I was lying on my bed listening to wade in the water by the spirituals via my earbuds when I opened my eyes to see Isa standing in front of my bed waving her hands to get my attention.
I took off an earbud as I dryly asked what her problem was.
"You are playing your music too loudly, I can hear you from three rooms away. Could you at least be considerate and turn down the volume. This is a hostel not a club", she said and I knew she was just messing with me.
I was on fucking earbuds and it wasn't as if the song was playing at the highest volume. To top that, the nearest bed to mine was more than five feet away. I could swear that even her that was standing in front of me couldn't hear a single thing.
"Which song am I playing?" I asked annoyed.
"I don't care what song you are playing just stop it okay?"
I ignored her and put my earbuds back on. I lowered the volume a bit more so I could hear what was being said around me.
"Could you stop singing already? No one wants to hear your horrid voice", I heard Chiamaka say. I stared at her annoyed.
I knew pretty well that I had a horrific voice and for that singular reason, I never sang along to a song especially when people were there. I wouldn't even hum at all.
It was clear my roommates were just looking for ways to trouble me. I thought back to the conversation I had with the hostel mistress.
Apparently, I had no reason to change rooms since my roommates hadn't done anything to me. I remembered how I tried to change her mind.
'...may I add yet to that sentence ma. They haven't done anything yet doesn't mean they won't. I am not comfortable sharing a room with them. Isn't it better to change my room and prevent something from happening than regret not doing anything much later?'
'And why would they do anything to you?' she asked still not convinced.
'As I had earlier mentioned, they don't like me.'
'If we were to go on the basis of who likes who and who doesn't, we wouldn't be able to issue out rooms properly.'
'But ma...'
'Leave my office now I think I am done with this topic', she said sternly.
I sighed. She really didn't listen to me at that point now I had to wait for something to actually happen to me before I get a change of room? TOTAL BUMMER!
"Chizitaram!"
I turned to where the voice came from to see Mrs. Okoye- the hostel mistress. I removed my earbuds as I acknowledged her presence.
"I heard that you were disturbing your roommates who were trying to read with your loud music..."
"With all due respect ma, I never did that."
"Chizitaram do not interrupt me again!" She said sternly. "If you aren't puting that cellphone of yours to any good use then you should keep it away or I will be forced to comprehend it..."
"I didn't do anything..."
"Chizitaram repeating myself maddens me. In fact hand your phone over to me now."
"No!" I said and her eyes widened.
"Did you not just hear what I said Miss Chizitaram?"
"But I didn't do anything..."
"Don't make me snatch that phone from you because you won't be getting it back."
I groaned in frustration. There was no way in hell I was letting her seize my phone. I didn't do a fucking thing.
"How come they get to keep their phones?" I asked in anger.
"Because unlike you, they weren't misusing it and constituting nuisance. Don't make me repeat my request or you'll really be in trouble," she said sternly.
I stared down at my phone and then back at her. Even though I knew I could always get the phone back I didn't want to give it to her. She stretched her hand for me to give her the phone.
I glared at Isa who was standing next to her with folded arms and a stupid grin on her face.
Grudgingly, I put the phone in her hand. I gave her the middle finger as she started leaving the room but she turned to say something and probably caught my action.
"To my office Chizitaram!" She ordered. I obliged taking my time to get there. I met Mrs. Ejimbe- the other hostel mistress in Mrs. Okoye's office.
"Good evening," I muttered to avoid any further punishment and not because I felt like greeting her. I'd rather her have a horrible evening if that was possible.
"Good evening my dear. Why are you here?" She asked me smiling.
"Mrs. Okoye asked me to come here", I said.
"And why is that?"
"I don't know," I said irritated by her constant questioning.
"What do you mean by that? How can't you know?" She asked again and I was about to snap at her when Mrs. Okoye stepped in.
After watching the two women exchange greetings, I spoke up.
"I am still here!" I said irritated. She couldn't just call me here to start discussing with her friend forgetting me. Both Mrs. Okoye and Mrs. Ejimbe looked at me.
"I beg to differ?" Mrs. Okoye said looking irritated and ready to snap my neck at any moment.
"You called me here and I am here now. Tell me whatever you want to tell me so I can leave," I said frustrated. Her eyes widened as she glared at me.
"Alya why are you talking like this?" Mrs. Ejimbe asked. "You have a good record and reputation in school. I really didn't expect this from you."
I scoffed. Get to the point!
"Am I getting punished or not because I really have better things to do!" I said ignoring her.
"Three weeks laundry and toilet duty and I don't want to hear of you defaulting. Have I made myself clear?" Mrs. Okoye asked.
"As clear as you could ever wish to be," I said and left her office before I was permitted to. I got back to my room and headed for my MP in anger.
I started playing Conversations by Juice wrld at the loudest volume while singing along and trust me when I tell you that my MP was loud enough for Mrs. Okoye to hear the shit from her office.
I started singing along to the conversations by Juice wrld which was blaring from the MP.
Forget this whole drama, I utterly detested this particular song it had scared shit out of me the first time I heard it and I knew my roommates had to hate it as much as I did so I didn't have a problem tormenting them.
"Will I be alright? Lemme guess no answer!"
By now some people from other rooms had gathered around our room. I sat on my bed as I waited for Mrs. Okoye to come and see the true definition of constituting nuisance.
And in no time she and Mrs. Ejimbe appeared in the room. She went straight for the MP. And turned it off then she faced the students who had gathered in our room and ordered them to disperse before she finally faced us.
"Who is responsible for all this chaos?" She asked in anger.
"I suppose that would be me," I said with a smile and she gritted her teeth. My whole expression asking her, 'what you gonna do?' I taunted her without saying any words.
"What is the meaning of such idiotic behavior?" Mrs. Ejimbe asked.
"With all due respect ma, you have no reason to verbally abuse me. I am sure you still remember that rule don't you?"
They both glared at me before leaving the room. I knew I was in huge trouble but I was too annoyed to care. Little did I know that this small encounter would cause more damage than I had intended.