The afternoon Ifedinma agreed to meet him in his other office, some place located in the heart of the capital city, outside the campus environment; was the afternoon her troubles began.
She had politely lifted his hands from the bare part of her thighs where her gown had failed to cover and had wanted to tell him she was a Sunday school teacher and an usher in her church, but for certain reason uncertain to her, the words suddenly felt heavy to say and she ended up muttering things inaudible to even her own hearing.
"You're truly an epitome of beauty...erm... what's that your name again?" Professor Nweke asked, trailing his gaze up to her cleavage with lustful eyes.
"Ifedinma Sir!" Ifedinma stammered, "my name is Ifedinma." She wondered how he was able to become a lecturer when he couldn't remember things as simple as people's names even when they had met 4 times the same week in unproductive sessions that has produced nothing but flirtatious talks and sexual advances.
"No wonder you're this beautiful, You're truly something good." Professor Nweke said smiling as he felt her cheek and she wriggled away.
"Sir, please approve my proposal so I can start working on it. The semester is alrea..."
"Shhhhh... Stop acting like a little girl, Ifeh." Professor Nweke said cutting her shut. He stood up from the desk where he sat facing Ifedinma and went to gaze at the open window that overlooked a busy commercial Afikpo road.
"You're the one delaying yourself, you've refused to do the needful. But I understand. I understand that you're holier and more righteous than all of us. But soon you will be the one begging, by the time your mates are in chapter 3, I will make sure you will still be here begging for your proposal to be approved by me." He said and chuckled softly.
The air in Ifedinma's lungs suddenly became insufficient as her heart began to race faster in fury. Her stomach tightened and she felt the strong urge to hit his head hard against the burglary proof and pierce the blue pen he held deep inside his groins till she was sure he would never take advantage of young female students placed under him ever again.
She felt the courage to speak up and say, "do your worse" ignite in her. The courage to tell him she would report him to authorities far higher than his current position, but instead, she felt herself pleading with warm tears sliding down her melanin colored cheek that was of the same tone with her entire body.
"I don't want to see those crocodile tears!" He said authoritatively.
"Sorry Sir." Ifedinma apologised.
"What are you sorry for?" He asked sarcastically with anger now brewing in his voice.
"For crying..."
"My friend don't be stupid. Is it because I am lenient with you?"
"No Sir. I'm sorry for being stupid."
"You think You will be the first girl on campus to sleep with a lecturer?"
"No Sir."
"It's okay not to do the needful, and you can as well succeed in changing me as your project supervisor, but I will promise you something, Chidinma..."
"... It's Ifedinma Sir."
"Ifedinma or whatever you call yourself, it's me and you in this campus. Till I retire from being a lecturer, you can never graduate!"
"Ah! Sir please!"
"Get out from my office!"
"Sorry Sir! Please wait. I'll do it. I will do anything you say Sir, but please Sir don't let me stay an extra year in this school. I beg you in the name of God." Ifedinma pleaded again, this time kneeling down towards him in tears, defiling the advice of the courageous voice that spoke to her with all indignation for her actions.
"It's because of people like you that make it look like lecturers are wicked. You make it seem like I am asking for a lot. Like it's not a win win for both of us."
"I beg you in the name of God Sir, please..."
"Shhhh... What did I tell you about shedding crocodile tears in my office?"
"I'm sorry Sir."
"Golden Height hotel. I'll text you time and room; meet me there tomorrow if you really want your project topic to be approved." Professor Nweke said with finality.
That evening, half listening to her roommate's goofy conversation at the veranda with some stranger she met earlier that day in the General studies class, Ifedinma laid on her back, staring at the wall clock and its seriousness in performing its task.
She thought of rest and wondered if time ever gets a day off. If the sun could actually remain still, preferably at dusk and will forever remain still till the end of time.
She smiled at how she would sit for the rest of her miserable life and watch the stilled sunset in all it's glory. How she would stretch her hand and wish she could touch the pinkish fluffy clouds that embellishes the weary sun with love and affection. The kind of love and affection she was unaccustomed to.
She remembered her dad, and her mother's screams whenever there was a misunderstanding in the family. She remembered how she had stared at her Father daring herself to say the mean words she had planned out to say but ended up pleading that he should beat her instead and let her mother be.
She remembered how her father had beaten her up that day for her bravery. How her mother had lost her three months pregnancy that night and how her father carried her to the hospital crying as he saddled her on top of his rickety motorcycle that always emitted large fumes that had once made ifedinma wonder how other road users were able to cope with such pollution.
It was then her gaze trailed to notice the sleeping pills her roommate, Chioma used as a remedy to her sleeping disorder.
Ifedinma thought of how sleeping was the best thing that could happen to her at the moment. How she could laugh and smile genuinely with no worries of any sort in her dreams.
She took two pills and began to debate inward if that would be enough for a sound sleep. She took another and began to wonder how lovely it would be to sleep painlessly into death since sleep was transient and she was a magnet that attracted pains and worries of life.
Swallowing half a dozen twice, Ifedinma sighed at how ineffective the pills were. Standing to go lay on the bed, she opened her drowsy eyes to see her roommate, Chioma jumping and screaming inaudibly, trying to no avail to lift her from the floor.
She blinked again and saw some of her hostel mates carrying her outside in haste. It was then she frowned despite the weakness and overwhelming coldness that now enveloped her for she had forgotten to write or tell anyone about the incidence between her project supervisor and her. She had failed to speak out. Now she has become a victim of her circumstance. She has become another unfortunate tale that will soon be forgotten.
