CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT: CHATTING WITH FRIENDS (2)
"I am happy with the name I have," I said proudly, a small smile tugging at my lips.
Vanessa nodded approvingly, her dark eyes twinkling. "Yeah, all Tobi(s) I know are always beautiful and talented," she said warmly as she looked at me.
"Thanks jare," I said, smiling back. There was something genuinely encouraging in the way she said it that made me feel lighter.
"What is your Igbo name, then?" Morayo asked Vanessa, curious to know more about her friend.
"Ifeyinwa," Vanessa replied calmly, her voice soft but confident.
Morayo's face lit up immediately. "That name fits you perfectly! You are fair, with round eyes, just like the Ifeyinwa(s) I know." She smiled broadly, clearly enjoying herself.
I laughed quietly. "So now, parents name their children based on their faces?" I teased, raising an eyebrow at both of them.
Vanessa giggled, shaking her head. "Don't make me laugh. It's just coincidental," she said, her tone playful.
Just then, the familiar sound of the bell echoed through the girls' hostel. "Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrriiiiiiiiinnnnngggg!"
"Wow, time really waits for no one," I said, standing up and stretching my arms above my head. The cool evening air touched my skin, making me shiver lightly.
"I just pray it continues moving fast, so the holidays get here sooner," Morayo said, stretching as well. "And once we're on holiday, may time slow down." She smiled wistfully as she spoke, clearly lost in her own thoughts about home.
I shrugged. "I don't know if I should put an amen to what you just said."
We began walking toward the hostel, the path crowded with students returning from bathing and chores.
Many girls dashed past us, water dripping from their hair and clothes.
"If you still want to walk like a cat and not run to the hostel…" one of the girls said teasingly as she ran by.
Morayo smirked. "Let's run too," she said, glancing at us and grinning mischievously.
"Why should we run?" I asked, confused. There was no one chasing us, and yet everyone seemed to be moving at lightning speed.
Morayo looked back and shook her head, laughing. "Because if the house mistress catches anyone outside after bell time, she'll not hesitate to beat them. It's faster to run than explain!"
With that, she dashed ahead. Vanessa and I exchanged a glance before sprinting after her. The thrill of racing down the hallway, trying to dodge imaginary wrath, made me laugh uncontrollably.
"Just in time!" Morayo panted as we reached the hostel and pushed the door open.
I leaned against the wall, catching my breath. "There's still a lot to learn from this school," I said, shaking my head in amusement.
"Good night," Vanessa said quietly as she disappeared into her room, leaving us to settle.
Morayo and I tiptoed to our room, careful not to disturb the dormitory. The faint chatter of students filled the air, punctuated by occasional laughter.
"Mrs. Rotimi is here!" a voice shouted suddenly, and an immediate hush fell over the entire hostel. Girls hurried into their rooms, beds squeaking under the sudden movement.
"Who is Mrs. Rotimi?" I whispered to Morayo as we entered our room.
"She's the house mistress in charge of our dormitory," she said matter-of-factly, walking toward her bed.
"Sweet dreams," she added, climbing under the covers. I smiled at her and moved to my bed, noting that Victoria was already fast asleep, her breathing even and calm.
I removed my slippers and carefully arranged them under the bed, letting the quiet of the night settle around me. Sleep came quickly, yet filled with anticipation for the next day.
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The morning arrived with the usual clatter of dormitory routines. We dressed, swept our corners, and made our beds, then headed to the dining hall together. Vanessa stuck closely with us, a silent reassurance that our new friendship was solidifying.
"Yesterday night was fun, except for the part where we had to run," I said as we slid into our seats in the dining hall. The wooden chairs squeaked under our weight, but the familiar chatter of students made it feel comforting.
"Your cup of tea," Victoria murmured with a smile as the senior brought a large cooler of juice to our table.
"That's how she is every time—jealousy is her second nature," Morayo teased with a grin, nudging me playfully.
I laughed quietly at Morayo's remark and glanced at Victoria, who rolled her eyes but smiled nonetheless.
"Morayo!" Victoria called after a pause, a playful admonition in her voice.
I took the chance to turn the conversation elsewhere. "By the way, what tribe are you from?" I asked Victoria.
"I'm from Enugu," she replied simply.
Morayo clapped her hands together softly. "So, we have two Yoruba and two Igbo as friends," she said, her grin wide as she waited for the senior to finish serving food.
I looked at the steaming plates of Jollof spaghetti being placed on the tables. My stomach rumbled in anticipation. "I wonder how the spaghetti will taste like," I said. "Honestly, I miss home cooking. Nothing compares to it."
Morayo laughed, leaning closer. "It's good. How do you think I like it? If you don't finish yours, you can pour it on my plate."
I smirked. "Don't get your hopes high. I might finish mine before even thinking of giving you some."
"Okay then," she said, collecting her plate with a chuckle.
I picked up my fork, took a bite, and nearly closed my eyes in delight. The spaghetti was flavorful, seasoned just right—not home-level, but still very enjoyable. The thought of sharing it faded quickly; I wasn't ready to part with a single bite.
"How is it?" Morayo asked, looking at me eagerly.
I shrugged with a smile. "I can't say it's as delicious as my mom's cooking, but… it's definitely eatable."
"You're so weird," she laughed, shaking her head as she dug into her own plate.
From a nearby table, someone announced, "Hundred naira for a full plate of spaghetti!" and immediately, voices from all around shouted, "Me! Me!" in a chaotic chorus.
Morayo glanced at me, smirking. "That's for students who either don't have money or just don't like the food," she whispered.
"Trade by barter, wow," I muttered, fascinated. It was my first time witnessing such an arrangement firsthand.
"Yes," she continued. "There was even a time when the deeper life members were fasting. They had to barter among themselves because no outside food was allowed in the dining hall during that period."
I nodded, processing the new information. There was always something novel to learn in this school.
"Are you not through with your food?" Victoria asked, leaning forward to peek at Morayo's plate.
"Almost done," she replied. I realized, with a small shock, that I had already finished my plate without even noticing. The conversation, the laughter, the lively environment—it had distracted me so thoroughly that the food had vanished almost magically.
As I sat back, licking the last traces of sauce from my fork, I smiled quietly to myself. Yes, there were still so many lessons to learn, not just from textbooks, but from the life and rhythm of the school itself.