SHOLA

Chapter 3

The alarm was set for 4:30. As it went

off, Shola didn't hesitate to get out of

bed. It was a big day for her and her

friends; it was their first day in the

university, and they had a class

scheduled for that day. She got off the

bed in a rush, grabbed her towel, which

was hanging just close to the door of

the bathroom. She quickly took a

shower, patted herself dry with the

towel, and threw it on the bed.

Just as she was about to apply her

lotion, her phone rang. It was a group

call from Ebube and Lola. She rushed to

her phone and answered the call.

"Yo, you guys are already awake?" Shola

said, still trying to apply lotion on her

body. "Lola, have you had your bath?

Because it takes you the whole year to

get ready," she added with a little 

laughter.

"Ahan, yes na! I set my alarm for 4:00

a.m. Don't want to be late on my first

day," Lola replied.

"Ebube, are you okay? You've not said a

word since we began this call." Shola

said, raising aneyebrow.

Ebube replied with a little grumble, "I'm

fine, you guys. I just don't know what to

put on. I don't want to look minimal, and

I also don't want to do too much," she

added, sounding more confused.

"I thought we agreed about putting on

white tops and black pants?" Lola said.

"Yes, now, but it's not the color, Lola. It's

the style. I've never been this confused,"

Ebube answered tossing her clothes

around.

"Oya, let's talk on FaceTime so we can

help you decide," Shola quickly

suggested.

They ended the call and began

FaceTiming.

"Let me see your options," Lola said.

Ebube lifted up the dresses she had

picked so Lola and Shola could see.

"Ehhh, I think the first is not bad o," Lola

said, squinting her eyes and squeezing

her lips.

"Hmmm, I don't think so," Shola replied,

placing her hand on her waist. "I think

it's too revealing. Let me see the last

one again," she added.

Ebube lifted up the dress up again.

"No!!!!" Lola and Shola screamed.

"Chill, guys, what's wrong with this?"

Ebube said, itching her head.

"It's perforated," Lola said, smacking her

lips.

Shola playfully added, "You don't want

to create a first impression with that,

Ebube, trust me."

Ebube rolled her eyes playfully and

replied, "I guess number two, then."

"Yess!!" Lola exclaimed.

"Alright, guys, let's go get ready," Shola

said, reaching to end the call.

"Wait na, where are we supposed to

meet?" Ebube said.

"Shola's house na," Lola answered,

lifting one end of her lips.

"Alright, see you at 7," Shola said and

ended the call.

"Shola!!!" her mom called out to her.

"Your breakfast is ready," she added.

"Coming, Mom," Shola replied.

"I'll be dropping her off at school,"

Shola's father chipped in.

"Good morning, Daddy," Shola greeted, 

rushing down the stairs. "I'm going to

have to pass on that, Daddy. It's not

secondary school; people would laugh

at me, Daddy," Shola added, embracing

her dad from behind.

"You're still my baby, and I have to take

care of you, Shola," her father replied.

"Daddy, I'm not a baby anymore. I'm an

adult. It's a university, Daddy. Things are

different there," she said, stepping in

front of her dad.

"Adult bawo? You're just 18, and you

still live under my roof, ahbi," he

said,smudging her head under his

armpit.

"Otunba, she's right. Let's allow her this

time. Besides, she's not going alone,

right, Shola?" her mom quickly added.

"Right Mom?" Shola asked, reaching out

to her breakfast. "Lola and Ebube are

meeting up with me here, and we would

be going together," she added, taking

the first bite of her pancake.

"Which makes it even better. They're

family too, so I must look after them

too," Otunba added, putting his hands

across Shola's shoulder.

"Daddy, now!" Shola said, trying to get

his hands off her shoulder.

"Otunba," her mom added, giving her

dad a familiar look he would

understand.

"Fine, but you're driving to school. I

can't have you take the public bus," he

said, almost walking off.

"Really, Daddy?" Shola screamed,

running after her dad and giving him a

hug. "Mom, join in," she added,

stretching her arms to her mom.

"Of course," Atinuke said, walking

towards them. They stood there for a

while, and just as they were about to let

go, Lola and Ebube walked in.

"Leaving me out of a group hug?" Lola

said, running towards them. Ebube

joined in, and all five looked at each

other and gave a loud laugh.

The Monday morning was quite cold

and calm. The sound of different cars

driving on the road, the sound of kids

crying and refusing to go to school, the

different people walking beside the

road trying to get to school—everything

wasn't new to Shola, but that day

seemed quite different. She was about

to start a new phase in her life, and she

wasn't sure what it was.

"Shola, shey your hand is strong ahbi?"

Lola said, poking her head from the

backseat.

"Lola, shut up na. Shey you know you're

confusing her ahbi?" Ebube replied,

reaching for her lip gloss.

"Babes, calm down. I don dey do this

thing since," Shola said playfully, trying

to take a turn.

"Ehh, it doesn't matter how long o. Sha

don't throw us over the bridge," Lola

replied, pulling Shola's hair a little, and

they all laughed.

"How about small music?" Shola said,

connecting her phone to the car's

bluetooth.

"Small...? Big ooo!" Lola replied, turning

up the volume of the music.

It was their favorite song, and all three

began to sing along, giving off little

dance moves. Just as the song was

about to end, they began to approach

the school gate.

"This is it, guys! We're officially starting

school today," Ebube said with a wide

grin.

For Shola, this was a major step in her

life. She now had the opportunity to

make decisions of her own. She stared

at the school gate for a while, and so

many thoughts flooded her mind. She 

knew a lot would change for her and

her friends. She knew things wouldn't

be so easy for them, but they had each

other, she thought to herself.

"Shola, why did you stop? We should be

proceeding," Lola said, pulling her hair

for the second time.

"Don't worry. We'll be fine," Ebube

quickly added, holding Shola's hand,

which was on the steering wheel.

"Since when did you guys start holding

hands without me?" Lola said, also

reaching out to hold hands with them.

"Let's do this!" Shola screamed and

began to move the car.

"Wheewwwwww..." Lola and Ebube

kept screaming.

They got to the entrance of the school

gate, and the security stopped them to

search them and then let them through.

Just as Shola was about to drive off,

someone got in front of the car, and

Ebube screamed.

"Shola!! Look," pointing at the figure in

front of the car.

"Jesus!" Shola screamed, quickly

stepping on the brakes and halting the

car.

All three of them were in shock and

kept on staring at each other, with so

many thoughts running through their

heads. It was their first day in school,

and an unfortunate person was 

trying to ruin it for them.