It all changed last week. Adebayo and I went there that early evening. It was Friday, so I was in a good mood. Later, we were going to meet up with some ladies; there was a party, too. We were working out. Pulling 10/10. We had just started at about 160 pounds. Then we’d load more, gradually. I remember, we were on our fifth round when Adebayo excused himself. He said he had to go to the bathroom. I just kept working out. I was at seven reps, pulling really hard, straining, screaming. I wanted to get that burn, you know? When you bench, it’s no pain, no gain.

Not only had Adebayo left, but now I saw two guys come in. Not as swollen as me, but they were big enough and obviously a bit older. Taller. They started applauding me. I kept pushing up on the bar, putting on a show. I was the only one in the gym, but it was just two guys, Sunny. You don’t know me; I can defend myself really good. I know boxing as well as I play soccer. You and Ugonna never knew about the places where the matches took place, but I used to win lots of money boxing. How do you think I got that money I put in the floor? You all just thought my bruises were from soccer. Who no know, no go know, right? So I wasn’t afraid. But then another two guys came in. One of them was Adebayo, and he seemed to know the other three guys.

They all approached me. The three strangers were dressed for the street, so they must have come from outside. They were smiling and seemed nice enough.

“Well done,” Adebayo said. But he didn’t tell me the names of these guys.

“You are a strong man,” the tallest one said, looking down at me as I struggled to put the bar and weights back on the bar rest. They didn’t help me. “We are proud of you.”

I smiled and sat up. I was wearing nothing but my boxer shorts and my muscles were bouncing. “Thank you,” I said.

“We have something to tell you and it’s very important.” The other ones just stood behind him. “You need to know the rules and regulations of campus.”

I immediately relaxed. This was all it was about, campus stuff. And I wanted to do well in school. These guys were here to help me. Great. Good. Since I’d gotten there, I hadn’t had a mentor or any older student offer to show me how things were done and what was best. So this was a relief.

Right after that, we all went to a local cafeteria that we called the Cholera Joint. It was just down the road. The place is nothing special. They serve things like rice, beans, bread, and eba. Good, cheap food. You bring your plate to the stand and tell them what to put on it. Then you sit at one of the plastic tables and chairs and eat. It’s mainly for us local students, but you get kabu kabu and okada drivers who come there often, too.