HIS WILL, MY WAY – GIFT ODION IRABOR - (ep3)

EPISODE 3

Carissa was stepping out of her department’s lecture theatre, chatting with a few of her coursemates, when she heard someone calling her name.

She paused and glanced over her shoulder. The familiar voice belonged to none other than Gloria—Glow, as everyone fondly called her. Glow was Femi’s younger sister, and Femi happened to be best friends with her eldest brother, Gregory.

“Hello, Glow!” Carissa called back, her face lighting up.

“Are you a student here as well?” Carissa asked, her brows shooting up in surprise. The last she heard, Glow had been studying in the States. Meeting her here, of all places, was the last thing she expected.

“I came back a few days ago,” Glow replied with a light chuckle.

“But Uncle Femi said you wouldn’t be returning to Nigeria until you turned a new leaf. So… have you finally turned a new leaf?” Carissa teased, her curiosity piqued.

She knew Glow too well. Glow had always been strong-willed—some would say stubborn, but not Carissa, not their inner circle. To them, she was fiercely loyal and deeply protective of her people. She couldn’t stomach injustice and never hesitated to fight for the innocent. No wonder she’d chosen to study law in the States—it suited her perfectly.

Glow had made it her mission to stand up for the wrongly accused, often going to extreme lengths to defend those she believed were innocent. Nobody dared to bully anyone in her presence.

Carissa had met her years ago when Uncle Femi brought Glow along to visit Brother Greg. From that day, they clicked instantly. Even as a child, Glow’s sense of justice had been razor-sharp. She would boldly scold her older brother if he crossed the line, and she loathed lying with a passion.

“Well,” Glow grinned, “I convinced Mom and Dad to let me return to Nigeria. I told them I wanted to keep them company and continue my studies here, especially since you also got admitted into this school.”

“Just like that?” Carissa narrowed her eyes, unconvinced.

“Of course! I promised I wouldn’t touch their savings again or keep draining my own savings helping people.” Glow’s playful wink eased Carissa’s suspicion.

What Glow conveniently left out was that her domiciliary account was now as dry as harmattan, and if her father ever found out, the consequences would be brutal—minimum punishment: a lifetime ban from returning to Nigeria. Maximum: total seizure of her credit and debit cards.

Before Carissa could probe further, Glow clasped her hand and tugged her towards the school cafeteria, completely ignoring her flood of excuses and protests.

***- ***

“Come on, man! I’m so famished. Let’s get something to eat at the cafeteria,” Joshua’s impatient voice rang out.

“Me too. I could even eat a full whale and still not get full,” Nathan added, rubbing his belly.

Anslem licked his lips and shook his head. “Me, I dey reason correct swallow—fufu to be precise. E go sweet die if the egusi soup get all the obstacles inside—shaki, kpomo, goat meat, everything complete.”

“No wonder you dey grow fat as the days go by. If you continue eating all these heavy meals, you go soon turn to round ball,” David said with a playful glint in his eyes.

“Abeg shift, Dave. As a correct African man, I dey represent my people. I no dey sorry.” Anslem fired back with mock pride, patting his belly.

“Mr Unapologetic African Representative, we don hear you o.” David snickered. “But try dey slow down small. See your belle now—round like balloon. Na him dey chase all the babes away. I sure say na the reason dem dey turn you down anyhow.”

Fuming but ignoring David, Anslem turned to Nathan instead.

“Nath, you don finally locate that babe wey you tell us about?”

Nathan let out a helpless sigh. “Not yet. I never see Fred since the last time we saw him at the pool garden, and all his numbers don dey unreachable.”

“You guys can continue your banter. Food is calling, and I must answer the call,” Joshua said, quickening his pace.

“Wait for us, man!” the trio shouted in unison as they rushed after him, their laughter trailing behind.

***

The Cafeteria

The school cafeteria sprawled across a vast stretch of land, carefully positioned at the heart of the four campuses—a strategic move by the administration. It consisted of a two-storey building and a smaller bungalow that served as a bistro—a simple eatery set up for students who couldn’t afford the main cafeteria’s meals.

In a quiet corner of one of the spacious, tastefully decorated halls on the upper floor, Gloria and Carissa sat, enjoying their snacks and chatting when the familiar quartet—Joshua, Nathan, Anselm, and David—walked in.

As they scanned the bustling lower floor for an empty table, it quickly became clear they had arrived late. Most of the tables and chairs were already taken, occupied by students engaged in lively conversations over steaming plates of food.

The cafeteria was one of the liveliest spots on campus, always buzzing with energy.

The university itself was founded by one of the wealthiest men in the country, designed primarily for the children of the elite. Still, thanks to the institution’s generous scholarship scheme, several brilliant students from less privileged backgrounds had the opportunity to study there as well.

The school’s claim as the best tertiary institution in the country wasn’t just a boast—it had earned it. Its strict code of conduct left no room for deliberate misconduct, especially anything that could tarnish the school’s reputation or bring harm to others. The penalty for such offences was swift and final—expulsion.

To discourage aggressive driving and show-offs that could become a dangerous distraction, the school also prohibited students from driving private cars on campus.

“Let’s check the upper floor,” Joshua suggested, already making his way towards the staircase.

When they reached the upper floor, they found it less crowded.

“Anselm and I will go place and collect our orders. You two can go look for a table,” Joshua proposed.

“No qualms,” Nathan and David agreed in unison.

“Let’s go over there. I see some empty seats,” Nathan said, pointing towards a quiet corner of the hall and signalling to David, who was busy pressing his phone.

Together, they walked over to the spot Nathan had scouted, settled into their seats, and waited for Joshua and Anselm to return with the food.

Recalling the past stirred memories she longed to relive—moments she wished she could somehow recreate. Once again that night, Carissa felt the familiar depths of her emotions swell within her chest. She closed her eyes in heartfelt prayer, pouring out her soul to her best friend, the Holy Spirit, pleading that Nathan would come to truly know Him—the way the Holy Spirit had so lovingly revealed the Father's heart to her, and all.

With a soft sigh, she reached over and switched off the lamp by her bedside. Shutting her eyes, she slowly drifted into a deep slumber, still holding onto the fragile hope of a love that might never come true.

To be continued…