Babe, what's up?"
Standing before her was a young man of average height. He wore red clothes and even his hair had been dyed red.
He blocked her path to the entrance and watched her with an appalling gaze.
There was an annoying smacking sound that came from his mouth.
It made Tejumole want to slap the gum right out of him.
Her face stayed expressionless as she gazed at the 'red lantern'.
However, the popping sound of gum was beginning to irritate her.
"You no fit talk (can't you speak)? Answer me…"
The red-clothed guy asked impatiently. The eyes he used to gaze at Tejumole held impure thoughts.
Tejumole furrowed her brows in displeasure. She was someone who followed rules to a tee.
A student speaking to their teacher in such a disrespectful manner and in a restricted area at that was an issue she found disconcerting.
"Student, this is no way to speak to a teacher."
"No be talk we dey talk (aren't we speaking normally)? No go dey form for me o (don't put on airs with me)."
"Speak properly." Her displeasure was now evident in her voice.
She was really annoyed.
The sun was scorching, and she felt singed just by standing on the spot.
In addition, she was blocked by a person with zero manners who dressed in a way that hurt her eyes and spoke vernacular.
"No vex (don't be angry). Oya, give me your number. I'll call you later."
Though he changed his oration, his words were infuriating. Talking in such a manner, like Tejumole was a call-girl he could order as he pleased. Not just Tejumole, even Aanu felt irate.
"Where did this lunatic come from?" Aanu asked with scorn.
"Should I take care of him? He's a major eyesore." She continued.
Aanu unexpectedly sprang out from who knows where and even in the daytime, Tejumole was the only person who knew where she was.
"No. That'll be a waste of time." She responded then to the "lantern", she said.
"Get out of my sight. I will not repeat myself." Tejumole couldn't even get herself to say more.
Her good mood from seeing her child had been ruined, and this pissed her off.
There were only a few people in this part of campus. Most of them were academic staff, but there were a few students around.
Ever since he joined a cult, Jubril had gotten used to having his demands met.
Usually, people would be filled with fear and caution after knowing his identity. So, this was the first time anyone had spoken to him in such a tone. He felt his pride was wounded.
His humiliation quickly transformed into anger. And the urge to teach this woman a lesson was what filled his mind.
However, as he looked around at the multiple people gazing in this direction, he chose to stay his hand.
It would be a different case if he had his gang with him.
Now though, he was alone and should the people around decide to stand up for this chick, he would be outnumbered.
"Oya dey go (come on, go)…" Jubril said and stepped aside, letting Tejumole pass.
The path was too narrow for two people to traverse at the same time, so when she walked past him, their shoulders touched slightly.
Tejumole used her sleeves to wipe the area and spoke as she calmly walked away.
"Expect yourself to be brought in for disciplinary action. This manner of indecency and disregard for school rules is unacceptable."
Seeing her actions and hearing those words caused Jubril to be even more furious.
"How dare you treat me like this. You no even fear (you're not afraid). Just wait. My guys and I will treat your fu*k-up." Jubril mumbled under his breath and walked away.
He had other things to do but this, taking care of this lecturer, was now a priority.
His expression was frosty and the look in his eyes was one of resentment.
•••
Tejumole entered her office, closed the door and moved to sit on the leather chair.
Her office was the typical appearance of a lecturer's office.
It was spacious and contained a small, book-filled shelf at the corner of the room. There were also two windows for ventilation. However, they were closed because of the working air conditioner.
She rubbed her forehead in annoyance, as Aanu hadn't ceased speaking since a while ago.
"… I'm just saying, that idiot is obviously not a good person. Did you see how he looked at you? Even his choice of fashion is hideously tasteless. And his eyes were really disgusting. You should have let me gouge them out!"
"Hmm, enough. You can't dismember people in public spaces. It's messy and it'll cause problems. Besides, it's not worth the effort. Why waste your time on such a reprobate? If you are so free, why not help me grade the freshmen's assignment?"
Aanu: "…"
'Well, I'll stop talking.'
Aanu shut her mouth and no longer spoke. Tejumole's method proved effective.
Finally, regaining peace and quiet, Tejumole took out a neat stack of paper from her desk's drawer. She then put on her glasses and began to read through them.
It was then that Ranta, the long-forgotten S.A.I appeared on the desk.
"Host…"
Hearing that familiar voice, Tejumole turned in the direction of the sound.
She saw a small, yellow, pig-like creature standing on her desk. Its eyes were dark and glossy, and they stared at her with a grievance.
'…what an ugly pig.'
"How could you leave me alone in the system space? You're so heartless, host. After all we've been through, you tossed me aside like…like a used rag after seeing your child! He's not even as handsome as me!"
Tejumole rubbed her forehead again. Why were there so many noisy people today?
She looked at the yellow abomination jumping and yapping on her table.
He claimed she tossed him aside; however, she seemed to recall him leaving on his accord.
And speaking of who was more attractive between the two, was there even a need to think?
For Ranta who changed his appearance even faster than a skin-walker, with every look more bizarre than the last, Tejumole would certainly pick her child's exquisite appearance over the ever-changing Ranta.
Though, she would always find Haoyu to be the most good-looking.
Getting sick of the incessant whining, she spoke.
"Say hi to Aanu."
"…oh, hi."
"Pfft, sup piggy…" Aanu replied with a snicker.
Tejumole then continued in a casual tone.
"First, you went into the space yourself. I never said you couldn't come out. In addition, how can you compare your looks to my child's? One day, you are a monkey and the other you're a pig. And you don't even change into the usual appearance. Instead, you become a random, alien-like version of the species. Is this a flaw in your programming, or do you just have a weird taste? If it's the latter, might as well change into a cube."
Ranta: "…"
A second later, there was a sound that resembled turbulent winds and wailing ghosts.
It was so shrill, so piercing, that Tejumole had to swerve her chair and cover her ears.
"Wahhhhh…! Host, you're so mean! This is not how to treat a little piggy…! Where has your conscience gone? Has it been eaten by sharks? Aanu! J…just look at her! Wuwuwuw…!"
"Hey, don't involve me." After saying this, Aanu turned silent. She was either pretending not to exist or had fled the scene.
Tejumole was already in a sour mood, but Ranta just had to run his mouth.
Aanu knew that at times like this, when the usually indifferent-unconcerned with worldly affairs- I don't give a fu*k about anything, Tejumole was annoyed, unless you were Haoyu, the best thing was to stay out of her way.
Give her peace. Be silent. Lest you end up as her outlet to vent.
"Stop crying. You're polluting the environment with your noise…"
"Waahhh...!" Ranta wailed even louder.
"Okay, you're the most handsome yellow pig there ever was. Now shut up."
"Really…?" Ranta raised his head and looked at Tejumole with his watery, dolorous eyes.
"Mm." Seeing him like this, she felt a little remorseful.
Luckily, the table was fairly large, so he didn't ruin her documents. That would be unfortunate.
"He-he." Ranta stood from his sprawled position and shook his curled tail with a grinning face.
His expression changed even faster than the pages of a book.
No one would imagine that just a few seconds ago, the yellow piggy was crying so hopelessly as if the sky had fallen on him, with tears and snorts running down his face.