“Guy wey your moniey?”
“I’m sorry oga driver. I just forget, take.” I said as I handed over a crisp mint 100 naira note. This was my fare from Rumuokoro to choba. These cab drivers can never forget their fares shaa. I mean, would the heavens fall if he just let me go free? Remember the saying: “Money isn’t everything.” Anyways, let’s forget about that. I had crisper, minty notes in my raffia wallet. As I was about sliding it into my back pockets, I remembered the day I purchased my ever faithful wallet. Four years, it had served me. Accepted whatever sort of objects I forced down its gut; from wraps of weed (especially kwale), to branded or unbranded condoms, pathetic naira notes, omokrikris(microchips), postinor tablets(believe me, I take them for headaches) and some prayer requests from members of my campus fellowship(I’m a prayer warrior. Ask the V.C). But now I’ve graduated, I only want mint notes in my wallet.


I took a deep breath of Uniport air. It’s good to be back to the cradle of “uniqueness”. Having been away for months, I’m here now to collect my NYSC call-up letter. So I could see if my suffering continues or not. As I entered through choba campus back gate, I couldn’t help but feel nostalgic. Passing through the several shops where I did one form of business or the other, I remembered my first days as a jambito. When I had to print and unprint several documents for the faculty. At some point I wondered if the school ate papers for a living. But all those are past tense now. na service things I dey now.

“Vista, vista” I heard my name. I turned around, and guess who it was: BB. I stopped and waited for her to catch up with me.
“Hey BB, how you dey nau. Been a long time”, I said as I gave her a warm hug.
“I’m cool. You aren’t looking bad at all”, she said as she fondled my cheeks. “As a matter of fact, you’ve even become more handsome”, she continued as she gave me her usual charming smile with batted eyelids. Of course I should be more handsome. I have been eating my mama’s food steadily, for months now. Or was she expecting me to bear the looks of a certain Yoruba president? Well, that’s her problem. I was born handsome and no matter the state of the Nigerian economy, I’ll always remain so. Now I’m not saying that I’m the most charming dude in the whole school, but at least, I no dey carry last.
“Well you know my mama takes very good care of me nau”, I said. “If she doesn’t, who will?”

We both smiled at each other and continued walking towards our destination; the student affairs building. As we proceeded together, I couldn’t help but steal glances at her endowed behind(father, please forgive me). Now let me shed more light on the person of BB:
Full-name: Bimpe Babatunde
Height: 5’6”
Age: 22
Complexion: dark
Tribe: (if you can’t tell it from her name, go back to kindergarten)
Facial: 76.672% pretty
Intelligence: She had a 2’1(please don’t ask)
Anatomy: very good in front, excellent at back.
Relationship status: broken heart.



She was one of those course mates who could make ‘things’ happen. It was never a dull moment with her. She always gave me the ‘green-light’ but I never really acted upon it mainly because of two reasons: one she was my course mate and that means she’ll be monitoring my movements(no guy wants that). Secondly, I didn’t want to be a form of distraction towards her studies (someone once told me that ladies lose focus easily). Now you get the picture. I know some of my readers (the badt guys) would be like; “una don gradge. Now is a very good time to chop the cookie.” Well, maybe I’ll reconsider. But right now, my mind is on serving my fatherland. I love my country.

As we approached the building, we saw the crowd gathered in front of the notice board. I would have been surprised if there wasn’t any crowd. A scene amongst the crowd really caught my attention. It was a tall plumb guy, who had a set of teeth so irregular, you would actually think of them as nature’s bar-charts. Now, bar-chart was jubilating and dancing a very weird dance. I could make out some words from his lyrics; “ahh, ahh…kirigba gba gba kirigba. Lasgidi here I come ohhh, ohhh here I come…” apparently he’s been posted to Lagos state. ‘The happening state’. BB gave me stare and we both grimaced. In a matter of moments, we would know our fate. I have been told that any State one serves in, sort of defines his or her future. I don’t know how true though. We were about to take a turn towards the notice board when, out of nowhere, close-up came onto us and embraced us gracefully. “Vista my guy, how you dey. BB, how you doing? Long time”, he greeted. Close-up was also a course mate and he actually lobbied to get post to Rivers State, which he got! Of course, why won’t he? His mum is a professor and his dad worked as a consultant for Mobil. Besides he had connections to people in high places. Such things come easily to him. I don’t envy him though. In fact it was through his help that I got to do my Industrial Training at Schlumberger. You are probably wondering why the name: ‘close-up’. Well, it was a nickname I gave him for always shining his sparkling white teeth. Whether asleep, or writing exams, his teeth were always in shinning mode. The only time he doesn’t shine teeth is when he’s in front of his mum. Here’s his profile:

Full-name: Franklyn Baari
Age: 21
Height: 6’00”
Tribe: Ogoni
Facial: okay
Intelligence: average.
Relationship status: playboy

He actually wanted to lobby Nysc for me, but I refused. I wanted fate to decide my location. After all, my elder brother just finished his service in Borno State and he didn’t die.
“Vista, I think I saw your name. It’s Edo state.” he reported.
“BB, couldn’t find yours. I guess yours has torn”, he shrugged. Hmmh, Edo State. I mumbled. “Ok, let’s find out”, I gestured towards BB. We had to battle several bodies out of the way, in order to get to the front of the notice board, to get a glimpse. One fat girl was pressing on my body and I couldn’t help but turn my head the other way. The odour of her body was strong enough to kill mosquito. I mean for crying out loud, how come a university graduate doesn’t know personal hygiene? Even if water is her enemy that she can’t take a decent bath, at least plenty deodorant are in the market. And I’m sure she has a boyfriend. I wonder how they do ‘bedmatics’. He could probably have limited nasal capabilities. Anyways that’s none of my business. I want to check call-up and I’m outta here.


After minutes of scanning and struggling, I found my name. close-up was right. BB and I also struggled till we found her name. And no it wasn’t torn; rather hers was on the other side of the board. She got Abuja. Yes of course, it was lobbied.

After waiting out my turn on the queue, in front of the NYSC liaison office, I got my own letter.

The contents were the normal formal writing: “…You are to report to your State of posting within 3 days from…. blah, blah,blah.” I’ve been called to serve in Edo State and that’s all I want to know.

I waited for BB to collect hers and we both left the scene. As we got out of the campus, I escorted her to a junction where she could take a bike to her lodge. She stays with her cousin, who is currently doing a master’s programme.



“Are you sure you don’t want come to my house? My cousin won’t be back till tomorrow and this might be the last time we would see each other”, she said as she batted her eyelids again.

Damn! What’s this babe trying to do? What’s her end game? I’m not sure I came prepared for what may lie ahead if I thread this current path with her. For crying out loud, I just confessed my sins in church yesterday. Oh devil, why? It’s not fair nau.

“Errm… I don’t think i… wan..t to come”, I stuttered. “I’m very hungry and I need food a.s.a.p.”

“Don’t worry; I prepared jollof rice with chicken. I’ll just microwave it when we get home.” She beamed. At that moment, several thoughts crossed through my mind. Was it my destiny to fall into this temptation? I mean, how’s it possible that BB has food when I’m very hungry. All through our 4-5years on campus, she never had any food at home whenever I was hungry. And now this?





…to be continued…stay tuned!

IZUKWU:
we are on standby

Preciousbouy:

i don come with my popcorn and kunu..... aint sharing o

AquaPetals:
mods please help change the topic to: 'Vista Diaries'
Thank you.