The Butterflies... Episode 10

“Babe, where are you?...  Come to campus right away… Yaayyy…” Ibinabo said with excitement in her voice as she ended the call.

Tofunmi called back without success as Ibinabo didn’t pick up anymore. 

It was a very sunny Wednesday afternoon. Tofunmi had decided not to go out that day, as she had her project to work on. She had moved in with Ibinabo who rented an apartment in town since it was difficult getting accommodation on Campus for both ladies after they resumed the new session. Tofunmi had prayed vibrantly for a drama-free session. She was glad that she settled most of her issues with the father of her son, and also that her sister seemed to have adjusted to her break-up with Dapo. Thankfully for her, she had no issues all through the session. She had insisted that she paid part of the rent for the second year of their stay in the apartment which was her own final year and although Ibinabo refused, Tofunmi decided to contribute her quota in little ways she could afford.

The session had run smoothly, as Tofunmi had become busier with school work and her hair business. She had also gone home as often as she could to check on her son who had started school. Ayomide was growing into a very intelligent, handsome young boy, and Tofunmi could not be more glad.

Dapo had also been fulfilling his end of the bargain by sending money into Tofunmi’s account for Ayomide’s upkeep. Ibinabo tried severally to get Tofunmi hooked up to another guy but she warned her to desist from the idea. The semesters had practically flown, Tofunmi thought to herself, as she shut down her laptop to go meet Ibinabo on campus. She wasn’t sure why Ibinabo asked her to come, and now that she was calling her to find out why, she wasn’t picking…

“Ibi... I’m on campus… I’ve been calling you now. Where should I meet you?..” Tofunmi asked, as she walked towards her department.

“I’m at BOOC, but go to your department, I’ll meet you there…”

As tofunmi approached her department, she met Dolapo, another classmate of hers…

 “Congrats dear, I’m so happy for you… you’re so lucky sha”, Dolapo said hugging Tofunmi tightly. Tofunmi managed a forced smile and hugged her back.

For one, she didn’t understand what the congratulatory message was about, and a hug coming from Dolapo was definitely something new. Dolapo wasn’t the type to just hug anyone in class, she hardly spoke to anyone in class, she was always wearing the ‘I’m here simply for my grades and not to make any friends’ look. Tofunmi couldn’t recollect having any tangible conversation with Dolapo Oyewole and here she was giving her a really big hug.

“Thanks dear…” Tofunmi managed to say with a smile so wide that Dolapo won’t be able to suspect that she didn’t know what she was talking about. She freed herself from Dolapo’s hold as she walked up to the departmental Notice Board to see what’s new on the board.

“Tofunmi Badmus, I’ve been trying to call you all day but your number has not been reachable. The HOD wants to see you…” Uche said, patting her on the back.

“You startled me. Uche, what’s up?” Tofunmi said in something that sounded like a whisper. “You won’t believe who just hugged me some minutes back…” Tofunmi said, allowing the laughter to overshadow her confusion.

“Tell me about it…” Uche said as he walked Tofunmi down to the Head of Department’s office. Tofunmi went on to gist Uche about Dolapo’s shocking hug; she had totally forgotten that Uche just gave her a piece of information about the HOD asking to see her. As they both walked on and laughed together, Tofunmi suddenly remembered…

“Wait… you said the HOD wants to see me, but you didn’t state why” Tofunmi queried.

“That’s because I’m not sure I know why, even though I suspect it has to do with your excellent performance at the…”

“Come in…” the HOD’s secretary’s voice had cut Uche short.

Tofunmi stepped in, while looking back and whispering to Uche…

“at the what? Tell me now…”

Uche winked at Tofunmi, said Congrats and waved good bye to her...

“Tofunmi Badmus, I’m indeed very proud of you. Since you joined this department two years ago, your grades have improved tremendously. You have made the department proud”.

Professor Tafita went on, as he adjusted his glasses to sit on his nose a couple of times.

Tofunmi kept smiling as she racked her brain to figure out what all the congratulatory messages were meant for. She knew for certain that she wasn’t the best student in her class; she had only done her best to keep her grades up, having being encouraged by her 200level results that were brilliant despite all the drama she had to go through at that time.

“It’s not just because your essay has been accorded the best essay in Nigeria, but because this is the first time a student of this department will be coming first in this essay competition. You have set a record for the department, the faculty and the University at large. Congratulations once again” Professor Tafita went on as he handed over Tofunmi’s parcel to her.

