa closed and held tight her journal against her chest, then fell back to bed. Just as she closed her eyes, Nanklin entered the room. Akwa hastily roused from the bed.

"Whoa! Girl, you know what the time is?" Nanklin asked. 

"Haven't checked," she yawned. 

Nanklin gave her a strange look, walked and sat on her bed. 

"It's past ten already. You know, that's what happens when you stay up all night chatting with your boyfriends." She stressed the last letter. 

"No, no, no," Akwa shook her head. "I wasn't, well, random chat. But what kept me up really wasn't boys, it was a friend, my bestie."

"Hmm, your bestie, I see," she submitted full attention, supporting her chin in her palms, with ankles resting on the pillow laid on her thighs. 

"What? Don't look at me like that," she said playfully. "It's a girl. She's my best friend okay? And I stayed up all night chatting with her, I always do."

"You know, you sound like there's more, kinda a bond between you two. I mean like."

"Far from that, Nanklin," she interjected. "Her name is Olivia but I call her Olie, and she calls me Miss Cute. She's great, I think so far the nicest person I've ever met, well known. Not like we've met one on one but, she really is so nice. From the day I knew her she has been nice and supportive to me. With her inspirations, motivations, encouragement and all others. She even helped me secure admission here, linked me through her Dad and it was walked out, in law. I really owe her one."

"Wow! That's so awesome. Where's she now?"

"She schools here in unijos too but now she's not around. She told me she was sick and traveled home, Benue state, but she would be back next week. I sure will pay her visit when she's around, just can't wait to see her."

"Hmm, she's indeed nice, one of kind."

"Yeah she is," Akwa averred.

Nanklin hopped from her bed to Akwa's, actually with lucid intentions to invoke more gist.

"You know, when I made mention of you chatting with your boyfriends, you kinda replied with disgust, the look was awkward. So tell me, don't you have a boyfriend?"

"No I don't. I don't do boys thing."

"Hm, so you mean to tell me you've never dated before or had anything at all to do with it a guy?"

Akwa reached a finger to her face and poked her nose as she replied, "That Nanklin, you got it right. And don't ask me further, I'm just not ready."

With the expression on Nanklin's face she was utterly taken aback, so she asked, "How old are you now?"

"Twenty," she grinned. 

After a while silence, Nanklin broke the mute, asking her what she was doing there instead of being in a cemenary preparing to be a reverend sister. And this actually evoked humor and they laughed out loud. 

Nanklin however, being a very curious and inquisitive person saw how she spoke of her bestie, Olivia with awe and impression of her decent life, decided to further the conversation by asking of her family. But as she asked, Akwa wasn't too enthusiastic over it, her smile drastically faded away and she had a woebegone face. This howbeit, created suspense and at that instance was quite obvious to Nanklin that she over stepped. She opened her mouth just to call it off and dive into another topic but Akwa interrupted.  

"My Dad is late, he died when when I was nine. My Mom is a poor farmer in the village. I live with my cousin brother in Abuja. I used to work in a betting shop, you know, trying to hustle and further my school. I got other siblings as well, doing all they can as well to sponsor me," she said, turned and looked at Nanklin. "That's it, now I'm here, guess am lucky."

Nanklin embraced her in her arms, placing her chin on her head and as well stroking her hair. 

"So sorry dear. A pretty girl like you deserve better, don't worry I'll always be here for you."

Nanklin released her and held her face up, seeing no tears as she less expected, she scoffed and they both smiled. 

"You're a really strong girl, Akwa," she complimented. 

"Yeah, it's my foundation and I got to stick to it."

Nanklin stood from the bed and immediately leached her gas cylinder on and put a pot of water on, getting prepared to cook. 

"I think I should do the cooking," Akwa deemed. 

"Nope, where will be my manners if I allow you do that? I got to give you a warm welcome. And the issue right now is what to cook. What shold I cook?"

"Anything at all."

"Right, Where are my manners again? Don't worry, let me cook something delicious and after that, I will show you around, within and outside campus."

"Yes! I'd love that."

"Well, don't just sit there, stand up and blow the fire, it's gonna go off," Nanklin said, standing hands akimbo. 

Akwa looked at her strangely and replied, "for real, gas cooker, like seriously?"

They both burst into laughter and Nanklin resumed to her previous activity.