Misery of First Love for Publication

Miseries of First Love
{My pathetic story}


As a young boy, I knew somethings are just never meant to be just like
I have been taught. My mother is this strict disciplinarian who would
slice my brother's skin with a blade and put in some fresh grinded
pepper, just because the cunning boy hid a piece of meat that was
supposed to be shared with others under his big rock of àmàlà.
She hates lies but passionately dislikes the liar unlike God who hates
sins but loves sinners. Well, she is an african mother so I understand
now that I should have expected no less.

Somethings were never meant to be. Yes, just never meant, like lying,
stealing, chasing girls around and any other things attributed to the
'ungodly'.

{If I begin to tell those stories of 'The me and my mother combat',
then you are most likely liable to getting scolded by your boss for
negligence at work or having that food get burnt}

My pathetic story began it's prologue when I failed my third o'level
examination and still went ahead to show 'Jega' my competency after I
scored '148' in the UTME.
Even though my father wanted me to continue coursing the bushes with
him doing architectural surveys on land, my mother would never concur;
'she values education more than the stones on one of her favorite
dresses. She wanted me in school by all means, she would say 'I know
Dòtun to be an average student, so letting him stay at home for long
will only improve his cooking crafts but get his brain deteriorated'.

Finally she got me the Obafemi Awolowo University's predegree form and
I left my hometown for the big campus in order to have myself tutored
for some months before the entrance examination.


It was unusual, the endless noises on campus mostly from students who
had forgotten the sorrowful hymns their 'GP' sings, the early morning
visits to the bathroom and toilets {there are nothing like 'restrooms'
in Nigeria universities}. My hostel was at the 'Post Graduate's Hall'
where I was harboured by one of my distant cousin's friend: a male. I
couldn't stay with my cousin, maybe because I have the rod while she
has the hole even though she was old enough to be my younger brother's
mother, Nigerian's mentality.

On getting to campus, I realised none of what my cousin told me was
lie. She said; ' OAU is for the read-a-holics', meaning the lazy
readers cannot graduate with any 'class'.
I was never a reader neither was I a writer, I was just this young for
nothing kid who wants wealth and fame, but OAU changed me, I began
reading at nights and even my cousin's friend most times look at me
enviously; what a promising lad.

It was this monday morning, I woke at exactly 7am as usual,
'sometimes, brains get addicted to particular actions and it happens
inevitably'. Even if I didn't have any plan for that time, I would
still have woken.
Like many others have phobia for water when it comes to bathing, so
did I. I would wash my head, pour the rest up and run under it, only
the lucky splashes touches my skin. It was the usual custom that day,
nothing else changed except for the 'supposed to be fortunate' meeting
I had with her.

Note: I was not attending lectures but lessons, I was still an
'under-undergraduate'.

Luckily, I dressed well that morning, In my 'well ironed shirt' and my
black jean. I walked majestically into the class since 'Dr Pass' was
not around yet, then I saw her beside me while I was trying to find a
seat; she wasn't there for me though.

Have you ever felt the disorganizations caused by a little ant or
small pebble in your eyes? If yes, that was exactly how I felt when I
saw her. if no, then give it a trial. She wasn't really beautiful but
she was just beyond it.
If there is anything like 'Love at First Sight', it would be that. She
smiled when she gazed at my side but I guessed they weren't for me, I
tried as much as I could to be noticed but all to no avail but then,
'Dr Pass entered'.

I said he entered, so then, lecture began...

I remember we did 'Use of English' that day, I was one of the rated
guys in class, maybe because I had all textbooks as others come to
borrow with their hands in their tongue.
She came to me, it was as if my eyes were glued to the air, I couldn't
believe what I saw but I got myself composed despite my heart which
had started pumping wine.
'Can you borrow me your textbook'; she said.
I wanted to say 'YES' but it took me longer than it took the professor
to write the textbook. Alas, I was stammering.

To God be the glory, I made it to the end of the word, then she smiled
and took the book away, as she was going, my eyes were moving with her
but this feet would never leave their spots.
'Hello', I called out and she looked back.
'Please don't forget to bring the book tomorrow', she made a nod and
walked away smiling.

This time, my eyes had stopped tailing her, but my brain did. Only God
knows how I made it home, but I made it home.



I said I made it home, yes but only my body did. My spirit was at
'Elegushi beach' with her 'merry-go-rounding' and flexing with our
hands held in love, it was the first and last time I would ever
daydream.

"What's wrong with you", that was the interrogative but alarming
statement made by my cousin's friend after I came back from the
mini-market with a bottle of groundnut, whereas I was sent to buy a
bag of pure-water. Both were often sold at one hundred naira, I guess
that confused me.
But in reality, I was convinced I had lost something, concentration or
sanity, something was gone.
My meetings with her gained their morale the day I summoned a
'man-made courage' and asked her out.
She was a christian, I was too but she was religious {well,I was not}
and her response showed me exactly what it's like to woo a 'redeemed
girl'.
She said, 'I cannot date you, we can only be friends'.
That did not suit me, I wanted something more intimate, I had watched
a lot of romantic movies and I knew I wanted someone I could kiss and
cuddle, someone I could caress on those cold nights.
But I never thought of sex, maybe because I wasn't used to watching
'blue films' then.

