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THE PRICE OF CONFORMITY.
NOTE.
Dear readers,
This story has nothing to do with the life of the authoress. It's a work of art inspired by the happenings in the Nigerian society. Thanks for reading, and thanks for your understanding.
It's all love from here. 😊❤️
The door slammed open and I could hear the elaborate, expensive shoes of my roommates match in tandem with the pristine marble floor of our hostel room. I raised my head from my book and took in the sight of the three young ladies who just came in.
Lola, a twenty year old girl who got admitted to study Agricultural science, had a voluptuous body. Her red dress hung tightly onto her body. It was skimpy and could barely cover her up.
Tolu, a nineteen year old girl studying chemical engineering was also indecently dressed. She wore a see-through outfit that did nothing to hide her body from the world.
Annie, who was the same age as Lola, was in the department of performing art. She was also dressed suggestively.
Their hands were full of all sorts of goodies that made mouths water.
"Ha, I enjoyed myself tonight! Chief Badmus is the best client ever! " I heard Lola say as she struggled to remove her shoe.
"That's so true! I've never had any client that spends so much on me before!" Annie said.
"Yeah, those that didn't join us are missing alot!" Tolu chipped in as she pointed in my direction. The three girls burst into laughter.
I saw them open the bags that they came in with and my eyes widened. All sorts of clothing and accessories, snacks, food stuffs, drinks and wine were in the numerous bags. The girls also brought out wads of cash and they shared it among themselves. My heart thightened as I stopped looking at them.
I looked down at my book but I was not assimilating anything. My mind was on the money the girls just brought out. My parents were struggling to make ends meet inorder to take care of my siblings and I. I struggled to pay my school fees myself from the various daily jobs I did before resumption. There were a lot of necessary textbooks and course materials I needed to buy inorder to ace my studies. Would it be bad if I asked these girls to give me some? They were my roommates, they would assist me, right? Summoning courage, I turned to the girls.
" Could you girls give me out of your earnings? I need to buy some course materials and textbooks. I promise to pay you back once I work during the break. Please."
The three of them went silent for a few seconds, turned to look at each other and then burst into laughter.
"Listen to yourself, Abisola! We should go out to work, earn our money and come back to pour them at your feet? Ehn, scholar? The only one who knows how to read! " Lola mocked me.
"Listen baby girl, if you need money, you'll go out there and earn it! " Tolu said.
"We are going out on Saturday night by 8pm. You can tag along. I'll give you some clothes and makeup to use. You can tell me your decision on Saturday morning! You are welcome!" Annie didn't mince words.
My eyes were clouded with tears. My brain could not process their response to my pleas. I sat there lost in my own thoughts that I did not notice when the girls arranged all their stuffs and slept off. I knew that without them accommodating me, I would have no roof over my head. All in all, I knew I had to find a way, any means possible to fund my education. With that thought in mind, I drifted off to sleep.
The day I dreaded finally came. I still had not found any way to purchase the necessary materials. Annie's offer seemed to be the only option I'm left with.
"Today will be amazing!"
"Topnotch enjoyment!"
"I'm all over the moon!"
The girls kept on boasting as they threw side glances at me.
"Have you decided?" Annie asked me and I nodded my head reluctantly. I was not a novice. I knew what I was getting myself into. After all, why would a man shower a lady with cash and gifts if not that he receives something in return. What he was going to receive, I knew well enough. Was I really going to loose it? But it's for my education, I need to make sacrifices, don't I? I washed away the tears from my eyes and swiftly got into the outfit Annie gave to me.
I looked at myself in the mirror and felt disgusted and irritated at the girl I saw. This was not me, I screamed in my ears but it was of no use. I had to do it, whether I desired or not. My peers were doing it, why could I not? Do I have a better head than Annie? Am I richer than Lola? Am I more beautiful than Tolu? No! So if they could, I could too. I thought as I consoled myself.
"You look hot! " Lola squealed.
"You've covered my shine!" Annie said, jokingly.
"Let's hit the road girls!" Tolu screamed and we made our way out.
As Annie was about to close the door, my phone rang. It was my mother and without thinking, I immediately picked up the call.
"Hello Maami." I greeted her lovingly.
"Hello okomi. How's school? I just wanted to let you know that I sent money to your account for your textbooks and feeding like you asked. I hope you can help me manage the forty thousand. Your dad and I are trying our best to get the money. I hope the one I sent will be enough for you?"
