Few weeks after resumption, Fola saw Iremide in front of the Kashim Ibrahim Library. He was sitting with a lady and they were going through some handouts.
Fola wanted to ignore him but her conscience wouldn't let her.
He coincidentally raised his head as she was still debating on whether to go meet him or not. Their eyes met and she waved at him clumsily.
He smiled and she strutted to his side despite the wild hammering of her heart.
She wondered within her what excuse to give for not calling nor picking any of his calls.
"Hi Ire, good morning", she greeted, with a smile.
"Folake, good morning", he replied.
Fola said hello to the girl beside him and fell silent. She felt awkward standing there without saying anything.
Finally, she asked, "May I know your friend's name?"
The lady in question was surprised at Fola's request and she jerked her head up in surprise.
"Oh sorry, forgive my manners. Fola meet Tope, my friend, Tope meet Fola", he introduced.
"Nice to meet you", the two girls said to each other at the same time.
Fola watched as Tope inspected her from head to toe.
"Hmm... Ire, can we talk privately", she demanded stuttering.
"Fola as you can see, I am very busy at the moment, maybe later", he said, raising his head.
"Ok", she replied, feeling embarrassed.
She turned to go when he called her.
"Folake", she looked back.
"Give me 10 minutes, I will join you soon."
Fola smiled at him but his face was expressionless. 'I must have hurt him a lot' she murmured to herself as she moved away to look for a seat elsewhere.
Fola waited with anxiety and a few minutes later, Tope left while Ire joined Fola.
"How have you been doing?", he asked, sitting beside her.
"I've been strong enough to face what life throws at me", she answered, and he furrowed his brows at her.
"I thought we won't see each other again or even talk to each other", he declared.
"Why would you think such a thing?", she asked.
"Because I have never met a woman like you in my entire life", he answered, with an angry tone. "How can you be so unpredictable? You are here this minute and you are gone the next minute and you expect me to act like everything is fine?"
"Ire, you have no idea what I have been through. Don't judge me", she uttered, calmly.
"I will because it is obvious you are taking my feelings for granted. Do you think I don't know you were going out with that guy? I called you severally but what did you do? Sometimes you ignore, sometimes you cut the call on me. All because of what? Is it because he has money or because his father has political power? Why Fola? I want to know", he yelled at her.
"You should know me better. You should know I can never choose a man because of his money or power or whatever", Fola replied, guiltily.
"I thought so too not until you proved me wrong by going out with him and doing all sorts of rubbish", he replied in the same tone.
"What do you mean by that?", she questioned.
"I saw you together and you were expensively dressed. What then do you expect me to think of you? You aren't even giving me a chance to know who you are."
"Iremide, calm down", Fola muttered, and he was silent. "I am sorry for ignoring your calls and for not calling you either, I did that for a reason."
"I can only forgive you if you give me a genuine reason for ignoring my calls. You claim you don't want to accept me so you won't end up hurting me but here you are hurting me without accepting me yet", he said, calming down.
"Ire, I did all of that for my parent's happiness."
"And why did it seem to me like you were doing it for your selfish reason and for the fact that you want to feel among."
"Ire, I won't sit here and watch you insult me", he was getting on her nerves.
"You are just trying to justify your actions because you have now realized you did the wrong thing at the wrong time."
"Ire", Fola called, furiously. "I am done talking to you", she said and walked past him.
Iremide watched her go with regrets.
The next morning, Fola was preparing to go for a morning class scheduled to hold by 8 a.m when her phone rang. It was Ire.
She realized her anger towards him had dissolved and she was happy he called. She picked the call pretending to be upset.
"Good morning Fola, how are you?"
"I'm ok", she replied.
"I'm sorry about yesterday. I did not mean to be harsh. I was just expressing how hurt I was."
"It's alright, we misunderstood each other."
"I have a class now, can we meet later tonight?", he asked, politely.
"Ire, you know I don't go out at night", she replied, smiling to herself.
"I know. I won't take much of your time", he promised.
"Alright then."
"See you later", he said and hung up.
Folake's smile turned into a grin and she jumped up severally, muttering to herself. "I won."
"Babe, what's wrong with you. Please don't disturb our sleep", Iyabo, who has been watching Fola's every move, said to her.
Realizing she was not the only one in the room, she apologized and hurriedly ate her breakfast before rushing off to class.
Ire called her at exactly 8 p.m and told her he was in front of her hostel.
Fola jumped down from her bunk and went out to meet him. She saw him with a male friend and they were gisting unaware of her presence.
She made her presence known with a fake cough. Ire's friend bade Ire goodbye and sauntered away.
They went towards the senate building to look for space to seat. They were fortunate enough to find one and they settled in.
"How was class today?", he began.
"Class was great, how was yours?"
"It was fine too. I think I won't be able to organize any tutorials again because I will be very busy this year with project work and the rest", he told her.
"No wonder you called me out now. I thought you will call by 10 p.m thinking you will have to finish with your students first. Your students will miss your tutorials a lot", Fola commented.
"I wish I can continue but I just need to let go. My department is not ready to give us a break. We are doing presentations after presentations and it is draining me, coupled with some menial jobs", he explained.
"Uhmm…. I understand. But you will give private tutorials to those who can afford the payment right?", she inquired.
"Not all but a few of them."
"What of me?", Fola asked, and he chuckled.
"You are a special student. Even if I don't want to tutor you, the words that will come out of your mouth is enough to reset my brain and make me think twice about my decision", he responded, still laughing.
Fola laughed too and said, "What do you mean by that?"
He raised his hands and replied, "I mean nothing."
"I will beat you o", Fola threatened jokingly.
"Sorry ma", he grinned.
"I hope I am forgiven for what happened yesterday?", he demanded.
"Yes", she replied.
"I couldn't take in the fact that I have lost you to him. It angered me a lot."
"I did not accept him. He was only trying to make me fall for him with all those acts", Fola reassured him.
"And did he succeed?", he requested, anxiously.
"No, he didn't", she responded.
"Really?" Ire asked elatedly.
"Really", Fola answered. "I am also sorry for pushing you away. I'm sorry."
"It's okay."
"So are we still friends?", Fola asked.
"Of course we are. But do I still stand a chance with you?"
"What chance?", Fola asked with pretense.
"The chance of being your man", Ire declared, with no shame
"Ire......", She called unsure of what to say.
"Uhmm?", he answered.
"I am still trying to figure some things out."
"Don't worry. I will give you enough time."
"Even though I did not call, I missed you a bit", she tried changing the topic.
"A bit?", he asked, feigning annoyance. "I missed you greatly."
Fola laughed, "I missed you too seriously."
"I'm glad to hear that from you."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"So are you going to keep staying here in Zaria even after your graduation?", Fola asked.
"Probably."
"Why not move down to Kaduna to stay with your mother. She needs you there with her", advised Fola.
"I will give it a thought", he replied, nonchalantly.
"Can I ask for a favor?", he asked.
"Go ahead."
"Can we meet again tomorrow at the same time?"
"Ire......"
"I know you don't go out at night", he interrupted. "Please."
"Ok fine. I will think about it."
"I need an answer now", he insisted.
"Ire...", she called again. "Alright fine, see you tomorrow then."
"Yes!", he exclaimed. "Thank you. It seems you are sleepy already. Let me escort you back to the hostel then we meet tomorrow."
They walked back in silence to the hostel and bade each other goodnight.