Gaining admission into a prestigious University is a thing of pride. It is more gratifying when you are pursuing a higher degree. This was how Sera felt as she walked with her chin up and shoulders high straight to the library. She was also proud to come from a lineage of lawyers. Born into a family of lawyers, Sera, the fourth and last child, was pursuing a Masters’ degree in Law. The Library had become her favourite spot. After lectures, she would walk down there. It was just a stone’s throw from her department.
She had become close to the library attendant since she was a regular face. Her nerdy eyeglasses and hair wrapped up in a doughnut was her trademark. It was difficult to not notice her. From a distance, she looked very unapproachable and too serious. However, on this fateful day, Mark took a chance. He had studied her well enough to know her seat and the time of her arrival and departure from the library. She was always visiting the law section of the library, so it was easy for him to know her course of study. He sat close to her that day and tried to strike a conversation. It started off on a clumsy note, but they got talking eventually. Their discussion centered on current affairs. It took the intervention of the library attendant to cut their discussion.
“This is a library. We do not allow noise” The Library attendant broke in, sensing noise was coming from their end.
Smiling and nodding in approval, they obeyed and focused on what they were there for. It ended with both of them exchanging phone numbers.
It was a coincidence they were in the Erastmus Hall, the same Post Graduate Hostel. He had sugarcoated his talk that evening that she found herself heading straight to his room. How and why was she going? In her mind, he was an ‘prayer exco’ in the Post Graduate Fellowship they both attended. He was spiritual and disciplined for her suspect foul play. Besides, he had offered to help her with one of her assignments. They were not in the same department. However, since he was ahead of her, she felt he could be of help.
She knocked on Room 157. On the door was a poster that read ‘Lean on me, no mean say press me die’. She giggled at the thought of the words. She would ask Mark to translate what the inscription meant. At the second knock, he opened the door with the widest grin and let her in. A neighbour carrying a bucket of water had walked past as she walked in. He quickly greeted them and smiled wryly.
“Hi Sera, how are you doing today? You look pretty,” He said to her giving her a warm embrace “Have a seat”
Sera smiled sheepishly. She replied, “I am good. Thank you”
There was no seat in a room, just the bed covered with a multicoloured bedsheet. He quickly rushed to lock the door. She was wondering why, but trusted him well enough for any games.
He gestured to her to sit on his bed.
“Don’t you have a chair?” She asked in surprise “I guess I will stand, I won’t stay long”
He tried persuading her to join him on the bed, but to no avail. Suddenly, he removed his shirt and was only on shorts. He said: “This place is hot, sha”
Now her mind started wondering. It was bad enough that they were just alone. It was worst that he locked the door. Something smelled foul.
“I need to go” She said and made for the door.
“Why are you running? Stop pretending….” He reached for her waist.
“Stop or I would scream”, She quickly stopped him from going further.
Whatever he had planned for that evening was a clear impossible mission. So he opened the door and bid her goodbye after so much persuasion. Meanwhile, his neighbours, some other Ph.D. students who saw a lady leave his room, were busy ‘hailing’ him with praises.
Sera left, shook her head and made straight for her room. She would never be in a compromising situation with any guy again whether born-again or not.