Chapter 4: New Beginnings, Old Shadows

7.

That post for WhatsApp cause real wahala. Hall master hear am sharp. As he see my room change form, he frown, talk: "To move out easy, but na where you go lay your head matter pass." Meaning clear. Other male rooms no go want me. As if say because I like guy, I be plague. "I go stay off-campus, sir." "Come stay with us." I answer with bitter smile, but a calm voice sound for back. I freeze. Turn, see sports department hall tutor, dey look me like say nothing dey. "Fine boy like you—just perfect for our department." Hall master frown, lean in, whisper: "This is Obiora." Sports tutor just shift, still dey look me, no whisper: "I know who he be. Why you dey whisper?" "Obiora, male hostel 601. You sabi where e dey?" 601? I pause, confuse. Why the number sound familiar?

Whisper just dey swirl as I leave office, some dey shake head, others just dey look. My chest relax small; at least person dey ready stand for me, even if na for face. Still, I wonder wetin I dey enter. 601... Something about am dey make my back cold.

8.

After all the waka, I reach male hostel around 7:30 p.m. Everywhere dark, people dey hustle under building, dey go mama put. I no expect anybody wait for entrance. One guy just dey, jeans, slippers, fine face, rough hair. Tall like iroko, skin shine like fresh palm oil. As he see me, he waka come, grab my bag, talk for deep voice: "Ola. Your new roommate. Tutor send me to come carry you." He turn go inside. I stand, shock. I remember why 601 sound familiar—na because of this Ola. Tallest, finest, longest leg for department—girls rush am, first come out as gay: the 'warrior.' Brains, muscle, money—he drive away any roommate wey get wahala. 601 na just him, dey live alone.

I remember how for fresher’s orientation, seniors dey whisper: "Ola no dey fear anybody o, na lion for this campus." He dey waka soft, never hurry, as if world dey wait am.

"Ola... Ola bros..." I stammer, rush follow. "You no mind say I dey move in?" Ola glance me, no slow down. "You get disease?" I freeze. "Uh, no... just..." I wan talk say I like men. But, who here no dey? I just shut up. Ola no wait me finish, pause, weigh my bag. "Na only this Ghana-Must-Go you carry? You sure say dem no thief your things?" "Where your bedding?" My face squeeze. Remember bedding soak in kai-kai, I vex: "I throway am." "Tsk." Ola frown, quiet, then talk, "Why you throw your wrapper like that?" "Wetin you go do tonight?" "Sleep for my bed." I dey focus on Ola, no know say we reach third floor—my old place. As he talk, "Sleep for my bed," door to 303 open. Tega and the others come out. When dem see me and Ola, face change. Especially Tega. Him dark eye pin me, face thunder.

I feel air heavy, tension sharp like fresh pepper. Corridor shrink, every footstep echo, people dey look but dey pretend. Tega shadow still dey everywhere, like old perfume wey no wan go.