Chapter 3

“Hello, Mum,” I said when she picked up. I’d gone back to my room and decided to call her, just to let her know I’d arrived safely.

“How are you, darling? Did you arrive okay?” she asked.

“Yes, Mum. Sorry, I didn’t call right away. I was so tired, I needed to rest,” I explained.

“It’s okay, love. I understand.”

“Thank you, Mum. How’s everyone back home?”

“Everyone’s fine. You just take care of yourself, okay? And please, unpack those foodstuffs before you go to bed again, so they don’t spoil,” she instructed.

“I haven’t checked if I can cook in the kitchen yet, but I’ll do that soon,” I said, already holding the phone a little away from my ear because I knew what was coming next.

“Kie Ash Afaikez…” Uh oh. “I hope this is a joke, because I didn’t break my back to get you good accommodation for you to be giving me excuses. Wasn’t your apartment supposed to have a kitchen?” she scolded.

All that fuss over a kitchen. Wait till she finds out I have a temporary male roommate instead of being comfortably settled with a female one.

“Mum, I just said I haven’t checked. I didn’t say it’s not there,” I replied, rolling my eyes.

“I know, I just don’t want you to be cheated.”

“Okay, Mum. I won’t be cheated.”

“You be safe, love. Concentrate on your studies and be careful about the friends you make. Don’t forget everything I’ve told you, and most importantly, don’t forget your home training.”

“Okay, Mummy, I won’t,” I promised.

“Good. It’s morning here already; let me say a short prayer for you before I go about my day.”

“Okay, Mummy.”

I knelt beside my bed and made the sign of the cross.

“Dear God,” she began softly, “I come to you today to ask for your protection over my daughter, Ash, who’s in a new and unfamiliar place. Please watch over her and keep her safe from harm and danger. Surround her with your love and peace so she may feel comforted and secure. Guide her path so that she may find her way easily and without fear. May she feel your presence with her every step of the way. In Jesus’ name…”

“Amen,” we said in unison. I crossed myself again, smiling faintly.

“Thank you, Mum. I love you.”

“Love you too, baby.”

“Bye.”

I thought that was the end of it, but of course, she wasn’t done.

“Have you met your roommate yet?” she asked.

I smiled. “Yes, we just spoke.”

“Does she seem cool?”

“She seems cool, Mummy.”

“Good. Okay then, bye.”

“Bye, Mummy.”

I didn’t tell her the truth, for good reason.

Since I wasn’t feeling sleepy, I decided to unpack. My wardrobe wasn’t big, but I didn’t have too many clothes, so it didn’t take long. As I looked around, I realized my room could use a few touches. I wasn’t great at decorating, but I knew what I liked. So I pulled out my phone, went on P*******t, and scrolled through room designs until I found something simple, cozy, and within my long-term budget.

I was a week early, so I still had some time before classes began. I grabbed my notebook and made a schedule for the next day, just to feel organized:

Pack all the food in the kitchen (hopefully the house will be empty).

11 a.m.: Go to school and meet my advisor.

Check out the school library and maybe borrow a novel.

Explore the campus and the surrounding area.

Find supermarkets and eateries nearby.

Come back home and make some food.

In my mind, it was going to be a productive, eventful day.

***

Scratch that. 😂😂

After finishing my schedule, I ended up watching TikTok all night. I finally dozed off around 6:30 a.m.

When I woke up, it was 9:30. The house was silent, no voices, no footsteps, just the faint hum of life outside the window.

I crept out of my room and glanced toward the living room. Empty. Thank God. Across the room were two other doors. One led to the laundry room, two machines stacked neatly, one for washing and one for drying. The other was the kitchen.

It was bright and airy, with white cabinets, two medium-sized pots, a set of silver spoons, and a stove that looked barely used. Aside from an empty pizza box and a few beer bottles on the counter, it was spotless.

I carried my food bag inside and began unpacking, placing spices, dried goods, and snacks in the drawers. When I was done, I grabbed a few things, fried peanuts, plantain chips, sweet-coated groundnuts, and carried them back to my room.

After a quick shower, I dressed up to head to school, but that’s when the nerves hit. My chest tightened, and a thin sheen of sweat coated my palms. What if I didn’t fit in? What if people didn’t talk to me? What if I couldn’t handle life here at all?

Just then, my phone buzzed. A W******p message from Will.

Hey pretty, don’t know if you’re up already, but just thought to check on you. Hope you arrived safely.

Will and I had agreed to stay friends. I still needed him in my life somehow, even if not as my partner. Instead of replying, I called him. I needed a familiar voice. He picked up on the second ring.

“Hey, Ashy. Didn’t think you’d be awake yet,” he said, his voice warm.

“It’s 10:30 a.m. here, Will,” I said, rolling my eyes.

“I know, but you were on that plane forever. And your last seen was at 6:30 a.m. I figured you’d still be asleep.”

“I’m up. Just getting ready for school. And yes, I arrived safely, thank you.”

“Good. I just wanted to check in.”

“Thanks, I appreciate it.”

“You, sure you’re okay? You sound… a little off.”

“I’m fine, just nervous,” I admitted. “What if people don’t talk to me? What if things aren’t what I imagined?”

He paused before saying softly, “Ashy, you’ll be fine. If there’s anyone who can adapt anywhere, it’s you. You’re amazing, and people will love you.”

I smiled faintly. There was a tiny edge to his tone, something like pride, or maybe regret, but I brushed it off.

“Thank you, Will.”

“Yeah,” he murmured.

After the call, I felt both lighter and lonelier. I shook off the mood and forced myself to focus.

The day turned out better than I expected. I met my academic advisor, went through my course requirements, and filled out all the necessary forms. Later, I wandered into the library, a quiet, sunlit space with just three other students.

As I browsed the shelves, a blond guy approached me. He was tall, clean-cut, and confident.

“Hey, can I get your number?” he asked so fast I blinked at him.

“You don’t greet first?” I teased.

“I said hey,” he replied, grinning.

“Okay, but you can’t just walk up to me and ask for my number. At least make some small talk first. Don’t make it awkward.”

He laughed, scratching the back of his neck. “Alright, uh, hi. I noticed you’re reading one of my favorite authors. Are you a fan too?”

“I’m not reading,” I said, laughing.

“Oh, my God. Okay, what should I say? I don’t want to ask how you’re doing because you look fine and clearly are fine,” he said, looking frustrated.

“Ha! You’re the one who approached me,” I reminded him, still laughing.

He sighed dramatically. “Fair point. What are you doing here, then?”

“Looking for something to read. You?”

“Same. I was going to pick a novel before I saw you.”

“Oh, so you actually read?”

“Yes, ma’am. Any recommendations?”

“Depends, what genre?”

“Any.”

“Okay, I h…”

“I’m actually running late,” he interrupted. “Can I have your number? We can share recommendations later.” He flashed a sly grin.

I gave him my number, knowing full well that “book talk” wasn’t what he had in mind.

By the time I left the library, it was already getting dark. I went home, showered, and decided to cook something hearty.

I pulled out all my ingredients and made a pot of eru, a rich dish of two leafy vegetables simmered with meat, dried fish, crayfish, and snails if you want extra flavor. It’s eaten with garri or cassava fufu. The aroma filled the kitchen, earthy and comforting, reminding me of home.

When I finished, it was 7:30 p.m., and Damian was back. I offered him some, and after a few polite refusals, he finally agreed to try it.

“It’s… different,” he said after the first bite, then smiled. “But it’s good.”

That small compliment made me grin like a fool.

I went to bed early that night, belly warm and heart oddly content, ready to face whatever came next.