Image is mine
I still remember how Sophia and I became friends like it was yesterday. We had lived in the same environment before university, but our paths had never crossed until then. Sophia was a sweet and gentle soul, always looking for the best in everyone. I, on the other hand, was a bit of a mystery she unraveled when we started living together.
It wasn't until I faced accommodation issues with some older students during admission for my second degree that Sophia's kindness became noticeable. Also being an older student, she stood up for me and told the hall chairman that she wanted me to be her roommate. I was taken aback by her generosity, but was super grateful nonetheless.
As we settled into our new life together as roommates, I discovered that Sophia had initially harbored reservations about me. "I took a leap of faith," she confessed one day, "despite hearing some discouraging things about you. I still made you my roommate."
A shocking revelation, but before I could ask her to elaborate, her coursemate, Nneoma, arrived for a visit. From the moment Nneoma saw me, her expression changed, and she became visibly uncomfortable.
"Sophia, I need to talk to you," Nneoma said, her voice low and urgent. "How do you cope living with...her?" Nneoma questioned, stealing glances at me.
"What do you mean?" Sophia inquired, raising an eyebrow.
Nneoma hesitated before responding. "I've heard she's mean and wicked. I don't know how you tolerate her."
While they both thought I had my earpiece on and was studying, I watched and listened to the exchange with interest, wondering how Sophia would defend me. But surprisingly, I saw her smile and then she responded, "We get along just fine, Nneoma. You don't have to worry about me."
Not the response Nneoma expected, and I could sense how disappointed she was. She stayed briefly and then decided to take her leave. Sophia saw her off, and when she got back, I just couldn't hold it in, pretending I was ignorant of all that had just happened.
I thought of a best way to confront her that wouldn't lead to any conflict between us. "So, what do you mean by 'you took a leap of faith' with me?" I inquired. Sophia had already taken off one of her shoes and was about to take off the other one when my question hit her.
I was sure to be audible, and when she didn't respond, I panicked. So many things went through my mind as I wondered what else she had talked about with Nneoma. But since she wasn't dignifying me with a response, I didn't push further.
After freeing herself from the excessive clothing and accessories that she had on, Sophia got on her bed. She sat up facing my direction and then said, "You know, you are a typical example of 'do not judge a book by its cover'?"
I laughed, immediately feeling a sense of relief wash over me. "It's okay, Sophia. I'm used to people having misconceptions about me."
"What do you mean?" Sophia questioned, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
I took a deep breath and then settled in for a story. "Well, it all started when I got to the hostel, and I discovered that my space was still occupied by Chika, a friend of Nneoma's."
Sophia's eyes widened. "What? That's crazy!"
I nodded. "I know, right? Chika was squatting with Nneoma, but when she moved out, Chika decided to stay behind and claim my space."
Sophia's expression turned resentful. "That's not fair! You paid for your accommodation, didn't you?"
I nodded again, feeling a surge of gratitude toward Sophia. "Yes, I did. And I wasn't going to let Chika use her influence to take advantage of me."
I continued my narration and briefed Sophia on all that I went through trying to secure my accommodation. I shared with her how I was made to squat with Chika in my own paid accommodation space and the role that her coursemate Nneoma played.
While Nneoma moved out to go live with her boyfriend off-campus, she locked the wardrobe, denying me access to keep my belongings. All efforts to reach her proved abortive until I sent a message to the hall chairman that if I didn't see her before the end of the following day, I would report to the hostel security and have them break the wardrobe to bring out her things.
Knowing how implicating it could be for him as chairman of the hostel, and the trouble Nneoma would go through fixing the wardrobe, she availed herself and packed her things. Upon packing her things, Nneoma pleaded with me to leave some and come back later for them, but I refused and insisted she take all her belongings.
When I got done dealing with Nneoma, I reported Chika and the hall chairman to my uncle, who happens to not only being a senior but also the Dean's friend. I had initially thought I could handle the situation, but seeing the whole thing spiral out of my control, I cried to my uncle about the inconvenience Chika and the hall chairman made me go through.
He quickly called the Dean, who was furious at the hall chairman. Chika was given an ultimatum to leave, which made her become really hostile towards me. In one of our heated confrontations, we made a scene. Seeing how ugly everything turned out, it was at that moment Sophia came in and decided to accommodate me.
As I finished my story, Sophia smiled and said, "I'm glad you stood up for yourself. You're not mean or wicked, you're just...determined." She concluded.
I smiled back at her, feeling a sense of appreciation for my roommate. Sophia had seen beyond the rumors and misconceptions and had befriended me for who I truly was.
