Chapter 3. Olie and Jason are one.

Clueless on how to go about the assignment given to them in literature. Literature which is supposed to be her best course, but that aspect of literature isolated for the assignment was what she hated most, and thus found it challenging. On like the other genres which she found scintillating, poetry was hell of a pain in the ass to her. She couldn't worry less, the assignment given a day before was to be submitted the following morning and scores were to be saved as part of assessment. Not like something you could browse on the internet, it was the analytical skills required to analyze the selected poems which she lacked. Worried she might score less than a per, she before hoped to start with a good grade to ensure a fortunate ending. 

"So what do you I should say to him?" Nanklin threw a question in respect to the at hand conversation. 

"Huh?" Akwa asked back, stretching her eyes at her, mouth open. 

They actually were walking along side each other to lectures and discussing about Nanklin's ex boyfriend. Nanklin was the spokesman and Akwa the listener. Eventually, Akwa dived into her worries, unconscious of Nanklin's story. 

"So I was gibbering, abi? See your head," Nanklin said with a straight look. 

"No, it's just my assignment," she childishly nagged. 

"Don't worry my baby," Nanklin cuddled her back. "I will help when we return to the hostels, okay?"

"hehehehe." Akwa laughed in mockery. "Thank you, I don't want to spill the chemicals in your scientific lab brain."

"See this one o," Nanklin stopped reluctantly stretching fingers, closely together at her. "Before I became a science student I was in arts fa o. In fact let's go to your lecture hall," she assumed lead. "Oya, make we de go."

Akwa bent down from her belly laugh, tagging along to meet up Nanklin. 

"Hey, see that guy, Jason," Nanklin stopped and pointed. 

"Oh hell, he's coming towards here," Akwa grimaced. 

"Morning, Miss. . ."

He froze as Akwa gave him a straight look as he was greeting. Nanklin hid her face and giggled. 

"Right, Akwa," he smiled nervously then turned to Nanklin. "Morning. . ."

"Nanklin, Hi," still a hold to her giggle. 

Was Nanklin's tease supposed to at least attract a little humorous expression to Akwa? Yes, but she was still and serious as ice. 

"I've been trying to get to you for the past three weeks. Is everything okay?" Jason asked with sign of care. 

"Fine, just occupied," Akwa replied. "Hey Olie, sorry," she softly slapped her forehead. "I mean Jason, we were actually heading for lectures and we don't wanna be late."

"Oh! Okay, maybe later then," he suggested. 

From the look on Nanklin's face, she was displeased by Akwa's aversion of Jason. Akwa held her arm and they ambled down the lecture halls unconsciously of the sad expression on Nanklin's face. 

"You better keep to your words," Nanklin said, a few miles from Jason, then fastened away to her faculty. 

Akwa laughed at Nanklin's last speech just before she left, but deep down in her she revolved over the words and knew Nanklin was right and she would have to heed to it. She turned back and looked at Jason leaning beside a withered tree aimlessly. At that point she felt a little remorse and realized how unfair she acted towards him, she then made an instant move to go back to him but stopped as a girl approached him. The girl held his hand and together they walked away. Likewise Akwa, she ignored and trended her own path. 

Still that day, Akwa was walking down a corridor still in her ocean of worries. Suddenly, she passed by a window and from there she could see Jason in the lecture hall. A lecturer was present for lecture, she ignored and made to walk away but instantly changed her mind to stick around, beside the window. 

Just as the lecturer finished talking and turned to the board, Jason raised a hand up in request to speak. He was granted permission. This however interested Akwa more to stick around. 

"I think a tragic hero goes beyond just death alone," he began.

The lecturer howbeit uttered his undivided attention in his start and hoped to hear more.

"I've been putting a theory up about this for a while now," he continued. "According to Aristotle, a tragic hero must possess certain traits to ensure a full realization of a tragic work. First, a tragic hero must be honourable, popular and must at least influence if not all most themes. Second, must be careless to heed to warnings, out of pride. Defiance as well. Then flaw, which should serve as punishment to the above. Then downfall which should evoke pity and fear among the audience. 