Tofunmi sat astonished for over 2minutes as she recollected the African Liberty Essay Competition she put in for at the tail end of the second semester of her 300level. Ibinabo had encouraged her to put in for the essay and she had done that. Ibinabo kept watch with her as she had to work all night to meet the deadline. She had received a mail telling her to proceed to the next phase of the essay competition. She became wary of the whole next stage thing as it seemed there won’t be an end to the stages. However, the various topics that came with the stages, from which she selected, gave her the encouragement to go on with the competition.

She had sought help from a few people in the Faculty of Law when she got to the fifth stage and was given a topic that had to do with the Promotion of Fundamental Human Rights in the 21^st century African society. She had submitted her final essay thereafter and for the next 6months, she didn’t hear from the organizers of the essay competition. She had told Ibinabo who became worried on her behalf to forget about the essay, as she most likely wasn’t selected.

Tofunmi couldn’t tell for sure how many minutes she had been sitting and smiling at the letter in the parcel, and the brochure that came with it. She had gratefulness flowing right through her lips; she had totally forgotten she was still in Professor Tafita’s office.

“Thank you sir, thank you so much for all your words of encouragement too. I least expected that my essay would amount to anyzhing, let alone being the best essay in Nigeria, and third place amongst other Schools in West Africa…” Tofunmi shook Professor Tafita’s outstretched hand as she stood up to take her leave…

“Thank you Jesus, Thank you Jesus” Tofunmi kept saying as she hurried out of the secretary to the HOD’s office. She was full of joy; it wasn’t just the cash prize she was elated about, it was the full tuition scholarship for her Masters in any West African School of her choice. She brought out her phone from her brown strap bag and dialed her mother’s number.

“Oluwa seun oh (Thank you Lord)… Ah, I’m grateful to God oh…” her mother went on showering her with prayers as she couldn’t contain her joy.

“Amen, Amen…” Ibinabo joined in, smiling widely at her friend turned sister…

 Tofunmi went on with the Amen response, as she hugged her friend.

“Yes ma, I’d call daddy now…. Ese ma. I’d call back at night so that I can speak with Ayomide” Tofunmi said as she hung up.

“Yaaayyy, we did it…” Tofunmi screamed as she jumped on her friend to hug her…

“No, you did it, babe. But you’re shouting oh, hope you know?” Ibinabo said laughing at her friend.

“Free me jare.. Let me shout…” Tofunmi said grinning from ear to ear.

“I wanted to be the first to tell you. Congrats girl. I told you… you’re a genius…” Ibinabo kept smiling at Tofunmi. “This calls for celebration oh…”

“Yes, it does… let’s go to the new bukateria” Tofunmi said as she walked down the stairs to pick a bike with her friend to new buka.

***

“Wow, that’s good news babe, I’m so happy for you…”

“Yeah, thanks.. I should go now. I still have so much to do on my project. Thanks again for calling…” Tofunmi smiled as she hung up.

“Hmmnn… Okay… So you now report to him every day?” Ibinabo said as she walked past her friend towards her wardrobe to get her nightwear.

“I don’t report to him. He called now; he’s always calling. Isn’t that what you want? For me to loosen up a bit and not chase my friend away... why are you smiling that way?…” Tofunmi went on as she watched Ibinabo’s smile widen.

“Nothing. Just say me hi to him when next he calls. I’m going to bed… ” Ibinabo winked at her friend as she went to lie on her bed.

“Yeye girl, sleep well…” Tofunmi laughed.

There was really no harm in keeping her friend, she thought to herself. She had been too hard on 

herself for years, not like she planned to but she had to do away with everything that brought unnecessary drama to her life.

Temiye had just been that one person who hadn’t let go of their friendship. He had kept in touch from time to time, especially since the last time he came visiting on the same day Dapo’s parents came to discuss arrangement for the welfare of Ayomide.

 Tofunmi had been upset that Temiye would come visiting without notice but when he went on to explain that he had a function in Ibadan and wanted to check on her, her sister and parents before going back to Lagos, she had reasoned with him.

That visit had been the beginning of the renewal of their friendship. She had heeded Ibinabo’s advice not to be harsh on him whenever he called.

Tofunmi didn’t see any big deal in receiving his calls as often as she now did; she felt even more comfortable with him especially since he told her he was now dating someone. That way, she knew he had no special plans to take their friendship beyond what it was like he initially wanted.

Tofunmi went back to her laptop to fill in references for her project, as she took one more glance at Ibinabo who was sleeping peacefully…

 

*the butterflies
*faith Tunde-Yara

*photo credit: aeshaonline.com