Tears fell from my eyes as I listened to my mother. I was on my way to disappoint her and my father. I was on my way to break them and let them down. I was on my way with my friends to destroy my own future. Tears destroyed the makeup that Annie had done for me as I made my way back into the room.
"Abisinuolami " My mum tenderly called. "Is it not enough to cover your expenses?" I could hear the concern in her voice.
"It's more than enough Maami. It's enough! Help me to greet Baami. May God continue to provide for you. I promise to make you proud." I reassured my mother.
"I'm happy to hear that, my child. You'll hear from me soon."
"Ok. Thank you, ma. Bye bye Maami."
"Take care, Okomi." The call with my mother ended and I continued to cry loudly. I almost failed her.
"C'mon girl! Wipe those tears and let's go."
"I'm not going again!" I said with resolve!
"Mtcheeeeeewwwww!" They hissed at the same time.
"Waste of time!"
"Waste of energy!"
"Waste of money!"
They cursed at me and swayed away. I only smiled, my God just saved me from destruction and peer group influence.
Waking up the next morning, I did not see any of the girls. I was surprised that they've not returned. I went about my daily routine and attended my classes. On my way back from my classes, I saw that a large number of people had gathered infront of my hostel building. I moved closer to the gathering and screamed in shock.
On the floor, lay Lola, Tolu and Annie. Their clothes were soaked with blood. Some parts of their bodies were missing. I closed my eyes and cried. I did not know if it were tears of sorrow because of the untimely death of those who housed me or tears of joy because if I had not listened to my mother and instead followed them, I'll also be laying dead on floor. I cried as I envisioned myself laying dead on the floor, when I cannot talk no more. I thanked my Creator that I was alive and well.
"They were used for rituals by their men friends…" someone from the crowd had relayed.
Thinking about it now that I am successfully married to a charming husband and now a mother of beautiful kids, I realised what peer pressure could do to the young generation. I made it a priority to teach my children the evils that peer pressure could cause and things they should do inorder to avoid falling victims of such. Teaching my children contentment is my utmost priority…
NOTE.
Dear readers,
This story has nothing to do with the life of the authoress. It's a work of art inspired by the happenings in the Nigerian society. Thanks for reading, and thanks for your understanding.
It's all love from here. 😊❤️
Haiza. 🖤✍️
© Haiza.
Dear readers,
This story has nothing to do with the life of the authoress. It's a work of art inspired by the happenings in the Nigerian society. Thanks for reading, and thanks for your understanding.
It's all love from here. 😊❤️
The door slammed open and I could hear the elaborate, expensive shoes of my roommates match in tandem with the pristine marble floor of our hostel room. I raised my head from my book and took in the sight of the three young ladies who just came in.
Lola, a twenty year old girl who got admitted to study Agricultural science, had a voluptuous body. Her red dress hung tightly onto her body. It was skimpy and could barely cover her up.
Tolu, a nineteen year old girl studying chemical engineering was also indecently dressed. She wore a see-through outfit that did nothing to hide her body from the world.
Annie, who was the same age as Lola, was in the department of performing art. She was also dressed suggestively.
Their hands were full of all sorts of goodies that made mouths water.
"Ha, I enjoyed myself tonight! Chief Badmus is the best client ever! " I heard Lola say as she struggled to remove her shoe.
"That's so true! I've never had any client that spends so much on me before!" Annie said.
"Yeah, those that didn't join us are missing alot!" Tolu chipped in as she pointed in my direction. The three girls burst into laughter.
I saw them open the bags that they came in with and my eyes widened. All sorts of clothing and accessories, snacks, food stuffs, drinks and wine were in the numerous bags. The girls also brought out wads of cash and they shared it among themselves. My heart thightened as I stopped looking at them.
I looked down at my book but I was not assimilating anything. My mind was on the money the girls just brought out. My parents were struggling to make ends meet inorder to take care of my siblings and I. I struggled to pay my school fees myself from the various daily jobs I did before resumption. There were a lot of necessary textbooks and course materials I needed to buy inorder to ace my studies. Would it be bad if I asked these girls to give me some? They were my roommates, they would assist me, right? Summoning courage, I turned to the girls.
" Could you girls give me out of your earnings? I need to buy some course materials and textbooks. I promise to pay you back once I work during the break. Please."
The three of them went silent for a few seconds, turned to look at each other and then burst into laughter.
"Listen to yourself, Abisola! We should go out to work, earn our money and come back to pour them at your feet? Ehn, scholar? The only one who knows how to read! " Lola mocked me.