So you see, the last part isn't specific, death is not the only tragedy a hero must face to enable the qualifications of a tragic hero. Because tragedy on its own comes with sadness and sorrow, thus, there are worse fates more than death that a hero will face at the end of a tragic work which could and would make him a tragic hero. A hero might loss a whole family which would be his or her fault, mistakes and stubbornness, I bet that person would be able live a normal life again. Guilt, emotional disorder, pain and maybe haunted, that person would wish for death to escape from what is known as a living hell. That alone has destroyed that hero, so I say, he don't need to die to be a tragic hero, he already is. Thank you."

The silence in the hall was loud, almost like they were waiting for his next speech but at the appearance of it he had finished and as well sat back down. Suddenly, the sound of hands jamming together pierced through the silence and it got louder. The lecturer, Mr. Walshack opened the floor applauding and the students followed. 

"There you go, Jason, that was remarkable," the lecturer complimented. "You see, literature is an argumentative class, you don't settle with an answer, you bring more theories and views, and depends on how well you argue it with facts, you get your scores. You're probably right Jason, any other theory?"

"Wow! Intense," Akwa softly exclaimed to herself, still leaning beside the window. 

"Yeah!" Nanklin from nowhere averred in whispers, beside Akwa's ears. 

Akwa startled but heaved a deep sigh of relief immediatly after she turned and discovered it was Nanklin. 

"How long have you been standing here?" Akwa asked, stepping down the corridor. 

"Same here, how long have you?" Nanklin reciprocated, tagging along her back. 

"Not long."

"Hmm, not long or long enough to watch and hear him talk?" Nanklin teased. 

"It's not about him, it's literature class, I thought I could find something useful to boost my assignment," Akwa defended. 

"Eh. . . Let me come and be going jhoor."

Akwa gave it up and they fastened to the hostels. 

The next morning, Jason rushing up to class with two course mates, Akwa intercepted him and he let his companions go forward while he stayed back, all submissive. 

"Seems you're in a rush, are you?" She asked. 

"Yes I am. We have lecture now and there would test soon after that from the same lecturer, thirty minutes lecture and thirty for test. Any problem, can I help you with something?"

"Yes!" She replied with hast as if she was likely waiting for him to ask, which obviously, she was. 

"What's it?"

She instantly notice how desperate she sounded from her reply and felt it would mean a disadvantage on her personality and and advantage to his, but all the way, she really was desperate. So she relaxed and quickly within her sought for a way to correct the impression the previous reply exposed.

"You're in rush so just go ahead, I'm probably delaying you more," she said with head down, hoping her words would be very much less effective.

He stared at his friends already at the brink of the hall entrance and back at her. This brief reaction invoked fear in her and she instantly regretted putting her pride on the line, nevertheless, she was still of a little hope. 

"Alright," he said.

This reply completely let the fear out and she felt the urge to be transparent to him instead. 

"Let's solve your problem first, Akwa," he added. 

She within her was deeply relieved and it soon manifested physically as she widen her lips, forcing the full exposure of her dimples. 

"We're to submit this assignment this morning and I've only answered one of the poems. You're in 200level and must have done them," she handed a long note exercise book to him as they sat down on a metal chair. "Two of Thomas Samuel Coleridge poems, I analyzed 'Dejection Ode' remaining the magical one, 'Rime Of The Ancient Marina'. I was hoping you could. . ."

He observed for a while and lamented, "It's not magical. The author is trying to reflect the natural influence on humans activities. How well have you studied it?"

"Well enough to know I couldn't do it on my own."

He gave a brief laugh and continued, "Studying the poem to the end, you'll realize they're four instances to take note of, first, crime. When the mariner shot the albatross. Second, punishment. That's the tides, slimy creatures in water, snow and all others. Third, repentance. When the bird was hung over his neck then later he admitted to his crime and begged nature for forgiveness. Lastly, forgiveness. He repented and everything became normal and still, but he only made it to his country home."

