MY FIRST YEAR(FACTION)

         HOW I TELL MY STORY. 5

As the smell of resumption became more perceivable, I knew there was a need for me to start looking for a house off campus. But I had a problem then, I needed a very affordable accommodation as I had spent all my money preparing for other things including paying for my acceptance fee. I decided that I will need to find a roommate. Unluckily for me, I had no one I knew whom I could share an apartment with.

I was advised to look for someone online. Initially I wasn't convinced that it was the best option but then, as the day grew into weeks and the resumption date began to draw nearer, I had no option than to begin a search for a roommate. I posted it on my Facebook page, and shared it on my class WhatsApp group. Luckily for me someone showed interest and we began to talk.

When we both came to a consensus, we then set out to look for a house. But then, I was the only one during this as the boy was coming from a far distance. Already i had been warned to steer clear from odim side as that was a very far distance to my department. I knew no one nor did I know of any place. I however decided to first go to odenigwe to look for a room. 

The first place I was shown as a lodge was a rest room turned into a room. It was very small to even contain two people and the price was too expensive as well. I had to discard that option. I searched through the hilltop gate but the prices there sent me packing. Behindflat was the next option but I first met someone who claimed to be an agent. Then, I decided to follow the guy to where he wanted to show me. Unfortunately, the guy brought me to the same odim side that i was warned against.

After checking the room and comparing the distance to school, I found out that I liked the place and the price too was affordable. I began to have a double mind. I called my potential roommate and we agreed that the place was okay. But, a problem popped up when I asked him to send his part of the payment. He began to tell me stories that his father said this and his mother supported that and bla bla bla. I just knew at that instant that I was screwed up. I had to borrow money from friends to pay up to enable me to secure the room before another person. 

During payment, I requested that I see the caretaker of the house but I wasn't allowed to. I tried everything possible but couldn't meet with either the owner of the house or the caretaker . I felt something fishy but, I still can't explain. Maybe because I loved the room, or that I trust people a lot, they were still able to convince me to pay for the room. It was a week after i paid that i found out i had entered a bigger probably. The guy that collected the rent was a broke ass student who was looking for a way to get money and run. Luckily for me I found out on time and followed him up. After about one of two months, the guy was able to release 70% of the money i paid to him and the rest entered voicemail till this day.

This made me see extra shege during my first month of resumption because I had no one to come to my rescue and the landlord insisted that I must pay him before I stayed in his house. Those that knew me then noticed that I was in pain. I hardly had food to eat. I trekked most of the distances in school and I was getting slimmer by the day. 

After securing an accommodation, the next thing that followed was a first physical meeting with my potential course mates. It was the beginning of my university life. Read on.

Kenewrites