"Listen baby girl, if you need money, you'll go out there and earn it! " Tolu said.
"We are going out on Saturday night by 8pm. You can tag along. I'll give you some clothes and makeup to use. You can tell me your decision on Saturday morning! You are welcome!" Annie didn't mince words.
My eyes were clouded with tears. My brain could not process their response to my pleas. I sat there lost in my own thoughts that I did not notice when the girls arranged all their stuffs and slept off. I knew that without them accommodating me, I would have no roof over my head. All in all, I knew I had to find a way, any means possible to fund my education. With that thought in mind, I drifted off to sleep.
The day I dreaded finally came. I still had not found any way to purchase the necessary materials. Annie's offer seemed to be the only option I'm left with.
"Today will be amazing!"
"Topnotch enjoyment!"
"I'm all over the moon!"
The girls kept on boasting as they threw side glances at me.
"Have you decided?" Annie asked me and I nodded my head reluctantly. I was not a novice. I knew what I was getting myself into. After all, why would a man shower a lady with cash and gifts if not that he receives something in return. What he was going to receive, I knew well enough. Was I really going to loose it? But it's for my education, I need to make sacrifices, don't I? I washed away the tears from my eyes and swiftly got into the outfit Annie gave to me.
I looked at myself in the mirror and felt disgusted and irritated at the girl I saw. This was not me, I screamed in my ears but it was of no use. I had to do it, whether I desired or not. My peers were doing it, why could I not? Do I have a better head than Annie? Am I richer than Lola? Am I more beautiful than Tolu? No! So if they could, I could too. I thought as I consoled myself.
"You look hot! " Lola squealed.
"You've covered my shine!" Annie said, jokingly.
"Let's hit the road girls!" Tolu screamed and we made our way out.
As Annie was about to close the door, my phone rang. It was my mother and without thinking, I immediately picked up the call.
"Hello Maami." I greeted her lovingly.
"Hello okomi. How's school? I just wanted to let you know that I sent money to your account for your textbooks and feeding like you asked. I hope you can help me manage the forty thousand. Your dad and I are trying our best to get the money. I hope the one I sent will be enough for you?"
Tears fell from my eyes as I listened to my mother. I was on my way to disappoint her and my father. I was on my way to break them and let them down. I was on my way with my friends to destroy my own future. Tears destroyed the makeup that Annie had done for me as I made my way back into the room.
"Abisinuolami " My mum tenderly called. "Is it not enough to cover your expenses?" I could hear the concern in her voice.
"It's more than enough Maami. It's enough! Help me to greet Baami. May God continue to provide for you. I promise to make you proud." I reassured my mother.
"I'm happy to hear that, my child. You'll hear from me soon."
"Ok. Thank you, ma. Bye bye Maami."
"Take care, Okomi." The call with my mother ended and I continued to cry loudly. I almost failed her.
"C'mon girl! Wipe those tears and let's go."
"I'm not going again!" I said with resolve!
"Mtcheeeeeewwwww!" They hissed at the same time.
"Waste of time!"
"Waste of energy!"
"Waste of money!"
They cursed at me and swayed away. I only smiled, my God just saved me from destruction and peer group influence.
Waking up the next morning, I did not see any of the girls. I was surprised that they've not returned. I went about my daily routine and attended my classes. On my way back from my classes, I saw that a large number of people had gathered infront of my hostel building. I moved closer to the gathering and screamed in shock.
On the floor, lay Lola, Tolu and Annie. Their clothes were soaked with blood. Some parts of their bodies were missing. I closed my eyes and cried. I did not know if it were tears of sorrow because of the untimely death of those who housed me or tears of joy because if I had not listened to my mother and instead followed them, I'll also be laying dead on floor. I cried as I envisioned myself laying dead on the floor, when I cannot talk no more. I thanked my Creator that I was alive and well.
"They were used for rituals by their men friends…" someone from the crowd had relayed.
Thinking about it now that I am successfully married to a charming husband and now a mother of beautiful kids, I realised what peer pressure could do to the young generation. I made it a priority to teach my children the evils that peer pressure could cause and things they should do inorder to avoid falling victims of such. Teaching my children contentment is my utmost priority…
NOTE.
Dear readers,
This story has nothing to do with the life of the authoress. It's a work of art inspired by the happenings in the Nigerian society. Thanks for reading, and thanks for your understanding.
It's all love from here. 😊❤️
Haiza. 🖤✍️
© Haiza.