"How did I not get it!?" she snapped her fingers.

"And then," he smiled. "You give at least five literally devices with illustration from the poem. Then themes, also backup from the poem. Your answer should and must have a stand in the poem. So let's go, let's now put it on sheets."

"Sure we should," she reckoned. 

At night, in the hostels. Akwa sat on her bed going through a text book while Nanklin, her phone. Akwa's phone had for the fourth time rang and she would deliberately ignore.

"Let me guess, Jason calling, right?" She asked just as Akwa silenced the phone after the last ring. 

"You know that's not fair, shey bi you know abi?" She further asked as Akwa kept quiet to the first question. 

"What's not fair? I just don't want to talk now, I'm busy with this," Akwa slammed her book. 

Nanklin brought her legs down from the bed. The bed was two feet tall. 

"You say you don't eat dog meat, yet you use your teeth to bite and share it for children," Nanklin quoted a proverb. 

Akwa only stretched her eyes and shrugged her shoulders in ignorance. 

"All you do is avoid this guy all day, then when you need help you still go to him, that's unprofessional, Akwa. You say no to him, say no to everything about him."

"This is about the assignment, isn't it?"

"Yes it is, I'm definitely sure you didn't even cared to confirm if he made to it to the test."

Akwa felt her lips moving but no sound came through. Nanklin was probably right and she was beginning to feel guilty and remorseful. 

"Look, Akwa," Nanklin said softly. "As long I remember, you told me great things about Olie, how she was nice, caring and loving, how you too adored her all the time. I almost felt jealous if someone would say that of me. But believe me or not, it's still the same person, Olivia or Jason, they're one, and the same instincts and mindset towards you still the the same. Still, all he wants to do is care, I care, somehow everyone that knows you well cares for you deeply, like an enchantment. You are favored, Akwa, you are the lucky one. I'm sure you must've felt that when your friendship with Olivia was on going, that guy out there still sees you the same, because he is Olie and would always want what's best for. I see it when I look at him, the way he looks at you, how he's dying to help you. I must say, Akwa, you're the luckiest girl I've ever met, you find favor in everybody's eyes. Just don't mess it up, it might be late when you realize."

She retired completely to bed, leaning her back against the wall. Akwa looked at her, smiled then stood from her bed and embraced her. 

"Thanks, roomie, you sound just like her, Olie."

"You're welcome, Miss Cute," Nanklin said still holding on to her. 

Akwa released and returned back to her bed. She took her phone and dialled Jason's line, while it was ringing she observed the name she'd save his number with, still 'Olie', and she smiled.

"Hello, Miss. . . Sorry, Akwa," he answered the phone. 

"It's okay, Olie, call me anything you want," she grinned. 

"Okay, thanks. I just wanted to check on you, not really something serious. And sorry if I disturbed you."

"It's totally fine, and I'm fine too. So about your test, did you make it?"

"Yes I did, ten minutes late though, but you know me, I wrote it well," he forced a joke. 

"And about today, thank you very much for the help, you really did me a solid."

"Don't mention, you deserve every bit of time," he said, almost like flattery.

"And hey, tomorrow is public holiday, what will you be doing?" He added. 

She used her palm to cover the phones mouth piece and whispered to Nanklin, asking her what to say and Nanklin gave her a thumbs up, which implied it was a go. 

"Operation 'lazy Nigerian youth' Absolutely nothing," she replied jokingly, after taking her palm off the mouth piece. 

She could hear him laugh and soon regained his full composure and scheduled to meet her the next day, then ended the call. 

"Do you in anyway think what I said was funny?" Akwa asked Nanklin just after the call. 

"Trust me, you would feel bad if he hadn't laugh," Nanklin replied, with more of a tease. 

She totally got Nanklin's message which signified she wasn't funny or  what she said was funny at all, Jason only wanted to impress her and not make her feel bad.