We played a bit after I agreed to be a friend, we exchanged numbers
too but hardly had she saved my number when she received a text
message sent by me. I cannot remember the content {Kindly remember I
told you earlier that I had lost my sanity}.


The examination wasn't around the corner, It was standing right at the
door but this love that enslaved my heart would never let me see my
dooms writing their lyrics on my wall. Meanwhile, most of my time was
spent on writing mostly love songs; songs I'm still yet to know if it
would be my grandchildren that will record them.{I have more than 150
songs written, {I'm just that jobless and talented}.

I won't fail to mention my friends back then; Chuks, Joel, Emanuella
and my crush herself 'Love'.
My teachers; Dr. Pass the corporate, Dr.Peter the preacher.

September came, our judgement day broke, We left the campus for 'Moro,
OAU predegree centre'
I was a bit late so others had gone earlier, I remember promising my
cousin a huge success, I remember assuring her of scoring more than
expectation.
I remember the fear that lingered my heart while the bus propelled
down the tarred road, I remember my every heart beat that wished for
miracle and I remember that side of me that believed in itself.

I was placed behind the system, it was a computer-based test. I logged
in the programmed application and started handpicking my destiny, it
was an objective type and every single question increased the rate of
my heartbeat, I kept choosing my fate with my finger constantly
tapping the mouse pad.
At that moment, my mind went through the struggles my mother had in
getting me the opportunity,  I thought about how much she had spent
and how high her expectations would be, I smiled when I remember my
father who had started boasting around town that his son is a student
of GREAT IFE.

Finally, dream came true, I attempted the last question and made it
out of the examination hall 'hale but not healthy. I teamed up with my
friends and we went back to campus.

Three days later, my crush's parent came and took her away, it was
like my shadow walked past me and I couldn't hold back, I nearly cried
but something assured me we would all pass the examination and resume
back together. I was sure I would pass.
The fear remained, the love I had still stayed.

Few days later, after we had all departed to our different homes, the
result was released.

The result was released.

She was cute, I know she will still be. She is an angel, I remember
her favourite song then; Bottom Belle by Omawumi and Flavour.
Most of those nights on our way to reading room along that plastered
path to 'Moremi Hall' down to 'White House' at 'Academics', I would
play the song from my hypertensive 'chinko' phone, she would then sing
along;
"Oga buy me bottom belle cool my heart eheheh", she had the voice too.
I remember that was the first time I watched '3 Idiots', I also loved
'Eze Eligwe' by Frank Edward and the tune 'Akwa Ibom Ayaya' by Mish.
Sweet and unforgettable memories.

{ I couldn't start with the released result, maybe because it was
nothing to boast on. It's often better to say the good news beofre the
bad one}

Yes, it was no lie. The result was released.
One of my 'goons' while we were at school just called me that morning,
my phone rang!

Me: Hello
Caller: Hello Dotun, I have checked my result, 59%

{I was like; if this guy can have 59%, then I'm sure far above 60%}

Me: Wow, congratulations friend, can you help with mine as well?
Username- Oyedokun, Password-Jesus
Caller- Alright, I will be back

{ It was my cousin that registered me using that password, I wasn't
that spiritual}

Caller: "Called out the name on the result slip" and asked, 'is that you?
Me: Yes, what is there?
Caller: "Silence", call dropped

This time, my heartbeat  was enough for 'Eminem' to drop his usual
fast raps. I was home alone so I had enough liberty to rehearse my
madness.
I had no airtime, so I sent 'call me back' to 'Joel who was my best
friend and he called almost immediately. He scored 68% but when he
checked mine, he said;
"I'm not sure this result is yours Dotun, I'm seeing 39% here".
.
.
.
.
.
I cried, I died but the same death woke me, my deserved regrets
wouldn't let me be.
I called Dr.Pass to help out but my grade was too low, far from the
cutoff mark. I failed myself, I wasted time and money, I lost my most
hard earned opportunity.
I disappointed everyone, I missed the steps.

I lost it all but there remains just one reality;
" If I'm given the same opportunity again, If I'm made to meet 'Love'
again for the first time. If that time come back for the chance to
live it again, I will still live it the same way"

I will spend every moment like I did, I will hold her hands everytime,
I will smile at her every chance I have, I will miss classes because
of her.
I will play her songs and watch her sing, I will follow her to the
campus' "New Market", I will accept the name "DotLove" which was
coined for us in class.

And, I will do my best not to cry when my result comes again.

Then, I will lay with my pen if she hasn't reached 'menopause' and we
shall birth this words again;

Not as 'Miseries of First Love' but as 'My sweetest moments of life'.




Story Source;
Oyedokun Adedotun Micheal
Written by
Micheal Ace

A copyright of ACEworld