Fiction Stories: Dairy of a campus episode 19

EPISODE 19

I decided to halt and surrender, so I turned

around, raised my hands relinquishing all I’ve

got. I was surprised to see the police van pass

by me. I was still standing like a slowpoke

with my hands still raised up because I was

still suffering from the shock that the police

weren’t after me. I foolishly went back to the

security office to accomplish my set goal. I

kept snuffing out the still small voice that kept

telling me to retreat away from the whole

issue. I have to get myself out of this mess, I

murmured. I got to the security office and

walked boldly in, Mr Okanlawon was no where

around. I approached another security

personnel.

“Sir, Please I want to see the Chief Security

Officer.” I gently requested.

“For what?”

“He asked me to come see him.” I lied to gain

access to him.

“Wait, am coming.”

He left me while I sat on a bench waiting. I

was praying that Mr Okanlawon doesn’t come

into play at the time because he is an

illiterate. He almost implicated me without

hearing me out. I brightened up when I saw

the security man coming back.

“You may go in now.” He said and directed

me. “Go left, then turn right. The first room by

your left is his office.”

“Thank you sir.” I appreciated and walked on.

My heart was producing some musical rhythm,

beating faster than ever. I don’t know how I

would explain the whole incident to the chief

security officer. I shrugged off and decided to

go with the flow. I knocked on the door, to

hear a deep voice roared at me to come in. I

thought to myself, that deep voice is one of

the criteria for appointing someone as a

security officer because the two other security

officers I met have the same depth in their

voices.

“Good morning sir!” I greeted, bowing my

head.

The CSO looked at his wrist watch and

responded, “Good afternoon.”

I quickly checked around his office for a wall

clock to confirm the hour of the day because I

wasn’t wearing my wrist watch. I confirmed

the time and corrected myself, “Good

afternoon sir!”

“Sit down.”

I sat and said, “Thank you sir.”

“I can’t remember seeing this face.” He said,

“you told the security that I asked you to

come?”

“Yes sir. Erm—er–erm sir.” I stuttered.

“Calm down boy. Ok, fine. What can I do for

you?”

“Sir, I have an information to give you sir.”

“Go on. Go ahead.” He said, adjusting his

chair forward.

“Sir, about the gun shot that occurred

yesterday night.”

“Ehn Ehn go on.” He sound so interested.

“I know who shot the gun.” I fearfully said.

“Are you serious?!” He yelled, banging his

desk hard with his hand.

“Sir! Please, am not the one.” I quickly

explained.

He calmed down, reduced his tone and said, “I

never said you’re the one. I was only asking

how sure are you.”

“Ok Sir. I am very sure who shot the gun.”

“Wow, am happy. Please go on. Am listening.”

He said, nodding his head and smiling. “Wait.

What will you drink? Fanta?”

“No sir. I am ok.” I lied because of a truth I

needed that fanta now or never; I was so

parched after the dash from the police. I

prayed he insisted for me to drink, I would

grab the opportunity this time.

“No. At least take water.” He changed my

choice of drink.

He was about pulling a call through when I

cut in, “Sir, please the fanta will do.”

He smiled and ordered for a bottle of fanta

and two bottles of water. I was glad deep

down in my heart. I learnt a little lesson for

that moment, that many have settled for less

because they were shy. I wouldn’t let that be

me, may God never turn my fanta to water, I

prayed silently.

“Before we continue, what’s your name?” He

asked still smiling.

“Sir, I am Banji.”

“Hmm. Baaaannnnjjjjjjiiiiii!” He stressed my

name.

“What Sir?” I asked inquisitively.

“That’s my son’s name too. Banji.” He said,

“ok, continue with the information.”

“The person that shot the gun is Bayo, one of

my friends.”

“Wait a second.” He said, opening his drawer

to get a pen and a jotter. “Please continue.”

“We were together yesterday night when he

shot Chinedu and Emeka.”

“Why? Why did he shoot them?” He

interrogated further.

“The four of us had little misunderstanding

and we all engaged in a fight. I was beaten

and I lay weak on the floor when I heard him

shoot.”

“Hmmmm. That’s cruel.” He said and asked,

“where is the Bayo presently?”

“He is in my room.” I said boldly.

I never knew I had already set my knicker

ablaze. The CSO looked at me lividly like

someone who lost a lottery he spent his last

money on.

“So you’re harboring a criminal all the while!”

He angrily yelled.

“No Sir. It’s not like that Sir.” I tried

explaining.

“It’s like how boy? It’s like how? Tell me.” He

kept yelling loud when two security personnel

rushed in; Mr Okanlawon was among the two.

They saluted and Mr Okanlawon asked, “Any

problem sir?”

“Okanlawon!” The CSO called.

“Sir!” He shouted, saluted and stood at

attention.

“Take this boy to his room and bring him back

with his friend.” He commanded.

“Ok Sir!” Mr Okanlawon shouted. “Permission

to carry on, Sir?”

“Permission granted.” The CSO dismissed

them.

“Bloody boy! Jump up!” The other security

man shouted at me.

I turned around to come in contact with Mr

Okanlawon, who quickly explained to the CSO,

that I was the one who ran away after

confessing I was the criminal. The CSO just

couldn’t wait to see me return with Bayo, so

he waved at eye servicing Mr Okanlawon to

get out and do as he had commanded.

I was driven in the school security van to my

hall to fetch Bayo. I was moving slowly ahead

of the two security men attached to me. I will

sure get out of this when I hand Bayo over to

you, I assured myself. We all climbed the

stairs and walked through the corridor to my

room. We got to my room, I opened the door

while the two were outside. I shouted Bayo’s

name but I got no response. I checked the two

segments of the room, still I didn’t find him.

Bayo was gone.

TO BE CONTINUED.