It had just been a few months since I completed my National Youth Service that I was privileged to be among the few selected in my course of study for admission into master’s programme at the University of Ibadan. I was so elated that I would be attending one of the most if not the most prestigious university in Nigeria to further my studies. As fondly referred to as the first and the best, I coveted first the change in the environment and what super things there were that await me at UI, I could only imagine the best.
Few months into the program, I was recruited into the departmental football team (You know I cherish the game so much). Not long, I got nicknamed (Kante), most people said we play and look alike (although, I think I fine pass that guy). As times went by, it was time for the NAMS week; a week set aside for socialization amongst students. I was around and so I decided to have a feel of it as I was not the party type of guy during my undergraduate days in LASU.
As the groove went on, I snuck behind this lepa (a slim lady), and tried dancing with her, she looked back although I hardly saw her eyes behind her spectacles, I doubt if she even saw me well too that evening. She didn’t decline to dance with me (little did I know that her boyfriend was present too), I just enjoyed the evening and after a while she decided it was time she went home, I wasnt happy but I decided to accompany her home. She declined politely saying my friend (pointing to a slim, tall and fair-skinned lady) will escort me. We exchanged contacts and said our goodbyes, trust me I couldnt wait for the next morning to come to talk to her again, she had such a gentle voice sounding like the chirping sparrows. It felt like love at first sight.
Alas!!! We met days later and after few weeks, I expressed my feelings to her. Again, she politely declined and said some nice words (I swear she knew my mumu button). Weeks passed, the faculty football tournament started and I was made captain. Believe me there was so much love around but she refused to spread hers to me (contrary to “spread love” which was her WhatsApp profile statement for a long time). I refused to look elsewhere as I thought the attention she showered me would soon yield results. As a matter of fact, at a point she said she was no longer in a relationship, I jumped for joy in my heart and felt the acceptable time is here.
We became closer that all her friends knew how I felt about her. In fact, there was a particular lecturer who always asked her publicly “what’s between you and Kante”. At some point, it seemed I became tired and we grew apart. Somehow, I found my way back to her because, everything seemed right with us (perhaps, I was the only one with the hallucination, LOL). I nicknamed her my number one fan as she was always present and supportive at my football matches. Prior to these matches, she would even call or chat me up to boost my confidence (another mumu button); this meant so much to me, after all, who is a better companion than one who encourages and supports your dream, I became the legendary Super Mario, if you know what I mean.
Years later, she was in her final year, I had completed my master’s degree but somehow was still around the University, one of the reasons was to assure her I wasn’t going away anytime soon, just to win her heart. The future seemed so bright for us, as she was so intelligent and smart that during our conversations, although I was free, I was also cautious not to misyarn (slang for saying nonsense).
Around May/June 2019, our conversations got very intense and we had a lot of disagreements especially when I travelled with the University football team to Ife for the qualifiers of HiFL 2019 tournament. There was this particular phone conversation we had and oops, she flared and let the cat out of the back saying I am now in a relationship. I read it and it felt like I lost my years of education (LOL) as I couldn’t understand the content until I read it a number of times.
Upon gaining consciousness, tears rolled down my eyes but somehow I still felt it was a prank to push me away. The reason being that I couldnt fathom how I would ask a lady out (truthfully she wasn’t the only one after few years but was the most preferred) for such number of years, only to enter into a relationship with another guy. It seemed irrational to me but then there was no way I could make someone feel how I feel about them or how I desire it to be. This took long for me to understand, but after I did, I forgave myself and tried to move on. This article is one way to find closure and I am glad I did.
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Inspired by Asabia Lois and Salaudeen Mojisola.
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