The word “addiction” brings to mind different images for different people. It can be difficult for someone suffering from an addiction or potential addiction to identify with the term “addict.” And it can be especially trying for a young person.
In my first year at school, I missed class someday, and the lecturer fixed the
test the following week. To my surprise, no one told me about the test as we
were all trying to settle down in the hostel.
On Tuesday morning, I entered class very early in the morning, sat on the first row, and waited for class to begin. Suddenly I heard the chaos of students chanting through the theatre on hearing the lecturer’s footsteps. Before I could assimilate anything around me the lecturer announced the test has started and I want all you to behave yourself.
I tore a paper from my book, wrote my name, and became lost in my thoughts… for I do not know the interpretation of the scribbles on the board. The lecturer came over right in front of me, Halliru are you okay?
I was mute and he said 2 minutes left! Hurry!!! I just kept quiet and in no time he was already collecting our scripts. I impatiently waited for the classes of day to end, the moment I entered hostel tears began flowing down my cheeks. My roommate Musa saw it and insisted I should tell him the reason for my tears…
I narrated everything to Musa, to my surprise Musa said I should not worry, please. He will take me out to relax and concentrate more on my studies… In the evening Musa took me to his friend’s house, at the entrance the house was foggy, full of shisha Smoke, I resisted entering but Musa dragged me in.
They offered me a shisha pipe and I declined but all against one, they persuaded me and the next thing I woke up to the sun rays sensation on my eyes… I saw myself in the midst of other drunkards with shisha pots all around the room, I realized the shisha has weed in it and regretted ever coming to the place…
I felt miserable and deceived for I was certainly drugged, In few minutes I rushed out of the house back to the hostel using the most common trekking route for students. I took my bath, washed my messed clothes and rushed to the class immediately I was back in the hostel, keeping my self focused as much as I can. I spent so much time thinking so much about last night in class, spent more than half of my day sleeping on the other side.
Occasionally my friends would wake me up, are you Ok? I just shrugged and kept saying it’s fine. After class I went to Musa’s in the hostel, he was back sleeping as usual on his tattered mattress in our room, I slapped him very hard on his left side of the face. He woke up in a rage holding my collar angrily, we fought ourselves so bad, others came to separate us. I uttered words of regret to him and that I’ll never be friends with him again. I felt deceived, cheated and miserable.
Days passed by feeling some kind of drowsy effect, but surely, I lost my class participation and focus. I couldn’t eat well, All I do is to think about Musa and his crew of friends. I couldn’t tell anyone I kept it a secret, despite the frequent question I get from my course mates…. are you Ok?!
On one fateful day, I had a fight with my cousin sister who is in the same class with me over my recent behaviours, she complained that I’m not the same person I used to be, and she must inform our parents. We had the argument so bad I left her in a rage of anger and confusion.
Angrily I went straight to Musa, “Musa please let’s go to that house, I need to get something to forget my thoughts” because honestly I vividly remember the effect of that drug, it made me forgot about the test and so I want to feel the same effect. Musa became so happy that I’m back to being friends with him.
At pantacio as they call the clubhouse, I was offered a mini glass of cup with a fluid like substance, I panicked for a moment but voices shouted, don’t be a coward Man, Drink!!!
Few seconds later I could see rising smoke, heard chantings of girls, boys screams of laughter and a strong smell of wild beans… I didn’t loose my sight completely, but what I saw was blurry and couldn’t tell a story
To be continue…..
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