NEVER LET THE HAIR DOWN 🌸🌸🌸 Chapter Six

Inspired by a lovely girl named Holy.

"Another Friday," I sighed as I towelled my face and listened to Unstoppable by Sia. That was Eniola's favourite song; she played it every morning. I didn't enjoy the tradition initially. I put up with it as one of the sacrifices one has to make while accommodating roommates. That Friday, I was so happy I hummed the song as I got ready for class.

"I don't need batteries to play," I mutteered my favourite lyric while Eniola echoed. Mma was on her bed pressing her phone. Chy was still sleeping.

"Even when I fall your hands," Eniola sang to her other favourite song. Chy stirred and opened her eyes. She wasn't a morning person and always told us so. I waited for her usual grumblings but she was rather quiet as she did what she was best at; fixed her big eyes on every object in the room.

"Hadum, how many lectures do you have today?" Eniola asked as I put my shoes on.

"One," I replied with a smile. She made a look that said, "No wonder you're happy this morning."

In a fit of mischievousness, Eniola threw one of her jeans at Chy. It landed on her tummy. Chy  turned her head slowly and looked at Eniola who said, "Serious student. Better repent and be more like Hadum."

"Dey play. Until UNN humbles her," Mma said and I grinned. They always said that about freshers. Didn't they think it possible for a student to stay fresh until her final year?

I looked at Chy wondering why she hadn't responded to Eniola like she usually did. I caught the full gaze of her eyes which stared at me contemplatively. I smiled nervously and turned away as I fiddled with my rubberband. I startled and turned back sharply when I felt a hand hold mine at the back of my head.

"Wait," Chy said and freed my fingers from the rubberband. I fidgeted. No one had ever tied my hair before, except my mother and sister. The urge to resist her aid seized me but I just stood pinching my fingers and feeling the rhythm of her hands as she brushed my silky locks back and folded it in a bun. "There," she said, "Instead of always packing it to look like an egg. A spiral fits you better."

I felt my bun gently and smiled. She had packed it neatly. She even gave me her blue hairband to give my hair some highlight.

"Nice work, Chy. She looks prettier," Eniola said and Mma stared at me admiringly.

"What can I say? I'm an angel," Chy bragged and crossed the rooom towards her bed.

"Werey," Eniola shot and we laughed. I thanked Chy and picked my bag and phone up, ready to leave.

"Marahadum, don't tell me you're going to spoil my hardwork with that hoodie of yours," Chy said suddenly and I held the door open as I looked back at her inquisitively. Then I looked down at my bag which was open a little. My black hoodie peeked out.

"Why do you always wear that hoodie?" Chy asked with slight infuriation.

"Chy, is it your hoodie?" Eniola rose to my defence. I smiled and waved at Mma before leaving quickly. I didn't want to stay and watch Chy and Eniola argue over my precious hoodie. I also didn't want anyone to tell me to stop wearing my precious little darling. If not for him, who knows if my hair wouldn't have been plucked off already?

"Phew," I breathed as soon as I had gotten clear of my hostel. Then I strolled happily to school.

It was a windy morning. The breeze was cool and a little too dry for my skin but I forgave it when I saw how it shook the branches of the trees. It also rained down brown leaves and withered flowers.

"Pretty," I mumbled as a yellow flower flew down at my feet. A good omen. I contemplated picking it up but I resisted and continued moving. I regretted it when I turned back after a few steps and saw that no one was behind me.

"This isn't you, Chanok," I thought. I suddenly recollected myself taking pictures and videos at the top of a mountain in Chiang Mai with my mother. I had been so fearless then with not a care in the world.

I closed my eyes, took a deep breath and put my phone camera up. I smiled. I'll make a video for Wanida, I thought and began to do so.

First I filmed myself at Economics department and said, "This here is your pretty sister looking prettier in a hoodie," I pulled the tip of the hoodie closer over my face, "and this is the esteemed Economics department. I heard from someone that it's better on the inside. It's kind of unfair though. How can Economics have this building to themselves? Look! They even have a tree stomp."

I smiled as I guessed what Wanida would reply. I crossed the road merrily for I felt less fearful with every step. I filmed the GS roundabout with its gold coloured lions and said, "That's right, Wanida. I'm a lioness. Raarrr."

I giggled and went to the lion sculptures that stood at the entrance of the green and cream building. I held one of the sculptures by the neck and raised my phone to my face. "Wanida, meet Arthit. Isn't he cute?" I looked at the lion and laughed. No offense to the sculptor but he didn't do a great job sculpting Arthit. "I named that one Hataikan. That one over there is Wanida and this," I pointed at myself, "is me." I giggled and looked for what else to film. I suddenly didn't want to stop. I was having fun and didn't care if people were watching.

I decided to take selfies at the GS roundabout. The sun was still orange with dawn and the lighting was perfect at that angle. I smiled at my camera.

"Hi," a girl said and waved at me. She was smallish and had a round face. Her hair and neck were draped in a dark blue hijab. I tried to reply her greeting but the word stayed stuck in my throat. I simply stared at her until she passed and walked to FASA building.

"That girl. That can't be... Aisha," I whispered.

"Of course!" someone shouted and laughter accompanied the sound of her voice. I pulled my hoodie over my eyes and lowered my head as I walked to avoid a group of students headed my way. I sat at the quadrangle on my favourite spot and tried to focus on my phone.

My head was filled with conflicting emotions. There was fear that the girl was actually Aisha but my mind refuted that. Aisha was taller and fairer. I also felt angry and confused. I thought sadly, What had I done to deserve her betrayal?

"Hi!" Fumnanya startled me from my thoughts and sat beside me.

"Hey. What, what are you doing here?" I asked distractedly.

"I'm early, right? I decided to be an hour early today. I guess I'm not the only one," Fumnanya chirped and grinned brightly. I managed a smile and watched as another of my class mates passed. He was tall, had a good physique and a complexion in between dark and fair. I had noticed him in class severally but had never spoken to him.

"He's goodlooking, isn't he?"

I looked up at Fumnanya who had been following my eyes. Then she smiled at me and continued, "Most of the boys in our class are goodlooking. That's why I can never understand my roomie when she says that history boys are not fine. She also believes that mass communication department has the prettiest girls. Can you imagine?"

"Hmm," I tried to chuckle.

Fumnanya was my companion throughout the day. It was a better substitute to staying alone. At least I didn't have to pretend to be making phone calls so my classmates wouldn't think I was helplessly friendless and alone. I wished I had enjoyed Fumnanya's company. She was kind, always smiled and made funny remarks about lecturers. She was so friendly, but every second with her reminded me of how fake friends can be. Friends like  Aisha.

Aisha had been my bosom friend back in secondary school. She had seemed so kind and friendly. I was reluctant at first and waited for her to call me a snob and walk away like others did. She didn't so I opened up to her  and told her things I would only tell those closest to me.

I felt happy with her. I thought she was like me, different. I thought, I'm from a different race and she practices a different religion. We're both different, but that hijab didn't make her any different from the rest of them.

"Do you know that the half-caste's mother was a prostitute before she married?" Aisha had told Chloe and her friends.

"Why am I not surprised?" Chloe had screamed with laughter, and I had stood behind the classroom door with my hand pressed tightly against my mouth, my cheeks painted with tears and my little bosom heaving painfully.

To be continued.